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Monday 4 June 2018
Kiel, Wisconsin Man Arrested for Food TamperingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Jonathan Tilman Lane, from Kiel, Wisconsin, was arrested and appeared in federal court in Milwaukee to face charges of tampering with a consumer product.
The criminal complaint alleges that on two separate occasions during March 25-28, 2018, Lane, an employee at Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, placed foreign objects into sausage links. Video surveillance, determined that on March 25, 2018, Lane placed a cigarette paper in a sausage link and on March 28, 2018, Lane placed a wire connector in a sausage link while the items were on the processing line. Both times, the items were removed before the sausage links were packaged. Due to the public risk of Lane’s behavior, Johnsonville closed down the operation and discarded all products that they believed could have been affected.
Lane is charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily harm and manifesting an extreme disregard to such a risk. As to each count, the Lane face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to a representative of Johnsonville, none of the tampered products left their facilities. United States Attorney Krueger stated, “We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC for its security measures and quick action to prevent any harm to consumers.”
The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA/OIG). Assistant United States Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman is assigned to the prosecution of this case.
This case was charged by a criminal complaint. The public is reminded that the complaint contains only allegations of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Justice Department Reaches Agreements with the Ville Platte Police Department and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s OfficeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with the City of Ville Platte and a separate agreement with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (Louisiana) to end the pattern or practice by the Ville Platte Police Department (VPPD) and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) of conducting arrests in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. After a thorough investigation, the United States concluded that it had reasonable cause to believe that these agencies had arrested and held people in jail—sometimes without obtaining a warrant and without probable cause to believe that the detained individuals had committed a crime—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. VPPD and EPSO sometimes used these arrests, called “investigative holds,” as a regular part of their criminal investigations, inducing people to provide information to officers under threat of continued wrongful incarceration.
Under the agreement, VPPD and EPSO will develop policies and provide training and adequate supervision to officers to ensure the pattern or practice of unlawful seizures does not continue. The agencies also will increase transparency by collecting and reporting data on its Fourth Amendment activities.
The Department’s investigation into EPSO and VPPD began in April 2015 and concluded in an investigative findings report, released on Dec. 19, 2016. The Department determined through interviews with command staff, detectives, officers, and a cross-section of community members, as well as review of documents including jail logs, arrest records, and more, that the investigative hold practice was routine at EPSO and VPPD. Both agencies acknowledged that they sometimes used holds to investigate criminal activity for as long as anyone at the agency can remember. Because these “investigative holds” were conducted without probable cause, they violated the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“Police officers across the country are called upon to protect and safeguard members of their communities by investigating criminal activity. Officers are afforded the authority needed to do so, including the power to arrest and detain individuals when there is proper legal justification,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “It is imperative that officers use that authority within the boundaries of the law. Both agencies cooperated fully throughout this matter, and we are eager to continue to work together with the Ville Platte Police Department, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the local municipalities to help ensure that their officers can protect the public and investigate crime without violating the civil rights of members of the public.”
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of misconduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of federally-protected rights. The Act also allows the Justice Department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. enforces the Act.
To read the report of the investigation, please click here. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sex Abuse Images from A Convicted Sex Offender over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Stanley Hagan, Jr. (33, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for receiving child pornography over the internet. Hagan was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Darren Dozier, a convicted child sex offender, was released from prison in 2015 and established a residence in Philadelphia. While there, he molested an 8-year-old child and produced images and videos of this abuse. On December 19, 2015, and again on August 7, 2016, Hagan engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with Dozier. During these conversations, Hagan pretended to be a 15-year old girl and, during the December conversation, Dozier offered to send Hagan sexually explicit images of his minor victim. Hagan accepted the offer. Dozier then sent Hagan four images depicting Dozier sexually abusing the child. Hagan also asked Dozier to send him a sexually explicit video of the child. During an interview with FBI agents in Jacksonville on August 30, 2017, Hagan admitted that he had solicited and received these images from Dozier.
This case was investigated by the FBI in Jacksonville and Philadelphia. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case that 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing AR-15 Style Rifle and a Handgun in Connection with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that on June 1, 2018, United States District Court Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Edy Matute to 41 months in prison for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) & 924(a)(2). Matute also received a sentencing enhancement for possessing the firearms in connection with drug trafficking.
As part of an investigation into a large-scale drug and firearm trafficking organization originating in the Southern District of Illinois, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant on Matute’s Milwaukee residence on December 5, 2017. The agents recovered a chrome Taurus PT945 handgun and a Bushmaster AR-15 style rifle. They also recovered a grocery bag that contained two “kilo wrappers” that tested positive for cocaine residue. At the time of the search warrant, Matute, who is a citizen of Honduras and unlawfully in the United States, had been convicted of driving under the influence three times and was in immigration removal proceedings.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey. The related cases in the Southern District of Illinois are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Idabel Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm, AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nickey Lynn Anderson, age 35, of Idabel, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Felon In Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2) and 924(e), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, or both. However, if the court deems the defendant to be an Armed Career Criminal, the offense is punishable by not less than 15 years imprisonment.
The Indictment alleged that on or about August 5, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, Nickey Lynn Anderson, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, the following firearm and ammunition, to-wit: One (1) Jimenez, Model JA-25, .25 automatic caliber pistol, serial number 059829; and Six (6) rounds G.F.L. (Giuilio Fiocchi, Lecco) .25 automatic caliber ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Idabel Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney John David Luton represented the United States.
ISIS Supporter Sentenced for Lying in Attempt to Join MilitaryRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Williamsburg man who told an FBI undercover employee that he wanted to commit jihad was sentenced today to five years in prison for passport fraud and making false statements in his application to join the United States military.
According to court documents, Shivam Patel, 28, was working in China in the summer of 2016 when he flew to the Kingdom of Jordan, was arrested, detained, and then returned to the United States. Patel told an undercover employee and a confidential source that he wanted to join a “Muslim army” and commit jihad. After returning to the United States, he applied to join the Army and Air Force. When asked about his prior foreign travel as part of his applications, Patel did not disclose his trips to China or Jordan. After he was asked to show an Army recruiter his passport, which would have revealed his prior travel to the recruiter, he filed an application for a new passport, falsely claiming that he had accidentally thrown his old passport away. Special agents from the FBI recovered that passport, which documented his undisclosed travel, when they arrested him in July 2017.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Bosse and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-120.
Greenville Man Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced CHICOBE ANTRELL WILLIAMS, 33, of Greenville, North Carolina to 151 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
WILLIAMS was named in an Indictment filed on April 11, 2017 charging him with four counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack). On January 8, 2018, WILLIAMS pled guilty to one count of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (crack).
According to the investigation, in October 2015, investigators with the Greenville Police Department and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating the narcotics distribution activity of WILLIAMS. A confidential informant was utilized to make four controlled purchases of cocaine base (crack) from WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS utilized others to assist in his narcotics distribution. In addition to the controlled purchases, WILLIAMS was arrested with crack in his possession.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dena King represented the government.
Fugitive Lawyer Pleads Guilty for His Escape and Role in $550 Million Social Security Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former fugitive and social security disability lawyer pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in scheming to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA) of more than $550 million, retaliating against an informant and fleeing from the United States.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General’s (SSA-OIG) Philadelphia Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess of the FBI’s Louisville, Kentucky Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Tracey D. Montaño of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Nashville, Tennessee Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Regional Office made the announcement.
Eric Christopher Conn, 58, of Pikeville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to escape and one count of conspiracy to retaliate against an informant. Sentencing is set for Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. ET.
“At the Department of Justice, a key mission is protecting the federal treasury on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Sessions. “In this case, the defendant’s scheme fraudulently obligated the Social Security Administration to pay over half a billion dollars in lifetime disability benefits, and then he fled the country. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, DOJ lawyers, and our partners with the Social Security Administration, the IRS-CI, HHS-OIG, and our allies in Honduras, this criminal plot did not fully succeed. This case shows yet again that to track down criminals and hold them to account, this Department will cross continents and work with authorities around the globe.”
“The SSA-OIG thanks all of our law enforcement partners for their assistance during the investigation of Mr. Conn’s fraud scheme and subsequent efforts to locate and apprehend Mr. Conn,” said SSA-OIG Special Agent in Charge McGill. “Despite his best efforts to escape justice, Mr. Conn is ultimately being held accountable for defrauding SSA and U.S. taxpayers.”
“Eric Conn preyed upon the sick and vulnerable for his personal gain,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Hess. “Rather than face the consequences of his crimes, he chose to flee and attempted to hide from those he had betrayed. Today’s plea will ensure he is now held accountable.”
“When individuals are approved for certain social security benefits, they automatically became entitled to Medicare and Medicaid,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jackson. “As a result, a large portion of Conn’s fraudulent scheme drained federal health care plans and cheated needy patients out of the limited dollars available for these vital taxpayer-funded programs.”
