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11 May 2018
Westerville Man Sentenced for Threatening CongressmanRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – E. Stanley Hoff, 69, of Westerville, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 40 months in prison for threatening to assault and murder a United States official.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States Capitol Police announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
Hoff was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2017, and, according to court documents, threatened to assault and murder U.S Representative Steve Stivers and a member of Stivers’ family.
Hoff was responsible for a series of threatening voicemails from February to June 2017 left at the Representative’s office in Hilliard.
For example, in March, a portion of one of Hoff’s messages stated, “we’re going to take care of it our way” and “Leave Obamacare alone or die.”
In another message, Hoff references the June 2017 Congressional Baseball Game for Charity shooting and calls it “only the tip of the iceberg” saying maybe the “next one taken down will be” Stivers.
“Hoff threatened the Congressman and his family because the Congressman was not legislating according to Hoff’s political views,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “That is unacceptable in our society. Peaceful political argument or banter is one thing, but Hoff’s conduct was a far cry from that. Threatening to assault or murder a United States official on account of that official’s performance of his or her duties is a serious federal crime — regardless of political party or views. The significant prison sentence that Hoff received today is warranted by his conduct and, I hope, will make others think twice about threatening government officials.”
Hoff was arrested on June 21, when he was charged by a criminal complaint and has been held without bond. He pleaded guilty in October 2017.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the U.S. Capitol Police and Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Kelley and Noah Litton, who are prosecuting the case.
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Western Slope Sovereign Citizen Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – Rocky Hutson, age 59, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, was sentenced to serve 70 months (nearly 6 years) in federal prison for false claims, creating fictious financial instruments and bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers and Department of Education Special Agent in Charge Adam Shandeling announced. After serving his prison sentence, Hutson will then spend 3 years on supervised release. The defendant appeared at the sentencing hearing free on bond. He was ordered to report to a prison facility within 15 days of designation. On January 11, 2018 the defendant was found guilty of bank fraud and related crimes following a jury trial.
In late 2011 and early 2012, Hutson devised a scheme to frustrate or delay the legitimate collection of debts that included student loans, small business loans, car loans, and home mortgages. The defendant created various documents that appeared to be legitimate financial instruments but were in fact worthless and gave them to various acquaintances to submit in payment of debts. If a financial institution refused to accept the worthless instrument as payment, Hutson often made phone calls or sent letters to the bank or its attorneys in an effort to convince them the instruments were legitimate. In one case, he even went so far as to threaten to have a bank employee thrown in jail for refusing the payment. A few months later, in May of 2012, he began a similar course of conduct that involved submitting false claims to the Department of Agriculture in attempts not only to pay off existing debts but also to purchase new items, including seventeen Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a shopping center worth over $7 million.
Testimony at trial indicated that Hutson had a hand in submitting nearly $14.7 million worth of false claims to the Department of Agriculture and about $6.3 million worth of fictitious financial instruments to various financial institutions. Although there was ultimately no loss to the federal government, banks lost about $47,000 due to Hutson’s schemes, and various individuals suffered smaller losses as a result of his actions. According to the prosecution, Hutson’s true motivation was a sincere and abiding dislike of the government, banks, and the financial system in general as well as his affiliation with a “sovereign citizen” group known as the “Republic for the United States of America.”
The jury convicted Hutson of all fourteen counts with which he was charged, including five counts of filing false claims with the Department of Agriculture, six counts of creating fictitious financial instruments, and three counts of bank fraud.
“Americans have every right to believe whatever ideology they want,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “But they don’t have a right to hide behind any ideology to manipulate others in violation of the law and for their own personal gain. That’s what the defendant did, and he’ll be punished for it. Our prosecutors and the FBI made sure of that.”
"The FBI is committed to aggressively pursuing those who defraud our banking institutions. The creation of fictitious financial instruments to avoid debt payment is a felony,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. “The recent sentencing of Rocky Hudson should deter others who engage in these types of fraud schemes."
Hutson was indicted in June 2016 as the result of a widespread investigation by the FBI and the Department of Education OIG into fraudulent debt elimination tactics promoted by the sovereign citizen movement on the western slope of Colorado. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Burrows and Peter Hautzinger.
CASE NUMBER: 16-CR-00186
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Visit our website http://www.justice.gov/usao/co | Follow us on Twitter @DCoNewsWestern Slope Sovereign Citizen Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Related CrimesRead the Press Release
DENVER – Rocky Hutson, age 59, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, was sentenced to serve 70 months (nearly 6 years) in federal prison for false claims, creating fictious financial instruments and bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers and Department of Education Western Region Special Agent in Charge Adam Shandeling announced. After serving his prison sentence, Hutson will then spend 3 years on supervised release. The defendant appeared at the sentencing hearing free on bond. He was ordered to report to a prison facility within 15 days of designation. On January 11, 2018 the defendant was found guilty of bank fraud and related crimes following a jury trial.
In late 2011 and early 2012, Hutson devised a scheme to frustrate or delay the legitimate collection of debts that included student loans, small business loans, car loans, and home mortgages. The defendant created various documents that appeared to be legitimate financial instruments but were in fact worthless and gave them to various acquaintances to submit in payment of debts. If a financial institution refused to accept the worthless instrument as payment, Hutson often made phone calls or sent letters to the bank or its attorneys in an effort to convince them the instruments were legitimate. In one case, he even went so far as to threaten to have a bank employee thrown in jail for refusing the payment. A few months later, in May of 2012, he began a similar course of conduct that involved submitting false claims to the Department of Agriculture in attempts not only to pay off existing debts but also to purchase new items, including seventeen Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a shopping center worth over $7 million.
Testimony at trial indicated that Hutson had a hand in submitting nearly $14.7 million worth of false claims to the Department of Agriculture and about $6.3 million worth of fictitious financial instruments to various financial institutions. Although there was ultimately no loss to the federal government, banks lost about $47,000 due to Hutson’s schemes, and various individuals suffered smaller losses as a result of his actions. According to the prosecution, Hutson’s true motivation was a sincere and abiding dislike of the government, banks, and the financial system in general as well as his affiliation with a “sovereign citizen” group known as the “Republic for the United States of America.”
The jury convicted Hutson of all fourteen counts with which he was charged, including five counts of filing false claims with the Department of Agriculture, six counts of creating fictitious financial instruments, and three counts of bank fraud.
“Americans have every right to believe whatever ideology they want,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “Buth they don’t have a right to hide behind any ideology to manipulate others in violation of the law and for their own personal gain. That’s what the defendant did, and he’ll be punished for it. Our prosecutors and the FBI made sure of that.”
"The FBI is committed to aggressively pursuing those who defraud our banking institutions. The creation of fictitious financial instruments to avoid debt payment is a felony,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. “The recent sentencing of Rocky Hudson should deter others who engage in these types of fraud schemes."
Hutson was indicted in June 2016 as the result of a widespread investigation by the FBI and the Department of Education OIG into fraudulent debt elimination tactics promoted by the sovereign citizen movement on the western slope of Colorado. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Burrows and Peter Hautzinger.
CASE NUMBER: 16-CR-00186
Warren man sentenced for theft of government fundsRead the Press Release
A Warren man was sentenced to six months of house arrested and ordered to repay $82,428 to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Dean Nikolaides, 64, was also fined $5,000 and placed on probation for three year. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds.
Nikolaides fraudulently received $82,428 in benefits over 14 years from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to which he knew he was not entitled. The PBGC is a federal agency that protects the retirement incomes of American workers in private-sector defined benefit pension plans, according to court documents.
Special Agents Adelle Harris and Conrad Quarles from the PBGC conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian prosecuted the case.
Vista Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years for Coercing Young Children into Sending Him Naked Pictures and VideosRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Sabrina Feve (619) 546-6786
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 11, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Joseph Daniel Saucedo of Vista was sentenced in federal court today to 235 months in custody and 20 years of supervised release for attempting to manipulate two children, ages 11 and 16, into sending sexually explicit photographs of themselves, and then threatening to expose them if they refused to continue.
According to the plea agreement, Saucedo posed as a teenage girl, “Amy Jennings,” and began communicating on-line with an 11-year-old Canadian boy. At first the two had normal conversations about everyday life. But then Saucedo, pretending to be “Amy,” sent naked pictures of young girls and asked the boy to communicate with her “friend,” Saucedo, in return. When the boy refused, “Amy” posted a photograph of his house, told the boy she knew where he lived, and threatened to shame him into communicating with Saucedo.
The boy ultimately relented and texted Saucedo, who then communicated with the boy using FaceTime and displayed his naked front torso. The boy hung up on Saucedo but the calls and threats continued until, finally, on January 25, 2016, the boy received a message from “Amy,” which included a video of a young boy masturbating. “Amy” threatened to leak the video and claim it was the Canadian boy if the boy did not send naked pictures of himself to Saucedo.
Additional investigation revealed that Saucedo had been in communication with other young children, successfully soliciting sexually graphic images from them. For example, in August 2015, Saucedo struck up a conversation with a 16-year-old girl in Florida through Instagram. This time, Saucedo pretended to be a modeling agent looking for “bikini and nude models” adding “obviously the pay is great.” When the Florida girl told Saucedo that she was only 16 and would have to check with her parents, he volunteered that they could just “make a portfolio” at no cost to her, and “then we can talk to your parents.” She demurred again, telling Saucedo that she had “never been comfortable in my skin.” He promised to “help with that hun if you want we can FaceTime so nothing is saved.”
She continued to refuse his overtures until Saucedo, under the guise of “Amy Jennings,” threatened to blackmail the girl. The girl turned to Saucedo for help with “Amy.” Although he initially claimed no knowledge of Amy Jennings and insisted his modeling business was legitimate, he quickly agreed to help the girl, for a price: nude pictures of herself. He even asked her to “[w]rite my name on a paper or hand so I know it’s a new one.” She acquiesced and sent him pictures of her breasts with “Joe” written across her chest.
Saucedo demanded that the girl continue sending him naked photographs, or “Amy” would post compromising pictures of the girl. The girl volunteered that she was “looking into Kik’s legal system” to handle the threatening “Amy” posts. Within seconds, Saucedo responded, “Na I’ll pay her I don’t want you to get in trouble.” Saucedo no doubt feared that alerting Kik to “Amy Jennings” could have compromised his illegal activities. Saucedo told the girl that he had paid “Amy Jennings” $2,000. As a thank you, the girl agreed to a sexually explicit FaceTime chat with Saucedo. She also sent additional photographs of herself naked with “Joe” written on her breasts and above her vagina, again at his request.
