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Monday 1 October 2018
Two District Men Plead Guilty to Charges in Killing of Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Grover, 26, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to killing a man in broad daylight in February 2016 in Southeast Washington. A second defendant, Justin Robinson, 19, also of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a related charge.
The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Grover pled guilty to second-degree murder, and Robinson pled guilty to assault with intent to kill. Both pleas were before the Honorable Judith Bartnoff in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The pleas, which are contingent upon the Court’s approval, call for Grover to be sentenced to 16 to 20 years in prison and for Robinson to be sentenced to three to seven years of incarceration. Judge Bartnoff scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 14, 2018.
According to the government’s evidence, on Feb. 24, 2016, at about 2:30 p.m., Robinson and the victim, Demetrius Medlay, bumped shoulders and briefly argued at a market in the 3100 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE. Robinson drove away, but returned to the area about 10 minutes later. He got out of the car holding a handgun with an extended magazine. While waving the gun, he argued with Mr. Medlay on the sidewalk and then drove off.
Robinson stopped the car at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Esther Place SE at about 2:45 p.m. Grover was standing at the corner. Referring to Mr. Medlay, Robinson said, “You can smoke him,” to which Grover replied, “All right.”
Moments later, Grover pulled a semi-automatic firearm out of his pocket and pointed it at Mr. Medlay. He shot him twice in the chest. Grover fled the scene. Mr. Medlay ran back to the food market, where he collapsed. Mr. Medlay, 22, was pronounced dead a short time later.
A law enforcement investigation led to Grover’s arrest in August 2016. Robinson was arrested in in July 2017.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). She also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Willoughby, Jr., former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno, Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman, former Paralegal Specialist Zekiah Wright, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin.
Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Twenty Previously Deported Aliens Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that twenty previously deported aliens were indicted separately on September 26, 2018, by a federal grand jury for illegal re-entry into the United States. These matters arose in counties throughout the District including Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe and York.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Rogaciano Hernandez-Sanchez, age 56, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in March 2001, October 2009, and May 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2012, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Jose Perez-Amaro, age 23, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in March and April 2016. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after April 2016, and was found in the United States in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Hernandez-Sanchez and Perez-Amaro face a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Wilder Orodonez-Calderas, age 26, of Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States to Guatemala in March 2018. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2018, and was found in the United States in Monroe County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Francisco Sacaria, age 38, of Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in July 2014. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after July 2014, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Abel Perez-Perez, age 25, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in November 2013. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after November 2013, and was found in the United States in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Gustavo Vazquez-Ramirez, age 31, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in May 2011. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2011, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Juan Martinez-Vazquez, age 29, of Mexcio, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in August and September 2012. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after September 2012 and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Jairo Rodrigues-Murillo, age 39, Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in June 2008 and March 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2012, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Irais Estrada-Martinez, age 32, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in December 2015. She is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after December 2015, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Nicacio Lopez-Hernandez, age 37, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in February 2014 and January 2015. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after January 2015, and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Pedro Santiz-Santiz, age 29, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in October 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after October 2012, and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Hipolito Morales-Cortez, age 51, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in January 2007. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after January 2007, and was found in the United States in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Martin Romero-Mercado, age 47, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in September and October 2017. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after October 2017, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Ernesto Guevara-Aldade, age 38, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in September 2015. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after September 2015, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Jesus Carranza-Mondragon, age 29, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in June 2014 and July 2014. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after July 2014, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Kevin Lopez-Calderon, age 30, of Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States to Guatemala in November 2006 and March 2013. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2013, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Luis Avila-Munguia, age 29, Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States to Guatemala in September 2010 and August 2015. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after August 2015 and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Estaban Santiago-Sanchez, age 38, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in August 2016. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after August 2016, and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Ramiro Olivares-Velasquez, age 27, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in June 2013 and July 2015. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after July 2015, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Rogaciano Hernandez-Sanchez, age 56, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in March 2001, October 2009, and May 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2012, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Under federal law, Orodonez-Calderas, Sacaria, Perez-Perez, Vazquez-Ramirez, Martinez-Vazquez, Rodrigues-Murillo, Estrada-Martinez, Lopez-Hernandez, Santiz-Santiz, Morales-Cortez, Romero-Mercado, Guevara-Aldade, Carranza-Mondragon, Lopez-Calderon, Avial-Munguia, Santiago-Sanchez, Olivares-Velasquez and Hernandez-Sanchez face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is prosecuting the cases.
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.
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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Tuba City Woman Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Stabbing on Navajo ReservationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Tomacita Nez, 41, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 72 months’ prison followed by three years’ supervised release. Nez had previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter.
Nez admitted to stabbing the victim during a domestic disagreement outside her home on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. The victim died as a result of his injuries. Judge Humetewa denied the defense attorney’s request for a lower sentence, describing the offense as “incredibly violent” and finding Nez was a danger to the community. Both Nez and the victim were members of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08314-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-126_Nez
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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.
Texas Resident Sentenced in South Florida to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Violations of the Cuban EmbargoRead the Press Release
On September 27, 2018, a Texas resident was sentenced in the Southern District of Florida to 6.5 years in prison for unlawfully exporting to Cuba electronic devices that require a license to export due to national security controls.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Robert J. Luzzi, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Miami Field Office, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Diane J. Sabatino, Director, Field Operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office made the announcement.
Bryan Evan Singer, 46, of Bryan, Texas was convicted at trial for attempting to illegally smuggle electronics to Cuba in violation of the Cuban Embargo, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 554, and for making false statements to federal law enforcement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). On September 27, 2018, U.S. District Court Chief Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Singer to 78 months in prison, to be followed by supervised release.
On May 2, 2017, Singer intended to travel from Stock Island, Florida to Havana, Cuba aboard his vessel “La Mala.” Prior to Singer’s departure, law enforcement conducted an outbound inspection of the boat. During the inspection, Singer declared that he was only bringing to Cuba those items observable on the deck, and that the value of those items was less than $2,500. However, law enforcement conducting the search discovered a hidden compartment under a bolted down bed in the cabin of Singer’s boat. In the hidden compartment, law enforcement discovered hundreds of electronic devices, valued at over $30,000. Included in those devices were over 300 Ubiquiti Nanostation Network devices, which are designed to provide highly encrypted connections between computer networks over long distances. These devices require a license for export to Cuba, under United States law, because their capabilities threaten national security. Singer never sought or obtained a license to export to Cuba, prior to his offenses of conviction.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of OEE, ICE-HSI, and CBP in this matter. Mrs. Fajardo Orshan thanked the U.S. Coast Guard for the agency’s assistance. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Shack.
Related court documents and information can be found on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
South Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin and Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A South Charleston man pled guilty today to federal heroin and fentanyl charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Christopher Thomas Campbell, 24, entered his guilty plea to distribution of heroin and fentanyl before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
“Fentanyl is deadly,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are vigorously prosecuting the peddlers of this poison, regardless of drug quantity. Too many lives are being lost at the hands of heroin and fentanyl dealers. We will not stand idly by – we will hold them accountable and put them behind bars.”
On January 2 and 11, 2018, MDENT agents made controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Campbell at his Goshorn Street apartment in South Charleston. Shortly after the second purchase, MDENT agents arrested Campbell at his apartment. Following his arrest, Campbell admitted to police that he had been selling heroin for approximately one year. Campbell was on bond at the time of the offense for drug charges unrelated to the federal offense.
Campbell faces up to forty years when he is sentenced on January 7, 2019. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is responsible for the prosecution.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Serial Pedophile Committed to Federal Custody as a Sexually Dangerous PersonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, committed JACK LOUIS SPORICH, 84, to the custody of the Attorney General as a sexually dangerous person. SPORICH is now the oldest sex offender to be committed under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
SPORICH has a long history of sexually molesting children and was once considered one of California’s most dangerous sex offenders. His first known sexual offense occurred in 1966. Over the course of the next 50 years – and despite a lengthy prison sentence, a term of state parole, and an involuntary commitment in a state hospital – SPORICH continued molesting children as young as five years old. Even in his seventies, Sporich traveled to Cambodia, where he enticed children with money, toys, clothes, food, and other items, and then sexually molested them. The evidence at trial demonstrated that SPORICH has molested at least ten children in his lifetime.
In March 2017, and while SPORICH was serving a federal prison sentence for his offenses in Cambodia, the United States certified him as a sexually dangerous person under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Congress passed that Act in 2006 to provide another powerful legal mechanism for protecting the public from some of the most dangerous sexual offenders. The Act allows the United States to seek civil commitment of sexually dangerous persons who, because of a serious mental illness, abmnormality, or disorder, would have serious difficulty refraining from sexually violent conduct or child molestation.
The United States believed that SPORICH met every element of that definition. The Court agreed. On September 27, 2018, after a bench trial, Judge Dever committed SPORICH to the custody of the Attorney General as a sexually dangerous person. In doing so, Judge Dever explained that SPORICH is not able to control his urges as they relate to children and continues to be sexually attracted to boys ages 8-12. Judge Dever noted that Sporich’s offense conduct spans much of his adult life and demonstrates extraordinary efforts to create an atmosphere in which he could molest young boys.