According to the plea, from October 2004 to December 2017, Conn participated in a scheme with former SSA administrative law judge David Black Daugherty, multiple doctors, including clinical psychologist Alfred Bradley Adkins, and others to submit thousands of falsified medical documents to the SSA to fraudulently obtain disability benefits totaling more than $550 million for thousands of individuals. According to the plea, upon a former SSA employee discovering and providing information about the scheme to federal agents, Conn and former SSA administrative law judge Charlie Paul Andrus conspired and acted to have the former SSA employee terminated in an effort to discredit the employee. Finally, Conn admitted that after pleading guilty in March 2017, and prior to being sentenced on June 2, 2017, he fled the country with the help of Curtis Lee Wyatt by severing the electronic monitoring device from his ankle and fleeing across the Mexican border.
Conn was originally charged in April 2016, along with Daugherty and Adkins, in an 18-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and other related offenses in connection with the disability fraud scheme. Conn subsequently pleaded guilty on March 24, 2017, to a two-count information charging him with theft of government money and paying illegal gratuities, and he was sentenced in absentia on July 14, 2017 to 12 years in prison on those charges. After his flight from the United States, Conn was charged, along with Wyatt, in September 2017, in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to escape, escape and other related offenses. On Dec. 5, 2017, Conn was returned to the United States from Honduras after being apprehended by Honduran authorities. Conn’s plea today is expected to resolve the outstanding charges against him. In addition to the 12 years in prison Conn is currently serving, he now faces an additional 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Conn agreed to recommend to the Court at sentencing that the Court sentence him to the maximum possible sentence, a 15-year sentence, and run that sentence consecutive to the 12-year sentence previously imposed, for a total of 27 years in prison.
Andrus pleaded guilty in June 2016 to a one-count information charging him with conspiracy to retaliate against an informant, and was sentenced Aug. 7, 2017 to six months in prison. Daugherty pleaded guilty in May 2017 to a two-count information charging him with receiving illegal gratuities, and was sentenced on Aug. 25, 2017, to four years in prison. Adkins was found guilty following a six-day trial in June 2017 of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements, and was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2017, to 25 years in prison. Wyatt pleaded guilty in March 2018, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29.
The SSA-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Dustin M. Davis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Ann Marie Blaylock and Rebecca Caruso of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case, with previous co-counsel including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth G. Wright of the District of Maryland and Trey Alford of the Western District of Missouri as well as Investigative Counsel Kristen M. Warden of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General.
Four Plead Guilty to Tax Charges in Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance InvestigationRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – Four individuals pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to federal tax charges arising out of an investigation into payments to vendors who performed maintenance on United States Postal Service vehicles in Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Kristina O'Connell.
On Friday, June 1, 2018, Ronald Long, 54, and Cheryl Melton Long, 48, of Warwick, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
On May 23, 2018, Gary Neirinckx, 60, a now retired Postmaster from Warwick, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return.
On February 22, 2018, Donald Tonks, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to file a tax return.
According to information presented to the Court, the cases originated as a fraud investigation related to billing by companies controlled by Ronald and Cheryl Long, which functioned as vendors to the United States Postal Service by providing mechanical repair work to Postal Service vehicles. The Longs’ business utilized various corporate names, however virtually all of the Long’s business derived from work performed on United States Postal Service vehicles. By dollar amount, the Longs’ businesses were the largest non-fuel vendor of the Postal Service in Rhode Island between 2006 and 2014. Ronald Long directed and controlled the business; Cheryl Long was primarily responsible for maintaining financial records and paying bills.
Gary Neirinckx was a Postal service employee who held various roles with the Postal Service including Postmaster in Warwick. In 2015, while still employed by the Postal Service, Neirinckx opened a business in Warwick co-owned by Ron and Cheryl Long. Neirinckx had utilized Long’s services at the Warwick Post Office and subsequently referred the Longs to other postmasters.
A review by investigators of the Longs’ bank records between 2010 and 2015, showed that the Longs were paying nearly all of their personal living expenses out of their business bank account, including rent for their residence, utilities, expenses related to their children and expenses related to their boat. The investigation also revealed the Longs were paying employees in cash and that a series of checks were found to be made out to cash and with the notation of “G” on the memo line. The investigation revealed that the checks were cashed and the same amounts were simultaneously deposited into Neirinckx’s personal bank account by Cheryl Long.
At the time of his guilty plea, Neirinckx admitted that he recommended the Longs and their mechanical services to other postmasters, but that he never ordered work be sent their way. In return for doing so he accepted payment from the Longs. The investigation determined that the Longs paid Neirinckx $66,300, which he failed to report as income on his tax returns. Neirinckx also admitted that deductions for charitable contributions he reported on his tax returns were fabricated.
Ronald and Cheryl Long provided false information to their tax return preparer which resulted in the filing of false tax returns, which did not accurately report their individual and household income. The Long’s did not file a federal income tax return for the year 2011, and filed various false corporate and income tax returns for the years 2012 through 2015.
Donald Tonks was an employee of the Longs until approximately September 2014, when he and the Longs agreed to divide the business with the Postal Service. Tonks started his own business and generally took over services for post offices in southern Rhode Island, such as South Kingstown, Wakefield, Charlestown and Westerly. Around the time Tonks started working for the Longs, he stopped filing federal income tax returns, despite being required to do so.
On May 23, 2018, Donald Tonks was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond to two years probation, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, and pay full restitution to the IRS in the amount of $92,624.
Gary Neirinckx is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on September 7, 2018. Ronald Long and Cheryl Long are scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge William E. Smith on September 28, 2018.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Denise M. Barton. The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division.
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Fort Myers Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Offenses and Agrees to $2.8 Million Civil Settlement with the United StatesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – Dr. Michael Frey, M.D. (46, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to receive healthcare kickbacks. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each count. Dr. Frey also faces a term of supervised release of up to three years for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
In addition to his guilty plea, Dr. Frey has agreed to a civil settlement under which he will pay $2.8 million to the United States to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act in a number of ways, including receiving illegal kickbacks and by ordering medically unnecessary laboratory tests.
During the relevant period, Dr. Frey was a practicing interventional pain management specialist and one of the two principal owners of Advanced Pain Management Specialists, P.A., which is located in Fort Myers.
According to the plea agreement, beginning in 2010, Dr. Frey conspired with the owners of A&G Spinal Solutions, LLC, a durable medical equipment provider operating in Fort Myers, to receive compensation in exchange for referrals to A&G Spinal. Dr. Frey was paid a percentage of A&G Spinal’s profits based on his referrals and referrals from other providers at Advanced Pain. A&G Spinal rewarded Dr. Frey through checks made payable to his wife. Through this arrangement, A&G Spinal created the impression that Mrs. Frey was an employee of A&G Spinal, when she was not. The two principals of A&G Spinal, Ryan Williamson and William Pierce, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay healthcare kickbacks to Dr. Frey and are currently awaiting sentencing.
In addition, from 2013 to 2015, Dr. Frey also received cash payments from Ryan Williamson in exchange for referrals of compound pharmaceutical pain cream prescriptions. Williamson has also pleaded guilty for his role in this arrangement.
In his plea agreement, Dr. Frey also admitted that he had received kickbacks in the form of speaker fees paid to him in connection with his participation in largely bogus Insys Therapeutics, Inc. speaker event programs. Insys manufactures a fentanyl sublingual spray known as SUBSYS. Insys paid kickbacks to Dr. Frey to induce him to write prescriptions for their product.
The civil settlement announced today also resolves allegations that, between 2013 and 2016, Dr. Frey caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and TRICARE by ordering definitive Urine Drug Testing (“UDT”) in circumstances where such testing was not reasonable and medically necessary. Definitive UDT testing was financially lucrative for the Advanced Pain physicians because it was performed at Advanced Pain’s own in-house laboratory and was billed by the practice.
In addition, the civil settlement resolves kickback allegations associated with anesthesia services provided by Anesthesia Partners of SWFL, LLC that was owned by Dr. Frey and his partner Dr. Jonathan Daitch. Anesthesia Partners provided anesthesia services exclusively for the procedures performed by the Advanced Pain physicians. They contracted with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (“CRNAs”) to provide the anesthesia services. These CRNAs were paid a contracted rate, and Anesthesia Partners would bill Medicare and TRICARE directly for the anesthesia services they provided. This arrangement resulted in improper reimbursements to Dr. Frey as one of the owners of Anesthesia Partners. The United States contends that Dr. Frey’s ownership interest in Anesthesia Partners, and the funds he received through this ownership interest, induced him to refer his patients for anesthesia services to Anesthesia Partners.
“This was an alarming case of a physician who abused his position of trust for money,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “This global resolution is a great example of a coordinated healthcare fraud enforcement effort by our criminal and civil divisions, and of our commitment to hold healthcare providers accountable when they violate the law.”
“Dr. Frey deluded himself into believing that accepting thinly-veiled bribes was an easy path to riches. Instead he faces years in prison and a multi-million dollar settlement,” said Shimon R. Richmond, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Dr. Frey’s fate shows, yet again, that those intent on stealing from government health programs will be held accountable.”
