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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 8 August 2018
Albuquerque Man and Mexican National Plead Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ruben Acosta, 48, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Juventino Villapando-Torrez, 40, a Mexican national, pled guilty in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking charges. Acosta entered his guilty plea yesterday and Villapando-Torrez entered his plea today. Both entered their guilty pleas without the benefit of plea agreements.
HIDTA Region III Narcotics Task Force officers arrested Acosta and Villapando-Torrez on Nov. 28, 2017, after the two men distributed approximately 2,422.6 grams (5.34 pounds) of methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement officers at the San Felipe Travel Center in Sandoval County, N.M.
Acosta and Villapando-Torrez were indicted on Dec. 20, 2017, and were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, N.M., and distribution of methamphetamine in Sandoval County. According to the indictment, the defendants committed the offenses on Nov. 28, 2017.
At sentencing, the defendants each face a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. Villapando-Torrez will be deported after completing his prison sentence. Both men remain in custody pending sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the HIDTA Region III Narcotics Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez.
The HIDTA – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area – Program is a program of the White House Office National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) that facilitates cooperation among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to foster intelligence sharing and to support the execution of effective enforcement operations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking organization in critical drug trafficking regions of the United States. The HIDTA Region III Narcotics Task Force is comprised of the New Mexico State Police, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Fe Police Department.
2018 Indian Country Conference: Offering Hope to Victims in the Spirit of JusticeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that the 2018 Indian Country Conference: Offering Hope to Victims in the Spirit of Justice, was recently held in Bismarck, ND, on July 19-20, 2018, at the North Dakota Heritage Center.
U.S. Attorney Parsons provided opening remarks, along with officials from the District of North Dakota. The conference offered several speakers on a variety of topics. The range included presentations on Native Sexual Violence Victimology; Communication & Intervention - Knowing What to Say and How to Say It Matters; Building Effective Partnerships in Assisting Victims of Mass Casualty Incidents; and a session on how to avoid burn-out “I’ve Run Out of Fuel…Now What?” There were also several break-out sessions for the participants to choose from and attend.
The case presented for the mass casualty incident was that of Dylan Roof, the mass shooter in the Charleston, SC, church shooting of June 2015. Presenting were an FBI agent and Victim Witness Specialist from Charleston, and Victim Witness Coordinator Marlys Big Eagle from the District of South Dakota, who assisted with the victims during the Roof trial.
The conference was geared towards law enforcement officers, victim service providers, prosecutors, social workers, judges, physicians and other medical professionals, mental health therapists, counselors, educators, court service officers, corrections officers, child care providers, parents, community leaders, and other concerned individuals from the two-state region of North Dakota and South Dakota—especially those dealing with family violence issues in American Indian Communities.
One of the most important goals anyone in criminal justice can strive for is to ensure the victims are heard and respected, and the most important thing that any government does is protect the rights of its citizens.
To that end, the District of South Dakota is breathing new life into initiatives designed to help all communities, including those in Indian country, prosper:
- Emphasis on combatting violent crime harming Indian country;
- Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhood to target the illegal use of firearms;
- Project Safe Childhood, to target sexual predators that would target or harm our children, including those who try to use the Internet to commit their crimes;
- Targeting the drug traffickers who plague our communities, whether in Indian country or elsewhere;
- New efforts to curb the spread of Opioids and related overdoses and deaths;
- Addition of two brand new prosecutor positions, one in Rapid City and one in Pierre, to focus on violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian country;
- Hosting an Indian Country Fellow from the DOJ Honors program, who will devote three years to prosecuting crime both in federal court and in Tribal Court on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation;
- Suicide prevention – the U.S. Attorney’s office is partnering with Avera Health to hold a conference in Sioux Falls on September 6, 2018, on Addiction and Suicide: Communities in Crisis. The keynote speaker will be former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf and it will include a panel on the alarming problem of suicide in Tribal communities, with Yvonne “Tiny” DeCory, Patricia Iron Shell-Hill, MD, and J.R. LaPlante.
Conference attendees were provided new tools and resources to continue the commitment and dedication to work for justice for victims of crime.
Tuesday 7 August 2018
Wood County Man Guilty of Federal ViolationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 65-year-old Mineola, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Travis E. Grindle pleaded guilty to theft of government funds today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, Grindle retired as a brakeman from Union Pacific Railroad and since 1994, he has been receiving federal disability payments from the Railroad Retirement Board. Recipients of such government benefits are obligated to report certain events that may affect continued eligibility, including the performance of any work or improvement of condition. For the years 2011-2015, Grindle failed to report that income from his truck leasing business exceeded annual earning limits for receipt of his disability benefits.
Under federal statutes, Grindle faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Coan.
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Wichita Woman Pleads Guilty to Gun Store TheftRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita woman pleaded guilty today to prying open a display case and stealing guns from a local store, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Chaelyn Nichole Aaron, 28, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty of one count of theft of firearms. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred March 28, 2018, at an Atwoods store at 6235 N. Broadway. Aaron went into the store and used a small red crowbar to pry open a display case. She took seven handguns from the case and left the store.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 24. She faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. McAllister commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Buying Two Tiger PeltsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man pleaded guilty in federal court today to making a deal to buy two tiger pelts in violation of the federal Lacey Act, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Ret Thach, 38, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate sale or purchase of animals that are covered by the Endangered Species Act.
In his plea, Thach admitted he made an agreement to pay $8,000 for two tiger pelts to be delivered to him in Wichita. Thach also agreed to pay traveling expenses for a seller from Wisconsin to drive to Wichita to deliver the pelts. Thach did not know that the seller was an agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working undercover.
According to court records, the agent informed Thach that selling the pelts across state lines was “absolutely illegal.” Thach told the agent he already owned “a lion and a lot of bears” and wanted to go ahead with the deal to buy the tiger pelts. Thach said he wanted the pelts for his home office.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 26. Thach faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Warren man charged in federal court with distributing heroin and crack cocaine, maintaining a drug houseRead the Press Release
A Warren man was charged in federal court with distributing heroin and crack cocaine and maintaining a drug house.
Robert J. Lang, Jr., 24, was arrested Tuesday.
Lang sold gram quantities of heroin and cocaine between February and June. He also used 1030 Mason Street in Warren as a place to sell and store drugs, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
Law enforcement agents from the DEA, TAG Law Enforcement Task Force and ATF searched the Mason Street house in March and found approximately one ounce of heroin and one ounce of crack cocaine, as well as surveillance equipment, syringes, Narcan, a money counter and an assault rifle magazine, according to the affidavit.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the TAG Law Enforcement Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant. U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Virginia Beach Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in dealing heroin at his recording studio while armed.
According to court documents, Michael David Smith, 38, was the target of a five-month-long investigation by Virginia Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations Detectives and DEA Agents. Smith was part of a large heroin conspiracy that included sources of supply Steven Nichols, Darien Everette, and Everette’s lookout Duane Jones. Nichols supplied heroin to Everette, who in turn supplied it to Smith at Smith’s Newtown Road studio while assisted by Jones. Smith then distributed the heroin to a confidential source via controlled purchases at least five times in September and October 2017.
At a controlled purchase in October 2017, the Virginia Beach SWAT team was waiting for Everette and Jones to deliver the heroin to Smith at the studio. They arrested the three of them, searched their bags, and executed a search warrant for the studio. Police recovered from Smith’s bag marijuana, several other illegal drugs, packaging material, and a Glock 19 handgun. In the studio they also found methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, several prescription medications, and $2631 in cash that included $1650 of DEA and Virginia Beach buy money used to purchase heroin from Smith. All four defendants later pleaded guilty. Nichols, Everette, and Jones await sentencing.
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Comstock and William B. Jackson 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. 2:18-cr-30, 2:18-CR-63 (Nichols), and 2:18-CR-23 (Everette).
Vancleave Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Marcus Shanord Reddix, 35, of Vancleave, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 210 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Vancleave, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On January 11, 2017, Reddix sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from his home on the "Hill" in Van Cleave, Mississippi. Reddix had been distributing methamphetamine and cocaine from that locale for several years and law enforcement was able to make several purchases of methamphetamine from him. His sentence was reflective of his prior criminal history and his position in the organization.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant Announces Beth C. Boswell as Chief of the Criminal Division for the Western District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant is pleased to announce the appointment of Beth C. Boswell as Chief of the Criminal Division for the Western District of Tennessee. This position was vacated when Joseph "Joe" Murphy was appointed as First Assistant United States Attorney.
