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12 September 2018
Southeastern Provision Owner James Brantley Pleads Guilty to Federal InformationRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On September 12, 2018, James Brantley, 61, of Bean Station, Tennessee, pleaded guilty before the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, to tax fraud, wire fraud, and employment of unauthorized illegal aliens. Brantley is the owner of Southeastern Provision, LLC (Southeastern Provision), a slaughterhouse and meatpacking plant located in Bean Station, Tennessee.
Brantley faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for the tax counts. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release on the wire fraud charge. Finally, he faces up to six months in prison and a fine of not more than $3,000 per unauthorized alien on the employment of unauthorized alien charge. Brantley also agreed to pay restitution to the United States government in the total amount of $1,423,588 on or before the date of his sentencing. Sentencing has been set for 1:30 p.m., February 4, 2019, in U.S. District Court.
A detailed account of Brantley’s scheme is contained in his plea agreement on file with the U.S. District Court and available to the public. According to the plea agreement, beginning in 1988 and continuing through April 2018, Brantley knowingly hired, or caused others employed by him to hire, unauthorized aliens to work as employees at Southeastern Provision. The unauthorized aliens were knowingly hired to reduce Brantley and Southeastern Provision’s FICA tax obligations, unemployment insurance premiums, unemployment tax obligations, and workers’ compensation insurance premiums.
In April 2018, a federal search warrant was executed at Southeastern Provision, during which agents discovered at least 104 unauthorized aliens employed there. Evidence showed that Brantley had previously reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that he had only 44 wage-earning employees. Further investigation revealed that he paid the unauthorized aliens in cash at a rate of $8-$10 per hour. The employees were also often asked to work overtime at their standard rate of pay, rather than the “time and a half” required by the Fair Labor Standards Act for overtime work.
“The April 2018 raid on Southeastern Provision came after a lengthy investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations and resulted in the discovery of the unlawful employment of many illegal aliens and the seizure of voluminous records which documented the operation of Mr. Brantley’s wire and tax fraud schemes,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey. “The agents and prosecutors working on this case have diligently poured over the records and evidence since the raid to ensure that charging Mr. Brantley would result in bringing him to justice and ultimately his conviction. With this guilty plea, that has been accomplished.”
“As ICE Homeland Security Investigations has stated repeatedly – this agency is equally focused in its worksite enforcement efforts on the foreign nationals who unlawfully seek employment as well as the employers who knowingly hire them. This case was a criminal investigation from day one, not simply an immigration enforcement action, and today’s guilty plea clearly illustrates HSI’s dual focus on the issue,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles. “Tax fraud is an outrage to hard-working Americans directly harmed when criminals cheat their obligation to society by failing to pay their fair share, and the employment of illegal workers also poses a serious threat to public safety as the use of fraudulent identity documents exposes Americans to potential identity theft and other financial harm.”
"Tax violations have been erroneously referred to as victimless crimes, but it's the honest law-abiding citizens that are harmed when someone tries to manipulate our nation's tax system for their personal gain," said Matthew D. Line, Special Agent in Charge. "Business owners like Mr. Brantley have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to do so not only results in the loss of tax revenue to the United States government, but it also harms employees who lose future social security or Medicare benefits and creates an unfair business advantage over those employers who follow the law. Investigating cases of employment tax fraud is an investigative priority for IRS Criminal Investigation.”
Being neither a flight risk nor posing a danger to the community, Mr. Brantley was released on a recognizance bond pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys TJ Harker and Meghan Gomez represented the United States in court proceedings.
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Shelby County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Stealing from EmployerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Shelby County woman to nearly two years in prison for stealing from the Bessemer company where she worked as a bookkeeper, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins sentenced LUCY WOODS, 52, of Pelham, to 21 months in prison on four counts of wire fraud related to her stealing more than $150,000 from her former employer, Robert Warnock Co. Inc. Woods pleaded guilty to the charges in May. She must report to prison Nov. 12.
“This defendant blatantly abused the trust of her employer,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark. “This sentence is a strong and clear message that abuse of trust and misuse of funds is unacceptable and anyone who considers engaging in similar conduct should know that it can lead to federal prison.”
“Ms. Woods exploited her position of trust with repeated conduct that was deliberate, deceptive and self-enriching, and the court has held her accountable,” Sharp said. “I, particularly, want to thank our partners with the Bessemer Police Department for their assistance in this case.”
Robert Warnock Co. is a manufacturer’s representative that sells capital equipment for the oil and gas industry. While employed by Robert Warnock, Woods fraudulently charged personal expenses totaling more than $30,000 on a corporate credit card account. She also forged, and made payable to herself, more than $120,000 in unauthorized checks from the corporate bank account, according to court records.
The FBI investigated the case in conjunction with the Bessemer Police Department, and Mark prosecuted the case.
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Serial Robber Sentenced to 32 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Miami resident was sentenced, on September 7, 2018, to 32 years in prison by United States District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas for committing a string of armed robberies.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), and Sergio Velazquez, Chief, Hialeah Police Department, made the announcement.
Damon Woodard, 27, of Miami, Florida, previously pled guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of, Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(A)(1)(ii). Woodard was sentenced to a total of 384 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to the court record, on December 9, 2017, Woodard robbed Murphy Gas Station in Miami Gardens, Florida, at gunpoint. On December 13, 2017, Woodard robbed a BP Gas Station in Dania Beach, Florida, at gunpoint. Woodard subsequently robbed numerous other businesses, including two check-cashing stores in Hialeah, Florida with codefendant Suwayne Hylton. In total, Woodard admitted his involvement in approximately 20 additional armed robberies in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Hylton previously pled guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. On July 9, 2018, Hylton was sentenced by Judge Dimitrouleas to 84 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $16,392 in restitution.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings 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.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, BSO and Hialeah Police Department in this matter. He also thanked the Davie Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Virginia Gardens Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Gardens Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Pembroke Pines Police Department, and Miramar Police Department for their assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Senator Abel Nazario Quiñones Indicted and Arrested for Falsifying Documents and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, Senator Abel Nazario-Quiñones was arrested and charged in a 39-count indictment alleging the making or use of false documents and wire fraud, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Comptroller’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the FBI are in charge of the investigation.
Defendant Nazario-Quiñones was first elected Mayor of Yauco, a municipality in Southwest Puerto Rico, in 2000, and continued to be the mayor until December of 2016. In May 2013, during a routine audit of the Municipality’s records, the PR Comptroller’s Office discovered that municipal employees were required to work two voluntary hours per day. This issue was referred to the DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD), which determined that this voluntary work requirement was a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
On February 2015, Nazario-Quiñones signed a Back Wage Compliance Payment Agreement with the DOL Wage and Hour Division in which he agreed to pay back wages totaling $588,961.43 to 177 municipal employees for the period of August 1, 2012 to July 31, 2014 according to a predetermined schedule listing each employee who was owed wages, the amount they were owed, and the date by which each employee had to be paid. The Agreement allowed the Municipality until February 2018 to complete all the payments.
In August 2016, during their next routine audit of the Municipality’s records, the PR Comptroller’s Office learned that, although employees had been receiving lump sum payments according to the terms of the Agreement, the Municipality unilaterally began withholding the employees’ regular wages without the knowledge or consent of the DOL WHD. This issue was referred to the DOL WHD who, in November 2016, referred it to the DOL Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The DOL OIG ultimately identified 30 contract municipal employees who, by the end of his mayoral term in 2016, Nazario-Quiñones had certified were paid their back wages pursuant to the Agreement. The DOL OIG also determined that those 30 contract municipal employees, after receiving the wages to which they were entitled under the Agreement, had their regular pay with-held for certain periods of time at the direction of Nazario-Quiñones while he provided various explanations to the employees as to why they were receiving these lump sum checks.
According to the indictment, between February 2015 and December 2016, Nazario-Quiñones falsely certified to the Department of Labor that he had paid back wages to the employees, according to the terms of the Agreement, and that he would not take any retaliatory action against the employees for accepting the payment. In fact, however, Nazario-Quiñones directed the payroll department to withhold future earnings of these employees for varying lengths of time, despite their continued work for the municipality. It is also alleged that defendant committed wire fraud as some of the forms used to certify the payments to the DOL WHD were sent via email.
“The defendant’s conduct undermines the confidence employees place in those who are supposed to protect and represent them,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Government officials are governed by rules that are supposed to protect employees and the public. Yauco’s former mayor, skilled at convincing individuals to place their trust in him, engaged in a scheme to defraud his own employees. We will continue investigating and prosecuting this type of financial fraud to the full extent of the law.”
“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations that relate to U.S. Department of Labor programs designed to protect the wages of the American workforce. We will continue to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Region, U. S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Anderson. The case was investigated by the Puerto Rico Comptroller’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the FBI. Defendant Nazario-Quiñones is facing a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and a fine not to exceed $1,000,000.
An indictment is only an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Second Baltimore Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Earl Williams, age 30, of Baltimore, today to 66 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for assaulting a federal officer.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department.
“This officer, like all law enforcement officers, put his life on the line in order to make our community safer,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will find and hold accountable those who assault the brave men and women who have sworn to protect us.”
“ATF Special Agents and Task Force Officers risk their safety and lives every day investigating violent offenders, including those who push drugs onto Baltimore’s streets. We do this to protect the community, and remove criminals and violence from their neighborhoods,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada. “Earl Williams and Devin Braxton showed no regard for human life when they violently beat our Task Force Officer, a member of our ATF family. We are immensely grateful that this TFO has made a full recovery and that these men are being held responsible for their crime.”
According to Williams’ plea agreement, on January 18, 2017, an ATF Task Force Officer (TFO) was working undercover in an investigation of a drug dealer in Baltimore.