“This plea agreement and settlement demonstrates the effectiveness of investigations by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to ensure that medical service providers do not unjustly enrich themselves by wasting and diverting precious taxpayer dollars. DCIS protects the integrity of DoD programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively impacts critical programs such as TRICARE,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office.
This case is being prosecuted criminally by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Jones and Simon Eth and civilly by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle S. Cohen, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
Today’s resolution illustrates the government’s commitment to combating improper practices that implicate the nation’s federally subsidized health care programs, using all statutory and common law remedies available to address such schemes. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Former U.S. Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jarrod M. Langford, 26, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Langford, while serving with the United States Navy in Lemoore, California, conspired with others to fraudulently acquire and use credit card account numbers to purchase and resell over the internet voucher codes that were redeemable for consumer items such as wristwatches, jewelry, computer software applications and electronic devices. Langford used various methods to fraudulently acquire other peoples’ credit card information, including purchasing the information over the internet. In September 2012, Langford fraudulently possessed more than 2,500 records of credit card account numbers and the associated account holders’ personal identifying information, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
To hide his actual location and conceal his involvement in his fraudulent activities, Langford installed an application on his computers that would establish a virtual private network (VPN) in order to conduct anonymous encrypted internet sessions and give the appearance that he was located outside of California. In his plea agreement, Langford admitted to fraudulently purchasing approximately $340,000 of consumer products and unauthorized voucher codes redeemable for such items.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.
Langford is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on September 9, 2018. Langford faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, an additional two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Former Defense Intelligence Officer, Resident of Utah Arrested for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Ron Rockwell Hansen, 58, a resident of Syracuse, Utah, and a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer, was arrested Saturday afternoon on federal charges including the attempted transmission of national defense information to the People’s Republic of China. FBI agents took Hansen into custody while he was on his way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington, to board a connecting flight to China.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney John Huber for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Eric Barnhart of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office announced the charges.
“Ron Rockwell Hansen is a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer who allegedly attempted to transmit national defense information to the People's Republic of China's intelligence service (PRCIS) and also allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars while illegally acting as an agent of China,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “His alleged actions are a betrayal of our nation's security and the American people and are an affront to his former intelligence community colleagues. Our intelligence professionals swear an oath to protect our country’s most closely held secrets and the National Security Division will continue to relentlessly pursue justice against those who violate this oath.”
“These allegations are very troubling in their description of conduct that runs contrary to how we identify ourselves as Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Huber. “On the other hand, revealed details of this lengthy investigation reflect effective performance and dedication on the part of the men and women of the FBI and their partners.”
“The allegations in this complaint are grave as it appears Mr. Hansen engaged in behavior that betrayed his oath and his country,” said Special Agent in Charge Barnhart. “This case drives home the troubling reality of insider threats and that current and former clearance holders will be targeted by our adversaries. The FBI will aggressively investigate individuals who put our national security at risk.”
Hansen will have an initial appearance Monday, at 5 p.m. EDT/3 p.m. MDT in U.S. District Court in Seattle. He is charged in a 15-count complaint, signed by Chief Federal Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner in Utah Saturday, with attempting to gather or deliver national defense information to aid a foreign government. The complaint also charges Hansen with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China, bulk cash smuggling, structuring monetary transactions, and smuggling goods from the United States.
According to court documents:
Hansen retired from the U.S. Army as a Warrant Officer with a background in signals intelligence and human intelligence. He speaks fluent Mandarin-Chinese and Russian. DIA hired Hansen as a civilian intelligence case officer in 2006. Hansen held a Top Secret clearance for many years, and signed several non-disclosure agreements during his tenure at DIA and as a government contractor.
Between 2013 and 2017, Hansen regularly traveled between the United States and China, attending military and intelligence conferences in the U.S. and provided the information he learned at the conferences to contacts in China associated with the PRCIS. Hansen received payments for this information by a variety of methods, including cash, wires and credit card transactions. He also improperly sold export-controlled technology to persons in China. From May of 2013 to the date of the complaint, Hansen received not less than $800,000 in funds originating from China.
In addition, Hansen repeatedly attempted to regain access to classified information after he stopped working on behalf of the U.S. Government. Hansen’s alerting behavior ultimately resulted in the participation of a law enforcement source from whom Hansen solicited classified information. Hansen disclosed to the source his ongoing contact with the PRCIS, including in-person meetings with intelligence officers during his trips to China. Hansen told the source the types of information his contacts in China were interested in and discussed working with the source to provide such information to the PRCIS. Hansen suggested he and the source would be handsomely paid.
Complaints are not findings of guilt. An individual charged in a complaint is presumed innocent unless or until convicted of the crimes in court. Hansen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, if convicted of attempted espionage. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the assigned judge.
Special agents of the FBI, IRS, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Counterintelligence, and the Defense Intelligence Agency are involved in the investigation. U.S. Army Counterintelligence, the FBI Seattle Division, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office assisted in law enforcement operations Saturday in Utah and Seattle.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Lund, Mark K. Vincent and Karin Fojtik of the District of Utah, and Trial Attorneys Patrick T. Murphy and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Alicia H. Cook, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Utah and now a trial attorney in the National Security Division, is assisting with the case.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington (Seattle) assisted with this case.
Former Defense Intelligence Officer Arrested for Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
Ron Rockwell Hansen, 58, a resident of Syracuse, Utah, and a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer, was arrested Saturday afternoon on federal charges including the attempted transmission of national defense information to the People’s Republic of China. The FBI agents took Hansen into custody while he was on his way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle to board a connecting flight to China.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney John Huber for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Eric Barnhart of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office announced the charges.
“Ron Rockwell Hansen is a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer who allegedly attempted to transmit national defense information to the People's Republic of China's intelligence service (PRCIS) and also allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars while illegally acting as an agent of China,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “His alleged actions are a betrayal of our nation's security and the American people and are an affront to his former intelligence community colleagues. Our intelligence professionals swear an oath to protect our country’s most closely held secrets and the National Security Division will continue to relentlessly pursue justice against those who violate this oath.”
“These allegations are very troubling in their description of conduct that runs contrary to how we identify ourselves as Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Huber. “On the other hand, revealed details of this lengthy investigation reflect effective performance and dedication on the part of the men and women of the FBI and their partners.”
“The allegations in this complaint are grave as it appears Mr. Hansen engaged in behavior that betrayed his oath and his country,” said Special Agent in Charge Barnhart. “This case drives home the troubling reality of insider threats and that current and former clearance holders will be targeted by our adversaries. The FBI will aggressively investigate individuals who put our national security at risk.”
Hansen will have an initial appearance Monday, at 5 p.m. EDT in U.S. District Court in Seattle. He is charged in a 15-count complaint, signed by Chief Federal Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner in Utah Saturday, with attempting to gather or deliver national defense information to aid a foreign government. The complaint also charges Hansen with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China, bulk cash smuggling, structuring monetary transactions and smuggling goods from the United States.
According to court documents:
Hansen retired from the U.S. Army as a Warrant Officer with a background in signals intelligence and human intelligence. He speaks fluent Mandarin-Chinese and Russian. DIA hired Hansen as a civilian intelligence case officer in 2006. Hansen held a Top Secret clearance for many years, and signed several non-disclosure agreements during his tenure at DIA and as a government contractor.
Between 2013 and 2017, Hansen regularly traveled between the United States and China, attending military and intelligence conferences in the U.S. and provided the information he learned at the conferences to contacts in China associated with the PRCIS. Hansen received payments for this information by a variety of methods, including cash, wires and credit card transactions. He also improperly sold export-controlled technology to persons in China. From May of 2013 to the date of the complaint, Hansen received not less than $800,000 in funds originating from China.
In addition, Hansen repeatedly attempted to regain access to classified information after he stopped working on behalf of the U.S. Government. Hansen’s alerting behavior ultimately resulted in the participation of a law enforcement source from whom Hansen solicited classified information. Hansen disclosed to the source his ongoing contact with the PRCIS, including in-person meetings with intelligence officers during his trips to China. Hansen told the source the types of information his contacts in China were interested in and discussed working with the source to provide such information to the PRCIS. Hansen suggested he and the source would be handsomely paid.
Complaints are not findings of guilt. An individual charged in a complaint is presumed innocent unless or until convicted of the crimes in court. Hansen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, if convicted of attempted espionage. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the assigned judge.
Special agents of the FBI, IRS, U.S Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Counterintelligence, and the Defense Intelligence Agency are involved in the investigation. U.S. Army Counterintelligence, the FBI Seattle Division, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office assisted in law enforcement operations Saturday in Utah and Seattle.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Lund, Mark K. Vincent and Karin Fojtik of the District of Utah, and Trial Attorneys Patrick T. Murphy and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington assisted with this case.
Former Background Investigator for Federal Government Pleads Guilty to Making a False StatementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jeffrey S. Kahn, 51, a former background investigator who did work under contract for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), pled guilty today to a charge stemming from his falsification of work on background investigations of federal employees and contractors, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Norbert E. Vint, Acting Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management.