Beth Boswell is a graduate of Cumberland University, Middle Tennessee State University, and South Texas College of Law. She started her path as a career prosecutor immediately after law school by working for the Harris County District Attorney’s office in Houston, Texas, one of the largest DA offices in the country. During her time there, Beth served as the Deputy Chief of the Misdemeanor Division, supervising and training over 50 Assistant District Attorneys.
Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Boswell served as the Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney General for the 24th Judicial District Attorneys General Office in Paris, Tennessee for 16 years. During her service there, she was the Senior Trial Prosecutor covering a five-county district for all violent crimes and major drug cases.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Beth Boswell is a talented and dedicated career prosecutor who has extensive experience in all types of cases across West Tennessee. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the supervision and training of prosecutors and law enforcement, and I am confident that she will manage the Criminal Division of our office with effectiveness and integrity. I have had the pleasure to serve with Beth as both a state and federal prosecutor, and I am proud to have her lead our Criminal Division to aggressively and fairly carry out the priorities of the Department of Justice in the Western District of Tennessee."
In 2011, she served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, responsible for federal criminal narcotics, firearm and Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) prosecutions. From 2014 to 2016, Beth was hired as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force unit responsible for prosecuting large-scale, complex narcotics conspiracy cases, including cases connected to drug cartels and criminal street gangs.
Appointed in 2016 as OCDETF Chief/Assistant United States Attorney, Boswell currently supervises five AUSAs. Her responsibilities include managing the OCDETF program by working closely with regional and national counterparts. She also approves indictments, prosecution memoranda, plea agreements, cooperation agreements, and Title III applications and affidavits for the unit. In addition, she handles her own caseload, including violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering, and long-term investigations into drug trafficking organizations. In November 2017, Beth was designated as the Opioid Coordinator for the Western District of Tennessee.
In 2016, Beth was the recipient of the United States Attorney Award, for outstanding performance and distinguished service to the Western District of Tennessee. Beth has been a regular speaker and instructor in various areas of public safety, and has provided training to prosecutors, law enforcement, correctional officers, medical professionals, and the public.
During her career as a prosecutor, Beth Boswell has tried well over 300 felony cases to verdict, including large narcotics prosecutions, firearms violations, murders, rapes, robberies, and other violent crimes.
U.S. Attorney’s Office to Take Part in National Night OutRead the Press Release
Roanoke, VIRGINIA – The United States Attorney’s Office will join law enforcement and community leaders throughout the Western District of Virginia on Tuesday for events as part of the country’s National Night Out initiative.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-citizen partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The event provides an opportunity to develop and strengthen relationships between the community and law enforcement by bringing police and neighbors together under positive circumstances, to provide information about drug and crime prevention programs, and to make sure neighborhoods get to know the law enforcement officers who are dedicated to keeping them safe.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen, as well as other management and prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office will participate in events at IX Park in Charlottesville and at Stonefield in Albemarle County. They will also ride on patrol with local police departments and participate in National Night Out events in Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Danville, and Bristol.
More than 16,000 communities and over 38 million community members are expected to take part in National Night Out events on Tuesday across the country.
U.S. Attorney's Office among numerous community partners to host daylong conference next month on the opioid epidemicRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office and Cleveland Clinic, together with numerous community partners, will be hosting a daylong conference on Sept. 6 focused on solutions to the opioid and narcotics epidemic.
The conference will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, 9801 Carnegie Ave. It will mark five years since many of the partners first joined together to raise awareness about the growing heroin and opioid problem that had surfaced in Northeast Ohio and throughout the country. That conference resulted in a Community Action Plan which focused on solutions in four different areas: education and prevention, treatment, healthcare policy and law enforcement.
The 2013 conference and Community Action Plan led to the formation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which was hailed as a national model and replicated across the country. Members of the group contributed to numerous achievements in the intervening years, including increasing access to Narcan, developing new protocols to how police handle drug overdose scenes, increased training for physicians about the potential side effects of prescription opioids, public awareness campaigns, and the formation of a consortium to coordinate the response from the various medical systems in Greater Cleveland, among others.
The conference on Sept. 6 will focus on how the crisis has changed in the past five years, and fashioning responses that incorporate best practices and lessons learned. The emphasis will be on refining the Community Action Plan and coordinating comprehensive responses to what is both a public health and law enforcement crisis.
“The scope and nature of the problem has changed, in part because of the introduction of fentanyl and carfentanil, so our responses need to evolve as well,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “The hope is this conference will help coordinate the efforts to turn the tide on an epidemic that has caused a staggering amount of pain and loss in our community.”
“Conferences like this are so critical to our community. We need so many parts of our society to take action to have an impact on this terrible problem,” said David Streem, M.D., Section Head of the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center at Cleveland Clinic. “First responders, treatment programs, the courts, hospitals, schools, the recovery community—these and so many more have important roles to play.”
The agenda for the Sept. 6 conference is still being finalized, but topics expected to be covered include the need to develop a common set of data that can be shared, expanding programs that have been shown to work, such as quick response teams, recovery coaches and medically assisted treatment, efforts to reduce the number of pain pills prescribed, and others.
Among the groups and organizations that have participated in the planning and/or are expected to present at the conference include: the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System, University Hospitals, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, Cuyahoga County Department of Health, Circle Health, Cleveland Division of Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and others.
Use the link below to register:
http://survey.clevelandclinic.org/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=m6L0m8mLK
U.S. Attorney OpEd--Prosecutors Serve a Vital Role in Combatting the Opioid EpidemicRead the Press Release
http://bangordailynews.com/2018/08/07/opinion/contributors/prosecutors-serve-a-vital-role-in-combating-the-opioid-epidemic/
Two Marine Maintenance Companies Pay $2.8 Million to Settle False Claims Act InvestigationRead the Press Release
A marine maintenance company based in Alabama, and a rental company owned by the marine maintenance company executives, will pay the government more than $2.8 million to settle claims they improperly billed the Navy for rental equipment, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. International Marine and Industrial Applicators, LLC (IMIA) and Marine Equipment Supply, LLC (MES) were involved in maintenance work on the USS Reagan at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
According to the settlement agreement, between February 2012 and October 2012, IMIA billed the government for equipment rented from MES, through a subcontractor that was used for hull preservation work on the USS Reagan. Under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), companies like IMIA and MES that are under “common control” are not allowed to bill the government for rental costs, except under limited circumstances that the government contends were not present here. Rather, the FARs treat such equipment as if it were owned directly by IMIA and thus limit compensation to the costs of ownership. IMIA did not disclose its relationship with MES to the Navy while it was presenting invoices for the USS Reagan project, which the government contends resulted in overbillings to the Navy in excess of $1.4 million. The government further contends that IMIA, with MES, knowingly presented such claims for unallowable costs to the Navy in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Government contracting regulations ensure a level playing field and the wise expenditure of taxpayer funds,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “When we learn of evidence that a company has not been operating consistent with those requirements, we will investigate and prosecute as the facts require. I commend the military investigative agencies who put this case together and worked with my office to resolve it.”
The settlement agreement calls for the two companies to pay $2,860,948 to the government. Of that amount $1,430.474, or half the payment, represents restitution to the Navy for improperly billed costs. The claims resolved by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination or admission of liability.
The matter was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
The settlement agreement is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David East.
Topeka Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison for possessing thousands of images of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Ryan J. Singleton, 36, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted emailing child pornography to a user who lived in Nashville. Investigators followed an electronic trail back to Singleton’s home in Topeka. They found more than 2,000 images and more than 6,000 videos of child pornography Singleton had stored on electronic devices.
McAllister commended Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
Three Men Arraigned on Federal Theft Charges Arising Out of Scheme to Defraud Bureau of Indian EducationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Three men were arraigned this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on an indictment charging them with conspiring to defraud the United States by using credit cards issued by their employer, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), to purchase thousands of dollars of goods and services for their personal use between Aug. 2013 and Dec. 2016. Albuquerque residents Simon Nunez, Jr., 67, and David M. Parrish, 63, and Leland Martinez, 56, of Los Lunas, N.M., entered not guilty pleas during this morning’s proceedings, and were released under pretrial supervision pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled.