While wearing an audio recording device, the TFO met the target drug dealer in front of a carryout store in the 1800 block of North Gay Street in Baltimore, where the drug dealer gave the TFO packaged crack cocaine in exchange for cash. While the TFO was engaged in the transaction, Earl Williams approached the TFO and poked his finger into the TFO’s hand that was holding the crack cocaine. The TFO attempted to excuse Williams, who persisted in his confrontation and began threatening the TFO. Williams and his co-defendant Devin Braxton then blocked the exit to the business. The TFO attempted to push Williams into the corner of the store, but, as the TFO struggled with Williams, Braxton began striking the TFO. Williams then wrestled the TFO to the ground, where Braxton and Williams punched and kicked the TFO, causing serious injuries. Hearing the commotion over the TFO’s audio recording device, ATF agents rapidly responded to the scene. Before agents could arrive, Braxton and Williams left the store. As they fled, Williams took the TFO’s cell phone and Braxton took the TFO’s service weapon.
ATF agents apprehended Braxton and Williams a short time later. They also recovered the TFO’s phone and service weapon. The TFO was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Co-defendant: Devin Braxton, age 28, of Baltimore, was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for assaulting a federal officer.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, who prosecuted the case.
Salem Man Sentenced for Assaulting TSA Security Officers at Portland International AirportRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Anthony Wayne Tavoloni, Jr., 45, of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced today to three years’ probation including three months of home detention for assaulting two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Transportation Security Officers (TSO) at Portland International Airport (PDX).
According to court documents, on August 20, 2017, Tavoloni entered PDX, passed through the customer service and baggage claim areas, and entered the TSA checkpoint and screening zone leading to Concourses D and E. Upon entering the TSA checkpoint, a TSO asked Tavoloni for his boarding pass and identification. He replied, “No.” The TSO asked for Tavoloni’s boarding pass a second time to which he replied, “You really want to do this?” as he stepped toward the TSO. Tavoloni then walked behind the TSO’s table prompting the TSO to jump from her chair, back away from him, and yell, “Stop, Stop, Stop!” Tavoloni grabbed the TSO by her forearms and attempted to wrestle her to the ground.
Alerted, a number of passengers rushed to assist the TSO. Two passengers restrained Tavoloni, while others attempted to separate the TSO from his grip. With multiple TSOs now standing between Tavoloni and the victim, Tavoloni exclaimed “We’re about to have a bad day, do you really want to do this?” to which another TSO replied “No one needs to have a bad day.” Tavoloni then lunged at this TSO, striking him in the face with his hand. Tavoloni was promptly wrestled to the ground and held until Port of Portland Police arrived.
Tavoloni previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting certain officers or employees in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) on May 21, 2018.
This case was investigated by TSA and the FBI and prosecuted by John Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Russian National Who Operated Kelihos Botnet Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Conspiracy, Computer Crime and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
Peter Yuryevich Levashov, aka “Petr Levashov,” “Peter Severa,” “Petr Severa” and “Sergey Astakhov,” 38, of St. Petersburg, Russia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, to offenses stemming from his operation of the Kelihos botnet, which he used to facilitate malicious activities including harvesting login credentials, distributing bulk spam e-mails, and installing ransomware and other malicious software.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John H. Durham of the District of Connecticut and Special Agent in Charge Brain C. Turner of the FBI’s New Haven Division made the announcement.
“For over two decades, Peter Levashov operated botnets which enabled him to harvest personal information from infected computers, disseminate spam, and distribute malware used to facilitate multiple scams,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “We are grateful to Spanish authorities for his previous arrest and extradition. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that the Department will collaborate with our international law enforcement partners to bring cybercriminals to justice, wherever they may be.”
“Mr. Levashov used the Kelihos botnet to distribute thousands of spam e-mails, harvest login credentials, and install malicious software on computers around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Durham. “He also participated in online forums on which stolen identities, credit card information and cybercrime tools were traded and sold. For years, Mr. Levashov lived quite comfortably while his criminal behavior disrupted the lives of thousands of computer users. Thanks to the collaborative work of the FBI and our partners in law enforcement, private industry and academia, a prolific cybercriminal has been neutralized, and has now admitted his guilt in a U.S. courtroom.”
“Today justice has finally arrived for Peter Levashov, who is perhaps better known in the cyber community by his online identity, Peter Severa,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Turner. “The FBI’s New Haven Division has been engaged in a multiyear investigation of Levashov, with evidence gathered from a number of countries around the world. Today’s guilty plea should serve as an unequivocal reminder to all those who use the internet for illicit purposes: The FBI will pursue you regardless of what country you live in and the length of time it might take to secure your eventual arrest. As we move forward, no cyber criminal should rest easy. The men and women of the FBI’s New Haven Division, along with the members of our Cyber Task Force and our many other federal, state, local, and tribal partners across the state, will continue to employ the same dedication and hard work, which made this effort such a success, to the continued protection of the citizens of Connecticut and the nation as a whole.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, a botnet is a network of computers infected with malicious software that allows a third party to control the entire computer network without the knowledge or consent of the computer owners. Since the late 1990s until his arrest in April 2017, Levashov controlled and operated multiple botnets, including the Storm, Waledac and Kelihos botnets, to harvest personal information and means of identification (including email addresses, usernames and logins, and passwords) from infected computers. To further the scheme, Levashov disseminated spam and distributed other malware, such as banking Trojans and ransomware, and advertised the Kelihos botnet spam and malware services to others for purchase in order to enrich himself. Over the course of his criminal career, Levashov participated in and moderated various online criminal forums on which stolen identities and credit cards, malware and other criminal tools of cybercrime were traded and sold.
Spanish authorities arrested Levashov in Barcelona on April 7, 2017, based upon a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued in the District of Connecticut. At the time of Levashov’s arrest, Kelihos infected at least 50,000 computers.
On April 10, 2017, the Justice Department announced that it had taken action to dismantle the Kelihos botnet.
On April 20, 2017, a grand jury in the District of Connecticut returned an indictment charging Levashov with multiple offenses related to this scheme. Levashov was extradited to the United States in February.
Levashov pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to one count of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, one count of conspiracy, one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Chatigny scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2019. Levashov is detained pending sentencing.
The FBI’s New Haven Division and Anchorage Division are investigating the case, with the assistance from the Spanish National Police. Senior Trial Attorney Anthony Teelucksingh of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vanessa Richards and David Huang of the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, ThreatStop, SpamHaus, Cisco, Cambridge University, and Cloudmark also provided invaluable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Levashov.
Russian National Who Operated Kelihos Botnet Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Conspiracy, Computer Crime and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
Peter Yuryevich Levashov, aka “Petr Levashov,” “Peter Severa,” “Petr Severa” and “Sergey Astakhov,” 38, of St. Petersburg, Russia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, to offenses stemming from his operation of the Kelihos botnet, which he used to facilitate malicious activities including harvesting login credentials, distributing bulk spam e-mails, and installing ransomware and other malicious software.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John H. Durham of the District of Connecticut and Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Turner of the FBI’s New Haven Division made the announcement.
“For over two decades, Peter Levashov operated botnets which enabled him to harvest personal information from infected computers, disseminate spam, and distribute malware used to facilitate multiple scams,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “We are grateful to Spanish authorities for his previous arrest and extradition. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that the Department will collaborate with our international law enforcement partners to bring cybercriminals to justice, wherever they may be.”
“Mr. Levashov used the Kelihos botnet to distribute thousands of spam e-mails, harvest login credentials, and install malicious software on computers around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Durham. “He also participated in online forums on which stolen identities, credit card information and cybercrime tools were traded and sold. For years, Mr. Levashov lived quite comfortably while his criminal behavior disrupted the lives of thousands of computer users. Thanks to the collaborative work of the FBI and our partners in law enforcement, private industry and academia, a prolific cybercriminal has been neutralized, and has now admitted his guilt in a U.S. courtroom.”
“Today justice has finally arrived for Peter Levashov, who is perhaps better known in the cyber community by his online identity, Peter Severa,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Turner. “The FBI’s New Haven Division has been engaged in a multiyear investigation of Levashov, with evidence gathered from a number of countries around the world. Today’s guilty plea should serve as an unequivocal reminder to all those who use the internet for illicit purposes: The FBI will pursue you regardless of what country you live in and the length of time it might take to secure your eventual arrest. As we move forward, no cyber criminal should rest easy. The men and women of the FBI’s New Haven Division, along with the members of our Cyber Task Force and our many other federal, state, local, and tribal partners across the state, will continue to employ the same dedication and hard work, which made this effort such a success, to the continued protection of the citizens of Connecticut and the nation as a whole.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, a botnet is a network of computers infected with malicious software that allows a third party to control the entire computer network without the knowledge or consent of the computer owners. Since the late 1990s until his arrest in April 2017, Levashov controlled and operated multiple botnets, including the Storm, Waledac and Kelihos botnets, to harvest personal information and means of identification (including email addresses, usernames and logins, and passwords) from infected computers. To further the scheme, Levashov disseminated spam and distributed other malware, such as banking Trojans and ransomware, and advertised the Kelihos botnet spam and malware services to others for purchase in order to enrich himself. Over the course of his criminal career, Levashov participated in and moderated various online criminal forums on which stolen identities and credit cards, malware and other criminal tools of cybercrime were traded and sold.
Spanish authorities arrested Levashov in Barcelona on April 7, 2017, based upon a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued in the District of Connecticut. At the time of Levashov’s arrest, Kelihos infected at least 50,000 computers.
On April 10, 2017, the Justice Department announced that it had taken action to dismantle the Kelihos botnet.
On April 20, 2017, a grand jury in the District of Connecticut returned an indictment charging Levashov with multiple offenses related to this scheme. Levashov was extradited to the United States in February.
Levashov pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to one count of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, one count of conspiracy, one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Chatigny scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2019. Levashov is detained pending sentencing.