Saucedo continued to hound the girl for almost a year, from August 2015 to June 2016, requesting more naked photographs. He even sent her a photo of stacks of money to elicit more naked photographs. She sent him one more photograph in October 2015, but then stopped responding.
Through search warrants for Saucedo’s cell phones, investigators identified an additional eight minor victims whom Saucedo harassed and manipulated. His youngest victim was 13 at the time of the offense. This victim told Saucedo her age and he nonetheless continued to solicit nude photos from her, including pressuring her to take naked photos of herself while she was at school. Saucedo also directed a 14 year-old victim to sodomize herself and to penetrate herself with a hair brush and threatened her when she protested, including ignoring her warning that his requests made her contemplate suicide. Saucedo’s indifference to his victims’ apparent suffering included disregarding multiple victims’ warnings that his contacts and demands were triggering suicidal thoughts.
At the sentencing hearing, the government acknowledged and thanked the family of the 11 year-old victim. Their vigilance and willingness to report Saucedo’s conduct, coupled with the investigative follow-up efforts of the Calgary Policy Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, led Canadian authorities to refer the matter to San Diego’s Electronic Crimes Working Group, which ultimately identified and arrested Saucedo. Only following Saucedo’s arrest did law enforcement learn of his additional nine victims. Victims, family members, and friends are encouraged to report similar threats and contacts to law enforcement now and in the future.
“This case highlights the importance of strong international partnerships to target these heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “Thank you to our Canadian colleagues, and most especially to the brave victims everywhere who step forward to report abusive conduct. Their courage is a critical part of detecting and stopping similar abuse now and in the future.”
“Saucedo's sentencing is a another great example of our collaboration with our law enforcement partners and our commitment to keeping our children safe,” said David Shaw, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “Dangerous child predators should not have the privilege to be a part of our communities without being held accountable and going through the criminal justice process.”
DEFENDANT Case Number: 17-CR-00095-JLS
Joseph Daniel Saucedo Age: 26 Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Counts One and Two
Attempted Receipt and Receipt of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2)
Minimum Penalty: 15 years
Maximum Penalty: 40 years
AGENCY
United States Homeland Security Investigations
United States Secret Service
Calgary Police Service
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Vermont U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
This year, May 13-19 is National Police Week. During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in protecting our communities. In 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which President John F. Kennedy signed, declaring May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice. According to statistics collected by the FBI, 93 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2017. Additionally, in 2017, there were 46 law enforcement officers killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts. Many will travel to Washington D.C. this week for a candlelight vigil at the National Memorial to honor fallen officers.
The United States Attorney’s Office would like to take the opportunity this week – as we should every day – to recognize the outstanding work of federal, state, local, and county law enforcement officers in Vermont. We are so very fortunate to live in the Green Mountain State. Vermont is an extraordinarily attractive place to reside, and that is due, in no small part, to the tireless efforts of officers at all levels of law enforcement to keep us safe. Quietly and consistently, they put themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities. They make decisions every day to stand on the front lines of our campaigns to combat violence, unlawful firearms activity, drug trafficking, and other dangerous crime. This is a tremendous daily sacrifice – on the part of officers, to be sure – but also on the part of their families and loved ones. We must never take for granted their sacrifices and their heroic work. We are especially gifted in our small state by the consistent collaborative efforts of law enforcement. Federal, state, local, and county officers come together in Vermont every day to promote public safety and common interest. They do not ask what’s in it for them, or who gets the glory; they are focused solely on protecting Vermonters.
We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are proud of our strong and special relationships with law enforcement at all levels – federal, state, local, and county. We are committed to ensuring that we maintain partnerships with law enforcement officers at every level, and in every corner of the state. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also appreciates our strong partnerships with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the State’s Attorneys in each of Vermont’s fourteen counties. We recognize that these relationships are of the utmost importance, and we understand that Vermonters and the police are best served when prosecutors unite in support of law enforcement’s collaborative efforts.
The recent and disturbing spate of violent crime across the state – including homicides, shootings in populous areas, drug-related violence, and armed robberies – brings the heroic work of our law enforcement officers into stark relief. They are not only the first responders to these frightening events and those tasked with apprehending dangerous offenders, they also investigate and solve these serious crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office places a premium on supporting law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in Vermont. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring violent offenders to justice. We have appointed an experienced, talented, and dedicated prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Fuller, – a Vermonter who previously served as a Deputy State’s Attorney, – to spearhead the USAO’s antiviolence campaign in Vermont. She is developing a statewide program designed to ensure that the USAO is deploying its resources and appropriately assisting federal, state, local, and county law enforcement in cases involving violence and unlawful firearms activity. Among other things, AUSA Fuller is helping to coordinate law enforcement efforts in violent crime cases; gathering intelligence concerning violent offenders; performing USAO intake in violent crime matters; and interfacing with State’s Attorneys regarding such matters. AUSA Fuller is also crisscrossing the state with an experienced ATF Special Agent, providing trainings to state, local, and county law enforcement officers and State’s Attorneys concerning federal laws relating to firearms and violence. We are committed to ensuring that state, local, and county law enforcement officers are aware of the resources and support that federal prosecutors and agents can provide in such cases.
There is no way to overstate the USAO’s support and gratitude for our law enforcement officers in Vermont. We thank you and your families and loved ones for your dedication and your sacrifice. Your commitment and service keep Vermonters safer every day and help to bring justice to those who would imperil the safety of our innocent citizens. We look forward to continuing to join in common cause to promote public safety. And we join you, during National Police Week and always, in honoring the injured and the fallen amongst your ranks.
Valdosta Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud and Stolen Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that on May 9, 2018, United States District Court Judge Hugh Lawson sentenced Kendrick Manning, age 42, of Valdosta, GA, to 60 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Embezzle Public Monies and Possess Stolen U.S. Treasury Checks. Mr. Manning pled guilty to the offense on January 18, 2018.
In entering his pleas, Mr. Manning admitted that in 2011, he obtained identifying information for a number of individuals, including nursing home residents and state prisoners from other unnamed co-conspirators, for the purpose of filing fraudulent income tax returns. From April 2011 to mid-2012, Mr. Manning filed fraudulent tax returns with the IRS using computer-based filing methods. Mr. Manning and co-conspirators would receive the fraudulent tax refunds generated by the tax returns in the form of direct deposit in multiple bank accounts held in the name of different individuals or as debit cards which would be loaded with the tax refund amounts.
102 fraudulent returns for tax year 2010 were filed by Mr. Manning, claiming refunds totaling about $450,000, on which nearly $300,000 in refunds were paid. For tax year 2011, Mr. Manning filed approximately 432 fraudulent returns totaling more than $3.7 million, with $1,185,259 in refund issued.
In 2013, the conspiracy continued with Mr. Manning and co-conspirators presenting stolen and otherwise fraudulently obtained United States Treasury checks, including tax refund checks, through a bank account to convert the checks into cash. Mr. Manning admitted that he had received the Treasury checks knowing them to be fraudulent and stolen. The checks that were presented were mostly tax returns, but some included Thrift Savings Plan payments, Social Security payments, and other types of tax related refunds.
The intended monetary loss attributable to Mr. Manning based on the conspiracy was more than $4.7 million belonging to the United States. As a part of the sentence, more than $2 million has been ordered to be paid in restitution to the United States Department of Treasury, The Citizens Bank in Nashville, Georgia and ABA Insurance Services, Inc.
“It is disheartening that tax fraud and identity theft is so prevalent,” United States Attorney Charles Peeler said. “My office is committed to prosecuting those individuals who defraud others and the United States.”
“The sentencing of Manning is another victory in the Internal Revenue Service’s continued efforts to combat identity theft,” said Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Even though the tax filing season is over, taxpayer’s need to remain vigilant in protecting their identifying information as the criminals commit their fraud year round.”
“This case is another example that clearly shows criminals are continuing to steal personal identifying information (PII) for the purpose of committing fraud,” said Clint Bush, Resident Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service. “In this case, United States Citizens were violated by having their PII stolen along with their legitimately issued tax refund checks. Many of these victims were counting on their tax refund to survive. Their tax refund being stolen placed a huge financial burden on their lives causing long lasting consequences. The United States Secret Service, along with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners will continue to investigate, arrest and support the successful prosecution of the criminals who choose to commit this and other types of financial fraud in our community and around the nation.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers prosecuted the case for the United States.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Union Officer Sentenced for Embezzlement, Aggravated ID TheftRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A former business manager and financial secretary for the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 40 in Rhode Island was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for embezzling $319,795 in union and union benefit funds.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Richard D’Antuono, 42, to pay full restitution to the union funds and to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration. D’Antuono pleaded guilty on January 18, 2018, to a three-count information charging him with embezzlement from a labor organization, embezzlement from an employee benefit plan, and aggravated identity theft.
The U.S. Sentencing guideline range of imprisonment in this matter is 24-30 months incarceration on the embezzlement charges, plus a consecutive mandatory sentence of 24 months incarceration on the charge of aggravated identity theft. The government recommended a term of imprisonment of 48 months.
D’Antuono’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Boston-Buffalo District Office.
At the time of his guilty plea, D’Antuono admitted to the Court that for two years, beginning in 2015, he embezzled $319,795 from a union operational account and from an apprentice fund, an employee benefit plan used to finance training programs for apprentice plasterers and masons and for the retraining or refresher training of journeymen union members.
D’Antuono admitted that he made checks out to himself substantially in excess of his salary and a stipend to which he was entitled. In some instances, he had the authorized signatories sign blank checks, which he later used to embezzle funds from the operational account. In other instances, he forged the signature of the authorized signatories on checks. D’Antuono admitted that he also embezzled funds from the Apprenticeship Fund by writing checks payable to the Local 40 operation account and then embezzling the funds in the same manner.
D’Antuono was the sole full-time officer of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 40.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards with the assistance of the Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations - Labor Racketeering & Fraud, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office remembers fallen law enforcement officers during National Police Week 2018Read the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. – Members of the public join with law enforcement across the country for National Police Week – May 13 through May 19 – to honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.
“One officer death is too many,” U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “While we are inexpressibly grateful to have had a decrease in the number of officers killed in the line of duty last year, the number is still far too high. At the Department of Justice, we honor the memories of the fallen and we pray for their families. We are also following President Trump's Executive Orders to back the women and men in blue, to enhance law enforcement safety, and to reduce violent crime in America. Those priorities will help keep every American safe, including those who risk their lives for us. As always, we have their backs and they have our thanks.”