“Jack Sporich is an unrelenting, unrepentant sexual predator,” said U.S. Attorney Higdon. “He clearly could not control his deviant sexual urges, and children the world over suffered for it. No more. Our children and our communities are safer with Sporich off the streets, and he can now get the treatment that he so desperately needs.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina litigates all Adam Walsh Act cases for the entire country. All sexually dangerous persons who are committed to federal custody are housed in a federal facility in that district, where intensive, residential treatment is offered to them. SPORICH is the eightieth sexually dangerous person committed under the Adam Walsh Act.
Special Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Bredenberg and Genna Petre, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Anderson, represented the government in this case.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on September 24, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Calvin Gillette, age 27, was sentenced to 4 months in federal prison, 4 months of home confinement, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Gillette was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017. He pled guilty on July 11, 2018.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 31, 2017, when Gillette fled from Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement, and hid in the basement of a residence under some boxes and clothing. When law enforcement located Gillette, he began to resist arrest and wrestled with the law enforcement officers attempting to detain him. Law enforcement ultimately had to use pepper spray on Gillette to gain his compliance.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Gillette was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rolling 30s Crips Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Jose Ramon Rivera (23, Orlando) to 10 years and 11 months in federal prison for distributing heroin and methamphetamine, possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Rivera pleaded guilty on July 12, 2018.
According to court documents and testimony at sentencing, Rivera is a member of the Rolling 30s Crips gang, which has been linked to several homicides in the Orlando area. Within weeks of his release from state prison, Rivera sold heroin, methamphetamine, and a firearm to a confidential informant who was acting at the direction of law enforcement. A few days later, Rivera sold the informant an assault-style rifle and additional heroin and methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clermont Police Department, the Longwood Police Department, the Winter Garden Police Department, and the Winter Park Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Rochester Man Sentenced on Charge Involving Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Mohammed Akram, 30, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of misbranding food, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to 60 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that between November 2014 and April 2015, the defendant managed Best in the West, a convenience store located at 670 Jay Street in Rochester. On April 14, 2015, search warrants were executed at that location and at the apartment above the store, where Akram lived. Officers recovered $67,847 in United States currency and approximately 1,900 packets of suspected synthetic cannabinoids.
The defendant traveled to New York City to purchase and transport bulk quantities of 3-5 ounce packages containing green vegetable matter to Rochester. The packages were labeled “G-20,” “Bizarro,” “Mardi Gras,” “G10 Potporri,” “Mr. Happy,” “WTF,” “VooDoo,” “Remarkable Herbs,” “MR SIN,” “Scooby Snax,” and “Mad Hatter.” The green vegetable matter was laced with chemicals that were not authorized by law for human consumption. The defendant, who claimed the packages were potpourri, offered the various packages of green vegetable matter for retail sale in the convenience store knowing that customers intended to ingest the green vegetable matter.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, New York, New York Field Division, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.
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Robbery Duo Convicted at Trial Sentenced to Lengthy Federal Prison TermsRead the Press Release
PITTSBUGRH, PA – Kahlil Shelton, age 23, formerly of Duquesne, PA and Deron Howell, age 25, formerly of Swissvale, PA have been sentenced to 192 months and 511 months, respectively, and three years of supervised release on numerous drug, firearm, and robbery convictions, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Shelton and Howell were tried before United States District Court Judge Billy Roy Wilson in Pittsburgh in May of 2018. As a result of their convictions, Howell faced a mandatory minimum 30 years of imprisonment and Shelton faced a mandatory minimum seven years of imprisonment.
According to Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lanni and Jeffrey Bengel, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on or about July 27, 2017, Deron Howell, and two unidentified accomplices used firearms to rob four professional video game players of $6,700 dollars to be used at a video game tournament. Howell accomplished the robbery by picking up the four victims at the Pittsburgh International Airport in his silver Kia Optimum and driving them to a section of the City of Pittsburgh. After Howell locked the victims in the car, two unknown accomplices pulled the victims from the car and held them at gunpoint with an AK-47 and a pistol, while Howell stripped the victims of their belongings, the $6700 dollars, and their luggage.
Additionally, on or about August 7, 2017, Howell and Kahlil Shelton also robbed two individuals of marijuana in Cranberry, PA while using firearms. Howell and Shelton organized this robbery by telling the victim that they wanted to purchase approximately six pounds of marijuana. Howell, Shelton, and a third unknown accomplice then travelled to the victim’s house in Cranberry, PA. Upon arrival, Shelton excused himself to go to the bathroom and returned from the bathroom holding a firearm to the head of both of the victims. At this time, Howell stole the marijuana from one of the victims. The second victim struggled with Shelton before attempting to flee from the house. Before the second victim could flee from the house, the third unknown accomplice shot the victim through the chest. Howell and Shelton committed this robbery while a 6-year-old child was in the room.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Cranberry Township Police Department, and the City of Pittsburgh Police conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Retired Nurse Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTINE MILES, 59, of Windsor Locks, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug trafficking and money laundering offenses related to the distribution of heroin and various prescription medications.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in approximately 1998, MILES and others conspired to possess and distribute heroin, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and alprazolam. MILES is a retired nurse.
On August 4, 2016, members of the North Central Narcotics Task Force and the DEA conducted a court-authorized search of MILES and Montoya’s residence at 350 North Street in Windsor Locks and seized a large quantity of various prescription medications, approximately two pounds of marijuana, $10,093 in cash and more than $13,000 in gift cards. MILES and her husband, Oscar Montoya, were arrested on state charges after the search.
The investigation revealed that, through this drug trafficking conspiracy, MILES and Montoya amassed more than $700,000 in a number of individual and jointly held bank accounts. The investigation also revealed that, after MILES’ arrest on state drug charges in August 2016, MILES and Montoya used $17,359 of drug proceeds to purchase 11 U.S. Postal Service money orders and a bank cashier’s check payable to a New Jersey-based moving company for a planned move from Connecticut to New Mexico.
MILES and Montoya were arrested on federal charges on November 16, 2017, and have been detained since their arrests. On February 2, 2018, another court-authorized search of their North Street residence revealed additional drug evidence and $41,904 in cash.
On May 15, 2018, MILES pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and alprazolam, and one count of engaging and attempting to engage in a monetary transaction affecting interstate commerce, involving criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000.
As part of this case, MILES and Montoya agreed to forfeit their Windsor Locks residence and $767,056.74 seized from the residence and multiple bank accounts.
Montoya pleaded guilty to the same charges and, September 4, 2018, was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.
On May 22, 2018, Miles’s daughter, Christy Miles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and alprazolam. She awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Resident Office and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the valuable assistance of the North Central Narcotics Task Force and the Windsor Locks, Enfield, Vernon, East Windsor and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David X. Sullivan and Patrick F. Caruso.
Pottawatomie County Man to Serve 210 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ADRIAN DAVID RAY GERDON, 38, of Pottawatomie County, has been sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Robert J. Troester of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, state authorities issued felony arrest warrants in unrelated cases for Gerdon on December 28, 2017. An investigation led law enforcement to Gerdon, who had been hiding out in a trailer in Newalla, Oklahoma. During Gerdon’s arrest on January 24, 2018, law enforcement discovered a Smith and Wesson, Model 3913, 9mm pistol in the trailer along with a Savage Arms, Mark II, .22 caliber rifle. Further investigation revealed that Gerdon had previous felony convictions in Pottawatomie County for domestic assault and battery by strangulation, burglary in the first degree, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of illegal drugs, bringing illegal drugs into a jail, and domestic assault and battery resulting in great bodily injury. Under federal firearms laws, Gerdon was prohibited from being in possession of any firearm because of his prior felony convictions.
On March 7, 2018, Gerdon was indicted by a federal grand jury for being in unlawful possession of a firearm following his felony convictions. He pleaded guilty on May 17, 2018.
At his sentencing hearing on September 28, United States District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange found that Gerdon’s criminal history makes him an Armed Career Criminal, which increases his minimum punishment to 15 years in prison. Judge Miles-LaGrange ordered the 210 months to be served concurrently with several previously-imposed state-court sentences. Additionally, Gerdon was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.
This sentence is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Shawnee Police Department, and Oklahoma’s District 23 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office and the Pottawatomie County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark R. Stoneman, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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.
Reference is made to public filings for further information.
Pomona Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Scheme to Smuggle Restricted Space Communications Technology to ChinaRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Chinese national who pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme that illegally exported sensitive space communications technology to China was sentenced today to serve 46 months in federal prison.
Si Chen, 33, a Pomona resident who has been in custody since her arrest in May 2017, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney.
Chen, who used various aliases, included “Cathy Chen,” pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which controls and restricts the export of certain goods and technology from the United States to foreign nations. Chen also pleaded guilty to money laundering and using a forged passport with her photo but a different name that appeared to have been issued by the People’s Republic of China.
“This defendant knowingly participated in a plot to secretly send items with military applications to China,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “The smuggled items could be used in a number of damaging ways, including in equipment that could jam our satellite communications. We will aggressively target all persons who provide foreign agents with technology in violation of U.S. law.”
