Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 18 April 2018
St. David Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, James Dewayne Munkus, 55, of St. David, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 108 months’ imprisonment. Munkus had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery.
Using a fake bomb, Munkus robbed an eastside branch of Pima Federal Credit Union on January 9, 2017, taking over $3,000. Five days later, Munkus used a handgun to rob an eastside branch of US Bank of over $64,000. Law enforcement officers apprehended Munkus in Gadsden, Ala., on March 21, 2017.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Tucson Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-0639-TUC-RCC-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-041_ Munkus
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Springfield Woman Sentenced for $718,000 Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a $718,000 tax fraud conspiracy.
Nancy Lorine Walker, 56, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to seven years and eight months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Walker to pay $317,498 in restitution (the amount of refund actually received).
On Aug. 10, 2017, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of presenting a false claim, one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Co-defendants Carolyn Alice Cobb, 56, and Clementine Lockett, 43, both of Springfield, have also pleaded to their roles in the conspiracy. In addition to the conspiracy, Cobb pleaded guilty to two counts of presenting a false claim and one count of theft of government property. Lockett also pleaded guilty to two counts of presenting a false claim. Cobb was sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison and ordered to pay $215,184 in restitution. Lockett is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2018.
Walker, Cobb and Lockett participated in a conspiracy, which operated from January 2010 to April 23, 2013, to submit false federal income tax returns and make false claims for federal income tax refunds for the 2009-2012 tax years.
Conspirators used the means of identification of individuals, including their names and Social Security numbers, and Turbo Tax to prepare and electronically file federal income tax returns. Those returns were false and fraudulent in that they included fictitious IRS Form W-2 information, listing employers who did not employ the individual listed on the return and reporting wages not earned and employment taxes not withheld from the individual.
The conspiracy resulted in a total of $718,927 in false claims for federal income tax refunds. Conspirators actually received a total of $317,498 in refunds.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
South Bay Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Marlon Lee Davis was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Nielsen. The sentence was handed down yesterday afternoon by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, U.S. District Judge, following the entry of Davis’s guilty plea on April 11, 2017.
According to his plea agreement, Davis, 56, of San Jose, admitted that in August and September of 2016, he knowingly conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine with codefendant Yara Banderas Martinez. Davis admitted he let Banderas Martinez use his San Jose apartment to store the drugs that they intended to distribute. Also, on August 30, 2016, Davis accompanied Banderas Martinez to a one kilogram methamphetamine transaction. Davis admitted that he delivered the drugs to Banderas Martinez and her buyer while they were in the buyer’s car.
On September 14, 2016, law enforcement agents searched Davis’s apartment where they found 388.9 grams of methamphetamine. Davis admitted that he gave permission to store the drugs in his apartment as part of the drug distribution activity.
On April 10, 2017, Davis was charged in a superseding information with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, Pursuant to his guilty plea, Davis pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman ordered Davis to serve a five-year period of supervised release. Davis is currently in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately. After pleading guilty to her role in the conspiracy, Banderas Martinez fled in February 2018 and became a fugitive.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Vieira is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA.
Fugitive Yara Banderas MartinezShooting Felon Receives Maximum Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Delano McPherson, 29, from Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court by United States District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel, who imposed the maximum possible sentence under federal law. McPherson was sentenced to 10 years in the federal penitentiary. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm after pleading guilty on October 24, 2017.
McPherson’s case illustrated the effectiveness of the surveillance cameras installed in the city’s high-crime and densely populated areas of Charleston, South Carolina. These have been very beneficial in not only preventing crime but also helping to solve crimes after they happen.
Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed that on September 7, 2015, the CPD Camera Room Operator called dispatch to advise that he had seen an individual shooting a gun from the location of the intersection of America Street and South Street, about three blocks from East Bay Street. This happened around 11:15pm in the late evening. From witnessing the incident on the surveillance camera, the operator was able to provide a description of the individual. He also was able to fully describe the car (a silver Nissan Altima) and its license tag. He informed dispatch that the shooter left the scene in the vehicle as a passenger, fleeing towards East Bay Street on South Street. City of Charleston Police Department Officers responded immediately and spotted the car. They made a felony stop at a gas station, two blocks from the scene of the shooting. The driver was found to be Desmond Campbell. In the rear passenger’s seat was the driver’s brother, Delano McPherson. An officer looked in the back seat area and saw the grip and hammer of a revolver beneath the front passenger seat. This was where McPherson had been sitting. The officer retrieved the gun, which was a silver Smith and Wesson .357 magnum caliber revolver. It had six spent shell casings.
The car was further searched. The glove box held a Glock magazine, loaded, with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The car itself was damaged. The officer observed a gouge in the roof of the vehicle, which was visible from the outside.
The video surveillance tapes were reviewed and showed the full sequence of events. McPherson, the aggressor, got into a confrontation moments before the shooting, on America Street.
He walked away, and down South Street.
About fifteen minutes later, he returned, carrying what appeared to be a silver revolver, in his right hand.
He then turned away and walked down South Street. An Altima pulled up and the driver, his brother, got out and walked away, down South Street.
The operator noticed that after the individual shot the gun, he walked west on South Street, while leaving the car running and the lights on.
McPherson stood on the corner of America and South Street with the pistol in his hand.
After looking around, and using the Altima for cover, he walked up to the car and began shooting.
He started to leave, again down South Street, and there was return fire.
He hid the gun on top of the wheel well of an adjunct car, then retrieved it and got into the passenger’s seat of the Altima. His brother also returned and the two drove off.
Police immediately responding to the 911 calls turned from America Street onto South Street.
The 911 calls were from neighborhood residents. Rounds from the shooting penetrated several homes.
During the sentencing hearing, McPherson testified that he was trying to defend himself. While being cross-examined by Assistant United States Attorney, Sean Kittrell, he admitted that he shot at a person during the course of the incident. He also admitted to having sold drugs at the same corner that McPherson shot from, a crime of which he had previously been convicted. In this case, Judge Gergel found that McPherson had used the firearm in an attempted murder and imposed the maximum sentence.
United States Attorney Drake recognized the work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which investigated the case, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF are working with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify violent offenders who are tearing our communities apart. One of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce street violence is to take violent repeat felons who use guns off of the street using the federal law that prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm. It’s all about protecting our communities.”
The resident agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, praised the fast work of the City of Charleston Police Department and said that, “This investigation is another example of the outstanding partnership between ATF, the Charleston Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office working collaboratively to target violent crime in the City of Charleston.”
McPherson was convicted of violating the felon in possession of a firearm statute. This is Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
McPherson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior separate state conviction for distribution of crack cocaine (3 counts), possession of crack cocaine (two convictions), a federal conviction
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Charleston Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Kittrell and Special Assistant Solicitor Stephanie Linder, who is an Assistant Solicitor for the 9th Judicial Circuit, prosecuted the case for the government. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
#####
Schenectady Man Sentenced for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marty Humphrey, age 65, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Humphrey pled guilty on March 9, 2018, admitting to conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in Schenectady, between August 2016 and May 2017. He was prosecuted as part of a takedown of a drug trafficking ring that operated in Schenectady and Albany. Charges are still pending against several of Humphrey’s co-defendants. The charges against them are merely accusations, and they are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Humphrey’s case was investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Crack and Powder CocaineRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrance Robinson, a/k/a “Rico,” age 31, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to distributing cocaine and cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his plea, Robinson admitted to selling a quantity of powder cocaine for $1,300 on September 1, 2016, to selling a quantity of powder cocaine for $1,500 on November 10, 2016, and to selling a quantity of crack cocaine for $170 on November 15, 2016.
