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21 June 2018
Spokane Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Freedom Woody, age 22, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty to on February 21, 2018 to production of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Woody to a 21-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 30-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Upon release from prison, Woody will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, investigators found Woody and a 13-year old girl from Oregon in a homeless camp near the Spokane River after the girl’s grandmother reported her missing. When interviewed by officers, Woody admitted having sex with her. A search of Woody’s phone revealed child pornography images of seven additional minor aged victims. Woody enticed the minors to engage in sexual activity with him, produced child pornography, and distributed several of the images.
United States Attorney Harrington said, “This case is a fine example of the great work that can be done when state and federal law enforcement work together. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute aggressively child exploitation crimes that occur in the Eastern District of Washington.”
This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. The Project Safe Childhood Initiative (“PSC”) has five major components:
• Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue children;
• Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
• Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
• Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and
• Community awareness and educational programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Spokane Child Exploitation Task Force in conjunction with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Alison L. Gregoire, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Solen, ND Man Sentenced to 19 years for Aggravated Sexual Assault by Use of ForceRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on June 11, 2018, Chief United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Clifford See Walker, age 27, Solen, ND, on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault by Use of Force. Judge Hovland sentenced See Walker to serve 19 years, 7 months in federal prison, with time served; 15 years supervised release; and $100 special Assessment.
On April 25, 2017, See Walker entered the victim’s residence in Ft. Yates, ND, made his way to the lower level of the residence where the victim was sleeping, and forcefully held her down while he sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to eventually escape and call police. See Walker ran from the residence and was later arrested by Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officers. Upon being interviewed, See Walker admitted that he entered the residence and sexually assaulted the victim. See Walker, who has numerous prior convictions involving burglaries and assaults, was released from prison just nine days prior to committing this crime.
This case was investigated by the following investigating agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the North Dakota Crime Lab.
Assistant United States Attorney Gary L. Delorme and Brandi Russell prosecuted the case.
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Sixth Defendant Convicted in Holland-Area Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Jimmie “Peanut” Butler pled guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base. Five of his co-defendants had previously pled guilty to federal charges stemming from the distribution of heroin in the Holland, Michigan area. The conspiracy, which trafficked heroin from Chicago into the Holland area and the Upper Peninsula is linked to numerous overdoses and at least one death.
“In the face of the opioid epidemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office aggressively pursues those who poison our communities with heroin,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “This outcome is the result of the cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which have jointly worked to investigate, charge and incarcerate those who take advantage of addicts for profit and spread heroin addiction.”
“The Butler investigation was a great example of the West Michigan Enforcement Team’s efforts to target the opioid epidemic in West Michigan,” said D/F/Lt. Andy Fias, WEMET Section Commander. “This investigation was also another great example of the cooperative efforts between federal, state and local agencies. That relationship is another reason these cases are successful.”
On August 15, 2017, a federal grand jury filed a superseding indictment against Jimmie Butler, Charles Oakley, Michael McKinley, Jimmy Moore, Corey Gross, and Monique Molina. The conspiracy spanned from as early as 2012 until July 2017, when the group was initially indicted. Michael McKinley was sentenced to 24 months’ incarceration. Corey Gross was sentenced to 46 months’ incarceration. Monique Molina was sentenced to 24 months’ incarceration. The remaining defendants have not yet been sentenced. Jimmy Moore faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Jimmie Butler and Charles Oakley face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years and up to life in prison.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Michigan State Police – West Michigan Enforcement Team, the Holland Department of Public Safety, and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sally Berens and Timothy VerHey prosecuted the case.
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Six Previously Deported Aliens Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that six previously deported aliens were indicted separately on June 20, 2018, by a federal grand jury for illegal re-entry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Jose Morales-Garcia, age 24, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in September 2010. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after September 2010, and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Erickson Perez-Molina, age 24, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in October 2014. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after October 2014, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Rudy Cardona-Aldana, age 26, of Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in July 2016. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after July 2016, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Juan Lopez-Munoz, age 44, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in February 2011, November 2013, and April 2014. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after April 2014, and was found in the United States in Columbia County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Jonathan Paredez-Perez, age 24, of Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States to Guatemala in April 2013 and January 2018. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after January 2018, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Eleazar Catalan-Martinez, age 23, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in May 2018. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2018, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Under federal law, Morales-Garcia, Perez-Molina, Cardona-Aldana, Lopez-Munoz, Paredez-Perez, and Catalan-Martinez all face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is prosecuting the cases.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Shelby Township Psychologist Charged with Billing for Unperformed Psychological TestsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging psychologist Paul L. Smith, PhD, 54, most recently practicing in Shelby Township, Michigan, with fraudulently billing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) for neuropsychological and psychological testing that was never performed, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today. In total, according to the indictment, BCBSM lost approximately $5,000,000 as a result of Smith’s false claims. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court tomorrow afternoon.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
The indictment alleges that from January 2015 to February of 2018, Smith submitted approximately 1,700 false claims for neuropsychological testing (CPT Code 96118) and 140 false claims for psychological testing (CPT Code 96101). As an example of excessive and unnecessary billing, the indictment alleges that Smith billed BCBSM for allegedly providing neuropsychological testing on 21 occasions for a single patient within a single year, each claim involving 24 hours of professional service. BCBSM paid Smith approximately $61,000 based upon false claims on behalf of that patient. In total, according to the indictment, BCBSM lost approximately $5,000,000 as a result of Smith’s false claims.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and HHS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Engstrom and Shankar Ramamurthy.
Rockford Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested Wednesday night on drug trafficking charges.
DEVONTE GORDON, 33, also known as "Slim," was indicted on June 19, 2018, and charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford between September and November 2017, as well as one count of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford on Oct. 4, 2017. Gordon was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston and pleaded not guilty. Gordon is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on June 28, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.
TERVARIE T. LOTTIE, 30, of Rockford, also known as "Varie," "V," and "Ferrari," was also charged in the indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine in Rockford between September and November 2017. Lottie was already in federal custody pending trial on other charges.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Celinez Nunez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff; and Dan O’Shea, Rockford Police Chief. The investigation was conducted by the FBI-led Rockford Area Violent Gang Task Force, which includes the above agencies as well as the Loves Park and Freeport Police Departments.
Each count in the indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release of at least four years and up to life, and a fine of up to $5 million. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.
Rochester Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing A GunRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Emmanuel Feaster, 22, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a loaded handgun, was sentenced to 60 months in jail by Chief Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean C. Eldridge and Charles E. Moynihan, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 27, 2015, Rochester Police Department officers, in the area of Jefferson Avenue, saw Feaster driving an all-terrain vehicle northbound on Jefferson Avenue, in the southbound lane. When officers attempted to stop the defendant, he drove the ATV onto the sidewalk and ran after being directed to produce his driver’s license. After a brief foot chase, Feaster fell to the ground and tried to get back up. The defendant struggled as officers tried to place him in handcuffs. During the struggle, Feaster threw a metal object under a vehicle parked nearby. Officers retrieved a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun, which was loaded with six rounds of ammunition, from under the vehicle. Analysis by the Monroe County Crime Laboratory determined that DNA found on the gun belonged to the defendant.
In November 2013, Feaster was convicted in Monroe County Court on a felony weapons offense and was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition.The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict.
Real Estate Attorney Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A real estate attorney was sentenced today in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Jasmin Polanco, 37, of Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 15 months in prison, three year of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,224,489 in restitution. In March 2018, Polanco pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Co-defendants Vanessa Ricci, 41, of Methuen, a mortgage loan officer, pleaded guilty in March 2018 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $963,730; Greisy Jimenez, 50, of Methuen, a real estate broker, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and is awaiting sentencing; Hyacinth Bellerose, 51, of Dunstable, a real estate closing attorney, was sentenced in March 2017 to time served and one year of supervised release to be served in home detention after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The charges arose out of a scheme to defraud various banks via bogus short sales of homes in Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen in which the purported sellers remained in their homes with their debt substantially reduced. A short sale is a sale of real estate for less than the value of any existing mortgage debt on the property. Short sales are an alternative to foreclosure that typically occur only with the consent of the mortgage lender. Generally, the lender absorbs a loss on the loan and releases the borrower from the unpaid balance. By their very nature, short sales are intended to be arms-length transactions in which the buyers and sellers are unrelated, and in which the sellers cede their control of the subject properties in exchange for the short-selling bank’s agreement to release them from their unpaid debt.
The conspiracy began in approximately August 2007 and continued through June 2010, a period that included the height of the financial crisis and its aftermath. Home values in Massachusetts and across the nation declined precipitously, and many homeowners found themselves suddenly “underwater” with homes worth less than the mortgage debt they owed. As part of the scheme, Polanco, Jimenez, Ricci, Bellerose and others submitted materially false and misleading documents to numerous banks in an effort to induce them to permit the short-sales, thereby releasing the purported sellers from their unpaid mortgage debts, while simultaneously inducing the purported buyers’ banks to provide financing for the deals. In fact, the purported sellers simply stayed in their homes, with their debt substantially reduced.
The conspirators falsely led banks to believe that the sales were arms-length transactions between unrelated parties; in fact, the buyers and sellers were frequently related, and the sellers retained control of (and frequently continued to live in) the properties after the sale. The conspirators also submitted phony earnings statements in support of loan applications that were submitted to banks in order to obtain new financing for the purported sales. In addition, the defendants submitted phony “HUD-1 Settlement Statements” to banks that did not accurately reflect the disbursement of funds in the transactions. (HUD-1 Settlement Statements are standard forms that are used to document the flow of funds in real estate transactions. They are required for all transactions involving federally related mortgage loans, including all mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.)