According to court documents, from March 2013 through the end of 2015, Chen purchased and smuggled sensitive items to China without obtaining licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce that are required under IEEPA. Those items included components commonly used in military communications “jammers.” Additionally, Chen smuggled communications devices worth more than $100,000 that are commonly used in space communications applications. Chen falsely under-valued the items on the shipping paperwork to avoid arousing suspicion. Chen received payments for the illegally exported products through an account held at a bank in China by a family member.
Under IEEPA, it is crime to willfully export or attempt to export items that appear on the Commerce Control List without a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce. These are items authorities have determined could be detrimental to regional stability and national security.
“The export of sensitive technology items to China or anywhere else in the world is tightly regulated for good reason,” said Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “One of HSI’s top enforcement priorities is preventing U.S. military products and sensitive technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm America or its interests. We will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to aggressively target and investigate those who jeopardize our nation’s security – or the welfare of those devoted to protecting it.”
In addition to participating in the scheme to violate IEEPA, Chen used several aliases and a forged Chinese passport to conceal her smuggling activities. Chen used a Chinese passport bearing her photo and a false name – “Chunping Ji” – to rent an office in Pomona where she took delivery of the export-controlled items. After receiving the goods, Chen shipped the devices to Hong Kong, and from there the items were transshipped to China. The parcels shipped to Hong Kong bore her false name, along with false product descriptions and monetary values, all done in an effort to avoid attracting law enforcement scrutiny.
“Today’s sentencing is the result of outstanding collaborative investigative work by the Office of Export Enforcement and its law enforcement partners to prevent the illegal shipment of sophisticated U.S.-origin technology. We will continue to pursue violators wherever they may be,” said Richard Weir, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, Los Angeles Field Office.
“Today’s sentencing of Chen demonstrates the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from those who would do harm,” said Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge, DCIS Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our federal law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who put our military at risk by illegally exporting protected military assets and sensitive technology to bad actors.”
The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The case against Chen is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Judith A. Heinz of the National Security Division.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of filing false income tax return and theft of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Robert Alan Seth, Sr. pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on April 15, 2014, Seth, Sr. filed a false income tax return for the tax year 2013. Additionally, from in and around January 2009, and continuing thereafter to in and around July 2017, Seth, Sr. collected Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for himself and for his minor child in an amount totaling $248,145.90.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2019. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, a fine of $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.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Social Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Robert Alan Seth, Sr.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of filing false income tax return and theft of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Robert Alan Seth, Sr., of 4 Danvers Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on April 15, 2014, Seth, Sr. filed a false income tax return for the tax year 2013. Additionally, from in and around January 2009, and continuing thereafter to in and around July 2017, Seth, Sr. collected Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for himself and for his minor child in an amount totaling $248,145.90.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2019. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, a fine of $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.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Social Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Robert Alan Seth, Sr.
Philadelphia man and Wheeling man sentenced for drug chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – James R. Stewart, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Deion J. Jones, of Wheeling, West Virginia, were sentenced today to a combined 78 months for drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Stewart, also known as James R. Steward, Jr., age 32, was sentenced today to 41 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine” in July 2018. Stewart admitted to selling cocaine in Ohio County in November 2017.
Jones, age 27, was sentenced today to 37 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone” in July 2018. Jones admitted to selling oxycodone in Ohio County in June 2015.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp., Jr. presided.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Failing to Comply with Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure RequirementsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that on October 1, 2018, United States Magistrate Judge Susan M. Bazis fined Gerald Wojtalewicz, age 68 of Omaha, Nebraska, $7,500 following his misdemeanor conviction for failing to comply with federal lead-based paint disclosure requirements under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992.
An investigation conducted by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division determined that between November 2012 and December 2015 Wojtalewicz owned and leased an Omaha residence that contained lead-based paint. Wojtalewicz was responsible for ensuring compliance with the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. Investigators determined Wojtalewicz failed to provide his tenant with lead-based paint warnings and related disclosures required under that Act.
Along with other Federal agencies, the EPA is a participant in the Federal Lead Strategy, an initiative by the Presidential Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children. EPA pursues both civil and criminal enforcement of lead-based paint violations, to deter noncompliance and promote a level playing-field among regulated businesses and landlords.
“If tenants are to make sound choices concerning their place of residence, it is essential they have sound information,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeff Martinez of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Nebraska. “Landlords and owners who fail to notify prospective tenants about the hazards of lead poisoning put those tenants at serious risk.”
EPA has also launched a Campaign on Lead, a multi-pronged approach aimed at eliminating childhood exposure to lead in water, soil, air and other sources, as well as in paint.
Oklahoma man sentenced for sex offender registry violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Marvin Gene McLaughlin, of Enid, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 30 months incarceration for a sex offender registry violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
McLaughlin, age 58, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration” in June 2018. McLaughlin, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, admitted to traveling from Oklahoma to Marion County, West Virginia without updating his sex offender registration in January 2018.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Nunda Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Bryan Matacale, 43, of Nunda, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that in March 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) received information from the Belgian Federal Police that a Belgian citizen identified individuals in the United States as being involved the possession and distribution of child pornography. The Belgian citizen told police that an individual he knew as "Bob" paid him money in exchange for images and videos of child pornography on several occasions. Subsequent investigation determined that “Bob” was defendant Matacale.
On August 28, 2017, a federal search warrant was executed at Matacale’s residence during which various computers and electronic media were seized by law enforcement officers. During an examination of the defendant’s cellular telephone, officers observed text messages Matacale and A.W., an individual known to law enforcement who had two daughters, ages four and six. In multiple messages, the defendant requested naked pictures of A.W.’s daughter stating they would be used for a “research” report. A. W. sent Matacale approximately a dozen photos between September 2016 and February 2017.
During a review of the defendant’s electronic equipment, law enforcement officers recovered online conversations between Matacale and a 16-year-old girl from Vermont. At the defendant’s request, the girl sent naked pictures of herself on three separate dates in August 2017.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
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New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Role in Large-Scale Fencing OperationRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GEORGE J. CONNELLY, JR., 48, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale fencing operation.
According to the evidence presented during the trial of CONNELLY and his co-defendant, William Reidell, CONNELLY and another co-defendant, Paul Muzyka, operated a licensed secondhand store, Ace Amusements, located at 42 Kimberly Avenue in New Haven. At Ace Amusements, CONNELLY and Muzyka knowingly purchased stolen property from “boosters,” who typically were shoplifters with opioid addictions. The boosters stole the goods from retail stores such as Home Depot, Target, CVS, and Lowe’s, and sold the goods at Ace Amusements for approximately one-third of their retail prices. CONNELLY and Muzyka then resold the stolen goods at Ace Amusements, and also online at websites such as eBay. CONNELLY and Muzyka also sold property to resellers, including Reidell, who then resold the property online using online websites.
The trial evidence showed at least $1.5 million in sales on eBay from 2007 to 2016 by individuals, including Reidell, who purchased stolen items at Ace Amusements to resell online.
On May 23, 2018, CONNELLY was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property, and two counts of interstate transport of stolen property. Reidell was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property, and one count of interstate transport of stolen property.
On March 16, 2018, Muzyka, of North Haven, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property and one count of interstate transport of stolen property.
As part of the sentence, Judge Shea ordered CONNELLY to forfeit an interest of $86,220.85 in a house he owns on Tuttle Drive in New Haven, $10,338.68 that was seized from his and Ace Amusements’ bank accounts, and $13,078.67 in cash that was seized from his person and from various locations inside Ace Amusements on January 25, 2016.
CONNELLY, who is released on a $100,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on December 3, 2018.
Reidell, of Branford, is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow, and Muzyka is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and the New Haven, North Haven, Milford, West Haven, Wallingford, Hamden and Orange Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and David T. Huang.
Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Remembers One-Year Anniversary of October 1 Mass Shooting and Recommits to Project Safe Neighborhoods ProgramRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Today marks the one-year anniversary of the most tragic day in our city’s history. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins our community in remembering everyone who lost their lives as a result of the senseless act committed on October 1, 2017. Earlier today, the United States Attorney’s Office, together with the United States Marshal for the District of Nevada, held a ceremony to honor and remember the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival victims, survivors, and the brave first responders who risked it all. The United States Attorney’s Office remains steadfastly committed to making our community safer and preventing future tragedies. Our community must be protected from violent criminals who terrorize our residents and visitors alike.
With the support of the United States Department of Justice, we have hired three additional prosecutors who are focused on identifying and prosecuting violent offenders, including prosecuting persons who: unlawfully possess firearms, including individuals with domestic violence convictions, commit robberies, with and without firearms, commit car-jackings and assaults, as well as kidnappers and murderers. The addition of new prosecutors allows the United States Attorney’s Office to target the most violent criminals including street gangs that destroy our neighborhoods and drug trafficking organizations that peddle their poison to our children.
Critical to our violent crime reduction effort is the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. On October 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions reprioritized and enhanced the PSN program, making it the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy.