Robinson faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 13, 2018 by Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 6 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 and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes members of the Schenectady Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Rockwall Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for BriberyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Kevin Gerard Cauley, 51, of Rockwall, Texas, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 15 months in federal prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving the concealment of information to defraud the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Cauley pleaded guilty in June 2017 to one count of honest services wire fraud. Judge Lindsay ordered Cauley to surrender to the Bureau of Prison on June 19, 2018.
According to the information filed in the case, Cauley worked as a Highway Patrol - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (“CVE”) Sergeant employed by DPS and assigned to Region I, that covered Dallas County. As a CVE Sergeant, Cauley was responsible for, among other things, enforcing traffic and criminal laws, instructing in training schools and academies, and performing safety inspections of commercial vehicles in order to provide Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspection (“CVSA”) decals to commercial vehicles.
Safety inspections were performed by DPS CVE Troopers to ensure their commercial vehicles were safe for highway travel. Safety Inspections were coded Levels 1 through 5. A level 1 inspection was the highest level which meant it involved the most areas of inspection. Once a Level 1 inspection was passed, the commercial vehicle received a CVSA decal.
Orlinte Cruz owned commercial trucking companies that operated in Dallas, Texas, Cruz and Sons Transportation and UGMA Logistics.
The CVSA decal served as a notice to any other CVE personnel in the United States, Canada, or Mexico that the vehicle had recently passed a Level 1 inspection and prevented the vehicle from being stopped at an inspection station or scale so that safety violations were not as readily detected. A commercial vehicle company's safety rating was directly related to the number of violations recorded. A good safety rating translated into lower insurance premiums and a higher volume of contracts.
According to the information filed in the case, in July 2014 Cruz approached Cauley about conducting safety meetings for employees of Cruz and Sons Transportation. Shortly thereafter, Cauley began conducting inspections of Cruz and Sons Transportation and UGMA Logistics’s commercial trucks. From July 2014 and continuing until September 2015, Cauley reported conducting thirty-nine Level 1 inspections on Cruz and Sons Transportation’s vehicles. Thirty-nine of these inspections resulted in a CVSA decal. Cruz paid Cauley in United States currency at least $4,000, to receive favorable treatment from Cauley concerning the performance, or non-performance of CVSA inspection procedures.
Cruz has also pled guilty to his role in this scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
The Texas Rangers, Department of Transportation- Office of Inspector General, and FBI, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne E. Frazior prosecuted.
# # #Richard Monroe Pleads Guilty in Connection with the Death of Kevin DeOliveiraRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on April 18, 2018, Richard Monroe, age 25, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont, to possessing firearms in furtherance of his cocaine trafficking and to discharging a handgun and killing Kevin DeOliveira on January 2, 2015. At the time of his death, DeOliveira was 23 years old and enrolled at the University of Vermont. Specifically, Monroe pleaded to two federal crimes in front of Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford. He admitted to conspiring with Zachery Hust and others to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine during the second half of 2014. He also pleaded guilty to a firearms charge that he carried, used and possessed firearms during, and in furtherance of, the cocaine conspiracy, and, in particular, that he discharged a handgun on January 2, 2015, resulting in the death of Kevin DeOliveira.
In court, Monroe admitted participating in the cocaine conspiracy. During 2014, Monroe regularly obtained quantities of cocaine from DeOliveira and redistributed part of that cocaine to various customers in the Burlington area. In late 2014, Hust joined the conspiracy. For example, Hust and Monroe planned to obtain a kilogram of cocaine to sell to a marijuana customer of Hust, though that deal never came to fruition. During 2014, the conspiracy involved well over 500 grams of cocaine.
Monroe also admitted carrying, using, and possessing firearms in furtherance of this cocaine conspiracy. In 2014, the defendant possessed several firearms, including two handguns, a Glock and a Browning Buckmark .22. He regularly carried the Glock or displayed it in his residence when distributing cocaine. Monroe also admitted shooting DeOliveira and killing him on January 2, 2015. In late 2014, Monroe had a financial dispute with DeOliveira over several ounces of cocaine that had been damaged. DeOliveira claimed that the defendant owed him several thousand dollars for the cocaine. Monroe disputed this debt. On the morning of January 2, 2015, Monroe approached the door of DeOliveira's residence at 58 Green Street in Burlington. When DeOliveira opened the door of his apartment, the defendant discharged his Browning Buckmark .22 pistol, firing one bullet into DeOliveira’s eye. This shot killed Kevin DeOliveira.
The charges Monroe pleaded guilty to carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years, with a maximum sentence of life. Monroe, however, pleaded guilty pursuant to a binding plea agreement in which the parties agreed to a sentence of 25 years in prison. The court accepted the plea but deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until after the court’s consideration of the presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. If the court rejects the plea agreement, Monroe will have the option of withdrawing his guilty plea.
The arrest of Monroe was the culmination of a multi-agency investigation that began in early 2015. The collaborative effort was led by the Burlington Police Department, U.S. Marshal Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted extensively with the investigation of the case, particularly in its early stages.
U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the extraordinary investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the ATF and the contributions of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office. She stated: “this was a dogged investigation involving local and federal law enforcement and local and federal prosecutors that spanned years and entailed extensive cooperation. I commend the top-notch team effort that resulted, finally, in justice for the victim’s family and closure for them and our community. This kind of senseless violence in connection with the drug trade is abhorrent and we will continue to come together to put a stop to it. Those who would use violence, or carry or discharge firearms, to further their drug business, must understand that law enforcement will unite and work tirelessly to show zero tolerance and achieve justice. You will be priority targets for federal prosecution.”
State’s Attorney Sarah George commented: “Our office is extremely grateful to the many agencies who played a part in the investigation, prosecution, and resolution of this heinous and senseless murder. We are incredibly relieved that both justice and closure have finally come for Mr. DeOliveira and his family.”
“We will investigate this city’s homicides until every lead is exhausted or an arrest is made, and we are reassured by the knowledge that our partners in the US Attorney’s office are just as determined and relentless,” said Brandon del Pozo, Burlington’s Chief of Police. “The city owes a debt of gratitude to this top-notch team of detectives and prosecutors. They have given closure to the family of the victim and made sure justice was served to Mr. Monroe.”
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan and Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf are prosecuting the case. Monroe is represented by Attorneys Mark Kaplan and Natasha Sen.
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.
Resident of the Colony Admits Role in $10 Million FraudRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Ima Maria Isham, 22, of The Colony, Texas appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Isham faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution is mandatory. Isham remains on bond; a sentencing date was not set.