The FBI’s New Haven Division and Anchorage Division are investigating the case, with the assistance from the Spanish National Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vanessa Richards and David Huang of the District of Connecticut and Senior Trial Attorney Anthony Teelucksingh of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, ThreatStop, SpamHaus, Cisco, Cambridge University, and Cloudmark also provided invaluable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Levashov.
Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 150 Months on Federal Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Zadgery Collins McNeil, age 32, of Rock Hill, was sentenced in federal court to a total of 150 months imprisonment, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release. McNeil plead guilty earlier this year to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) and Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 851. Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia imposed the sentence, which consisted of 100 months imprisonment on the firearm charge and a consecutive 50 months imprisonment on the marijuana charge.
Evidence presented in court established that at approximately 1:25 pm on December 6, 2016, Rock Hill Police Department received numerous 911 calls regarding a shooting on Jones Avenue, at McNeil’s residence. Investigation revealed that individuals were shooting at McNeil, when he went around the corner of the house and came back with a handgun. Thereafter, the other individuals fled from the scene in an SUV and McNeil fled in his car. An officer responding to the shooting encountered McNeil’s car at the intersection of South Stonewall Street and Arch Drive. The officer observed McNeil step out of his car, fire a handgun several times at an SUV that was approaching, and then speed away. Officers attempted a traffic stop and McNeil pulled into the driveway of a residence. McNeil bailed from his car, which then crashed into the porch of the house. A footchase ensued during which McNeil threw down the handgun. McNeil ran into a nearby home and the residents, who had children in the home, alerted law enforcement. McNeil was placed under arrest a short time later and officers recovered $550 and the discarded loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun. A search of McNeil’s vehicle revealed approximately 348 grams of marijuana and a spent shell casing along with other items linked to McNeil.
McNeil is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior separate South Carolina state convictions for possession of crack cocaine (2006), assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (2007), possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2012), possession with intent to distribute marijuana near a park (2014), and distribution of marijuana 2nd offense (2014). At the time of the instant offense, McNeil was on state probation for a North Carolina conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon (2014).
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Rock Hill Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a 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. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.
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Queen Anne’s County Couple Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Crime Spree Including ATM Burglaries and Transportation of Stolen VehiclesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –Matthew Dale Bush, age 39, and Crystal French, a/k/a “Crystal Lynn Bush,” age 34, both of Grasonville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank larceny, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. Bush also pleaded guilty to bank robbery and to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Bush entered his guilty plea on September 11, 2018, and French pleaded guilty today.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to their respective plea agreements, from September 2017 through October 23, 2017, Bush and French conspired to break into retail businesses in order to steal Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and the money contained inside. The couple admitted that they used stolen vehicles to travel to and from the scenes of the crimes.
In September and October 2017, the couple stole six ATMs that contained over $38,900, and attempted to steal two other ATMs. As part of the conspiracy, the couple traveled to, and stole from, businesses in: Stevensville, Maryland; Chester, Maryland; Kent County, Delaware; Sterling, Virginia; Broadlands, Virginia; Dover, Delaware; Stevensville, Maryland; and Cambridge, Maryland. Generally, Bush entered the store wearing a mask, attached a chain or rope to the ATM, and pulled the ATM out of the store through the front glass window. Bush and French then transported the ATM and its contents to their home in Grasonville, where they hid the proceeds. Bush and French spent the proceeds of the crimes they committed on personal items, including heroin and other illegal narcotics. Bush and French married on October 14, 2017, during the crime spree.
Law enforcement obtained a state search warrant for Bush and French’s residence. On October 19, 2017, just prior to the execution of the search warrant, the police saw Bush and French leave the residence in a green Mercedes. When Bush and French saw a marked Queen Anne’s County patrol vehicle, they sped away. During the search, police recovered the following evidence: tow straps used to pull the ATM machines from the stores; sledgehammers used to break the glass at the burglaries; masks and clothing worn by the suspects in the surveillance videos at the burglaries; the license plate to one of the stolen pickup trucks, cut in numerous pieces; packaging for “walkie-talkies” used by Bush and French during some of the ATM burglaries; and a van containing several damaged ATM machines. The police also found French’s cell phone, a loaded 12 gauge shotgun near the bed where Bush slept, and additional shotgun ammunition in the garage. Bush is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions, including 2010 convictions for assault and burglary related to a number of Delaware ATM burglaries.
On October 22, 2017, Bush and French stole a pick-up truck in White Marsh, Maryland, and drove to a gas station in Harford County. Bush entered the gas station and demanded money, but the clerk refused to give Bush the cash. Bush and French then drove to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where they left the pick-up truck stolen in White Marsh and stole another pick-up truck. Bush and French then drove the second stolen pick-up truck to a convenience store in Harford County, Maryland. Bush and another person, both wearing masks and hats, broke into the convenience store and stole approximately 86 packs of cigarettes. Later that morning, Bush and French drove to a bank on Bel Air Road in Perry Hall, Maryland. While French remained in the passenger seat of the truck, Bush entered the bank and displayed a note demanding money to the teller, who complied with Bush’s demands. Bush stole $4,820, fled the bank, got into the truck and drove away in the stolen truck.
Officers spotted Bush and French leaving the bank and attempted a traffic stop. Bush refused to stop. He drove away in a reckless manner, fled into Baltimore City, finally crashing into another vehicle. Bush then got out of the truck, helped French out of the passenger side, and the two ran away, followed by at least two police officers. Bush and French were caught and arrested. The cigarettes stolen from the convenience store were found in the stolen truck.
French faces a maximum sentence of five year in prison for the conspiracy. Bush and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Bush will be sentenced to between four and 10 years in prison for the conspiracy, bank robbery, and gun charge. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Bush on December 11, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. and for French on December 12, 2018, at 3:00 p.m.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Delaware State Police, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Loudon County, Virginia Sheriff’s Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Budlow and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case.
Pittsburgh Felon Illegally Possessed A Pistol and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Deondre Steave, age 25, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about September 28, 2017, Steave, an individual with prior felony convictions for Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Heroin and Escaping from Federal Custody, did knowingly and unlawfully possess a Kahr CW .40 caliber pistol and ammunition. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2019 The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered the prior detention order to remain in effect.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. 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.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Steave.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison Plus 20 Years of Supervised Release for Videotaping Children with Hidden CameraRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Roger Wallach, 38, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for manufacturing videos and images of two girls, ages 10 and 11, over a period of three months.
Wallach previously pleaded guilty to nine counts of manufacturing and attempting to manufacture child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. As part of his guilty plea, Wallach admitted that he concealed a spy watch in a bathroom and surreptitiously recorded the 10- and 11-year-old girls as they undressed, used the bathroom, and showered. He also used the webcam on his laptop computer to record them undressing and in various states of nudity. All total, he had hundreds of sexually explicit images of both girls that he saved on his cell phone, in his iCloud account, on his laptop, and on the memory of his spy watch.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, the court imposed a 20-year term of supervised release and ordered that the defendant undergo a sex offender evaluation and treatment after his release from federal prison.
“Child predators are among the worst type of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “They prey on those whose very innocence makes them the most likely to be targeted. While the lengthy prison sentence and 20-year term of supervised release ordered today does not erase the defendant’s deplorable actions, it is a stern punishment that will help to protect some of society’s most vulnerable victims.”
“Wallach’s heinous crimes robbed these young girls of their innocence and childhood,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. Although, today’s sentence cannot repair the damage Wallach caused, it sends the message to other predators that the FBI remains committed to hunting them down and holding them accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.
Paterson, New Jersey, Man Admits Distributing Fake Percocet Pills Containing HeroinRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted distributing thousands of pills containing heroin in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Juan Vidal, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, more than 100 grams of substances containing heroin.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
At his residence, Vidal manufactured pills containing heroin that were made to resemble Percocet pills. He used a press to make the pills, and he another individual, Karen Rojas, sold the pills for approximately $5 per pill. Between February 2018 and April 2018, Vidal manufactured, and Rojas sold, thousands of pills.
On April 18, 2018, for example, in a recorded transaction, Rojas was asked by a cooperating witness for 100-150 heroin pills. Rojas sold the cooperating witness 40 heroin pills for approximately $200, and Rojas indicated that Vidal needed to “get supplies,” meaning purchase more heroin, in order to make additional pills. Vidal and Rojas were previously charged by criminal complaint in April 2018 with conspiracy to distribute these drugs.
The distribution of narcotics offense carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
Rojas’ case is pending. The charge and allegations against her are merely accusations, and she remains innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Passaic County, New Jersey, Woman Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Crime Spree that Included Robbing Bergen County BankRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, woman, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for her role in a month-long crime spree that included attempting to rob a Citizens Bank, in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, at gunpoint, conspiring to rob a Keystone Bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania, and robbing a Spencer Savings Bank in Garfield, New Jersey, at gunpoint, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Melisa Aquino Arias, 24, of Passaic, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to an information charging her with one count of attempted bank robbery, one count of attempted conspiracy to steal from a bank, and one count of bank robbery. Judge Chesler imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
Her co-defendant, Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, 20, of New Haven, Connecticut, pleaded guilty before Judge Chesler on April 5, 2018, to an information charging her with the same offenses. She is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 13, 2018.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 28, 2017, Arias and Pedraza-Rodriguez, both disguised in nuns’ habits, entered a Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. While inside, Arias acted as a lookout as Pedraza-Rodriguez took out what appeared to be gun and demanded money from a bank teller. Arias signaled to Pedraza-Rodriguez that they should leave the bank and the women fled empty-handed.
On Sept. 20, 2017, Arias and Pedraza-Rodriguez agreed to steal money from the drive-through ATM machine at a Keystone Bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Arias drove them, both wearing hijabs, to the ATM machine and again acted as a lookout while Pedraza-Rodriguez attempted to pry open the ATM machine with a screwdriver. Those attempts were unsuccessful, and the women again fled the scene.