Project Safe Neighborhoods empowers each United States Attorney’s office to develop and implement targeted, localized violent crime reduction strategies, tailoring solutions to individual communities and the challenges they face. So far in 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted 123 cases including the following violent crime and firearm offenses, all which came in through our PSN program. Recent notable cases include:
- Josue Diaz-Orellana, Luis Reyes-Castillo, David Perez-Manchame, and Miguel Torres-Escobar, all El Salvadoran nationals who are illegally in the United States and alleged to be MS-13 gang members, were arrested and charged in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a rival gang member whose body was found on federal property in southern Nevada. The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison for the assault charge and life imprisonment for both the kidnapping and the discharging of a firearm count.
- Uriah Crain, a Las Vegas felon, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in two violent armed carjackings that resulted in injury to two victims.
- Samual Lane Donesing and Jaemillah Eagans, both of Las Vegas, were indicted for possession of more than 300 stolen firearms belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee. Donesing is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
- Joseph Michael Gill, a former DEA Supervisory Special Agent in Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to illegally selling firearms without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Omar Qazi, a Las Vegas felon, was convicted by a jury of illegal possession of a firearm. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Connor Woods and Michael Miller, both of Santa Rosa, California, were each sentenced to 13 years in prison for robbing a Reno convenience store at gunpoint.
- Paul Nelson, of Pahrump, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling a stolen revolver and a stolen semi-automatic rifle with a large capacity magazine.
- Charles Ellis, of North Las Vegas, was indicted for illegally purchasing and reselling firearms, including assault rifles, without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Richard Canterbury, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for robbing a bank in the Southern Highlands area after escaping from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Arizona.
- Jacqueline Moore, a Las Vegas felon, was convicted by a jury of unlawful possession of a .25 caliber pistol and ammunition. She faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
- Jose Valentin Mora; Sandy Diaz Tavares; Jose Vega; Angel Diaz; Javier Chavez; Shawn Curl; Marcos Hernandez; Roberto Mora-Mora; Juana Baca; Elizabeth Reyes-Delacerda; Richard Rossall; Ciara Hernandez; Marco Antonio Ramirez; Kelsea Barbara Riley; Leon DeJesus Munera; and Jorge Ayala-Chavez, all of Reno, Nevada; and Francisco Meza Recio, of Simi Valley, California, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno and elsewhere. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10,000,000. The three-related indictments charge Jose Valentin Mora, Jose Vega, Jose Mora-Silva, Dagoberto Mora-Silva, and Alberto Acosta-Macias with firearms offenses. Felons Jose Mora and Jose Vega are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after having a prior felony conviction in Nevada. Jose Mora-Silva is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States. Dagoberto Mora-Silva is charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by prohibited persons Jose Mora and Jose Mora-Silva. Jose Mora and Acosta-Macias are charged with possession of a stolen .22 caliber Marlin rifle. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
- Ronald Robinson, of Reno, was sentenced to over 18 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a .40 caliber pistol.
- Jessie Mendoza, of Henderson, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for stealing approximately $123,000 worth of jewelry and other property from a pawn shop.
- Sylvester Mitchell, of Las Vegas, was charged for selling hundreds of firearms, some of which were subsequently used in crimes, without a Federal Firearms License. He faces the maximum term of five years in prison.
- Jamie Joe Dulus, of Henderson, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for firing multiple shots at security guards at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina.
Under PSN, federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors partner with each other and the communities they serve to drive down violent crime – and it is working. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2017 reflects that the staggering increases from 2015 and 2016 are slowing. Preliminary data from 61 large cities suggest that violent crime overall was down in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to 2017. The overall violent crime rate in those cities is down nearly five percent and murder is down more than six percent. Thanks to the good work of law enforcement, Las Vegas’s violent crime reduction rate is impressive. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 2017 Annual Report, violent crimes decreased by 27%. Specifically, compared to last year, aggravated assault is down by 30%, robbery is down by 32%, and auto theft is down by 10%. While the national trend in the number of homicides is decreasing, Las Vegas is also unique in that it has seen an increase in homicide, to include domestic-violence related homicides. Our office, together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement are all committing to reducing the numbers of homicides.
Based on the overall reduction in violent crime, there are good reasons to be optimistic that our efforts will be successful. To that end, our office is stepping up efforts to reduce the number of homicides. We have implemented a strategy to take additional firearms cases involving individuals who have domestic violence convictions, and those who are present in this county illegally and have violent criminal histories. Together with our partners, we have good reason to be optimistic that the efforts to reduce violent crime will pay off.
The United States Attorney’s Office grieves with and supports Las Vegas, the families that lost so much just one year ago, and the survivors who will continue on their road to recovery. Our grief focuses our resolve to combat violent crime and to make our community a safer place. Through our partnerships with law enforcement, community leaders and others, we will work steadfastly to identify violent criminals and bring them to justice. Because together, we are stronger.
For more information about PSN and the Department’s efforts to reduce violent crime, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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Navajo Man Pleads Guilty to Commercial Robbery and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Trevor David Littleman, 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Crownpoint, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to violating the Hobbs Act, assault, and firearms charges. Littleman’s plea agreement recommends that he be sentenced to a ten-year term of imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Littleman was arrested on Sept. 18, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with the armed robbery of the Giants Gas Station and Convenience Store located on New Mexico State Road 371, Main Street in Crownpoint, N.M. According to the complaint, before departing from the store with cigarettes and cash from the cash registers, Littleman fired a round of ammunition into the ceiling. Officers allegedly found a 9mm casing and shattered fluorescent light and debris on the floor of the gas station.
Littleman subsequently was indicted on Oct. 11, 2017, and was charged with robbing the gas station, a business engaged in interstate commerce, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The indictment charged Littleman with committing the offenses on Sept. 8, 2017, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Littleman pled guilty to the indictment, and admitted that on Sept. 8, 2017, he robbed the gas station at gunpoint, demanding cigarettes and money, and threatening to shoot the clerk if he did not comply. Littleman further admitted discharging his firearm by firing a round into the ceiling of the store before running out of the store and leaving the area in a vehicle that was waiting for him.
Littleman remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division
Moss Point Man with 47 Firearms, Silencer and Sawed-Off Rifle Pleads Guilty to Possession of Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – James Hurshell Dugger, 78, of Moss Point, entered a guilty plea Friday, before U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, to possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Dugger will be sentenced on December 12, 2018, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On August 11, 2017, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to Dugger’s home after Dugger shot a man during an altercation. On searching Dugger’s home, deputies found 47 firearms including silencers and a sawed-off rifle. Dugger has prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of unregistered firearms.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.
More Than 25 Defendants Facing Federal or State Drug Charges for Allegedly Selling Fentanyl or Fentanyl-Laced Heroin in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — More than 25 individuals are facing federal or state drug charges for allegedly selling pure fentanyl or fentanyl-laced heroin in Chicago.
Many of the defendants sold narcotics to an undercover law enforcement officer earlier this year, according to the charges. Several of the sales occurred in daytime hours during the summer months. The federal charges describe drug sales in the Tri-Taylor, Humboldt Park and West Garfield Park neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side, as well as deals in the Chatham neighborhood on the city’s South Side.
The investigation was led by the Chicago Police Department, with support from agents from numerous federal agencies assigned to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Marshals Service. In addition to the undercover work, law enforcement during the investigation conducted extensive surveillance and seized distribution quantities of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin.
Seven defendants were charged in federal court, while 22 defendants were charged in state court. Many of the defendants were arrested Thursday. The federal defendants have begun making initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Chicago, while the state defendants will appear in Cook County Criminal Court.
The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kimberly M. Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney; Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent; Brian McKnight, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police.
“These arrests send a clear message that anyone who sells fentanyl on the streets of Chicago will endure the full weight of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to focus its efforts on individuals and groups who distribute fentanyl – a dangerously potent drug – and prosecute those offenders in federal court.”
“We’ve seen the devastation that drugs – especially fentanyl – leave on an individual, their family and our communities,” said State’s Attorney Foxx. “These charges are a step in the right direction as we send a message that fentanyl has no place on our streets. My office is committed to holding anyone responsible for this harmful substance accountable and will continue working with our federal and local partners to do so.”
“The sale and use of these substances has affected more than just the individual using them,” said CPD Supt. Johnson. “It has left multiple scars on some of our communities. CPD will continue to work with our federal and state partners to do everything we can to make our streets safer and to save lives in the process.”
“These arrests help tackle our city’s most serious drug threat – fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge McKnight. “For those who want to put poison on our streets, we are not done with you.”
“The results of these investigations show the powerful impact law enforcement can have when we work as one team to combat the lethal threat fentanyl poses to our communities,” said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Sallet.
According to the federal complaints, ANTHONY MCCLENDON, 38, of Chicago, sold more than three grams of pure fentanyl to an undercover officer on May 18, 2018. The deal allegedly occurred on the street in the 1000 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chester Choi represents the government in McClendon’s case.
ANTRON BINION, 48, of Chicago, sold at least four grams of fentanyl-laced heroin over five separate deals this summer, the complaint states. The deals allegedly occurred at various locations in Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood, including a transaction on a ramp leading to a pedestrian bridge over the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron R. Bond represents the government in Binion’s case.