According to documents filed in the case, beginning in March 2015 and continuing until March 2016, Isham, along with coconspirators Eddie Contreraz, Stephanie Loraine Contreraz, Bryce Carragan Armijo, Elizabeth Flint, Abraham Valdez, and Kwanghee (Kathy) Anh, conspired with each other, to commit bank fraud.
Isham and other conspirators were employed at Preferred Marketing Group (PMG), also known as PMG Business Solutions. PMG was a loan brokerage company that assisted clients obtain loans, lines of credit, and credit cards. Since the majority of clients had low credit scores, as well as insufficient or unverifiable income or employment, most lenders did not consider these clients to be good credit risks. To overcome these obstacles to obtaining funding, conspirator PMG employees were aware that conspirator Eddie Contreraz frequently created fake paystubs, tax forms and other fraudulent documents in order to falsely inflate clients’ income, as well as falsify a client’s employment position and length of employment. Isham and other conspirators caused many clients to fraudulently obtain funding by causing clients to submit to various lenders false financial and false employment information provided by co-defendant Eddie Contreraz.
The defendants fraudulently obtained loan proceeds from several federally insured banks in the Dallas and Fort Worth area by causing borrower loan applications to be submitted to banks which contained false information. False loan information submitted to financial institutions included, inflated false income figures; falsely list the loan applicant’s position as manager of a company (when the applicant actually owned the company or was employed in a lower salaried position); and falsely reported employment when a client was actually unemployed.
According to documents filed in the case, Isham and coconspirators caused borrowers with low credit scores to use “credit repair” services to raise the borrower’s credit score in order to qualify for loans later obtained through the use of false and fictitious documents created by defendant Eddie Contreraz.
From March 2015 through March 2016, Isham and coconspirators fraudulently obtained loans, credit lines, and credit cards from several banks in the total amount of at least $10 million.
The Fort Worth Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis is in charge of the prosecution.
# # #
Prospect Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Offense Related to Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL USZAKIEWICZ, 52, of Prospect, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a conspiracy offense related to a bribery scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, USZAKIEWICZ is the owner of K&M Fire Protection in Southington. Javed Choudhry was employed by Building and Land Technology, Inc. (“BLT”), a construction company in the Stamford area. Between approximately 2011 and 2014, USZAKIEWICZ and other contractors paid a total of $250,000 to $500,000 in bribes to Choudhry to receive millions of dollars in BLT contracts on construction projects in Stamford.
USZAKIEWICZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford on July 9, 2018.
As part of his guilty plea, USZAKIEWICZ agreed to forfeit $1,121,106, which was seized from his bank accounts on March 28, 2016.
USZAKIEWICZ is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
On May 16, 2017, Choudhry, of Glastonbury, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. On January 22, 2018, Kevin Dunn, the president of Delmar Electrical Contractors in Watertown, admitted that he also paid bribes to Choudhry and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both await sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
Press Conference to Be HeldRead the Press Release
Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Arthur D. Peralta will hold a press conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to announce the results of a significant law enforcement operation carried out pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
The press conference will be held at 2:00 pm on the steps of the United States District Courthouse located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon.
Questions concerning the press conference should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Press Conference to Be HeldRead the Press Release
Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Arthur D. Peralta will hold a press conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to announce the results of a significant law enforcement operation carried out pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
The press conference will be held at 2:00 pm on the steps of the United States District Courthouse located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon.
Questions concerning the press conference should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Phoenix Men Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding the Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell sentenced Harold Halman, II, 58, and Alexander Schaap, 62, to 36 and 30 months in prison, respectively. Both must serve 3 years of supervised release following their prison sentences. The Court also ordered them to pay $4.5 million in restitution. Craighton Boates, 44, New River, Ariz., was also sentenced to 5 years’ probation.
Evidence showed that Halman, Schaap, and Boates were principals in a now defunct company known as Global Medical Equipment of Arizona (“GMEA”). They defrauded the Small Business Administration, Metro Phoenix Bank, and Republic Bank of Arizona by submitting loan applications containing false information that included the percentage of GMEA ownership, the use of the loans for pre-existing debts, forged emails and letters misrepresenting that down payments had been made by the principals, and a concealed kickback. The defendants defaulted on nearly $4.5 million in loans.
"These loans should have been granted to qualified small business owners. Instead the defendants effectively denied an opportunity to legitimate small businesses deserving access to capital,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and seek criminal prosecution or civil remedies when fraud is perpetrated by corrupt borrowers who attempt to obtain financial assistance through the SBA’s guaranteed loan programs. We would like to thank the SBA-OIG, IRS-CID, and the FBI for their thoroughness and dedicated professionalism throughout this investigation."
“SBA’s 7(a) program is intended to provide capital to grow the nation’s small businesses not line one’s pockets,” said Acting Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “Schemes to unjustly enrich oneself will be rooted out, and those responsible will be brought to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and leadership throughout this investigation.”
“A sophisticated scheme involving millions in illegally obtained loans does not happen without forethought and criminal intent. The defendants made false statements and omissions to the banks who relied on them to be truthful,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez, Jr. “We hope this prosecution discourages others from taking the path of fraud in their business ventures."
"These three individuals knowingly executed a scheme to defraud banks out of more than $6 million then conspired to launder the money," said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. "The guilty pleas of these individuals should send a message. The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of crimes and protect the community from schemes to defraud financial institutions insured by the FDIC."
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-01015/00946/010159 DGC-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-039_ Halman etal
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Peoria Woman Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Three of Her Children Plead Guilty to Other Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Yesterday, Fany Madrigal-Lopez, 45, of Peoria, Ariz., pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. A conviction for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death carries a minimum-mandatory sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Three of Madrigal-Lopez’s adult children also pleaded guilty to different controlled substance offenses. Paulina Madrigal-Macias, 26, of Hawaii, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Adolfo Macias-Madrigal, 27, of Peoria, Ariz., and Luis Angel Macias, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz., both pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a communications facility as part of a drug conspiracy.
According to publicly-filed court documents, between the fall of 2015 and August 2017, Fany Madrigal-Lopez obtained quantities of oxycodone, blue “M-30” pills that looked like oxycodone but contained fentanyl, cocaine, and alprazolam from others in Arizona. The four defendants then sold these substances to customers. On Nov. 16, 2016, Fany Madrigal-Lopez sold blue “M-30” pills to a customer who later died after consuming them.
Sentencing is set before the Honorable Douglas L. Rayes, United States District Judge, on June 19, 2018 for Adolfo Macias-Madrigal and Luis Angel Macias, on July 2, 2018, for Fany Madrigal-Lopez, and on July 9, 2018 for Paulina Macias.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, who were assisted by the Peoria Police Department and the Arizona National Guard. The prosecution is being handled by Carolina Escalante Konti, D.J. Pashayan, and Jeffrey Borup, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-1110-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-040_Madrigal-Lopez et al.
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Ogdensburg Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Harry McCarthy, age 58, of Ogdensburg, New York, was sentenced today to serve 15 years in prison for his sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Albany FIeld Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, McCarthy admitted that in 2013 and 2014, he used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of that conduct. At the time of his crime, McCarthy was employed as an officer at the City of Ogdensburg, New York Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release, which will start after McCarthy is released from incarceration, and to pay a $10,000 fine. As a result of his conviction, McCarthy will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Geoffrey Brown.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. 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.