“Those fallen officers honored during National Police Week represent the best of us,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “They gave their lives so our communities can be safe and secure. Our thoughts, prayers and gratitude go out to their families and friends.”
This year, the names of 93 officers killed in the line of duty in 2017 and some prior years were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the 30th Annual 2018 Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13. These names include officers who were killed during 2017 and officers who died in previous years who have not been previously added to the Memorial. The fallen officers of 2017 include two members of the law enforcement community in the Western District of Louisiana:
- Justin Levi Beard, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, who died April 30, 2017; and
- Michael Paul Middlebrook, Lafayette Police Department, who died October 1, 2017.
To assist local public safety officers in the work that they do, the U.S. Attorney’s Office offers safety and survival training throughout the year. The courses are open to federal, state, local, military and tribal law enforcement officers.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org. So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be livestreamed beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time on May 13. To register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.
To access the FBI’s 2017 Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report, please visit www.fbi.gov.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes Law Enforcement Service and Sacrifice During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers during National Police Week. During Police Week, which is observed from May 13 to 19, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment in keeping our communities safe.
“One officer death is too many,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “While we are inexpressibly grateful to have had a decrease in the number of officers killed in the line-of-duty last year, the number is still far too high. At the Department of Justice, we honor the memories of the fallen and we pray for their families. We are also following President Trump's Executive Orders to back the women and men in blue, to enhance law enforcement safety, and to reduce violent crime in America. Those priorities will help keep every American safe, including those who risk their lives for us. As always, we have their backs and they have our thanks.”
“National Police Week is a time to recognize, honor, and thank the noble and brave men and women in blue who serve in Nevada’s law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “We honor and remember officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members and friends they left behind. I want to thank every law enforcement officer for their service and sacrifice.”
According to statistics collected by the FBI, 93 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2017 – a 21 percent decrease from 2016 when 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents. Additionally, in 2017 there were 46 law enforcement officers killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts – this is a 30 percent decrease from 2016, when 66 law enforcement officer were killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts.
The names of all 93 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2018.
Among those to be added this year from Nevada will be:
- Charleston Vernon Hartfield, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was shot and killed while rescuing concert attendees during a mass shooting in Las Vegas. He was killed on October 1, 2017.
- Chad William Parque, of the North Las Vegas Police Department, was injured in a traffic accident while exiting the North Las Vegas Justice Court’s parking lot. He died of his injuries on January 7, 2017.
So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be livestreamed beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 13th. To register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2018. For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
In October 1962, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed a joint resolution declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line-of-duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
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Two Mexican Nationals Charged with Assaulting Border Patrol AgentsRead the Press Release
Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 11, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Two Mexican nationals – one armed with a makeshift plastic shiv and another with a 4X4 piece of lumber - were arrested and charged in unrelated assaults on U.S. Border Patrol agents along the border this week.
According to a complaint, in the first incident, on May 9, 2018 at approximately 10:15 a.m., Pedro Damien Gonzalez Iglesias is accused of assaulting Border Patrol Agents Edmund Parra and Ramiro Lizarraga after he illegally entered the United States. Gonzalez Iglesias walked up to the agents, who were working near the San Ysidro port of entry, and tried slashing them with an object that looked like a piece of plastic shaped like a knife. The agents tried using verbal commands numerous times to get the defendant to drop his weapon. The subject got to within arm’s length of the agents before Agent Lizarraga was able to successfully deploy his Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray. The agents took the subject into custody. No injuries were reported.
According to details in another complaint, the second incident occurred on May 10, 2018, at approximately 10:05 a.m. Defendant Carlos Miranda-Alonso is accused of assaulting Border Patrol Agent Raymond Gray during an attempted arrest. The defendant threw punches and elbows and ran away when Agent Gray attempted to place the subject in handcuffs. Miranda-Alonso picked up a 4x4 piece of lumber approximately 3½ feet in length and swung it at Agent Gray. Agent Gray was able to step out of range to avoid being hit. Miranda-Alonso attempted to flee westbound through the Tijuana Estuary. At 10:22 a.m. the defendant was apprehended west of the Tijuana Estuary Visitor center. No injuries reported.
“Assault on federal officers is one of the Department of Justice’s top priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “Our office is committed to vigorously prosecuting these cases.”
DEFENDANT Case Number 18mj2339
Pedro Damien Gonzalez Iglesias
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault on a Federal Officer, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1 ll(a)(l )A
Maximum penalty: Six months in prison and a $5,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 18mj2380__
Carlos Miranda-Alonso
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault on a Federal Officer, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1 ll(a)(l )A
Maximum penalty: Eight years in prison, $250,000 fine
AGENCY
U.S. Border Patrol
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Joplin detectives Honored for Work on Behalf of Child VictimsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Timothy Garrison (right) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller (left) present the award to Detectives Larry Roller and Charles Root.JOPLIN, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the annual Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to two detectives in the Joplin, Mo., Police Department in recognition of their valued contributions to investigating and prosecuting those who prey upon children.
Detective Charles Root, Jr., is also an FBI task force officer and supervises a team of 10 task force officers in the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force. Detective Larry Roller, a computer forensic analyst, is also a Homeland Securities Investigation task force officer and a member of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
“For over 24 years, these two individuals have exemplified what true champions for child victims are,” said Garrison, “hardworking, tireless, and relentless in their pursuit to ferret out child predators and pursue justice for child victims. These officers leave no stone unturned in their pursuit to catch child predators. Their dedication and persistence over the years identified and ultimately protected countless child victims. Thanks to their dedication, many dangerous sexual predators have been taken off the streets.”
The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award
This is the 14th year for the award to be presented in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after her car broke down on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.
The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in recognition of a valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.
USA v. Perkins
When a mother located a tablet that contained images of the sexual abuse of her 11-year-old daughter, Det. Roller and Det. Root leaped into action. Within hours of receiving multiple devices, Det. Roller began his work of forensically examining each device for evidence. Det. Root met the defendant at the jail and obtained a full confession within a couple of hours. Due to the evidence that Det. Root was able to get from the defendant and the forensic evidence Det. Roller was able to recover from the devices, David Lee Perkins was indicted by a federal grand jury for the aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography, and receipt and distribution of child pornography.
Perkins pleaded guilty to two counts of the federal indictment, admitting that he used the child victim to produce child pornography and that he distributed child pornography. However, facing a 30-year mandatory minimum, Perkins elected to go to trial last January on the remaining count of aggravated sexual abuse. Perkins was convicted of that charge as well, and remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing on June 5, 2018.
Det. Root and Det. Roller also pursued leads that led them to multiple other children who had been abused by Perkins. Their excellent work investigating this case led to the discovery of another child predator in North Carolina, Don Blankenship, who was charged and convicted of five counts of indecent liberties with a child under North Carolina state law in Catawba County, North Carolina.
Two Individuals Indicted for CarjackingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Miguel Ángel Martines-Ramos and Michael Rosa-Rodríguez for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment alleges that on or about April 14, 2018, in the District of Puerto Rico, Miguel Ángel Martines-Ramos and Michael Rosa-Rodríguez, while carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a black 2017 Hyundai Tucson, that had been transported, shipped and received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of an adult male, by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury. During the incident, both defendants traveled with the male victim in his vehicle, shot him three times, and left him for dead.
Both defendants are also charged with possession of a machinegun, a black and grey Glock pistol, Model 23, .40 caliber, one 22-round capacity Glock magazine, and 11 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. The pistol was modified to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
“These defendants planned and carried out the carjacking and shooting of a defenseless victim,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Through the hard work of federal and state law enforcement, and our prosecutors, the defendants will be brought to justice.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora. If convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years of imprisonment for the carjacking charge (Count One), and up to life imprisonment for the firearms charge (Count Two). Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Two Associates of La Cosa Nostra Sentenced to Prison for Extortion-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Two associates of the Genovese La Cosa Nostra (LCN) crime family were sentenced today in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts on extortion-related charges.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts; Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw of the FBI’s Boston Field Division; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement.
Richard Valentini, 53, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to serve 20 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. On Dec. 18, 2017, Valentini was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence – aiding.
Francesco Depergola, 61, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by Judge Hillman to serve 38 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In December 2017, Depergola pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence – aiding, which were charged by indictment in the District of Massachusetts, and one count of racketeering conspiracy, which was charged by indictment in the Southern District of New York.
In August 2016, Valentini and Depergola were arrested with three of their associates from the New York-based Genovese LCN crime family: Gerald Daniele, Giovanni Calabrese, and Ralph Santaniello.
Based on Depergola’s plea documents and evidence elicited at Valentini’s trial, Valentini, Depergola, and their co-defendants, engaged in various criminal activities in Springfield, Massachusetts, including loansharking and extortion from legitimate and illegitimate businesses, such as illegal gambling businesses and the collection of unlawful debts. The defendants used violence, exploited their relationship with LCN, and implied threats of murder and physical violence to instill fear in their victims.
Further, in 2013, Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini attempted to extort money from a Springfield businessman. Santaniello not only assaulted the businessman, but he and Calabrese threatened to cut off the businessman’s head and bury his body if he did not comply. Over a period of two months, in order to protect himself and his business, the businessman paid $20,000 to Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini.
In addition, based on Depergola’s plea documents, around August 2014, Santaniello and Depergola financed a $30,000 loan that New York-based LCN member Eugene O’Nofrio extended to another individual. O’Nofrio later threatened the individual if he did not make payments on the loans. O’Nofrio was charged in the Southern District of New York, has pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing.
In March 2018, Daniele was sentenced to two years in prison; and in April 2018, Calabrese and Santaniello were sentenced to three years and five years in prison, respectively.
Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin O’Regan, Chief of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office and Katharine Wagner of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the cases.
Two Associates of La Cosa Nostra Sentenced on Extortion-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two associates of the Genovese La Cosa Nostra (LCN) crime family were sentenced today in federal court in Worcester on extortion-related charges.
Richard Valentini, 53, of East Longmeadow, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 20 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On Dec. 18, 2017, Valentini was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence.
Francesco Depergola, 61, of West Springfield, was sentenced by Judge Hillman to 38 months in prison and two years of supervised release. In December 2017, Depergola pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence, which were charged by indictment in the District of Massachusetts, and one count of racketeering conspiracy, which was charged by indictment in the Southern District of New York.
In August 2016, Valentini and Depergola were arrested with three of their associates from the New York-based Genovese LCN crime family: Gerald Daniele, Giovanni Calabrese, and Ralph Santaniello.