VANCE ESTES, 34, of Chicago, sold more than a gram of fentanyl-laced heroin and more than a gram of heroin in two separate deals in July, the complaint states. The deals allegedly occurred as Estes sat in his vehicle in the 9100 block of South Wabash Avenue in Chicago. ALEJANDRO JUNCO, 27, of Chicago, also sold distribution levels of fentanyl-laced heroin in the same block in July, the complaint states. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Dixon and John D. Mitchell represent the government in the Junco and Estes cases.
JAMES ALEXANDER, 34, of Chicago, KENYON SAVAGE, 24, of Chicago, and LASHAWN BANKS, 20, of Chicago, each sold distribution levels of fentanyl-laced heroin in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood this summer, the complaints state. The government is represented in the Alexander case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Viglione; in the Savage case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalia Coleman; and in the Banks case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Jodrey.
The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The federal drug distribution charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the federal charge, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Mobile County Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Corey Dewayne Hughes on September 28, 2018 to serve a term of imprisonment of 110 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21 USC § 841(a)(1). The defendant previously plead guilty to the offense on August 16, 2017.
According to documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, on April 21, 2017, officers from the Mobile County Street Enforcement Narcotics Team (MCSENT) executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Mobile County. Prior to the search warrant being executed, the officers made several controlled buys from the defendant at this location. During the search, officers recovered approximately 544 grams of pure methamphetamine from the defendant’s home and a number of firearms. The defendant had four previous felony convictions to include Rape 2nd , Assault 2nd and Dog-Fighting.
The case was investigated by Mobile County Street Enforcement Narcotics Team and referred for federal prosecution through the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Lead Attorney, George F. May for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Milton-Freewater Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Dealing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Carlos Cisneros-Razo, 45, of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for dealing methamphetamine. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Cisneros-Razo will be on supervised release for four years.
According to court documents, in May 2017, the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT) purchased distributable quantities of methamphetamine from Cisneros-Razo. On May 31, 2017, BENT executed a search warrant at Cisneros-Razo’s residence and recovered 10.9 grams of methamphetamine in his home and a loaded revolver on his person. Cisneros-Razo admitted to selling methamphetamine to as many as seven people. Cisneros-Razo was illegally present in the District of Oregon.
Cisneros-Razo previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) on June 20, 2018.
This case was investigated by BENT and the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Mexican National Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Defendant had two prior removals for illegally entering the United States
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Javier Leon Villagomez was sentenced to “time served” and immediately remanded for deportation proceedings for the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Villagomez, 40, of Guanajato, Mexico, was taken into ICE custody at the conclusion of the hearing. Villagomez pled guilty on August 9, 2018 and had been in federal custody since May 12, 2018. United States Attorney Mike Stuart praised the work of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Individuals illegally enter our country over and over again,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We will prosecute them each and every time and deport them – unless they follow the rules.”
On May 12, 2018, Villagomez was arrested for domestic violence charges near Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia by officers working for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. In investigating the case, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department contacted ICE to confirm Villagomez’s legal status. ICE agents spoke to Villagomez, and confirmed that he was not legally present in the United States. ICE agents further submitted Villagomez fingerprints for a forensic examination. The results of the examination matched Villagomez to two prior removals from the United States. One prior removal was in 2007 and the second in 2008, both from the Milwaukee, Wisconson area. After being deported on two separate occasions, Villagomez then illegally reentered the United States without lawful permission from the Secretary of Homeland Security. Villagomez is a citizen of Mexico.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay $270 Million to Settle False Claims Act LiabilitiesRead the Press Release
HealthCare Partners Holdings LLC, doing business as DaVita Medical Holdings LLC (DaVita), has agreed to pay $270 million to resolve its False Claims Act liability for providing inaccurate information that caused Medicare Advantage Plans to receive inflated Medicare payments, the Justice Department announced today. DaVita is headquartered in El Segundo, California.
“Federal healthcare programs rely on the accuracy of information submitted by healthcare providers to ensure that managed care plans receive the appropriate compensation,” said Assistant Attorney General Joseph H. Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will pursue those who undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and the data it relies upon. This also illustrates that the Department encourages and incentivizes health care organizations to make voluntary disclosures to the government when they identify false claims.”
Under Medicare Advantage, also known as the Medicare Part C program, Medicare beneficiaries have the option of enrolling in and obtaining health care from Medicare Advantage Plans (MA Plans) that are owned and operated by private Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). Unlike traditional Medicare, where payments to health providers are based on the services they render to the patient, MA Plans are paid a fixed, monthly amount to provide health care to beneficiaries who enroll in their plans. To accommodate costs that may be associated with patients that require more care than an average patient, Medicare payments to MA plans are “risk adjusted” to reflect, in significant part, the health status of the beneficiary. The result is that MAO plans receive higher payments for patients who are diagnosed with conditions that require greater care.
To provide the patient care, MAOs may contract directly with physicians and other healthcare providers, or they may contract with Medical Services Organizations (MSOs), which in turn either employ or contract with healthcare providers. These health care providers then render the patient care and provide the diagnoses that MAOs submit, in turn, to Medicare to obtain the risk-adjusted payments from CMS.
DaVita operated an MSO and contracted with MAOs in various states, including California, Nevada, and Florida, to provide care to the MAOs’ enrolled Medicare beneficiaries. In connection with the medical services it provided to those beneficiaries, DaVita collected and submitted diagnoses to the MAOs. As payment for its services, DaVita received from the MAOs a share of the payments that the MAOs received from CMS for the beneficiaries under DaVita’s care.
DaVita voluntarily disclosed to the government various practices that were instituted by HealthCare Partners, a large California-based independent physician association that DaVita acquired in 2012, that caused MAOs to submit incorrect diagnosis codes to CMS and obtain inflated payments in which DaVita and HealthCare Partners shared. For example, HealthCare Partners disseminated improper medical coding guidance instructing its physicians to use an improper diagnosis code for a particular spinal condition that yielded increased reimbursement from CMS. Based on these self-disclosures, and DaVita’s cooperation with the government’s subsequent investigation, the United States agreed to a favorable resolution of potential claims arising from the conduct.
The settlement also resolves allegations made by a whistleblower that HealthCare Partners engaged in “one-way” chart reviews in which it scoured its patients’ medical records for diagnoses its providers may have failed to record. It then submitted these “missed” diagnoses to MAOs to be used by them in obtaining increased Medicare payments. At the same time, it ignored inaccurate diagnosis codes that should have been deleted and that would have decreased Medicare reimbursement or required the MAOs to repay money to Medicare.
“This settlement demonstrates our tireless commitment to rooting out fraud that drains too many taxpayer dollars from public health programs like Medicare,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “This case involved illegal conduct in which patients’ medical conditions were improperly reported and were not corrected after further review – all for the purpose of boosting the bottom line. We will continue to pursue and hold accountable any entity that seeks to illegally increase revenue at the expense of the Medicare Advantage so that the program may continue to remain viable for all who need it.”
“DaVita’s alleged conduct was irresponsible and compromised the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s New York Region. “HHS-OIG will continue to ensure that companies that do business with federally funded health care programs do so in an honest fashion.”
The allegations of “one way” chart reviews were brought in a lawsuit under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the Federal False Claims Act. This statute permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The whistleblower in this action is James Swoben, who was a former employee of an MAO that did business with DaVita. Mr. Swoben will receive $10,199,100 for the settlement of the “one way” allegations.
The corporate affiliates related to Health Care Partners and which are part of today’s settlement are: DaVita Medical Group Nevada (Coats), Ltd; DaVita Medical Group California, P.C.; DaVita Medical Group Associates California, Inc.; HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group and its subsidiary medical groups; DaVita Medical Group ARTA Health Network California, P.C.; and DaVita Medical Group ARTA Western California, Inc.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the United States Attorneys Office for the Central District of California, and HHS-OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Swoben v. Secure Horizons, et al., 09-5013 (C.D. Cal.).
Medicare Advantage Provider to Pay $270 Million to Settle False Claims Act LiabilitiesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – HealthCare Partners Holdings LLC, doing business as DaVita Medical Holdings LLC, has agreed to pay $270 million to resolve its False Claims Act liability for providing inaccurate information that caused Medicare Advantage Plans to receive inflated Medicare payments, the Justice Department announced today. DaVita is headquartered in El Segundo.
Under Medicare Advantage, also known as the Medicare Part C program, Medicare beneficiaries have the option of enrolling in and obtaining health care from Medicare Advantage Plans (MA Plans) that are owned and operated by private Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). Unlike traditional Medicare, where payments to health providers are based on the services they render to the patient, MA Plans are paid a fixed, monthly amount to provide health care to beneficiaries who enroll in their plans. To accommodate costs that may be associated with patients that require more care than an average patient, Medicare payments to MA plans are “risk adjusted” to reflect, in significant part, the health status of the beneficiary. The result is that MAO plans receive higher payments for patients who are diagnosed with conditions that require greater care.
To provide the patient care, MAOs may contract directly with physicians and other healthcare providers, or they may contract with Medical Services Organizations (MSOs), which in turn either employ or contract with healthcare providers. These health care providers then render the patient care and provide the diagnoses that MAOs submit, in turn, to Medicare to obtain the risk-adjusted payments from CMS.