Kahn, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to making a false statement. The Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson scheduled sentencing for Aug. 16, 2018. The charge carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of the plea, Kahn has agreed to pay $77,649 in restitution to the federal government.
According to a statement of offense submitted to the Court, Kahn was employed by KeyPoint Government Solutions as an investigator under contract to conduct background investigations on behalf of OPM’s Federal Investigative Services, which now is known as OPM’s National Background Investigations Bureau. All of the criminal conduct in this case took place while Kahn worked under contract on behalf of Federal Investigative Services.
Between May 2013 and August 2013, in more than 18 Reports of Investigations on background investigations, Kahn represented that he had interviewed a source or reviewed a record regarding the subject of the background investigation. In fact, he had not conducted the interviews or obtained the records of interest. These reports were utilized and relied upon by the agencies requesting the background investigations to determine whether the subjects were suitable for positions having access to classified information, for positions impacting national security, for receiving or retaining security clearances, or for positions of public trust.
Kahn’s false representations have required OPM to reopen and rework numerous background investigations that were assigned to him during the time period of his falsifications, at an estimated cost of at least $77,649 to the U.S. government.
OPM has a robust integrity assurance program which utilizes a variety of methods to ensure the accuracy of reported information. The falsification of investigative case work by the defendant was detected through the program.
This is one of numerous cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia since 2008 involving false representations by background investigators and record checkers working on federal background investigations. In addition to Kahn, 23 other background investigators and two record checkers have been convicted of charges.
With a staff of more than 9,900 federal and contract employees, the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) conducts approximately 95 percent of all personnel background investigations for the federal government. NBIB processed over 2.5 million background investigations in the 2017 fiscal year.
In performing background investigations, the investigators conduct interviews of individuals who have information about the person who is the subject of the review. In addition, the investigators seek out, obtain, and review documentary evidence, such as employment records, to verify and corroborate information provided by either the subject of the background investigation or by persons interviewed during the investigation. After conducting interviews and obtaining documentary evidence, the investigators prepare a Report of Investigation containing the results of the interviews and document reviews, and electronically submit the material to OPM in Washington, D.C. OPM then provides a copy of the investigative file to the requesting agency, which can use the information to determine an individual’s eligibility for employment or a security clearance.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Acting Inspector General Vint praised the efforts of Special Agent Christopher J. Sulhoff, OPM, Office of the Inspector General, and Philip Kroop and Kevin Cassidy, OPM, NBIB. They also acknowledged the work of Paralegal Specialists Aisha Keys and Joshua Fein of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Chubin Epstein, who investigated and prosecuted this matter.
Florida Man Sentenced to 26 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Illegally Export Defense Articles to RussiaRead the Press Release
Vladimir Nevidomy, 32, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 26 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to illegally export military-grade night vision and thermal vision devices, and ammunition primers to Russia.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, Special Agent in Charge Robert Lasky of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
According to information contained in court documents, from as early as April 2013 through November 2013, customers in Russia contacted Nevidomy by email requesting night vision rifle scopes, thermal monoculars and ammunition primers, all of which were on the U.S. Munitions List and subject to export control by the U.S. Department of State. Nevidomy proceeded to obtain at least three ATN MARS 4x4 night-vision rifle scopes and an ODIN 61BW thermal multi-purpose monocular from U.S. vendors by falsely representing to the vendors that the items were not for export.
After the U.S. vendors sent the night vision devices to Nevidomy in South Florida, he exported them to his co-defendant in Russia by either concealing the defense articles in household goods shipments sent through a freight forwarding company or using a private Russian postal service that operated in South Florida. In June 2013, Nevidomy aided and abetted the export of the ATN MARS 4x4 night-vision rifle scopes from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Russia, and in August 2013, he exported the ODIN 61BW thermal multi-purpose monocular from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Russia.
On or about July 19, 2013, the same co-defendant sent an email to Nevidomy requesting 1,000 large-rifle ammunition primers to be shipped to Vladivostok, Russia. On or about Oct. 2, 2013, Nevidomy attempted to export 1,000 Sellier & Bellot ammunition primers from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Vladivostok. These ammunition primers were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
These night vision rifle scopes, thermal monocular and ammunition primers required a license or other authorization from the U.S. Department of State before being exported from the U.S. since they were on the U.S. Munitions List. A certified license history check revealed that neither Nevidomy, a Ukraine-born naturalized U.S. citizen, nor his associates ever applied or attempted to apply for an export license from the State Department for the night-vision equipment or ammunition primers.
Nevidomy was sentenced today to concurrent time, in Case No. 17-CR-60137, after previously pleading guilty to passport fraud and conspiracy to commit passport fraud in the Southern District of Florida.
Mr. Greenberg and Mr. Demers commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and HSI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Thakur and Rick Del Toro of the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Christian Ford of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
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.
Florida Man Sentenced to 26 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Illegally Export Defense Articles to RussiaRead the Press Release
Vladimir Nevidomy, 32, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 26 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to illegally export military-grade night vision and thermal vision devices, and ammunition primers to Russia.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Robert Lasky of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
According to information contained in court documents, from as early as April 2013 through November 2013, customers in Russia contacted Nevidomy by email requesting night vision rifle scopes, thermal monoculars and ammunition primers, all of which were on the U.S. Munitions List and subject to export control by the U.S. Department of State. Nevidomy proceeded to obtain at least three ATN MARS 4x4 night-vision rifle scopes and an ODIN 61BW thermal multi-purpose monocular from U.S. vendors by falsely representing to the vendors that the items were not for export.
After the U.S. vendors sent the night vision devices to Nevidomy in South Florida, he exported them to his co-defendant in Russia by either concealing the defense articles in household goods shipments sent through a freight forwarding company or using a private Russian postal service that operated in South Florida. In June 2013, Nevidomy aided and abetted the export of the ATN MARS 4x4 night-vision rifle scopes from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Russia, and in August 2013, he exported the ODIN 61BW thermal multi-purpose monocular from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Russia.
On or about July 19, 2013, the same co-defendant sent an email to Nevidomy requesting 1,000 large-rifle ammunition primers to be shipped to Vladivostok, Russia. On or about Oct. 2, 2013, Nevidomy attempted to export 1,000 Sellier & Bellot ammunition primers from the U.S. to the co-defendant in Vladivostok. These ammunition primers were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
These night vision rifle scopes, thermal monocular and ammunition primers required a license or other authorization from the U.S. Department of State before being exported from the U.S. since they were on the U.S. Munitions List. A certified license history check revealed that neither Nevidomy, a Ukraine-born naturalized U.S. citizen, nor his associates ever applied or attempted to apply for an export license from the State Department for the night-vision equipment or ammunition primers.
Mr. Demers and Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and HSI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Thakur and Rick Del Toro of the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Christian Ford of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Five Men Indicted in Louisiana for Conspiracy to Smuggle BirdsRead the Press Release
Five men have been charged in New Orleans with crimes related to illegally exporting birds protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) from the United States to Taiwan. William McGinness, 59, of Buena Park, California; Paul Tallman, 55, of Destreham, Louisiana; Rene Rizal, 62, of La Mirada, California; Wayne Andrews, 46, of Royal Oaks, California and Alex Madriaga, 76, of Buena Park, California; were each indicted in federal court in the eastern District of Louisiana today.
On May 31, 2018, a five-count indictment was returned charging McGinness, Tallman, Rizal, Andrews and Madriaga with conspiracy to smuggle CITES-protected birds from the United States to Taiwan. McGuinness was also charged with smuggling birds to Taiwan and three counts of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act, and Tallman was charged with smuggling and one count of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act.
The indictment alleges, among other things, that McGinness, a resident of California, and his co-conspirators created false statements and submitted them to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to illegally export CITES-protected birds from the Port of New Orleans to Taiwan. The shipment included 90 CITES-protected birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos and corellas. Several of the birds were in crates that were falsely labeled. The USFWS seized 14 of the birds at the airport in Houston, Texas before they were exported.
The indictments were announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting Assistant Director Edward Grace of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“These indictments demonstrate our commitment, shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to investigate and prosecute those engaged in illegal trade of protected animals,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. “We will continue to collaborate with our partners at the federal, state and local levels to prosecute wildlife smuggling.”
"Today’s indictments were the result of a complex investigation into the wildlife trafficking of protected birds,” said Acting Assistant Director Grace. “Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that is detrimental to species around the world. I am very proud of our special agents and wildlife inspectors who helped bring these defendants to justice."
The United States and approximately 182 other countries are signatories to CITES, which provides a mechanism for regulating international trade in species whose continued survival is threatened by such trade. Species are listed on “appendices,” based on the level of protection necessary to protect the species.
The case was investigated by the USFWS and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section. The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorney Mary Dee Carraway.
Five Florida residents admit to fraud charges involving gas station skimmersRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Five Florida residents have admitted to their involvement with a gas station skimming fraud scheme, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Three pled guilty to one count each of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count each of “Access Device Fraud-Use of Unauthorized Access Device.” They are:
• Meylan Montalvo Gomez, of Hialeah, Florida, age 27
• Yosan Pons Sosa, of Miami, Florida, age 29
• Lazaro Serrano Diaz , of Miami, Florida, age 27Naudi Reyes Fernandez, of Miami, Florida, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count of “Access Device Fraud-Possession of Device-Making Equipment.”
Yarai Fuentes Quinones, of Hialeah, Florida, age 26, pled guilty today to one count of “Access Device Fraud-Use of Unauthorized Access Device.”
Each admitted to their roles in a conspiracy spanning four states that involved using skimming devices at gas pumps, using technology to upload the account information, and creating fraudulent cards with said accounts to make unauthorized transactions at different businesses in West Virginia and elsewhere.
Gomez, Sosa, and Diaz are each facing up to up to seven and a half years incarceration and fine of up to $125,000 for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the access device count. Fernandez is facing up to seven and a half years incarceration and fine of up to $125,000 for the conspiracy count and up to 15 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the possession of a device count. Quinones is facing up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The United States is also seeking forfeiture of the following:
a. approximately thirty-three (33) gift cards containing an unknown value;
b. approximately $72,495.73 in United States Currency;
c. approximately $28,498.00 worth of Western Union money orders;
d. approximately $10,300.00 worth of MoneyGram money orders;
e. one magnetic stripe card reader-writer-encoder
f. two laptops
g. six cell phonesThe United States is also seeking a money judgement against each of the defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Dyno-Nobel, Inc. Ordered to Pay $250,000 for Failing to Notify Federal Authorities of Anhydrous Ammonia DischargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today in federal court, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Dyno Nobel, Inc., the owner of a urea plant near St. Helens, Oregon, to pay $250,000 for violating section 103(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), following a series of large-scale ammonia discharges in July and August 2015. Dyno Nobel will also serve a two-year term of probation for the class-E felony.
According to Dyno Nobel’s plea agreement with the government, the company’s St. Helens plant discharged more than six tons of anhydrous ammonia vapor—a hazardous substance—into the air over the course of a three-day period starting on July 30, 2015. A subsequent investigation revealed that several failed attempts to restart the urea plant had caused a series of massive discharges from the facility, triggering numerous complaints of foul odors, eye irritation, and difficulty breathing from citizens of nearby Columbia City, Oregon.
Although Dyno Nobel personnel knew that excessive ammonia emissions were occurring, no effort was made to alert the authorities at the National Response Center until August 7, 2015—more than a week after the first discharge. Federal law requires such reports to be made “immediately.”
Dyno Nobel, Inc. is a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IPL Group. The company previously pleaded guilty to the violation on February 23, 2018.
This case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigations; it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan W. Bounds and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Gebel Perrin.
Dr. Pepper Executive Sentenced to Prison for Fraud, Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A national sales executive for Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., a subsidiary of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (Dr. Pepper), was sentenced Friday to 33 months in federal prison for submitting more than $1.7 million dollars worth of fraudulent invoices to Dr. Pepper through a promotions and marketing company he formed in his wife’s name.
In February, Michael Lynch, 53, of Newport, R.I., admitted to the Court that in April 2003, he incorporated Seacoast Unlimited Marketing and Promotions, LLC (Seacoast) in his wife’s name, and through Seacoast, from January 2007 until November 29, 2017, submitted to Dr. Pepper more than 200 fraudulent invoices totaling $1,716,949 for services such as promotional signs and banners, delivery of sample products to retail stores and the offering of discount prices to retail stores. None of the services billed to and paid for by Dr. Pepper were provided.
Additionally, Lynch admitted that he failed to declare any of the income he derived through Seacoast on the joint federal tax filings he filed with his wife. The tax loss applicable to the defendant’s conduct totals $386,320.
Lynch pleaded guilty on February 27, 2018, to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Lynch to serve 2 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration, to pay full restitution to Dr. Pepper, and to pay taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service.
The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 33 – 41 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 33 months incarceration. Lynch’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold H. Shaw, and Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Kristina O'Connell.
The matter, investigated by the FBI and by IRS Criminal Investigation, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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Dominican National Sentenced for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico.
Wilkin Pena Soto, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Pena Soto will also be subject to deportation proceedings. In March 2018, Pena Soto pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
In August 2017, Pena Soto applied for a passport at an Attleboro Post Office purporting to be a U.S. citizen. On the application, he represented that the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a Puerto Rican man were his. He supported the application with a birth certificate and Massachusetts driver’s license in the U.S. citizen’s name. Pena Soto also committed aggravated identity theft in connection with the passport application.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Admits to Being Armed Career Criminal, Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine and MethRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national convicted and incarcerated multiple times on federal and state drug trafficking charges today admitted in federal court to being an armed career criminal while trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch andBrian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New England Field Division.
A 10-month Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Marcio Alexandro Martinez-Lara, 45, of Providence, included numerous controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from Martinez-Lara. On July 19, 2017, members of the DEA Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the Woonsocket, Cranston and Providence Police Departments, executed court-authorized search warrants at Martinez-Lara’s residence and business in Providence, a drug stash house he operated in Cranston, and two vehicles in his control.
During the searches law enforcement seized more than 1,182 grams of fentanyl, 1,148 grams of heroin, 106 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine and a loaded firearm. As members of law enforcement were preparing to execute the search warrants, agents and officers encountered and detained Martinez-Lara outside his stash house in Cranston. They seized 100 grams of fentanyl found concealed inside Martinez-Lara’s underwear.
According to court records, in October 1997, Martinez-Lara was convicted in U.S. District Court on cocaine trafficking charges and subsequently sentenced to 121 months in federal prison and 5 years supervised release; in April 1998, Martinez-Lara was convicted in Rhode Island state court on delivery of schedule I/II controlled substances and conspiracy charges and sentenced to 10 years in state prison – 18 months to serve with 102 months suspended with probation; in September 2012, Martinez-Lara was convicted in Rhode Island state court on delivery of schedule I/II controlled substances and obstruction of a police officer and sentenced to 5 years in state prison – 12 months to serve with 48 months suspended with probation.
On June 9, 2016, Martinez-Lara was arrested by Providence Police and released on bail on a charge of delivery of heroin. He was awaiting trial at the time of his arrest in this investigation by members of the DEA Drug Task Force.
At the time of his arrest, Martinez-Lara identified himself to law enforcement as being Sandro Martinez. Law enforcement has since determined that his actual name is Marcio Alexandro Martinez-Lara.
Martinez-Lara, who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 19, 2017, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on September 20, 2017.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.
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Destin Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Shipping Jewelry Stolen During Walton County BurglariesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Mark Joshua Mitchell, 40, of Destin, was sentenced today to 240 months in prison, after pleading guilty on June 22, 2017, to seven counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
On various dates in 2015 and 2016, victims contacted the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to report that their residences had been burglarized and that jewelry and other items had been stolen during the burglaries. The victims reported six different burglaries in Santa Rosa Beach, Panama City Beach, and Destin. The stolen items included multi-carat diamond engagement rings, a three-piece platinum wedding ring set, other jewelry, cash, and Mexican gold coins. Mitchell then shipped diamonds taken from the rings or the entire stolen item to Missouri and Louisiana.
The investigation in this case was led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) provided assistance. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Clearwater Property Manager Sentenced for Equity Skimming and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Michael Rubino (59, Clearwater) to 13 months in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and equity skimming. Rubino had pleaded guilty on January 31, 2018.
According to court documents, Rubino devised a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders that were holding recorded mortgage notes, as well as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Agency (“FHA”), which guaranteed the mortgage notes. In furtherance of his scheme, Rubino searched Pinellas County Clerk of Court records to find properties in various stages of foreclosure. He then contacted distressed homeowners who had already defaulted on their mortgages and had vacated their properties. Rubino offered to take control of, manage, and rent the properties to new tenants. Rubino told the homeowners that he would use the rental income he obtained to pay the mortgages and, in some instances, pay the homeowner a portion of the rent he collected. At no time did Rubino hold any legal or equitable interest in these properties, or have authorization from the mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae, or FHA, to rent out the properties. Further, he failed to remit any of the collected rent monies to FHA, as required by law.
Additionally, in order to prevent Fannie Mae and the mortgage lenders from lawfully foreclosing on properties secured by mortgage notes, Rubino engaged in a bankruptcy fraud scheme whereby he filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in the names of the distressed homeowners, without their knowledge or consent, just prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale. These fraudulent bankruptcies triggered the automatic stay provision of the bankruptcy code, preventing the mortgage note holders from conducting the foreclosure sale. The fraudulent bankruptcy petitions filed by Rubino allowed him to continue to collect rent monies to which he was not entitled.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector and the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General. The Office of the U.S. Trustee for the Middle District of Florida also provided substantial assistance. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Child Predator Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced that Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced ANDREW EASTERLY, age 21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to serve 144 months in federal prison following his conviction for transportation of child pornography. EASTERLY will also be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a convicted sex offender upon his release from prison.
