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19 October 2018
Mandeville Couple Sentenced for Violations of Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that CHRISTOPHER MAZUR, age 34, and REBECCA COMSTOCK, age 37, were sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act.
According to court documents, MAZUR unlawfully possessed 10 firearms and 2,825 rounds of ammunition. COMSTOCK made false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer in connection with to three of the firearms that MAZUR unlawfully possessed.
United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced MAZUR to a term of imprisonment of 24 months, a term of supervised release of three years, and a $100 mandatory special assessment. COMSTOCK was sentenced to a term of probation of five years and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
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. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan McLaren was in charge of the prosecution.
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Leader of Local Bloods Gang Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Triangle man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and using and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Tarvell Vandiver, 29, has been a member of the Imperial Gangsta Blood (IGB) gang for years. IGB is a “hood” of the national gang, United Blood Nation. During the course of the conspiracy, Vandiver served as the IGB superior in this region. In his role as the regional leader of IGB, Vandiver coordinated with leadership in multiple states, oversaw the IGB in the region, called for regional and local meetings, and acted as the disciplinary officer. He also provided guidance to other gang members on how to distribute controlled substances and arranged for gang members to illegally purchase firearms.
During his time as the regional leader for IGB, Vandiver regularly distributed cocaine base and cocaine to gang members, other drug distributors, and users while armed or while having access to firearms. These firearms were used and carried in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Vandiver was recently convicted in D.C. Superior Court for his role in conspiring to commit murder in Washington, DC.
Vandiver was arrested in December 2017, when over 300 law enforcement agents and officers executed a coordinated takedown as part of Operation Tin Panda. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division and the FBI’s Washington Field Office Safe Streets Task Force began Operation Tin Panda in the spring of 2017. In collaboration with federal and local law enforcement, investigators and prosecutors began jointly investigating Blood gangs and other drug distributors involved in violent crime and other criminal activity in northern Virginia. Multiple criminal acts were tied to gang and drug activity, including homicide, malicious wounding, robbery, shootings, and drug and firearms distribution. During the course of this investigation, more than 40 individuals throughout Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California, who were illegally selling firearms and controlled substances or were involved in other criminal acts, were arrested on federal firearms and drug charges.
Operation Tin Panda also resulted in the seizure of over 95 firearms, $150,000 in cash, nine vehicles with an estimated value of over $300,000, and approximately 3 pounds of cocaine base, 10 pounds of cocaine, 7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 5 pounds of heroin, 4 pounds of ecstasy, 227 pounds of marijuana, and 79 pounds of THC.
Operation Tin Panda was led by the ATF’s Washington Field Division and the FBI’s Washington Field Office Safe Streets Task Force. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Prince William County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax County Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, Stafford County Sherriff’s Office, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, King George County Sheriff’s Office, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department, and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, provided significant assistance during the operation.
Operation Tin Panda was investigated as part of the Organized Crime and 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. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carina A. Cuellar and Colleen E. García prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-16.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to over 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and Little Rock FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Diane Upchurch, announced today that Derrick Nicholson, age 50, of Fayetteville, Arkansas was sentenced October 16, 2018 to 250 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Distribution of 50 Grams or More of actual Methamphetamine; He was ordered to pay fines and fees in the amount of $10,000.
According to court records, in late 2016 and continuing through early 2018 the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) conducted an investigation into a local drug trafficking organization led by Derrick Nicholson. Beginning in January 2017, investigators conducted seven separate controlled purchases of methamphetamine and heroin from Derrick Nicholson and his associates. In July, 2017, Derrick Nicholson was arrested by state authorities on firearms charges and was subsequently incarcerated, at which point his wife and coconspirator LaQueecha Nicholson assumed direct control of the organization. However, Derrick continued to play a leadership role in the operation of the organization from jail, coordinating shipments of methamphetamine and other drugs from California, Texas and Mississippi. The investigation was large in scope, covering Northwest Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and California. In addition to large amounts of methamphetamine, the organization was distributing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana. Eleven firearms were seized during the investigation, two of which were stolen, as well as an AK-47. The investigation revealed the identity of other co-conspirators in the organization.
“This sentence is a direct result of two years of hard work and sacrifice put forth by the Northwest Arkansas Safe Street Task Force and local law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Dak Kees. “This operation is a prime example of the commitment Northwest Arkansas law enforcement has towards ensuring the safety of our community.”
“I would like to sincerely thank all of our partners with the Northwest Arkansas Safe Streets Task Force, the US Attorney’s Office, and all of the hard working men and women within FBI-Little Rock who participated in the successful investigation and prosecution of this case,” stated SAC Upchurch. “We hope that Derrick Nicholson’s 20 year jail sentence will serve as a warning to others that the people of the State of Arkansas will not tolerate the illegal distribution of narcotics within our state.”
In January of 2018, Derrick Nicholson, LaQueecha Nicholson, Johnny Nicholson, Rubin Morrow, Derrick Hill and Jeffery Hollingsworth were charged in a 15-count Indictment by the Grand Jury sitting in the Western District of Arkansas. In March of 2018, seven additional co-conspirators were charged by the Grand Jury in separate indictments. In addition to Derrick Nicholson, the following individuals have been convicted and sentenced as part of this case:
LaQueecha Nicholson, age 42, of Fayetteville, Arkansas was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release, on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Distribution of 50 Grams or More of a Mixture of Methamphetamine.
Johnny Nicholson, age 43, of Springdale, Arkansas was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release, on one count of Distribution of five or more grams of methamphetamine.
Marcus Derby, age 37, of Dallas, Texas was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine.
Jeffery Hollingsworth, age 50, of Fayetteville, Arkansas was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Derrick Hill, age 42, of Fayetteville, Arkansas was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and prosecuted by AUSA David Harris as a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is a nationwide effort that brings together federal, state and local law enforcement resources to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
Lavellous Purcell, A/K/A “King Casino,” A/K/A “Mike Hill,” Convicted in Manhattan Federal Court of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion, and Other Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a federal jury today found LAVELLOUS PURCELL, a/k/a “King Casino,” a/k/a “Mike Hill,” guilty of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and related offenses. PURCELL was convicted following a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Lavellous Purcell, a/k/a ‘King Casino,’ was a pimp with a notoriously brutal set of rules he used to keep his victims under his control. Besides physical violence and intimidation, Purcell forced the women to dress and act in certain ways, and forced them to brand themselves with a tattoo of his alias, ‘Casino,’ on their necks. Purcell even boasted about his reprehensible abuse of women on social media. Now, Purcell has himself been branded as a felon by a unanimous jury, and faces life in federal prison. We hope today’s verdict brings at least some small measure of comfort to the victims of Purcell’s unconscionable crimes.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and evidence presented during the trial in Manhattan federal court:
From at least in or about 2012 to in or about 2017, LAVELLOUS PURCELL, a/k/a “King Casino,” a/k/a “Mike Hill,” the defendant engaged in the sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of numerous women across the country, including in New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The defendant recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained women for the purposes of commercial sex, and he used violent force, threats of force, coercion, intimidation, and fear to force at least one woman to engage in commercial sex for his own profit. For example, the defendant strangled and choked certain of his victims, he hit and threatened to hit certain of his victims, and he kidnapped certain of his victims.
The victims of the defendant’s prostitution business were required to follow a strict set of rules, which the defendant enforced through threats, fear, intimidation, and violence. The defendant’s rules required his victims to: make the defendant money through prostitution, give the defendant all money earned from any commercial sex acts, call the defendant “Daddy,” not speak to men other than the defendant, not look at any men other than the defendant, not talk back to the defendant, not disrespect the defendant, not have boyfriends, not wear sneakers or loose-fitting clothing, and brand themselves with a tattoo bearing the defendant’s alias, “Casino,” on their necks.
The defendant recruited women to engage in commercial sex through social media websites, and he used Backpage.com, an online classifieds website, to post advertisements for commercial sex. The defendant also booked various rental cars and hotel rooms to transport women across state lines to engage in commercial sex. Meanwhile, the defendant boasted about the violence he used against women and his prostitution of women through social media posts, phone, text, and online communications, and in person.
To date, law enforcement agents have identified numerous women who have engaged in commercial sex at the defendant’s direction.
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LAVELLOUS PURCELL, a/k/a “King Casino,” a/k/a “Mike Hill,” 40, of Hempstead, New York, was convicted of one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, one count of enticement to engage in prostitution, one count of transporting individuals in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, one count of using interstate commerce to promote prostitution, and one count of conspiring to use interstate facilities to promote prostitution. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, as well as maximum potential sentences that are prescribed by Congress and provided below for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Any individuals who believe they have information that may be relevant to the investigation should contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
Mr. Berman thanked the FBI and NYPD for their outstanding investigative work in this matter. Mr. Berman also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance with this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sheb Swett, Jane Kim, and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution.
Kyle Man Sentenced for Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Ramone McBride, age 20, was sentenced on October 3, 2018, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
McBride was found guilty of the charge following a federal jury trial in Rapid City on June 26, 2018.
On September 4, 2017, an Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Officer responded to McBride’s address in order to remove him from the residence. After being informed McBride was no longer at the residence, McBride jumped the officer from behind. McBride put the officer in a chokehold and assaulted him in the face multiple times with a closed fist. McBride then grabbed the officer’s taser and deployed two taser cartridges – striking the officer in the temple, ear, neck, and bicep area.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Koreatown Consultant and Former California Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control Official Indicted in Long-Running Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former official with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) allegedly accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from a consultant in exchange for taking official acts to financially benefit the consultant, including initiating ABC enforcement actions designed to generate consulting fees, according to a federal grand jury indictment announced today by United States Attorney Nick Hanna and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt.