DaVita operated an MSO and contracted with MAOs in various states, including California, Nevada and Florida, to provide care to the MAOs’ enrolled Medicare beneficiaries. In connection with the medical services it provided to those beneficiaries, DaVita collected and submitted diagnoses to the MAOs. As payment for its services, DaVita received from the MAOs a share of the payments that the MAOs received from CMS for the beneficiaries under DaVita’s care.
DaVita voluntarily disclosed to the government various practices that were instituted by HealthCare Partners, a large California-based independent physician association that DaVita acquired in 2012, that caused MAOs to submit incorrect diagnosis codes to CMS and obtain inflated payments in which DaVita and HealthCare Partners shared. For example, HealthCare Partners disseminated improper medical coding guidance instructing its physicians to use an improper diagnosis code for a particular spinal condition that yielded increased reimbursement from CMS.
Based on these self-disclosures, and DaVita’s cooperation with the government’s subsequent investigation, the United States agreed to a favorable resolution of potential claims arising from the conduct.
“Federal healthcare programs rely on the accuracy of information submitted by healthcare providers to ensure that managed care plans receive the appropriate compensation,” said Assistant Attorney General Joseph H. Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will pursue those who undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and the data it relies upon. This also illustrates that the Department encourages and incentivizes health care organizations to make voluntary disclosures to the government when they identify false claims.”
The settlement also resolves allegations made by a whistleblower that HealthCare Partners engaged in “one-way” chart reviews in which it scoured its patients’ medical records for diagnoses its providers may have failed to record. It then submitted these “missed” diagnoses to MAOs to be used by them in obtaining increased Medicare payments. At the same time, it ignored inaccurate diagnosis codes that should have been deleted and that would have decreased Medicare reimbursement or required the MAOs to repay money to Medicare.
“This settlement demonstrates our tireless commitment to rooting out fraud that drains too many taxpayer dollars from public health programs like Medicare,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “This case involved illegal conduct in which patients’ medical conditions were improperly reported and were not corrected after further review – all for the purpose of boosting the bottom line. We will continue to pursue and hold accountable any entity that seeks to illegally increase revenue at the expense of the Medicare Advantage so that the program may continue to remain viable for all who need it.”
The allegations of “one-way” chart reviews were brought in a lawsuit under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the Federal False Claims Act. This statute permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The whistleblower in this action is James Swoben, who was a former employee of an MAO that did business with DaVita. Mr. Swoben will receive $10,199,100 for the settlement of the “one-way” allegations. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Swoben v. Secure Horizons, et al., CV09-5013 (C.D. Cal.).
The corporate affiliates related to Health Care Partners and which are part of today’s settlement are DaVita Medical Group Nevada (Coats), Ltd; DaVita Medical Group California, P.C.; DaVita Medical Group Associates California, Inc.; HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group and its subsidiary medical groups; DaVita Medical Group ARTA Health Network California, P.C.; and DaVita Medical Group ARTA Western California, Inc.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Central District of California, and HHS-OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Meadville Felon Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 63 months in jail on his conviction of violating federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Jesse Lee Anderson, 37.
According to information presented to the court, Anderson unlawfully possessed ammunition while being prohibited from firearm possession because he is a convicted felon. In addition, Anderson possessed an improvised firearm device utilizing two pipes capable of discharging a shot, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Picicnini prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshal’s Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Anderson.
McNairy County Man Found Guilty of Drug Conspiracy, Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms, and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal jury has convicted a McNairy county man for conspiring to distribute, and distributing actual methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the guilty verdict today.
According to the information presented in court, Joshua Tucker, 28, of Selmer, TN was a member of a drug conspiracy operating throughout West Tennessee from October 2016 to April 2017. The investigation led to the federal prosecution of Tucker, along with eleven other co-conspirators, who sold large amounts of methamphetamine throughout West Tennessee including Bath Springs, Lexington, Parsons, Selmer, Reagan, Lutts, and Milledgeville and Iuka, MS.
Tucker’s conviction results from an extensive investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement officials into a drug trafficking organization involving Kevin Smith and his associates including Joshua Tucker. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), West Tennessee 24th Judicial Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) conducted a yearlong investigation and utilized various investigation strategies to determine that Tucker had sold over two kilograms of actual methamphetamine (ICE) to co-conspirators who resold the ICE between December 2016 and April 2017.
The investigation further revealed that Tucker, a convicted felon, possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking. On April 27, 2017, investigators with McNairy County Counter-Drug Unit and Selmer Police Department executed a probation search at Tuckers home. During the search, officers located an AR-15 style rifle along with a 9 mm pistol in Tuckers bedroom. Officers located approximately 20 grams of ICE packaged for resale in a safe containing two digital scales and $5,677.75. In the same room, officers located drug
paraphernalia including boxes of plastic baggies and pipes as well as .223 and 9mm ammunition. Investigators also seized five vehicles. After searching the vehicles, officers located over 400 grams of methamphetamine inside a container under the driver seat of one of the cars.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Armed Drug Trafficking Organizations will NOT continue to endanger our communities in West Tennessee with impunity. We use all available law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to pursue, disrupt and dismantle groups and conspiracies that are most responsible for the illegal sale of this position to our citizens, and to remove dangerous offenders with firearms from our streets. This defendant and his co-conspirators have sowed addiction, pain, and destruction into our communities, and now they will reap a long prison sentence as a consequence."
"It takes a collaborative effort to dismantle complex drug organizations," said D. Christopher Evans, DEA Special Agent In Charge. "These types of investigations show that DEA remains committed to working with our state and local partners, and our ATF counterparts to target violent drug traffickers and make our communities safer," Evans added.
Tucker was charged with several offenses including:
• conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine;
• aiding and abetting each other to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine;
• knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine;
• being a felon in possession of an AR-15 style rifle;
• being a felon in possession of a 9 mm pistol;
• possessing the AR-15 style rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and
• possessing the 9 mm pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
After a four-day trial, the defendant was found guilty as to each count.
Sentencing is set for January 8, 2019 at 1:30 p.m., before U.S. Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson. Tucker faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), West Tennessee 24th Judicial Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), along with McNairy County Counter-Drug Unit and Selmer Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Eskridge and Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Sex AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Person Incapable of Consent was sentenced on September 17, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Jerome Goodhouse, age 27, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Goodhouse was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 17, 2017. He pled guilty on June 24, 2018.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on April 5, 2016, when Goodhouse gave a ride home to an individual and took a detour to a remote location, where he parked the vehicle and began to fondle and kiss the victim. Goodhouse knew that the victim had been drinking and was incapable of consenting to the sexual contact.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Goodhouse is ordered to self-report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service no later than 2:00 p.m. on October 9, 2018.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison for Transporting a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Kurt Carpentino, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court to 32 years in prison for transporting a minor across state lines for sex, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
Carpentino was convicted in a jury trial on July 11, 2018. The evidence showed that on April 27, 2017, the Hinsdale, New Hampshire Police Department received a report of a missing 14-year-old child. The child was found later that morning at an abandoned motel in Rockingham, Vermont. The child told the police that the defendant took her to the motel and that they had sex there. The defendant was observed driving by the motel and arrested nearby. Later that day, he admitted to taking the child from New Hampshire to Vermont and having sex with her at the hotel. A few weeks later, the defendant wrote the victim letters from jail, attempting to get her to recant her statement to the police.
“Protecting the innocence and wellbeing of our children is one of the highest priorities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The defendant took advantage of a young child and will be incarcerated for a very long time to prevent him from inflicting damage on other children. I am grateful to Vermont, New Hampshire and Federal officers whose work resulted in the conviction and long term incarceration of this predator.”
“With today’s sentence, justice has been served on Kurt Carpentino, “said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Boston. “The results in this case could not have been achieved without the tireless work of the dedicated professionals of Homeland Security Investigations in New Hampshire. Protecting innocent children will remain a top priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners. Together with the U.S. Attorney and state and local police, we will continue to make every effort to ensure that those who victimize children will be brought to justice and face their day in court. “
This matter was investigated by the Vermont State Police, Homeland Security Investigations in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Hinsdale, New Hampshire Police Department, the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department, the Springfield, Vermont Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police, with the assistance of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Norman Torrey, 53, of Lewiston, Maine pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that on March 27, 2018, the defendant intended to travel to Massachusetts to purchase 100 grams of fentanyl. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed the defendant’s vehicle arrive and depart. They followed the defendant as he drove through New Hampshire and into Maine, where they shared their observations with a Maine State Police Trooper. The trooper stopped the vehicle and ultimately seized approximately 98 grams of fentanyl. The investigation demonstrated that the defendant purchased and distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl.
Torrey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2018.
“Fentanyl has been the source of far too many deaths in New England,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This case demonstrates multi-state drug distribution activities that complicate law enforcement efforts. In order to protect the public by stopping these criminal enterprises, we will coordinate with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are distributing this deadly substance.”
This case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the Maine State Police; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; and the Lowell (MA) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe, and Debra Walsh.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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MS-13 Member Sentenced to 36 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy Involving Murder of a 15-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An MS-13 member was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 15-year-old boy in East Boston.