On Sept. 27, 2017, Pedraza-Rodriguez and Arias entered a Spencer Savings Bank in Garfield, New Jersey, and asked a bank teller for information about opening a bank account. Arias, who was wearing a blue hijab, took out what appeared to be a black handgun and demanded money, while Pedraza-Rodriguez stood guard by the bank manager. After a bank teller handed them some cash, the defendants left the bank and employees immediately alerted the police. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene, but did not immediately locate the robbers.
On Oct. 15, 2017, Pedraza-Rodriguez and Arias entered an NVE Bank in Teaneck, New Jersey. Arias wore an orange hijab and Pedraza-Rodriguez wore a black head covering. They approached a bank employee and requested information about opening a bank account. The employee recognized the women as the alleged perpetrators of the Garfield bank robbery. As the employee went to alert the police, the women left the bank. Pedraza-Rodriguez and Arias were apprehended soon after by law enforcement officers.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Aria to three years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $2,900 in restitution to Spencer Savings Bank.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Raymond Kovach; the Teaneck Police Department, under the direction of Chief Glenn M. O'Reilly; the Leonia police department, under the direction of Chief Thomas P. Rowe; and the Pocono Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kent Werkheiser with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Haber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Parma Heights man indicted for four bank robberiesRead the Press Release
A Parma Heights man was indicted for robbing four banks this summer.
Joshua Allen Duncan, 32, was indicted on four counts of bank robbery.
According to the indictment, Duncan robbed:
- PNC Bank at 330 E. Main Street in Ravenna on July 17.
- Dollar Bank at 7450 W. Ridgewood Dr. in Parma on Aug. 6
- KeyBank at 6284 Pearl Road in Parma Heights on Aug. 14
- Andover Bank at 1853 State Route 45 North, Austinburg on Aug. 21
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police departments of Ravenna, Parma and Parma Heights.
An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ohio Man Charged with Distributing Heroin in Western PARead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An Ohio man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on August 29, 2018, named Frank Christian, 45, of Youngstown, Ohio, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on or about February 22, 2016, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christian possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, 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, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, and New Castle Police Department 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.
Ohio Man Charged with Large Scale Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Gilroy Stewart, age 48, of Cleveland, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment charges Stewart with possession with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine on or about August 28, 2018, in Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. The maximum penalty under federal law is up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Odessa Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
In Midland today, a federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Jose Abelardo Dominguez to three years in federal prison for his role in money laundering and tax evasion schemes, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr., El Paso Division; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss, Houston Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Jack P. Staton, El Paso Division; and, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered that Dominguez pay $1,971,072.45 in restitution to the IRS, a $10,000 fine and a money judgement in the amount of $5,088,507.98. Judge Counts further ordered Dominguez to forfeit to the Government seven real estate properties in Ector and Midland counties; approximately $375,000 in U.S. currency seized from various bank accounts; approximately $140,000 in U.S. Currency seized from two of his Odessa properties; and, four vehicles. Judge Counts also ordered that Dominguez be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.
According to court records, an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS-CI, HSI, and Texas DPS revealed that Dominguez operated an illegal sports wagering enterprise from 2011 to 2016. Dominguez provided gamblers opportunities to place bets using websites www.betvegas365.com and www.1betvegas.com. Gambling debts owed to Dominguez were usually paid through U.S. currency, checks, wire transfers or direct deposits into one of several bank accounts controlled by Dominguez. Dominguez used those funds to purchase real property and vehicles or to fund business ventures. Dominguez created two businesses—Peps Properties in June 2011 and Permian Basin Consulting, LLC in January 2014—and used them and their corresponding business bank accounts to launder proceeds from his sports wagering operation and conceal the source and/or nature of those proceeds. In 2014, Dominguez received in excess of $2.3 million dollars in gambling proceeds.
On June 19, 2018, Dominguez pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of tax evasion. By pleading guilty, Dominguez admitted that in August 2014, he engaged in a monetary transaction with criminally derived proceeds. Dominguez also admitted that he provided a federal income tax return for 2014 in which he falsely underreported his taxable income as $63,496.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Norwood Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Norwood man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing heroin in the Taunton area.
Oristel Soto-Peguero, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 22 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2018, Soto-Peguero was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, conspiring to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense.
In early 2015, federal agents conducted a wiretap investigation of Eddyberto Mejia-Ramos, a regional heroin trafficker operating in Taunton. In May and June, agents identified Soto-Peguero as Mejia-Ramos’ primary source of supply. On July 6, 2015, law enforcement intercepted calls in which Mejia-Ramos asked Soto-Peguero to send him something “heavy,” to which Soto-Peguero responded that his girlfriend was on her way. At that time, agents were conducting surveillance outside Soto-Peguero’s Norwood apartment and observed co-conspirator Mercedes Cabral exit the apartment and drive towards Taunton. During a subsequent traffic stop, officers found 10 blocks of heroin (918 grams) protruding from Cabral’s purse.
After seizing the heroin, law enforcement officers attempted to secure Soto-Peguero’s apartment in anticipation of obtaining a federal search warrant. They knocked on the door and announced the presence of police, but no one answered. As officers began a forced entry through the front door, someone inside fired a gunshot through the front door. Fortunately, no one was shot. Officers eventually gained entry and arrested two men, identified as Soto-Peguero and Luis Guzman-Ortiz. The next day, officers executed a search warrant at the home and seized two kilograms of heroin, a loaded semiautomatic pistol, two hydraulic drug presses, and other evidence that showed the apartment was being used to prepare and package heroin. Gunshot residue testing and other evidence established that Soto-Peguero fired the shot through the door.
In September 2016, Mejia-Ramos was sentenced to 90 months in prison. In May 2017, Cabral was sentenced to time served (22 months) and three years of supervised release. Guzman-Ortiz was convicted by a federal jury in June 2018. He has not yet been sentenced.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Investigative assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts State Police Criminal Laboratory; the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office; and the Norwood, Taunton, Bridgewater, Fall River, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport, and Attleboro Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Heinrich and Brian Pérez-Daple of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
North Dakota Woman Charged with Making False Statements to Federal AgencyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Totten, North Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in North Dakota for Making False Statements to Federal Agency.
LaRon Greywater, age 44, was indicted on September 5, 2018. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal on September 10, 2018, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
Greywater faces up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that Greywater, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer, was on duty and driving in a BIA vehicle on September 20, 2017. She failed to stop at a stop sign and yield the right of way to other traffic at an intersection on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. A collision occurred and she allegedly made false representations about the brakes on her vehicle malfunctioning which caused the wreck.
The charges are merely accusations and Greywater is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Internal Affairs Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States Attorney General and United States Attorney Ron Parsons. Greywater was released on pretrial conditions pending trial. A jury trial date has not been set yet.
Nicholas Rivecca, Sr., and Sonag Ready Mix, LLC to Pay $629,732 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Disadvantaged Business EnterprisesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Nicholas Rivecca, Sr., of Hartland, Wisconsin, and his company, Sonag Ready Mix, LLC, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have agreed to pay $629,732 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by defrauding the United States Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program.
The DBE program provides small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts. At the time of the alleged fraud, Rivecca was an owner of Sonag Ready Mix, and Sonag Remedy Mix was not eligible to participate in the DBE program. The government alleges that Rivecca and others conspired to obtain fraudulently DBE certification for another entity, Nuvo Construction Company, Inc. Rivecca and others then used Nuvo’s improper DBE certification to obtain ready-mix concrete contracts based on the false representation that Nuvo provided ready-mix concrete independently when, in truth, Sonag Ready Mix and its employees performed almost all of the work. All of the profits from Nuvo’s ready-mix concrete contracts, moreover, passed through to Sonag Ready Mix (and, ultimately, to Rivecca and his co-owner).
In a related criminal case, Case No. 18-CR-64, Rivecca pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to use Nuvo’s DBE status to win government-funded contracts. This settlement resolves related civil allegations that Rivecca and Sonag Ready Mix caused the submission of false claims to the government and thus improperly obtained government funds. As a result of the settlement, the federal government will receive $629,732.
United States Attorney Krueger stated: “This settlement reflects our commitment to protecting federally funded programs from fraud. Firms that seek public funds must understand that cheating and lying to win government-funded contracts will not be tolerated.”
“Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) fraud harms the integrity of the DBE program and law-abiding contractors, including many small businesses, by defeating efforts to ensure a level playing field in which all firms can compete fairly for contracts,” said Thomas J. Ullom, Regional Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General. “Our agents will continue to work with Federal, State, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to expose and shut down DBE fraud schemes that adversely affect public trust and DOT-assisted highway programs throughout Wisconsin and elsewhere.”
FBI Special-Agent-in-Charge R. Justin Tolomeo added: “The FBI is proud to be part of the continued interagency collaboration on this matter, and appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that led to this settlement.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service will investigate all allegations of abuse related to Government set aside programs designed to encourage and support veteran, woman and minority owned small businesses. DCIS will pursue all appropriate criminal, civil and administrative actions against individuals who abuse these programs for illicit financial gain, stated John F. Khin, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Field Office.”
The civil matter is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Carter. The following agencies are participating in the investigation: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Investigations Division; Defense Contract Audit Agency; and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig (414) 297-1700
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion in Connection with Sale of Purportedly Original Caravaggio PaintingRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion in connection with over $1.2 million in income related to the proceeds of a sale of a purportedly original Caravaggio painting.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew D. Line, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Nashville Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Troy Sowers of the FBI’s Knoxville Field Office made the announcement.
Brian Gimelson, 48 of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to evade or defeat a tax before U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the Southern District of Indiana. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 1, 2019 by Judge Pratt.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, Gimelson earned a substantial income for his role in a transaction involving the sale of a purportedly original painting by the Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi, commonly known as Caravaggio titled David With the Head of Goliath (the Caravaggio Painting). Despite earning over $1.2 million in income on this transaction, Gimelson did not timely file income tax returns and he did not timely pay tax due and owing to the United States.