The two men charged in the corruption scheme are:
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Wilbur M. Salao, 46, of Bellflower, a 21-year ABC employee who was a district administrator in the Los Angeles Metro ABC office from 2010 until he left the agency in May 2017; and
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Scott Seo, also known as “Seung Hye Seo” and “Scott Hoon Seo,” 49, of San Pedro, who was employed by the ABC for 15 years before starting his consulting business, Alcoholic Beverage Control LLC (ABC LLC), in 2006.
The 13-count indictment was unsealed on Wednesday when Salao was arraigned in United States District Court. At that time, Salao entered a not guilty plea, was released on a $20,000 bond and was ordered to stand trial on December 11 before United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt.
Seo surrendered on Thursday and was arraigned that afternoon. He also pleaded not guilty and was released on a $20,000 bond.
The indictment specifically alleges that Seo paid Salao over $28,000 in bribes and kickbacks from the beginning of 2014 through the spring of 2016.
In exchange for the payments, Salao allegedly performed official acts, including directing ABC enforcement operations and disciplinary actions against businesses selected by Seo, sharing non-public information with Seo, revealing confidential law enforcement activities in Koreatown, and expediting the licensing process for Seo’s clients.
“We will not tolerate the shakedown of local businesses by corrupt public officials and their cohorts,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “The brazen conduct alleged in this case compromised the integrity of a state agency, provided preferential treatment to businesses that paid bogus consulting fees, and padded the pockets of a senior ABC official. All businesses subject to enforcement and licensing requirements should be able to play on the same level field.”
“Mr. Salao is alleged to have enriched himself with bribe payments in exchange for using his government position to target businesses in Koreatown on behalf of his codefendant, Mr. Seo. Moreover, the pair attempted to thwart legitimate law enforcement action, putting police officers in harm’s way,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Rooting out this kind of corruption is necessary in order for businesses to operate legitimately, without fear of reprisal by those in positions of power or influence.”
Seo has operated ABC LLC over the past 13 years, marketing his services through various means in Koreatown, a neighborhood located in City Council District 10 in central Los Angeles.
As part of the scheme, Seo targeted Koreatown businesses for ABC enforcement actions, which allowed Seo to sign new clients, generate consulting fees from existing clients, and attempt to force a business to sell its establishment to Seo and his associates, the indictment alleges.
The indictment outlines a series of official acts allegedly taken by Salao that implicate at least eight businesses in Koreatown and were designed to benefit Seo’s consulting business. For example, in late 2011, after the ABC raided a Koreatown establishment, Seo charged the business $60,000 in cash, some of which was used to pay Salao, who issued a temporary license that allowed the establishment to continue operating.
Between 2014 and 2016, Seo allegedly sent Salao lists of businesses for the ABC to target, which included suggested violations, such as operating after hours. In communications between the two men outlined in the indictment, they discussed how Salao would provide benefits to Seo’s clients and would impose more severe penalties on businesses that did not utilize Seo’s services.
In private discussions outlined in the indictment, Seo and Salao referred to their scheme as “Asian Persuasion Control” and “Asian Persuasion Coalition.”
Additionally, according to the indictment, Salao learned of impending enforcement actions by the ABC and the Los Angeles Police Department in Koreatown and provided information to Seo, including a photo of an undercover LAPD officer. This information allowed Seo to warn his clients and shield their illegal activity from police.
Salao and Seo are charged in the indictment with conspiracy, four counts of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Seo is charged additionally with four counts of bribery.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Seo would face a statutory maximum sentence of 205 years in federal prison, and Salao would face up to 164 years.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Any member of the public who has knowledge about this case – or who would like to report similar allegations of corruption by public officials – is encouraged to contact their local FBI Field Office. In Los Angeles, the FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at (310) 477-6565. Foreign language speakers can be made available.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Veronica Dragalin of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.
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Kane County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for $600,000 Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough today sentenced a Carpentersville, Ill., man, Keith JD Offord, to 12 years in prison for a bank fraud scheme that used identities stolen from the dark web to defraud businesses, including several Springfield businesses, of more than $600,000. Offord, 25, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $600,549.
On Feb. 8, 2018, a jury convicted Offord for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Evidence presented by the government showed that from December 2013 to August 2015, Offord used others’ identities to create false identification documents which were used at retail stores to obtain credit accounts and to buy merchandise and gift cards. Among the businesses Offord defrauded were Bergner’s, Game Stop, and Sam’s Club in Springfield. Offord used more than 70 stolen identities, primarily of chiropractors, that he obtained from the dark web. Stolen identifiers included dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, passwords to email accounts and mothers’ maiden names.
Offord has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since Jan. 9, 2018, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins revoked his bond. The petition to revoke Offord’s bond alleged that Offord attempted to commit bank fraud on or about Nov. 1, 2017, when he attempted to obtain a loan to purchase a 2011 Jaguar XJ automobile. Offord allegedly presented false information to a credit union, including a fraudulent social security number which was assigned to an 11-year-old boy in Idaho, fraudulent employment and salary information, a fraudulent driver’s license, and fraudulent documents to confirm his address.
The Illinois State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory M. Gilmore and Matthew Z. Weir prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Successfully Closes Its Memorandum of Agreement with Shelby County, TennesseeRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that it is successfully closing its memorandum of agreement with the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County and the Shelby County Detention Center.
Shelby County and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice entered into the agreement in December of 2012 to address the results of an investigation by the Department into the operations of the County’s juvenile justice system. The investigation looked into the operation and administration of the County’s juvenile court as well as the conditions of confinement for juveniles held in the County’s Detention Center.
Over the last six years, Shelby County has implemented a number of significant reforms under the agreement. To ensure that it protects the constitutional rights of juveniles to receive due process and equal protection under the law, the County has for the first time established and funded a juvenile unit in the public defender’s office that now represents the majority of juveniles who appear before the Juvenile Court. The County now provides counsel to juveniles at both probation conferences and at court hearings. The County has also undertaken efforts to ensure that decisions made at different levels of the juvenile justice system are unbiased and guided by objective criteria. Finally, the County has taken numerous steps to prevent the unnecessary use of force in the Detention Center and to protect juveniles from the risk of suicide.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all juveniles who enter the justice system,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Shelby County made commendable efforts to improve its juvenile justice system. The Department is pleased to see Shelby County and its local elected officials embrace and show public commitment to continuing the reforms it has made.”
The Department of Justice applauds Shelby County’s reform efforts and appreciates the productive partnership that the County has established with the Department over the last six years.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt.
Jury Convicts Meade County Man for Violating Federal Child Exploitation LawRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Meade County, Kentucky, man was convicted last week for accessing the Internet with intent to view child pornography, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman. The jury convicted Dennis Ammons, age 58, on October 12, 2018, following a three-day jury trial.
“This conviction is the product of a courageous victim and a dogged career federal prosecutor, collaborating to seek justice and protect other Kentucky kids,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
According to a pre-trial memo and evidence introduced during the trial, on December 15, 2015, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant on Ammons’ home and seized nearly 200 digital devices such as laptop computers, hard drives, tablets, thumb drives and memory cards. Forensic examination of the devices revealed evidence of Ammons’ online activities concerning child pornography. Seven of the devices contained videos or still images depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
Sentencing is set for Tuesday, January 22, 2019, before United States District Court Judge Claria Horn Boom. Ammons faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and at least five years of Supervised Release. He will have to register as a child sex offender upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Mary Kennedy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service, investigated the case.
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This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Jury Convicts Binghamton Woman of Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - A jury today voted to convict Patricia L. Williams, age 62, of Binghamton, of theft of government property and fraud, for stealing Social Security benefits deposited into her deceased husband’s bank account, and for concealing her receipt of those benefits while applying for and receiving other government benefits.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and John F. Grasso, Special Agent In Charge of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General.
The jury reached a verdict after a four-day trial. The evidence demonstrated that the defendant’s husband passed away in 1990, but SSA was never notified of his death. SSA, believing the defendant’s husband was alive, continued to pay monthly benefits until 2013, which Williams withdrew and spent, knowing she was not entitled to the money. From 2008 to 2015, the defendant applied for and received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), concealing that she was taking her deceased husband’s benefits. SSI is a needs-based program, available to elderly, blind, and disabled individuals, that provides money to pay for living expenses. The total loss to the government was at least $63,500.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release when she is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy on February 20, 2019. She may also be ordered to pay restitution to the SSA. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.
Jacksonville High School Teacher Arrested and Federally Charged with Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse VideoRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced today that Jordan Frederic Schemmel (37, Jacksonville) has been arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint with distributing child pornography. Schemmel faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. Schemmel has been detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for October 25, 2018.
According to the
criminal complaint , on September 5, 2018, an individual using the screen name “JS” and the user name “Profsunrise15” responded to a message on an internet bulletin board frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children. This message had been posted by an undercover FBI agent. The user (“Profsunrise15”), later identified as Jordan Frederic Schemmel, began an online conversation with the undercover FBI agent. After some conversation about sexual interest in children, Profsunrise15 sent the agent a video depicting a prepubescent child being sexually assaulted by an adult male, and later sent a photo depicting similar criminal conduct with a child. Further investigation revealed that the IP address used by Profsunrise15 resolved to Schemmel’s residence in Jacksonville, and that Schemmel was a teacher at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville.On October 19, 2018, FBI agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Schemmel’s residence and seized several items of computer media and at least one Apple iPhone. During an interview with law enforcement, Schemmel stated that his Kik user name was Profsunrise15, that he had sent the child-pornographic video using the Kik app, and that he had previously tried unsuccessfully to stop viewing child pornography. An examination of Schemmel’s smart phone and a thumb drive located at his residence revealed that both contained images and videos depicting child pornography and bestiality. Schemmel was placed under arrest.