The nine-count indictment, which was filed on July 27, 2018, charges the defendants with conspiracy and theft from the United States. It also charges Nunez with making false statements to federal investigators. It alleges that the defendants committed the offenses between Aug. 2013 and Dec. 2016, in New Mexico. Parrish and Nunez voluntarily retired from BIE in Dec. 2016 when the investigation into the case was initiated, and Martinez was placed on administrative leave.
According to the indictment, BIE is a sub-department of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Parrish and Martinez were BIE employees authorized to make purchases for BIE using government-issued credit cards, who were supervised by Nunez, a BIE supervisory employee with the authority to approve or deny purchases made by Parrish and Martinez and who maintained records listing the justifications for the use of the government funds to make purchases.
Count 1 of the indictment, the conspiracy count, alleges that Nunez, Parrish and Martinez engaged in a scheme to misuse their government-issued credit cards for their personal use and the use of family members, and to misrepresent those purchases as authorized government purchases. Counts 2 through 8 of the indictment allege that from Aug. 2013 through Oct. 2016, the defendants embezzled more than $1000 from the United States. During that period, the defendants allegedly used government funds to purchase storage sheds, tarps, a chainsaw, hot water heaters, a brush mower, two laptops, clothing and shoes, tools, earphones, and other personal items and allegedly created false BIE records to justify the use of government funds to make those purchases. Count 9 of the indictment charges Nunez with making false statements to federal investigators of the DOI Office of Inspector General on Dec. 22, 2016.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, the defendants each face a maximum statutory penalty of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge, and a maximum statutory penalty of ten years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the theft of government funds charges. Nunez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the false statement charge. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec.
Nunez et al. IndictmentSpringfield Man Charged with Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man was arrested today and charged in federal court in Springfield with distributing heroin.
Javier Vazquez, 29, was charged with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to the indictment that was unsealed today, Vazquez distributed heroin in Hampden County on June 21 and July 10, 2018.
The charge provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Southeast Texans Arrested in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced today that five individuals have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.
On Aug. 7, 2018, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement executed federal arrest and search warrants in Beaumont, Port Neches, and Silsbee, Texas as the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Task Force.
The operation resulted in the arrest of five defendants named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 12, 2018. According to the indictment, from March 2017 through December 2017, the defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization that conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties. Those arrested and named in the indictment are:
Brandon Robinson, 33, of Beaumont;
Gedrick Morrissey, 27, of Beaumont;
Roshawn Butler, 35, of Silsbee;
Rudy Polanco, 44, of Groves; and
Jeremy Ross, 35, of Port Neches, Texas.The defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. They are scheduled to make initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin on those charges today. If convicted, they face from 10 years to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Task Force, and the Beaumont Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Rapp.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Slippery Rock Firearms Dealer Charged with Violating Federal Gun LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating firearm laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The two-count indictment named William Patrick Midberry, aka William Patrick Schmidt, age 37, of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on September 8, 2017 and April 15, 2018, Midberry, a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer who operated the Slippery Rock Outfitters gun dealership, made false entries onto federal firearms purchase forms and sold firearms without performing background checks.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than two years in prison, a fine of not more than $200,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 6, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Buffy Marie Clairmont, a/k/a Buffy Marie Clifford age 44, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $500 fine, forfeiture of $227 in U.S. currency, and a mandatory special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Clairmont was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 17, 2017. She pled guilty on May 23, 2018.
Beginning in at least January of 2012 and continuing through May of 2017, Clairmont received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from individuals that knew she intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine. Some of the methamphetamine Clairmont received was distributed in and around the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Reservation and elsewhere in South Dakota. Clairmont admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable that over 50 grams of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Clairmont was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Saint Paul Man Charged with Illegal Export of Box Turtles to Hong KongRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced a federal indictment charging RENE PATRICK VARGAS, 32, with illegally exporting box turtles to Hong Kong. VARGAS will make his initial appearance at a later date.
North American box turtle (genus terrapene) populations, native to the United States and Mexico, are in decline due to loss of habitat and illegal trade, including export to Hong Kong and China for use in food, traditional medicine, and to be kept as pets. Although box turtles are not currently threatened with extinction, they are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”) treaty, implemented as part of the Endangered Species Act, to prevent their further decline. It is illegal to export wildlife without prior approval and inspection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as valid export licenses and permits.
As alleged in the indictment, from approximately June 1, 2017 through June 14, 2017, VARGAS completed forms for international shipment of three packages containing a total of 38 box turtles. The packages were falsely labeled as “toys” or “components” and were intended to be transported in interstate and foreign commerce in violation of the Lacey Act.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi.
Defendant Information:
RENE PATRICK VARGAS, 32
Saint Paul, Minn.
Charges:
- Lacey Act false labeling, 3 counts
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The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative Honored by Washington/Baltimore HIDTARead the Press Release
Roanoke, VIRGINIA – The Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative was honored for its work during the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA Awards luncheon in Fairfax earlier today with the award for Outstanding Investigative Effort, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall announced.
The award, presented during HIDTA’s annual luncheon, was awarded to detectives and agents assigned to the Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative [RVRDI] for their work on the investigation of a drug trafficking organization allegedly led by Monta Jordan. Members of the RVRDI worked with dozens of federal, state and local agencies to target members of the organization and bring charges against Jordan and others.
“We are extremely proud of the officers and agents who comprise the RVRDI,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “This federal, state, and local law-enforcement partnership is on the frontlines of the Roanoke Valley’s opioid epidemic, and we are hopeful that it will continue to take out major distributors and interdict these deadly drugs before they hit the streets.”
“We are extremely pleased with the cooperative efforts of our local, state and federal agencies in this investigation. The resources made possible through the Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative continue to help us combat narcotics not only in Roanoke County, but also across our neighboring jurisdictions and throughout the entire Commonwealth of Virginia,” Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said today.
What began as an investigation into a local drug trafficking operation later revealed alleged connections throughout the United States. According to filed court documents, in August of 2017, investigators intercepted a package sent from Arizona addressed to Jordan containing more than one-half kilogram of heroin and one-half kilogram of cocaine. Based upon further investigation conducted by the Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative, a member of the Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Jordan is now charged with conspiring to distribute more than 1000 grams of heroin, 400 grams of Fentanyl, 500 grams of methamphetamine, and 500 grams of cocaine. Jordan is also charged with firearms offenses related to his drug trafficking. All of these actions led to the dismantling of the organization and pending federal charges. Jordan’s trial is currently set for February 2019.
The Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Initiative is comprised of the Roanoke County Police Department, Roanoke City Police Department, Vinton Police Department, Salem Police Department, Virginia State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, US Marshall's Service, Department of Homeland Security, US Postal Inspector, FBI, as well as the commonwealth attorneys from Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.
Real Estate Broker Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Methuen real estate broker was sentenced today in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Greisy Jimenez, 50, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to three years in prison, four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a fine of $12,500. The court will determine issues of restitution and forfeiture on Aug. 29, 2018. In January 2018, Jimenez pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Three co-conspirators involved in the scheme have been sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. In June 2018, Jasmin Polanco, 37, a real estate closing attorney, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,224,489 in restitution. In May 2018, Vanessa Ricci, 41, of Methuen, a mortgage loan officer, was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $963,730. In March 2017, Hyacinth Bellerose, 51, a real estate closing attorney, was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release to be served in home detention.
The charges arose out of a scheme to defraud various banks via bogus short sales of homes in Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen in which the purported sellers remained in their homes with their debt substantially reduced. A short sale is a sale of real estate for less than the value of any existing mortgage debt on the property. Short sales are an alternative to foreclosure that typically occur only with the consent of the mortgage lender. Generally, the lender absorbs a loss on the loan and releases the borrower from the unpaid balance. By their very nature, short sales are intended to be arms-length transactions in which the buyers and sellers are unrelated, and in which the sellers cede their control of the subject properties in exchange for the short-selling bank’s agreement to release them from their unpaid debt.