In order to conceal his income and evade the payment of his tax liabilities, Gimelson created a company, had his wife serve as managing member of the company, and used this company to facilitate the Caravaggio Painting transaction. Despite creating this company in his wife’s name, Gimelson admitted that he controlled the company and its bank accounts, including the fees Gimelson received for his role in the Caravaggio Painting transaction. Gimelson further admitted that he directed his wife to make frequent and substantial cash withdrawals on his behalf from company accounts, and Gimelson used company funds to purchase collectibles and precious metals, among other things.
The case is being investigated by IRS-CI’s Nashville Field Office and the FBI’s Knoxville Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Danny Nguyen and Caitlin Cottingham of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
New Jersey Broker Charged in “Cherry-Picking” SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former New Jersey broker was arrested and charged today with defrauding his clients by engaging in a multi-year “cherry-picking” scheme.
Michael Bressman, 61, of Montville, N.J., was arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today with securities fraud and investment advisor fraud. Bressman will appear this afternoon in federal court in New Jersey.
The indictment alleges that Bressman misused his access to an omnibus or “allocation” account to obtain at least $700,000 in illicit trading profits over a six-year period ending in February 2018. Bressman allegedly used the allocation account to place trades and cherry-picked profitable trades, which he then transferred to his own account and the account of two family members, while placing unprofitable trades in other customers’ accounts.
In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in New York today announced civil charges against Bressman.
The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of investment advisor fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, two years 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 and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The SEC’s Market Abuse Unit in New York provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit 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.
Mississippi Officer Sentenced for Assault of Restrained Juvenile DetaineeRead the Press Release
Edward Gibson, a former officer at a Mississippi juvenile detention facility, was sentenced today in federal court to 24 months incarceration followed by three years supervised release for beating a shackled juvenile, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi, and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Jackson Field Division.
Gibson, 28, was working as an officer at the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center on June 16, 2016, when he assaulted a teenage victim who was in handcuffs and leg shackles. Gibson threw an electric fan at the victim, hitting him in the upper chest. Gibson then punched the victim multiple times before being pulled off by two other officers. The other officers had to step in two more times to prevent Gibson from further assaulting the victim, who was in restraints throughout the entire incident.
According to admissions made by Gibson during the plea hearing, the victim was never physically aggressive toward Gibson, and Gibson assaulted him only because the victim made statements that angered him. Gibson weighed approximately 315 pounds; the victim weighed approximately 130 pounds.
Gibson’s supervisor, Dianne Williams, was sentenced on Aug. 23 to time served for helping cover up the assault. She had pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, admitting that she knew the assault had occurred, did not inform a responsible authority, and helped cover it up by writing a false report.
“Detention officers have an important duty to protect juveniles in their care from abuse or bodily harm,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “This Department will continue to prosecute detention officers who engage in illegal acts of violence or attempts to obstruct justice, in order to better protect the civil rights of detained individuals.”
“We are morally, constitutionally, and legally obligated to treat people humanely and we will continue to enforce the laws protecting the civil rights of all individuals,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar for the Northern District of Mississippi.
“Deprivation of civil rights by a public official compromises the public’s trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Freeze. “The FBI will continue to rigorously investigate violations of civil rights.”
This case was investigated by the Jackson Division of the FBI, with the cooperation of the Leflore County Detention Center and the Leflore County Detention Center. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Mims of the Northern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Miami-Dade County Resident Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies of Commercial EstablishmentsRead the Press Release
On August 28, 2018, Alfredo Garcia, 35, of Miami-Dade County, was sentenced to a total of 264 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, and Jorge R. Colina, Chief, City of Miami Police Department (MPD), made the announcement.
According to court records, between February 11, 2016, and February 14, 2016, Garcia robbed a Stop & Shop convenience store, a Valero Gas Station, and a Westar Gas Station, all in Miami-Dade County. In each robbery, Garcia approached the cashier, stated that he had a firearm, and demanded money from the cash register. During the robbery of the Stop & Shop convenience store, Garcia displayed the butt of a firearm that was in his jacket pocket.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings 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.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigatory efforts of the ATF and MPD in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Turken.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Miami Woman Sentenced for her Role in a Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Orchestrated from PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla.— United States Attorney Trent Shores announced that Robin Tracy Zumwalt, 36, of Miami, Oklahoma, was sentenced today in United States District Court to three years of probation with eight months of home detention for her role in a methamphetamine drug distribution conspiracy.
At a plea hearing on June 7, 2018, Zumwalt admitted to discussing the distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine facilitated by cell phone calls with an inmate, Slint Tate, who used contraband cell phones. When the calls were made, Zumwalt was living in Miami, Oklahoma, while Tate was serving a life sentence in Oklahoma state prison. On Tuesday, United States District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Tate to 20 years in prison for orchestrating the drug conspiracy.
“This drug trafficking organization wreaked havoc in the lives of many in northeastern Oklahoma. Zumwalt and her co-conspirators earned the punishments received,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “This prosecution was successful because of strong partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. Working together, we achieved a result that makes our communities safer.”
This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation, known as “Operation Mama Tried,” conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, State of Oklahoma District 13 Task Force, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Miami Police Department, and Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon Cozzoni and Catherine Depew prosecuted the case.
Men from Cleveland and Euclid indicted for federal firearms violationsRead the Press Release
Two men from Northeast Ohio were indicted on federal firearms charges.
Steven Kennedy, 29, of Euclid, and Eric T. Gibson, Jr., 23, of Cleveland, were both indicted for being felons in possession of firearms.
Gibson possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on July 13 despite a previous conviction for robbery with a firearm specification, according to the indictment.
Kennedy possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition on Aug. 21, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than maximum.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Deckert following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police (Gibson) and the Euclid Police Department (Kennedy).
An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extended Deadline for NYCHA Monitor ApplicationsRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has extended the deadline for receiving applications from qualified individuals to serve as Court-appointed monitor in connection with a proposed consent decree submitted to the Court for approval in the case of United States v. New York City Housing Authority, 18 Civ. 5213 (WHP). Specifically, applications will be accepted until the date that the Court enters the proposed consent decree.
Applications will continue to be considered on a rolling basis as they are submitted, and applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible. In addition, individuals who have already submitted applications are invited to supplement those applications as appropriate.
Pursuant to the terms of the consent decree, the Government will propose a monitor for approval by the Court. As set forth at greater length in the proposed consent decree, the monitor will be responsible for the remediation of extensive health and safety deficiencies in NYCHA housing, as well as oversight and reform of NYCHA management, controls, and operations.
The application and related materials, and instructions for submission, are available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/monitors-receivers-claims-administrators.
The consent decree remains subject to review and approval by the Court.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney and FBI Announce Return of Nazi Looted Renoir to Its Rightful OwnerRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeny Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the return to its rightful owner of a painting looted by the Nazis during World War II. The painting, Deux Femmes Dans Un Jardin, painted in 1919 by Pierre Auguste Renoir (the “Renoir”), was stolen by the Nazis from a bank vault in Paris in 1941. Mme. Sylvie Sulitzer, the last remaining heir of her grandfather Alfred Weinberger, a prominent art collector in pre-war Paris from whom the Renoir was stolen, received the work today during a ceremony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “Today, as we celebrate the just return of this painting to its rightful owner, we also remember the uniqueness of the Holocaust and reaffirm our commitment to ensure that the words ‘never forget, never again’ never ring hollow. Hopefully this event brings some measure of justice to Madame Sylvie Sulitzer and her family.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeny Jr. said: “The atrocities that took place during World War II at the hands of the Nazis cannot be summed up in a few words. They murdered, tortured, and plundered during their attempt to take over Europe and the world. In the process, they also carried out smaller acts of evil behavior, stealing hundreds of thousands of these pieces of priceless artwork. Some of those pieces are lost to our culture forever. However, we take a bit of pride in returning a painting looted during the war, and helping repair some of the destruction decades ago.”
During World War II, the Nazis created a division known as the Einsatzstab Reichleiter Rosenberg (the “ERR”) in order to “study” Jewish life and culture as part of the Nazis’ propagandist mission against the Jews. Principally, the ERR confiscated artworks and other cultural holdings of “the enemies of the Reich” on a massive scale, and meticulously registered and identified those artworks – even photographing them – thereby leaving behind a detailed record of the works that they stole.
In December 1941, during the Nazi occupation of Paris, the ERR seized the Renoir, along with numerous other works, from a bank vault where Alfred Weinberger had stored his collection when he fled Paris at the outset of the war. In the decades that followed, Mr. Weinberger sought to recover his property, registering his claim to the Renoir with the French restitution authorities in 1947 and the German restitution authorities in 1958.
The Renoir resurfaced after the war at an art sale in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1975. It subsequently found its way to London, where it was sold again in 1977, and then appeared at a sale in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1999. Ultimately, the Renoir found its way to Christie’s Gallery in New York, where it was put up for auction by a private collector in 2013. It was then that Mme. Sulitzer learned of the pending sale and made a claim to the work as part of her grandfather’s collection. Christie’s alerted the FBI, and ultimately the purported owner of the work voluntarily agreed to relinquish its claim. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are now returning the painting to Mme. Sulitzer.
Mr. Berman thanked the FBI’s Art Crime Team for their assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Falk is in charge of the case.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Daniel Sullivan, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison for the illegal possession of firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2015 and 2016, Sullivan purchased and traded several firearms in New Hampshire with the help of his partner, Sara Johnson. At the time of these transactions, Sullivan was a convicted felon who could not legally possess firearms. In several instances, Sullivan contacted private individuals who had posted firearms for sale online, then utilized Johnson – who was not a convicted felon – to assist in the purchase of the firearms. Once these firearms transactions came to the attention of law enforcement, federal agents obtained a search warrant for Sullivan and Johnson’s residence in Manchester, which resulted in the seizure of a .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number.