Carlos Melara, a/k/a “Chuchito,” a/k/a “Criminal,” 21, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 36 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Melara will also be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In April 2018, Melara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
On Sept. 7, 2015, Melara, along with Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a “Sangriento,” Henry Parada Martinez, a/k/a “Street Danger,” and a juvenile MS-13 member participated in the murder of a 15-year-old boy on Constitution Beach in East Boston. The defendants targeted the victim in a “catfishing” scheme in which they used a fake Facebook account to trick the victim into thinking he was talking to a girl. In reality, the Facebook account was being controlled by Gonzalez and other MS-13 members to lure suspected rivals so that the gang could murder them.
On the day of the murder, Melara picked up the victim on a scooter pretending to be a friend of the girl that the victim was planning to meet for a date. Melara drove the victim to Constitution Beach, where the other MS-13 members were waiting to kill him. Melara and the three other MS-13 members took turns attacking and stabbing the victim. While Melara was stabbing the boy, the knife Melara was using snapped and broke in the victim’s chest. Melara and the others left the victim bleeding to death with approximately 33 sharp force injuries and numerous blunt force injuries where the assailants had punched, kicked, and struck the victim with rocks. Following the murder, Melara, Gonzalez, and the juvenile were promoted to “homeboy,” or full members of MS-13, as a reward for their participation in the murder.
After a multi-year investigation, Melara was one of dozens of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts. During the investigation, Melara was identified as a member of MS-13’s Everett Locos Salvatrucha (ELS) clique.
Melara, Gonzalez, and Parada Martinez are three of 49 defendants who have been convicted on federal charges as part of this ongoing prosecution in Massachusetts. Sixteen of those defendants—including Melara, Gonzalez, and Parada Martinez—have been held responsible for racketeering conspiracy involving murder. Melara, Parada Martinez, and the juvenile, who was charged separately, pleaded guilty prior to trial. After a multi-week trial, Gonzalez was convicted of RICO conspiracy and held responsible for his role in this murder, in addition to the murder of a 16-year-old boy in a separate East Boston attack in January 2016. Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, 2018.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.
Luzerne County Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Participating in Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that Charles Davis, III, age 46, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 28, 2018, to three years’ imprisonment and to serve four years on supervised release by Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley, for his role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy that operated in Luzerne County during February through November 2014.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Davis previously admitted to transporting Desmond Mercer, the leader of the conspiracy, to numerous heroin transactions and to distributing heroin for Mercer to other customers in Luzerne County. Davis admitted to involvement in the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin, which is approximately equivalent to between 4,000 and 16,000 retail bags of heroin.
Davis is the last member of the drug ring to be sentenced to prison in the case. Desmond Mercer, the leader of the drug conspiracy, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Shaliek Stroman and Shaquan Murphy, two key associates of Mercer, were each sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for their roles in the conspiracy. The remaining members of the conspiracy received the following prison sentences:
- Antuan Jamison—five years
- Omar Bell—52 months
- Megan Fox—30 months
- Brandy Malinosky—28 months
- Cleveland Linder, Jr—27 months
- Corey Wortham—18 months
- Brianna Rattigan—one year
Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2016, as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and the Kingston Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
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.
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Los Angeles Attorney Arrested on Bank Fraud Charge for Allegedly Depositing Stolen Tax Refund Check Worth over $1 MillionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal tax authorities this morning arrested an attorney on bank fraud charges for allegedly depositing a stolen U.S. Treasury check for just over $1 million.
Thaddeus Julian Culpepper, 44, of South Los Angeles, was arrested this morning at his residence without incident by special agents with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Culpepper is named in a criminal complaint filed on September 27 that charges him with one count of bank fraud. The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint alleges that Culpepper deposited 21 stolen tax refund checks worth more than $1.3 million into several attorney client trust accounts.
In relation to one check for more than $1 million that he deposited into one of his client trust accounts, Culpepper allegedly told a bank representative that the payees were clients and had endorsed the check to him. Investigators have determined that Culpepper personally deposited the $1,003,814 check at a Well Fargo Bank branch in Pasadena in August 2017. “The listed payees, however, have confirmed that they never received their tax refund check, and that they do not know Culpepper,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit outlines 20 other checks that were deposited into client trust accounts that Culpepper opened at Chase Bank and Citibank. Investigators believe that the 21 checks deposited into Culpepper’s client trust accounts were stolen from the U.S. Mail.
Culpepper is expected to make his initial court appearance in this case this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The bank fraud charge alleged in the complaint carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The case against Culpepper is being investigated by TIGTA.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Veronica Dragalin of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
Local Leader of Mexican Drug Cartel Sentenced to Thirty-One Years for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Co-Conspirators also convicted and sentenced to federal prison
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ciro Macias Martinez, a citizen of Mexico illegally residing in Georgetown, Kentucky, was sentenced on Friday, in the U.S. District Court in Lexington by Judge Danny C. Reeves, to serve 31 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Macias, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to both offenses.
In August 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Lexington began its investigation of Macias, and multiple other individuals, for their roles in a sophisticated drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating in Central Kentucky, which was tied to Mexican drug cartels. Macias was the local head of the organization, responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of numerous drugs, including a very pure form of methamphetamine – commonly referred to as “ice” – cocaine, and heroin. The extensive investigation established that, in addition to distributing kilograms of the drugs, Macias was also responsible for collecting the proceeds and returning the money back to Mexico, to the larger drug trafficking organization. Macias admitted in his plea agreement that the organization used contract couriers to pick up large sums of bulk cash that constituted the drug proceeds, supporting larger criminal organization’s ongoing drug trafficking activities. During the investigation, DEA, in conjunction with the Lexington Police Department and the Kentucky State Police, seized and forfeited approximately $1.2 million.
Macias and the larger criminal organization also laundered money through the banking system, by making deposits at multiple banks in increments less than $10,000 per transaction, commonly referred to as “structuring deposits,” attempting to avoid certain federal and state bank reporting requirements. Several other individuals pleaded guilty to their roles in the money laundering, which involved banks in Tennessee and North Carolina and deposits totaling $100,000 or more on each trip. Arlenne Sosa, 23, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in federal prison; Laura Ortiz, 23, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years; and Smirna Ortiz, 21, was convicted at trial, in July 2018, and will be sentenced on November 2, 2018. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The defendants must serve 85% of their respective prison sentences; and upon their release, they will each be under supervision by federal probation officers for additional terms. Macias, after serving his sentence, will face deportation to Mexico.
“Ciro Macias Martinez led a large scale drug trafficking and money laundering cell operating in central Kentucky, and the sentence imposed by the court underscores the severity of his criminal conduct,” stated Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Macias and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing significant quantities of dangerous drugs, making millions of dollars, and engaging in a sophisticated money laundering scheme to use those ill-gotten proceeds to further their criminal enterprise. I commend the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, and thank the agents, officers, and prosecutors for their dedicated service. Without their hard work, Macias and his associates would still be in business and our community less safe.”
United States Attorney Duncan; Darrell Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville; Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington-Fayette County Division of Police; and Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bradbury represented the United States in the case.
Lewis County man admits to drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – John David Davisson, of Weston, West Virginia, has admitted to firearms and methamphetamine distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Davisson, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Carry a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.” Davisson admitted to possessing a .45-caliber pistol and two 9mm pistols while possessing crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, in October 2017 in Lewis County.
Davisson faces up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for firearms count and faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the methamphetamine count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Leader of Darknet ItalianMafiaBrussels Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 11 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
DENVER – U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer announced that on September 26, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Filip Lucian Simion, age 25, to 132 months (11 years) imprisonment for conspiracy to import controlled substances and launder money. Judge Jackson also ordered a personal money judgment against Simion in the amount of $850,000.00.
On May 3, 2016, in a joint U.S./European enforcement action, law enforcement dismantled the ItalianMafiaBrussels Drug Trafficking Organization, arresting ten defendants during early morning raids in Bruges, Belgium and surrounding areas. Filip Lucian Simion and Leonardo Cristea were arrested simultaneously in Bucharest, Romania, and extradited to the District of Colorado in July and October of 2016, respectively.
The nine-count indictment underlying the extraditions charged Filip Lucian Simion, Leonardo Cristea, and others with conspiracies to distribute and import into the United States controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 963. The defendants were also charged with substantive counts of importation of controlled substances and aiding and abetting, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 952(a), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. In addition, Filip Lucian Simion was charged in several counts of distribution of controlled substances by means of the Internet, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(h)(1)(A) and conspiracy to launder money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
The leader of the organization, Filip Lucian Simion, plead guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to import into the United States controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to launder money.
The evidence from the investigation revealed that from January 2013, through May 3, 2016, members of the conspiracy imported kilogram quantities of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a Schedule I controlled substance commonly known as Ecstasy) into the United States via the mail from various countries in Europe. The transnational organization operated online as the Darknet vendor “ItalianMafiaBrussels” or “IMB” and used encrypted email and TOR-based online black markets, such as the now defunct Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0, to sell the MDMA, primarily to United States and Canadian customers. The organization accepted payment for the drugs in the cryptocurrency bitcoin. In 2014 and 2015, several defendants were charged and convicted in the District of Colorado for distribution of MDMA sourced by the organization.
“Let there be no mistake. As the internet has grown, so has the long arm of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “If you’re harming people in Colorado, no distance is a safe distance. We will find you, we will bring you here, and we will send you to federal prison.”