Valentini, Depergola, and their co-defendants, engaged in various criminal activities in Springfield, Mass., including loansharking and extortion from legitimate and illegitimate businesses, such as illegal gambling businesses, and the collection of unlawful debts. The defendants used violence, exploited their relationship with LCN, and implied threats of murder and physical violence to instill fear in their victims.
In 2013, Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini attempted to extort money from a Springfield businessman. Santaniello not only assaulted the businessman, but he and Calabrese threatened to cut off the business man’s head and bury his body if he did not comply. Over a period of two months, in order to protect himself and his business, the businessman paid $20,000 to Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini.
In addition, around August 2014, Santaniello and Depergola financed a $30,000 loan that New York-based LCN member Eugene O’Nofrio extended to another individual. O’Nofrio later threatened the individual if he did not make payments on the loans. O’Nofrio was charged in the Southern District of New York, has pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing.
In March 2018, Daniele was sentenced to two years in prison; and in April 2018, Calabrese and Santaniello were sentenced to three years and five years in prison, respectively.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Regan, Chief of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office; Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Wagner of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the cases.
Three Charged with Conspiring to Distribute More Than 100 Grams of Carfentanil in the BronxRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division (“DEA”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), George P. Beach II, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrests and unsealing of Complaints charging MIGUEL ESCANO, EMANUELLI RIVERA, and PEDRO DISLA ROJAS with conspiring to distribute heroin and more than 100 grams of carfentanil, a controlled substance analogue of fentanyl. ESCANO, RIVERA, and ROJAS were presented yesterday before Magistrate Judge James L. Cott in Manhattan federal court.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “These defendants are alleged to have been engaged in the production and distribution of large quantities of carfentanil. Carfentanil is a potentially lethal drug 100 times more potent than fentanyl. As little as .00002 grams can kill. A substance meant as an elephant tranquilizer should not be hitting the streets as a recreational drug. Thanks to our law enforcement partners for their efforts to stem the tide of lethal opioids.”
DEA Special Agent-In-Charge James J. Hunt said: “This investigation is about more than just arrests and seizures, it is a public health warning. Carfentanil is death, and drug dealers are packaging it for sale on the streets of New York City. Law enforcement is battling the opioid suppliers on the front lines and this drug has the potential to double or triple overdose rates if we don’t get it off the streets quickly and warn users of its extreme danger.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “The individuals charged today are alleged to have introduced a drug that is one hundred times more potent than fentanyl to our Bronx neighborhoods. Law enforcement is paying close attention to those who are profiting in this nefarious drug game to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and face prosecution.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “Anyone who continues to peddle this poison on the streets of New York City should be prepared for the full weight of our nation’s best investigators to bear down on them. I commend everyone involved in this case, particularly the members of the New York Drug Enforcement Strike Force, as they have proven again just how effective our law enforcement partnerships really are.”
State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “The work of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force stopped these dangerous and potentially deadly drugs before they could reach the streets of New York. We have no tolerance for those who allegedly continue to traffic narcotics with no regard to the damage they inflict in our communities, and anyone who does can expect to end up in prison. We will continue to work with our federal and local partners to prevent the flow of these illegal drugs from reaching our neighborhoods.”
According to the allegations in the Complaints[1]:
On three separate occasions between January and March 2018, ESCANO sold an individual acting at the direction of law enforcement a substance containing carfentanil in transactions that involved 50 grams, 70 grams, and 70 grams, respectively. RIVERA assisted with the January 2018 sale. Carfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other mammals, is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, and can be lethal in doses of as little as 20 micrograms depending on the way it is administered and other factors.
As law enforcement officers prepared to execute a search warrant on a Bronx apartment on May 9, 2018, RIVERA exited the apartment and was arrested. Law enforcement seized approximately 100 grams of suspected narcotics in connection with the arrest of RIVERA, which have not yet been tested because the substance needs to be examined in a laboratory environment in light of the potentially lethal nature of carfentanil. Following the arrest of RIVERA, law enforcement officers searched the apartment and found ROJAS inside. During the search, law enforcement officers seized, among other things, suspected narcotics and materials commonly used in the production and distribution of narcotics, such as respirator masks, grinders, strainers, glassine bags stamped with the names “Sweet Dreams” and “Nasty Boyz,” a wooden press, and a stamp with the words “My Angel.” Law enforcement arrested ROJAS in connection with the search of the apartment.
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RIVERA, 32, of the Bronx, and Rojas, 38, of the Bronx, were each charged with one count of conspiring to distribute carfentanil and heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
ESCANO, 30, of the Bronx, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute carfentanil, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
The statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, which comprises agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Police, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, the Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Longyear and Nicolas Roos are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
The Justice Department and USCIS Formalize Partnership to Protect U.S. Workers from Discrimination and Combat FraudRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that expands their collaboration to better detect and eliminate fraud, abuse, and discrimination by employers bringing foreign visa workers to the United States. This new effort improves the way the agencies share information, collaborate on cases, and train each other’s investigators.
The MOU will increase the ability of the agencies to share information and help identify, investigate, and prosecute employers who may be discriminating against U.S. workers and/or violating immigration laws. In 2010, USCIS and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division entered into an ongoing partnership to share information about E-Verify misuse and combat employment discrimination, and today’s MOU expands upon the two agencies’ existing partnership.
In 2017, the Civil Rights Division launched the Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative, which is aimed at targeting, investigating, and taking enforcement actions against companies that discriminate against U.S. workers in favor of foreign visa workers. Under this Initiative, the Civil Rights Division has opened dozens of investigations, filed one lawsuit, and reached settlement agreements with two employers. Since the Initiative’s inception, employers have agreed to pay or have distributed over $200,000 in back pay to affected U.S. workers. The Division has also increased its collaboration with other federal agencies to combat discrimination and abuse by employers using foreign visa workers.
USCIS administers the nation’s immigration system and adjudicates requests for immigration benefits, including employment-based petitions. To advance the goals of the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order and promote the economic interests of U.S. workers, USCIS is taking concrete steps to ensure the integrity of the employment-based immigration programs and improve its ability to detect and prevent fraud. Among other things, USCIS has created dedicated tip lines for reporting H-1B and H-2B visa fraud and abuse and expanded its site visit programs. USCIS has also worked with other government agencies that have a role in immigration, such as DOJ, to ensure that they efficiently share and appropriately act upon information regarding potential fraud and abuse of immigration programs. For more information, visit the USCIS Buy American and Hire American page.
“In the spirit of President Trump’s Executive Order on Buy American and Hire American, today’s partnership adds to the Civil Rights Division’s tools to stop employers from discriminating against U.S. workers by favoring foreign visa workers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “The Division looks forward to expanding its partnerships with USCIS to hold accountable employers that discriminate against U.S. workers based on their citizenship status.”
“Protecting and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system remains a key priority for me, and underpins the exceptional work of the professionals at USCIS,” said USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna. “This agreement enhances the level of coordination among investigators who often work on the same issues at different agencies. Breaking down silos and working with our federal partners to combat employment discrimination will help ensure that U.S. workers have the advocate they need at the highest level.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation and intimidation. An employer that prefers to hire temporary foreign visa workers over available, qualified U.S. workers may be discriminating in violation of this law.
For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar; email [email protected](link sends e-mail); or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to retaliation; different documentary requirements based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin; or discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, should contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook(/uscis).
Statement of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman on the Conviction of Former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon SilverRead the Press Release
Sheldon Silver, the former New York State Assembly Speaker, took an oath to act in the best interests of the people of New York State. As a unanimous jury found, he sold his public office for private greed.
I commend the career prosecutors of our Office’s Public Corruption Unit, whose determination in securing this important conviction fittingly underscores the importance of pursuing cases against corrupt politicians, no matter the difficulty. One of the most worthy endeavors of this Office is combatting public corruption. We will continue to do so with the independence and resolve the Southern District is known for and the citizens of New York so rightly deserve.
St. Thomas Boat Captain Arrested on Charges of Smuggling Illegal Aliens from Dominican Republic and Others Arrested for Illegal Reentry by Aggravated Felons into the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On May 10, 2018, Shawn A. Callwood, 36, of St. Thomas, Glenys Gruz-Calcano, 28, Anyi Paola Calcano, 19, Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier, 42, and Rafael Morales-Osoria, 35, all of Dominican Republic, made their initial appearances before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, after being charged in criminal complaints with alien smuggling and illegal reentry into the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Judge Gomez detained all five defendants pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on May 9, 2018, the Marine Interdiction Agents (MIA) of the Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted Callwood’s vessel in the U.S. territorial waters near St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Callwood failed to yield to both lights and sirens directing him to stop, and a warning shot was fired across the bow of Callwood’s vessel. Five undocumented illegal aliens, including Glenys Gruz-Calcano, Anyi Paola Calcano, Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier, and Rafael Morales-Osoria, were discovered on board when the vessel came to a stop. Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier and Rafael Morales-Osoria both have been previously deported from the United States pursuant to felony convictions.
Callwood is facing up to 10 years in prison for smuggling illegal aliens into the United States. Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier and Rafael Morales-Osoria both face up to 20 years in prison for illegal reentry by an aggravated felon.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), the USCG and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anna A. Vlasova.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery of St. Thomas Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On May 10, 2018, District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Robert Brown, 28, to 4 years imprisonment and three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Judge Gomez also ordered Brown to perform 400 hours of community service and pay a special assessment of $100.
On January 4, 2018, Brown pleaded guilty to a one-count Information, charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
On October 20, 2017, Brown was charged in a one-count Information, which was a result of an investigation into Hobbs Act robbery of Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on September 16, 2013. According to the Information, Brown and other individuals conspired to rob this jewelry store and brandished weapons to threaten and intimidate the storeowner.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anna A. Vlasova and Kim L. Chisholm.
Sharon Woman Arrested for Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sharon woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with stealing Social Security benefits intended for her children.
Stacey Orlando, 59, was indicted on two counts of theft of public funds. She is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal today at 2:15PM.
According to the indictment that was unsealed today, from May 2011 through October 2013, Orlando stole approximately $35,716 in Social Security benefits that were paid to her on behalf of her two children.
The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Manuel Erazo-Posada, 37, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Law enforcement in Boston encountered Erazo-Posada on April 30, 2018, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Erazo-Posada was previously deported on June 28, 2010.
Erazo-Posada faces a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Richardson Tax Preparer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Rene Barrera, Sr, of Del Rio, Texas, who was one of several tax preparers at Tax Genius in Richardson, Texas, appeared in federal court Tuesday, May 8, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez and pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Sentencing is set for December 14, 2018, before Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn. Barrera faces a statutory maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and a $100,000 fine. He may also be ordered to pay restitution.