This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact the FBI Jacksonville office at 904-248-7000.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
A criminal complaint is only an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael Department of Justice Reminds the Public to be Aware of Fraud and Report it to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
“Following Hurricane Michael’s landfall and as recovery efforts continue, it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes, impersonation of government officials and solicitations for fake charities,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. “The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
Since Hurricane Michael’s landfall, many people are left without food, water, or shelter, and are experiencing devastating damage to life and property. Unfortunately, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns from profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Numerous U.S. Attorney Offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
“The NCDF has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints after the recent hurricanes and help ensure that each report of fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director. “Raising public awareness is a great way for the NCDF to reach thousands of people who may one day be subjected to fraudulent schemes.”
Members of the public are reminded to apply a critical eye and exercise due diligence before trusting anyone purporting to be working on behalf of disaster victims. They should also exercise the same care before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of disaster victims as well as being extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. Solicitations can originate from e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings and telephone calls, and similar methods. Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. Learn more about the NCDF at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement here. Tips for the public on how to avoid being victimized of fraud are at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes.
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael Department of Justice Reminds the Public to Be Aware of Fraud and Report It to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
“Following Hurricane Michael’s landfall and as recovery efforts continue, it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes, impersonation of government officials and solicitations for fake charities,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. “The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
Since Hurricane Michael’s landfall, many people are left without food, water, or shelter, and are experiencing devastating damage to life and property. Unfortunately, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns from profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Numerous U.S. Attorney Offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
“The NCDF has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints after the recent hurricanes and help ensure that each report of fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director. “Raising public awareness is a great way for the NCDF to reach thousands of people who may one day be subjected to fraudulent schemes.”
Members of the public are reminded to apply a critical eye and exercise due diligence before trusting anyone purporting to be working on behalf of disaster victims. They should also exercise the same care before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of disaster victims as well as being extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. Solicitations can originate from e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings and telephone calls, and similar methods. Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. Learn more about the NCDF at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement here. Tips for the public on how to avoid being victimized of fraud are at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes.
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael Department of Justice Reminds the Public to Be Aware of Fraud and Report It to the National Center for Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward on complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
“Following Hurricane Michael’s landfall and as recovery efforts continue, it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes, impersonation of government officials and solicitations for fake charities,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. “The Department of Justice is committed to detecting this type of fraud, and we will aggressively prosecute the offenders. Through our National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to keep Americans from becoming victims of these schemes.”
Since Hurricane Michael’s landfall, many people are left without food, water, or shelter, and are experiencing devastating damage to life and property. Unfortunately, there are criminals ready to take advantage of victims before, during, and especially after a natural disaster. They are looking to strike those at their most vulnerable time.
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns from profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Contractor Fraud;
- Debris removal fraud;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime
Numerous U.S. Attorney Offices in districts impacted by recent hurricanes have established task forces comprised of local, state and federal agencies in their respective areas to combat disaster fraud.
“The NCDF has an excellent staff of investigators, analysts, call center operators, and managers who are well prepared to handle the anticipated volume of complaints after the recent hurricanes and help ensure that each report of fraud reaches the appropriate investigative agency,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin for the Middle District of Louisiana, who is also the NCDF’s Executive Director. “Raising public awareness is a great way for the NCDF to reach thousands of people who may one day be subjected to fraudulent schemes.”
Members of the public are reminded to apply a critical eye and exercise due diligence before trusting anyone purporting to be working on behalf of disaster victims. They should also exercise the same care before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of disaster victims as well as being extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster. Solicitations can originate from e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings and telephone calls, and similar methods. Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. Learn more about the NCDF at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement here. Tips for the public on how to avoid being victimized of fraud are at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes.
Hedge Fund Manager Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud for Defrauding Investors of Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that NICHOLAS JOSEPH GENOVESE pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to securities fraud for inducing investments in a hedge fund that he founded, Willow Creek Investments LP (“Willow Creek”), by misrepresenting his qualifications and professional background and concealing that he had prior felony convictions for fraud-related crimes. In February 2018, GENOVESE was charged and arrested for perpetrating this fraud. Today, GENOVESE pled guilty to one count of securities fraud before United States District Judge William H. Pauley III. As part of his guilty plea, GENOVESE agreed to forfeit more than $13 million of proceeds of the securities fraud, including his interest in two watercraft that GENOVESE purchased with funds that he obtained from his victims.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Berman said: “Nicholas Genovese admitted today that he duped victims into investing millions of dollars into his hedge fund, Willow Creek, based on false claims about his background and credentials. Genovese brazenly lied to his victims, falsely claiming that he was an heir to a multimillion dollar fortune, that he had an Ivy League MBA, and that he had served in senior roles at major Wall Street firms. In reality, Genovese was a confidence man with an extensive criminal record. Now, Genovese has pled guilty to his audacious crimes and faces prison time for his misdeeds.”
According to the allegations set forth in the Complaint and Indictment filed against GENOVESE in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in public court filings and proceedings including GENOVESE’s guilty plea hearing:
In 2015, GENOVESE began soliciting individuals to invest in the hedge fund that became Willow Creek, which was based in New York, New York. In doing so, GENOVESE represented, among other things, that he was part of the Genovese family that had owned the Genovese Drug Store chain in the New York area and was an heir to this family’s fortune from the sale of that business for hundreds of millions of dollars in the late 1990s; that he had graduated from Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business; and that he had extensive Wall Street experience. In particular, GENOVESE claimed that he had been a Goldman Sachs partner and a Bear Sterns portfolio manager before forming Willow Creek. Based in part on these claims, victims invested more than $13 million with GENOVESE.
These representations were false. GENOVESE is not related to the Genovese family that owned and sold the Genovese Drug Store Chain, did not attend the Tuck School of Business, and had never worked for Goldman Sachs or Bear Stearns. GENOVESE also did not tell his investors that he had multiple prior felony convictions for fraud-related offenses including forgery, identity theft, and grand larceny.
When investors began to ask for their money back, GENOVESE put them off. He told one investor that he would only return that investor’s funds after “the stars have aligned,” or else there would be a risk that almost all the money would be lost as a result of the purported impracticalities of unwinding unspecified trading positions. Records indicate that GENOVESE lost approximately $8 million trading in TD Ameritrade accounts between January 2015 and December 2017. GENOVESE also used proceeds of his fraud to purchase various luxury items, including two high-end mahogany boats.
* * *
GENOVESE, 53, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and agreed to forfeit more than $13 million of proceeds of the securities fraud to the U.S. government (including his two mahogany boats). The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence of the defendant will be determined by Judge Pauley at GENOVESE’s sentencing, which has been scheduled for February 15, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the New York Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Samson Enzer is in charge of the prosecution.
Greenville Roofing Company Owner Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
John Frederick Snyder, Owner of Snyder’s Roofing, Willfully Underreported his Income by Over $6 Million for tax years 2009 to 2014
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. District Judge Gordon J. Quist sentenced John Frederick Snyder, 72, of Greenville, Michigan, and owner of Snyder’s Roofing, to 12 months and 1 day in prison on October 18 following his guilty plea to a felony information charging him with tax evasion for the 2011 tax year. Snyder further admitted to willfully evading the assessment of income taxes for 2009 to 2014 by underreporting his income by over $6 million. The court also ordered Snyder to pay restitution of $414,160.00, representing the amount of taxes he intentionally failed to pay, which Snyder paid in full prior to sentencing. The IRS will assess interest and penalties against Snyder in the additional amount of approximately $600,000.00.
"Today, the court again justifiably recognized that the integrity of our country’s tax system depends upon voluntary and honest participation by everyone," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge. "Those who repeatedly and intentionally evade their obligation to accurately report their income and pay their fair share of taxes will be brought before the court and face appropriate punishment, up to and including imprisonment."
According to his plea agreement and court records, Snyder consistently failed to timely file tax returns and when he did file he underreported the amount of his business income. He purposely deposited less than all of his business income into his business bank account without informing his accountant. Instead, he took checks from his customers and signed them over to his suppliers (making them third-party checks) to pay for the materials and services used in his business. Because of this practice, his business account never showed his actual business income. Snyder also carried out his tax evasion scheme by depositing checks made payable directly to him for the work of his roofing business into his personal bank accounts, taking back cash at the same time, or negotiating the entire amount of the checks for cash. Snyder used some of this unreported cash to pay his employees.
"This is a classic example of greed," said Manny Muriel, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. "Snyder blatantly disregarded the law to line his own pockets. He painstakingly took steps to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to seek out and find those who choose to disregard the tax laws."
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, Grand Rapids, conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella prosecuted the case.
END
Government files False Claims Act complaint against ophthalmologist, Dr. Aarti D. PandyaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - The government intervened and filed a complaint in a False Claims Act lawsuit against Aarti D. Pandya, M.D. a/k/a Arati D. Pandya, M.D., an ophthalmologist from Conyers, Georgia, and her practice Aarti D. Pandya, M.D., P.C. (“the Pandya Defendants”). The lawsuit alleges that the Pandya Defendants submitted false claims to Medicare for surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and office visits that were medically unnecessary, of worthless value, upcoded, and in some cases, not provided at all.
“Patients and taxpayers who finance health care programs like Medicare are entitled to know that doctors are making decisions solely based upon medical need, and not based upon a desire to increase billings,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Our office is committed to preserving the integrity of the public health programs by pursuing doctors who engage in illegal healthcare practices at the public’s expense.”
“Greed at the expense of the American taxpayer is unacceptable,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) in Atlanta. “HHS-OIG in tandem with our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue those who seek to harm our most vulnerable citizens through questionable medical procedures and billing practices.”
“We must ensure patients and taxpayers that care provided by federally funded healthcare programs is dictated by clinical needs, not fiscal greed,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “To do that, the FBI and its partners are committed to combine resources to investigate and hold providers accountable to bill the government only for necessary services.”
The government’s complaint alleges that, between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2016, Dr. Pandya engaged in multiple schemes to submit false claims to Medicare, including claims for medically unnecessary cataract extraction surgery. Cataract surgery is only justified when a patient has a cataract that advances to the point where the patient cannot see well enough to carry out their normal daily activities. In many cases, Dr. Pandya performed surgery despite the fact that her patients had little to no vision complaints and normal visual acuity. She also failed to determine whether the patient would benefit from less invasive measures, such as glasses, as is required before submitting Medicare claims for cataract surgery.