Sullivan previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on May 31, 2018.
Johnson pleaded guilty to firearms charges on February 15, 2018. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2018.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals helps to make our community safer,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When felons unlawfully obtain guns, those weapons all too frequently can be used to commit violent crimes. This substantial sentence demonstrates our commitment to work closely with our law enforcement partners to improve public safety.”
“This sentence illustrates the seriousness of prohibited individuals illegally possessing firearms,” said Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF will continue its tireless pursuit of both firearm traffickers and illegal possessors, by coordinating our efforts with our federal, state and local partners.”
This matter was investigated by the ATF and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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MS-13 Member Sentenced for RICO Conspiracy Involving MurderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An MS-13 member was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 16-year-old boy in East Boston.
Rigoberto Mejia, a/k/a “Ninja,” 32, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 330 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Mejia will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In April 2018, Mejia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
During the multi-year investigation of MS-13, Mejia was identified as a “homeboy,” or full member, of MS-13’s Trece Locos Salvatrucha (TLS) clique. Evidence further showed that on Jan. 10, 2016, Mejia and three other MS-13 members murdered a 16-year-old boy whom they believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang. Mejia’s alleged co-conspirators stabbed the victim multiple times while Mejia shot the victim.
Mejia is one of 49 defendants who have been convicted as part of this ongoing prosecution. Sixteen of those defendants, including Mejia, have been held responsible for racketeering conspiracy involving murder. Forty of the 49 convictions, including Mejia, were the result of guilty pleas prior to trial. Nine other defendants were convicted after trial.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.
Lockport Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Darius Dix, 27, and Kurtis Washington, 27, both of Lockport, NY, who were convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, were sentenced to serve 72 months and 96 months respectively in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that between May 2016 and June 2017, Ramone Westbrook operated a high traffic and extremely profitable cocaine and crack cocaine distribution network. Westbrook obtained cocaine and crack cocaine from several sources of supply in Atlanta, Georgia, North Carolina and New York City and from a local source of supply in Niagara Falls. Westbrook then supplied co-defendant Rico Freeman for further distribution in the Lockport area during the course of the conspiracy. Dix and Washington were also part of the drug trafficking organization, distributing cocaine and crack cocaine in the Lockport area.
On February 14, 2017, Dix sold a quantity of cocaine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement officers. He was arrested on December 27, 2016 by Lockport Police officers who recovered 10 grams of cocaine from Dix.
On four occasions between March 3, 2017, and May 11, 2017, Washington sold cocaine to a Niagara County Drug Task Force confidential source. Washington was arrested by Buffalo Police officers on June 19, 2017. He was in possession of 26 grams of cocaine Washington tried to flee during a pat-down search and attempted to discard the cocaine.
Ramone Westbrook and Rico Freeman were previously convicted.
Today’s sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, Special Agent Shane Nastoff, and Task Force Officer Eric Herrington; the Lockport Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Steven Preisch; the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour; the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood. Additional assistance was provided by the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Caroline A. Wojtaszek.
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Lockport Man Sentenced in Conspiracy to Traffic MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JAMES SIGLAR, age 41, of Lockport, LA, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced SIGLAR to 37 months’ imprisonment and a supervised release period of 3 years.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2016, SIGLAR agreed to meet his codefendant, Damien Jackson, on Grand Calliou Road in Houma, Louisiana, in order to purchase two ounces of methamphetamine, which SIGLAR intended to resell. SIGLAR was arrested by law enforcement as he arrived at the meeting. For his part, Jackson also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jackson is scheduled for sentencing on November 7, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Houma Police Department, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James S.C. Baehr and Brandon S. Long are in charge of the prosecution.
Latvian National Sentenced to Prison for “Scareware” Hacking Scheme That Targeted Minneapolis Star Tribune WebsiteRead the Press Release
A Latvian man was sentenced today in Minneapolis for participating in a lucrative “scareware” hacking scheme that targeted visitors to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s website. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald of the District of Minnesota and Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement.
Peteris Sahurovs aka “Piotrek” and “Sagade,” 29, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery of the District of Minnesota imposed the sentence. Sahurovs will be removed from the United States to Latvia following his prison sentence. Sahurovs was arrested on a District of Minnesota indictment in Latvia in June 2011, but was released by a Latvian court and later fled. In November 2016, Sahurovs was located in Poland and apprehended by Polish law enforcement and extradited to the United States in June 2017. Sahurovs was at one time the FBI’s fifth most wanted cybercriminal and a reward of up to $50,000 had been offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. He pleaded guilty before Judge Montgomery on Feb. 7.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from at least May 2009 to June 2011, Sahurovs operated a “bullet-proof” web hosting service in Latvia, through which he leased server space to customers seeking to carry out criminal schemes without being identified or taken offline. The defendant admitted that he knew his customers were using his servers to perpetrate criminal schemes, including the transmission of malware, fake anti-virus software, spam, and botnets to unwitting victims, and he received notices from Internet governance entities (such as Spamhaus) that his servers were hosting malicious activity. Nonetheless, Sahurovs admitted he took steps to protect the criminal schemes from being discovered or disrupted, and hosted them on his servers for financial gain.
Sahurovs admitted that from in or about February 2010 to in or about September 2010, he registered domain names, provided bullet-proof hosting services, and gave technical support to a “scareware” scheme targeting visitors to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s website. On Feb. 19, 2010, the Minneapolis Star Tribune began hosting an online advertisement, purporting to be for Best Western hotels, on its website, startribune.com. Two days later, however, the advertisement began causing the computers of visitors to the website to be infected with malware. This malware, also known as “scareware,” caused visitors to experience slow system performance, unwanted pop-ups and total system failure. Website visitors also received a fake “Windows Security Alert” pop-up informing them that their computer had been infected with a virus and another pop-up that falsely represented that they needed to purchase the “Antivirus Soft” computer program to fix their security issues, at a price of $49.95.
Website visitors who clicked the “Antivirus Soft” window were presented with an online order form to purchase a purported security program called “Antivirus Soft.” Users who purchased “Antivirus Soft” would receive a file download that “unfroze” their computers and stopped the pop-ups and security notifications. However, the defendant admitted, the file was not a real anti-virus product and did not perform legitimate computer security functions, and merely caused malware that members of the conspiracy had previously installed to cease operating. Meanwhile, the defendant admitted, victim users who did not choose to purchase “Antivirus Soft” became immediately inundated with so many pop-ups containing fraudulent “security alerts” that all information, data, and files on their computers were rendered inaccessible. Members of the conspiracy defrauded victims out of substantial amounts of money as a result of the scheme. The defendant admitted that as a result of his participation, he made between $150,000 and $250,000 U.S. dollars.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs secured the extradition from Poland and the Polish National Police, the National Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ministry of Justice provided substantial assistance in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Rank of the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Aaron R. Cooper of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case.
Latvian National Sentenced to Prison for “Scareware” Hacking Scheme That Targeted Minneapolis Star Tribune WebsiteRead the Press Release
A Latvian man was sentenced today in Minneapolis for participating in a lucrative “scareware” hacking scheme that targeted visitors to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s website. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald of the District of Minnesota and Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement.
PETERIS SAHUROVS aka “Piotrek” and “Sagade,” 29, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery of the District of Minnesota imposed the sentence. SAHUROVS will be removed from the United States to Latvia following his prison sentence. SAHUROVS was arrested in Latvia on a District of Minnesota indictment in June 2011, but was released by a Latvian court and later fled. In November 2016, SAHUROVS was located in Poland, apprehended by Polish law enforcement, and extradited to the United States in June 2017. SAHUROVS was once the FBI’s fifth most wanted cybercriminal and a reward of up to $50,000 had been offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. He pleaded guilty before Judge Montgomery on February 7, 2018.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from at least May 2009 to June 2011, SAHUROVS operated a “bullet-proof” web hosting service in Latvia, through which he leased server space to customers seeking to carry out criminal schemes without being identified or taken offline. The defendant admitted that he knew his customers were using his servers to perpetrate criminal schemes, including the transmission of malware, fake anti-virus software, spam, and botnets to unwitting victims, and he received notices from Internet governance entities (such as Spamhaus) that his servers were hosting malicious activity. Nonetheless, SAHUROVS took steps to protect the criminal schemes from being discovered or disrupted, and hosted them on his servers for financial gain.
SAHUROVS admitted that from in or about February 2010 to in or about September 2010, he registered domain names, provided bullet-proof hosting services, and gave technical support to a “scareware” scheme targeting visitors to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s website. On February 19, 2010, the Minneapolis Star Tribune began hosting an online advertisement, purporting to be for Best Western hotels, on its website, startribune.com. Two days later, however, the advertisement began causing the computers of visitors to the website to be infected with malware. This malware, also known as “scareware,” caused visitors to experience slow system performance, unwanted pop-ups and total system failure. Website visitors also received a fake “Windows Security Alert” pop-up informing them that their computer had been infected with a virus and another pop-up that falsely represented that they needed to purchase the “Antivirus Soft” computer program to fix their security issues, at a price of $49.95.