The conspiracy began in approximately August 2007 and continued through June 2010, a period that included the height of the financial crisis and its aftermath. Home values in Massachusetts and across the nation declined precipitously, and many homeowners found themselves suddenly “underwater” with homes worth less than the mortgage debt they owed. As part of the scheme, Jimenez, Polanco, Ricci, Bellerose and others submitted materially false and misleading documents to numerous banks in an effort to induce them to permit the short-sales, thereby releasing the purported sellers from their unpaid mortgage debts, while simultaneously inducing the purported buyers’ banks to provide financing for the deals. In fact, the purported sellers simply stayed in their homes, with their debt substantially reduced.
The conspirators falsely led banks to believe that the sales were arms-length transactions between unrelated parties; in fact, the buyers and sellers were frequently related, and the sellers retained control of (and frequently continued to live in) the properties after the sale. The conspirators also submitted phony earnings statements in support of loan applications that were submitted to banks in order to obtain new financing for the purported sales. In addition, the defendants submitted phony “HUD-1 Settlement Statements” to banks that did not accurately reflect the disbursement of funds in the transactions. HUD-1 Settlement Statements are standard forms that are used to document the flow of funds in real estate transactions. They are required for all transactions involving federally related mortgage loans, including all mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; and Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Frank, Chief of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Victor A. Wild, also of the Economic Crimes Unit, prosecuted the cases.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Matthew Dubray, age 36, was sentenced on August 6, 2018, to 14 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.
Dubray was charged on January 24, 2017. The charge related to Dubray, who is prohibited from possessing firearms as he is a previously convicted felon, illegally possessing a Hi-Point, model C9, 9 mm pistol in July 2016 at Rapid City.
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 investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Dubray was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Queens Man Charged in Superseding Indictment with Distributing Fentanyl Causing the Deaths of Two PersonsRead the Press Release
A 10-count superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging David Wickham with distributing fentanyl thereby causing the deaths of a man and a woman, distributing heroin and fentanyl thereby causing serious bodily injury to a man, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment charges Katelyn Trampler with possessing with intent to distribute, conspiring to distribute and distributing fentanyl and heroin. Wickham and newly added defendant Crystal Roberts are also charged with money laundering conspiracy. Roberts was arrested today and was ordered detained. Wickham and Trampler were previously arrested and are currently in custody. The defendants were arraigned this afternoon before United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“As alleged, Wickham’s distribution of dangerous opioids resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman and the near-death of a second man,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “The defendants sought to profit from other people’s addictions and put their own greed ahead of the public’s health and safety. This Office and our law enforcement partners will not rest until drug dealers and their associates are stopped and brought to justice for their crimes.” Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for its assistance in the investigation.
“These alleged criminals operated out of greed with no regard for the safety, or even life, of those they dealt fentanyl,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Melendez. “HSI understands the seriousness of the opioid epidemic and will continue to work with our partners to investigate and arrests those dealing this highly addictive and deadly drug within our communities.”
“The NYPD’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis took a step forward today with this indictment,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “Our detectives, along with the professionals at HSI and the Eastern District of New York, will stop at nothing to keep New Yorkers safe by identifying, aggressively investigating and arresting anyone who traffics in illegal narcotics and the violence so often associated with such criminal behavior.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment and other court filings, between January 2017 and February 2018, Wickham and Trampler distributed fentanyl and heroin. On several occasions, Wickham represented the narcotics to be heroin—a much less potent narcotic—when he was actually distributing fentanyl. On or about July 30, 2017, Wickham distributed fentanyl which resulted in the overdose deaths of a man and a woman. Later, on December 13, 2017, Wickham distributed heroin and fentanyl, which resulted in the overdose of a man, who was seriously injured but revived with Narcan. At the time of his arrest on February 27, 2018, Wickham, a convicted felon, possessed a Cobra Enterprises FS380 semi-automatic pistol. Between approximately October 2017 and February 2018, Wickham and Roberts conspired to wire money from the United States to Panama to further their narcotics trafficking and conceal the true nature and ownership of the drug money.
As part of the government’s investigation, agents recovered cellular telephones from the defendants, including Roberts’ telephone which contained several videos. In one video dated February 20, 2018, after speaking with a customer Roberts and Wickham engaged in the following conversation:
ROBERTS: He’s gonna end up dying. He’s gonna kill himself.
WICKHAM: Yeah, you see it in his face?
ROBERTS: Yup. You ever known, you ever seen death in the face?
Later in the conversation, Roberts stated: “I’m saying before he tries to kill himself, he’s going to give me some bread. I don’t have time for that. You can kill yourself if you want to, I don’t want you to, but this is the game we play, and you’re going to have to give me some bread cause you took too much and your man’s took too much.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl—a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In New York, from 2014 to 2015, fentanyl overdose deaths rose 135 percent, while heroin overdose deaths rose 28 percent. According to the CDC’s latest report analyzing overdose deaths nationally, in 2016 synthetic opioid deaths—which includes fentanyl—more than doubled from 9,580 in 2015 to 19,413 in 2016.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Wickham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for both the death-resulting and the serious bodily injury-resulting charges and up to life imprisonment. Roberts faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and Trampler up to 40 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Nomi D. Berenson is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
DAVID WICKHAM (also known as “Wick” and “Dogg”)
Age: 35
Queens, New YorkKATELYN TRAMPLER
Age: 27
Queens, New YorkCRYSTAL ROBERTS (also known as “Crystal Wickham”)
Age: 28
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-72 (S-1) (ARR)
Prisoner Pleads Guilty to Intentionally Assaulting Two Victims with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Valentino Gonzalez, 31, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to two counts of intentional assault with a deadly weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
In 2005, Valentino Gonzalez was sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to murder. He is presently serving that sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
In September 2017, Gonzalez lured another inmate into his prison cell. Gonzalez intended to physically harm the other inmate. Moments later, the lured inmate—and intended victim—fled, running away from Gonzalez’s cell. Armed with a shank, Gonzalez pursued his intended victim. Ultimately, he caught the victim and stabbed him repeatedly with the long, metal shank. When a correctional officer attempted to intervene, Gonzalez stabbed the officer in the hand. Both victims sustained serious injuries.
Gonzalez will be sentenced in Jackson by Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on November 9, 2018, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Special Investigative Section.
Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty today to trafficking heroin while armed.
According to court documents, Vernon Lewis Petway, 39, a convicted felon, was caught in possession of roughly 97 grams of heroin and a firearm after transporting the heroin by bus from New York City into Norfolk.
The case is part of Operation Sand Dragon, a joint operation run by the Norfolk Police Department with assistance from the DEA, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Chesapeake Police Department. After an eight-month-long investigation, law enforcement arrested 44 suspects for their roles in distributing drugs. Twelve of the suspects were involved in gang activity, which was a major focus of the investigation. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered roughly 11 ounces of heroin, three pounds of cocaine, three pounds of marijuana, 24 ecstasy pills, and nine grams of methamphetamine. The total street value of the drugs was over $190,000. Law enforcement also recovered 12 firearms and over $85,000 in cash.
Petway pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking crime. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life when sentenced on November 15. 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.
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police Department, Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, and Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-34.
Pittsburgh Man Indicted on Social Security Fraud Related ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges relating to Social Security fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The five-count indictment names Gerald Edward Black, age 48, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Black received and converted approximately $19,743.00 in Supplemental Security Income benefits to which he knew he was not entitled. Additionally, Black is charged with concealing and failing to disclose changes to his minor child’s living arrangements with the intent to deceive the Social Security Administration as well as knowingly and willfully making a false statement material to his minor child’s right to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of no more than 20 years in prison, a fine of no more than $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a RevolverRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Robert Tippett, age 21.
According to the indictment, on or about May 4, 2018, Tippett possessed a loaded .357 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. It is unlawful for Tippett, who has previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, to possess a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pierre Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on August 6, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
William Rivers, age 61, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Rivers was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 14, 2018. He pled guilty on May 23, 2018.
Rivers was convicted of Sexual Abuse in June 1992. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. On December 30, 2017, the Pierre Police Department responded to a report of an assault at the Econo Lodge Motel in Pierre. The responding officers made contact with Rivers, determined he was out of compliance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and subsequently arrested him for failure to register as a sex offender.
On January 13, 2018, Rivers was released on bond from the Hughes County Jail in Pierre. On January 22, 2018, Rivers registered as a sex offender with Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Between January 13, 2018, and January 22, 2018, Rivers was aware that he was required to update his sex offender registration within three business days after each change of residence, employment or student status and, he failed to do so during that time period.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Pierre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk W. Albertson prosecuted the case.