The complaint also alleges that Dr. Pandya rendered false glaucoma diagnoses, which she used to submit a battery medically unnecessary diagnostic tests to Medicare. These diagnostic tests were often incomplete, of extremely poor quality, and not used by Dr. Pandya in treating the patients. For a period of time, one of the machines that Dr. Pandya used for diagnostic testing was not functioning, but she continued to bill Medicare for these tests, which were never performed.
The complaint also alleges that the Pandya Defendants submitted large numbers of false claims for office visits, commonly referred to as evaluation and management services. The Pandya Defendants billed Medicare for high level office visits nearly every time patients visited the clinic. Dr. Pandya, however, spent very little time with her patients and failed to provide the services required of these high level office visits. The Pandya Defendants also filed false claims for office visits when patients came to the clinic for care associated with procedures for which Medicare was already paying.
The lawsuit was initially filed by Laura Dildine, a former office manager for the Pandya Defendants, under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and share in any recovery. The act permits the government to intervene in such lawsuits, as it has done in this case. Defendants found liable under the act are subject to treble damages and penalties.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The claims asserted against the defendant are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The lawsuit is captioned United States v. Aarti D. Pandya, M.D., et al., Civil Action No. 1:13-CV-3336-LMM. (N.D. Ga.)
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David O’Neal and Austin M. Hall are representing the United States in this matter.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected](link sends e-mail) or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Youth Basketball Coach Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children, Possession and Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – Gregory Scott Stephen, age 42, of Monticello, Iowa, pleaded guilty on October 18, 2018, to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. This case is being prosecuted by Southern District of Iowa Assistant United States Attorneys Clifford Cronk and Amy Jennings, who have been designated as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, based on the recusal of the Northern District of Iowa United States Attorney’s Office.
Stephen’s sentencing date has yet to be scheduled before United States Northern District of Iowa Judge C.J. Williams. Stephen entered his guilty pleas pursuant to a conditional plea agreement, which permits Stephen to seek appellate review of the District Court’s October 4, 2018, Order denying Stephen’s motion to suppress evidence. Stephen pleaded guilty to all of the charges filed against him, and no charges were dismissed as part of plea agreement.
Stephen is the former co-director of Barnstormers Basketball of Iowa. The Barnstormers operate youth basketball teams for athletes between fourth and twelfth grades. In addition to his administrative duties, Stephen also coached Barnstormer players.
Stephen admitted in the plea agreement that he posed online as three different minor females and persuaded, induced, and enticed minor boys to send Stephen sexually explicit images of themselves. Specifically, while posing online as a teenaged female, Stephen contacted minor males, offered to exchange nude images with the minor males, and suggested the type of sexually explicit images the minor males should produce. Unbeknownst to the minor males, Stephen used a software application to record live transmissions made by the minor boys.
Stephen admitted in the plea agreement that he traveled with one minor male, aged 11 or 12 at the time, to basketball tournaments and games, and hosted the minor male at Stephen’s lake house in Delhi, Iowa. Stephen admitted he produced a visual depiction that shows Stephen with his mouth on or near the minor male’s genitals while Stephen touched the minor male’s genitals with his hand. That visual depiction was located by investigators on a hard drive possessed by Stephen.
Stephen admitted in the plea agreement he possessed on a hard drive approximately 400 file folders with titles in the last and then first names of different minor males. All of the folders contained visual depictions of nude minor males displaying their genitalia, and some depictions involved masturbation by the minor males. The visual depictions fell into three different genre: (1) nude minor males secretly recorded in various bathrooms; (2) still images and videos of minor males taken by the minors themselves and depicting the minors masturbating and/or displaying their genitalia – these minors were persuaded, induced, or enticed by Stephen to produce these visual depictions; and (3) visual depictions produced by Stephen of minor males unconscious with their pants pulled down and exposed. In some of the depictions in the third category, Stephen recorded himself touching the genitals of unconscious victims. Some of the file folders have only one category of visual depictions, while some have all three.
Stephen admitted in the plea agreement he used a hidden camera device to secretly record several nude boys in hotel rooms in Ankeny and Illinois. Stephen placed the recording device in hotel bathrooms pointed toward the shower area, so that it recorded minor males coming in and out of the shower. None of the minor males were aware they were being recorded.
Sexual exploitation of a child is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Possession of child pornography is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. Transportation of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The sentences for each count could be ordered to run consecutively, meaning one after another, or concurrently, meaning at the same time. The maximum sentence Stephen could be ordered to serve is 180 years imprisonment. By statute, Stephen cannot receive a sentence less than 15 years imprisonment.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this matter. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Former U.S. Navy Commander Sentenced to Prison for Bribery Conspiracy with Foreign Defense Contractor in Massive U.S. Navy Corruption and Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
A former U.S. Navy Commander was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine and $21,625.60 in restitution by the Honorable Janis L. Sammartino of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The case relates to a wide-ranging corruption and fraud investigation involving foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis and his Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA).
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman for the Southern District of California, made the announcement.
Earlier this year, Amundson, 51, of Ramsey, Minnesota pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting that he conspired with Francis and others to receive things of value in exchange for taking official acts for the benefit of GDMA and violating his official duties to the U.S. Navy. Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribery and fraud charges.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, from May 2005 to May 2013, Amundson served as the officer responsible for coordinating the U.S. Navy’s joint military exercises with its foreign navy counterparts. As part of his duties, Amundson was responsible for building and maintaining cooperative relationships with the U.S. Navy’s foreign navy exercise partners. Amundson admitted that from September 2012 through October 2013, Francis paid for dinner, drinks, transportation, other entertainment expenses, and the services of prostitutes for Amundson and other U.S. Navy officers, in return for sensitive information, such as U.S. Navy ship schedules, and for taking other actions in favor of GDMA and in violation of his official duties. Amundson further admitted that after being interviewed by federal criminal investigators in October 2013, he deleted e-mail correspondence with Francis.
So far, 33 defendants have been charged and 21 have pleaded guilty, many admitting to accepting things of value from Francis in exchange for helping the contractor win and maintain contracts and overbill the Navy by millions of dollars.
The investigation is being conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Contract Audit Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Patrick Hovakimian of the Southern District of California.
Former U.S. Navy Commander Sentenced for Bribery Conspiracy with Foreign Defense Contractor in Massive U.S. Navy Corruption and Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 19, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Former U.S. Navy Commander Troy Amundson was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine and $21,625.60 in restitution for federal bribery conspiracy charges by the Honorable Janis L. Sammartino of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Amundson is the latest U.S. Navy official to plead guilty and be sentenced in the wide-ranging corruption and fraud investigation involving foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis and his Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA).
Amundson, 50, of Ramsey, MN earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting that he conspired with Francis and others to receive things of value, including entertainment expenses and the services of prostitutes, in exchange for taking official acts for the benefit of GDMA and violating his official duties to the United States Navy. Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribery and fraud charges, admitting that he presided over a massive, decade-long conspiracy involving “scores” of U.S. Navy officials, tens of millions of dollars in fraud and millions of dollars in bribes and gifts – from cash, prostitutes and luxury travel to Cuban cigars, Kobe beef and Spanish suckling pigs.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, from May 2005 to May 2013, Amundson served as the officer responsible for coordinating the U.S. Navy’s joint military exercises with its foreign navy counterparts. As part of his duties, Amundson was responsible for building and maintaining cooperative relationships with the U.S. Navy’s foreign navy exercise partners.
Amundson admitted that from September 2012 through October 2013, Francis paid for dinner, drinks, transportation, other entertainment expenses, and the services of prostitutes for Amundson and other U.S. Navy officers. In one instance, Amundson wrote to Francis from a private e-mail account, arranging to provide Francis with internal, proprietary U.S. Navy information: “Handoff?... [M]y [friend], your program is awesome. I [Amundson] am a small dog just trying to get a bone… however I am very happy with my small program. I still need 5 minutes to pass some data when we can meet up. Cannot print.” That night, Francis arranged the services of several prostitutes from Mongolia for Amundson.
Having passed U.S. Navy ship schedules to Francis and having taken numerous other actions in favor of GDMA and in violation of his official duties, Amundson was interviewed by federal criminal investigators in October 2013. As part of his plea agreement, Amundson admitted that he deleted all of his private e-mail account correspondence with Francis following his interview with law enforcement agents earlier that same day. As the United States submitted in its Memorandum in Support of Sentencing, “Amundson destroyed evidence of his conspiratorial relationship with Francis after it appeared law enforcement had caught up with him. In this attempt to cover-up and to destroy evidence, Amundson knew then what he would admit to years later in his plea agreement in this case: He actively conspired to commit bribery with Francis and GDMA in violation of the law and in abrogation of his official duties to the U.S. Navy.”
“Amundson cavalierly and selfishly traded on a sacred position of trust, selling his honor to a foreign defense contractor in exchange for prostitutes and entertainment expenses,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “We will vigorously enforce the law when a public official puts his own selfish personal interests ahead of the interests of the Navy and our nation.”
So far, 33 defendants have been charged and 21 have pleaded guilty, many admitting they accepted luxury travel, parties and services of prostitutes from Francis in exchange for helping the contractor win and maintain contracts and overbill the Navy by millions of dollars.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Patrick Hovakimian of the Southern District of California and Assistant Chief Brian R. Young of the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 18-CR-468-JLS
Commander Troy Amundson Age: 51 Ramsey, Minnesota
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371
Maximum Penalty: 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for production of child pornography.