Website visitors who clicked the “Antivirus Soft” window were presented with an online order form to purchase a purported security program called “Antivirus Soft.” Users who purchased “Antivirus Soft” received a file download that “unfroze” their computers and stopped the pop-ups and security notifications. However, the defendant admitted, the file was not a real anti-virus product, did not perform legitimate computer security functions, and merely caused the malware that members of the conspiracy had previously installed to cease operating. Meanwhile, the defendant admitted, victim users who did not choose to purchase “Antivirus Soft” became immediately inundated with so many pop-ups containing fraudulent “security alerts” that all information, data, and files on their computers were rendered inaccessible. Members of the conspiracy defrauded victims out of substantial amounts of money as a result of the scheme. The defendant admitted that as a result of his participation, he made between $150,000 and $250,000 U.S. dollars.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs secured the extradition from Poland and the Polish National Police, the National Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ministry of Justice provided substantial assistance in this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Rank of the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Aaron R. Cooper of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
PETERIS SAHUROVS, 29
Rezekne, Latvia
Convicted:
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 33 months in prison
- Removal from the United States to Latvia following the defendant’s prison sentence
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Kingwood Resident Gets 35 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 43-year-old Kingwood resident has been ordered to federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Stephen P. Lynch pleaded guilty June 6, 2018.
Today, District Judge Nancy F. Atlas sentenced Lynch to 360 months for sexual exploitation and five years for the possession charges, respectively. The sentences will run consecutive for a total of 35 years in federal prison. The sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the sentencing today, Judge Atlas heard from the victim’s mother and sibling. They informed the court how Lynch’s actions have scarred their family for life, changed how they viewed the world and stole their sense of security.
The court considered the length of time the production occurred. The court also heard that the images are known to be in at least 222 collections of other individuals.
The investigation into Lynch began when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents received information via the HSI Cyber Crimes Center regarding a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The referral advised that an unidentified female minor victim of a child pornography related offense was possibly located in the area of Houston. The child had appeared in a series of child sexual abuse images that were known to domestic and international law enforcement and had been traded over a period of two years. With the identity and whereabouts of the victim unknown, NCMEC analysts enlisted help from a horticulture expert from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. He was able to narrow the geographical possibilities for the victim based on plant life in the background of images. With the search narrowed to 10 states, HSI analysts then focused on visible background items in the images. After extraordinary analytical efforts, the investigation let to Kingwood. Investigators searched local parks, dance studios, gyms and other venues for leads. After an exhaustive effort, authorities the suspect was located and the victim was rescued.
Approximately 173 images were included in the referral sent to HSI Houston. At least half of the images constitute child pornography under federal law. Some of the images depict the minor victim fully nude with the child’s genitalia lasciviously displayed.
On the evening of June 14, 2017, HSI agents identified the victim at a residence in Kingwood. At that time, they interviewed the homeowner, Lynch and he identified two non-pornographic images of the minor victim. He further stated that he personally took one of those images several years ago when she was three-years-old. He identified himself as the photographer of several non-pornographic images of the minor victim, including one that displays the minor relative wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with a pink glitter heart on the front. Several child pornographic images of the victim also include what appears to be that same shirt.
In the early morning hours of June 15, 2017, agents obtained a federal search warrant for Lynch’s residence. While authorities were obtaining the search warrant, Lynch went back into the house and destroyed thumb drives by putting them in the microwave. He also attempted to delete items off of a laptop.
He was arrested June 19, 2017, in Georgetown.
A forensic examination was performed on all of the items seized. During that review, agents found approximately 38 videos and five images of child pornography. The images and videos include children under the age of 12 and acts of violence such as the penetration of the victims. Some of the images are of known victims as identified through the NCMEC.
Further, agents found 71 images of the minor victim which constitute child pornography that Lynch produced by the defendant. To date, the images of this minor has been found in 222 other investigations and on the dark web.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Montgomery County Constable Precincts 2 and 4, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Conroe Police Department and the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington, DC.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Leo prosecuted the case.
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."
Indictment Charges Waterbury Man with Crack Cocaine OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging MIGUEL TORRES, 38, of Waterbury, with various offenses related to his alleged trafficking of crack cocaine.
As alleged in court documents, law enforcement conducted a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine from TORRES between February and May 2018.
TORRES was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 8, 2018. On that date, a court-authorized search of his residence revealed approximately 51 grams of crack cocaine and other controlled substances.
The indictment charges TORRES with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. TORRES also is charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution, of crack cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
TORRES has been detained since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, with the assistance of the Naugatuck Police Department. The Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby and Middletown Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi M. Perry.
IPhone Robber Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Fort Lauderdale resident was sentenced, on September 7, 2018, to 27 years in prison by United States Chief District Judge Michael K. Moore for committing two armed robberies.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), and Rick Maglione, Chief, Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD), made the announcement.
Jermar Jerome Roberson, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, previously pled guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951(a) and 924(c)(A)(1)(iii). Roberson was sentenced to a total of 324 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to the court record, in October of 2017, Roberson negotiated the sale of two cellular phones (iPhones) over the internet and robbed both victims at gunpoint when they arrived at the meeting place. During the second robbery, Roberson discharged the firearm and struck the victim.
Roberson’s co-defendant Shyann Lee Williams previously pled guilty to a single Hobbs Act Robbery and was sentenced by Judge Moore on September 7, 2018 to 63 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
A restitution hearing has been scheduled for both defendants on November 29, 2018 at 11 a.m. before Judge Moore.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings 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.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, BSO and FLPD in this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Huntsville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Child Sex-Trafficking in Madison CountyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge today sentenced a Huntsville man to 15 years in prison for paying the father of a 15-year-old so he could have sexual contact with the child, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles.
U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced BILLY R. EDWARDS, 64, on charges of commercial sex trafficking, coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. Edwards pleaded guilty to the charges in June.
The child’s father, DARWIN MOISES AMADOR-ZEPEDA, 38, a Honduran national, pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. His sentencing in that case has not been set. In 2017, Amador-Zepeda pleaded guilty to a separate charge of illegally re-entering the United States after previous deportation. He served about five months in prison in the illegal re-entry case.
“Billy Edwards and this child’s father entered an unholy alliance to take advantage of a vulnerable teenage boy,” Town said. “Edwards gave no sanctuary to this young victim and he will have the next 15 years in a federal prison without the sanctuary of parole. Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues its work to bring to justice to anyone who engages in these disgusting, unconscionable crimes.”
Edwards acknowledged in his guilty plea that he began paying Amador-Zepeda in 2014 so that he would persuade or coerce his 15-year-old son to have sexual encounters with Edwards.
During the ongoing sexual trafficking of the child, Edwards often paid Amador-Zepeda by check, and the two men used cell phones to induce or coerce the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to court records.
The sexual encounters with the child continued for several months until Edwards stopped paying to have them. At that point, Amador-Zepeda began blackmailing Edwards, threatening to show law enforcement the cell phone communications between him and the child unless Edwards paid him. Amador-Zepeda told the child what to say in English to deliver the blackmail threat, according to court records. The two men later executed a contract for Edwards to make a series of payments totaling $20,000 to Amador-Zepeda in exchange for the cell phone containing the incriminating evidence.
In May 2017, the child told law enforcement about the sex trafficking. In September 2017, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant and searched Edwards’ residence, finding an Industrial National de Armes .38-caliber revolver, a Jimenez Arms .25-caliber pistol, a Bryco Jennings .380-caliber pistol and a Winchester model 1400 MKII shotgun. Edwards previously was convicted of a felony, conspiracy to commit fraud, in the Northern District of Alabama in 2005.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s HSI, in conjunction with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Xavier Carter and Carla Ward are prosecuting.
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Homestead Man Charged with Possessing Fentanyl, Heroin and CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Homestead, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh and charged with a violation of the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on September 11, named Arrmon Davon Hagans, age 38, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on or about March 23, 2018, Hagans possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of para-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2,000,000, 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, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam N. Hallowell is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force., which is comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local Task Force Officers, including officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Hattiesburg Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – Shareka Holmes, 28, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by 7 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Holmes was also ordered to pay a $40,000 fine.
On August 8, 2017, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents intercepted a package at the Federal Express in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Based on training and experience, agents believed the package contained illegal narcotics and obtained a search warrant based on probable cause. Once the search warrant was obtained, agents opened the package and discovered approximately 1,993.6 grams of methamphetamine.
The package was addressed to a residence in Hattiesburg. Agents conducted a controlled delivery and placed the package on the front porch of the recipient address and set up surveillance on the residence and package. A female later identified as Holmes, arrived at the residence, retrieved the package and placed it on the driver’s seat of a Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade belonged to Darrion Jones. Holmes locked the door to the Escalade and left the residence in her vehicle.
Agents followed Holmes and subsequently made contact with her at her residence. Agents asked for consent to search the residence to which Holmes gave written consent. During the search of the residence, agents recovered approximately 860 grams of methamphetamine. Holmes was subsequently arrested and charged. She pled guilty on April 30, 2018. Darrion Jones was sentenced by Judge Starrett on September 6, 2018, to 25 years in federal prison for his role in a related drug trafficking conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department, Jones County Sheriff’s Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Department, Hattiesburg Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.
Guatemalan Charged with Illegally Re-Entering U.S. after DeportationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – An illegal alien from Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegally re-entering the United States after deportation, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on September 11, named Juan Moreno-Ortiz, formerly of Guatemala, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Moreno-Ortiz, an alien who was previously deported and removed from the United States on October 7, 2010, was found in the United States on June 6, 2018.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two 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, if any, of the defendant.
The United States Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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.
Fugitive Methamphetamine Distributor Sentenced to Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Hermilo Virelas Maciel was sentenced to 96 months in prison for conspiracy and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Rayfield Roundtree, and United States Marshal Donald M. O’Keefe. The sentence was handed down yesterday afternoon by the Honorable William H. Alsup, U.S. District Judge.
Maciel, 64, of Santa Rosa, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charges on May 22, 2018. Twenty three years earlier, on May 22, 1995, Maciel was arrested as he attempted to sell approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
On June 15, 1995, a federal grand jury indicted Maciel, charging him with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The next day, June 16, 1995, Maciel was arraigned on the charges and then was released on an unsecured personal recognizance bond. Weeks later, the defendant absconded from pre-trial supervision and on August 28, 1995, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. On March 28, 2018, Michigan State Police located the defendant in Michigan and arrested him on the then-almost 23-year outstanding bench warrant. Upon his return in custody to San Francisco, Maciel pleaded guilty to the original charges in the indictment.