“The Darknet is a rapidly evolving network that enhances the ability of transnational criminal organizations to move illicit goods worldwide. The anonymity it provides, coupled with the use of cryptocurrencies to launder proceeds made this a complicated investigation. Our special agents were able to call on their expertise, as well as HSI’s broad investigative mandate, to contribute to shutting down the ItalianMafiaBrussels Drug Trafficking Organization. Colorado is safer now that this group will no longer be able to bring illegal narcotics to its cities,” said HSI Denver SAC Steve Cagen.
“This case highlights the broad reach of the law enforcement community when we bring together state, federal and international partners to dismantle worldwide criminal organizations. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service would like to commend all those who came together to bring down one of the world’s largest distributors of illicit drugs,” said Kevin Rho, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This case sends a clear message that criminals who use the U.S. mail to send illegal narcotics to American citizens are not safe hiding behind cryptocurrency transactions and foreign borders. Postal Inspectors are steadfast in their commitment to protecting the American public, and USPS employees, from the hazards of drugs in the mail,” said Rho.
"This sentence sends a strong message to dark Web merchants of illegal goods that law enforcement is coming for them," said Steven Osborne, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.
This case was investigated by the Denver Illicit Digital Economy Working Group, comprised of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with the Romanian Central Anti-Narcotics Unit in Bucharest, Romania, and the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, East Flanders Drug Unit in Dendermonde, Belgium. Other United States and international agencies assisting the working group in this investigation included: the Boulder County Drug Task Force, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices nationwide, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, Europol, and Eurojust.
The case was prosecuted by Michele R. Korver, Digital Currency Counsel at the DOJ Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Unit, on detail from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado.
Lake County Man Sentenced to Nine years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A Tiptonville man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, Christopher Chadwick, 41, used his cellular phone to look for websites containing child pornography. Chadwick admitted being responsible for downloading images from those sites including pictures depicting prepubescent girls. Some of the images contained girls as young as 3 or 4 years old.
During the course of the investigation, Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at Chadwick’s home in Tiptonville and located 895 images containing files depicting minor females engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, 15 videos depicting similar acts were found.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Possession of child pornography is a disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims. Under our Project Safe Childhood initiative, we work with the FBI to investigate and federally prosecute computer and internet crimes against children, including possession and distribution of child pornography. We will always seek significant and mandatory minimum sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee."
On September 28, 2018, U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Chadwick to 108 months imprisonment; 5 years supervised release and a $5,000 special assessment as required under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Upon his release, Chadwick will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Eskridge prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Justice Department is awarding almost $320 million, including nearly $7 million in West Virginia, to combat opioid crisisRead the Press Release
WHEELING – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell is applauding the Justice Department’s announcement of more than $6 million in grant funding to West Virginia to combat the opioid crisis.
The Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
“We know that we can’t arrest our way out of this epidemic. It is crucial that every facet of the community be an active part of the fight. The various grants awarded will assist with treatment, prevention, enforcement, and research, all important tools in addressing the crisis” said Powell.
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 72,000, 1,011 lives were lost in West Virginia in 2017. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.• Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million). Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse.
• Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million). Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance.
o West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services - $1,300,000
o West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources - $920,308
• Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million). Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.
• Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million). Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance.
o Child Protect of Mercer County, Inc. - $750,000
o Legal Aid of West Virginia - $549,726
o Marshall University Research Corporation - $750,000
o Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. - $313,078
• Drug Courts ($81.2 Million). Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
• Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million). Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis.
• Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million). Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.
o West Virginia University Research Corporation - $1,354,365OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department is Awarding Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
- Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million)
- Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million)
- Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million)
- Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million)
- Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million)
- Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million)
- Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
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- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
Justice Department is Awarding Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
- Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million)
- Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million)
- Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million)
- Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million)
- Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million)
- Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million)
- Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
Justice Department awards $1.8 million to support data sharing, drug courts and other programs in Cuyahoga and Lucas CountyRead the Press Release
On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
Included in the grants are more than $1.8 million to support programs in Cuyahoga and Lucas County, as well as nearly $2.9 million for statewide programming in Ohio.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
“This money will help us do a better job sharing and analyzing data, as well as helping support drug courts and treatment,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “By attacking this epidemic from all fronts – aggressive law enforcement, education and prevention, changing prescribing practices and supporting treatment for those ready to make a change – we will make progress.”
Among the grants with ties to Northern Ohio:
$932,233 to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County. This money will be used to help improve, coordinate and analyze data sharing among law enforcement, social service providers, healthcare institutions and other stakeholders.
$500,000 to the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. This money will be used to support drug court programs in Lucas County.
$400,000 to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. This money will be used to help facilitate collaboration among criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems in Cuyahoga County.
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million). Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse.
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million). Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance.
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million). Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million). Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance.
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million). Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million). Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis.
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million). Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Requires UTC to Divest Two Aerospace Businesses to Proceed with Acquisition of Rockwell CollinsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it will require United Technologies Corporation (UTC) to divest two businesses critical to the safe operation of aircraft to proceed with its acquisition of Rockwell Collins. First, UTC will divest Rockwell Collins’s pneumatic ice protection systems business. Pneumatic ice protection systems remove ice from the wing of an aircraft by means of an inflatable rubber de-icing boot. Second, UTC will divest Rockwell Collins’s trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs) business. THSAs ensure that an aircraft maintains altitude during flight by adjusting the angle of the horizontal tail surface.
“Today’s remedy ensures that customers continue to benefit from competition in the supply of these two aircraft components that are critical to safety,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division. “The remedy allows the divestiture buyers to compete vigorously to provide high quality systems and service to customers.”
The Department’s Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to enjoin the proposed acquisition, along with a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive concerns alleged in the lawsuit.
The Department said that, without the divestitures, the proposed acquisition would lessen competition substantially in the market for ice protection systems, by combining two of the world’s three suppliers of pneumatic ice protection systems, and in the market for THSAs, by combining two of the world’s leading producers of THSAs.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, UTC must divest Rockwell Collins’s ice protection systems business to an acquirer approved by the United States. UTC also must divest Rockwell Collins’s THSA business to Safran S.A., an established aerospace supplier, or an alternate acquirer approved by the United States.
The Antitrust Division, the European Commission, and the Competition Bureau of Canada cooperated closely throughout the course of their respective investigations.
UTC is incorporated in Delaware and has its headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut. UTC produces a wide range of products for the aerospace industry and other industries. In 2017, UTC had revenues of approximately $59.8 billion.
Rockwell Collins is incorporated in Delaware and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Rockwell Collins is a major provider of aerospace and defense electronics systems. In 2017, Rockwell Collins had revenues of approximately $6.8 billion.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Maribeth Petrizzi, Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 8700, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Justice Department Is Awarding Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
- Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million)
- Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million)
- Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million)
- Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million)
- Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million)
- Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million)
- Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
Justice Department Is Awarding Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million). Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse.
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million). Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance.
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million). Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million). Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance.
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million). Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million). Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis.
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million). Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
NOTE: The breakdown of grant funding can be found here.
Justice Department Awards Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid CrisisRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
The awards include $5,968,103 for entities in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs
- $750,000 to strengthen the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
- $485,786 for state-wide drug courts
- $889,229 for enhancement of family drug courts
- $600,000 for new family drug courts
- $1,000,000 for research on the effectiveness of family drug courts
- Cleveland County Drug Court
- $250,000 for enhancements to drug courts
- $300,000 for enhancements to veteran treatment courts
- Muscogee Creek Nation
- $943,088 for a comprehensive abuse site-based program
- Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.
- $750,000 for services for children and youth affected by the opioid crisis
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug "hot spot districts." In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," which requires a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet, and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed to maximize effectiveness throughout the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here. The general categories of grants are:
- Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million)
- Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse
- Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million)
- Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million)
- Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
- Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million)
- Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance
- Drug Courts ($81.2 Million)
- Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million)
- Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis
- Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million)
- Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice
OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.
- Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs
Justice Department Awards Almost $320 Million to Combat Opioid Crisis, Eastern District of Kentucky to Receive More Than $3,700,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.
"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."
In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, on October 27, aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and has collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017.
The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers; announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas; and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” The Department also charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action, charging more than 600 defendants, and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE).
The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed to maximize effectiveness across the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.
In the Eastern District of Kentucky, the following recipients received grant funding to combat the opioid crisis:
The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government received $500,000 for law enforcement and first responders to respond to overdoses.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services received $543,188 for the Commonwealth’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
The University of Kentucky Research Foundation received $1,000,000 to help local and state agencies leverage information from public health and public safety data and to analyze substance abuse issues and identify potential solutions from public health, treatment, and public safety perspectives.
The Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society received $666,176 to help expand services for children and youth victimized as a result of the opioid crisis.
The Lexington Leadership Foundation, Inc., received $500,000 to create and provide mentoring services to children impacted by the opioid epidemic.
The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Court received $500,000 to enhance existing drug court programs.
“These grants provide unprecedented funding for those most impacted by the opioid crisis and will assist families and children, law enforcement, and first responders,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “These grant awards evidence the Department of Justice’s commitment to address this crisis on multiple fronts, and recognize the need to support law enforcement, prevention, and treatment efforts.”