According to court documents, over at least a two year period, Skydance MacMahon, 45, conspired with an adult in Canada to produce over a thousand sexually explicit images and videos of minor children in Canada. These images and videos were produced at the direction of MacMahon using Skype and hidden cameras as well as overt recording. MacMahon distributed these image and video files to other users and consumers of child pornography by providing access to the files on his cloud storage services and also by directly sending the files to other users. In addition to the child pornography images and videos MacMahon himself created, he also received and possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
During the time he committed these offenses, MacMahon was a Digital Media Administrator at the Foreign Services Institute of the U.S. Department of State in Arlington.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Steve A. Linick, Inspector General for the Department of State, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell prosecuted the case.
Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office, the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General’s Cyber Forensic Division, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Halifax Regional Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Special Prosecution Section, the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service, the Arlington County Police Department, and the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-261.
Former State Department Employee Pleads Guilty to Student Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to fraudulently discharging over $200,000 in student loan debt.
According to court documents, Corey Cadet Dukes, 39, of Jonesboro, and formerly of Alexandria, was an employee of the U.S. Department of State from 2013-2017. Simultaneously, Dukes was also a full-time supervisor for a security company providing protection to a federal building in Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, Dukes applied through the Department of Education for a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge of over $200,000 in student loan debt, affirming that he was unable to work and was disabled.
The Department of Education conditionally discharged Dukes’ student loans subject to successful completion of a three-year income monitoring period, which required that TPD applicants not earn over the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of two, which was no higher than $16,020. Earned income over that amount triggered a repayment obligation and the loans would be reinstated. After failing to respond to multiple requests for proof of income, in October 2016, Dukes submitted a signed self-certification stating: “I, Corey Dukes, did not have any earned income from May 1, 2013 – October 13, 2016.” In reality, during this same period Dukes had earned over $331,000 from his two full-time jobs, had purchased a Bentley, a Porsche, and other luxury vehicles. The Department of Education permanently discharged $205,687.74 of Dukes’ student loan debt.
Dukes pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 4, 2019. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Steve A. Linick, Inspector General of the State Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Kimberly R. Pedersen are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-298.
Former Police Officer Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. –U.S. District Court Senior Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced José Padilla-Galarza, a former police officer who masterminded a bank robbery, to a 19-year term of imprisonment and five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Codefendant Jomar Hernández-Román was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, and three years of supervised release. Both defendants were found guilty by a jury on February 26, 2018.
During the trial held in February of 2018, Padilla-Galarza faced two conspiracy counts, two robbery counts, and a weapons count. The evidence at trial showed that Padilla recruited others to commit an armed bank robbery at the Banco Popular branch in Rexville Town Center on November 29, 2014. On that date, three individuals disguised in construction outfits entered the Banco Popular brandishing weapons at the customers and employees inside, and stole over $64,000. Padilla had recruited these individuals, and obtained the disguises for the robbery. To facilitate the robbery and divert the attention of first responders, Padilla schemed with one of his co-conspirators to place decoy explosives near ATM machines in Lomas Verdes and Bayamón, respectively. Following three weeks of trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict as to all counts.
Four other codefendants have also plead guilty to offenses stemming from the robbery and were sentenced:
- Samuel Figueroa plead guilty on July 10, 2017 and was sentenced on June 7, 2018 to eight years and four months in prison, and three years of supervised release.
- Jorge Camacho-Gordils plead guilty on December 1, 2016 and was sentenced on March 24, 2017 to nine years and six months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.
- Johan Dávila-Rivera plead guilty on April 10, 2017 and was sentenced on March 19, 2018 to three years of imprisonment, and five years of supervised release.
- Miguel Torres plead guilty on April 26, 2017 and was sentenced on March 28, 2018 to five years of probation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Alum and Daynelle M. Álvarez-Lora. The FBI and Puerto Rico Police Department were in charge of the investigation of this case.
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Former Middle School Teacher Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Four StudentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Robert Wilson Leach, 33, a former teacher at a public charter school in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 11 years and 10 months in prison for sexually abusing four middle school students between 2010 and 2013. Leach fled the country after he was confronted by one of the victims’ parents.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Michael Hughes, U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“No matter how much time had elapsed, or how many miles he traveled, Robert Leach could not escape responsibility for the crimes he committed against four vulnerable children entrusted to his care,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Because of the dedicated efforts of law enforcement in the United States and abroad, he now is paying the price for his predatory acts.”
Leach, formerly of Silver Spring, Md., was arrested in the United Kingdom in July 2015 and extradited to the United States in January 2018. He pled guilty on June 8, 2018, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to first-degree child sexual abuse, sexual performance of a minor, and two counts of attempted second degree child sexual abuse, with aggravating circumstances as to one count.
Leach was sentenced by the Honorable Milton C. Lee. Following his prison term, Leach must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He also will be placed on a period of 25 years of supervised release.
Leach was a teacher at Meridian Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. throughout the period when the offenses took place. He taught seventh and eighth grade math classes. Starting in his first year teaching, and continuing until he fled the country, Leach groomed and sexually abused female students. The abuse, which varied by each of the four victims, included kissing in school stairwells, sexual touching in Leach’s classroom, the solicitation and receipt of nude photos, and sexual intercourse. With one victim, Leach engaged in sexual intercourse dozens of times. Leach would pick up this victim from school and drive her to his apartment in Maryland or to secluded parts of the District of Columbia, where he would sexually abuse her.
The sexual abuse stopped only when a parent caught Leach on December 31, 2013. That same day, Leach, a United States citizen, bought a plane ticket with cash, went to the airport, and fled first to the Cayman Islands and then to Cuba.
After a brief return to the United States, during which Leach resumed romantic communications with one of his victims, Leach departed again, this time for the United Arab Emirates, where he continued teaching. Leach remained there until July 2015, when he took a short trip to the United Kingdom. UK officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested Leach on a provisional arrest warrant. Leach remained incarcerated in the UK contesting extradition until he was extradited to the United States on January 5, 2018.
A second defendant, Laurren Ebony Walker, 33, Leach’s co-teacher and friend, is awaiting sentencing on Oct. 22, 2018, for committing perjury before the grand jury investigating the crimes. Walker, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty in June 2018 to one count of perjury.
On July 22, 2015, near the time of Leach’s UK arrest, Walker testified before a D.C. Superior Court grand jury that was investigating Leach’s sexual abuse of students. Aware of the focus of the investigation and of the importance of truthful testimony, Walker chose to lie under oath about material facts relevant to the grand jury’s investigation. Among other things, she denied any communications with Leach or knowledge of his whereabouts after he fled the country, even though Walker in fact frequently spoke with him and had even visited him in the United Arab Emirates a few months before her grand jury testimony.
Walker also denied giving Leach periodic access to her car, even though one of the victims testified that Leach sexually abused her in that car.
This case was investigated by the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Investigations Division. In addition, significant assistance in locating and securing Leach was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, including Associate Directors Jason Carter and Tracey Lankler and Trial Attorneys Linda McKinney and Natalya Savransky; INTERPOL Washington; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John L. Hill and Julianne C. Johnston. Assistance was provided by a team from the U.S. Attorney’s Office that included Victim/Witness Advocate Elsa Resendiz; Criminal Investigator John Marsh; Paralegal Specialists Jessica Moffatt, Angelina Slagle, and Joyce Arthur; Litigation Technology Specialist Jeanie Latimore-Brown; Intern Hannah Dier, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Misler and Christopher Bruckmann.
Former Lobbyist Indicted for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A former lobbyist was charged in an indictment with obstructing justice in connection with an ongoing federal investigation and proceedings concerning a multi-million dollar high-yield investment fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Christopher Petrella, 51, of Greer, South Carolina, was arrested yesterday and charged in the Western District of North Carolina with one count of obstruction of justice.
Ten individuals had been previously indicted by a Charlotte grand jury for their alleged roles in a high-yield investment scheme involving Niyato Industries Inc. The charges in that case allege that the defendants raised money from investors by representing that Niyato manufactured electric and compressed natural gas (“CNG”) automobiles when, in truth, the company had no facilities, no operations, and no capability to manufacture anything. That case is scheduled for trial.
The indictment returned on Tuesday and unsealed yesterday alleges that Petrella, who worked to promote Niyato and purportedly lobbied on Niyato’s behalf, attempted to obstruct, influence and impede the ongoing federal investigation into the alleged Niyato fraud, as well as the upcoming trial, by misleading federal law enforcement about his own involvement with Niyato and by portraying himself as a whistleblower. Petrella is alleged to have produced to a federal law enforcement agent a bogus “quarterly report” related to his lobbying work for Niyato. According to the indictment, Petrella also falsely claimed he had filed the “quarterly report” with the U.S. Congress pursuant to certain requirements applicable to federal lobbyists. The bogus “quarterly report” purportedly disclosed to authorities that certain individuals had made false and misleading statements about Niyato’s business and operations on Niyato’s Twitter and Facebook pages. In reality, the indictment alleges that the “quarterly report” Petrella produced to federal law enforcement was a sham and Petrella’s statement that he had filed the document with the U.S. Congress was false.
Petrella’s initial court appearance is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 10:40 a.m. before Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer in the Western District of North Carolina.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Trial Attorneys William Bowne and Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Firearms and Drug Trafficking Ring IndictedRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch announces the return of a 14 count indictment that includes charges on conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine and the possession of firearms by felons.
According to documents in this case, Aaron Baxter, 30, of Michigan City, Indiana; Joseph Taylor, 34, of Gary, Indiana; and Susanne Tincher, 36, of Michigan City, Indiana, are all charged with a conspiracy to purchase firearms from a federal firearms licensee through misrepresentation. In this case Suzanne Tincher made at least four firearm purchases during the conspiracy knowing that she was purchasing the firearms for persons who could not purchase the firearms themselves. The indictment also includes one alleged straw purchase where, on the same day that Tincher purchased firearms from a store, Taylor, a convicted felon, sold 2 of those firearms to undercover officers under the direction of Baxter.