Rivers was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pacifica Resident Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO– Bitty Yu was sentenced to 24 months in prison for wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down today by the Honorable Richard Seeborg, United States District Judge.
Yu, 69, of Pacifica, Calif., pleaded guilty to the wire fraud charge on March 20, 2018. According to her plea agreement, from about January 2013 through April 2017, Yu, along with others, engaged in a scheme to defraud an elderly married couple living in San Mateo of millions of dollars. Specifically, in 2013, Yu convinced the couple that she and others were involved in a real estate project and that the couple’s funds would be used to purchase10 acres of land in London, England, for the project. Yu and others claimed a deal was being brokered that would result in a $195 million return in commissions when the project was completed. Yu acknowledged that she and others made false statements to the couple on various occasions, ultimately lulling the couple into wiring funds on multiple occasions.
In total, the couple invested more than $4,000,000 in the bogus real estate project. Yu received over $1,000,000 for her role in the scheme. Yu admitted that she used the money she received from the couple for personal expenses including mortgage payments, personal credit account payments, automobile purchases, and federal and state income tax payments.
Yu was charged by information on January 31, 2018, with a single count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Pursuant to her plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Seeborg also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered her to pay $1,000,000 in restitution. Yu will begin serving her sentence on October 9, 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chinhayi Cadet is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Bridget Kilkenny. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Ongoing Federal Investigation Leads to Charges Against Three Former Top Buncombe County OfficialsRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, a federal grand jury in Asheville returned a criminal bill of indictment, charging three former top Buncombe County officials, Wanda Skillington Greene, 67, Jon Eugene Creighton, 66, and Amanda (Mandy) Louise Stone, 59, all of Buncombe County, with wire fraud and aiding and abetting; conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States; receipt of bribes and kickbacks and aiding and abetting; and federal program fraud and aiding and abetting, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“Rooting out public corruption at all levels of government is one of my Office’s most critical responsibilities,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I want to thank the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for their incredible diligence and commitment to conducting a thorough and objective investigation, which has led to today’s indictment.”
“When public officials put aside the best interest of the American public and choose to line their own pockets, we are all impacted. These type of crimes are at the center of the fight against public corruption. The FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners in the Western District of North Carolina to root out public corruption at any level of office,” said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
“The SBI considers investigations involving violations of the public trust to be among our highest priority cases. We were privileged to work with the FBI, IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of North Carolina to hold these defendants accountable for their actions,” said Director Robert L. Schurmeier of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
According to allegations contained in the 32-count criminal bill of indictment:
Wanda Greene was appointed as County Manager for Buncombe County (the County) in 1997, and remained in that position until her retirement in June 2017. As County Manager, Greene had the authority to approve the awarding of certain contracts between the County and private contractors, including contracts for engineering and consulting services.
Creighton began working for Buncombe County in March 1982. From 1985 until he retired in December 2017, Creighton was the Director of the County’s Department of Planning and Development. As part of his duties, Creighton negotiated contracts between the County and private contractors, and was responsible for signing such contracts on behalf of the County. From 1997 until his retirement, Creighton also had a dual appointment as Assistant County Manager.
Stone began working for Buncombe County in the 1980s. In 1994, she became the Assistant Director of County’s Department of Social Services, and later became Department’s Director in 2001. Beginning 2005, Stone also had a dual appointment, along with Creighton, as Assistant County Manager. She held both positions until she became County Manager upon Greene’s retirement. Stone retired from the County in June 2018.
An unnamed individual, identified in the indictment as “the Contractor,” was a licensed Professional Engineer. From the mid-1980s through 2018, the Contractor was the agent and contractor for three businesses (Company A until 2014, Company B during 2014 through 2016, and his own company, Company C, from 2014 through 2018). During the relevant time period, the Contractor obtained a combined total of more than $15 million in contracts with Buncombe County for consulting and engineering services.
During the relevant time period, Greene, Creighton and Stone used their official positions to enrich and benefit themselves, and, in doing so, they deprived Buncombe County citizens of their right to the honest services of the defendants. The kickback and bribery scheme the defendants engaged in involved, among other things, multiple, all-expense paid trips, meals, tickets to sporting events, and spa treatments paid for by the Contractor. The defendants solicited and accepted these gifts, payments, and other things of value from the Contractor, in exchange for awarding County contracts to the Contractor and the businesses he was affiliated with at the time.
Prior to 2014, Greene, Creighton, Stone, and other County personnel, went on trips that were in some way connected to legitimate County business. During these trips, the Contractor provided them with such things of value as expensive meals, wine, and other excursions. By 2014, Greene, Creighton, and Stone began to solicit and accept trips, valuable gifts, and other things of value from the Contractor that were entirely unrelated to any legitimate County business. The all-expense paid pleasure trips were to destinations within the U.S. such as Key West, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Napa Valley, and the Grand Canyon, and to international cities, including Vienna, Budapest, Cartagena, and Vancouver. At some time in 2015, Greene prepared a written list of specific places and dates she wanted to travel, and instructed Creighton to pass the list to the Contractor, which Creighton did. On June 6, 2016, during a text message exchange with Creighton and Stone about future trips to be paid by the Contractor, Greene wrote: “Agent needs to know we love and want pool and dinner on island . . . . We should think Gulf Coast or Bahamas for January trip and celebrate Mandy’s birthday at a new place.”
On some occasions, the defendants charged the County directly for airfare for trips that coincided with official meetings happening in the vicinity. However, the majority of the travel arrangements were made using the Contractor’s credit card information, which the defendants had access to, or, in Creighton’s case, using the Contractor’s actual credit card. During these trips, the Contractor would generally charge the additional expenses to his credit cards when he accompanied the County employees. For the trips during which the Contractor did not accompany the County employees, the defendants used a copy of the Contractor’s credit card to pay for any travel expenses they incurred.
At other times, in order to earn extra rewards points, Creighton used his own credit card to pay for lodging and other expenses, for which he was later reimbursed by the Contractor. As another way to help Creighton earn more rewards points, during some of the trips, the Contractor stayed at separate hotels, paid for the rooms using Creighton’s credit card, and then reimbursed Creighton for those charges. In order for the Contractor and Creighton to be able to use each other’s credit cards, Greene and Creighton caused personnel in the County’s Human Resources Department to create false official Buncombe County employee identification cards, one with the Contractor’s photograph but with Creighton’s name and title, and the other with Creighton’s photograph but with the Contractor’s name and a false title as a County employee.
In addition to receiving these all-expense paid vacations from the Contractor, the defendants also took advantage of these trips to defraud the County in at least two other ways: First, the defendants did not use annual leave for these trips, but rather falsely claimed that they traveled on official County business, and claimed to have worked for the duration of the trip. This enabled them to preserve their hours of annual leave, which they later “sold” to the County, thereby receiving monetary payments to which they were not legally entitled.
Specifically, at various times between 2011 and 2017, the County paid Greene more than $360,000 for approximately a total of 3,216 hours of her unused leave, some of which was related to these trips. Similarly, Stone received more than $130,000 from the County for unused leave between 2007 and her retirement in 2018, and Creighton received more than $89,000 for unused leave between 2011 and his retirement in 2017. A portion of their unused hours for which they were paid was related to these trips.
The second way in which the defendants used their trips to defraud the County was by submitting reimbursement requests for the cost of meals and incidental expenses they supposedly incurred during their travel, even though their meals and expenses were actually being paid for by the Contractor.
Furthermore, Buncombe County often unwittingly funded the briberies and kickbacks of its own officials. The Contractor kept detailed internal records of the costs of the tickets, lodging, meals, and other benefits that he provided to the defendants on each trip. The Contractor then tied these expenses to the various projects for which he had obtained contracts with the County on behalf of Companies A, B, and C. The Contractor often sent invoices to, and was reimbursed by, the County, in amounts approximate of those travel expenses, claiming that the invoices were for the completion of specific portions of the relevant contract, instead of the improper expenditures. Thus, by paying these invoices, which often required Creighton’s approval, the County was essentially reimbursing the Contractor for the cost of the kickbacks to its County officials.
In addition to the criminal charges, the indictment contains a notice of forfeiture and probable cause, seeking a forfeiture money judgment against the defendants in the amount of at least $400,000, which is the amount constituting the proceeds of the violations alleged in the indictment.