This criminal case began when law enforcement officials received a tip that EASTERLY, utilizing user names “youngones” and “littleones69,” shared a number of sexually explicit images of children, ages 5 to 14, to an online social media website. A subsequent forensic examination of EASTERLY’s electronic devices revealed at least 300 additional images and videos of sexually explicit depictions of minors, including toddlers and prepubescent children. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officials learned that EASTERLY had also produced his own child pornography involving at least seven different victims, ages 1 to 17. Most of the child pornography produced by EASTERLY was the result of him surreptitiously photographing and recording unaware children in various states of nudity and engaging in private, personal activities such as using the restroom, showering, or changing clothes at his college dorm and at his parent’s home.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “Through his despicable and reprehensible actions, this defendant earned every bit of his 144-month prison sentence. Protecting our children from child predators like ANDREW EASTERLY will continue to be a top priority of this office. We look forward to continuing to work with the public and our excellent federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue offenders who target the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“Individuals who engage in the trade of child pornography steal the innocence of children and re-victimize them each time the evidence of their exploitation is shared online,” said Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles. “This case shows HSI investigators are actively working to identity and disrupt the trade of these illegal images, and also to identify and seek prosecution of the criminals who produce and possess them.”
This matter was a joint investigation between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office – Cyber Crime Unit, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Baton Rouge Police Department, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie A. Flowers, Jr.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 82 Months in Prison for Illegally Re-entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Jose Martin Garcia-Escobar (a.k.a. Jose Garcia), age 39, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced before South Bend District Court Robert L. Miller, Jr for illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported and after being convicted of felony offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
Garcia was sentenced to 82 months in prison.
According to documents in this case, Garcia had been removed from the U.S. on three separate occasions with the last one being July 14, 2016. He has prior felony offenses of manufacture and delivery of cannabis along with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the FBI and was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel R. Gabrielse.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott for the Eastern District of California made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement filed, beginning in or around September 2017 until around Dec. 20, 2017, Jameson voiced support for ISIS, knowing that the organization was engaging in terrorist activity and terrorism. Among other things, he had several online interactions with a confidential source, and during those interactions, he stated that he was committed wholeheartedly to “the cause.” Jameson also expressed support on-line for the Oct. 31, 2017, terrorist attack in New York City, as well as other terrorist attacks. In subsequent communications with an undercover agent, Jameson stated that he was ready to do whatever they need done here and noted that his time in the military had trained him for combat and things of war. According to court documents, Jameson joined the Marine Corps and received basic training, including earning a sharpshooter rifle qualification, but was ultimately discharged for failing to disclose his asthma history.
Later, he met with another undercover agent whom he believed to be associated with, and working for, the senior leadership of ISIS and offered to carry out violent acts and provide financial support for the terrorist organization. Specifically, on Dec. 16, 2017, Jameson discussed what he could offer to the cause. Among other things, Jameson stated that he was well versed in the Anarchist Cookbook, and explained his desire to use explosives in an attack. He also noted that he could get PVC pipe, nails and powder for explosive devices, and asked for remote timing devices from that person. Jameson identified Pier 39 as a target location of an attack, noting that it was crowded and explosives could be used to funnel people into an area so that he could inflict casualties by shooting people trying to escape. Jameson also offered to provide money to the cause.
Jameson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on Sept. 4. If the Court accepts the plea agreement, the parties have agreed that the defendant should be sentenced to 15 years in prison and a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dawrence W. Rice Jr. and Christopher D. Baker of the Eastern District of California, and Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are in charge of the prosecution.
Brooklyn Gang Member Convicted of Racketeering and Two MurdersRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict today against Frank Smith, also known as “Fresh,” a member of a Coney Island-based street gang known as “Rival Impact,” on charges of racketeering and two counts each of murder-in-aid-of racketeering and causing a death through the use of a firearm. The verdict followed a three-week trial before United States District Judge Frederic Block. When sentenced, Smith faces two mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Terrance Serrano and Rashawn Washington.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.
“With today’s jury verdict, Frank Smith has been held accountable for murders and drug dealing arising out of his allegiance to a violent Brooklyn street gang,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle violent street gangs and to eradicate the menace they pose to our communities.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the agents and detectives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the New York City Police Department for their outstanding investigative work on the case.
Between January 2000 and January 2014, Smith was a member of the Rival Impact street gang, a racketeering enterprise based at the Mermaid Houses in Coney Island. For more than a decade, the gang engaged in heroin and crack distribution and violence, including murders, attempted murders, robberies and assaults. Rival Impact had been at war for some time with members of “Thirty-O,” a street gang based in and around the Coney Island Houses. After a Rival Impact gang member Vincent Carmona was slain by “Thirty-O” crew members, Smith plotted killing members of Thirty-O, specifically Terrance Serrano and Rashawn Washington, whom he believed shot Carmona. On October 4, 2010, Smith and a Rival Impact gang member drove to East 19th Street in Manhattan where they found a parked car belonging to Serrano and Washington. After Serrano and Washington approached and entered the car, Smith ran to the car and opened fire, killing both men sitting inside.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime & Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Cruz Melendez, Jennifer M. Sasso and Josh Hafetz are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
FRANK SMITH (also known as “Fresh”)
Age: 33
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-346 (FB)
Berrien County Resident Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Federal Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Lori Lynn Pawielski ordered to pay $511,433 to the Internal Revenue Service
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Lori Lynn Pawielski, 52, of Buchanan, Michigan, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for tax evasion. The Honorable Robert J. Jonker, U.S. District Judge, also ordered Pawielski to serve three years of supervised release following prison and to pay $511,433 in restitution to the IRS and $1,962,611 in restitution to private party victims.
Pawielski’s sentencing was the result of her pleading guilty to one count of attempting to evade or defeat tax for calendar year 2015 by preparing and signing a false and fraudulent Form 1040 tax return. The charge alleged that the Form 1040 tax return falsely claimed that her taxable income was $149,160 when in fact it was $330,166. The charge also alleged that the tax due and owing for calendar year 2015 was $84,516, not $28,941 as reported on the tax return. She admitted those facts, and also was held responsible for additional tax due and owing for calendar years 2009-2014.
Pawielski’s tax evasion arose out of her embezzlement of more than $1.9 million from her former employer between 2009 and 2016 by writing 271 checks to herself without authorization. She further admitted that she concealed her embezzlement by altering the company’s accounting software to make it appear those checks were issued to suppliers. Pawielski admitted that she failed to report that additional income to the IRS on her 2009-2015 federal tax returns.
U.S. Attorney Birge remarked, “Ms. Pawielski must pay a debt to society in terms of prison time and pay back her former employer what she stole and pay the government what she owes in taxes. The message should be clear here: Those who cheat on their taxes will be both brought to justice and made to pay what they owe. If you’re attempting to evade your taxes, we will work with the Internal Revenue Service to make sure you are held accountable and pay your fair share.”
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor.
END
Berkeley County man admits to heroin chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Ross Valentine, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Valentine, age 35, pled guilty one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin.” Valentine admitted to possessing and distributing heroin in September 2017 in Berkeley County.
Valentine faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Grant, also with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Attorney General Sessions Announces New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah John W. Huber announced Monday that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis. The announcement was made on the 500th day of the Trump Administration.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement attorneys, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force, which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
Utah will get six attorney positions from the new allocations. Three of these AUSAs will target violent crime prosecutions, two will focus on immigration crimes, and one will handle civil enforcement cases, Huber says.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
“President Trump and Attorney General Sessions have provided key positions to assist my office in carrying out our responsibilities in Utah. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah strives to be a high-performing office, with focus on productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in administering justice. Today’s announcement of these new positions may also be viewed as recognition of Utah’s successful efforts,” Huber said today. “We will put these positions to good use as we continue our commitment to reducing violent crime in Utah neighborhoods.”
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Federal Prosecutor PositionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and United States Attorney Grant Jaquith announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force, which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis – and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is ‘the coin of the realm.’ When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
In the Northern District of New York, three new AUSAs will be hired: one new AUSA will focus on violent crime, one will focus on civil enforcement, and one will focus on prosecuting immigration crimes.
United States Attorney Grant Jaquith said: “We are grateful to Attorney General Sessions for allocating three additional Assistant United States Attorneys to the Northern District of New York. These reinforcements will enhance our vigorous efforts to curtail violent crime, combat the opioids epidemic, and enforce criminal immigration laws throughout our large district, including our 310-mile border with Canada.”
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSA’s will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
The Department of Justice is allocating two new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. “The addition of these AUSAs to our office will further enhance our ability to protect Hawaii’s citizens by targeting violent criminals and taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to combatting the opioid crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price.
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the U.S. Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSA’s will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
In the Southern District of Mississippi, four of these Assistant United States attorneys will focus on violent crime and one on affirmative civil enforcement.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
“I want to thank Attorney General Sessions for these new federal prosecutors, which will allow us to do even more good work under Project EJECT in the City of Jackson and will help us expand our crime fighting abilities exponentially throughout the Southern District of Mississippi,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst. “The addition of a new civil prosecutor will also help us go on the offensive in attacking the opioid crisis here at home, as well as holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable in our courts. Today is a great day for our state and our nation, as these actions will greatly increase the safety of our neighborhoods, enrich the lives of our citizens, and safeguard the American pocketbook.”
In December 2017, U.S. Attorney Hurst launched Project EJECT, a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime in the City of Jackson through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together.” Project EJECT is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood (“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 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.
During the first six months of Project EJECT, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted over 50 criminals in the City of Jackson, ranging from carjacking to business robberies to felons illegally possessing firearms to illegal drugs. According to recent statistics released by the Jackson Police Department, the violent crime numbers for the City of Jackson have significantly decreased, dropping almost 25% from this same time last year.
To see more information on the locations of the 311 Assistant United States Attorney positions, please visit www.justice.gov.
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force that targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is ‘the coin of the realm.’ When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
In the Eastern District of New York, five of these AUSAs will focus on violent crime, two on civil enforcement, and two on prosecuting immigration cases.
“The addition of nine new Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of New York will accelerate our Office’s efforts to bring prosecutions against the most violent criminals in our communities, including gang members, international narcotic traffickers and terrorists; secure our ports of entry and communities against illegal immigration and immigration fraud and increase our civil enforcement efforts against opioid abuse, elder fraud, health care fraud and other financial crimes,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Today’s announcement underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to make the Eastern District of New York a safer place by providing new resources to address the unique and complex challenges we face.”
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. The District of Oregon will receive one prosecutor in each of the three targeted areas. Many of the civil enforcement AUSA’s will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
“The mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to pursue justice and ensure public safety. Adding three new prosecutors to our staff will help us extend the reach of our mission across the state,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Reducing violent crime, enforcing immigration law, and attacking health care fraud that fuels the opioid epidemic are central to achieving our mission. Expanding our staff in each of these priority areas will have an immediate, positive impact on the lives of Oregonians.”
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Stephen G. Dambruch announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSA’s will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."
In Rhode Island, the newly-allocated Assistant United States Attorney position will bolster the District’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement practice, handling, among other duties, opioid-related health care fraud and drug diversion maters. Using a variety of traditional investigative methods, data analysis, and close collaboration with state and federal law enforcement partners, the Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement and criminal Health Care fraud programs are critical tools in fulfilling the District’s and the Department’s commitment to address the impact of the opioid crisis, by focusing on illegal activity at every stage of the opioid supply chain from manufacturer, to pharmacy, to prescriber. The addition of this new Assistant U.S. Attorney position is a critical new resource in support of those efforts.
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Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
Roanoke, VIRGINIA –Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Thomas T. Cullen announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
The Western District of Virginia will receive funding to hire one AUSA to focus on violent crime and a second AUSA to focus on civil enforcement. It is expected that these positions will be based in the Roanoke office, however the additional allocation of prosecutorial resources will extend throughout the Western District of Virginia. The new positions will soon be open to qualified applicants and are in addition to the three pending job openings in the Western District of Virginia for prosecutors dedicated to the prosecution of violent offenders and prolific drug dealers.
“Reducing violent crime is my first priority and the addition of this Assistant United States Attorney will go a long way in making the communities of the Western District of Virginia safer,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “Human capital is our most important resource in fighting crime and today’s action bring much needed resources to our district.”
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant U.S. Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
DENVER – On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
In Colorado, five new AUSAs will be hired. Three will be criminal prosecutors and two will focus on civil affirmative enforcement cases.
"This is great news for Colorado. With five new Assistant United States Attorneys joining our already exceptional staff, our ability to make Colorado safer gets even stronger. These additional resources will enhance community safety, join our battle against opioids, and ensure federal taxpayer dollars are protected."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Selects Northern District of Illinois to Receive Six New Assistant U.S. Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Attorney General Jeff Sessions and United States Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr., of the Northern District of Illinois, today announced that the district will receive additional resources to combat violent crime, enforce federal immigration laws and attack the opioid crisis. The Northern District of Illinois will receive six Assistant U.S. Attorney positions to focus exclusively on those priorities. Nationally, 311 new federal prosecutors will be assigned to districts throughout the country.
“Under President Trump’s strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis — and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is ‘the coin of the realm.’ When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”
“We welcome the additional resources to reduce violent crime, enforce our country’s immigration laws and fight the opioid epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Our Assistant U.S. Attorneys work tirelessly to keep the citizens of northern Illinois safe, and these new positions will strengthen those efforts. We will work quickly to fill these positions with highly skilled, highly motivated attorneys.”
Under the Attorney General’s allocation, four of the new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions in the Northern District of Illinois will focus exclusively on violent crime. The other two positions will be assigned to the office’s Civil Division, focusing on immigration cases and affirmative civil enforcement actions, which seek to recover government money lost to fraud or to impose penalties for violations of federal laws. Many of the new civil enforcement positions announced today will support the Department of Justice’s newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force, which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan honored with an Arthur S. Flemming Award for his work preventing and prosecuting child exploitation crimesRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan was honored today with an Arthur S. Flemming Award for his work in preventing and prosecuting crimes involving the exploitation of children.
The Flemming Awards were established in 1948 and are presented by the George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. Past recipients include Neil Armstrong, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, former Senator Elizabeth Dole, former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker. The last time a Flemming Award was presented to an employee of any U.S. Attorney’s Office was in 2011.
Sullivan was honored for his highly successful prosecution, as Senior Litigation Counsel, of child exploitation cases. He has gained a national reputation for his aggressive prosecution of these offenders. His greatest contribution may well be his role in the implementation and promotion of a new investigative protocol for child pornography cases that has been incredibly successful in Northern Ohio and has been replicated across the country.
“This award is a testament to the many years Mike has spent pursuing predators and sticking up for our most vulnerable victims,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Mike is absolutely the best that the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s community, and the Northern District of Ohio has to offer. I’m very glad he’s on our side and the side of our nation’s child victims.”
Sullivan is often asked to train and speak to prosecutors around the nation about how to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases. He also frequently talks to students and parents at school throughout the area about safe use of computers and social media.
Sullivan graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the Fordham University School of Law. He worked in the Suffolk County (New York) District Attorney’s Office and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office before joining the United States Attorney’s Office in Cleveland in 2003.
Amazon fraudsters sentenced to years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
Husband and wife thieves to serve nearly six years; fence to serve two
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that the three individuals who were previously charged with defrauding online retailer Amazon of $1.2 million in consumer electronics were sentenced to prison by U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Erin Finan, 38, and Leah Finan, 38, husband and wife from the Muncie-Anderson area, pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and money laundering charges, and were sentenced to 71 months and 68 months in prison, respectively. Danijel Glumac, 29, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to money laundering and to fencing the items the Finans stole – that is, buying and selling stolen property across state lines – and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
“Consumer fraud not only unjustly enriches the perpetrator, it causes all of us to pay higher retail prices,” said Minkler. “To those who seek to exploit the convenience of online shopping through fraud, remember this case. You will be caught. You will be prosecuted. And you will go to federal prison for a long time.”
Between 2014 and 2016, the Finans and Glumac stole and sold over 2,700 consumer electronics items such as GoPro digital cameras, Microsoft Xboxes, Samsung smartwatches, Microsoft Surface tablets, Apple Macbooks, and other consumer electronics. Their fraud exploited Amazon’s customer service policy by repeatedly falsely claiming that the electronics they ordered were damaged or not working, and then requesting and receiving replacements from Amazon at no charge. In total, the Finans stole, and Glumac sold, over $1.2 million in consumer electronics.
For the Finans, fraud had become a way of life. Their Amazon scheme was their “job.” It involved placing thousands of Amazon orders, creating hundreds of false identities, retrieving their stolen goods from retail shipping stores all over Indiana, and selling them to their fence, Glumac, on a near-daily basis. In just over two years, they made roughly $750,000 from their scheme.
Their nearly six-year sentences reflected their willingness to commit other frauds too. They bounced checks. They rented cars but never paid for them. They rented houses but never paid the rent. And they even committed another online fraud involving stealing high-end rental softball equipment and selling it on Facebook groups of parents of children who were serious about softball.
Glumac, for his part, pleaded guilty to buying the over 2,000 electronics items from the Finans and selling them to a buyer in New York. Glumac bought the items from the Finans in person, often in parking lots around Indianapolis, before marking up their prices and shipping them off to the New York buyer, who would then sell them to the public – often on Amazon. In total, after laundering the proceeds through bank accounts associated with a clothing business, Glumac made nearly $500,000 from the scheme.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Indiana State Police.
“IRS Criminal Investigation recognizes the damage caused to our economy when individuals like Erin and Leah Finan and Danijel Glumac defraud American corporations like Amazon,” said IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Gabriel Grchan. “The lengthy prison sentences handed down to each of these individuals show that there are devastating consequences to those who think they can make a living off of crime and defrauding others. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to using its resources to unravel complex financial transactions in order to protect corporations and consumers alike in Indiana.”
“Shopping online has changed the way we think of retail. Many of those purchases are shipped to consumers using the U.S. Mail,” said Inspector in Charge Patricia Armstrong, of the Detroit Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Glumac and the Finans found a way to commit fraud in the process. Postal Inspectors are proud to have partnered with fellow law enforcement to put an end to the illegal endeavors of these three criminals.”
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 partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.1)
Assistant United States Attorney Nick Linder, who prosecuted the case for the government, said that the three defendants were also ordered to pay full restitution of $1,218,504.
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Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona will receive 10 of the newly-created positions. “We are very grateful to be receiving such a dramatic infusion of prosecutorial and enforcement resources,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Strange. “Our office is dedicated to securing the border, combatting the violent crime that plagues our cities and tribal communities, and addressing the opioid crisis in Arizona. These additional attorneys will allow us to make even greater strides in these important areas to enhance the safety of our communities.”
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-074_ AUSAs
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
May 17, 2018 – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont Christina Nolan announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.
In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."
In the District of Vermont, which will receive three new AUSAs, one of these prosecutors will focus on violent crime, one on affirmative civil enforcement, and one on prosecuting immigration crimes. The allocation of an additional violent crime AUSA will permit the U.S. Attorney’s Office to place even greater emphasis on violent criminal conduct, such as homicides, arsons, robberies, and other criminality involving the use of firearms. In the civil enforcement arena, the additional AUSA position will allow federal prosecutors to bring powerful civil resources to bear on those who endeavor to obtain federal funds by fraudulent means. This increase in civil resources will also support Attorney General Sessions’ vision to combat the opiate epidemic in Vermont and across the country using the full range of criminal and civil enforcement tools against opioid over-prescribers and pill diverters. Finally, the addition of a position focused on immigration crime increases the District of Vermont’s capacity to protect the integrity of the northern border and prosecute those who enter or remain in the United States in violation of our nation’s immigration laws.
In response to the Attorney General’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Nolan noted: “We in Vermont are grateful to the Department for recognizing these areas of critical law enforcement need, and sending resources to our State so that we can address these needs efficiently and effectively. My office will make immediate use of this violent crime resource to target those whose criminal conduct strikes at the heart of Vermont’s safety and security. In addition, the allocation of a civil enforcement AUSA position is a clear call for us to continue to attack the opiate scourge in Vermont in a creative and comprehensive manner, with resort to all civil and criminal mechanisms at our disposal. As a state situated along the international border with Canada, Vermont prosecutors must combat unlawful border crossings and work to dismantle smuggling rings that import people and contraband into the country. The District of Vermont will use this criminal immigration AUSA position to do its part to ensure the security of our nation and preserve the integrity of our border and immigration laws.
To see more information on the locations of the 311 Assistant United States Attorney positions click here.
Friday 1 June 2018
Wounded Knee Man Found Guilty of Assaulting Another Man with a Golf ClubRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Virgil Left Hand, Sr., age 51, was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury following a federal trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Evidence at trial established Left Hand assaulted another man with a golf club at Wounded Knee on September 23, 2017. This assault resulted in the victim suffering a depressed skull fracture that required emergency surgery to repair.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted and tried the case.
A sentencing date was set for September 18, 2018. Left Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Woman Sentenced to More than Five Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Ice MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Corridor woman who was transporting ice methamphetamine from Marion to Cedar Rapids for her boyfriend, a federal felon, was sentenced May 31, 2018, to more than five years in federal prison.
Leea McGinnis, age 35, from the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area, received the prison term after a November 13, 2017, guilty plea to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In a plea agreement, McGinnis admitted that, on April 4, 2017, she was driving a car in Marion with a suspended driver’s license for having failed to pay child support. At the time police stopped her, McGinnis was transporting a stash of methamphetamine for her boyfriend, a federal felon with whom she was living in Marion. During a search of McGinnis’s car, officers found more than 25 grams of “ice” methamphetamine. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, nearly 140 grams of marijuana, and $1,088 in cash. Officers later found another 110 grams of ice methamphetamine in another one of McGinnis’s cars.
McGinnis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. McGinnis was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment and fined $2,000. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. McGinnis is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until being transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marion Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 17-CR-73-LRR and 17-MJ-301-CJW. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
West Chester University Student Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – A West Chester University student has been charged with transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. The defendant was arrested this morning
Ryan Davis, 21, of Thornbury, PA, formerly a resident of Glen Mills, was charged by indictment May 31 with transporting, receiving and possessing a collection of more than 600 images and videos of children being sexually assaulted and depicted in sexually explicit positions on various dates in 2016 and 2017. The indictment was unsealed today.
The charges arose out of an investigation into Davis’ online criminal activities involving his use of his Dropbox and other online accounts to sexually exploit children.
“Child exploitation is a horrendous crime, and we have to do everything in our power to stop it,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “That’s why these cases are a priority, as is ensuring that the offenders are held fully accountable.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years’ incarceration, which includes a 5-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and $750,000 in fines.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Washington Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Methamphetamine in AlaskaRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Zerisenay Gebregiorgis, 36, a Washington resident, was sentenced today in Juneau by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 121 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. Gebregiorgis was previously convicted in December 2017, following a five-day jury trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, between June 1, 2016, and Aug. 16, 2016, Gebregiorgis and others planned to distribute large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine in the communities of Ketchikan and Sitka. Gebregiorgis supplied drugs to drug couriers, who carried the drugs inside their bodies to other co-conspirators in Ketchikan and Sitka for subsequent distribution. Drug proceeds were then given to the couriers to be carried back to Seattle to be delivered to Gebregiorgis or deposited into bank accounts controlled by Gebregiorgis.
According to court documents, Gebregiorgis supplied at least one ounce of methamphetamine and at least 20 ounces of heroin during the course of the conspiracy. Gebregiorgis directed every aspect of the conspiracy, to include directing the amounts of drugs sent to Alaska, the couriers who carried the drugs, the travel for those couriers, and delivery of drug proceeds back to him via couriers and bank accounts deposits.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the members of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Taskforce (SEACAD), specifically the members from the Alaska State Troopers (AST), Ketchikan Police Department (KPD), and the Sitka Police Department (SPD) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt.
Two Plead Guilty in Connection with A Smuggling Attempt at the Peace BridgeRead 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 Viktoria Tanasiv, 21, of Canada, and Yevhen Lysak, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to neglecting to assist a customs officer before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J Roemer. Tanasiv was fined and released to immigration authorities, while Lysak was fined and released.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie O. Lamarque, who handled the case, stated that on June 1, 2018, at approximately 1:45 a.m., a vehicle, registered in the State of Pennsylvania and driven by Yevhen Lysak, arrived at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry seeking to enter the United States. Lysak stated that he was returning to his residence in Pennsylvania after visiting his girlfriend, a resident of Canada. During primary inspection, a Customs and Border Protection Officer conducted an inspection of the vehicle’s trunk in order to verify Lysak’s oral declaration. During the search, the officer discovered Viktoria Tanasiv in the trunk of the car.
The defendants were taken to secondary examination. Tanasiv was subsequently identified as a citizen of Ukraine, but a permanent resident of Canada. Lysak told officers that he and Tanasiv are in a personal relationship and that Tanasiv voluntarily got into the trunk of his vehicle so that she could spend the weekend with him in Pennsylvania. Tanasiv also told officers that she consensually entered into the trunk of Lysak’s vehicle so that she could spend the weekend with him.
The case is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Two Men Responsible for Five Waterloo Burglaries Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Two men who burglarized and stole from multiple Waterloo businesses were sentenced on May 30 and May 31, 2017, to several years in federal prison.
John Bennett, age 48, and Cody Laughlin, age 26, both from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison terms after November 2017 guilty pleas to credit union burglary and credit union larceny.
At his guilty plea, Laughlin admitted that on May 25, 2017, he and Bennett used a vehicle to ram the front doors of a Waterloo credit union. After breaching the doors, Laughlin entered the credit union and with Bennett’s assistance attempted to remove a cash recycling machine containing approximately $85,000. Bennett and Laughlin attached a tow hook to the machine and their vehicle, but the machine was too heavy to tow out. On May 27, 2017, Laughlin and Bennett went to a different credit union and used a forklift to take an ATM containing more than $57,000. At sentencing, both Bennett and Laughlin admitted to a total of five such burglaries involving multiple stolen vehicles. The two disposed of some of the stolen vehicles by dumping them in a nearby river. In one case, police officers found a stolen vehicle on fire. In total, Bennett and Laughlin caused over $217,000 of loss to ten separate victims.
Bennett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bennett was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $217,477.33 in restitution to all of the victims. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Laughlin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Laughlin was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $217,477.33 in restitution to all of the victims. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bennett and Laughlin are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-2062.
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