Oahu Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Garrett Okubo, of Honolulu, Hawaii, pled guilty today in federal court to four counts of health care fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Okubo was the owner and operator of a physical therapy business in Honolulu. From January 2011 through October 2017, Okubo submitted false claims for payment for physical therapy services to TRICARE, Medicare, Medicaid, and HMSA. Okubo submitted claims to these health care benefit programs using his unique provider number, thereby falsely stating that Okubo himself had personally provided the physical therapy services to his patients, when in reality the services were provided by Okubo’s unlicensed staff members, including at times when Okubo was travelling on the U.S. mainland or in a foreign country. The government alleges that Okubo billed approximately $5.5 million of false claims for services provided by his unlicensed staff members, of which approximately $3.7 million was actually paid. Okubo reserved the right to challenge the loss amount in his plea agreement.
Okubo’s sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2018 before U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright. For each count, Okubo faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years. Okubo agreed to pay restitution, and agreed to forfeit the proceeds of his unlawful activity, in amounts to be determined by the Court.
The case was jointly investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and the State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marc A. Wallenstein.
Norfolk Woman Sentenced to Prison for ID Theft of PrisonersRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced today to 129 months in prison for operating multiple fraud schemes that included stealing the identities of local prisoners.
According to court documents, less than a month after her release from federal prison for a prior fraud scheme, Teresa Gallop undertook two new sophisticated frauds. In the first, Gallop created a fake legal services company that she used to lure inmates of local jails to disclose their identifying information and to release their personal property. Gallop used her son, who was then serving multiple state sentences for theft, to identify and prime inmate victims. Once she had their information and property, Gallop forged powers of attorney naming her conspirators as attorneys in fact for the inmates. Gallop and her co-conspirators used these documents to access and open inmate bank accounts, which they used to cash worthless checks.
In the second fraud, Gallop recruited others to open bank accounts at several financial institutions. She then used these accounts to negotiate checks she had stolen from the mail and elsewhere, ultimately disbursing the funds to herself in a variety of transactions. The total intended loss for both schemes exceeds $130,000.
Name
Age, Hometown
Conviction(s)
Info
Teresa Gallop
50, Norfolk
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentenced to 129 months
Delanio Vick
32, Norfolk
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentencing May 14
Jessie Davis
21, Portsmouth
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentencing June 14
Aaren Ivey
22, Portsmouth
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
Sentencing June 25
Gloria Vick
60, Norfolk
Pending Trial
Trial July 10
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton 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 are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 4:16-cr-86 and 4:16-cr-88.
Newport News Man Sentenced for Firearms and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for drug trafficking and his role in stealing 52 firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in February 2017.
According to court documents, Xavier Justice Lee Greenauer-Mattox, was part of a robbery crew that stole 52 firearms from Hunter’s Heaven Gun Store in Hayes on Feb. 12, 2017. Approximately nine days later, law enforcement apprehended all four defendants, including Greenauer-Mattox, who fled in a vehicle travelling at over 100 miles per hour with co-defendant Philip Thomas Evans.
Name, Age
City
Charges
Result
Angel Lewis Bruno, 19
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
8 years in prison
Xavier Justice Lee Greenauer-Mattox, 23
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
13 years in prison
Philip Thomas Evans, 23
Yorktown
Pleaded guilty to: Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Sentencing set for April 30, 2018
Alissha Shalee Faulks, 28
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Stolen Firearm
3 years’ probation
Law enforcement has recovered 18 of the stolen firearms to date. The investigation into the whereabouts of the outstanding firearms continues.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, and Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Cowles 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. 4:17-cr-72.
Newark Non-Profit Director and Political Fundraiser Sentenced to 38 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former executive director of a Newark-based childcare and community program and a partner in a political fundraising and consulting company was sentenced today to 38 months in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Kiburi D. Tucker, 43, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
As the executive director of The Centre Inc., Tucker embezzled its funds through ATM, debit card and bank withdrawal transactions to fund personal expenditures, including gambling, travel, and furnishing his home. Tucker defrauded The Centre of $332,116 from 2012 through 2015.
In addition, Tucker, who was also receiving an annual salary from his employment at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, filed false personal income tax returns in which he intentionally under-reported both the proceeds that he embezzled from The Centre and income from his partnership in Elite Strategies, a political fundraising and consulting company. Tucker admitted that he was responsible for underreporting $177,040 in income from these sources for the 2015 tax year, resulting in a tax loss of $56,509.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Tucker to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $133,624 to the IRS and forfeit $334,116.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacques S. Pierre and Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
18-166
Defense counsel: Timothy M. Donohue Esq., West Orange, New Jersey and Alfred C. Decotis Esq., Teaneck, New Jersey
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 36 Months of Probation for Conspiracy to Alter U.S. Postal Money OrdersRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JARVIS WHEELER, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, which included eight months of home incarceration, by United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance after the defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to alter U.S. Postal money orders.
According to the court records, WHEELER conspired with others in the New Orleans area to buy U.S. Postal money orders in small amounts (typically $1.00) and then the money orders were sent out of state where they were altered to much higher amounts. WHEELER, working with other conspirators, then enlisted individuals to deposit the altered U.S. Postal money orders into local bank accounts. Once the money orders cleared, the funds were withdrawn and split by WHEELER and the conspirators.
In addition to incarceration, WHEELER was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to two local banks and to pay a $100.00 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspector Office for its handling of the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera prosecuted the matter.
Navajo Man from McKinley County Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Vinson Six, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Smith Lake, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to assault charges.
Six was arrested on Dec. 13, 2017, on a three-count indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon, a knife, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and robbery. According to the indictment, Six committed the crimes on April 14, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Six pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. In entering the guilty plea, Six admitted that on April 14, 2016, he forced himself into the victim’s home, and threatened and cut the victim with a knife. Six acknowledged that the victim suffered lacerations to his head and arm, which required medical attention, as the result of the assault.
At sentencing, Six faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas.
Multistate Serial Bank Robber Sentenced for Robberies in California, Nevada, and UtahRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gregory Jerome Brown, 28, of Bountiful, Utah, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to five years and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing three banks, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Brown robbed three banks in three different states. Brown wrote his demands on index cards, and in two instances, Nevada and Utah, he threatened tellers in demand notes with a gun. After the robberies, Brown rode away on his motorcycle. After the Utah bank robbery, Brown fled south and was apprehended in Phoenix, Arizona. At his guilty plea, Brown admitted that he robbed the following banks:
- On October 13, 2017, he robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 338 Elm Avenue, Auburn, California;
- On October 14, 2017, he robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 2895 Northtowne Lane, Reno, Nevada;
- On November 8, 2017, he robbed the America First Credit Union at 2928 East Mall Drive, Saint George, Utah.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Auburn Police Department, the Reno Police Department, the Saint George Police Department, and the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Monroe County Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Patrick Hynes, age 21, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on April 17, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Hynes admitted to participating in a conspiracy to distribute between 40 and 60 grams of heroin (which is equivalent to 1,600 to 2,400 individual doses of heroin), as well as additional quantities of cocaine, in the Monroe County area between May and July 2015. Davis was one of eleven individuals indicted by a grand jury in July 2015, and charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine in the Monroe County area.