Greene, Creighton, and Stone have been ordered to appear on a summons. Each wire fraud and aiding and abetting charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine. The receipt of bribes and kickbacks and aiding and abetting charge and the federal program fraud charge each carry a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Additional Charges Brought Against Wanda Greene
A separate superseding indictment also charges Greene with six counts of tax fraud, in addition to the pending wire fraud, federal program fraud, and money laundering charges filed against her on June 5, 2018, in connection with a $2.3 million scheme involving the purchase of whole life insurance policies for herself and other county employees using misappropriated Buncombe County funds.
The superseding indictment alleges that Wanda Greene filed with the IRS false federal tax returns for years 2012 through 2017. Specifically, the indictment alleges that, for each corresponding year, Greene filed false Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, which misstated her taxable income, and failed to report to the IRS additional income she received through her embezzlement and whole life insurance policies schemes.
Also pending, are the federal charges filed against Greene in April 2018, for misusing government credit cards to make approximately $200,000 worth of improper purchases.
All charges contained in the indictments are allegations. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray commended the work of the FBI, IRS-CI and the SBI for their investigation of this case, and noted that the investigation into corruption within the Buncombe County Government is ongoing.
Assistant United States Attorney Richard Edwards of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is in charge of the prosecution.
One More Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for His Role in the Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Wahilli Nasco James, 23, of St. Croix, was sentenced today for his role in the armed robbery of the Gems and Gold Corner jewelry store, located on the St. Thomas waterfront, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. "The flagrant actions of gun-toting robbers will not be tolerated in the Territory," said U.S. Attorney Shappert. "In the United States Attorney’s Office, our primary focus is public safety. We intend to target violent criminals for federal prosecution. Today’s sentence is the result of constructive relationships between law-abiding citizens, hard-working law enforcement officers, and dedicated federal prosecutors."
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced James to 87 months in prison for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and five years of supervised release. Judge Gomez ordered James to pay a $100 special assessment, and perform 400 hours of community service. Judge Gomez also ordered James to pay restitution in the amount of $31,027.81 to Gems and Gold Corner and $130,322.12 to Dorchester Insurance.
On January 19, 2018, James pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm during the September 16, 2013, Hobbs Act robbery of Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store on St. Thomas. As a part of his plea agreement, James admitted that he and others committed a Hobbs Act robbery of the jewelry store and brandished weapons to threaten and intimidate store employees.
This case is a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
North Dakota Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Gwinner, North Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Bruce G. Maxwell, age 61, was indicted on June 13, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on August 2, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 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 on or about May 23, 2018, Maxwell, who is an unlawful user of, and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly received and possessed several firearms.
The charge is merely an accusation and Maxwell is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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 investigation is being conducted by the Mobridge Police Department, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Maxwell was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
North Carolina Fugitive Charged with Being A Felon in Possession of A GunRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Clyde Morgan, aka Uber Legend, 49, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on July 18, 2018, Geneseo Police Officer Dylan DiPasquale was on routine patrol when he observed a white SUV on State Highway 63 commit various violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The officer initiated a traffic stop and approached the vehicle, but could not see inside because of its dark tinted windows. As Officer DiPasquale approached, the defendant exited the vehicle through the driver's side door. The officer observed a black, sub-compact pistol in Morgan’s right hand and gave commands to the defendant who raised the handgun and pointed it at Officer DiPasquale. According to Officer DiPasquale, the defendant then went around the front of the vehicle, while a woman, who was outside the passenger side of the SUV, pointed what appeared to be a handgun at him. At this point, the officer fired one round from his service pistol. Moments later, a SUNY Geneseo Police Officer arrived and they observed the woman exiting a nearby cornfield, saying "I don't have a gun." The woman, identified as Sandra Nadine Brown, was then taken into custody.
On July 18 and 19, 2018, Sandra Nadine Brown was interviewed by investigators with the Livingston County Sheriff's Office. Brown told investigators that she had known David Clyde Morgan for about two years, and had been in a relationship with him for about six months. Brown also indicated that she was aware the defendant was on federal parole but did not know why. According to Brown, on July 11, 2018, the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office executed "a raid" on Morgan’s house in Wilmington, North Carolina and recovered three pounds of marijuana from the residence. According to Brown, she and Morgan decided to run from North Carolina adding that Morgan obtained a .22 black pistol in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
When they were pulled over by law enforcement in Geneseo, Brown told investigators that she and Morgan decided that Brown would point her cell phone at the officer and Morgan would point his handgun at the officer. Brown said their plan was to have law enforcement shoot at them and then run into the cornfield next to where they got pulled over. They would run through the field, meet up on the side of the road, and then go through the woods. While Brown was taken into custody, Morgan escaped.
In 2002, Morgan was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to serve 211 months in prison. As a result of that federal felony conviction, the defendant is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division; the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; the Geneseo Police Department, under the direction of Chief Eric Osganian; and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
New Jersey Man Charged with Heroin PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A New Jersey man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment named Marvin Anthony, aka Kareem Anthony, aka Jamal Atwaters, aka Robert Jackson, aka Rasha Miller, aka Marvin Armstrong, aka Rasha Tyrner, age 41, of East Orange, New Jersey, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on March 5, 2018, Anthony possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
The defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of not more than $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Washington County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, and numerous local police departments including the Canonsburg Police Department, the Donora Police Department, the Monessen Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Charleroi Police Department, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. United States Attorney Scott W. Brady praised the work of this cooperative law enforcement effort and has made opioid traffickers a specific target within the entire Western District of Pennsylvania.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Monroe County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Deshaun Lipscomb, age 26, of Monroe County, to 120 months’ imprisonment for drug and firearms crimes.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Lipscomb pled guilty in December 2017 to distribution and possession with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin (which is equivalent to approximately 4,000 individual doses), along with quantities of cocaine and marijuana, between January 2016 and February 2017. Lipscomb also plead guilty to possession of a 9mm handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Lipscomb is a member of the Brick City Brims, a set of the Bloods criminal street gang. In May, Judge Mannion sentenced Lipscomb’s codefendant and fellow gang member, Pablo Martinez, to 150 months’ imprisonment for the robbery and shooting of a drug dealer in Stroudsburg. Martinez admitted to shooting the victim twice and pushing him from a pickup truck, all at high speed. A third co-defendant, Orrett Campbell, fired several rounds from a .40 caliber handgun at the pickup truck while giving chase. Judge Mannion sentenced Campbell to 96 months’ imprisonment in July.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police and was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A 23-year-old Peabody, MA, man previously convicted in Rhode Island state court on multiple drug trafficking charges today was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Samuel Wango was arrested by Central Falls Police and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force during a Project Safe Neighborhoods drug trafficking investigation in February 2018. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of a Central Falls man on federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.
U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. also ordered Wango to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 46-57 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 41 months of incarceration.
Wango’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Central Falls Police Chief Colonel James J. Mendonca, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold H. Shaw.
In January 2018, the Central Falls Police Special Investigations Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking activities of Elton Andrade aka “MT Flex,”19, at his residence. The investigation allegedly included four controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Andrade.
On February 26, 2018, Central Falls Police and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Andrade’s residence. At that time, law enforcement encountered Wango, who was found to be carrying a loaded revolver and 133 grams of Inositol commonly used as a cutting agent for narcotics.
From Andrade’s bedroom, law enforcement allegedly seized two plastic baggies containing a total of 33.24 grams of crack cocaine, two stolen firearms, a .380 caliber and a .357 caliber handgun, and $1,503 in cash. Andrade is awaiting trial in federal court on charges of possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
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Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Six Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Russell Harrison, 40, of Temple Hills, Md., pled guilty today to possessing six firearms in furtherance of his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Harrison pled guilty before the Honorable Richard J. Leon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The charge requires a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of incarceration and up to life imprisonment. Judge Leon scheduled sentencing for Nov. 16, 2018.
Harrison was arrested with seven other individuals in March 2018 in relation to a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack. Numerous defendants were also charged with possessing and distributing various narcotics, including crack, cocaine, PCP and fentanyl, during the period of the investigation. The charges followed an investigation into narcotics trafficking in the Washington, D.C. area.