Maciel has been in custody since his arrest in March of 2018; he will begin serving his sentence immediately.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Alsup ordered Maciel to serve a three-year period of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shailika Kotiya is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rawaty Yim. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Mendocino County-Wide Narcotics Task Force, the ATF, and the United States Marshals Service.
Four inmates from the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex face chargesRead the Press Release
All face up to five years imprisonment consecutive to the current sentence
PRESS RELEASE
Terre Haute -United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that four inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute have been indicted on charges of being a prisoner in possession of a weapon.
“Correctional Officers at the BOP have an extremely dangerous job working with some of society’s most dangerous individuals,” said Minkler. “They do it professionally and without weapons to protect themselves. We owe it to them to hold federal inmates responsible for their illegal activity.”
Those indicted today include:
Robert B. Smith, 32, convicted of second-degree murder in the Western District of North Carolina.
Orlando Garcia, Jr. 39, convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in the Southern District of Texas.
Tony C. Hopkins, 53, convicted of possession of contraband in prison in the District of Colorado.
Timothy Gonzalez, 26, convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in the Northern District of Illinois.
Smith is alleged to have possessed a padlock attached to the end of a lanyard; Hopkins is alleged to have possessed a plastic knife; Garcia is alleged to have possessed a metal object and Gonzalez is alleged to have possessed a lock attached to a sock.
Minkler further noted that the United States Attorney’s Office has a zero tolerance policy for inmates who possess weapons in the Bureau of Prisons in an effort to protect the correctional officers as well as other inmates.
According to Assistant United States Attorney James M. Warden who is prosecuting these cases for the government, all defendants face up to five years imprisonment consecutive to their current sentence.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting prisoner actions arising out of the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 6.1
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Four Defendants Sentenced for Roles in Federal Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Four defendants implicated in a federal methamphetamine conspiracy have been sentenced, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Leonard Roberts, II, and Brittany Cross were sentenced to 216 and 120 months, respectively, and Anthony Cruz and Steve Jones were sentenced to 168 and 132 months, respectively, for guilty pleas each previously entered to their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. A fifth defendant, Richard Rach III is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2018. Stuart commended the collaborative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team.
“Law enforcement did a great job in shutting down this meth trafficking conspiracy,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are working together like never before to protect our citizens from poison peddlers and curb the supply of illegal drugs coming into our communities.”
All four defendants previously admitted to their involvement with several other individuals in distributing methamphetamine shipped from California to various locations throughout the Charleston, West Virginia, area.. The group was responsible for distributing between 500 grams and one and one-half kilograms of high purity methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney John Frail handled the prosecutions. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences.
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Four Charged in Ohio-to-Canada Gun Smuggling RingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged four individuals with conspiring to illegally purchase firearms in an indictment returned here August 30 and unsealed today.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the charges.
Those charged include, Jeremy Hearn, 40, and Marcedes Green, 28, both of Columbus, Jerome Watkins, Jr., 33, of Niagara Falls, N.Y. and Kristina DeLorenzo, 31, of Lewiston, N.Y.
According to the indictment, from at least January 2018 until April 2018, co-conspirators served as either straw purchasers, couriers or resellers of firearms purchased in Columbus and eventually resold in Canada.
Hearn would allegedly purchase the firearms from various federally-licensed firearms dealers in Central Ohio by providing false information on ATF Form 4473. It is further alleged that Green, with money provided by Hearn, assisted in the purchase of at least six of the firearms.
Hearn, Watkins and DeLorenzo then allegedly acted as couriers or assisted in courier duties, regularly traveling between Columbus and Niagara Falls and/or across the Canadian border for resale.
“The group allegedly moved at least 38 firearms from Central Ohio to eventually be resold in Canada,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman.
Conspiracy to illegally transfer firearms is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by ATF, and the assistance of the ATF field office in Buffalo, New York, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Ohio and the Western District of New York, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Kevin W. Kelley, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Fort Myers Pimp Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Oliver Rocher (33, Alva, FL) has pleaded guilty to five counts of a federal indictment alleging drug and firearms offenses. Rocher entered his plea on the morning that his jury trial was set to begin. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has been set for December 10, 2018.
According to court records, Rocher worked as a pimp and drug dealer out of hotels and motels in Fort Myers during 2017. In May 2017, on two occasions, Rocher sold heroin to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. During the course of the transactions, Rocher tried to ensure that the informant was not secretly recording him, and he conducted the actual hand-offs of heroin in locations that could not be easily watched by law enforcement.
Further investigation led to a search warrant on Rocher’s motel room in the early morning hours of August 3, 2017. Two days prior to execution of the warrant, law enforcement observed Rocher walk in and out the motel room, conducting suspected drug deals, and collecting money from women walking the nearby streets.
Upon execution of the warrant, inside Rocher’s motel room, law enforcement encountered Rocher, as well as two women who were trying to flush items down the toilet. Law enforcement also found, in an open safe, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, a loaded firearm, Rocher’s state-issued identification card and thousands of dollars in cash.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
Former Tuskegee Police Lieutenant Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting ArresteeRead the Press Release
Former Tuskegee Police Department Lieutenant Alex Huntley, 54, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for beating a handcuffed and compliant arrestee, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., of the Middle District of Alabama, and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell.
On June 8, a federal jury convicted Huntley of one count of violating an individual’s civil rights resulting in bodily injury. Huntley was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge W. Keith Watkins of the Middle District of Alabama.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 24, 2014, Huntley arrested a man who scuffled with police near the Tuskegee town square and directed a fellow police officer to transport the arrestee back to the Tuskegee Police Department for booking. Once there, Huntley sprayed pepper spray in the arrestee’s face, even though the arrestee was handcuffed and following police instructions. Huntley then took the arrestee inside the police station, where Huntley knocked the still-handcuffed arrestee to the ground, stomped on him, and repeatedly kicked and punched him. In between blows, Huntley stood over the arrestee and yelled threats at him as the arrestee screamed in pain. A police officer recruit who witnessed the beating was so horrified that he surreptitiously audio-recorded the assault on his cell phone and subsequently provided the recording to federal authorities.
“This defendant abused his police powers by beating a restrained man in his custody,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “The Department will not tolerate such abuses, and will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s laws and hold officers who break the law accountable.”
“The vast majority of our police officers are dedicated to protecting and serving the public with strength, courage, and valor. Unfortunately, Mr. Huntley was not so dedicated,” said U.S. Attorney Franklin. “Police officers have an increasingly difficult job. This office will strive to support our law enforcement brothers and sisters, but will also prosecute those law enforcement officers who abandon their oath to protect and serve and chose to engage in criminal conduct that they are sworn to oppose.”
“Lady Justice wears a blindfold for a reason, and a violation of someone’s civil rights by a sworn law enforcement officer cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to pursue these types of cases with all available resources,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell.
This case was investigated by the FBI. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation also assisted in the investigation. Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney Denise O. Simpson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Former Tuskegee Police Lieutenant Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting ArresteeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Former Tuskegee Police Department Lieutenant Alex Huntley, 54, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for beating a handcuffed and compliant arrestee, announced U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., of the Middle District of Alabama, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell, and Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
On June 8, a federal jury convicted Huntley of one count of violating an individual’s civil rights resulting in bodily injury. Huntley was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge W. Keith Watkins of the Middle District of Alabama.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 24, 2014, Huntley arrested a man who scuffled with police near the Tuskegee town square and directed a fellow police officer to transport the arrestee back to the Tuskegee Police Department for booking. Once there, Huntley sprayed pepper spray in the arrestee’s face, even though the arrestee was handcuffed and following police instructions. Huntley then took the arrestee inside the police station, where Huntley knocked the still-handcuffed arrestee to the ground, stomped on him, and repeatedly kicked and punched him. In between blows, Huntley stood over the arrestee and yelled threats at him as the arrestee screamed in pain. A police officer recruit who witnessed the beating was so horrified that he secretly audio-recorded the assault on his cell phone and subsequently provided the recording to federal authorities.
“The vast majority of our police officers are dedicated to protecting and serving the public with strength, courage, and valor. Unfortunately, Mr. Huntley was not so dedicated,” said U.S. Attorney Franklin. “Police officers have an increasingly difficult job. This office will strive to support our law enforcement brothers and sisters, but will also prosecute those law enforcement officers who abandon their oath to protect and serve and chose to engage in criminal conduct that they are sworn to oppose.”
“Lady Justice wears a blindfold for a reason, and a violation of someone’s civil rights by a sworn law enforcement officer cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to pursue these types of cases with all available resources,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell.
“This defendant abused his police powers by beating a restrained man in his custody,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “The Department will not tolerate such abuses, and will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s laws and hold officers who break the law accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case with assistance from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation. Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney Denise O. Simpson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Former Rochester Residents Plead Guilty to Defrauding Manufacturing CompanyRead 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 Kana Chanel Hill and Aaron James Dempsey, formerly of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to wire fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that Hill and Dempsey defrauded Nordon, Inc., a plastic manufacturing company located in Rochester. The defendants worked at the company between approximately 2014 and 2017. As a payroll specialist, Hill manually triggered Nordon to issue inflated and fraudulent paychecks to herself, co-defendant Dempsey and others. Hill also used the personal identifying information of former Nordon employees to cause Nordon to issue paychecks in the names of those employees without their knowledge or consent. The paychecks were deposited into bank accounts owned by Hill and Dempsey. The fraud was discovered when a former employee received a Form W-2 from the IRS containing a discrepancy in the employee’s pay, which triggered an internal audit by Nordon and subsequent investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2019, before Judge Siragusa.
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