Judge Caputo ordered a presentence report to be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is up to twenty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
# # #
Michigan Man Sentenced on Drug Charge in Federal Court in BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Michigan man was sentenced to prison on drug charges in federal court in Beckley. Tremaine Dean Pool Jr., 23, of Romulus, a suburb of Detroit, was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Stuart praised the work of the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies in Greenbrier County for working together to rid their streets of violent pill dealers,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Communities throughout southern West Virginia have been ravaged by opiate abuse and addiction and we are more committed than ever to putting an end to this epidemic.”
Pool pled guilty in January, admitting that on December 2, 2016, law enforcement authorities found a loaded 9mm handgun and a bag containing 68 40 mg oxymorphone pills close to him when they searched a residence in Lewisburg. Pool admitted that he possessed the pain pills with intent to distribute them and also possessed the gun. He further admitted that he worked with his codefendants, Joshua Adam Smith and Jessica Nicole Honaker, to distribute pain pills in Greenbrier County during November and December 2016, and that they distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute about 300 40 mg oxymorphone pills during that time. Smith received 96 months for his part in this drug activity, and Honaker was sentenced to 24 months.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. The case was investigated as part of the Greenbrier Valley Heroin and Pill Initiative. That initiative is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to combat illegal drug trafficking in communities across the Southern District. Assistant United States Attorney John File prosecuted the case.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
###
Mexican National Sentenced for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old woman from Guadalajara, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of importing methamphetamine into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Yezel Eunice Nevarez-Martell pleaded guilty Aug. 30, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Nevarez to serve 168 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Nevarez is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the court took into consideration that the methamphetamine had a 90% purity level which is commonly referred to as “ice.” In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that there are many young people that come before the court, sadly, on a regular basis and also expressed concern with the significant amount of such a significant drug which, once distributed, effects people at all levels of life.
At the time of her guilty plea, Nevarez admitted that on April 2, 2017, she drove a vehicle from Mexico and attempted to enter the United States at the Hidalgo port of entry, knowing the vehicle contained a controlled substance. Upon inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment within the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents seized 23 packages weighing approximately 22 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Nevarez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.
Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced as Part of Operation Leaving Las VegasRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Two defendants involved in a conspiracy that generated at least $1 million in drug proceeds by trafficking methamphetamine, oxycodone, and suboxone from Las Vegas to Southwest Virginia were sentenced in recent days in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, the United States Attorney’s Office announced.
Tracy Allen Callihan, 49, of Glade Spring, Va., was sentenced Tuesday, April 17 to 324 months imprisonment. Callihan was previously found guilty by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Callihan was also ordered to forfeit $30,000 in proceeds from his criminal activity. On April 12, Steven Cino, 52, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced to 292 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a money judgment of $251,633. Cino previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, methamphetamine and suboxone and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Cino and Callihan are the latest defendants to be sentenced as part of Operation Leaving Las Vegas, a multi-agency investigation that began in 2014 and resulted in charges against 32 individuals for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and suboxone in Southwest Virginia, Nevada, Eastern Kentucky, and elsewhere.
According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, members of the conspiracy sent crystal methamphetamine and oxycodone via FedEx and the United States Postal Service from Las Vegas to various individuals in Abingdon and Eastern Kentucky. Upon receipt, the drugs were redistributed. Investigators were able to identify and charge not only those who received the drugs locally but also the source of the substances in Nevada.
The proceeds from the conspiracy, which investigators found to be at least $1,000,000, were routinely transferred from Abingdon to Las Vegas using bank accounts in the names of drug suppliers who lived in Las Vegas. Funds were also transferred between Abingdon and Las Vegas using Western Union and MoneyGram services.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Abingdon Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Smyth County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee will prosecute the case for the United States.
Matthews, N.C. Man Sentenced to 16 ½ Years for His Role in Union County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced today that a Matthews, N.C. man was sentenced to 198 months in prison and five years of supervised release for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Nestor Javier Martin Fernandez, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on November 12, 2017, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Fernandez was driving and arrested Fernandez on outstanding warrants. Over the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered from Fernandez’s vehicle more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and two firearms.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Monroe Police Department, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Dillon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Lindahl of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge Stemming from Arson at Enfield RestaurantRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on April 16, 2018, MUSTAFA ZABANA, 32, a citizen of Iraq last residing in Westfield, Mass., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to a fraud offense related to an arson at his Connecticut restaurant.
According to court documents and statements made in court, ZABANA was the majority owner of Zabana, Inc., doing business as Bruno’s Pizza, a restaurant located at 634 Enfield Street in Enfield, Connecticut. On June 3, 2016, at approximately 10:42 p.m., ZABANA intentionally set a fire in Bruno’s Pizza, causing damage to the restaurant and its contents, as well as other commercial space in the mall where the restaurant was located. Emergency fire personnel responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.
After the fire, ZABANA filed an insurance claim with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual sent ZABANA an advance check of $5,000 for claimed loss. ZABANA then continued to pursue additional payments from Liberty Mutual through at least December 2016.
ZABANA pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for June 29, 2018.
ZABANA has been detained since his arrest on March 23, 2017.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT), ATF Fire Research Lab, Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, Enfield Police Department, and Thompsonville Fire Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Dave Vatti.
Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, announced that EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS, age 32, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS to 6 months incarceration, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100.000 fine.
According to court records, EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS was found in the United States on December 14, 2017, after having been previously deported on multiple occasions.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
Louisville Man Charged with Possession and Distribution of MethRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville convicted felon was charged by grand jury indictment today with possession and distribution of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
Roger Dale Goodman, 37, is charged in a single count indictment with conspiring with others between January of 2017 and April of 2018, to knowingly and intentionally distribute meth.
Goodman is currently in state custody on a $50,000 bond, following a Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) police involved shooting. The incident occurred on February 1, 2018, on Derby Avenue. According to LMPD, Goodman was driving a truck that was stopped by Detectives Darrell Hyche and Bradley Woolridge as part of a narcotics investigation. A passenger, according to police, opened fire critically injuring Detective Hyche. Detective Woolridge returned fire, mortally wounding two passengers in the vehicle.
Goodman will be remanded to federal custody for an initial appearance on the single charge. The court date has not been scheduled.
If convicted at trial, Goodman could be sentenced to no less than ten years in federal prison, fined, and required to serve a five years period of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress and is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and LMPD.
* * *
The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
goodman_roger_indictment_4_18_18_7.pdfLewiston Man Sentenced to Almost 22 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nicholas T. Richard, 39, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 262 months in prison and supervised release for life for receiving child pornography images. He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims depicted in the images. Richard pleaded guilty on November 20, 2017.