On September 21, 2016, Barrera and co-defendants Jimmy Luis Briseno, Mike Cano and Christopher Lee DeLeon were charged with conspiracy to defraud the IRS and other charges related to the filing of false tax returns. According to the factual resume filed in the case, from January 2011 through April 2011, Barrera prepared and electronically filed taxes at Tax Genius in Richardson, Texas. In his plea papers, Barrera admitted that he and other employees prepared and caused to be electronically filed with the IRS individual income tax returns that contained one or more of the following falsely inflated or fictitious items: false Forms Schedule C; false and fabricated Education Credits, and false items used to inflate and maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on the tax return. During this period, Barrera and other Tax Genius employees engaged in a fraudulent scheme in which false and fraudulent information and documents were submitted to the IRS with the intent to defraud the IRS by causing the IRS to pay fraudulent refunds based on this false tax information.
Barrera caused the filing of eight false tax returns resulting in a tax loss of $67,100 due to false refunds claimed.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis is in charge of the prosecution.
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Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jason D. Boudreau, 43, of Woonsocket, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence today to federal child pornography charges.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Boudreau pleaded guilty to access with intent to view child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates.
According to information presented to the Court, in November 2015, as part of an ongoing investigation, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations agents and members of the Woonsocket Police Department executed a court authorized search of Boudreau’s residence, and seized several digital media storage devices, including a cellular telephone.
A forensic examination of the devices revealed 750 images of child pornography. The images depict nude prepubescent females, including infants and toddlers engaged in sexual acts with adult males, bondage, and the graphic and lascivious exhibition of their genitals.
According to court records, Boudreau was convicted in Rhode Island state court in March 2012 for 2nd degree child molestation and in January 2014 for possession of child pornography. At the time of his sentencing for possession of child pornography in state court, Boudreau was ordered to register as a sex offender.
Boudreau, who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on December 29, 2015, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on August 21, 2018.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Richard W. Rose.
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Randolph County Resident Sentenced to 15 Years for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
On May 11, 2018, Jason M. Stoker, 35, of Chester, Illinois, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for a methamphetamine offense, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Stoker previously pleaded guilty on January 26, 2018, to a one-count superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
As part of his guilty plea, Stoker admitted his involvement with others in the distribution of ice in Southern Illinois. "Ice" is a substance containing methamphetamine of at least 80% purity. Stoker obtained dealer amounts of ice and supplied it to others. On August 24, 2016, Stoker sold ice to a confidential source working for law enforcement. He admitted that he should be held responsible for distributing between 150 and 500 grams of ice.
On October 28, 2016, Officer James I. Brockmeyer of the Chester, Illinois Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Stoker. Because he had ice in his car, Stoker refused to pull over and instead fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed. During the ensuing pursuit, Officer Brockmeyer lost control of his vehicle and was killed as a result of the crash. Officer Brockmeyer was 22 years old and also served as a volunteer firefighter in Chester.
At sentencing, Officer Brockmeyer’s mother, Dixie, and Chief Ryan Coffey of the Chester Police Department spoke in open court about the impact of his death. Stoker received an enhanced sentence for recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury in the course of fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
The investigation was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Police Department, Illinois State Police, Cape Girardeau, Missouri Police Department, Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, United States
Marshals Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda A. Robertson and Adam E. Hanna for prosecution.
Pittsfield Man Indicted on Drug, Firearms and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Pittsfield man was charged in federal court in Springfield yesterday with distributing marijuana, illegally possessing 10 guns and money laundering.
Matthew Murray, 40, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of money laundering.
As alleged in the indictment, Murray possessed and distributed more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, possessed 10 firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking, and concealed the proceeds of his drug trafficking.
The drug charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $5 million fine. The firearms charge provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering transaction. The United States will also seek to forfeit Murray’s interest in his residence on Southbrook Lane in Pittsfield, at least $799,259 in drug proceeds, an Audi A6, a Ducati Motorcycle and the firearms and ammunition used in furtherance of the crimes.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pimps Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking Three MinorsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Hyattsville, Maryland men were each sentenced today to 26 years in prison for sex trafficking three minors throughout the East Coast from September through November 2016.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, Dennis Davis Jr. aka Dee, 26, and Ivan Williams aka Lucci, 28, sex trafficked three underage girls while working with their convicted co-conspirators, Chelsea Canterbury aka Katt, 26, and Rebecca Hamilton aka Becca, 22, also of Hyattsville. Davis, Williams, and their co-conspirators recruited the three underage girls, whom they trafficked in numerous locations, including Northern Virginia, Richmond, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia. They worked together to post online advertisements of the victims offering them for commercial sex with men throughout the region, reserved hotel rooms at which they and the victims would stay when traveling to engage in commercial sex acts, drove the victims to the hotels and other locations where the commercial sex acts occurred, and collected the money given to the victims by the commercial sex customers. The evidence further showed that when two of the minors tried to leave the group, Davis and Williams resorted to violence, including physical force and brandishing firearms. Davis and Williams used the money earned by the victims to create rap music where they bragged about exploiting females, and to fund their day-to-day living expenses.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, John P. Cronan, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, and Humberto I. Cardounel Jr., Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen C. Cain of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department and the Henrico County Police Department.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-196.
Pimps Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Three Minor Victims Throughout East CoastRead the Press Release
Two Hyattsville, Maryland men were both sentenced today to 26 years in prison for sex trafficking three minors throughout the East Coast from September through November 2016.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Fairfax County Chief of Police Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. and Chief Humberto I. Cardounel Jr. of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement.
Dennis Davis Jr. aka Dee, 26, and Ivan Williams aka Lucci, 28, were sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Judge Ellis ordered Davis and Williams to serve 10 years of supervised release following their 312-month prison sentence. Both defendants were ordered to register as sex offenders. Davis and Williams were each found guilty by a federal jury on Jan. 10, 2018, of three counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, Davis and Williams sex trafficked three underage girls while working with their convicted co-conspirators, Chelsea Canterbury aka Katt, 26, and Rebecca Hamilton aka Becca, 22, also of Hyattsville, Maryland. Davis, Williams and their co-conspirators recruited the three underage girls, whom they trafficked in numerous locations, including Northern Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Maryland; Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia. They worked together to post online advertisements of the victims on websites such as Backpage.com offering them for commercial sex with men throughout the region; reserved hotel rooms at which they and the victims would stay when traveling to engage in commercial sex acts; drove the victims to the hotels and other locations where the commercial sex acts occurred; and collected the money given to the victims by the commercial sex customers. The evidence further showed that when two of the minors tried to leave the group, Davis and Williams resorted to violence, including physical force and brandishing firearms. Davis and Williams used the money earned by the victims to create rap music where they bragged about exploiting females, and to fund their day-to-day living expenses.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department and the Henrico County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen C. Cain of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Novato Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO - David Andrew Nielsen was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for possessing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, U.S. District Judge, following the entry of a guilty plea on February 2, 2018.
According to his guilty plea, Nielsen, 54, of Novato, Calif., admitted to possessing over 600 images and videos of child pornography, including images of minors younger than 12 years old and portrayals of the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler. Further, in determining the applicable calculation under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Judge Illston found that an enhancement should be imposed because the defendant engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor.
On August 31, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Nielsen with possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B).
In addition to the prison term, Judge Illston ordered Nielsen to serve a 7-year period of supervised release following his custodial sentence. As part of his release conditions, Nielsen must register as a sex offender and participate in sex offender-specific treatment. Nielsen has been in custody since his arrest in August 2017, and he will begin serving the sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sailaja M. Paidipaty and Christina McCall are prosecuting the case with assistance from Marina Ponomarchuk and Michelle Alter. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ICE, the Novato Police Department, the Concord Police Department, and the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
North Carolina Podiatrist and His Son Face Wire Fraud Charges in Connection with Unemployment Insurance Benefits SchemeRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A North Carolina podiatrist and his son are facing federal charges in connection with an unemployment insurance benefits scheme, announced R. Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A criminal bill of information was filed in U.S. District Court in Asheville today, charging Dr. Jerry Gross, 72, and his son, Jason Lee Gross, 51, both of Rutherfordton, N.C., with wire fraud.
Nick S. Annan, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas; Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General, join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, Dr. Jerry Gross owned and operated the Foot & Ankle Center of the Carolinas, P.A. (Foot & Ankle Center), located in Forest City, N.C. Dr. Jerry Gross’s son, Jason Lee Gross, also worked at the Foot & Ankle Center, managing the practice’s business operations, including payroll and personnel decisions. Filed documents show that, from September 2009 to March 2013, Dr. Jerry Gross and Jason Lee Gross carried out a scheme to defraud the State of North Carolina by placing employees of the Foot & Ankle Center on Unemployment Insurance Benefits (“UI Benefits”) while those employees continued to work at the business in excess of what was permitted by the program eligibility requirements. According to court records, the scheme enabled Foot & Ankle Center to survive the economic downturn during those years by creating a free labor force.
According to filed court documents, during the relevant time period, Jason Lee Gross laid off, at various times, employees of the Foot & Ankle Center, including himself and Dr. Jerry Gross. Court records show that Jason Lee Gross made UI Benefits claims on behalf of the laid off employees, including himself and his father. Jason Lee Gross certified the initial eligibility for UI Benefits of each of the employees, and continued to certify their eligibility on a weekly basis for the UI Benefits they received. Jason Lee Gross did so despite knowing that at least four of the employees regularly failed to comply with the program eligibility requirements, including by regularly working in excess of the hours allowed by the program.
Court records show that Dr. Jerry Gross did not file any such certifications, but knew that Jason Lee Gross had placed the employees on unemployment, and was aware that at least four of those employees continued to work on a full-time or near-full-time basis, while the practice continued to generate revenue. Court documents further show that Dr. Jerry Gross also collected considerable UI Benefits himself, despite deliberately turning a blind eye to whether or not he was complying with the eligibility requirements for the program, when in fact he was not complying. Court records show that the scheme caused the State of North Carolina to pay out at least $149,970 in UI Benefits to laid-off Foot & Ankle center employees that did not meet the eligibility requirements.
The maximum penalty for the wire fraud charge is 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Signed plea agreements were also filed today. Plea hearings have not been set.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray thanked HSI, SBI, and the Department of Labor for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bradley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is in charge of the prosecution.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Distributing Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated in Taunton and Boston.
David Tejeda, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2017, Tejeda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In February 2017, Tejeda and 22 co-defendants were arrested in connection with the conspiracy.