Harrison’s guilty plea is based on the discovery of six firearms, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia at his residence when it was searched by law enforcement on March 15, 2018. During the execution of a search warrant, FBI agents and members of the U.S. Marshals Service recovered six separate firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, a 50-round capacity drum, a firearm silencer, and drug paraphernalia. During his plea hearing, Harrison acknowledged that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
This represents Harrison’s fourth felony conviction. He earlier was convicted twice of trafficking narcotics and once of committing an assault with a firearm.
This case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF specializes in the investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Assistant Director in Charge McNamara commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. Finally, they cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialists Jeannette Litz and Teesha Tobias, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Swanton, of the Asset Forfeiture & Money Laundering Section, who assisted with forfeiture related issues, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Macchiaroli and Kevin Rosenberg of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Section, who conducted the underlying investigation, indicted the case, and are prosecuting the remaining defendants.
Man Sentenced for Smuggling Liquid Methamphetamine to KansasRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Mexican man was sentenced Monday to 12 years in federal prison for his role in smuggling more than 1,000 pounds of liquid methamphetamine into Kansas City, Kan., U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.
Fernando Chavez-Rodriguez, 43, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was arrested Jan. 13, 2017. Federal agents watched him and others at a business in Kansas City, Kan., unload liquid methamphetamine from a fuel tank on a semi-truck into five-gallon buckets. They loaded the buckets into a white Dodge Caravan.
McAllister commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City DEA Special Response Team, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough for their work the case.
Louisiana Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Child Sex and Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Iordan Bossev, age 22, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday to 6 years in prison for child sex and child pornography crimes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Charles Margiotta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As part of his guilty plea, Bossev admitted that at the age of 19 he communicated with a 14-year-old over the internet. The communications became sexual in nature and Bossev sought and received via the internet numerous sexually explicit images of the victim from March 2015 through November 2015. In May 2015, after approximately 2 months of sending sexually explicit images back and forth, Bossev traveled from Louisiana to Watertown, New York, to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. In anticipation of their meeting, Bossev rented a hotel room in Jefferson County. When the defendant arrived he and the victim spent parts of 2 days in the hotel room having sex.
In November 2015, Bossev traveled to Jefferson County with the intention of running away with the victim so the two could further engage in illicit sexual activity. Bossev bought a disguise for the victim at a local Walmart so the victim could dress up as a female and the two fled together via bus to New York City. From New York City, Bossev purchased tickets for the two to travel by Greyhound bus to San Francisco, California. From November 2015 to December 2016, Bossev and the victim lived together in San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release, which will start after Bossev is released from prison, ordered the defendant to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim, and ordered the defendant to pay a $5,400 special assessment. As a result of his conviction, Bossev will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Bossev’s case was investigated by the New York State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Lockheed Martin Corporation/Mission Support Alliance Employee Enters Settlement of Alleged False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Contracts at Hanford SiteRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Richard A. Olsen agreed to pay $124,440 to resolve claims that he violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated prices in connection with a subcontract between Mission Support Alliance, LLC (MSA), a prime contractor at the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. (LMSI), a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC). LMSI provided services to MSA as well as other prime contractors assisting with environmental cleanup services at the Hanford site near Richland, Washington. Mr. Olsen was an employee of LMC working for MSA. LMC, through a subsidiary, was one of the owners of MSA.
“We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the federal government’s procurement process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This investigation and its resolution demonstrate that the Justice Department will work with its agency partners to protect public funds and ensure they are used for their intended purposes.”
In August 2009, MSA began performance under a multi-billion dollar services contract with the DOE for the environmental cleanup of the Hanford Site. The United States alleged that under the terms of MSA’s contract with DOE, LMSI, as an affiliate of MSA, was not entitled to receive profit on the work it performed for MSA. The United States further alleged that Mr. Olsen, while he was an employee of LMC working for MSA, falsely represented to DOE that the LMSI subcontract did not include any profit. Mr. Olsen allegedly received a payment of at least $41,480 from LMC for obtaining DOE’s consent to the inflated LMSI subcontract.
“This settlement requires Mr. Olsen to pay back three times the amount he received from the alleged fraud and holds Mr. Olsen accountable for his actions,” said Joseph H. Harrington, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “It also sends a strong message to those individuals who may engage in similar conduct. I commend the outstanding investigative work performed by the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, which made this resolution possible.”
“The Department of Energy Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring the integrity of our contractors and subcontractors by detecting and holding accountable those who choose to engage in false claim and kickback schemes,” said DOE’s Acting Inspector General April G. Stephenson. “This settlement is a result of our staff’s dedicated work to ensure the government is not charged with false and inflated claims. We appreciate the efforts of the DOJ in pursuing this matter and will continue to work collaboratively with them to aggressively investigate those who seek to defraud Department programs.”
The investigation of Mr. Olsen was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, and the DOE Office of the Inspector General.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Lexington Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Byron Lee White, 36, of Lexington, has pleaded guilty, to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and heroin.
During his guilty plea, on August 2, 2018, White admitted that he conspired with others to distribute heroin and fentanyl. White admitted that he and others sold heroin, on November 16, 2017, and fentanyl and heroin on both December 5, 2017 and 22, 2017. White also admitted that he and others sold 55 grams of Fentanyl on January 17, 2018. White acknowledged that he had previously been convicted of the felony drug offense of Trafficking in Cocaine in Fayette Circuit Court in 2005. White was indicted by a grand jury in June of 2018.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Richard Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.
Byron Lee White is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing before Chief United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, in Lexington, on November 8, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. He faces prison sentence of 10 years to Life imprisonment. However, any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.
The investigation was conducted by F.B.I. and Kentucky State Police. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorney Roger W. West.
Kansas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Racially Motivated Shooting at Olathe BarRead the Press Release
Adam W. Purinton, of Olathe, Kansas, was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the February 2017 killing of Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla, and shooting of two other men – Indian national Alok Madasani and Kansas resident Ian Grillot – at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, announced Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister of the District of Kansas, and FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones.
Earlier this year, Purinton pleaded guilty in federal court to hate crime and firearm offenses arising out of the shooting. At his federal guilty-plea hearing, Purinton admitted in open court that he targeted and shot Kuchibhotla and Madasani because of their race, color, and national origin, and that he shot Grillot during an attempt to flee the scene of the crime. Purinton has also pleaded guilty in state court to charges of murder and attempted murder, and has been sentenced to a term of life imprisonment in state prison.
Sunayana Dumala, the widow of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, addressed Purinton in her victim-impact statement: “My husband was more than what you chose to address him as. Always kind, caring, and respectful to others. Srinu and I came to the United States of America full of dreams and aspirations. . . . Now, my American Dream – and that of Srinu’s – is broken. If you could have kept your anger inside and spoke to my husband softly, Srinu would have been more than happy to share his background and help you understand that not every brown skinned person is suspicious or evil, but kind, smart and contributing to America. Instead you chose to rage and bully in anger and when you were stopped, you decided to take their lives. . . . [U]se the time that is being given to you to educate yourself and inform others who are still out in the open and stop them from killing innocent people as you did - choosing violence over kindness.”
"The crimes at issue in this case are detestable," Attorney General Sessions said. "The defendant acted with clear premeditation in murdering one man, and attempting to murder a second man, simply because of their race, religion, and national origin. As a result, a promising young life has been tragically cut short, and other lives have been filled with suffering. Securing this sentence is important not only to the victims and their loved ones, but also to our justice system and our nation as a whole. I want to thank the FBI, our fabulous DOJ attorneys Tris Hunt, David Zabel, and Christopher Perras, as well as our partners at the Olathe Police Department for their hard work on this case. While we cannot undo the irreparable harm that this defendant has done, some measure of justice for the victims' families has been achieved. Such hateful crimes will remain a priority for the Department of Justice."
"No matter who you are, what you believe, or how you worship, you should be able to live without fear of becoming a victim of hate crimes. We hope today's sentencing brings some closure for the victims and their families," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister for the District of Kansas.
"Today's sentencing speaks to the gravity of this senseless crime and reaffirms the FBI's continued commitment to bring those responsible to justice," said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones.
This case was investigated jointly by the Olathe (KS) Police Department and the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tris Hunt and David Zabel of the District of Kansas, and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Kansas Man Sentenced to Life for Racially Motivated ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Adam W. Purinton, of Olathe, Kansas, was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the February 2017 killing of Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla, and shooting of two other men – Indian national Alok Madasani and Kansas resident Ian Grillot – at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, announced Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister of the District of Kansas, and FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones.