According to court records, in February of last year, Richard used the internet and peer-to-peer file-sharing software to download child pornography images. Richard was at the Auburn Public Library when he downloaded the images using the library’s wireless internet connection. Investigators seized Richard’s laptop computer and other electronic devices from him at the library and obtained a search warrant for them. The laptop contained thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography and child erotica. Richard was subject to an enhanced sentence because of a prior federal child pornography conviction.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Auburn Police Department. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative to locate, apprehend and prosecute people who sexually exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lead Defendants in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to Serve Time in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 17, 2018, David Byron Jones, 61, of Chatsworth, Georgia, was sentenced by the Honorable R. Leon Jordan, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 180 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (meth) in the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Jones pleaded guilty in January 2018. According to his plea agreement on file with U.S. District Court, he admitted to being responsible for at least 1.5 kilograms but less than 4.5 kilograms of actual meth.
In 2016, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together began an investigation into an evolving meth distribution network that was distributing multiple kilogram quantities of meth in and around Hawkins County, Tennessee. Jones, who lived in north Georgia, supplied this organization with kilograms of meth that was then distributed by members of conspiracy, most of whom were from Hawkins County, Tennessee. One of his distributors, Jonathan Delph, 51, of Rogersville, Tennessee, was sentenced in March 2018 to serve 210 months in federal prison after pleading guilty and admitting to being responsible for at least 1.5 kilograms but less than 4.5 kilograms of actual meth.
The convictions of Jones and Delph are the result of a 49-count indictment that also charged the following individuals for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Clay Seals, Jr., 51, of Surgoinsville, Tennessee
- Stephanie Bailey, 50, of Hawkins County, Tennessee
- Donna Strong, 54, a/k/a Donna Dunbar, of Surgoinsville, Tennessee
- Curtis Carpenter, 43, of Whitesburg, Tennessee
- Jerry Robinette, 48, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Edward Smith, 52, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Tyler Delph, 25, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Scottie Delph, 49, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- James Michael Whitaker, 54, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Paul Bledsoe Jr., 43, of Morristown, Tennessee
- William West, 58, a/k/a Bump, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Frankie Benton, 34, of Hawkins County, Tennessee
- James Dwayne Byington, 50, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Leonard Brad Eidson, 43, of Bull’s Gap, Tennessee
- Phillip Burton, 49, a/k/a Burger, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Toby Jones, 40, of Chatsworth, Georgia
All of the individuals charged in this case have been convicted of conspiring to distribute meth. Several have already been sentenced in U.S. District Court and the remainder are scheduled to be sentenced between now and June 12, 2018.
The ongoing investigation leading to the indictment was the product of a partnership between Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department, Third Judicial Drug Task Force, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area - Rocky Top Task Force, Third Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Lampe represents the United States in court proceedings.
The investigation is a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
###
Las Vegas Realtor Indicted for Tax and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the District of Nevada has returned an indictment yesterday, charging a former Las Vegas, Nevada, realtor with tax evasion, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws, making a false statement to a bank and failure to file tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
According to the indictment, William Waller evaded over $500,000 in taxes owed for 2004 through 2009 and obstructed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by directing third parties to pay nominee entities for services Waller provided, and then using bank accounts in the names of those nominees to pay his personal expenses. Waller also allegedly failed to timely file federal income tax returns for the years 2011 and 2012, despite having an obligation to do so.
The indictment further charges Waller with making a false statement to a bank in order to obtain a loan modification by falsely representing that he had not worked in several years and had no source of income, when in fact he had been employed and received income.
If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for making a false statement to a bank, five years in prison for tax evasion, three years in prison for obstruction of the internal revenue laws, and one year in prison on each failure to file a tax return count. Waller also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Andrea Kafka and John Mulcahy, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Las Vegas Realtor Indicted for Tax and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury for the District of Nevada returned an indictment yesterday, charging a former Las Vegas, Nevada, realtor with tax evasion, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws, making a false statement to a bank and failure to file tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
According to the indictment, William Waller evaded over $500,000 in taxes owed for 2004 through 2009 and obstructed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by directing third parties to pay nominee entities for services Waller provided, and then using bank accounts in the names of those nominees to pay his personal expenses. Waller also allegedly failed to timely file federal income tax returns for the years 2011 and 2012, despite having an obligation to do so.
The indictment further charges Waller with making a false statement to a bank in order to obtain a loan modification by falsely representing that he had not worked in several years and had no source of income, when in fact he had been employed and received income.
If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for making a false statement to a bank, five years in prison for tax evasion, three years in prison for obstruction of the internal revenue laws, and one year in prison on each failure to file a tax return count. Waller also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Andrea Kafka and John Mulcahy, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
###
Knife-wielding Coraopolis Man Carjacked a Vehicle then Robbed a Rite Aid Pharmacy of $200K in Prescription MedsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. – A former resident of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of carjacking, armed robbery of a pharmacy and violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Joshua Williams, age 37, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on May 29, 2017, Williams climbed through the open passenger window of a Chevrolet Malibu vehicle and attempted to poke the driver with a knife. The driver of the car was able to jump out of the vehicle and crawl onto the sidewalk as the defendant fled in the vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, Onstar tracked the vehicle to Noblestown Road. When police responded to the area, they learned that the defendant had just robbed a Rite Aid pharmacy. The defendant jumped over the counter, pointed a large serrated knife at the pharmacist, and demanded Oxycodone, Fentanyl and Adderall. Williams fled the pharmacy with a trashcan full of medications with a street value of nearly $200,000. Onstar continued to track the vehicle and the defendant was apprehended minutes later with the prescription pill bottles stolen from the pharmacy, as well as a knife.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
Jury Finds Tulsa Man Guilty of Violating Federal Firearms and Drug LawsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today that a jury found Kevin Dewayne Leffler, 38, of Tulsa, guilty of possessing an unregistered firearm after prior felony convictions, and possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine. The jury determined that Leffler illegally possessed six firearms, including a loaded .45 caliber pistol, two conventional shotguns, a rifle, an assault rifle, and a sawed-off shotgun. The jury also found that the sawed-off shotgun was possessed in furtherance of Leffler’s intent to traffic approximately 42 grams of methamphetamine. Leffler was acquitted of knowingly possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
“Today, a jury held Kevin Leffler accountable for his drug and related crimes. I commend the jury for reaching verdicts of guilty and thank them for their service. Jury trials are one of the most important duties undertaken by federal prosecutors. Jury trials are especially significant in our criminal justice system because it is the citizens on the jury who make the final decision,” stated U.S. Attorney Shores. “I am proud of Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Roberts and Chris Nassar for their deft and professional prosecution of this matter. I am thankful for the skilled investigators at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department. This community is safer and this conviction was secured because of their joint efforts.”
District Judge John E. Dowdell, of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial and will sentence Leffler on July 23, 2018 at 10:00 am. Leffler faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, and five years supervised release for the Felon in Possession of Firearm charge and the Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime charge; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, and three years supervised release for the Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine charge; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years supervised release for the Felon in Possession of an Unregistered Firearm charge.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan M. Roberts and Christopher J. Nassar.