From mid-2016 through February 2017, federal law enforcement investigated a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization led by Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero. Lugo-Guerrero allegedly operated his organization in Fall River and Boston and sold to numerous customers, including Tejeda. On Feb. 14, 2017, agents arrested Tejeda and seized from his New Bedford residence 119 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin and 117 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and cocaine.
Lugo-Guerrero has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; and Bristol Country District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Missouri Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Eliseo Alvarez Sr. age 52, of Pineville, Missouri, was sentenced yesterday to 210 months in federal prison, to run partially concurrent with a sentence previously ordered against him in the Eastern District of Arkansas, followed by five years of supervised release. Alvarez Sr. was also ordered to pay a $4,900.00 fine on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in May 2017, during the course of an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the Western District of Arkansas, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration, (DEA) identified Alvarez Sr. as a methamphetamine source of supply for local distributors of methamphetamine. During the investigation, agents observed Alvarez Sr. meeting with a known methamphetamine distributor and drop off a green colored bag. After the meeting, agents arrested the known distributor for an outstanding warrant. During a search of the vehicle, agents located 433.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine that was located in the green bag. The suspected methamphetamine was sent the DEA South Central Lab for testing. The results confirmed that the substance was in fact a mixture of substance that contained actual methamphetamine.
Alvarez was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2017 and pled guilty in January 2018.
This case was investigated by HSI and the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Brice White prosecuted the case for the United States.
Midland Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
In Midland, United States District Judge David Counts sentenced 27-year-old Kenneth James Barfield yesterday to 30 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash; Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson; and, Midland Interim Police Chief Seth Herman.
On January 10, 2018, Barfield pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, Barfield was responsible for distributing more than 12 kilograms of methamphetamine throughout the Permian Basin from April 2017 to November 2017.
Barfield has remained in custody since being arrested by Midland Police on November 17, 2017.
The Midland Police Department together with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOISE – James Stewart Maxheimer, 46, of Meridian was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 72 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to the plea agreement, between May and June of 2016, detectives with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force downloaded images of child pornography from the defendant’s computer using a peer to peer network. On July 13, 2016, ICAC detectives served a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Boise. They discovered an external hard drive hidden in an “Asteroids” video game console, and two laptop computers. The defendant admitted downloading images of child pornography using the peer to peer network on his computer, and to storing the images on the external hard drive. In all, detectives discovered 10,172 images and 378 videos depicting child pornography, including images of infants, toddlers, and children subjected to sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Maxheimer to pay $5,100 in special assessments and forfeit the external hard drive and two laptop computers used in the commission of the charged offense. As a result of his conviction, Maxheimer will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Menands Man Charged with Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kenneth J. Monahan, age 43, of Menands, New York, made his appearance yesterday in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Janelle M. Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The criminal complaint filed against Monahan alleges that he possessed child pornography on his home computer and downloaded child pornography through a peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
If convicted, Monahan faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a mandatory term of supervised release of 5 years and up to life, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and a maximum $250,000 fine. 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. The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia G. Suarez.
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/.
Mail carrier from Broadview Heights locked up for three months for stealing packages containing marijuanaRead the Press Release
A mail carrier from Broadview Heights was sentenced to three months of incarceration for stealing packages containing marijuana.
Thomas N. Schaefer, 44, previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail.
Schaefer was assigned to the Newburg Post Office, zip code 44127 in Cleveland, when he stole two parcels in 2017 which contained more than 10 pounds of marijuana, according to court documents.
On March 22, 2017, Schaefer took a parcel addressed to a house on Dolloff Road in Cleveland. He suspected it contained marijuana. He opened it and found four vacuum-sealed one-pound bags of marijuana, according to court documents.
Schaefer took a parcel addressed to an address on Melgrove Avenue in Garfield Heights on Aug. 4 and kept it for himself. The parcel contained 6.7 pounds of marijuana, according to court documents.
U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely, Eastern Area Field Office, said: “The jail sentence in this case should send a message to those postal employees who decide to go into the drug dealing business for themselves by stealing drug parcels from the mail. When they are caught by Special Agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Postal Inspectors, they lose their career, benefits, retirement, and, in this case, their freedom. They also put their fellow employees at risk. This investigation was initiated when Schaefer’s supervisor was assaulted by drug dealers looking for a drug parcel Schaefer may very well have stolen. Postal employees should be advised that USPS OIG special agents make these types of investigations a top priority. To report criminal activity or serious misconduct committed by postal employees, contact USPS OIG special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG.”
Assistant United States Attorney Elliot Morrison prosecuted the case following an investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Macon Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MACON: United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Charles E. Peeler, announces that Robert Murphy, age 25, of Macon, Georgia entered his guilty plea on May 11, 2018 to possession of child pornography in front of United States District Judge Marc T. Treadwell.
According to the plea agreement, on or about April 21, 2016, a federal law enforcement agent identified that a number of child pornography files available for sharing through an internet connection associated with Mr. Murphy’s residence. A federal search warrant was later executed by members of Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Murphy was found at the residence and admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography using peer-to-peer programs. He also admitted to looking for child pornography, downloading, watching, and later deleting the files. A forensic examination of Mr. Murphy’s computer, which was seized during execution of the warrant, revealed evidence of 109 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
"The viewers of child pornography provide the market that leads the producers to corrupt and defile children in the making of it; thus the users are as guilty as anyone else in the production/distribution chain, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by my office," said United States Attorney Peeler.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. McCullers is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Macau Billionaire Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Role in Scheme to Bribe United Nations Ambassadors to Build A Multibillion-Dollar Conference CenterRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced today that NG LAP SENG, a/k/a “David Ng,” the chairman of a Macau real estate development company, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in a scheme to bribe United Nations ambassadors to obtain support to build a conference center in Macau that would host, among other events, the annual United Nations Global South-South Development Expo. NG was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
NG was convicted on July 27, 2017, after a five-week trial, of two counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, one count of paying bribes and gratuities, one count of money laundering, and two counts of conspiracy.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Billionaire Ng Lap Seng corrupted the highest levels of the United Nations in pursuit of a multibillion-dollar real estate deal in Macau. Ng exploited a center for international diplomacy as an instrument for his greedy intentions. This Office is committed to policing official corruption wherever it may be found.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan said: “Corruption at any level of government undermines the rule of law and cannot be tolerated. But corruption is especially corrosive when it occurs at an international body like the United Nations. By paying bribes to two U.N. ambassadors to advance his interest in obtaining formal support for the Macau conference center project, Ng Lap Seng tried to manipulate the functions of the United Nations. The sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who engage in corruption will pay a heavy price and serves as a reminder that no one stands above the law.”
According to the evidence presented at trial, NG, the chairman of the Sun Kian Ip Group, conspired with and paid bribes to Francis Lorenzo, a former UN Ambassador from the Dominican Republic, and John W. Ashe, the late former Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN and the 68th President of the UN General Assembly (“UNGA”). With the assistance of Jeff C. Yin, an accountant and co-conspirator who worked with NG and others and previously pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States, NG orchestrated a scheme with the principal objective of obtaining the formal support of the UN for a multibillion-dollar facility that NG hoped to build in Macau using the Sun Kian Ip Group (the “Macau Conference Center”). NG wanted the Macau Conference Center to serve as a location for meetings, discussions, forums, and other events associated with the UN. In particular, he wanted it to serve as the permanent home of the annual “Global South-South Development Expo,” which is run by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, and is hosted in a different country or city every year.
The trial evidence showed that NG bribed Ambassador Ashe and Ambassador Lorenzo (together, the “Ambassadors”) in exchange for their agreement to use their official positions to advance NG’s interest in obtaining formal UN support for the Macau Conference Center. As the evidence demonstrated at trial, NG paid the Ambassadors in a variety of forms. For example, NG appointed Ambassador Lorenzo as the president of South-South News, a New York-based organization – funded by NG – which described itself as a media platform dedicated to advancing the implementation of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, a set of philanthropic goals. NG provided bribe payments to Ambassador Lorenzo through South-South News, and by transmitting payments from Macau to a company in the Dominican Republic affiliated with Ambassador Lorenzo’s brother (the “Dominican Company”). Through South-South News, NG also made payments to Ambassador Ashe, including to Ambassador Ashe’s wife, who was paid for a no-show job as a “consultant” to South-South News, and to an account that Ambassador Ashe had established, purportedly to raise money for his role as president of UNGA.
According to the trial evidence, one of the actions that the Ambassadors took in exchange for bribe payments, to advance NG’s objectives, was to submit an official document to the then-UN Secretary-General in support of the Macau Conference Center (the “UN Document”). The UN Document claimed that there was a need to build the Macau Conference Center to support the UN’s global development goals. Ambassador Ashe, aided by Ambassador Lorenzo, initially submitted the UN Document to the UNGA in or about late February 2012. More than a year later, at NG’s behest, the Ambassadors revised the UN Document to refer specifically to NG’s company, the Macau Real Estate Development Company, as a partner in the Macau Conference Center project. The UN Document requested that the Secretary-General circulate the UN Document “as a document of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly,” under a specific item of the official UNGA agenda. The Secretary-General followed this request, thereby making the UN Document an official part of the UNGA record.
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In addition to the 48-month prison term, NG, 69, of Macau, China, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. NG was also and ordered to pay a fine of $1 million, to forfeit $1.5 million, and to make restitution to the UN for its legal fees.
Five other defendants have been charged in this matter. Lorenzo and Heidi Hong Piao pled guilty to various charges, including bribery, and are awaiting sentencing. Jeff C. Yin pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and was sentenced to seven months in prison. Shiwei Yan pled guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Co-defendant Ashe died in 2016 and the charges against him were dismissed.
This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Richenthal, Janis M. Echenberg, and Douglas S. Zolkind, and Trial Attorney David A. Last of the Fraud Section, are in charge of the prosecution.
Last of “Operation Homeless” Defendants Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced the remaining two defendants in an “operation homeless” bank fraud prosecution, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Travis Bolston, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to time served, which amounted to approximately nine months (he was held in custody after his arrest). Leshelica Reese, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, also was sentenced to time served, but with three additional months of home detention. On March 12, 2018, their co-defendant, Daronte Jones, 40, of Decator, Georgia, was sentenced to time served, which amounted to approximately seven months (he was held in custody after his arrest).
All defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for participating in an “operation homeless” bank fraud scheme. According to the defendants’ plea agreements, their group stole checks that local businesses had placed in the mail. The defendants then made forged checks drawn on the bank accounts of those local businesses. Jones and Bolston then went to downtown Boise and persuaded a homeless man to cash the checks for them, initially promising him that he would be given a chance to work to earn money. Jones and Bolston then sent the homeless man into three different bank branches to cash the checks for them while they remained outside in a vehicle in case their fraud was detected. Jones and Bolston received the proceeds and, after leaving the area of the banks, handed them off to Reese.
Fortunately, the banks became suspicious and notified law enforcement. The Boise Police Department caught Bolston, Jones, and Reese with the evidence of their crimes.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Boise Police Department.
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Kewa Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sexual Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jose Tenorio, 50, an enrolled member and resident of Kewa Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to child sexual abuse charges. Tenorio’s plea agreement recommends a sentence within the range of 57 to 97 month in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Tenorio will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Tenorio was arrested on March 21, 2017, on a seven-count indictment alleging kidnapping and abusive sexual contact charges. The indictment charged Tenorio with kidnapping the first victim, a child under the age of 18 on May 18, 2016; engaging in abusive sexual contact with the first victim, a child under the age of 12, two separate times between Jan. 1, 2015 and Jan 31, 2015, and three separate times on May 18, 2016. It also charged Tenorio with engaging in abusive sexual contact with the second victim, a child between the age of 12 and 16, two separate times between Aug. 23, 2006 and Aug. 22, 2017. According to the indictment, Tenorio committed the crimes on Kewa Pueblo in Sandoval County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Tenorio pled guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. In entering the guilty plea, Tenorio admitted that on May 18, 2016, he engaged in sexual contact with the first victim, who was under the age of 12. Tenorio also admitted engaging in sexual contact with the second victim, a 13-year-old child between Aug. 23, 2006 and Aug. 22, 2006. Tenorio previously pled guilty to the same charges in tribal court. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl Laced Heroin, Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Dominican national who had previously been convicted in federal court in Boston in 1998 for trafficking cocaine, sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and ordered deported, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence today to reentering the county illegally and conspiring to possess and distribute nearly 300 grams of fentanyl laced heroin.
Juan Manuel Bautista Arias’ drug trafficking activity in Hartford, Conn., was identified by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force during an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that regularly imported kilograms of heroin and cocaine from Mexico via the Southwest border of the United States directly into Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Triple Play,” in reference to three brothers who entered the country illegally and allegedly ran the drug trafficking operation, was dismantled by law enforcement in April 2017. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals, at least 9 of which have been determined to have been in the United States illegally. Numerous kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, substantial amounts of cash, and at least 9 vehicles were seized.
Appearing in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I., Bautista admitted that shortly after he was released from a prison in Bani, Dominican Republic, on an unrelated criminal matter, he was illegally brought to the United States by the Rhode Island and Massachusetts based drug trafficking organization. The organization provided him with an apartment in Hartford, Conn., from which he ran a heroin and cocaine drug distribution operation, at their direction.
In April 2017, law enforcement a executed a court authorized search warrant at Bautista’s residence and seized nearly 287 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, and $3,200 in cash. Bautista was found to be in possession of a fraudulent Puerto Rican birth certificate. Bautista’s fingerprints had been surgically altered.
Bautista, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and illegal reentry, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on July 26, 2018.
Bautista’s guilty plea is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Field Division Harold H. Shaw.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.
United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch acknowledges and thanks the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut for their assistance in the government’s case against Juan Manuel Bautista Arias.
Operation Triple Play is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation initiated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Under the direction of the FBI, the participating agencies in this investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration (Providence and Boston Resident Agencies); Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rhode Island State Police; Providence Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; Central Falls Police Department; Cranston Police Department; Warwick Police Department and; the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
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Holyoke Man Sentenced for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for receiving child pornography.
Edward F. Dupont, 75, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to eight years in prison and seven years of supervised release. In January 2018, Dupont pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. Dupont was arrested in August 2015 and has been detained since.
On June 23, 2015, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Dupont’s residence where they seized a computer containing over 16,000 images and 35 videos of child pornography. Four of the videos depicted the rapes of girls as young as five-years-old.
Dupont also possessed a 170-page manual entitled, “How to Practice Child Love.” The manual is a professionally designed document that presents itself as “an education and a step-by-step guide for adults to engage and practice sexual relationships with children.” The manual states: “You do not even need to leave your own house or lot to meet new children and child love candidates. If you are bound to stay at your house, and preferably living alone, you can actually get the kids all the way to your front door – and even inside. This might even be a very safe option too – since as soon as you get the kids inside, no one can watch your activities from outside.”
During the search, Dupont waived his Miranda rights and stated that he has a sexual interest in young children; he has used his computer to access child pornography sites and to download child pornography images and videos; and he possessed child pornography on his home computer.
Though Dupont denied ever having sexual contact with children, he admitted that neighborhood children came over to play in his backyard and in his basement. He had also given copies of his house keys to the neighbors so that their children could come over any time they wanted, and he maintained a cupboard with games for the children to play.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Gautier Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Jermaine Antonio Newell, 32, of Gautier, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, a schedule I controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith. Newell was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
On November 15, 2017, DEA agents executed three search warrants at three locations known to be used by Newell. Based on information obtained showing online purchases, agents believed there would be evidence of drug trafficking activities at the properties. As agents executed one of the search warrants in Soso, Mississippi, a Jones County Deputy saw Newell drive by the property and begin throwing bags from the van’s window. Newell threw a bag containing 951 grams of heroin, along with various pills, cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale and approximately $11,000 in cash. Shortly after seeing Newell throw the items, he was stopped and arrested. Newell admitted to conspiring to possess the heroin and intending to distribute it. He pled guilty on January 30, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ellisville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.
Fugitive Marijuana Trafficker Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Peyton Erwin Eidson was sentenced this morning to 36 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Perlman of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service San Francisco Field Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, U.S. District Judge, following Eidson’s guilty plea to the charges on January 5, 2018.
According to his plea agreement, Eidson admitted he had been a part of a conspiracy to import almost 6,700 pounds of marijuana from Thailand in the mid-80s. Eidson admitted that he went to Thailand to arrange for the load and that he tracked the distribution of those drugs once they made it to the United States. Eidson also admitted he fled the United States in 1985, after he was arrested in connection with the drug offense, and that he obtained a passport in another person’s name to facilitate his flight. He further admitted he renewed that passport in 1995 and 2005, and that he submitted false information to the State Department each time he did so. Eidson eventually settled in Australia and lived there under his assumed identity for approximately 26 years, until agents from the Diplomatic Security Service discovered who he was. Eidson was returned to the United States in 2017 to face drug charges filed against him in 1988 (based on the 1985 conduct) and charges arising out of his use of fraudulent documents to obtain U.S. passports.
“Peyton Eidson’s arrest and successful prosecution, 32 years later, should send a strong message to all fugitives of crime, and to the community, that the government will not give up just because time has passed,” said Acting United States Attorney Tse. “Mr. Eidson was involved in an international smuggling ring responsible for transporting a large amount of drugs. Today, he has finally answered for his crime,” Tse said.
“Our tremendous success in finally closing this decades-old case could never have been possible if not for the diligent efforts of our Diplomatic Security Service colleagues overseas and the assistance and close cooperation of the Australian Federal Police,” said Special Agent in Charge Perlman of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The investigation of Eidson’s participation in drug trafficking began in 1985 with an undercover operation involving special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. On August 8, 1985, DEA agents and sheriff’s deputies arrested Eidson and several others in Santa Rosa, Calif. The next day, they seized about 2,000 of the 6,700 pounds of marijuana that Eidson and others had imported from Thailand. Eidson fled the country shortly after that arrest, while his co-defendants were convicted of drug trafficking and importation charges.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, U.S. District Judge. The defendant is in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by member agencies of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Four Individuals Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit ArsonRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On May 10, 2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against four defendants charged with conspiracy to commit arson in furtherance of wire fraud, wire fraud, and other arson related charges, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in the indictment, from May until July 2016, defendants Rafael García-Sánchez, Jean Gabriel García-Charbonier, and Jesús Torres-Lazzu, a.k.a. “Bimbo,” conspired to use fire to commit the offense of wire fraud. They agreed to set the physical premises of Organización Pro Ayuda a Personas con Impedimentos (OPAPI) in Río Grande, PR on fire for the purpose of collecting insurance proceeds, and in furtherance of this scheme, García-Sánchez caused items to be sent and delivered by wire in interstate commerce.
Rafael García-Sánchez solicited assistance from Jean Gabriel García-Charbonier, Jesús Torres-Lazzu, and Christian Aponte-Charbonier to set on fire the physical premises of OPAPI in order to file a fraudulent insurance claim with Universal Insurance Company. Christian Aponte-Charbonier (now deceased), with the assistance of his brother Jean Gabriel García-Charbonier, and Jesús Torres-Lazzu set fire to the physical premises of OPAPI, causing damage to said premises and its contents. While starting the fire, Christian Aponte-Charbonier suffered major burn injuries and died because of said injuries on July 10, 2016. García-Sánchez, aided and abetted by others, filed a fraudulent claim for $250,000.00 with Universal Insurance Company in connection with the damages at OPAPI in Río Grande.
On July 11, 2016, Jean Gabriel García-Charbonier falsely reported to agents of the Puerto Rico Police Department that Christian Aponte-Charbonier sustained his burn injuries while working with an electric generator at the premises of OPAPI Casa Dorada in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, a story that he concocted with Rafael García-Sánchez and Raúl García-Sánchez. After reporting this false information, García-Charbonier accompanied agents of the PR Police Department to the premises of OPAPI Casa Dorada, where they encountered a staged accident scene with a fire-damaged electric generator.
The fourth defendant, Raúl García-Sánchez is charged with one count of accessory after the fact for assisting the other defendants in staging an accident scene involving a fire-damaged electric generator at the premises of OPAPI located in Yabucoa. Raúl García-Sánchez is also charged in one count of obstruction of justice for his role in attempting to cover up the crime.
“Rafael García-Sanchez solicited members of his family to commit an act of violence in an effort to fraudulently collect insurance. The defendants then devised a scheme to conceal their unlawful acts, and the death of Christian Aponte-Charbonier,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, US Attorney for the District of PR. “Insurance fraud, particularly when it results in loss of life, is a serious criminal act and our office will continue to investigate and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”
ATF Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Ari C. Shapira said: “I am proud of the hard working and dedicated men and women of ATF who utilized a broad array of investigative resources to successfully investigate this violent crime. In partnership with the US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico we will continue to fight against lawlessness and protect the public.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Alum and Edward Veronda. If convicted, defendants García-Sánchez, García-Charbonier, and Torres-Lazzu face up to life in prison and García-Sánchez is facing up to 20 years in prison. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Former Roswell city councilman sentenced for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Kent Igleheart, a former Roswell, Georgia city councilman, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for multiple counts of producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography.
“Igleheart violated the public’s trust with his heinous conduct and possibly caused long-lasting harm to his victims” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “U.S. Judge District Judge Amy Totenberg described the defendant’s conduct as ‘taking a knife’ and ‘producing a deep wound in the lives of the four minors.’ Igleheart’s lengthy prison sentence reflects the seriousness of his exploitation of young girls for his sexual interest.”
“The pain and harm caused to the children, victimized by this so-called community leader, are irreparable. There is no sentence that can lessen their anguish,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Rest assured, the FBI led Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force (MATCH) will continue to devote significant resources to pursuing anyone who chooses to prey on our community’s children.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and evidence presented at court: In October 2016, E.B. then 17 years old, contacted the DeKalb County Internet Crimes Against Children Unit to report that she had been communicating online since she was 13 years old with someone who had portrayed himself to be 17 years old. E.B. reported that she had exchanged sexually graphic photographs and had sexually explicit conversations with the individual. E.B. later discovered that the person with whom she was communicating was Igleheart – not the teenage boy depicted in Igleheart’s profile photograph.
Igleheart acknowledged that he and E.B. had exchanged sexually graphic photographs beginning when she was 13 years old. He also booked a hotel and made plans to meet with E.B. on October 20, 2016, to engage in sexual activity with her. Investigators arrested him when he arrived at Northlake Mall, the pre-arranged location. DeKalb County investigators and the FBI conducted searches of Igleheart’s phones and computers and found some of the images that E.B. had produced and sent to the defendant at his request.
Searches of Igleheart’s phones and computers also revealed that he posed online as “Kent Allen,” presented himself as a teenage boy between the ages of 14 and 17 years, and engaged in sexually graphic communications with numerous teenage girls, some of whom were as young as 13 years old. During these conversations, Igleheart persuaded and enticed the girls to take photographs of their genitalia and videos of themselves engaging in sexual conduct and transmit the images to him via the Internet.
Kent Igleheart, 55, of Roswell, Georgia has been sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release by U.S. Judge District Judge Amy Totenberg. He must also register as a sex offender as a condition of his supervised release. Igleheart was convicted of four counts of producing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography on January 5, 2018, after he entered a guilty plea.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the DeKalb County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yonette Buchanan and Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
Former Mexican Federal Police Commander Enters No Contest Plea to Obstructing United States Investigation into Drug CartelRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former high-ranking commander in the Mexican Federal Police entered a no contest plea in U.S. District Court today to the charges of obstruction of justice and conspiring with others to corruptly impede a U.S.-based narcotics trafficking investigation. A no contest plea is one in which a defendant acknowledges that the facts of the case would result in a verdict of guilt, although the defendant is not admitting to those facts.
IVAN REYES ARZATE, 46, of Mexico City, also known as "La Reina," entered a no contest plea to charges that he obstructed and conspired to obstruct an investigation being carried out by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Reyes acquired information regarding the United States investigation through his position as a commander in the Mexican Federal Police, which was working with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago to investigate an international drug trafficking and money laundering organization.
An indictment was returned in July 2017 charging Reyes and he has been in custody since the announcement of the charges. U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve accepted the plea, and set the sentencing for August 29, 2018 at 9:30.
Today’s plea was announced by John R. Lausch Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Brian McKnight, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA. The investigation was conducted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the Chicago Police Department, the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"Today’s plea is historic in that it represents the first time in this district that a high level foreign law enforcement officer is being held criminally accountable in a U.S. courtroom for obstructing a U.S. investigation targeting transnational organized crime," said U.S. Attorney Lausch. "This result follows over a year of hard work on behalf of our partners at the DEA and our counterparts in Mexico. We remain steadfast in our commitment to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and fight against corruption at all levels."
"The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to work tirelessly with the US Attorney’s Office as well as our Mexican counterparts in this shared fight against transnational organized crime, violence and drug trafficking," remarked Special Agent in Charge McKnight. "Chasing corruption across the border and holding those accountable for obstructing lawful investigations reinforces to narcotics traffickers that justice does prevail."
The obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Sawyer and Devlin Su.
Former Fayetteville IRS Revenue Agent Sentenced to over 4 Years in Federal Prison for False Representation of A Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, AR – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced that Ryan Payne, age 36, of Barling, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 52 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $9,953.13 in restitution for False Representation of a Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity Theft. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in 2015, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration launched a criminal investigation of Payne stemming from his employment at the IRS in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a revenue agent. Payne resigned from his position in January 2015. As part of his duties as a revenue agent, Payne conducted an official audit of a business for the tax year 2010. The owner of the business provided Payne a flash drive containing business records, as well as personal identifying information. Payne retained the flash drive after leaving employment at the IRS and compromised the business owner’s identity. Specifically, Payne set up a credit account using the business owner’s name and social security number without authorization.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case for the United States.
Former Energy Company Executive Pleads Guilty in Connection with the Bribery Scheme of Former Executive Deputy Secretary to the Governor of New YorkRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that PETER GALBRAITH KELLY JR., a former executive at Competitive Power Ventures (“CPV”), pled guilty to defrauding CPV by misrepresenting that the former Executive Deputy Secretary to the Governor, Joseph Percoco, had obtained state ethics approval for his wife to work at CPV. After an eight-week jury trial, co-defendants Joseph Percoco and Steven Aiello were convicted of charges relating to bribery. The jury was deadlocked on the charges against Kelly. Joseph Gerardi was acquitted of all charges. KELLY pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “Braith Kelly was involved in a criminal scheme to bribe of one of the most powerful men in New York in exchange for favorable treatment for his energy company. Today he pled guilty for his part in the scheme and now faces time in prison. Corruption in Albany casts a shadow over the many honest public servants who do good work in the administration of government, and deprives the citizens of New York of the honest representation they deserve.”
According to the evidence introduced at trial, other proceedings in this case, and documents previously filed in Manhattan federal court:
KELLY ran monthly payments to Percoco and his wife through a consultant who worked for the Energy Company in order to disguise the source of the payments. KELLY also made sure that Percoco’s wife’s photograph and full name were not included in promotional materials for the Energy Company, and he falsely told his superiors at the Energy Company – on two separate occasions – that Percoco had obtained an ethics opinion from the Governor’s Office approving of Percoco’s wife’s employment with the Energy Company, when in fact no such opinion existed. For his part, Percoco concealed the criminal scheme by failing to include the Energy Company as the source of payments on his State-mandated financial disclosure forms.
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KELLY, 54, of Canterbury, Connecticut, pled guilty to an Information that charges him with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. It carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of the greatest of $250,000, twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss to persons other than the defendant resulting from the offense. KELLY is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2018, by Judge Caproni.
Percoco was convicted on March 13, 2018, after an eight-week trial, of soliciting and accepting bribes in return for taking official state action to benefit CPV and Syracuse-based real estate developer COR Development (“COR”). Percoco is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Caproni on June 11, 2018.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
U.S. Attorney Berman praised the work of the Buffalo Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, which jointly conducted this investigation with special agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mr. Berman also thanked the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janis Echenberg, Robert Boone, David Zhou, and Matthew Podolsky are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Cartersville police officer sentenced for obstructing an FBI wiretap investigationRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. - Bryson-Taylor Wayne Banks, a former Cartersville, Georgia police officer, was sentenced to federal prison for notifying drug traffickers that the FBI was conducting a court-authorized wiretap of their phones.
“The defendant chose to protect a network of drug dealers and attempted to cover up his illegal conduct by sabotaging an FBI investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “When those who are sworn to protect the public violate their oath, they will be prosecuted for their misconduct.”
“Not only did Banks violate the trust of the community he served as a law enforcement officer, he undermined an FBI investigation and put law enforcement officers in imminent danger,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “By choosing to align himself with drug dealers he has earned a sentence that will allow him to spend more time with them in prison.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2015, Banks, then an officer with the Cartersville Police Department and member of the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, was investigating a number of drug traffickers operating in the Cartersville area, including Tomas Pineda Mendoza, using a female confidential source (“CS”) to obtain information about the network. In cultivating his relationship with the CS, Banks improperly gave her information from law enforcement databases and illegally sent her a picture of another cooperating source.
Separately, the FBI was investigating an inmate in a Georgia state prison, Francisco Palacios Baras, a/k/a “Shorty,” who was using contraband cell phones to coordinate methamphetamine transactions outside of the prison. Using a court-authorized wiretap on two of Shorty’s cell phones, the FBI learned that Mendoza was one of Shorty’s associates, and that Mendoza was scheduled to pick up two kilograms of methamphetamine. The FBI also learned that the CS had been storing drugs for Mendoza. The FBI planned to arrest Mendoza after he picked up the drugs, and to search the CS’s house.
The morning of the planned arrest, in the interest of sharing information and coordinating operations with fellow law enforcement agencies, an FBI agent informed Banks of the wiretap investigation and the plan to arrest Mendoza and search the CS’s house. At that time, the FBI did not know that Banks had been illegally providing the CS with confidential information that allowed the drug traffickers to identify federal agents and other cooperating sources. Banks, knowing that Mendoza was about to be arrested and that the CS’s house may contain drugs and evidence of the information Banks had illegally been providing to her, contacted his CS and instructed her to tell Mendoza to not pick up drugs that day because the FBI planned to arrest him. Banks also told the CS that the FBI knew about Mendoza because they were wiretapping Shorty’s phones.
Mendoza did not pick up the methamphetamine as planned, but was intercepted over the wiretap calling Shorty and telling him that “one of the girls” had warned Mendoza not to pick up the drugs. Mendoza said that he had identified the agents watching his apartment, as “the girl” had warned, and that law enforcement was listening to Shorty’s phones. Following this, Shorty stopped using the phones being wiretapped by the FBI.
With the arrest plan compromised, the surveillance team identified, and the wiretap exposed, the FBI agents had to take precautions for agents’ personal safety and try to rebuild the investigation. Fortunately, the renewed investigation was ultimately successful, resulting in Shorty and Mendoza being arrested and sentenced to nine years and seven months and 10 years and 10 months of imprisonment, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Bryson-Taylor Wayne Banks, 31, of Calhoun, Georgia was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy to one year, six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Banks pleaded guilty to unlawful notification of electronic surveillance on March 1, 2018.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz and Garrett Bradford prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.