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; and Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Frank, Chief of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Victor A. Wild, also of the Economic Crimes Unit, prosecuted the cases.
Punta Gorda Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Hollie Darlene Dustin (60, Punta Gorda) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2018.
According to the
plea agreement , Dustin, a licensed real estate broker, owned Home Choice Real Estate (HCRE), a company that contracted with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) to manage and perform preservation services on various Fannie Mae foreclosed properties and potentially list those properties for sale. As part of a Master Listing Agreement with Fannie Mae, Dustin’s company was prohibited from using any vendors that she controlled or with which she had a conflict of interest to perform preservation services on Fannie Mae properties. Dustin fraudulently used ProPreserve, a company that she controlled, to perform preservation services on the properties without Fannie Mae’s knowledge or consent. Dustin submitted approximately 550 fraudulent ProPreserve invoices to Fannie Mae requesting approximately $146,280.46, which Fannie Mae paid to HCRE.Dustin also created inflated ProPreserve invoices for work already performed by other vendors, then submitted those false invoices to Fannie Mae for payment. Dustin used interstate wires to submit the fraudulent invoices to Fannie Mae.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.
Providence Man Detained for Allegedly Trafficking Cocaine Shipped from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man under investigation for more than a year for allegedly trafficking cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico has been ordered detained in federal custody after he allegedly accepted a package shipped from Puerto Rico containing approximately a kilogram of cocaine.
According to court documents, for more than a year, the United States Postal Inspection Service has been conducting an investigation of Eliot Figueroa-Rosario, 44, and his involvement in a series of packages shipped to and from Puerto Rico.
In May 2017 and May 2018, Figueroa-Rosario is allegedly captured on video surveillance shipping parcels to Puerto Rico from the U.S. Postal Service Providence Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC). A court-authorized search of the packages found them to contain $16,000 and $26,000 respectively. The cash was seized by law enforcement.
On June 15, 2018, a Priority Mail package mailed three days earlier from Puerto Rico and addressed to Figueroa-Rosario’s residence was observed in the mail stream at the P&DC. An examination of the package by a Rhode Island State Police K-9 trained to detect narcotics reacted in a positive manner, indicating the presence of a narcotic odor. A federal search warrant was obtained, and an inspection of the contents of the package by a U.S. Postal Inspection Service agent allegedly revealed 1160 grams of cocaine.
On June 18, 2018, an undercover Postal Inspection agent attempted to deliver the package. However, no one was home at Figueroa-Rosario’s residence. A redelivery request slip was left at the address. Later in the day, and again the next day, Figueroa-Rosario allegedly responded to the post office to collect the package. On Tuesday afternoon, a Postal Service Inspection undercover agent returned to Figueroa-Rosario’s residence to deliver the package. Figueroa-Rosario was arrested after allegedly accepting the package.
A short time after the package was delivered, U.S. Postal Inspectors and members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force executed a court-authorized search of the residence. Law enforcement allegedly seized, among other items, evidence of packages shipped from Puerto Rico to Figueroa-Rosario’s residence and $6,500 in cash hidden in a floor vent.
Figueroa-Rosario was charged and ordered detained in federal custody on a federal criminal complaint charging him with attempted possession with attempt to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Delaney Deleon-Colon, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender from Albuquerque Facing New Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Russell Young, 39, of Albuquerque, N.M., a prior sex offender who is serving a term of supervised release from a prior child pornography conviction, is facing new child pornography charges in a criminal complaint filed by the FBI in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M. Young made his initial appearance in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., on June 18, 2018, and this morning, a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Las Cruces found probable cause to support the charges in the criminal complaint. The Magistrate Judge also ordered Young detained pending trial based on findings that he poses a danger to the community.
The FBI arrested Young on June 15, 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with distribution and possession of child pornography in Dona Ana County, N.M. According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 13, 2011, Young was convicted of receiving child pornography, and was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment followed by ten years of supervised release. The complaint alleges that Young violated the terms of his supervised release in March 2017, Oct. 2017, and Nov. 2017, by unlawfully possessing cellular smartphones with internet access. The cellular smartphone seized from Young in Nov. 2017, allegedly contained multiple images of child pornography.
If convicted on the distribution charge, Young faces an enhanced penalty of a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years instead of the otherwise applicable five to 20 years because of his prior child pornography conviction. If convicted on the possession charge, Young faces an enhanced penalty of a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum of 20 years instead of the otherwise applicable ten year maximum penalty because of his prior child pornography conviction. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander B. Shapiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch office is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also is being prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 10 1/2 years in prison for felon in possession of a firearm, and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, approximately one month after receiving a federal probation sentence for conspiring to straw-purchase firearms, Andre Peoples, 22, and his wife, co-defendant Tashayla Cameron, who was also a convicted felon, began dealing crack cocaine from their home. Peoples conducted the transactions while armed and wearing his ankle monitor.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William B. Jackson and Andrew C. Bosse prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-8.
Previously Convicted Black Hat Search Engine Optimizer Sentenced for Retaliating Against His Former VictimRead the Press Release
DALLAS — William Laurence Stanley, 54, of Dallas, Texas, a self-proclaimed black hat search engine optimizer and reputation manager was sentenced June 12, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to serve 97 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $5,605,226 in restitution, following a five-day trial in April 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Stanley was previously sentenced in January 2016 to 37 months in federal prison for extorting money from a Dallas-based business (victim company) and ordered to pay $174,888 in restitution to the numerous victims of his extortive conduct in U.S. v. William Laurence Stanley, 3:14-CR-113-N.
According to evidence presented in the April 2017 trial, Stanley began planning his retaliation while serving his prison sentence on the extortion conviction. From September through sometime in October 2016, Stanley, knowingly and with the intent to retaliate against a person for providing law enforcement information about the commission of a federal offense, posted false or derogatory comments or reviews online about the victim company.
Between September 8, 2016 and October 10, 2016, Stanley posted derogatory online articles/blogs/complaints intended to portray the victim company in a negative light. Stanley posted the retaliatory data on Facebook.com, Glassdoor.com, ShaggyTexas.com, 800notes.com, callsreceived.com, Yelp.com, Blogspot.com, and Wordpress.com. Several of the articles/blogs/complaints had titles and photographs added to place the victim company in a negative light. Stanley also encouraged others to duplicate the negative content in as many places as possible.
Evidence during the trial established that a company’s reputation is based on the hard work, integrity, and dedication of more than hundreds of associates nationwide. The victim company repeatedly earned and received top honors and awards in its industry. Stanley’s retaliatory conduct caused extensive harm to its reputation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney C.S. Heath prosecuted.
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President and Vice President of South Florida Construction Company Charged with Defrauding Low-Income Housing Development ProgramRead the Press Release
President and vice president of South Florida construction company charged with defrauding low-income housing development program.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Nadine Gurley, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Juan J. Perez, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), and Mary T. Cagle, Inspector General, Miami Dade County Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement.
Javier Estepa, 47, of Davie, Florida and Diego Alejandro Estepa Vazquez, 36, of Boca Raton, Florida, were charged in a four-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The defendants are scheduled to have their initial appearance on June 25, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Patrick A. White. If convicted, the defendants face up to twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution, as to each charged count.
According to the indictment, between June 2014 and December 2016, Estepa and Estepa Vazquez engaged in a scheme to unlawfully enrich themselves by securing Miami-Dade Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) bid awards and causing payments on those contracts by making materially false and fraudulent representations and by concealing material facts.
President Estepa and Vice President Estepa Vazquez of Aaron Construction Group submitted bids to PHCD for specific renovation and repair of low-income housing in various locations throughout Miami-Dade County. It is alleged that, in their bids, Estepa and Estepa Vazquez falsely and fraudulently represented the number of workers to be employed on the projects, claimed subcontractors would not be utilized in connection with the contract, and asserted that Aaron Construction would obtain workers compensation insurance, in accordance with state laws. By falsely and fraudulently under reporting the number of workers on the projects, Aaron Construction was able to submit lower bids for the PHCD repair work. In order to obtain payment from PHCD, Estepa and Diego Estepa Vazquez submitted Periodic or Final Estimates for Payment and supporting documents that allegedly contained false and fraudulent payroll records, falsely characterized subcontractors and subcontractor employees as employees of Aaron Construction, and included sworn statements of compliance that falsely and fraudulently certified that the information submitted was true and correct. As a result of these false and fraudulent submissions, PHCD transferred funds to bank accounts controlled by Estepa and Estepa Vazquez.
An indictment is a charging instrument containing accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the DOL-OIG, HUD-OIG, MDPD’s Public Corruption Unit and the Miami Dade County Office of the Inspector General in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein.
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.
Philadelphia Man Indicted on Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Salim Davis, 33, of Philadelphia, was charged today by indictment with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the indictment, on December 29, 2017, Davis was in possession of a Smith & Wesson, Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol, loaded with 10 live rounds of ammunition, as well as Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. The indictment alleges that the defendant possessed the Alprazolam, also known as Xanax, with the intent to distribute it, and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum term of life imprisonment in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release, a $750,000 fine, forfeiture, and a $300 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine E. Driscoll.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Defrauding Lending Company of More Than $400,000Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The president of a staffing company was arrested this morning for allegedly used phony invoices and time cards to defraud a commercial finance lending company of $400,000, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jeremy Hare, 47, of Philadelphia, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
Hare was the president and managing member of Apollo Search Partners LLC, a staffing agency with an office in New Jersey. The victim company was a commercial finance lender that offers funding to companies in order to meet payroll and other obligations.
On June 16, 2017, Hare had Apollo enter into a financing agreement with the victim company. In order to get funding, Apollo would provide the Victim Company invoices and supporting time cards for each person Apollo staffed with a client. Approved clients were supposed to submit payment to the victim company.
However, between June 20, 2017 and Aug. 15, 2017, Hare submitted more than 15 invoices to the victim company even though Apollo never staffed most of the individuals listed on the invoices and the time sheets submitted with the invoices included hours that were never worked.
In response to the invoices, the victim company provided funding of approximately $400,000 to Apollo between June and August 2017. To date, the victim company has not received reimbursement for the money it funded Apollo in response to the phony invoices.
The wire fraud charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. He also thanked special agents of the FBI in Philadelphia for their assistance in this case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
Pasco County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Dog Fighting ChargeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Tyler C. McGovern (32, Pasco County) has pleaded guilty to one felony dogfighting count, in violation of the animal fighting provisions of the federal Animal Welfare Act. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the
plea agreement, McGovern participated with others in a dog fighting conspiracy. In 2015 and 2016, he and his co-conspirators, operating as Triangle Gang, sponsored pit bulls in dog fights in Duval, Sumter, and Marion counties. On March 1, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant in Sumter County at a property belonging to a Triangle Gang member and seized eight pit bulls, along with equipment and supplements used to condition the dogs for fighting.
The federal Animal Welfare Act makes it a felony to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any animal, including dogs, for purposes of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture. Under federal law, an animal fighting venture means “any event, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least two animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Pakistani Citizen Sentenced for Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
HELENA – Mohammad Asif Waziri, a 47-year-old Pakistani citizen, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to interstate stalking on April 4, 2018. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell handed down the sentence. The defendant was also ordered to pay $900.00 in restitution.
Waziri stalked four victims in Oregon between June and September 2017 by engaging in a pattern harassing phone calls and voicemails, Facebook Messenger messages, and packages. Waziri did this despite being served with a no-contact order and being warned by law enforcement not to continue his harassment of the victims.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oregon State Police.
PTS Prisoner Transport Officer Indicted for Sexually Assaulting Inmate and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
James Baldinger, 51, of Minnesota, and a transport officer with the Prisoner Transportation Services of America (PTS), appeared in federal court today in Duluth, Minnesota, after a federal grand jury sitting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, indicted him on charges related to his sexual assaults of a female in his custody, and using his firearm in furtherance of those assaults.
Counts One and Two of the indictment charge Baldinger with committing civil rights offenses that resulted in bodily injury, including aggravated sexual abuse and the use of a deadly weapon. Count Three charges Baldinger with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of these crimes of violence.
Baldinger faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the crimes charged, and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for possession of the firearm.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and Baldinger is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI in cooperation with the New Mexico State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shaheen Torgoley of the District of New Mexico, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
PTS Prisoner Transport Officer Indicted for Sexually Assaulting Inmate and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – James Baldinger, 51, of Minnesota, and a transport officer with the Prisoner Transportation Services of America (PTS), appeared in federal court today in Duluth, Minn., after a federal grand jury sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., indicted him on charges related to his sexual assaults of a female in his custody, and using his firearm in furtherance of those assaults. Counts One and Two of the indictment charge Baldinger with committing civil rights offenses that resulted in bodily injury, including aggravated sexual abuse and the use of a deadly weapon. Count Three charges Baldinger with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of these crimes of violence.
Baldinger faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the crimes charged, and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for possession of the firearm.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and Baldinger is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI in cooperation with the New Mexico State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaheen Torgoley of the District of New Mexico, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Oklahoma City Pair Charged with Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged GERMAINE COULTER, SR., 45, and ELIZABETH ANDRADE, 35, both of Oklahoma City, with child sex trafficking and conspiracy to sex traffic a child, announced Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
On June 20, 2018, the grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Coulter, a/k/a "Slim," and Andrade, a/k/a "Beth," "Bobbi Monroe," "Tiffany," and "Porsche." Count One charges both Coulter and Andrade with conspiracy to sex traffic a child. Count Two charges Coulter with the substantive offense of child sex trafficking, and Count Three charges Andrade with the same offense.
According to the indictment, in January and February 2018, Coulter and Andrade recruited a female under the age of 18, referred to in the indictment as Jane Doe, to perform commercial sex work for Coulter. Coulter allegedly told her she needed to make $1,000.00 per day, all of which would go to him, and he would buy her a car, get her an apartment, and get her business cards after she turned 18, if she was successful. He directed Jane Doe to call him "Daddy," according to the indictment. Coulter and Andrade are alleged to have sent photos of Jane Doe to prospective customers, and Andrade allegedly began taking Doe with her on commercial sex appointments, where Jane Doe performed sex acts for money. The indictment further alleges that between January 27, 2018, and February 19, 2018, Coulter and Andrade trained and directed Doe how to interact and perform sex acts with customers and how to convince her mother to let her stay with them. Coulter is also alleged to have communicated with Doe’s mother to get permission for Doe to stay with them and to travel to Kansas.
If convicted on Count One, Coulter and Andrade face up to life imprisonment. If convicted on Count Two or Three, Coulter and Andrade will face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years, with the possibility of up to life in prison. If convicted on any count, Coulter or Andrade would also face supervised release after incarceration of at least five years and up to life, in addition to fines of up to $250,000 per count, mandatory restitution, and $5,100 special assessments per count.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. McKenzie Anderson and Jessica Perry are prosecuting the case.
The public is reminded these charges are merely accusations and that Coulter and Andrade are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Nigerian Leader of Nationwide Identity Theft and IRS Tax Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore. – On Wednesday, June 20, 2018, Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, 35, of Bowie, Maryland and Nigeria, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leading a vast conspiracy to steal identities and file fraudulent tax returns. He was ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution and will be subject to deportation when released from prison.
“Emmanuel Kazeem orchestrated one of the largest tax fraud schemes in our nation’s history. The complexity of this case and the incredible effort by law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice cannot be understated,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I want to remind everyone that this case began when vigilant Oregonians notified the IRS when fraudulently tax returns were filed in their names. It only takes one tip to make a difference and bring down a complex criminal organization.”
“IRS-CI vigorously investigates criminals who band together to take advantage of our tax system. Today’s sentencing of Emmanuel Kazeem sends a strong message to those who seek to rob U.S. citizens of their hard earned tax dollars,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Brian Payne.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in May 2013, a victim in Medford, Oregon notified the IRS that false federal and Oregon state tax returns were filed electronically using her and her husband’s personal identifying information (PII) including social security numbers and dates of birth.
An IRS investigation led to search warrants of residences in Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia and to numerous email and instant messenger accounts used by Kazeem and other co-conspirators. At a Chicago residence, agents seized approximately 150 prepaid debit cards and $50,000 in money orders. In Maryland and Georgia, agents seized more than 50 electronic devices, 40 money orders in amounts exceeding $29,000, $14,000 in cash and numerous prepaid debit cards containing over $12,000 in fraudulent tax refunds. The search warrants helped agents identify Kazeem as the leader and mastermind of the scheme.
The scheme resulted in the conspirators possessing stolen PII of more than 259,000 victims. Kazeem purchased more than 91,000 identities from a Vietnamese hacker that originated from an Oregon company’s private database. The company provided pre-employment and volunteer background checks for thousands of clients. Kazeem divided the identities into batches and shared them with other co-conspirators. They were in turn used to file fraudulent tax returns between 2012 and 2015.
In carrying out the scheme, Kazeem trained and directed his co-conspirators including his younger brother, Michael Oluwasegun Kazeem, to use stolen PII to obtain thousands of electronic filing PINs to bypass IRS authentication procedures. They acquired over 19,500 E-File PINS during the course of the conspiracy. Kazeem also used taxpayers’ PII to gain unauthorized access into many taxpayers’ IRS transcripts, which contain sensitive personal financial information. Conspirators also used pre-paid debit cards with the victims’ stolen identities to receive direct electronic tax refund deposits from the IRS.
In total, Kazeem was linked to 10,139 fraudulent federal tax returns attempting to get over $91 million dollars in refunds and successfully receiving over $11.6 million dollars. Refunds were withdrawn from the debit cards and at least 2,000 wire transfers totaling over $2.1 million dollars were sent to Nigeria. Over 700 of those wire transfers, totaling more than $690,000, were directly linked to Kazeem.
Kazeem used the conspiracy windfall to place a nearly $200,000 down payment on a newly constructed house and to purchase a $175,000 townhouse, both in Maryland. His average monthly credit card payment during 2012 to 2015 was over $8,300. Kazeem also attempted to use his ill-gotten funds to develop a $6 million dollar, 4-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.
In May 2015, Kazeem transferred the townhouse to his sister in Nigeria for $10 and included her on the deed to his Maryland residence, also for $10. He was arrested one day later.
IRS agents determined Kazeem had no verifiable sources of income between 2012 and 2015. In order to disguise the source of the fraudulent refunds, he listed sources of income from bogus employers in reports to both the IRS and immigration authorities. After entering the United States on a student visa from Nigeria, Kazeem engaged in marriage fraud to evade immigration laws. In April 2014, while leading the tax fraud scheme, he filed for naturalization under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Based on the false information provided to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, he was approved. The same year he personally participated in filing over 1,445 fraudulent federal tax returns and received over $3,385,000 from returns paid out by the IRS.
Kazeem was convicted by a federal jury on 19 counts, including mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in Medford on August 4, 2017. Five other co-conspirators, Oluwaseunara Osanyinbi, Oluwatobi Dehinbo, Lateef Animawun, Oluwamuyiwa Olawoye and Michael Kazeem, previously received federal prison sentences for their roles in the same conspiracy.
This case results from a joint investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations with support provided by the Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. State Department, and the Oregon Department of Revenue Policy and Systems Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Byron Chatfield and Gavin Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Newly Unsealed Federal Indictment Charges Iranian Businessman with Illegally Exporting Nuclear Nonproliferation-Controlled Materials from IllinoisRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An Iranian businessman schemed with the owner of a European company to illegally export nuclear nonproliferation-controlled materials to Iran from Illinois, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment.
SAEED VALADBAIGI, also known as “Saeed Valad” and “Saeed Baigi,” plotted in 2011 to illegally export U.S.-origin 7075 T6 Aluminum tubing from Illinois to Iran by way of Belgium and Malaysia, the indictment states. The size and type of the aluminum was used in the missile and aerospace industry and was subject to U.S. regulations for nuclear nonproliferation purposes, the indictment states. Valadbaigi’s smuggling plan was part of an effort to evade U.S. laws and export-control regulations, according to the charges.
The eight-count indictment was returned in 2016 in U.S. District Court in Chicago and ordered unsealed Wednesday. It charges Valadbaigi with three counts of wire fraud, two counts of attempting to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of illegally exporting articles from the United States, and one count of making false statements on a U.S. export form.
Valadbaigi, 56, of Iran, is considered a fugitive. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2016 and remains outstanding.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and Dan Clutch, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, Chicago Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajnath Laud.
In addition to the 7075 Aluminum tubing, the newly unsealed indictment accuses Valadbaigi of illegally exporting titanium sheets from a company in northern Illinois, to Iran, by way of the Republic of Georgia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. At the time of that deal in 2009, Valadbaigi controlled various companies in all three of those countries, the indictment states. The charges further allege that Valadbaigi in 2012 ordered acrylic sheets from a company in Connecticut, and falsely claimed that the sheets would be used only in Hong Kong. He later allegedly arranged for the acrylic sheets to be transshipped to Iran.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud and attempting to violate the IEEPA carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The illegal export charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, while the conspiracy and false statement counts are each punishable by up to five years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The charges against Valadbaigi are part of an investigation that previously resulted in the conviction of NICHOLAS KAIGA, who managed and later owned the Belgium company that did business with Valadbaigi. Kaiga admitted in a plea agreement that he knew the 7075 Aluminum was subject to U.S. export controls and that it could not be exported to Malaysia without a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce, which neither he nor Valadbaigi possessed. Kaiga admitted that he nonetheless used his company, Industrial Metals and Commodities, as an intermediary to export the 7075 Aluminum tubing from a company in northern Illinois, to Belgium and then to Malaysia, on behalf of Valadbaigi. Kaiga pleaded guilty to violating U.S. export-control regulations and was sentenced in 2015 to two years and three months in a U.S. prison.
New Port Richey Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced Brian Scott Ellis (50, New Port Richey) to 12 years in federal prison for possessing and attempting to produce child pornography. He pleaded guilty on February 28, 2018.
According to court documents, Ellis had amassed a collection of thousands of child pornography images and videos. He distributed child pornography as part of internet “send-to-get” groups, and attempted to film explicit videos of an unrelated child.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 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.
New Jersey Man Charged in ‘Bait-and-Switch’ Scheme with Canadian CoinsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that James Franklin Hill, 55, of South Orange, New Jersey, was charged today by indictment with one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme that involved a classic “bait-and-switch” scam with a set of 24 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins.
According to the indictment, Hill allegedly responded to Craigslist advertisements posted by coin dealers and collectors located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, and California. The indictment alleges that Hill presented the coin dealers and collectors with the opportunity to purchase a set of 24 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins at prices ranging from $19,000 to $30,000. Hill allegedly showed a genuine set of coins to the purchasers, and then switched the genuine set of coins with a fake set before the transactions were concluded. In November 2016, Hill allegedly sent text and electronic messages to a purchaser in Oxford, Pennsylvania before selling the fraudulent coins to the purchaser. The indictment alleges that between 2010 and 2017, Hill allegedly defrauded his coin purchasers of more than $250,000.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oxford Borough (Pennsylvania) Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, and California. Based on the evidence, authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newtown Square, PA at (610) 353-4500. Callers may remain anonymous.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
Mozambique National Sentenced for Visa Fraud in East TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A 37-year-old Mozambique national residing in the Dallas area has been sentenced to prison for federal immigration violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Nelia Angelina Mulembwe pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, 2018 to fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents and was sentenced to six months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on June 20, 2018.
According to information presented in court, in June 2017, law enforcement officers received a tip that a Mozambique national was being held captive in a Collin County apartment. An investigation revealed that the victim had worked for Mulembwe as a nanny and housekeeper in Mozambique. In 2015, Mulembwe applied for a visa for the victim to accompany her and her children to the United States. Mulembwe falsely represented that the victim was a student and would be coming to the United States for a month-long visit. However, after arriving in the United States in October 2015, the victim stayed in Mulembwe’s apartment where she slept on a mattress on the floor in the children’s room and worked constantly with no time off until she was rescued by federal agents in June 2017. During this time, the victim’s family in Mozambique was paid the equivalent of approximately $70 a month, but the victim received no compensation for her services. Mulembwe was also ordered to pay restitution of $108,699.25 to her victim, which represents fair wages the victim should have received.
“Labor trafficking is modern day slavery,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “Cases involving trafficking of people for the sex trade seem to get more attention, but these types of cases, where people are forced to work for little or no pay, are becoming more common. The cases involve the denial of basic human rights, and the type of people who are victims are particularly vulnerable. Federal law enforcement will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases, and we hope that the public will report situations like this when anyone becomes aware of them.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
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Morgantown woman admits to heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lori Murphy, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to heroin trafficking, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Murphy, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1000 feet of Protected Location.” Murphy admitted to distributing heroin near North Elementary School in April of 2017 in Monongalia County.
Murphy faces up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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 Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Missoula Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Terrance Tyrell Edwards was sentenced to 360 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a $1,000 special assessment. Edwards was also ordered to pay $3,370 in restitution to one of his victims. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the hearing.
A jury convicted Edwards in February of three counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion; three counts of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Prostitution; one count of Obstruction of a Sex Trafficking Investigation; one count of Transportation of a Person with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; one count of Distribution of Marijuana to Person Under 21 Years of Age; and one count of Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant. The jury also convicted co-defendant Francine “Joanna” Granados of one count of Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant.
Beginning in March of 2016, shortly after he was released from prison on prostitution charges, Edwards began forcing his first female victim in this case to engage in commercial sex in Missoula, Montana. Edwards physically and emotionally abused her and threatened her life and the lives of her family members. Shortly after this victim escaped, Edwards transported another victim from Missoula to Billings and forced her to work in commercial sex. Edwards sexually assaulted her and threatened her with violence if she ever spoke about what they had done in Billings. In September of 2016, Edwards forced a third victim to engage in commercial sex in Missoula. Edwards transported this victim throughout the state of Montana and to Utah, where he forced her to walk the street for commercial sex customers. Edwards physically assaulted her, emotionally abused her, and threatened her and her child. Edwards kept all of the money from the commercial sex encounters.
Also in September of 2016, Edwards transported three minor girls from North Dakota to Montana to work in commercial sex. On their way to Billings, Edwards supplied them with marijuana. Edwards was arrested in Billings shortly after arriving with the girls.
Immediately after Edwards was arrested, he and co-defendant Granados began trying to influence the testimony of various victims. In recorded jail calls, Edwards and Granados discussed how Granados would reach out to one of the minor victim’s family members and how Granados had used a relative’s Facebook account to communicate directly with that minor victim. Edwards himself contacted a different minor victim in an attempt to prevent her from cooperating with law enforcement. Despite warnings from the FBI that she was witness tampering, Granados, at Edwards’s direction, also sent multiple Facebook messages to one of Edwards’s sex trafficking victims attempting to coerce her to recant her statements to law enforcement. In its sentencing memorandum filed with the Court, the United States Attorney’s Office noted Edwards’s extensive criminal history, including a prior conviction for promotion of prostitution, and seriousness of the offenses for which he was convicted here.
Also today Granados was sentenced to 24 months, 3 supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. As noted above, she assisted Edwards in attempting to tamper with multiple witnesses in connection with the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Cyndee Peterson and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations, the Missoula Police Department, and the Billings Police Department.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering the U.S. After RemovalRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Fausto Rivera-Rivera, 37, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to illegally entering the United States after being removed or deported.
According to court records, Rivera-Rivera unlawfully entered the United States, was ordered removed to Mexico in 2013, and left. He did not apply for permission to reenter the United States. On April 27, 2018, he was arrested in Clinton, Maine, after a Clinton Police officer stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger. He admitted to U.S. Border Patrol that he reentered the United States in Arizona in 2015 without being inspected and without legal authority.
Rivera-Rivera faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. Upon completion of any sentenced imposed, he faces deportation to Mexico.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Clinton Police Department.
Mesquite, Texas Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DALLAS— Manuel Medina-Valdes, 25, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced Friday, June 15, 2018, by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn to 240 months in federal prison for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Medina-Valdes has been in custody since his arrest in December 2016. He pleaded guilty in June 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the case, on December 13, 2016, Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed a federal search warrant at Medina-Valdes’s residence in Mesquite, Texas. Agents seized two sets of keys on a nightstand, numerous detailed drug ledgers, and an air respirator mask. The keys seized from Medina-Valdes’s residence unlocked the home’s front door and a guest room’s closet door. After unlocking the closet door, agents found approximately seven kilograms of methamphetamine, miscellaneous methamphetamine lab re-crystallization equipment, drug packaging, approximately $15,000, five handguns and ammunition. Additionally, agents located a Mexican passport for Medina-Valdes and multiple Home Depot and Walmart receipts for acetone, propane, and plastic containers, which are used recrystallizing methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with assistance from the Rockwall Police Department, Garland Police Department, and Allen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanna Etessam was in charge of the prosecution.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Michael McCann, age 31, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, and formerly of Ilion, New York, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Janelle M. Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, McCann admitted to taking and distributing a photograph of himself engaged in sexual conduct with a 3-year old child, as well as possessing videos and still images depicting child pornography.
McCann, who is held without bail, will be sentenced on October 22, 2018 and faces up to fifty (50) years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least five (5) years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, a federal task force that investigates cases involving the sexual exploitation of children. The task force consists of FBI Agents and New York State Police Investigators. This investigation was conducted with the assistance of the FBI Little Rock, Arkansas Field Office, the FBI Lowell, Massachusetts Resident Agency, the Herkimer County District Attorney’s Office, the Herkimer County Child Advocacy Center, Herkimer County Child Protective Services, the Village of Ilion, NY Police Department and the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina H. Schoenberger.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
MS-13 Member Convicted for Gang Murders of Two TeenagersRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Following a multi-week trial in federal court in Boston, an MS-13 member was found guilty today of racketeering conspiracy involving murder. This is the government’s 49th conviction in the case. Defendant is 16th person found responsible for murder. Of the 16 individuals held accountable for murder, 15 were in the United States illegally.
Edwin Gonzalez, a/k/a “Sangriento,” 22, a Salvadoran national, was found guilty of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. In addition, the jury found that Gonzalez’s racketeering activity on behalf of MS-13 included his participation in the Sept. 7, 2015, murder of a 15-year-old in East Boston and the Jan. 10, 2016, murder of a 16-year old in East Boston. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Sept. 26, 2018.
After a multi-year investigation, Gonzalez was one of dozens of leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts. According to court documents, MS-13 members in Massachusetts engaged in a variety of racketeering acts and crimes of violence, including six different murders committed by members of MS-13 in Massachusetts between October 2014 and January 2016.
Gonzalez was the 49th defendant to be convicted as part of this case. All nine defendants who went to trial were convicted and 40 others pleaded guilty. Of the 16 defendants held responsible for murder, 15 defendants, including Gonzalez, were in the United States illegally at the time the murders were committed. The conviction of Gonzalez brings to end this series of prosecutions; the remaining defendants are fugitives and will be prosecuted upon arrest.
The multi-year investigation revealed that multiple MS-13 cliques operate in East Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, and other parts of Massachusetts. Gonzalez was a member of the Molinos Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13.
On Sept. 7, 2015, Gonzalez and three other MS-13 members lured a 15-year-old boy through social media to Constitution Beach in East Boston. Convinced that the victim was a gang rival, Gonzalez and others targeted him by pretending to be a girl on Facebook and lured the victim to the beach for a date. When the victim arrived at Constitution Beach, Gonzalez and three other MS-13 members took turns stabbing the victim repeatedly, killing him and leaving him dead on a public beach. The victim had approximately 33 sharp force injuries and multiple blunt force injuries. The other three MS-13 members who committed this murder with Gonzalez – Carlos Melara, a/k/a “Chuchito,” a/k/a “Criminal;” Henry Parada Martinez, a/k/a “Street Danger;” and Rene Mejia Flores a/k/a “Gasper,” – have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
On Dec. 6, 2015, Gonzalez was promoted to “homeboy,” or full-member of the gang, to reward him for the murder he committed on behalf of MS-13. Melara and Mejia Flores were also promoted to “homeboys” for their role in the murder.
On Jan.10, 2016, Gonzalez and three other MS-13 members lured a 16-year-old boy through social media to Falcon Street in East Boston. Again, convinced that the victim was a gang rival, Gonzalez and others targeted him by pretending to be a girl on Facebook. Gonzalez then went to pick up the victim, pretending to be a relative of the girl that the victim was supposed to meet for a date. When Gonzalez arrived with the victim in East Boston, the MS-13 members attacked the victim. Three of the MS-13 members, including Gonzalez, were armed with large knives and stabbed the victim repeatedly, while the fourth MS-13 member fired multiple gunshots into the victim. Gonzalez and the other MS-13 members then ran away, leaving the teenager dead on a public street. The victim had approximately 48 sharp force injuries, multiple gunshot wounds, and multiple blunt force injuries. The other three MS-13 members who committed this murder with Gonzalez – Edwin Diaz, a/k/a “Demente;” Jairo Perez, a/k/a “Seco;” and Rigoberto Mejia, a/k/a “Ninja” – have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; Somerville Police Chief David Fallon; and Wes Adams, State’s Attorney, Anne Arundel County (Maryland), Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, made the announcement today.
Los Angeles Men Sentenced to 20 & 25 Years for Running Nationwide Synthetic Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Andrew Raymond, age 39, and Brian Requena, age 41, both of Los Angeles, California, were sentenced yesterday following their convictions after trial for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute synthetic drugs and money laundering, relating to their operation of a major nationwide synthetic drug trafficking ring, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Special Agent in Charge James D. Robnett, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.
Raymond was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison and Brian Requena was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. Both men were convicted following an 11-day jury trial in Syracuse in July 2017. Upon their release from prison, Raymond and Requena will each serve a 3-year term of supervised release. As a further part of the sentence, Raymond and Requena forfeited multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2013 Rolls Royce Ghost, a 2014 BMW, and a 2015 Cadillac Escalade; 32 pieces of jewelry, including 10 Rolex watches, a Cartier watch, diamond earrings, diamond necklaces, and diamond rings; and funds seized from 16 bank accounts. Additionally, the court ordered a money judgment of $3 million against Raymond and a $1.5 million money judgment against Requena. Three other members of the conspiracy previously pled guilty to similar charges.
“The significant sentences imposed in this case reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes –- leading an illegal business manufacturing and distributing large quantities of dangerous synthetic cannabinoids nationwide and laundering the drug proceeds,” said United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith. “Thanks to the dedication of federal law enforcement, the profits of their poison peddling have been forfeited and prison substituted for their luxury. We will continue to investigate and prosecute drug traffickers who masquerade as legitimate businessmen.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated, “Andrew Raymond and Brian Requena were not legitimate businessmen, they were drug kingpins earning millions off the sale of poison. They capitalized on distributing synthetic cannabinoids - a deadly psychoactive substance - in Northern New York and throughout the United States. I commend the Northern District of New York for their diligent work on this investigation and their unwavering commitment to prosecuting those who violate the Controlled Substance Act.”
“We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners and will use our financial expertise to dismantle criminal organizations that victimize the American public. These two individuals made enormous profits and acquired significant assets as a result of their criminal activity. Yesterday’s sentences demonstrate the high price they will pay for engaging in such criminal activity,” stated Special Agent in Charge James D. Robnett, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.
The trial evidence established that Raymond and Requena conspired to manufacture and distribute synthetic cannabinoids (also known as “Spice,” “Spike,” “K2,” or “synthetic marijuana”) throughout the country, including to multiple “head shops” in the Northern District of New York. Documents found at the defendants’ warehouses in Los Angeles and in their computers showed that they understood their synthetic substances were controlled by federal drug laws. The defendants took significant steps to evade detection by law enforcement, setting up shell companies and using Post Office boxes to divert attention from the warehouse where they manufactured their product. Additionally, the defendants transferred their company (Real Feel Products, Inc.) and all of its bank accounts from Andrew Raymond’s name to Brian Requena’s after DEA and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant on their warehouse in February 2014.
At the height of their drug trafficking conspiracy, Raymond and Requena were each making approximately $100,000 per week in profit, and they had a large team of employees who manufactured, shipped, and sold their products. The evidence at trial also showed that the defendants conspired to commit money laundering by wiring millions of dollars to China to purchase the powder form of the synthetic cannabinoid that they used in their finished product.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Freedman and Michael F. Perry.
Livingston Regional Hospital, LLC Agrees to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Livingston Regional Hospital, LLC, a LifePoint Health Inc. company, has agreed to pay $784,000 to settle allegations that Livingston Regional Hospital violated the False Claims Act, announced United States Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The settlement resolves allegations that between July 9, 2015 and October 31, 2015, Livingston Regional Hospital violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing Medicare Part A for inpatient psychiatric care that was not medically necessary.
The allegations resolved by today’s settlement were originally raised in a lawsuit filed against Livingston Regional Hospital by two former employees who brought their claims under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens with knowledge of false claims to bring civil suits on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The whistleblowers will receive $156,800 as their share of the settlement.
This matter was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah K. Bogni. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This case is docketed as United States ex rel. Dorothy Griffin and Teresa Long v. Livingston Regional Hospital, LLC and LifePoint Health, Inc., Civil Action No. 2:16-cv-00095 (M.D. Tenn.).
Life Sentence Imposed on Leaders of Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that, ANTOINE DEWAYNE MYLES a/k/a “Twan”, 42, of Dunn, North Carolina, LEMONT JERRONE WEBB, 44, of Godwin, North Carolina, and HARRY MYLES, SR., 63, also of Dunn, were sentenced by United States District Judge Terrance W. Boyle. ANTOINE DEWAYNE MYLES was sentenced to life imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release, WEBB was also sentenced to life imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release and HARRY MYLES, SR. was sentenced to 64 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
WEBB and HARRY MYLES, SR. were convicted following a four-day trial on January 20, 2018. WEBB was convicted of drug conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack), and several money laundering offenses. HARRY MYLES, SR. was found guilty of money laundering offenses. ANTOINE DEWAYNE MYLES was convicted on March 8, 2018, after a three-day trial, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the Intent to Distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack), and money laundering conspiracy.
The evidence at trial showed that from 2011 until their arrest on June 5, 2015, ANTOINE DEWAYNE MYLES and his brother LEMONT WEBB, were leaders in a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) responsible for the distribution of kilogram quantities of crack cocaine in Godwin, North Carolina. The evidence showed that ANTOINE MYLES and WEBB hired other people to work shifts selling crack cocaine from a trailer in Godwin, NC, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. In October 2014, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office obtained an injunction against the trailer used to distribute the crack cocaine, but MYLES and WEBB continued their operation, selling crack cocaine from a Winnebago across the street from the original trailer.
The evidence at trial established that HARRY MYLES, SR., the father of LEMONT WEBB and ANTOINE MYLES, played an integral role in the operation of the DTO by allowing multiple properties used to store and distribute crack cocaine, to be placed in his name in order to conceal the true source of the illegal funds used to purchase the properties, and to frustrate law enforcement’s efforts to seize the properties. Additionally, the trial evidence established that HARRY MYLES, SR. and LEMONT WEBB purchased tow trucks and started a towing business which was utilized to launder illegal drug proceeds. Moreover, ANTOINE MYLES and LEMONT WEBB both purchased multiple vehicles with illegal drug proceeds and titled the vehicles in the names of other persons to frustrate any efforts by law enforcement to seize and forfeit the vehicles.
At sentencing, LEMONT WEBB was found responsible for the distribution of over 125 kilograms of cocaine base (crack) over the life of the drug conspiracy and ANTOINE MYLES was found responsible for the distribution of over 40 kilograms of cocaine base (crack) during his involvement in the drug conspiracy. HARRY MYLES, SR. was found to have been involved in the laundering of over $175,000 in illegal drug proceeds.
Additionally, 15 other defendants have been convicted of various drug and money laundering charges arising from this investigation.
Mr. Higdon commented: “Antoine Myles, his father Harry Myles, and Lemont Webb have finally been brought to justice. For years they have victimized the small community of Godwin and turned it into a virtual open-air drug market. Collectively they distributed nearly 300 pounds of cocaine. As law enforcement tried to stop them, they thumbed their noses, adjusted their operation and carried on. Today, that stops! The sentences handed down in these cases are clear warnings to drug traffickers that we are Taking Back North Carolina from the drug dealers and violent criminals. And removing these defendants from Godwin, North Carolina is a great start.”
"Today, Justice is served and not only are criminals going to jail for their crimes, but the government has seized a significant portion of the illegal proceeds through asset forfeiture. The role of IRS-CI in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. One of the government's most powerful weapons is the ability to seize through asset forfeiture the assets associated with narcotics-related crime,” said Matthew D. Line, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. “IRS-CI is proud to provide its financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice."
Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said, “He would like to thank the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and our Federal Law Enforcement partners for dismantling this Drug Trafficking Organization that was a blight on our community. The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office looks forward to continuing to partner with our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat drug traffickers in Cumberland County.”
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the United States Marshal’s Service. Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence Cameron represented the government in this case.
Lansing Woman Gets Jail Time for Lying to Grand JuryRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced that Tiffany Renee Pryor, formerly of Lansing, Michigan, was convicted of making a false declaration to a grand jury and sentenced to six months’ incarceration and six months’ home confinement, to be followed by two years’ supervised release. Pryor had offered false exculpatory testimony before a grand jury investigating a case regarding a felon who was in possession of a firearm.
“My office will always pursue and prosecute those who would seek to thwart justice by lying under oath,” said U.S. Attorney Birge.
Roderick Frost, the defendant in whose case Pryor gave false testimony, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 96 months’ incarceration. His prior convictions rendered him an armed career criminal.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Meridian Township Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sally J. Berens and Alexis Sanford.
END
Laguna Pueblo Man Sentenced to 20 Years for 2nd Degree Murder ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jeffrey Antonio, 36, an enrolled member and resident of Laguna Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced yesterday evening in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 20 years of imprisonment for his second-degree murder conviction. Antonio will serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge William McClure of District IV of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales, III.
Antonio was indicted on March 23, 2016, on a second-degree murder charge. The indictment alleged that Antonio committed the offense on July 31, 2015, on the Sandia Pueblo Indian Reservation in Bernalillo County, N.M.
A federal jury found Antonio guilty on the sole count of the indictment on April 19, 2017, after a three day trial. The evidence at trial established that on July 31, 2015, Antonio was driving a truck on the Sandia Pueblo Indian Reservation when he swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into another vehicle, injuring the driver and killing the passenger. Law enforcement officers who responded to the scene of the crash observed a cold four-pack of beer in Antonio’s truck that was missing two cans and noted that Antonio smelled of alcohol. The results of a blood test at a hospital following the crash revealed that Antonio had a BAC of .19.
During the trial, the jury learned that Antonio has two prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol; one in 2008 and another in 2011, which required that Antonio complete a first offender program. The program incorporates educational aspects of the risks associated with driving while impaired.
This case was investigated by the Northern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Spindle and Michael D. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Wisconsin to Protect the Voting Rights of U.S. Citizens Residing Temporarily OverseasRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the State of Wisconsin to ensure that Wisconsin voters who temporarily reside overseas receive voting protections to which they are entitled under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Under this agreement, Wisconsin election officials will ensure that U.S. citizens residing overseas temporarily can receive their ballots electronically and utilize a Federal write-in absentee ballot to vote, if necessary, like other UOCAVA voters.
The agreement was filed in conjunction with a lawsuit filed today alleging that Wisconsin was not affording its voters residing overseas temporarily all of the voting protections guaranteed by UOCAVA. This agreement was necessary because Wisconsin law differentiates between permanent and temporary overseas voters and as result, temporary overseas voters were deprived of certain UOCAVA protections.
UOCAVA protects the voting rights in elections for federal office of absent uniformed service members, their family members, and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S. UOCAVA requires states to allow all UOCAVA voters to receive their blank absentee ballots by mail or electronically, at the voters’ option. UOCAVA also requires States to allow all UOCAVA voters to use a Federal write-in absentee ballot as a back-up measure for voting, if the voters have applied on time for an absentee ballot but have not received the ballot from their state. These protections extend to all overseas voters, regardless of whether the voter resides overseas indefinitely or temporarily.
Wisconsin state election officials have agreed to take steps to implement these protections prior to the upcoming Aug. 14 Federal primary election and Nov. 6 Federal general election, and to notify local election officials and the public about these requirements. The state is also required to take steps to assure these protections for all future Federal elections.
“This agreement reflects the Department’s continued and resolute commitment to protecting the right to vote for members of our armed forces, their families, and overseas U.S. citizens, and ensuring that all of these voters are afforded a meaningful opportunity to vote in federal elections,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore for the Civil Rights Division. “I commend the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the other state officials who worked with the Department to reach a resolution to guarantee that the full protections of UOCAVA are provided to all overseas voters in the upcoming 2018 Federal elections and in future Federal elections.”
More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/crt/uniformed-and-overseas-citizens-absentee-voting-act. Please report any complaints to the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Jury Convicts Former Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds on All Fourteen Bribery and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
This afternoon, a federal jury convicted Dean Reynolds, a former Trustee of Clinton Township, on all fourteen counts of bribery and bribery conspiracy United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Manny Muriel, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service.
The jury deliberated for slightly over an hour before reaching its guilty verdicts following a six-day long trial that began on June 13, 2018. The Court remanded Reynolds into custody following entry of the verdicts.
During the trial, the evidence showed that Reynolds demanded and took over $150,000 in bribes in four separate bribery conspiracies involving four different government contracts. The bribes included over $75,000 in cash, $50,000 in free legal services for Reynolds’ divorce, and an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World, including an eight-night stay in a deluxe-level room costing over $600 per night. The jury found that Reynolds demanded bribes in connection with the Clinton Township garbage-hauling contract worth over $16 million, the township engineering contract worth over $500,000 per year, and the township towing contract. In addition, the jury convicted Reynolds of conspiring to pay bribes to former New Haven, Michigan Trustee Brett Harris and to corrupt the garbage contract for New Haven. Reynolds was convicted of taking multiple bribes from convicted garbage executive Chuck Rizzo, from Paulin Modi, a former managing partner of Giffels Webster Engineering, who was also convicted of bribery, and from Gasper Fiore, the owner of multiple towing companies in southeast Michigan, who was also previously convicted of bribery conspiracy.
United States Attorney Schneider said, “Today’s verdict shows both our intolerance for corrupt public officials in Metro Detroit, and the community’s willingness to find them guilty after hearing the evidence. The verdict is a victory for honest government and a blow to those officials who try to subvert it for their own selfish, greedy ends.”
"The pursuit of public officials who abuse their authority for personal gain is one of the highest priorities for the FBI," stated Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "We are committed to rooting out corruption and graft in southeast Michigan to ensure that our communities get the honest and quality public representation that they deserve."
Based on the jury’s guilty verdicts for conspiring to commit bribery and taking bribes, Reynolds faces a maximum of five years in prison on each of the four bribery conspiracy charges and a fine of up to $250,000. In addition, Reynolds also faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each of his ten convictions for bribery. A preliminary calculation of the federal sentencing guidelines for Reynolds indicates that he faces a total combined sentencing guideline range of over twenty years in prison.
This case is part of the government’s wide-ranging corruption investigation centered in Macomb County, Michigan. Reynolds was the sixteenth individual convicted as part of this investigation, including public officials, contractors, and other co-conspirators.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Michael Bullotta, David A. Gardey, and Adriana Dydell
June Grand JuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 23 indictments charging 33 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Ali-Saif Al-Mjamaie, age 28, of El Cajon, California, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges the defendant with conspiracy to launder money beginning on or about October 12, 2017, and continuing to on or about October 13, 2017. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of money involved, NMT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with unlicensed money transmitting business beginning on or about October 12, 2017, and continuing to on or about October 13, 2017. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about October 13, 2017.
* Ian Beals, age 24, of Omaha, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about May 11, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II of the Indictment charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about May 11, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and $100 special assessment.
* Joseph M. Calhoun, age 33, of Lincoln, is charged in a three-Count Indictment with possessing and uttering counterfeit securities of a political subdivision of the State on or about January 11, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment for each count, a $250,000 fine for each count, a 3 year term of supervised release for each count, and a $100 special assessment for each count.
* Raul Chub-Cu, age 35, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 1, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Cisca Bruno, age 24, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 11, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Matthew Leigh Clausen, age 40, of Omaha, is charged with assault of a federal officer on or about June 5, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jorge Domingo-Tomas, age 51, of Lexington, Nebraska is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 12, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jeffrey Fraser, age 61, of Lincoln, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud on or about March 24, 2014 to on or about January 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 4 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II of the Indictment charges the defendant with being a user or a person addicted to a controlled substance in possession of a firearm on or about January 2, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and $100 special assessment.
* David Alejandro Gonzalez Nava, age 24, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 5, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Randy J. Kirby, age 60, of Hastings, Nebraska is charged in a nine Count Indictment with Healthcare Fraud on or about September 2, 2013 and continuing until on or about September 22, 2016. The Indictment alleges fraud against the Nebraska Medical Assistant Program causing losses of $133,639.57. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment for each count, a $250,000 fine for each count, a 3 year term of supervised release for each count, and a $100 special assessment for each count.
* Raul Lopez-Colin, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation following a felony conviction on or about February 23, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Adrian Lopez-Vargas, age 31, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 1, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Ismael Lopez-Vargas, age 34, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 1, 2018 following an aggravated felony conviction. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Nelson Mauricio Martinez, age 38, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 11, 2018 following a felony conviction. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Mauricio Morales Paniagua, age 31, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about May 5, 2018 following a felony conviction. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Nelson Nicolas Nunez-Acosta, age 52, of Newark, New Jersey, and Felipe Genao Minaya, age 47, of Newark, New Jersey, are charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on or about April 26, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit a 2013 Freightliner Corp truck and a 2007 refrigerated trailer seized on or about April 26, 2018.
* Jason Osbourne, age 33, is charged with felon in possession of a firearm on or about March 10, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and $100 special assessment.
* Reiko Elio Penunuri, age 39, Ramon Penunuri-Noreiga, age 37, Jasive Zamora-Carillo, age 37, Emmanuel Solorio-Cruz, age 26, Francisco Guevara-Zamudio, age 27, Jessica Medina, age 28, Jose Cruz Jauregui-Preciado, age 38, Deborah Drummy, age 56, Dylan McCurdy, age 30, and Luis Tafoya, age 33 are charged in a eleven-count Indictment. Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams, or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine beginning on or about January 1, 2018, and continuing to on or about June 5, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Penunuri and Penunuri-Noriega with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about February 14, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Zamora-Carrillo with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about February 14, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Zamora-Carrillo and Medina with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about February 27, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges McCurdy and Tafoya with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about April 18, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VI charges Penunuri-Noriega with distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about May 9, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VII charges Zamora-Carillo with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about May 9, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VIII charges Zamora-Carrillo with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about May 13, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IX charges Zamora-Carrillo with distribution of with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about May 14, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count X charges Penunuri and Penunuri-Noriega with distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about May 25, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count XI charges Penunuri, Penunuri-Noriega, Jauregui-Preciado, Solorio-Cruz and Zamora-Carrillo with use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering between on or about January 1, 2018 and on or about June 5, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about June 5, 2018.
* Jose Peralta Vargas, age 33, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 1, 2018 following a felony conviction. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Porfirio Rodriguez Reyes, age 38, of Lincoln, is charged in a six-count Indictment. Count I charges the defendant with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin on or about February 9, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, NLT 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin on or about February 12, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, NLT 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin on or about February 19, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, NLT 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges the defendant distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about February 22, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges the defendant distribution of 100 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about February 23, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count VI charges the defendant distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about March 2, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Michael Lee Vanness, age 34, is charged in a six-count Indictment. Count I charges the defendant with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine beginning on or about July 13, 2017, and continuing to on or about April 25, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine (actual) on or about July 13, 2017. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about February 20, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about April 17, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 17, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and $100 special assessment. Count VI charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on or about April 24, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, NLT 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Timothy A. White, age 44, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin beginning on or about May 30, 2018, and continuing to on or about June 1, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, NLT 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Manuel Zavala-Balderas, age 31, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 12, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Jamshid Muhtorov and Bakhtiyor Jumaev Guilty of Providing Material Support to a Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
DENVER – A jury in U.S. District Court in Denver today found Jamshid Muhtorov guilty on three counts involving material support to a terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer announced. The guilty verdicts come after a 19-day trial before Senior U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane. The defendant was acquitted of an additional count. The Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers joined in today's announcement.
U.S. Attorney Troyer said: “The jury verdict today reflects the strength and character of our prosecution team, the FBI, and the American justice system. We thank the jury for their essential role in that system and service to our country.”
“Jamshid Muhtorov and Bakhtiyor Jumaev, who was previously convicted, conspired and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), a designated foreign terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Thanks to all the prosecutors, agents, and analysts on these cases, these defendants will now be held accountable for their crimes.”
On April 30, 2018, a jury in the U.S. District Court found Muhtorov’s co-defendant, Bakhtiyor Jumaev, guilty of similar charges. Sentencing for Jumaev is scheduled for July 18, 2018. Sentencing for Muhtorov has not yet been set.
Jamshid Muhtorov and Bakhtiyor Jumaev Guilty of Providing Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
Today Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer announced that a jury in the U.S. District Court in Denver found Jamshid Muhtorov guilty on three counts involving material support to a terrorist organization. The guilty verdicts come after a 19-day trial before Senior U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane. The defendant was acquitted of an additional count.
“Jamshid Muhtorov and Bakhtiyor Jumaev, who was previously convicted, conspired and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), a designated foreign terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Thanks to all the prosecutors, agents, and analysts on these cases, these defendants will now be held accountable for their crimes.”
“The jury verdict today reflects the strength and character of our prosecution team, the FBI, and the American justice system," said U.S. Attorney Troyer. "We thank the jury for their essential role in that system and service to our country.”
On April 30, 2018, a jury in the U.S. District Court found Muhtorov’s co-defendant, Bakhtiyor Jumaev, guilty of similar charges. Sentencing for Jumaev is scheduled for July 18, 2018. Sentencing for Muhtorov has not yet been set.Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and MarijuanaRead 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 Juan Pacheco, Jr., 36, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and marijuana. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Joel L. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant was receiving kilogram quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from California that were smuggled into the United States from Mexico. Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration working collaboratively with law enforcement officers from the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force (JMDTF) identified Pacheco as a significant dealer in the Jamestown area and began investigating his activities.
Pacheco was arrested on August 18, 2016, after authorities executed a search warrant at his stash house located at 477 Main Street in Jamestown. Officers recovered approximately nine kilograms of cocaine, three-and-a-half kilograms of methamphetamine, and three kilograms of marijuana. Approximately $133,000 in cash was also seized as well as approximately $7,000 from the defendant’s pocket upon his arrest.
Pacheco pleaded guilty just two weeks before the start of a jury trial in this case.
Today’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, which includes officers from the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings; the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of William L. Ohnmeiss Jr.; and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major Mary Clark.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 31, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
Illegal aliens admit to reentry chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Mexican nationals have admitted to a reentry of a removed alien charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Juan Mendez-Patishtan, age 34, and Filberto Reyes-Vazquez, age 49, each pled guilty to one count of “Reentry of a Removed Alien.” Mendez-Patishtan admitted to reentering the United States illegally after being removed six separate times from 2010 to 2016. Reyes-Vazquez is accused of reentering the United States illegally after being removed in May 2016. The men were found in Harrison County in April 2018.
Mendez-Patishtan faces up to two 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.
Reyes-Vazquez was sentenced to time served and one year supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the plea hearings.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided over the sentencing.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Immigration and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Jose Luis Alonso DeLeon has pled guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, a violation of 18 USC Section 922(g), which carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years imprisonment and three years of supervised release; and illegal reentry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum penalty of up to two years imprisonment and one year of supervised release.
DeLeon is scheduled to be sentenced before United States District Judge William Steele on September 21, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
As part of the factual resume for the guilty plea, the United States established that on March 25, 2018, officers of the Fairhope, Alabama Police Department encountered Jose Luis Alonso DeLeon at the laundromat located at 139 Baldwin Square Shopping Center in Fairhope. Officers were in the area looking for a maroon truck that had just struck and killed a bicyclist moments before.
DeLeon was still sitting behind the steering wheel in the truck. The officer located a Mexican driver’s license in DeLeon’s pocket.Corporal Rada of the FPD observed a firearm lying in plain view on the front passenger floorboard of the truck. Corporal Rada recovered the firearm and identified it as a Glock model 26 9mm pistol.
As part of the Court proceedings, DeLeon admitted that he is a citizen of Mexico and that he was in the United States without permission. Investigation revealed that on March 25, 2014, he was found in the United States and was ordered removed. He departed on March 27, 2014 from Laredo, Texas Port of Entry. He had also been encountered in the United States by the Border Patrol on May 5, 1999; February 28, 2000; March 19, 2000; March 24, 2014; March 25, 2014; and April 24, 2014.
After the April 24, 2014 encounter he was charged with violating Title 8 U.S.C. 1325, entry without inspection. He pled guilty and served 30 days imprisonment.
Although these charges arose on the same date as DeLeon’s pending charges with District Attorney Bob Wilters in Baldwin County, they are separate from the Alabama state charges of manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. DeLeon is charged in state court with causing the death of Amy Hawkins who was riding her bicycle in the northbound lane of County Road 13 in Fairhope, Alabama on March 25, 2018.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Fairhope Police Department; and ALEA. This case is being prosecuted by AUSA Maria E. Murphy.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama at http://www.justice.gov/usao/als/
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national pleaded guilty today to illegal reentry after removal and conspiring with others to transport illegal aliens to various locations in the United States.
“Mr. Zelaya-Ortiz was deported twice before his latest arrest,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He was removed in December 2012, and then he illegally returned. He was removed a second time in June 2014, and he illegally returned again. Just two months ago, Fairfax County Police officers found him smuggling six other illegal aliens who he was transporting to various points across the country in exchange for money. After Mr. Zelaya-Ortiz completes his sentence in this case, he will be deported, at taxpayer expense, for a third time. The Department of Justice is committed to prioritizing criminal immigration enforcement. This is an issue of public safety. People cannot be permitted to continuously flout the law.”
According to court documents, Danny Josue Zelaya-Ortiz, aka “Jose Castro”, 29, was part of a conspiracy to charge illegal aliens in the United States a fee for transporting them from Texas to other states across the country. In April 2018, Zelaya-Ortiz picked up at least six alien passengers, all of whom had been smuggled into the United States from the Mexico border. Zelaya was driving the passengers towards Maryland and the New York area when his vehicle was stopped in Virginia by Fairfax County Police on April 25, 2018. He was cited for an improper vehicle tag display and driving without an operator’s license. Homeland Security Investigations special agents responded to the scene after it was determined Zelaya-Ortiz and the passengers had no lawful status in the United States. Zelaya-Ortiz admitted he knew the passengers were illegal aliens and that he received payments for his role in the scheme. At the time of the crime, Zelaya-Ortiz had been in the country illegally after having been twice removed by immigration officials.
“Human smugglers time and time again demonstrate a total disregard for both our laws and for human life,” said Patrick J. Lechleitner, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “HSI will continue to enforce the laws these criminals attempt to skirt, and continue to disallow all of the nefarious activities these smuggling schemes fund.”
Zelaya-Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and illegal reentry after deportation. He faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison when sentenced on September 14. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Patrick J. Lechleitner, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raizza K. Ty and Christopher Kaltsas are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-235.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Distributing Heroin, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM MARRERO-BENITEZ, 25, of Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 45 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 14, 2016, Hartford Police officers conducting a heroin trafficking investigation attempted to stop a vehicle MARRERO-BENITEZ was driving in the area of New Britain Avenue and Broad Street. MARRERO-BENITEZ accelerated from the scene at a high rate of speed, striking the front of a police vehicle, swerving through traffic, ignoring red lights and stop signs, and nearly striking at least two other vehicles head-on. Officers pursued MARRERO-BENITEZ on I-84 East into East Hartford where MARRERO-BENITEZ drove off the road and down an embankment, and then fled the vehicle and ran into the woods. An officer caught up to MARRERO-BENITEZ and, after a struggle during which the officer was kicked in the head, MARRERO-BENITEZ was apprehended. At the time of his arrest, MARRERO-BENITEZ possessed 138 wax folds containing heroin.
In May 2015, MARRERO-BENITEZ, who was on state probation at the time, illegally possessed and sold a rifle to an individual working with law enforcement. He subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and, on July 7, 2016, was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He was released from federal prison in October 2016.
On March 29, 2018, MARRERO-BENITEZ pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Judge Covello sentenced MARRERO-BENITEZ to 27 months of imprisonment on the heroin offense, and a consecutive 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.
MARRERO-BENITEZ has been detained since December 14, 2016.
This matter was investigated by the Hartford Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Michael J. Gustafson.
Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Re-entering the United States Following Previous RemovalRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Marcial De Leon-Aguilar, age 31, and a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty today to unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously having been removed, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas Feeley, Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Buffalo, New York.
As part of his guilty plea today, De Leon-Aguilar admitted that he was previously convicted of a felony offense and had been deported three times prior to the current charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2018. At sentencing, Marcial De Leon-Aguilar faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and removal or deportation from the United States.[1] A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
[1] Deportation and removal proceedings are separate civil matters litigated in Immigration Court and are not adjudicated as part of a criminal prosecution.
Greenville Roofing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
John Frederick Snyder, Owner of Snyder’s Roofing, Willfully Underreported his Income by Over $6 Million for tax years 2009 to 2014
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — John Frederick Snyder, 71, of Greenville, Michigan, and owner of Snyder’s Roofing, pled guilty on June 20, 2018, to a felony information charging him with tax evasion for the 2011 tax year. As part of his plea agreement, Snyder further admitted to willfully evading the assessment of income taxes for 2009 to 2014 by underreporting his income by over $6 Million. He has agreed to pay restitution of $414,160.00, representing his tax loss, plus fraud penalties and interest. At a sentencing hearing yet to be set by the court, Snyder will face up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
According to his plea agreement and court records, Snyder consistently failed to timely file tax returns and when he did file he underreported the amount of his business income. He purposely deposited less than all of his business income into his business bank account without informing his accountant. Instead, he took checks from his customers and signed them over to his suppliers (making them third-party checks) to pay for the materials and services used in his business. Because of this practice, his business account never showed his actual business income. Snyder also carried out his tax evasion scheme by depositing checks made payable directly to him for the work of his roofing business into his personal bank accounts, taking back cash at the same time, or negotiating the entire amount of the checks for cash. Snyder used some of this unreported cash to pay his employees.
“Snyder willfully evaded his civic and legal obligation to pay his taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Birge. “The IRS figured out his scheme and he will now pay those taxes after all, along with fraud penalties and interest, while also facing up to five years in prison.”
“This is a classic example of greed,” said Manny Muriel, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. “Snyder blatantly disregarded the law to line his own pockets. He painstakingly took steps to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to seek out and find those who choose to disregard the tax laws.”
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, Grand Rapids, conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Stella is prosecuting the case.
END
Greenbrier, Tennessee Man Charged with Making Threats Against the PresidentRead the Press Release
Andrew Long Ryan, 37, of Greenbrier, Tennessee, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury and charged with two counts of making threats against the President, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee. Ryan was initially charged in a criminal complaint on June 18, 2018, and is currently in federal custody.
According to records filed with the court, on May 28-29, 2018, Ryan, a former police officer with the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Police Department, posted several concerning messages on his social media accounts, including a Facebook post that read, “Death is coming,” and a Twitter post that read, “I will kill Donald Trump if you don’t follow my leaders lead.” President Trump visited Nashville, Tennessee on May 29, 2018.
The charging documents allege several instances of erratic behavior by Ryan during the months leading up to the President’s visit and continuing until early June 2018, when Ryan was taken into custody by the Robertson County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department for violating a protective order previously obtained by his family. The charging documents outline allegations of Ryan’s declining mental state and threatening behavior during the past several months, including placing family members in fear of their safety and previous incidents where he drew the attention of local law enforcement; the Federal Protective Service; the FBI; and the Secret Service.
In addition, according to the charging documents, on February 14, 2018, officers with the Greenbrier Police Department seized several firearms from Ryan’s home and several law enforcement officers expressed concern that Ryan’s behavior would escalate into an act of mass violence.
If convicted, Ryan faces up to five years in prison on each count.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service with valuable assistance from the Greenbrier Police Department; the Federal Protective Service; and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Schrader is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.