Jury Convicts Three Men of 2009 Newport News MurderRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted three men late yesterday for their respective roles in a 2009 murder in Newport News.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Joseph J. C. Benson, 36, of Boston, Massachusetts, Mark X. Wallace, 36, of Williamsburg, and Bryan L. Brown, 31, of Newport News, were convicted of murder resulting from the home invasion and attempted drug robbery of Louis E. Joseph, Jr. of Newport News on March 13, 2009. Wallace recruited Benson, who traveled from Massachusetts to Virginia to help perpetrate the drug robbery. During the robbery, Benson and another individual entered the home and murdered Joseph, who was shot multiple times. Benson was linked to the crime by DNA evidence found at the scene. Wallace, who was waiting in the car during the crime, left the scene and following the murder Bryan Brown caused the murder weapons to be transported to New York, where they were recovered in an undercover operation.
The men were each convicted of use of a firearm resulting in death, and face a maximum penalty of life in prison when they are sentenced. Bryan Brown’s sentencing is scheduled for July 19, 2018, Joseph Benson’s sentencing is set for July 24, 2018, and Mark Wallace’s sentencing is set for August 6, 2018. 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.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard J. Zlotnick and Lisa R. McKeel 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. 4:17-cr-45.
Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa. pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of filing false income tax returns, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
James E. Book, Sr., pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Book knowingly filed false income tax returns for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, in which he understated his income and overstated his expenses, for a total tax loss of $239,940.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for August 9, 2018, at 1 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 12 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Book.
Jefferson County, Ohio man guilty of drug distribution and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – After a two-day trial, Emory Chiles, of Steubenville, Ohio, was found guilty on all counts today by a jury, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
After 26 minutes of deliberations, a jury found Chiles, age 43, guilty of one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” one count of “Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Offense,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Chiles distributed heroin and possessed a 9mm pistol in Monongalia County in November 2017. Chiles was previously convicted of a felony in the Northern District of West Virginia
“I appreciate the hard work of our trial team and judgement of the jury. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who violate our drug laws and be particularly vigilant when prohibited individuals have firearms. Firearms and drugs often go hand in hand and keeping our communities safe is our number one priority,” said Powell.
Chiles faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the first count, faces up to five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the second count, and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the third count. 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 Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.Interns Visit National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenRead the Press Release
On Wednesday, April 11th, interns from INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau—visited the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. NCMEC has centers in Florida, New York, Texas, and California. INTERPOL Washington has been in partnership with NCMEC for approximately 20 years. NCMEC provides leads and information about child sexual exploitation and abuse to law enforcement officials via INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure messaging system. The I-24/7 system quickly disseminates information and leads shared from NCMEC’s CyberTipline to domestic and international investigative law enforcement agencies for potential action.
During the visit, the Spring intern class of 2018 heard from speakers who discussed the units within NCMEC and the support services NCMEC provides to families when a child goes missing whether domestically or internationally. The interns also learned about the various partner organizations that assist in disseminating photos of missing children across the United States.
INTERPOL Washington InternsInternships at INTERPOL Washington offer in-depth insight about the criminal justice system at the domestic and global levels, transnational crime, and law enforcement. Interns are placed within critical mission areas and also receive opportunities to take field trips to nearby law enforcement facilities and training sites. To learn more about internships at INTERPOL Washington, please visit our website.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Being in the CountryRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to prison for illegally re-entering the country after removal or deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury deliberated for only approximately 30 minutes before finding Candelario Lucio-Garza guilty on Jan. 23, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez handed Lucio-Garza a 40-month sentence to be followed by three years of supervision after his release from prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Lucio-Garza is again expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, additional evidence was also provided that detailed Lucio-Garza’s three prior convictions for illegal re-entry and that he had also been convicted of attempted murder in 1993. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Lucio-Garza’s prior convictions, the fact that he attempted to re-enter the United States just two weeks after being deported and the 32-month sentence he received for his last illegal re-entry conviction in 2015.
During the trial, law enforcement testified that Lucio-Garza had been apprehended hiding on the Pharr International Bridge just 150 yards south of the Pharr Port of Entry shortly after midnight on Oct. 16, 2017. At that time, he admitted to being a Mexican national. Record checks revealed he had also been previously removed from the United States on three separate occasions and that he had no lawful status to be in the country.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that he had not actually entered the United States because he was still on the international bridge and that it was his intent to seek asylum in the United States even though he was found hiding from law enforcement agents after the bridge was closed and had not attempted to approach the processing center.
The jury did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Lucio-Garza has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Pharr Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Paxton and Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Federal Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who unlawfully used fraudulent identification documents was sentenced April 17, 2018, to four months in federal prison.
Cesar Mendez-Chavez, age 26, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 12, 2018, guilty plea to three counts of unlawful use of identification documents.
Evidence in the case showed that on June 9, 2016, and June 13, 2016, Mendez-Chavez, an illegal alien, used a fraudulent social security card when completing employment forms to obtain jobs using an alias name in Tama and Northwood, Iowa. Mendez-Chavez also used the social security card on February 12, 2012, to obtain employment in Postville, Iowa. The social security account number on the card used by Mendez-Chavez was not his. Mendez-Chavez falsely claimed to be a United States citizen on the employment forms.
On January 26, 2018, Mendez-Chavez used a different social security card in applying for a State of Iowa Identification Card using a different alias name in Tama, Iowa. The social security account number and name on the social security card used by Mendez-Chavez belonged to a real United States citizen. Mendez-Chavez also used a fraudulent birth certificate in that alias name as proof of identity. These documents were seized by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
On January 31, 2018, Mendez-Chavez was arrested by immigration officers at his place of employment in Tama, Iowa, where he worked under an alias.
Mendez-Chavez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Mendez-Chavez was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Mendez-Chavez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-04-LRR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Honduras Man Sentenced to Time Served (over Seven Months) for Entering the U.S. After RemovalRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mario Ernesto Garcia-Zavala, 22, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by George Z. Singal to time served (about 221 days) after being found guilty of having entered the United States after being removed. He was convicted following a non-jury trial on March 21, 2018.
The evidence at trial showed that Garcia-Zavala unlawfully entered the United States in about March 2014 and was ordered removed to Honduras on March 29, 2014. Four days later, immigration authorities returned him to Honduras. Garcia-Zavala did not apply for permission to reenter the United States. He was arrested in Portland on September 9, 2017 after a Maine State Trooper stopped the van in which he was a passenger for traffic violations.
U.S. Attorney Frank said: “We have a lawful system of immigration. We appreciate it when our state and local law enforcement partners help us identify people who cross our borders illegally, often, as here, repeatedly.”
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Removal Operations and the Maine State Police.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Use of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LAZARO VILLATORO-BODDEN (“VILLATORO-BODDEN”), age 36, was sentenced today after pleading guilty on January 10, 2018, to a one-count Bill of Information for illegal use of a social security number in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced VILLATORO-BODDEN to one year of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to court records, VILLATORO-BODDEN knowingly and with the intent to deceive, falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him by the Commissioner of Social Security when, in fact, as VILLATORO-BODDEN knew, the social security number had not been assigned to him. His deception and illegal use of the social security number was done for the purpose of obtaining boat registration documents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson is in charge of the prosecution.
Hanover Man Found Guilty of Dumping Sewage into West Virginia StreamRead the Press Release
Defendant was dumping truckloads of sewage into Little Huff Creek in Wyoming County
BECKLEY, WV -- Mike Blankenship was found guilty after a two day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Mike Blankenship, 54, of Hanover, West Virginia, was convicted of two felony Clean Water Act violations and faces a total sentence of up to six years of incarceration, a $500,000 fine, supervised release for three years, and a special assessment of $200 when he is sentenced on August 1, 2018 by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger. United States Attorney Mike Stuart praised the work of the Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, who were also assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police.