Earlier this year, Purinton pleaded guilty in federal court to hate crime and firearm offenses arising out of the shooting. At his federal guilty-plea hearing, Purinton admitted in open court that he targeted and shot Kuchibhotla and Madasani because of their race, color, and national origin, and that he shot Grillot during an attempt to flee the scene of the crime. Purinton has also pleaded guilty in state court to charges of murder and attempted murder, and has been sentenced to a term of life imprisonment in state prison.
Sunayana Dumala, the widow of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, addressed Purinton in her victim-impact statement: “My husband was more than what you chose to address him as. Always kind, caring, and respectful to others. Srinu and I came to the United States of America full of dreams and aspirations. . . . Now, my American Dream – and that of Srinu’s – is broken. If you could have kept your anger inside and spoke to my husband softly, Srinu would have been more than happy to share his background and help you understand that not every brown skinned person is suspicious or evil, but kind, smart and contributing to America. Instead you chose to rage and bully in anger and when you were stopped, you decided to take their lives. . . . [U]se the time that is being given to you to educate yourself and inform others who are still out in the open and stop them from killing innocent people as you did - choosing violence over kindness.”
"The crimes at issue in this case are detestable," Attorney General Sessions said. "The defendant acted with clear premeditation in murdering one man, and attempting to murder a second man, simply because of their race, religion, and national origin. As a result, a promising young life has been tragically cut short, and other lives have been filled with suffering. Securing this sentence is important not only to the victims and their loved ones, but also to our justice system and our nation as a whole. I want to thank the FBI, our fabulous DOJ attorneys Tris Hunt, David Zabel, and Christopher Perras, as well as our partners at the Olathe Police Department for their hard work on this case. While we cannot undo the irreparable harm that this defendant has done, some measure of justice for the victims' families has been achieved. Such hateful crimes will remain a priority for the Department of Justice."
"No matter who you are, what you believe, or how you worship, you should be able to live without fear of becoming a victim of hate crimes. We hope today's sentencing brings some closure for the victims and their families," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister for the District of Kansas.
"Today's sentencing speaks to the gravity of this senseless crime and reaffirms the FBI's continued commitment to bring those responsible to justice," said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones.
This case was investigated jointly by the Olathe (KS) Police Department and the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tris Hunt and David Zabel of the District of Kansas, and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Kansas Man Indicted for Traveling for Illicit Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Buhler, Kan., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for traveling to Kansas City, Mo., to meet with an undercover law enforcement officer whom he believed was a teenage prostitute.
Bradley D. Voth, 55, was charged with one count of traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Today’s indictment replaces a July 20, 2018, criminal complaint that charged him with the same offense.
The investigation began in June 2018 when an undercover employee with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was monitoring public message threads on a website known to be used to host discussion forums and private messaging services for the purpose of allowing men and women to communicate regarding prostitution.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the undercover employee posted a review for a prostitute in Hutchinson, Kan., and received a private message from Voth in response. Voth, says the affidavit, is a senior member of the website with over 500 posts detailing his experience across south-central Kansas and at Asian Massage Parlors. The undercover employee provided Voth with the phone number for an FBI agent who was acting in an undercover capacity as a 16-year-old female.
Voth allegedly contacted the undercover agent, who told him that she was staying in Kansas City with her cousin’s boyfriend and her 13-year-old sister. Voth asked for the 13-year-old’s phone number and for photos of both juveniles. Voth agreed to meet with her and the 13-year-old on July 19, 2018, for sexual activity in exchange for $140. When Voth arrived at a coffee shop in Kansas City, Mo., he was arrested.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Officer of Inspector General, the FBI and the Wichita, Kan., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Jamesville Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Cody Childress, age 29, of Jamesville, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 7 years in prison for possessing and receiving child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Charles Margiotta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As part of his guilty plea, Childress admitted that he received images of child pornography through a peer-to-peer, file-sharing program. A search of Childress’s laptop computer revealed that he possessed 51 videos depicting child pornography.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Childress is released from prison. As a result of his conviction, Childress will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Childress’s case was investigated by the New York State Police and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that, ERIC ELWIN LEVAN, 36, of Jacksonville, was sentenced by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan for distribution and possession of child pornography. Judge Flanagan sentenced LEVAN to 140 months imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release.
LEVAN was charged in a two-count indictment on June 22, 2017 and pled guilty on March 14, 2018.
In November of 2016, the Department of Homeland Security conducted an undercover investigation on a Russian-based file-sharing website known to be frequented by people interested in child pornography. An agent, using an undercover website profile, advertised an interest in child pornography and published contact information on an instant-messaging service. An individual, later identified as LEVAN, contacted the undercover agent, and began discussing an interest in child pornography and a desire for sexual contact with minor children. On November 30, 2016, LEVAN sent the agent an internet link to a child pornography video. Agents identified LEVAN as the account holder and on December 13, 2016, executed a search warrant on LEVAN’s Jacksonville residence. Law enforcement seized LEVAN’s computer and other digital devices. Agents also obtained and executed a search warrant for an online digital storage account in LEVAN’S name. The forensic examination of the devices and online account uncovered over 100 images and 150 videos of child pornography.
Mr. Higdon commented: “We are gratified by the sentence the court imposed today. Protection of our children and the punishment of those who exploit children is a high priority for the Department of Justice. And, the facts of this case are a reminder to anyone who might engage in this type of criminal activity that you may just be dealing with an undercover officer and find yourself in a federal courtroom and deprived of your freedom and liberty too!”
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood (PSC) initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Department of Homeland Security conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh handled the prosecution of this case for the United States.
Jackson Man Sentenced to Almost 8 Years in Federal Prison under Project EJECTRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Willie Tyrone Lott, 28, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Barbour to 94 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. Lott pled guilty before Judge Barbour on May 8, 2018.
The case arose when the Jackson Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Lott’s vehicle on July 6, 2017. During the stop, it was discovered that Lott had outstanding warrants and he was placed under arrest. Incident to arrest, the police discovered hydrocodone, MDMA, and an AM-15, Caliber .223 rifle. The rifle had been reported stolen to the Jackson Police Department.
As a convicted felon, Lott was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. He was previously convicted of robbery, a state felony, in Madison County Circuit Court.
Project EJECT is an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime in Jackson through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for "Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together." PSN is 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 investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Illinois Sales Representative Indicted for Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Illinois man was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with submitting false insurance information for a high-priced cholesterol drug in 2014 and 2015.
Mark Moffett, 45, of Springfield, Ill., was indicted on one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Moffett was arrested on a criminal complaint in June and is currently on release on conditions. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Aug. 28, 2018.
As alleged in the indictment, Moffett, who was a sales representative in central Illinois, conspired with others at his former employer to defraud insurance companies by providing false information concerning patients for whom doctors had prescribed his employer’s cholesterol drug. Moffett also falsified medical records purportedly signed by a doctor and then submitted them to insurance companies in order to convince patients’ health plans to cover the drug, which cost over $27,000 per month.
The conspiracy and fraud charges provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or the amount of the financial loss to the victims of the fraud. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Phillip Coyne Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and Carol S. Hamilton, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal alien from Honduras arrested in Lafayette Parish sentenced to 3 years in prison for illegally re-entering U.S. 3rd timeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison for re-entering the United States after being deported on two previous occasions and for violating an earlier term of supervised release.
Henry Ariel Canacas-Cortez, 26, also known as Henry Ariel Gonzales-Canacas, of Francisco Morazan, Talanga, Honduras, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 24 months in prison on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He was also sentenced to 12 months to run consecutively to the 24-month term for the revocation of his supervised release entered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. According to the May 4, 2018 guilty plea, Lafayette Sheriff’s deputies arrested Canacas-Cortez on March 1, 2018. He admitted to providing a false name to officers when arrested and later admitted to illegally re-entering the United States on two prior occasions. He was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2015 for attempted distribution of controlled substances and was deported on August 12, 2015. He was found to be in the United States a second time, and he was removed on July 14, 2017. He illegally entered the United States a third time on December 16, 2017 prior to his arrest.
Homeland Security Investigations and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.