The indictment alleges that Baxter and Taylor were also dealing in highly pure methamphetamine and that Taylor was dealing in cocaine. In the indictment both Taylor and Baxter face additional counts of being felons in possession of firearms.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department and the LaPorte County Prosecutors Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.
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Felon Sentenced for Federal Carjacking, Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that a Palau national has been sentenced in federal court for carjacking a woman’s vehicle in Anchorage, which led to a vehicle chase during which he caused a collision with another driver.
Cordy Mai Martin, 26, a citizen of Palau who has been living in Fairbanks, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, to serve 11 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Martin previously pleaded guilty in August 2018 to carjacking and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents, at around 5:45 a.m. on the morning of May 4, 2018, in the parking lot of the Alaska Native Medical Center, Martin approached a young woman as she was walking to work in the hospital. Martin ran up to her with a stolen Taurus .40 caliber pistol, racked the slide, and pointed it at her at close range. Martin told her he wanted her keys, which she gave to him. He then asked her where her car was in the parking lot. The woman walked a short ways, pointed out her car, and then ran away inside the hospital. Martin then drove away in the woman’s vehicle.
Shortly after the carjacking, APD located the woman’s vehicle and attempted to pull Martin over. Martin refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued with Martin driving at high speed, and on the wrong side of the road. Martin did not stop driving until he collided with another vehicle, causing the other driver to lose consciousness. The driver of the car hit by Martin was transported from the scene to the hospital, where he was treated for significant injuries. After the collision, Martin fled on foot and was arrested after APD K-9 found him hiding in a boat in a nearby yard.
Martin has a previous felony conviction with the State of Alaska for Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Third Degree, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Veldhuis.
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.
Federal Prosecutor Joined National Guard Assisting Storm Recovery Efforts in Southwest GeorgiaRead the Press Release
Macon – Colonel Robert McCullers, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Georgia and Colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard, took a brief leave of absence to join National Guard troops deployed following Hurricane Michael, a historic storm that damaged homes, farms and businesses across the Middle District of Georgia, and left tens of thousands without power and water. Col. McCullers was deployed to National Guard Headquarters located in Marietta on October 17, 2018. Hurricane Michael crossed Georgia during the time period of October 10-11, 2018.
Col. McCullers worked in the Operations Center as more than 1,000 National Guard troops provided assistance stabilizing Southwest Georgia following Hurricane Michael. Troops provided food, water, fuel and power at multiple Points of Distribution (PODs) and cleared blocked roadways. In addition to his civilian service, AUSA McCullers is also a Colonel and a Staff Judge Advocate (Headquarters) for the Georgia Air National Guard. A JAG since 2003, Colonel McCullers has been deployed to both Baghdad and Tallil Air Base, Iraq. He started work as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Georgia in 2002.
“Robert’s deep sense of duty to our country is evident in his daily work protecting citizens as a federal prosecutor, and also in his work now, helping our community during this crisis,” said Charles Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “We are proud to work alongside service members like Robert McCullers, and I want to thank all of the National Guard troops who stepped away from their families and careers to come to the aid of Southwest Georgia.”
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Texas Men of Trafficking Multi-Kilogram Quantities of Cocaine through Myrtle Beach—Both Face Possible Life Sentences in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Abraham Arturo Rodríguez, 30 years old, and Ruben Rodríguez, 23 years old, both from Brownsville, Texas, were convicted of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine after a 3-day jury trial in Florence. The 12-person jury unanimously found both men guilty of the maximum crimes charged after a short deliberation. Abraham Rodríguez faces 20 years to life imprisonment based on his role in the offense and a prior drug conviction. Ruben Rodríguez faces 10 years to life.
The evidence presented at trial showed that the two men came from the southwest border and rented a room at an upscale beachfront resort in North Myrtle Beach to be their base of operations. From their high-rise hotel room, the Rodríguezes coordinated the delivery of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine—drugs valued at more than $1,500,000—from January through November 2017. The men smuggled most of the cocaine to so-called “stash houses” located in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area using clandestine work trucks. To avoid detection by law enforcement, the cocaine was stored in average-looking residences in middle-class neighborhoods where families lived and resided. Inside these otherwise normal-looking homes, drug dealers armed with assault weapons kept watch over safes full of kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine and sold it to other drug dealers who came from as far away as Washington, DC, to purchase wholesale quantities of drugs. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds were then carried back to Myrtle Beach by the men, who shipped the ill-gotten gains back to their associates at the Mexican border via overnight mail. The evidence further showed that while staying in South Carolina, Rodríguezes’ and their criminal associates spent large amounts of cash partying at Myrtle Beach nightclubs, buying high-end vehicles, and taking expensive excursions to cities such as Charleston, South Carolina.
All this came to an end on November 5, 2017, when DEA agents and North Myrtle Beach officers armed with a federal search warrant raided the Rodríguezes’ North Myrtle Beach hotel room, finding more than $143,000 in drug proceeds and a small amount of cocaine. Both men were indicted by a federal grand jury. Soon thereafter, Ruben was arrested crossing back into the United States at the Mexican border; Abraham was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both men have been in continuous custody since their arrest on these federal charges, and they will remain in custody until they serve out their federal sentences.
The South Carolina case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted by officers from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department. The South Carolina case was opened based on a tip provided by North Carolina officers from the Fayetteville Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Andrew Moorman, Deputy Chief of Narcotics, and Everett McMillian, both of whom are prosecutors assigned to the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of South Carolina. This case is part of a concentrated joint effort between local and federal authorities to disrupt and dismantle the supply chains of cocaine, opioids, and other drugs into the Myrtle Beach area.
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Federal Indictment Charges Chicago Man with the Sex Trafficking of Several ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting several children into prostitution.
LENNIE PERRY, 44, is charged with sex trafficking eight minors under the age of 18, according to an indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. One of his victims was under 14 years old when Perry enticed the victim to engage in a commercial sex act, the indictment states. Perry trafficked some of his victims from 2012 to 2014, and other victims in 2016 and 2017, according to the charges.
Arraignment on eight counts of sex trafficking is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary M. Rowland.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was investigated by the FBI Chicago Child Exploitation Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Kutcher, Charles Mulaney and Michelle Petersen.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Perry faces a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Federal Charges Filed Against Eden Man for Aggravated Assault and Felony Child AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eden, South Dakota, man has been charged with two counts by a federal grand jury for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect of a Child.
Jeremiah Lynn Renville, Jr., age 39, was indicted on October 10, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on October 17, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
According to the Indictment, on February 13 and 14, 2018, Renville engaged in assaultive and abusive conduct toward a child under the age of seven years. For the assault charge, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and 3 years of supervised release. For the child abuse charge, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to fifteen (15) years of imprisonment, a $30,000 fine, or both, and 3 years of supervised release. Each charge also carries a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations and Renville is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
Renville was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Estranged Husband Charged with Murder of Ft. Campbell SoldierRead the Press Release
PADUCAH, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman today announced the charging of Victor E. Silvers, with the premeditated murder of Sgt. Brittney N. Silvers, who was killed on base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Defendant Silvers, of Clarksville, Tennessee was charged in a criminal complaint filed on October 15, 2018, with : first degree murder (premeditated), attempted first degree murder (premeditated), interstate domestic violence, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent offense.
Brittney Silvers had a restraining order against Victor Silvers and was seeking a divorce at the time of the incident.
At approximately 10:00 pm CDT, a friend of Sgt. Silvers was socializing at her residence when someone later identified as Victor Silvers arrived at the residence and began banging on the door, according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint. The friend heard shouting between the individuals followed by a gunshot. A short time later, Victor Silvers entered a bathroom, where the friend had been during the altercation. The defendant, still armed with a handgun, entered the bathroom at which point a struggle ensued, and at least three times the firearm was discharged, and the friend was struck in the leg.
A neighbor, who was walking his dog, heard gunshots and saw Victor Silvers shoot Brittney Silvers in front of her residence, according to the affidavit.
Victor Silvers initially denied involvement in the crimes, but later confessed to investigators during an interview to shooting Brittney Silvers, according to the affidavit.
The first degree murder charge carries a maximum punishment of up to death or a term of life in prison.
Silvers made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before United States Magistrate Judge Lanny King who ordered Silvers detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings of the Court.
Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Hancock, Leigh Ann Dycus, and U.S. Army Captain Tarik Downie, Special Assistant United States Attorney are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID),the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Eastern Shore Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scheme to Steal and Sell More Than $248,000 Worth of Processed Chicken Parts to Black Market CustomersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Lamar Tiquon Greene, age 39, of Easton, Maryland, today to seven months in federal prison, followed by seven months of home detention as part of three years of supervised release, for interstate transportation of stolen chicken parts. On October 16, 2018, Judge Bennett sentenced co-defendants Clifton A. Seeney, age 58, of Millsboro, Delaware, and Dondrey Tamount Copper, age 43, of Easton, for the same charge. Seeney was sentenced to four months in federal prison followed by four months of home detention as part of three years of supervised release; and Copper was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by six months of home detention as part of three years of supervised release. Judge Bennett also ordered that all three of the defendants must pay restitution totaling $248,721.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to their plea agreements, Seeney was a commercial truck driver who worked for a company that was contracted to transport pallets of frozen, processed chicken parts from a company in Maryland. The company in Maryland owned and operated poultry processing facilities, hatcheries, and feed mills in various locations on the East Coast. Greene and Copper worked at the company’s plant in Cordova, Maryland.
The chicken processing plant had a product inventory management system that used, among other things, bar code scanning to track the movement of its product inventory from the time chickens came into the facility with feathers on until they left as ready-to-cook chicken parts. From April 2015 to December 9, 2015, Seeney, Greene, and Copper exploited the system by stealing pallets of frozen chicken parts and selling them in the New York City area.
Specifically, as detailed in their plea agreements, Seeney would text Copper information concerning Seeney’s truck load assignment. Greene and Copper would scan the bar codes on pallets of cargo that were destined for wholesale customers back into the production inventory, then surreptitiously remove them without further scanning, and load the pallets onto a truck driven by Seeney that was already loaded with inventory destined for legitimate customers. Copper would inform Seeney of the number and location of the stolen pallets on Seeney’s truckload. Seeney would the deliver the stolen chicken parts to “black market” customers during the same trips he delivered pallets of chicken products to legitimate customers.
On December 9, 2015, another employee at the chicken processing plant alerted his supervisor that pallets of chicken parts had been loaded onto a trailer without properly being scanned out of inventory. Seeney was the operator of the truck hauling this trailer. The employee also spoke with Copper and Greene, who provided false accounts about the product on the trailer. The owner of the trucking company attempted to reach Seeney to tell him to return to the plant, and another driver spoke with Seeney and advised him of the owner’s order to return. Seeney ignored the order, denied anything was wrong with his load, and continued to New York City, where he delivered the product to the legitimate customers. GPS tracking revealed that in addition, Seeney traveled to another location where he off-loaded stolen chicken products and received cash in return. Seeney later posted photos to his social media account, taken while in the cab of the truck, flashing a wad of cash he received from the buyer of the stolen product.
Subsequent investigation revealed text messages between Copper and Seeney referencing the availability of stolen chicken products for delivery to black market customers. The insurance carrier for the chicken processing company estimated the value of the stolen chicken products at approximately $248,000.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.
# # #East Bridgewater Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal grand jury indicted an East Bridgewater man yesterday on charges of producing, distributing and possessing child pornography.
Daniel O’Connor Jr., 56, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. In September 2018, O’Connor Jr. was arrested and charged by criminal complaint. He was released on conditions.
According to the charging documents, on June 7, 2018, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the home of O’Connor Jr., where they located two iPhones belonging to the defendant. An onsite forensic review of one of the phones revealed images of child pornography.
It is alleged that further review of the phone revealed approximately 137 images and approximately 20 videos of child pornography. In addition, the phone contained multiple apps popular with minors, such as Kik Messenger. A review of O’Connor Jr.’s Kik app revealed chats between O’Connor Jr. and an 11-year-old girl during which he solicited and received a number of images and videos depicting child pornography.
The charge of production of child pornography/sexual exploitation of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison. Each count provides for a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz; and East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on October 15, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Nevin Joaquin, age 30, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, the forfeiture of two firearms, ammunition, and United States currency, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Joaquin was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 12, 2017. He pled guilty on July 25, 2018.
Joaquin admitted to conspiring with others to distribute at least 1,500 grams of methamphetamine in South Dakota. From September of 2013, to the date of his indictment, Joaquin received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from others who knew that he intended to engage in further distribution. Joaquin further distributed that methamphetamine in South Dakota.
Joaquin came into contact with law enforcement in Eagle Butte, and again in Pierre, on February and April of 2016. Both times he possessed a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, and United States currency totaling $770. Joaquin admitted that he carried a pistol for protection while distributing methamphetamine, and admitted that the United States currency found in his possession was proceeds from his distribution of methamphetamine.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force were involved in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Joaquin was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with Burglary and ArsonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Third Degree Burglary and Arson.
Shane Taken Alive, age 27, was indicted on July 18, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 18, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that October 12, 2017, Taken Alive unlawfully entered modular classrooms at the Takini School, both of which were unoccupied, and set fire to them.
The charges are merely accusation and Taken Alive is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Taken Alive was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dupree Woman Sentenced for Child AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Dupree, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse was sentenced on October 15, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Dale Hendricks, age 37, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Hendricks was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 17, 2018. She pled guilty on July 24, 2018.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on November 3, 2017, when Hendricks had a night of drinking and shared a bed with her infant child, exposing him to a dangerous situation.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Hendricks was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dunkirk Man Sentenced for Selling CocaineRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Pacheco, aka Michael Dominguez, 27, of Dunkirk, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more cocaine, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that between July 2016 and May 2, 2017, the defendant conspired with co-defendant Fred Santiago to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in and around the Western District of New York. Pacheco obtained cocaine from Santiago for sale and distribution to others.
During the time of the conspiracy, the defendant made at least two undercover drug sales to law enforcement officers on April 19, 2017, and April 26, 2017. On May 2, 2017, Pacheco was arrested and found with cocaine on his person, which was intended for sale.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Douglas Czora; the Dunkirk Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Ortolano; and the Chautauqua County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph Gerace.# # # #
District Man Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Fraud and Theft Schemes Targeting BusinessesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Cole, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for a pair of schemes in which he stole nearly $80,000 in checks intended for local businesses, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.
Cole pled guilty in July 2018, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of first-degree theft, including one with an enhancement for violating terms of his pretrial release, and one count each of first-degree fraud and violating the Bail Reform Act. He was sentenced by the Honorable Kimberley S. Knowles. Following his prison term, Cole will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, from September through December of 2014, Cole targeted a privately owned swimming pool business in a fraud scheme. He stole checks that were being mailed to a mailbox the company kept at a copy and print shop in Northwest Washington. He also created a bank account in a name that mimicked that of the company’s. In total, he stole at least 21 checks from the company, totaling $64,794. In addition, he obtained access to checkbooks belonging to two other people, and attempted to deposit checks into accounts he had created. The pool company discovered the fraud and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) began an investigation that led to Cole’s arrest in June 2016.
In 2017, while on pretrial release for the earlier fraud, Cole carried out essentially the same scheme again: this time, he got access to business mailboxes by signing up for an account at a virtual office space in Northwest Washington. Once there, he stole a number of checks from different companies, including a check in the amount of about $15,000 that was paid from a church to a musician for a Christmastime concert and recording. Again, Cole created a fraudulent bank account in the name of the musician’s company and tried to pass the check off as his own; however, the scheme was detected and the church stopped payment on the stolen check.
Cole was once again arrested in May 2017. He failed to appear for a court hearing on July 13, 2018, leading to the Bail Reform Act charge against him.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the detectives who investigated the crimes from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Arlington County, Va. Police Department. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Miller and Michael Christin; former Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Howie; Paralegal Specialists Aisha Keys and Angelia Slagle; Litigation Technology Specialist Anisha Bhatia, and Intern David Seidman and former Intern Tessa Tilton. Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Romano and Jason Feldman, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, Jamin C. Fletcher, age 35, of Council Bluffs, appeared before United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger and was sentenced to 108 months in prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Fletcher was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund, and serve ten years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
On April 20, 2018, a jury found Fletcher guilty of Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography. The charges were the result of an FBI investigation on BitTorrent, a file sharing program used on the Internet. FBI downloaded child pornography from a shared folder on BitTorent that identified an IP address subscribed to Jamin Fletcher of Council Bluffs. A search warrant was served on Fletcher’s residence where agents located a desktop computer, laptop computer, and cell phone that contained images of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Co-Conspirator Sentenced to 57 Months for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Alonzo Anderson, age 45, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain, of Anderson, sentenced Anderson to 57 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Anderson conspired with others, in Greenville County, South Carolina, to coordinate the international distribution of quantities of cocaine.
The case was investigated by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney D. Josev Brewer of the Greenville office handled the case.
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Chicago Man Charged with Conspiring to Support ISISRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been arrested on a federal complaint charging him with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq in al-Sham (ISIS).
ASHRAF AL SAFOO, also known as “Abu Al’-Abbas Al-Iraqi,” “Abu Shanab,” and “Abbusi,” 34, was arrested Wednesday in Chicago. A criminal complaint charges him with one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Al Safoo made an initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman and was ordered detained in federal custody. A detention hearing was scheduled for Oct. 25, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
Al Safoo is a naturalized United States citizen of Iraqi descent who resides in Chicago. The complaint alleges that Al Safoo, at the direction of and in coordination with ISIS, aided ISIS in using social media to spread propaganda supporting violent jihad, to recruit operatives, and to encourage others to carry out terrorist attacks.
The complaint and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was investigated by the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
“This charge demonstrates that in order to keep our communities safe, law enforcement will vigorously pursue those who provide material support – in whatever form – to designated foreign terrorist organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Today’s arrest is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who stand watch over our country.”
“At a time when the threat from internet-inspired terrorism remains high, we must be vigilant against those who disseminate on-line propaganda promoting violence in support of ISIS, like Ashraf al Safoo is alleged to have conspired to have done,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “His arrest shows that the Department of Justice remains alert to this threat and continues to seek to hold people accountable for conspiring to support foreign terrorist organizations.”
“The safety of the American public is the FBI’s highest priority,” said FBI SAC Sallet. “Home-grown terrorists and ‘lone-actor’ operators continue to represent a threat to the homeland. The arrest today should send a clear message to these individuals, no matter who you are or where you may be, we will find you and arrest you. This case would not be possible without the combined efforts of the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, and in particular the work of our partners at the Chicago Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security.”
According to the complaint, Al Safoo is a member of Khattab Media Foundation, an internet-based organization that has sworn an oath of allegiance to ISIS and created and disseminated ISIS propaganda online. Al Safoo and other members of Khattab have created and posted pro-ISIS videos, articles, essays and infographics across multiple social media platforms, at the direction and in coordination with ISIS, the complaint states. Much of the propaganda created and distributed by Khattab promotes violent jihad on behalf of ISIS and ISIS’s media office, the complaint states.
On Nov. 4, 2017, according to the complaint, Al Safoo reposted in a social media application for Khattab members an encouragement for people to help ISIS in any way possible, including by offering money or themselves. Al Safoo wrote, “Thus, it was incumbent on us to support them verbally and with money and soul and by inciting others to target the tyrants and expose the evil scholars and the Saudi rulers,” the complaint states. On May 23, 2018, according to the complaint, Al Safoo posted on multiple social media groups directions and encouragement for Khattab’s ISIS propaganda efforts: “Brothers, roll up your sleeves! Cut video publications into small clips, take still shots, and post the hard work of your brothers in the apostate’s pages and sites. Participate in the war, and spread fear.”
The complaint cites several images and videos created by Khattab and disseminated online. The postings include images of violence during the Christmas season, celebrations of terrorist attacks and mass shootings in the United States, and encouragement for “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in western countries. Because the material promoted violence, Khattab members frequently had their social media accounts suspended or deleted, the complaint states. The members sought access to hacked social media accounts and created accounts under fake names and identifiers. These accounts were then distributed to Khattab members to use in disseminating ISIS propaganda, according to the complaint.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas, Vikas Didwania, Melody Wells and Peter S. Salib of the Northern District of Illinois, and Lolita Lukose, Trial Attorney of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Charges Added to the Latin King Street GangRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced federal racketeering and drug conspiracy charges against 6 members of the Latin Kings, a criminal enterprise operating in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Named in today’s two-count superseding indictment are:
Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 37, of Hammond, IN
Sean Michael Pena a/k/a “Big Body,” 36, of Hammond, IN
David Ulmenstine a/k/a “Silent,” 27, of Harvey, IL
Miguel Angel Marines a/k/a “Egg,” 24, of East Chicago, IN
Reynaldo Robles a/k/a “Sneaky,” 27, of Lake Station, IN
Mark Anthony Toney a/k/a “Slim,” 39, of Lake Village, IN
This fifth superseding indictment alleges a conspiracy to commit racketeering activity by the Latin Kings street gang and a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and alprazolam (Xanax), with the conspiracies stretching back to 1999. Today’s superseding indictment charges for the first time that in 1999, in furtherance of the Latin Kings racketeering conspiracy, Farmer committed a double homicide during a robbery of a local Hammond, Indiana business. In total, 50 members or associates of the Latin Kings street gang have been charged in Northern District of Indiana as part of this case.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “This indictment should send a strong message to those engaged in gang and other violent crime. We will focus all of our law enforcement efforts on reducing violent crime in my District.”
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chicago Police Department, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Northern District of Illinois United States Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office also has provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick, Nicholas J. Padilla and Joseph Cooley of the Northern District of Indiana.
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Chalmette Woman Sentenced in Connection with Oklahoma Tornado Disaster FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that TIFFANY RICHARDSON, age 30, of Chalmette, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to prison for one (1) month followed by home confinement for seven (7) months in connection with her plea of guilty to one count of disaster relief fraud.
According to the court records, RICHARDSON applied for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration following tornadoes that struck Oklahoma in 2013. She falsely claimed that she had a primary residence in an affected area of Oklahoma, when in fact, RICHARDSON lived in Chalmette, which is within the Eastern District of Louisiana. As a result, RICHARDSON fraudulently received disaster relief benefits from the Small Business Administration.
In addition to incarceration, RICHARDSON was sentenced to two (2) years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $20,900 payable to the victim, the Small Business Administration.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Homeland Security for their investigation of the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.
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Career Offender Sentenced to 25 Years’ in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Hakim Handy, age 35, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on October 16, 2018, by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann to 25 years’ imprisonment and eight years’ of supervised release for his role in conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Handy conspired to distribute more than 28 grams of crack cocaine and 4.2 grams of heroin (approximately 168 individual doses of heroin) between December 2014 and January 2015, in Lycoming County. Handy was designated a career offender due to three prior felony convictions for drug offenses.
The case was investigated by the Williamsport Police Department, Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office, the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
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.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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Canadian National Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canadian national was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for enticing children over the internet to produce child pornography and to send the sexually explicit content to him.
Justin Carl Wong, 35, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In July 2018, Wong pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Wong was indicted in August 2014 and has been in custody since his arraignment on Aug. 10, 2017, after being extradited from Canada.
In December 2012, Wong used a Voxer account to communicate with two girls, aged eight and 10, in Hampshire County. Wong first sent text and voice messages to the 10-year-old girl, knowing that she was a minor, offering to be her “pretend boyfriend” and to help her “get a boyfriend in” her “real life.” Wong asked the girl to send him sexually explicit pictures of herself, and, initially, the child refused. Wong used psychological pressure to persuade and then to bully the girl to send him sexually explicit pictures by threatening to never speak to her again and telling her she would live a “lonely life” and to “have a nice life being alone.” He repeatedly referred to her as a “bitch” and said she was a “loser” because she refused to send him the pictures.
On Dec. 19, 2012, the 10-year-old girl succumbed to Wong’s repeated demands and sent three sexually explicit pictures of herself, as well as two sexually explicit photographs with the eight-year-old girl. Later that day, Wong engaged in a series of online communications with the eight-year-old girl in which Wong demanded specific kinds of sexually explicit pictures. The girl responded by sending to Wong five such photographs.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; U.S. Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
California Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Thousands in Nationwide Telemarketing Real Estate ScamRead the Press Release
Cynthia L. Rawlinson, 51, of Santa Barbara, California, appeared at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois, this morning and pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Rawlinson’s criminal conduct occurred over a seven year period, during which she worked for a Santa Barbara telemarketing business owned by Michael S. Davenport, 50, former bass guitar player for the rock band, The Ataris. Davenport’s business changed names several times and was known at various times as MDSQ Productions, LLC, Housing Standard, LLC, Anchor House Financial, American Standard, American Standard Online, and Your American Standard. Court documents simply refer to the business as "American Standard."
As part of her guilty plea, Rawlinson admitted that she worked for several years as a salesperson for American Standard before eventually being promoted to sales manager. She also admitted that American Standard had fraudulently placed ads on Craigslist listing certain houses for sale or rent at very favorable prices when, in fact, the houses described in the ads didn’t exist. Consumers who responded to the ads were told they would have to purchase American Standard’s list of houses before they could see any additional information. Consumers were also told that the houses on American Standard’s list were in "pre-foreclosure," that they could purchase the properties by simply taking over the homeowners’ mortgage payments, and that the deeds to the homes would then be transferred into the customers’ names. The $199 fee that American Standard charged to access the list was purportedly to cover the cost of title searches and deed transfers. No matter what area of the country the consumer lived in, American Standard salespersons told them that the list contained numerous pre-foreclosure properties available in their area.
After the customers paid the $199 fee, they learned that the houses on American Standard’s list were not available to be purchased. A substantial number of the addresses contained on the list were fictional, or there were simply no houses at those locations. In numerous other instances, the houses were not in pre-foreclosure or financial distress, and were not available to be purchased
at below market prices. If the customers asked for more information about the houses they had seen on Craigslist, American Standard’s Customer Service Department always informed them that the houses were no longer available.
The American Standard conspiracy and scheme to defraud operated from approximately January 2009 through at least October 5, 2016, and victimized over 100,000 people to the tune of more than $25,000,000. There were victims located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Over 100 victims of the scam were located within the Southern District of Illinois, spread across 22 counties, with multiple victims in both St. Clair and Madison Counties. American Standard’s list included 534 houses located in Southern Illinois.
Rawlinson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois. Under the federal SCAMS Act, because the crimes involved telemarketing and victimized ten or more people over the age of 55, Rawlinson could receive as much as 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. She may also be ordered to pay restitution to her victims.
Davenport was charged in the same indictment as Rawlinson. He entered his guilty plea on September 28 and is scheduled to be sentenced in East St. Louis on December 28, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Three other former American Standard employees also pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Illinois earlier this year. Mark A. Phillips, 50, and Semjase E. Santana, 37, were salespersons at American Standard’s headquarters in Santa Barbara, California. Carlynne L. Davis, 33, was a salesperson in the company’s Lompoc, California branch office. All three are currently awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Office of the Honorable Joyce E. Dudley, District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria Office of the FBI have provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott A. Verseman and Derek Wiseman.
California Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Vacaville, California, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
James Scott Ferguson, age 56, was sentenced on October 15, 2018, to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stemmed from Ferguson obtaining high purity methamphetamine in California and then distributing at least 20 grams of it to individuals in Rapid City, using the U.S. Postal Service in 2016 and 2017. Law enforcement intercepted a package Ferguson sent to South Dakota for distribution in April 2017.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.
Ferguson was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man Sentenced for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jesse L. Kessler, of Fallbrook, California, was sentenced today, for using an electronic communication service to intimidate or harass another person in another state.
United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves sentenced 35-year-old Kessler to 24 months in federal prison, to be followed by six months’ community confinement. Kessler pleaded guilty, in July of 2018, to one count of cyberstalking. He admitted that after ending his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, he began sending electronic communications to her, her new boyfriend, and her father, which became increasingly frequent, threatening, and intimidating. Kessler emailed, texted, called, and otherwise electronically messaged the victim and her family and friends from a period of roughly June of 2017, until his arrest in February of 2018. Among these messages, Kessler emailed his ex-girlfriend, “You’ll both be seeing me soon but I’m not so stupid as to tell you exactly when. I’m back on the east coast so it will be much easier. For him, I’ll be the last person he ever sees. For you ... It’s you’ll be the last person I ever see.”
Under federal law, Kessler must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years, which includes the six months of community confinement.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael A. Christman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Anderson.
California Man Sentenced for His Role in Illegal Immigration SchemeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Marguin Sanchez, 23, of California, who was convicted of conspiracy to employ unlawful aliens, was sentenced to time served by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. In addition, the defendant forfeited two properties that were used to house the illegal aliens.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that the defendant, along with co-defendant Jose Sanchez-Ocampo, assisted co-defendant Sergio Ramses Mucino, in hiring illegal aliens to work at four Mexican restaurants including Don Tequila on Allen Street in Buffalo, El Agave on Union Road in Cheektowaga, Agave on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, and La Divina on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore. The defendant was responsible for paying wages to the workers in cash and purchasing homes in his name where the illegal aliens who worked in the restaurants resided.
Jose Sanchez-Ocampo and Sergio Ramses Mucino were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
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, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
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