“Environmental crimes are serious, serious matters,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “After presentation of the evidence and in front of a jury of his peers, Mr. Blankenship was convicted for a serious environmental crime. Great work by my team and by the EPA and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.”
“The defendant in this case showed reckless disregard for the environment and public health,” said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working together, EPA, FBI and the State of West Virginia are sending a clear message that those who violate laws designed to protect our communities will be held responsible.”
On September 29, 2015, a sewage truck owned by Blankenship was seen dumping untreated sewage into Little Huff Creek, a tributary of the Guyandotte River in Southwestern West Virginia. Inspectors with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) responded to the truck’s location in Hanover, West Virginia. They saw the sewage truck with a hose placed in the creek, observed sewage in the water and on the ground, and quickly requested the assistance of the West Virginia State Police. Returning to the truck, WVDEP agents were able to take samples from the truck and pad. Lab tests confirmed the presence of fecal coliform, an indicator of raw or untreated sewage. Later, agents with the FBI, EPA, and WVDEP spoke to Blankenship. Blankenship owns a porta-john and sewage business under the name Hanover Contracting Company. Blankenship admitted that it was his sewage truck dumping sewage into the water on the day the WVDEP inspectors observed it. Blankenship also admitted to dumping sewage into Little Huff Creek on other occasions. Neighbors provided photographic evidence that they testified showed Blankenship’s trucks dumping sewage and porta-john waste into the creek on various dates in 2015 and 2016. The jury also heard testimony from the law enforcement agents and experts in water quality assessment.
Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Perry McDaniel represented the United States during the jury trial.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
###
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Returning to the United States Following Prior DeportationRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who illegally returned to the United States was sentenced April 17, 2018, to almost three months in federal prison.
Vicente Raymundo-Lopez, age 51, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 15, 2018, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Raymundo-Lopez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States on July 30, 2008, and that he illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. On January 12, 2018, Raymundo-Lopez was found by immigration officers at the Linn County Jail in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following his arrest for a traffic offense. Raymundo-Lopez claimed to have illegally reentered the United States in 2012.
Raymundo-Lopez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Raymundo-Lopez was sentenced to 83 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Raymundo-Lopez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 18-CR-02-LRR.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Great Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Antonio Todd Tigart, a 21-year-old Great Falls resident, was sentenced today to 14 months in prison followed by 2 years supervised release after pleading guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearms on January 17, 2018. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentence.
On June 26, 2017, officers with the Great Falls Police Department ran Tigart for warrants after he walked past a civil standby. Tigart had an active arrest warrant for the revocation of his felony, criminal endangerment conviction in February 2017. A loaded Springfield Armory .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was tucked into his waistband. Further investigation revealed that the firearm was stolen in December 2016.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Great Falls Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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.
Glenville Man Charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brendan Chandler, age 34, of Glenville, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged today with attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to a criminal complaint, Chandler used the Kik messaging application to solicit sex from someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually a New York State Police Investigator acting in an undercover capacity. Chandler was arrested in a parking lot in Albany County, where he thought he was going to pick up the girl in his car so that they could have sex. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chandler appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted, Chandler faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. 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 and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Four Women Admit Conspiracy to Distribute Thousands of Oxycodone Pills in Hunterdon County, New JerseyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Four women appeared in federal court this week to admit their respective roles in an oxycodone distribution conspiracy in Flemington, New Jersey, and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Alicia Balaban, 35, of Wellington, Florida; Marie DeJulia, 42, of Lodi, New Jersey; and Michele Call, 63, and Nelida Rios, 55, both of Flemington, were previously charged by complaint. They entered their guilty pleas – to informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone – before U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton federal court.
According to the documents filed in the case and statements made in Court:
Balaban, is Call’s daughter and DeJulia’s friend. From April 2016 through December 2017, Balaban, Call, and Rios worked together to secure prescriptions for oxycodone, fill them at pharmacies in Flemington, and then distribute the pills to DeJulia from Call’s and Rios’ Flemington residences for resale. The conspirators distributed thousands of 30 mg oxycodone pills.
Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense. Sentencing for Rios and Balaban is scheduled for July 20, 2018, and for Call and DeJulia, July 24, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel:
DeJulia: John Azzarello Esq., Morristown, New Jersey
Balaban: Clifford Lazzaro Esq., Elizabeth, New Jersey
Call: Jason LeBoeuf Esq., Newark
Rios: Michael Pedicini Esq., Chatham, New JerseyFounder of Not for Profit Organization Convicted of Stealing United Nations Grant Funds SentencedRead 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 Steve S. Jabar, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted following a jury trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and making false statements, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marie P. Grisanti and MaryEllen Kresse, who prosecuted the case, stated that Jabar, and co-defendant Deborah Bowers, founded a not for profit organization OKI, Opportunities for Kids International, Inc. In June 2004, Jabar and Bowers, through OKI, applied for and received a $500,000 grant from United Nations to create, maintain and operate a radio station in Iraq. The mission of the radio station was to further women’s rights issues in Iraq.
Within 24 hours of receiving a portion of the grant money, the defendants began to divert some of the funding for their own personal use. Jabar and Bowers diverted more than $65,000 for their own personal use. Jabar used some of the funding to pay off personal debts, including the payment of property taxes owed on his residence and business, as well as mortgage, utility, credit card payments and personal loan payments. Bowers also utilized some of the funding to pay personal credit card debt and make mortgage payments.
During the investigation, the defendants made false statement to investigator with the Internal Revenue Service in order to conceal with criminal behavior.
Deborah Bowers is awaiting sentencing.
“Following a five-week trial, a jury returned a verdict convicting defendant Jabar of conspiring to commit wire fraud, engaging in wire fraud, and making materially false statements,” said U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Notwithstanding that verdict, the trial judge found that the government’s evidence regarding harm to be lacking such that defendant’s wire fraud convictions could not be sustained. Notably, however, the Court found no infirmity in the defendant’s conviction for making a materially false statement to Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That statement came when the defendant falsely told agents that the entire $350,000 grant from the United Nations was sent to Iraq for the radio station, with the exception of expenses totaling no more than $10,000. In truth and in fact, however, the defendant used tens of thousands of dollars of the UNIFEM grant money to pay his personal loans and expenses. Such monies were not sent to Iraq for purposes of the radio station. Despite the defendant’s criticism of the government, his anger is misplaced. The only person he has to be mad at is himself. The job of the prosecutors in my Office and the job of our law enforcement partners is impartially to enforce the law. That is precisely what happened here—nothing more and nothing less. I commend Assistant United States Attorneys Marie Grisanti and Mary Ellen Kresse and the fine men and women of the IRS and the FBI for their efforts in this case. The defendant could have avoided this entire ordeal simply by being completely honest, forthright, and transparent in all of his dealings with the government. His refusal to do that is precisely what landed him before a federal judge for sentencing today.”
Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, under the direction of James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons.