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23 April 2018
Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Using Counterfeit Credit CardsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Michael Washington (34, Tampa) to four years and three months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The court also entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $143,532, the total proceeds of the fraud. Washington pleaded guilty on February 2, 2018.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2016, Washington was arrested at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa with nine counterfeit credit cards, encoded with account numbers from Canadian Imperial National Bank (CIBC) in his possession. He fraudulently used the CIBC account numbers to encode and emboss the credit cards that he then used to purchase goods, including cartons of cigarettes from the Tribal Smoke Shop, and gift cards from retail stores in Florida. Washington sold the gift cards for cash, for approximately 60% of their face value.
Washington sold more than 490 gift cards that he had purchased with counterfeit CIBC cards, with a value exceeding $44,000. The total loss for the nine counterfeit credit cards and the fraudulent purchases, including the cigarettes, was $143,532.47.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole Tribe Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen.
Three Conspirators Sentenced in $16.6m Fraudulent Medical Device SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Three defendants who marketed and sold light-emitting medical devices as a cure-all to consumers, primarily targeting the elderly, were sentenced on April 20, 2018 by a federal judge in Rapid City, South Dakota, the Department of Justice announced.
Robert “Larry” Lytle, 83, of Rapid City, who was the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. Ronald D. Weir Jr., 39, of Sioux Falls was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Irina Kossovskaia, 63, a Canadian resident, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange will issue a final restitution order within 90 days.
Lytle pleaded guilty on January 26, 2018, in the District of South Dakota to one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead, and one count of criminal contempt. As part of his plea agreement, Lytle admitted that beginning in 2005 he entered into an agreement with others to sell medical devices with false and misleading labeling in order to defraud consumers, and that he continued to do so in violation of a federal court order. He also acknowledged that he obtained at least $16,669,015 over the course of the scheme. Lytle made an initial restitution payment of $637,000 and has turned over several thousand dollars’ worth of gold and silver coins to be applied to restitution. Irina Kossovskaia and Ronald D. Weir Jr. previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the fraud. The government agreed to dismiss criminal contempt charges against a fourth individual, Fredretta Eason.
Lytle and his co-conspirators including Kossovskaia and Weir (who operated QLaser distributorships) marketed and distributed QLaser devices to (mostly elderly) consumers across the United States by falsely claiming that the devices could safely and effectively treat a panoply of medical conditions at home, including cancer, emphysema, diabetes, autism, HIV, and heart disease. Lytle created false and misleading product labeling that was designed to create the false impression that these claims had been scientifically proven. In truth, no published clinical or scientific studies supported the use of QLaser devices to treat those and other serious conditions, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) never approved the devices for such uses. To lend credibility and authority to his claims, the potential QLaser purchasers were told “Dr. Lytle” was a “retired” dentist and medical laser expert while omitting the fact that his license to practice dentistry had been permanently revoked for engaging in fraud and material deception.
Lytle and his co-conspirators forged ahead with the fraud even after a federal court ordered them to stop selling and refund all QLaser purchasers in a series of injunctions issued in 2015. In violation of the injunctions, Lytle made false statements to the court and FDA investigators, sent collection letters to QLaser purchasers rather than pay them court-ordered restitution, smuggled hundreds devices out of South Dakota to upstate New York to prevent their seizure, and received a steady stream of income from continued QLaser sales made by Kossovskaia, Weir, and others.
“These defendants exploited elderly victims suffering from chronic, serious medical conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Protecting Americans from this abhorrent behavior will remain one of the Justice Department’s highest priorities.”
“These defendants were motivated by greed, and they targeted vulnerable people by giving them false hope while fleecing them,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons of the District of South Dakota. “The sentences today should serve as a deterrent to anyone contemplating similar schemes.”
"Unconscionable schemes involving ineffective and worthless medical devices take advantage of the despair and desperation of people who are impaired by chronic debilitating pain and disease. We place the highest priority in ensuring that these types of schemes are investigated and prosecuted aggressively", said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg of the Denver Division, which covers multiple states including South Dakota. "The sentencing of these three perpetrators sends a clear message to those that profit from the misfortunes of others that we will not allow the US Mail to be used to harm our citizens."
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ross S. Goldstein of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner and retired former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted McBride of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd.
St. Augustine Resident Indicted for FEMA FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Deltra Long (66, St. Augustine) with theft of government funds and false claims against the government. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on the theft count, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the false claims count. The indictment also notifies Long that the United States intends to forfeit $10,022.36, which is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between November 5, 2016, and April 21, 2017, Long made a false application for Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) funds after a house that she owned in St. Augustine was damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Qualified recipients of FEMA funds for disaster assistance are limited to the primary residence of a homeowner who lives in the premises at the time of the qualifying event. Long allegedly sought funds to restore rental property, which she did not occupy when Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Florida on October 3, 2016.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Taylor.
Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Drug Trafficking MurderRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man and a Seymour, Mo., man were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the murder of a co-conspirator.
Anthony Edward Donovan, 21, of Springfield, and Nathaniel Austin Lee, 20, of Seymour, were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. Donovan was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison without parole. Lee was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
Donovan and Lee both pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene County, Dallas County, Webster County and Christian County, Mo., from April 28, 2015, to April 26, 2016. They both also pleaded guilty to using a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, resulting in the murder of Oscar Adan Martinez-Gaxiola on April 25, 2016, in Webster County.
According to court documents, co-defendant Yovanny Aroldo Mendivil-Balderama, 23, a Mexican national, and Martinez-Gaxiola obtained large amounts of methamphetamine from either Arizona or Mexico and transported it to Missouri. They supplied methamphetamine to co-defendant Brooke Danielle Beckley, 21, of Nixa, for distribution in the Springfield area. Beckley met Mendivil-Balderama and Martinez-Gaxiola in January 2016, and Beckley and Mendivil-Balderama started a sexual relationship shortly afterwards.
On April 6, 2016, law enforcement officers seized from Beckley’s hotel room approximately 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, a loaded 20-gauge shotgun with a sawed off barrel and stock, four rounds of additional shotgun ammunition, a .22-caliber pistol, a drug ledger and $3,662.
The loss of the 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine created a $44,000 debt that Beckley owed to both Mendivil-Balderama and Martinez-Gaxiola. According to court documents, text messages between Mendivil-Balderama and Beckley revealed they both wanted to kill Martinez-Gaxiola as a way to reduce, or extend, the debt and to prevent Martinez-Gaxiola from possibly killing Beckley. Mendivil-Balderama suggested in a text to Beckley that he had “an idea of how we can do so you do not have to pay me everything.” Beckley, in a text on April 21, 2016, asked what he needed her to do. Mendivil-Balderama responded, “I just need someone to help me get rid of someone I need gone like now.” Subsequent text messages suggested that the person that needed to be “gone” was Martinez-Gaxiola.
Beckley then recruited Donovan to assist in killing Martinez-Gaxiola, and offered to pay him $6,000. Donovan recruited Lee to assist in the murder and allow for the use of Lee’s property in rural Webster County, Mo., in exchange for part of the $6,000. Lee then recruited Joshua Applegate (who was a minor under federal law at the time of the offense, and therefore charged as an adult in state court rather than in the federal indictment).
On April 24, 2016, Beckley, Donovan and Lee practiced for the murder of Martinez-Gaxiola by discharging various firearms at the Lee residence. On April 25, 2016, Mendivil-Balderama traveled with Martinez-Gaxiola to the Lee residence on the pretext that Beckley would pay the drug debt. Beckley, Donovan, Lee and Applegate were waiting at the residence; Donovan and Lee were armed with handguns. Upon arrival, Mendivil-Balderama got out of the vehicle first. When Martinez-Gaxiola exited the vehicle, Donovan and Applegate opened fire and Martinez-Gaxiola fell to the ground. Eventually, Donovan went up to where Martinez-Gaxiola lay and shot him once in the head. Martinez-Gaxiola was armed with a handgun but did not discharge it during his murder.
Lee’s neighbors reported the shots fired at the residence (it is estimated that the co-conspirators expended 30 to 60 rounds of ammunition during the murder). Webster County deputies responded to the location. Hearing the emergency sirens, the co-conspirators attempted to conceal Martinez-Gaxiola under a piece of tin siding, and then fled area. When the deputies arrived, they found Martinez-Gaxiola, who was still alive but critically hurt and who died before transportation to the hospital. Law enforcement officers captured all the co-conspirators by the end of the day on April 25, 2016.
Donovan and Lee are the final co-defendants to be sentenced in this case. Mendivil-Balderama pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced on March 8, 2018, to 50 years in federal prison without parole. Beckley pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced on Feb. 26, 2018, to 40 years in federal prison without parole.
Co-defendant Jourdan Ashley McGinnis, 29, of Nixa, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. McGinnis was sentenced on Dec. 18, 2017, to seven years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Garrison and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Lawrence County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Webster County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Seymour, Mo., Police Department, the Rogersville, Mo., Police Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Combined Ozarks Multijurisdictional Enforcement Team (COMET).
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robberies Throughout Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Wesley Allen Krohn pleaded guilty today to two counts of armed bank robbery, four counts of bank robbery, and one count of attempted bank robbery in federal court, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse, Special Agent in Charge John Bennett of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Division.
According to the plea agreement, Krohn, 34, of San Jacinto, Calif., admitted to committing two armed bank robberies in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Grove, as well as committing four unarmed bank robberies in Rohnert Park, Brentwood, Suisun City, and Elk Grove. Krohn further admitted to attempting a bank robbery in Lodi. On some of the robberies, Krohn entered the banks wearing a fake beard and a baseball hat in an attempt to disguise himself, approached the victim tellers, and presented a note that demanded money. In one robbery, Krohn raised what appeared to be a pistol, pointed it in the direction of the teller, and ordered her to open the bottom two drawers.
Krohn admitted to robbing the following banks:
- $9,000 from Exchange Bank in Rohnert Park, California, on December 3, 2015
- $496 from Tri Counties Bank in Brentwood, California on December 21, 2015
- $650 from Wells Fargo Bank in Pleasant Hill, California on December 22, 2015
- $1,439 from Bank of Rio Vista in Walnut Grove, California on December 31, 2015
- $884 from US Bank in Suisun City, California on January 9, 2016
- $2,144 from Tri Counties Bank in Elk Grove, California on January 19, 2016
Krohn also admitted to attempting to rob US Bank in Lodi, California on January 19, 2016.
As part of his plea agreement, Krohn also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $14,623 to the above-listed banks.
Krohn was arrested on December 8, 2017, by FBI Agents and has been in custody since that date.
Krohn’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., before the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Court Judge, in Oakland. Krohn faces a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison for each count of armed bank robbery and 20 years in prison for each count of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the Court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Vanessa Quant and Katie Turner. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and the police departments of Rohnert Park, Brentwood, Pleasant Hill, Suisun City, Elk Grove, Lodi, and Clear Lake.
Roswell Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Valarie Martinez, 32, of Roswell, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to violating the federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Martinez was arrested in Feb. 2018, on a criminal complaint charging her with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Jan. 16, 2018, in Chaves County, N.M. According to the complaint, Roswell Police Department (RPD) officers arrested Martinez after locating a bag containing a firearm and ammunition that Martinez discarded while fleeing from the scene of a suspected breaking and entering of a dwelling. Martinez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of her prior felony convictions.
During today’s proceedings, Martinez pled guilty to a felony information charging her with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In entering the guilty plea, Martinez admitted that on Jan. 16, 2018, she was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Martinez acknowledged that she was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of her status as a convicted felon.
At sentencing, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. She remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the RPD and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brock E. Taylor and Richard C. Williams of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
Ron Molano Taitano Sentenced for Possession of Contraband in Prison and Violations of Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant RON MOLANO TAITANO, age 32, from Mangilao, was sentenced today to an 18 month term of imprisonment and a three year term of supervised release for possession of contraband in prison. The Court also sentenced Taitano to an 11 month term of imprisonment for violations of supervised release involving failure to report for drug testing and failure to report to the U.S. Probation Office. The Court ordered the terms of imprisonment to run consecutive to each other.
On July 27, 2017, Taitano pled guilty to two counts of an Indictment, which charged Possessing Contraband in Prison, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1791. The first count involved Taitano possessing methamphetamine inside of his slippers upon his return to the Department of Corrections on January 14, 2017. Taitano had previously asked the Court for permission to assist his family with a medical appointment. The Court granted an eight-hour furlough from prison for that purpose. Additionally, on February 12, 2017, Taitano possessed a cellphone and sim card, both prohibited objects, while an inmate at the Department of Corrections. Taitano’s ongoing incarceration at the Department of Corrections was due to the revocation of his supervised release in an earlier federal case, which resulted in convictions for Bank Fraud, Attempted Bank Fraud, and Possession of Stolen United States Mail.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Belinda Alcantara, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Guam.
Rio Rancho Man Sentenced to Twelve Years for Federal Child Pornography and Cyberstalking ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Armando Camarena, 34, of Rio Rancho, N.M., was sentenced on April 20, 2018, in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 12 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for his conviction on child pornography and cyberstalking charges. He also will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Camarena in July 2014, based on a criminal complaint charging him with distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to the criminal complaint, HSI initiated the investigation leading to Camarena’s arrest after receiving a lead from HSI in Idaho Falls, Idaho, which reported that a 14-year-old girl had received child pornography, child erotica and threatening messages on her iPod from an individual the child met through social media. Investigation revealed that the child pornography and threats were sent from an IP Address used by Camarena. On July 30, 2014, HSI and the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) executed a federal search warrant at Camarena’s residence and seized computer images consistent with child pornography. Camarena was taken into custody at that time.
Camarena was indicted on Aug. 12, 2014, and was charged with receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and cyberstalking. The indictment alleged that Camarena committed the crimes in Sandoval County, N.M., between Dec. 2013 and July 2014.
On Sept. 20, 2017, Camarena pled guilty to the indictment. In his plea agreement, Camarena admitted that in Dec. 2013, he used a social media application to initiate contact with a juvenile victim residing outside New Mexico. When the juvenile victim sought to terminate contact with Camarena in Jan. 2014, Camarena sent the juvenile victim a series of messages in which he threatened to kill and inflict serious bodily injury on the victim and the victim’s family with the intention of causing them substantial emotional distress.
In his plea agreement, Camarena also admitted that in July 2014, he possessed child pornography on his cellular telephone, which he downloaded and received from the internet. Camarena acknowledged that law enforcement officers seized his cellular telephone when they executed a federal search warrant at his residence on July 30, 2014.
This case was investigated by SPEED, the Sexual Predator and Exploitation Enforcement Detail, which is comprised of officers from HSI-Albuquerque office, APD and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from HSI-Idaho and the Idaho Fusion Center.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack E. Burkhead 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/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 86 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Promoter Who Defrauded Investors in Concerts and WWE Events that Never Took Place Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A promoter who bilked investors, promoters and performers who invested in concerts and World Wrestling Entertainment events – stealing at least $1.7 million from the victims – was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison.
Gabriel Martin Reed, 47 – a former Malibu resident who currently lives in McKinney, Texas – was sentenced by United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez.
Reed pleaded guilty in November to one count of wire fraud and admitted that he defrauded his victims by making false promises and then using their money for personal expenses.
Reed, who conducted business under the name Gabe Reed Productions, took money from victims after falsely telling them that events would take place, certain performers had agreed to participate in those events, and their funds would be used to organize and promote the events. Instead of using the money for concerts and other events as promised, Reed used investor funds to pay his rent, utility bills and travel expenses.
According to court documents, for almost nine years, Reed represented himself as a promoter and organizer of hard rock and wrestling events. Reed solicited investors by touting what he claimed were longstanding relationships with well-known musicians, showing props from alleged previous tours, and fabricating records related to music events. According to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors, Reed operated a sophisticated scheme, which included creating bogus email addresses and distributing fabricated artist contracts, bank statements, and correspondence to convince his victims that their funds were being legitimately invested.
When he pleaded guilty, Reed specifically admitted defrauding one Los Angeles investor, who agreed to put $100,000 into a 2016 concert tour Reed was calling “Titans of Rock.” However, many of the promised artists had not agreed to participate in the purported tour.
Prosecutors have asked Judge Gutierrez to order Reed to pay restitution to his victims. The court will schedule a hearing, likely early this summer, to determine the amount of restitution.
The case against Reed was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Poonam G. Kumar of the Major Frauds Section.
Previously Deported Dominican Republic National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Gustavo Adolfo Jimenez Polanco, 30, a Dominican Republic national, pleaded guilty today in district court to illegal reentry into the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Polanco remains in custody pending his sentencing scheduled for August 23, 2018.
According to the plea agreement, Polanco appeared at the Cyril E. King Airport on February 10, 2018 and was questioned regarding a Florida Driver’s License that he presented to the primary inspector at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection checkpoint. The primary inspector referred him to secondary inspection where it was determined that Polanco was a Dominican Republic national who had been deported from the United States on July 1, 2014.
Under federal law, Polanco faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Prescription Drug “Take Back Day” in the Eastern District of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is National Prescription Drug “Take Back Day.” The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Last autumn, Americans nation-wide turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Of those numbers, Washington State collected 15,473 pounds of prescription drugs at approximately 71 collection sites operated by the DEA and 59 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous “Take Back” events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9 million pounds – more than 4,500 tons – of pills.
The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Liquids, needles, or sharps cannot be accepted at the sites, only pills or patches.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Law enforcement agencies scheduled to participate as collection sites include: Kennewick Police Department; Pasco Police Department; Pullman Police Department; Richland Police Department; Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office; Walla Walla Police Department; West Richland Police Department; and Yakima Police Department. In Spokane County a year-round disposal site is located in the Spokane Valley Police Department lobby, 12710 E. Sprague Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8:00 – 5:00.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs and the April 28, 2018 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com
Ohio County man sentenced to nearly five years for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Quashad Maurante Pugh, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 57 months incarceration for distributing cocaine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Pugh, also known as “Q” and “Quavo,” age 23, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine Base within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location” in February 2018. Pugh distributed cocaine near Jensen Playground in October 2017 in Ohio County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty in Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Jose Aponte, age 47, of pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from 2013 to September 2017, Aponte conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 27, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $20 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy K. Chung is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
New Haven Gang Associate Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RODRIGO RAMIREZ, also known as “Rico,” 36, of New Haven, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 156 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a violent New Haven street gang.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2014, ATF and the New Haven Police Department began “Operation Red Side” through a series of controlled narcotics purchases and firearms seizures. The investigation revealed that members and associates of the Red Side Guerilla Brims (“RSGB”), a sect of the Bloods street gang based in New Haven, were engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies. In addition to distributing crack cocaine and other narcotics in and around New Haven, the investigation indicated that members and associates of the RSGB, under the direction of Jeffrey Benton and others, transported the drugs to Bangor, Maine, and sold them in Bangor and its surrounding communities. The RSGB also traded narcotics for firearms, brought the firearms back to New Haven and distributed them to gang members. RAMIREZ was an associate of RSGB.
On April 20, 2011, Benton recruited RAMIREZ to assist in the robbery of money and marijuana from Kevin Lee of New Haven. On that date, Benton, RAMIREZ, Luis “Chewie” Padilla and Miles “Molly Rock” Price drove to the vicinity of Lee’s residence. Benton, Padilla and Price walked to the residence and Ramirez stayed in the car. Benton handed Price a .45 caliber handgun as they approached the back door. After Lee answered the door, Lee tried to grab Price’s gun and lunged at Price with a knife. Padilla then shot Lee once in the stomach, once in the back, and finally in the head.
RAMIREZ also traveled to Maine at Benton’s request to assist in RSGB’s crack cocaine distribution enterprise.
On September 2, 2014, RAMIREZ was arrested on federal narcotics distribution charges in Maine. His case was transferred to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution and, on June 16, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity and admitted his involvement in the murder of Kevin Lee and in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Maine. RAMIREZ has been detained since his arrest.
As a result of this investigation, 21 members and associates of the RSGB were convicted of federal charges in Connecticut and Maine. The investigation has resolved seven murder cases, four attempted murders and four armed robberies that occurred in 2011 and 2012.
Benton, Padilla and Price pleaded guilty to various offenses stemming from this investigation, and admitted to participating in the murder of Kevin Lee. Benton also admitted that he participated in three other gang-related murders and one attempted murder, and Padilla admitted that he participated in two other gang-related murders and two attempted murders.
On October 4, 2017, Benton was sentenced to 480 months of imprisonment, and on March 7, 2018, Price was sentenced to 144 months imprisonment. Padilla awaits sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Durham noted that federal prisoners are required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentenced term of imprisonment and are not eligible for parole.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut State Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hamden Police Department. The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office also provided critical assistance in the investigation.
An instrumental component of the investigation has been the work of the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory in utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to analyze ballistics evidence.
This matter is being prosecuted in the District of Connecticut by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Markle and Jocelyn Kaoutzanis. A related case in the District of Maine is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey.
Mobile Resident Receives 120 Months for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that Chief United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Marcus Dooms, 32, a resident of Mobile, Alabama and Houston, Texas, to 120 months imprisonment for trafficking cocaine. The judge ordered that Dooms undergo four years of supervised release after finishing his term of imprisonment, receive substance abuse testing and treatment, and pay a $100 mandatory special assessment.
On November 22, 2016, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Alabama indicted Marcus Dooms, his mother Ann Dooms, and co-defendant Ashley Newton for conspiring to distribute cocaine. On August 23, 2017, Marcus Dooms pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Earlier, Ann Dooms and Ashley Newton pleaded guilty and were sentenced to jail for the offense.
Around 12:52am on January 6, 2016, Louisiana State Police Senior Trooper Ryan Zimmerman stopped a 2004 Toyota Camry at mile marker 38 eastbound on Interstate 12 in Tangipahoa Parish for a traffic violation. The driver and registered owner of the vehicle, Ashley Newton, said she was traveling from Houston, Texas to Mobile, Alabama. A consensual search of the vehicle revealed a total of approximately 2.96 kilograms of cocaine inside a blue Swiss Gear backpack behind the right front seat.
On January 6, 2016, Newton was questioned by Louisiana State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents about drug trafficking. Newton said she would get a call from Ann Dooms, meet her at a location away from her house in Mobile, and retrieve a bag of money. Newton said she would then take the money to Marcus Dooms in Houston. Newton said she would meet Marcus Dooms at a predetermined location -- usually a gas station in Houston -- to give him the money. Marcus Dooms would then take the money and call Newton later that day to pick up the cocaine for her to transport back to Mobile. Newton said she delivered the cocaine to Ann Dooms’s house in Mobile and other locations in Mobile.
On January 6, 2016, law enforcement officials interviewed Ann Dooms. She said she would contact her son in Houston, Marcus Dooms, once she had the cocaine. Ann Dooms said that Marcus Dooms would call local dealers in Mobile, who would then come to her house and retrieve the cocaine. Ann Dooms said she had distributed cocaine at least three or four times over the past few months. Ann Dooms said she collected money from drug dealers. Once she had the money, she would then contact Ashley Newton, who would then meet Ann Dooms and take the money to Marcus Dooms in Houston.On January 6, 2016, law enforcement officials contacted Marcus Dooms. He gave the name of his drug dealer contact in Mobile. Marcus Dooms said Newton brought him approximately $85,000 and that he, in turn, gave the money to his supplier.
Currently, Marcus Dooms faces state charges in an unrelated criminal case in Mobile County for allegedly trafficking heroin, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, possession / receiving a controlled substance, possession of marijuana in the first degree, receiving stolen property in the third degree, and use / possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the federal case. Assistant United States Attorney Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case.
Medical Doctor Who Illegally Wrote Prescriptions – including for Highly Addictive Opioids – Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A doctor who operated a medical clinic in Lynwood was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for illegally issuing prescriptions for powerful narcotics and sedatives without a medical purpose, mostly for young “patients” who paid cash.
Dr. Edward Ridgill, 65, a resident of Indio, California, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero.
During today’s hearing, Judge Otero said, “With all due respect to Dr. Ridgill, he is not a doctor. He has a license to practice, [but] he is not practicing medicine.” The judge also noted Ridgill’s prior history of improperly writing prescriptions, which “reveals he has not learned his lesson from the past.”
Today’s sentencing follows a one-week trial late last year in which a federal jury found Ridgill guilty of 26 felony counts of illegally distributing controlled substances. Prosecutors presented evidence that Ridgill illegally prescribed the opioid painkiller hydrocodone, which is often sold under the brand name Norco; alprazolam, best known by the brand name Xanax; and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxer often sold under the brand name Soma. Young “patients” traveled from places as far away as Victorville, Palmdale and Desert Hot Springs to Ridgill’s clinic in order to obtain prescriptions from Ridgill, where his “illegal drug business enabled him to work a mere three hours a day at his Lynwood office in exchange for significant amounts of cash,” according to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors.
During the trial, the jury heard that, in 2014 alone, Ridgill wrote nearly 9,000 prescriptions, and the vast majority of those prescriptions were for hydrocodone, alprazolam and carisoprodol, typically for the maximum strength. Jurors also heard testimony about undercover DEA operatives who received prescriptions from Ridgill in exchange for cash. In 2014 alone, Ridgill physically deposited more than $175,000 in cash. According to court documents, the testimony showed that Ridgill’s “initial physical exams were cursory, and far from the fulsome type of exam required to justify prescribing high doses of controlled substances.”
A medical expert who reviewed a host of records related to this case determined that Ridgill “prescribed massive amounts of the same three controlled substances charged in this case – hydrocodone, alprazolam, and carisoprodol – to individuals who sometimes traveled long distances to obtain repeated prescriptions from defendant, at relatively young ages to be validly seeking such high dosages of pain medication, in large volumes over short periods of time.”
Law enforcement authorities executed federal search warrants on Ridgill’s residences and medical office in March 2015. At that time, authorities recovered multiple pre-written prescriptions for controlled substances, as well as cash lining patient files and stuffed in the drawers containing those files, which prosecutors argued demonstrated that Ridgill operated a cash-for-drugs business.
The jury deliberated for approximately 30 minutes in December 2017 before finding Ridgill guilty of 26 counts of distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, Ridgill was convicted of 13 counts of distributing hydrocodone, nine counts of distributing alprazolam, and four counts of distributing carisoprodol.
The investigation into Ridgill was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, HIDTA (the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), the Los Angeles Police Department, the Torrance Police Department and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The prosecution of Ridgill was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine S. Ahn and Catharine A. Richmond of the General Crimes Section.
Marion County man sentenced for manufacturing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jesse Nelson Yoho, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 33 months incarceration for his role in making methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Yoho, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in Manufacture of Methamphetamine” in November 2017. Yoho admitted to possessing Pseudophedrine with the intent of making methamphetamine in Marion County in April 2015.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug &Violent Crime Task Force investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Marion County man admits to firearm chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William D. Fulmer, of Rivesville, West Virginia, has admitted to an unlawful firearm possession charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Fulmer, age 62, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Fulmer, who had previously been convicted of crimes in Venango County, Pennsylvania, admitted to having a .308 caliber rifle in July 2017 in Marion County.
Fulmer faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Marengo County Resident Receives 120 Months in Crack Cocaine CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that Chief United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Gerald Barber, 40, a resident of Marengo County, Alabama, to 120 months imprisonment in a crack cocaine case. The judge ordered that Barber undergo eight years of supervised release after finishing his term of imprisonment, receive substance abuse testing and treatment, and pay a $200 mandatory special assessment. He has five prior felony drug convictions.
On August 31, 2017, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Alabama indicted Barber on one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. On November 28, 2017, a federal grand jury for the district returned a superseding indictment against Barber, charging him with two counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. On January 24, 2018, a federal jury in Selma, Alabama found Barber guilty on both counts. Chief Judge DuBose presided over the jury trial, which started on January 23, 2018.
At trial, the jury heard evidence that in the early morning of March 11, 2017, Barber, aka “G-Money,” was driving a white 2002 Chevrolet Blazer in Camden, Alabama when Camden Police Officer John Ferguson pulled the vehicle over for speeding and having no tag light. Barber had no identification, proof of insurance, license, or registration. He lied to the officer about his identity. Officer Ferguson noticed that Barber was visibly nervous and saw traces of a green leafy substance in the vehicle. Officer Ferguson called for backup, patted down Barber outside the Chevrolet Blazer for officer safety and possible narcotics, and found an “eight-ball” of crack cocaine concealed underneath Barber’s shorts. Officer Ferguson arrested Barber and transported him to the Prince Arnold Detention Center in Wilcox County. At the jail, the defendant falsely identified himself and signed a waiver of counsel form in his brother’s name.
The jury also heard evidence that in the afternoon of April 12, 2017, Uniontown Chief of Police Willie Walton was on routine patrol in Uniontown, Alabama when he saw an individual standing by the driver’s side window of a white Chevrolet Blazer on Johnson Street. Chief Walton testified that he recognized the individual as a crack cocaine addict and was suspicious of a drug sale between the individual and the vehicle’s driver. Barber was driving the same Chevrolet Blazer. A passenger was also inside. As Chief Walton approached, the individual ran away and the Chevrolet Blazer sped off. Chief Walton activated his lights and sirens and tried to stop the vehicle, which had an expired tag.
A high-speed chase ensued, which at times reached 70 - 80 miles per hour. During the chase, Chief Walton saw an unidentified object (never recovered) thrown out the vehicle’s driver’s side window on Washington Street. Barber tried to evade Chief Walton by racing up Martin Luther King Drive in a residential area where children were playing. As Chief Walton pursued, Barber made a left turn onto Lucian Street and threw approximately $8,000 worth of crack cocaine out the driver’s side window. The narcotics landed on the front lawn of a home on Lucian Street. Chief Walton continued to pursue the fleeing vehicle and radioed dispatch. Uniontown Police Department Sergeant Nash Gipson responded and set up a roadblock. Barber almost collided with Sgt. Gipson. The chase ended shortly thereafter on Franklin Street.Chief Walton and Sgt. Gipson arrested Barber outside his vehicle. Chief Walton testified that he saw a “crack rock” in the driver’s seat where Barber had been sitting and that Barber shouted an expletive upon his arrest, yelling, “I’ve got more money than all y’all m*****f****** out there!” Chief Walton also told the jury that Barber appeared high, his mouth was foaming, and pieces of crack cocaine appeared to be in his mouth.
The passenger, whom the police had detained for officer safety, said that Barber threw a black bag out of the vehicle during the chase. With the passenger’s help, police found the bag at Lucian Street. Chief Walton examined it and found sixteen plastic baggies containing roughly 80.8 grams of crack cocaine in varying quantities. When Chief Walton later searched Barber’s Chevrolet Blazer, he found two digital scales, two Pyrex measuring glasses, one Toastmaster hand mixer, and two mixer attachments, all containing cocaine residue.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Uniontown Police Department, and the Camden Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and George F. May prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced for Recruiting Homeless to Cash Counterfeit ChecksRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – An Atlanta man was sentenced today to 116 months in prison for recruiting individuals from local homeless shelters to cash counterfeit business checks worth nearly $105,000.
According to court documents, David Mero, 58, traveled from Georgia to Virginia and other states on at least three occasions between September 2015 and June 2016, and recruited at least six homeless individuals to cash at least 40 counterfeit business checks. Mero and his conspirators compromised these accounts by stealing the account holders’ mail from local business parks, then lured homeless individuals into the scheme by offering to hire them as day laborers for construction jobs. After transporting these homeless great distances from shelters to which they were required to return, Mero told them they would be cashing checks instead of performing the work initially offered. Mero obtained their identifying information and sent it to other conspirators, who used the information to make the counterfeit checks payable to the homeless recruits. Mero gave checks to the homeless and directed to cash them at nearby banks before returning them to their shelters. On at least one occasion, Mero held a homeless recruit at gunpoint after he refused to cash checks in furtherance of the scheme. Faced with threats to both himself and his family, the homeless man attempted to cash four counterfeit check at Mero’s direction. Mero was arrested in Texas in June 2016 while engaged in this activity. He was previously prosecuted in 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina for conspiring to carry out this same scheme.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-13.
Long-Time U.P. Gasoline Vendor Sentenced to Prison for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN - U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that David Louis Vernier, age 64, of Ishpeming, was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for committing bankruptcy fraud. The sentence was imposed by Chief Judge Robert J. Jonker of the U.S. District Court.
David Vernier, the father of Brooke Vernier, came to the attention of special agents of the FBI as they investigated the younger Vernier’s involvement in a $145,000,000 check-kiting scheme that she executed in 2012. Brooke Vernier, the owner of numerous gas stations in the U.P., circulated a huge number of bad checks amongst seven different corporate bank accounts at three different banks in 2012, thus temporarily leading the banks’ accounting systems to erroneously conclude that her accounts held more money than was actually there. When the fraud was discovered, the banks had suffered a loss of more than $1.7 million. She was subsequently convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, and ordered to pay $1,780,232 in restitution to the banks.
Now David Vernier, Brooke’s father, is also headed to federal prison. FBI agents learned that David Vernier ran a number of gas stations in the U.P. in the 2000s, but had fallen into debt. In October 2010, he filed for bankruptcy, claiming to have no real property, no income, no interests in any businesses and more than $3 million in debts. The FBI’s investigation revealed that Vernier was actually involved in running his daughter’s businesses and being paid by them. The FBI also found that he had lied not only in his original bankruptcy petition, but also during subsequent bankruptcy proceedings and in testimony he gave in a related deposition. The investigation showed that he was fraudulently attempting to discharge his more than $3 million in debts while, at the same time, secretly retaining his assets and interests in various businesses.
Vernier’s request to have his debts discharged were denied by Chief Judge Scott W. Dales of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in May 2012 because Vernier had failed to retain business records that would have allowed the Bankruptcy Court to thoroughly analyze his financial condition. In denying Vernier’s request for bankruptcy relief, Judge Dales asked, "does anybody have a good handle on who owns what . . . or is everything just hopelessly scrambled?" During Vernier’s sentencing on April 19, 2018, Chief Judge Jonker concluded that Vernier scrambled his finances and destroyed records as part of a conscious business plan to defraud his creditors. Chief Judge Jonker also found that Mr. Vernier’s wrongdoing was sustained over a long period of time.
U.S. Attorney Birge commented that: "The bankruptcy process is intended to help honest but unfortunate debtors work with creditors to resolve crushing debt and hopefully get a new financial start on life. But Mr. Vernier tried to abuse the process and get his debts modified or set aside while hiding his true assets and business interests. That’s just another form of fraud. And the consequences for fraud in the federal system are serious, as he can now attest."
During the sentencing hearing, Vernier gave a 40-minute long statement to Chief Judge Jonker. Based on this statement, Chief Judge Jonker concluded that Vernier, despite pleading guilty to bankruptcy fraud, had not accepted responsibility for his crimes.
The case against Brooke Vernier and the subsequent case against David Vernier were investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maarten Vermaat.
END
Lloyd Aguon Sentenced to Additional Six Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Appear to Serve SentenceRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant LLOYD JOHN AGUON, age 41, from Umatac, was sentenced today to an additional six months in prison for failure to self-surrender to the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to begin serving his sentence, as previously ordered. On October 25, 2017, Aguon was sentenced in District Court to an 18-month term of imprisonment for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. He was released on his own recognizance pending a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) determination as to where he would serve his federal prison sentence. Aguon was also ordered to report regularly to the USMS until such time. He further agreed to self-surrender to the USMS once BOP determined his prison location.
On November 21, 2017, the USMS notified Aguon to self-surrender on November 30, 2017, following BOP’s final placement decision. However, Aguon failed to appear as scheduled. Deputies then attempted to locate Aguon at his residence in Umatac. Over the course of an hour, Aguon failed to respond to the deputies’ knocking and announcing their presence. He finally exited once the power was turned off. The United States Attorney’s Office charged Aguon with Failure to Appear, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3146(a)(2). This federal law makes it unlawful for individuals sentenced to a term of imprisonment and ordered to surrender to the USMS to knowingly and intentionally fail to surrender as ordered.
The investigation was conducted by United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Belinda Alcantara, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Guam.
Little Rock Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison After Attempting to Engage a Minor in Sex ActsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Acting Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Annello, announced today the sentencing of David Frazier, 56, of Little Rock, to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sex acts.
United States District Judge J. Leon Holmes sentenced Frazier to 10 years imprisonment, followed by eight years of supervised release, on Monday.
“Today’s decade-long sentence sends the message that individuals who prey on innocent children over the internet are being monitored, and when caught, will be prosecuted and punished,” Hiland said. “We will use every tool in our arsenal to unmask and bring to justice the individuals who believe they can hide behind the perceived anonymity of the internet to harm children.”
On June 6, 2017, the Arkansas State Police received a complaint from a person who answered a Craigslist advertisement titled “I know your secret.” This person had communicated with the individual who posted the ad. The individual asked the person to communicate through the KIK application and stated his username was “yplover.” During the KIK communications, “yplover” began expressing an interest in having sex with a 7-year-old. “Yplover” explained in graphic detail what he would like to do to the child. The conversation concerned the person and she reported it to law enforcement. During the conversations, “yplover” sent two images of himself. The images depicted David Frazier.
On June 21, 2017, a law enforcement officer, acting in an undercover capacity (“UC”), answered an identical ad on Craigslist titled “I know your secret.” The UC made contact with the individual—identified as Frazier—who posted the ad. Frazier asked the UC to communicate via KIK. Frazier stated that his username was “yplover.” During the communications on Craigslist and KIK, Frazier expressed a desire to have sex with a child. The UC told Frazier that she had an 8-year-old daughter and that she wanted to watch Frazier and the 8-year-old engage in sex.
Frazier asked the UC to send a photograph of her “daughter.” The UC sent a photograph of herself as an 8-year-old. Frazier advised that he thought the UC’s “daughter” was cute and turned him on when the UC sent a picture of her. Frazier said he had thought about printing out the picture and doing a “tribute.” The UC asked Frazier to describe a “tribute.” Frazier later sent the UC a video of himself masturbating onto the picture.
Frazier continued to state in great detail the sex acts he wanted to perform on the UC’s purported 8-year-old daughter. Frazier then asked the UC what the rules would be if he were to meet the UC’s daughter. Frazier and the UC discussed items that the daughter would like as a gift. Frazier mentioned the three of them hanging out together. The UC said, “Then what would happen?” Frazier said, “Something that would let me get close to her.” Frazier continued, “Once she’s comfortable around me, she could sit on my lap while we watch a movie. Something totally innocent…Disney or something.” The UC told Frazier that she liked princess movies. Frazier then said, “We have to do something to move things further…sort of a jump start.” Frazier suggested, “Maybe let her ‘accidentally’ see some porn.” Frazier asked, “How would she react if she saw me naked lol.” Frazier suggested getting a room, and letting the UC bring her there.
Frazier was arrested by HSI agents on September 6, 2017, at his place of employment, pursuant to a warrant based on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted enticement of a minor. During a search of his office, officers located a gun safe, which was later determined to contain two computer thumb drives, a computer hard drive, a bottle of lubricant, a selfie stick, and a sexual stimulation device.
After reviewing Frazier’s cellular telephone and the storage devices found in the gun safe, agents discovered multiple images of child pornography. Agents also located chat messages between Frazier and an individual claiming to be a 14-year-old; in these chats Frazier asks the minor to send a sexually explicit photograph.
A forensic analysis completed on the electronic devices seized from Frazier resulted in the discovery of 23,000 images and videos of child pornography.
“Individuals who seek to sexually exploit minors steal the innocence of childhood and potentially destroy lives,” said Acting Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Annello. “This case shows HSI investigators are actively working to identity and disrupt child predators, and also to seek prosecution of these criminals wherever they may be found.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office—Special Investigations Division, and Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
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Leader of MS-13’s Hollywood Clique Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A longtime member of the MS-13 transnational street gang, who is described in court papers as the “shot-caller” of the gang’s Hollywood clique, pleaded guilty today to federal narcotics and weapons violations.
Jose Ricardo Alfaro, aka “Shyboy,” 40, of Hollywood, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Alfaro was arrested in May 2017 during a major operation that targeted MS-13 following the filing of a racketeering indictment that charged nearly three dozen gang members and associates, including a dozen other “shot-callers” who led a majority of the gang’s cliques in the Los Angeles region. Alfaro was not charged in the racketeering indictment, but he was arrested after authorities executed a search warrant and discovered ammunition in his vehicle. Subsequent investigation revealed Alfaro’s role in orchestrating drug trafficking and firearms activities.
In a plea agreement filed in federal court, Alfaro admitted that he and other co-conspirators acquired methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, and they “communicate[d] using multiple cellular telephones and coded language to organize and discuss their drug-dealing business.”
Alfaro admitted that he was involved in the distribution of at least 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and that he and his co-conspirators used firearms as part of the narcotics conspiracy. “For example, on or about April 9, 2017, [Alfaro] and a co-conspirator discussed acquisition of AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles,” according to the plea agreement.
Alfaro pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 20.
As a result of today’s guilty pleas, Alfaro faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 50 years.
Alfaro committed the drug and weapon offenses while on supervised released in relation to a prior RICO case that targeted MS-13.
In relation to last year’s racketeering indictment, a trial is scheduled for March 26, 2019.
The investigation into MS-13 is a multi-agency effort being conducted by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department.
This case against Alfaro is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
Kent State University professor charged with making false statements to law enforcementRead the Press Release
A Kent State University professor was charged in federal court with lying to the FBI.
Julio Pino, 57, of Kent, was charged via a criminal information with one count of making a false statement to law enforcement.
The charge was announced by U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
According to the criminal information filed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland:
Pino was a Facebook friend of a St. Louis resident identified in the information at J.E. Pino posted numerous statements and images on social media regarding J.E. and J.E.’s child custody issues between May 2015 and January 2016.
Among these conversations, on or about September 11, 2015, Defendant and J.E. had the following communications:
J.E. wrote, “I’m playing the game backwards. and winning! . . . I will kill 100s of people if they take my rights as a father away!”
Pino stated, “Yes, in military terms this is known as ‘the Parthian shot’.”
J.E. wrote, “hell, 10000’s! . . . It’;s [sic] time for Men to act like men again. . . . See the thing I’ve got on my side is God. That allows me certain rights. One of those rights is to strike down evil with furious vengeance! . . . People don’t even know how crazy I am yet! That’s because no ones ever tried to take my [relative]. They’re about to meet to [the] Monster they’ve created.”
Pino responded, “Devour them, [J.E.].”
J.E. wrote, “Thank You! I will! :)
J.E. wrote on his Facebook wall a series of threatening communications in December 2015 through January 2016 directed against a St. Louis Family Court Judge adjudicating J.E.’s child custody case. On Jan. 11, 2016, J.E. also wrote on his own Facebook wall, “I (expletive) love Julio Pino, even if he does eventually do something that most consider horrible, I’ll still love him because I know him in a deeper way than most of you even could.”
Law enforcement authorities in St. Louis arrested J.E. on Jan. 11, 2016, for making threatening communications against the judge.
The FBI was involved in investigating J.E.’s threats against the judge. FBI agents on Jan. 18, 2016, interviewed Pino in Miami about his social media posts and comments concerning his interactions with J.E. and discussions with J.E. about J.E.’s child custody issues. The FBI agents recorded this interview in connection with an ongoing investigation concerning, among other things, Pino’s interactions with J.E. as described above.
Federal grand jury subpoenas from the Northern District of Ohio were issued during the course of that investigation. In response to questions from FBI agents concerning whether he ever had conversations with J.E. on the social media accounts, Pino, knowing full well the content of his social media interactions with J.E., stated he “never heard of [J.E. or] maybe I heard of him through the news,” he did not recall conversations with J.E. and that his conversations with J.E. were “invented conversation[s].” When asked again if he remembered the conversation with J.E., Pino responded, “I never heard of him, well maybe I heard of him through the news,” and then later stated, “the other way around it is certainly possible that he could have heard of me and made up this conversation, invented it.”
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Michelle Baeppler.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Department Announces $1 Million to Florida Law Enforcement and First Responders who Supported the Parkland High School ShootingRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) today awarded a $1 million grant to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to pay salary and overtime expenses for first responders who came to the scene of the deadly shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.
In responding to the tragedy, the State of Florida, the City of Parkland, and Broward County incurred several million dollars in costs including securing crime scenes and operating command centers and state and local officials continue to incur expenses. The magnitude and urgency of the event resulted in a coordinated response of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and first responder personnel from more than 18 agencies. This award will defray some of these costs.
“The school shooting in Parkland shocked and horrified the nation, but the community and law enforcement at all levels have shown resilience and determination,” Attorney General Sessions said. “As I told our state and local partners back in February, the Department of Justice stands ready to help them in any way we can. Today we offer $1 million to support the police who have been working overtime in the aftermath of this tragedy. They can be sure about this: we have their backs.”
The BJA invited the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which administers the Edward Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program for the state, to apply for the funds. The law authorizing the Byrne JAG Program permits funding to address “precipitous or extraordinary increases” in crimes such as mass violence. The program is the largest source of federal funding for state, local, and tribal public safety activities and is one of several programs administered by the Department of Justice that support law enforcement operations and improve officer safety.
For more information about the BJA, please visit https://www.bja.gov/default.aspx.
Huntington Drug Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Federal CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man caught with heroin in August 2017 was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Joseph Mitchell, 44, previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Stuart praised the efforts of the Marshall University Office of Public Safety and the FBI Huntington Safe Streets Task Force.
“Heroin dealers have run rampant in Huntington for far too long,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every tool in our arsenal to send drug dealers to prison.”
On August 2, 2017, an officer with the Marshall University Office of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the defendant in the 500 block of 20th Street in Huntington. Upon searching the vehicle, the officer discovered approximately 11.5 grams of suspected heroin and a digital scale. As part of the plea agreement, Mitchell admitted that he intended to sell the heroin. Mitchell also admitted to the other drug activity charged in the indictment.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Harrison County man admits to drug distribution and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jordan T. Ratliff, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to methamphetamine distribution and firearm charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ratliff, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Ratliff admitted to distributing methamphetamine in December 2017 in Harrison County. Ratliff, who had previously been convicted of crimes in Monongalia County, admitted to having a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in February 2018 in Harrison County.
Ratliff faces up to 20 years incarceration and a $1,000,000 fine for the drug count, and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department Mountain Highway Interdiction Team investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Glendale Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Last week, Ronald Amaguin Dallas, 28, of Glendale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 120 months’ imprisonment. Dallas had previously pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography.
Over the course of at least a year, Dallas downloaded and distributed child pornography through bit torrent file sharing. After undercover agents downloaded child pornography from Dallas’s IP address, they obtained a warrant to search his home. During the search, agents seized several devices containing video files and hundreds of images depicting child pornography.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon M. Brown and Gayle Helart.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01248 (SPL)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-045_Dallas
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Former University of Iowa Student Pleads Guilty to Computer Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – On April 16, 2018, Trevor J. Graves, age 20, a former University of Iowa student, appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr., and pleaded guilty to transmission of a command to damage a protected computer, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Graves’ sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. before United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey.
According to the plea agreement, Graves admitted from March 7, 2015 to November 15, 2016, the University of Iowa, Iowa Courses Online (ICON) computer network was a protected computer and he knowingly and intentionally caused the transmission of a command to the University of Iowa computer network that caused damage and impairment to the integrity or availability of certain data, program, system or information.
Specifically, Graves placed a key logger on University of Iowa computers and fraudulently obtained professors user names and passwords. Graves accessed the ICON system and without authorization changed course grades for himself and five other students. The University of Iowa information technology (IT) costs associated with their internal investigation, response to the discovery of the network breach, and remedial steps taken to update the University of Iowa IT security was approximately $67,900.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, and University of Iowa, Information Services Technology. This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Iowa.
Former Procurement Director of Staten Island District Attorney’s Office Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Government FundsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, William Nelson, former Director of Procurement at the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office (RCDA), pleaded guilty to theft of government funds relating to his embezzlement of over $440,000 from the RCDA. The plea was entered before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Mark G. Peters, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation, announced the guilty plea.
According to the indictment and facts presented during the guilty plea, for approximately 10 years between 2006 and 2016, Nelson stole over $440,000 from the RCDA as part of a long-term scheme to defraud the RCDA of funds. Specifically, Nelson used two RCDA American Express credit cards to purchase items such as jewelry, clothing, toys, sporting goods and memorabilia, alcohol, video games and movies, electronics, knives, handbags, collectibles, event tickets, meals, lodging, airfare, excursions, and online services that he then used for his own benefit and the benefit of others. Nelson also used the online payment system PayPal to directly transfer thousands of dollars from the RCDA credit cards to his own personal bank account. In furtherance of his scheme, Nelson took steps to hide his embezzlement, which included concealing the itemized credit card statements, mischaracterizing the nature of the purchases, and using his authority as Director of Procurement to approve payments of his fraudulent personal expenditures.
As part of his plea agreement, Nelson is required to pay forfeiture in the amount of $441,262.30, as well as restitution in the same amount to the RCDA. When sentenced, the defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Cruz Melendez is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
WILLIAM NELSON
Age: 44
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-394 (RJD)
Former Postal Worker Indicted for Stealing Electronics from Priority Mail Processing FacilityRead the Press Release
A former postal worker has been charged with federal crimes for stealing mail, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. JAMIE GUHLKE, 55, of Federal Way, Washington pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft of mail by an officer or employee at her initial appearance on the indictment on April 16, 2018. Trial on the charges is scheduled in front of Judge James L. Robart on June 25, 2018.
According to records filed in the case, in 2015, while still employed as a mail handler at the United States Postal Service Priority Mail Annex in Kent, Washington, GUHLKE stole as many as 44 packages mailed by an online electronics distributor to customers across the country. The packages contained digital devices, including Apple iPads and Samsung Galaxy tablets. The thefts interfered with operations at the Priority Mail Annex, which is responsible for processing the vast majority of Priority Mail that originates in Washington State. Law enforcement traced two of the devices to a local pawn shop, and determined that other items were sold via the online marketplace ‘OfferUp’. One additional device was found in GUHLKE’s possession. When GUHLKE left work on August 27, 2015, her car was stopped by Special Agents of the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. Visible inside the car on the front passenger seat was the stolen device. Following the traffic stop, GUHLKE was barred from postal service property and her employment was terminated.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Siddharth Velamoor.
Former North Carolina Police Sergeant Charged with Using Excessive Force Against an ArresteeRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that Robert George, a former sergeant with the Hickory Police Department (HPD), has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of using excessive force against a female arrestee, and for obstructing justice.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 11, 2013, George assaulted a female victim, identified in the indictment by the initials C.D., by slamming her face-first to the ground, causing her to suffer bodily injury. The following day, George allegedly wrote a false police report to cover up the offense.
George, 45, of Hickory, North Carolina, was arraigned on these charges in federal court.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Department of Justice Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel.
Former North Carolina Police Sergeant Charged with Using Excessive Force Against an ArresteeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Department of Justice today announced that Robert George, a former sergeant with the Hickory Police Department (HPD), has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of using excessive force against a female arrestee, and for obstructing justice.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 11, 2013, George assaulted a female victim, identified in the indictment by the initials C.D., by slamming her face-first to the ground, causing her to suffer bodily injury. The following day, George allegedly wrote a false police report to cover up the offense.
George, 45, of Hickory, North Carolina, was arraigned on these charges in federal court.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Department of Justice Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel.
Former Fitchburg Postal Employee Sentenced for Failing to Deliver MailRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Fitchburg postal employee was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for failing to deliver mail.
Stephen Lehto, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy to two years of probation. In January 2018, Lehto pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of obstruction of mails.
While working as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service in Fitchburg between June 2016 and January 2017, Lehto began taking mail home instead of delivering it along his route. Law enforcement received a tip and interviewed Lehto at his home. A search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of 758 pieces of mail, 341 pieces of which were first class pieces of mail.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Eileen Neff, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Cornell Student Sentenced for Loan FraudRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Cavya Chandra, age 26, of Carmel, Indiana, was sentenced today in federal court in Syracuse to serve a 5 year term of probation, to pay a fine of $1,000, and ordered to pay more than $70,000 in restitution to Cornell University, after previously pleading guilty to federal student loan fraud, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Geoffrey Wood, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED OIG), Eastern Region. Chandra’s sentence of probation requires her to (1) disclose her plea agreement and criminal conviction to any universities she attends; (2) disclose to her Probation Officer any new applications for financial aid; and (3) abide by an existing repayment agreement with Cornell University requiring her to pay restitution to Cornell, which balance currently exceeds $70,000.00.
Following the sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith stated, “Whatever pressure students feel to get into a particular school, it cannot justify fraud. We maximize opportunities for higher education by maintaining the integrity of financial aid programs, including taking action against dishonesty.” Special Agent in Charge Geoffrey Wood stated, “Federal student aid exists so that individuals can pursue and make their dream of a higher education a reality. As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that those who steal student aid for their own selfish purposes are stopped and held accountable for their criminal actions is a big part of the mission of ED OIG.”
As part of her guilty plea, Chandra admitted that between 2008 and 2014 she obtained admission to, and attended, three universities—Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (“IUPUI”)—by forging various documents, including academic transcripts and letters of recommendation. The charge to which Chandra pled guilty relates to her fraudulent acceptance of federal student loan money while attending Cornell.
In pleading guilty, Chandra admitted that in the fall of 2008 Cornell denied her application for admission to its incoming freshman class, after which she applied to Carnegie Mellon University . In doing so, Chandra submitted a forged letter of recommendation from a high school teacher. Unaware of this forgery, Carnegie Mellon accepted Chandra’s application and admitted her as a student in the fall of 2009.
In February 2010, during her second semester at Carnegie Mellon, Chandra applied for admission to Cornell as a transfer student. In submitting her transfer application to Cornell, she included a forged transcript, falsely representing that she had received a perfect 4.0 Qualified Point Average (“QPA”) during the fall 2009 semester at Carnegie Mellon. In reality, Chandra had actually received a much lower QPA of 2.79 for that semester. Chandra also submitted to Cornell a fake high school transcript that falsely inflated her grades and included a forged letter of recommendation from a high school teacher. Unaware of Chandra’s fraud, Cornell admitted her as a transfer student for the fall 2010 semester.
While enrolled at Cornell, Chandra ultimately received more than $130,000 in financial aid, much of which was federal direct student loan money provided by the United States Department of Education. Cornell also provided tens of thousands of dollars in grant assistance to Chandra during her time as a student at Cornell.
In 2013, while still enrolled at Cornell, Chandra began the process of applying for medical school through the American Medical College Application Service (“AMCAS”). As part of her medical school application to AMCAS, Chandra submitted forged transcripts from Carnegie Mellon and from Cornell. AMCAS reported to Cornell that it suspected Chandra had sent a fraudulent transcript, and Cornell launched an internal investigation, during which it uncovered her admissions fraud. When confronted by a university official, Chandra admitted that she had falsified information in her transfer application. Cornell expelled Chandra in November 2013.
Following her expulsion from Cornell, Chandra applied for admission as a transfer student to IUPUI. In doing so, Chandra again prepared and submitted forged copies of her Carnegie Mellon and Cornell transcripts, both of which contained falsely inflated grades. IUPUI admitted Chandra as a transfer student and gave her credit for a number of classes that she did not actually take or pass at Cornell. Cavya Chandra graduated from IUPUI in 2015. When Chandra’s fraud came to light the following year, IUPUI rescinded her degree.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General with assistance from Cornell University, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.
Former Chief Operating Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty to Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that Jennifer Goss, age 36 of Menomonee Falls, WI, has agreed to plead guilty to an information charging her with wire fraud for embezzling over $200,000 from a company located in Germantown, Wisconsin.
According to the charges, the scheme involved Goss using her position as Chief Operating Officer and Bookkeeper to embezzle more than $200,000 in a variety of ways. For example, she wrote and signed unauthorized checks from the company’s bank account payable to herself and her husband, who was employed at the company, and deposited them into a shared personal bank account. She later changed the entries in the company’s accounting software to conceal these unauthorized checks. She also used the company’s bank account to make unauthorized payments to her family’s credit card. In addition, she made unauthorized transfers from the company’s bank account to her personal PayPal account, which she used for personal purchases.
Goss agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in violation of Title18 United States Code § 1343. The maximum penalties for wire fraud are 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Jacobs and Zachary Corey.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Florida Man Sentenced to 15 Years Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Travon Jarvel Jackson, 37, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 15 years’ imprisonment. Jackson had been previously found guilty following trial of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; and interstate transportation for prostitution.
Between May and August of 2016, Jackson manipulated and coerced the victim, a woman from Tampa, Fla., into performing acts of prostitution in both Florida and Arizona. Jackson posted advertisements for the victim on www.Backpage.com and kept all of the money derived from the victim’s acts of prostitution. Jackson controlled the victim by withholding food, money, and property from her in order to coerce her into performing commercial sex acts, and physically assaulted her to gain her compliance. Jackson forced the victim to travel to Tucson against her will, where he continued to use her to engage in prostitution for which he kept the profits. The victim escaped Jackson by contacting a human trafficking victim rescue service, which she had seen advertised on a billboard, from a motel room in Tucson where Jackson had been keeping her to perform acts of prostitution.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tucson Police Department, working collaboratively under the Southern Arizona Anti-Trafficking Unified Response Network (SAATURN). The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Adam D. Rossi, and Karen E. Rolley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-01704-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-046_Jackson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Father and Son Plead Guilty to Robbing Six Smoke Shops and Two Credit UnionsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A father and son pleaded guilty in federal court today to committing six smoke shop robberies and two bank robberies in early 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Jeffrey Alan James, 53, and Jessy Stewart James, 23, both of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to a criminal information that charged them with seven-counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of Bank Robbery. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware accepted their guilty pleas and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 26, 2018.
According to documents filed in court, on January 19, 2017, Jeffrey James threatened an employee at KS Smoke Shop, located at 3827 E. Sunset Road, with a BB gun revolver and demanded money. Jessy James, his son, watched the store’s entrance and acted as a lookout. They stole approximately $205. The second robbery occurred on January 22, when each defendant used a firearm to threaten an employee at D Smoke Shop located at 3711 S. Valley View. They stole approximately $300. On January 24, Jeffrey James pointed a BB gun revolver in the direction of a teller’s head during a robbery at the Silver State Schools Credit Union located at 9302 S. Eastern Avenue in Henderson. During that robbery, Jessy James placed a suitcase on the counter and told another teller that if she followed their instructions she would not get shot. They got away with approximately $4,000. On January 31, Jeffrey James threatened a clerk at Smokes and Vapors Smoke Shop, located at 9101 W. Sahara, with a revolver while Jessy James instructed the clerk to “pull [the money] out fast.” They stole approximately $100.
The defendants further admitted that, on February 1, during the fifth robbery, Jessy James pointed a replica assault rifle at two employees at Smoke Shop Plus, located at 7320 S. Rainbow Blvd., and instructed them to “open the register and give me all the money you have.” He fled with approximately $900, while Jeffrey James acted as a getaway driver. Then, on February 5, they simulated the possession of firearms and demanded money from two employees at Smoke and Cigar Smoke Shop, located at 8550 W. Desert Inn, stating that they were committing a “robbery.” They stole approximately $300. Then, on February 14, Jeffrey James threatened a clerk at EZ Smokes Smoke Shop, located at 8930 S. Maryland Parkway, with a revolver and demanded money. The employee explained that there was no money in the register, so Jeffrey James stole Marlboro cigarettes while Jessy James waited outside as a getaway driver. The eighth and final robbery occurred on February 16, when the father-son duo robbed the America First Credit Union located at 10608 S. Eastern Avenue, in Henderson. Jessy James threatened a teller with a BB gun and a presented a note that read, “This is a robbery, not a joke.” Jeffrey James waited outside and acted as a getaway driver. They stole approximately $4,207.
The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of Hobbs Act Robbery and Bank Robbery.
The case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.
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Dyer Man Sentenced to 150 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- James Struensee, 48 years old, of Dyer, Indiana, was sentenced before Hammond District Court Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen following his plea of guilty for accessing an internet connected computer system with intent to view child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.
Struensee was sentenced to 150 months imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $40,000.
According to documents in this case, in 2015 Struensee logged into a website using a TOR browser to access child pornography involving prepubescent children. Struensee admitted to, over the course of years, searching, accessing, and viewing over 200 images of child pornography. In 2000, he was convicted of receipt of child pornography (via U.S. mail) in the Northern District of Illinois.
This case was investigated by the FBI GRIT Task Force with the assistance of the Indiana State Police and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra McTague.
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Dona Ana County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Juan Martin Rosales, 49, of Chaparral, N.M., pled guilty today in Las Cruces, N.M., federal court to child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jack P. Staton of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, Sheriff Enrique Vigil of the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Patrick Gallagher of the Las Cruces Police Department, and Sheriff Benny House of the Otero County Sheriff’s Office.
Rosales was charged by criminal complaint filed in Oct. 2017, with child exploitation and child pornography offenses. The complaint alleged that Rosales sexually exploited children and received and possessed child pornography from Oct. 2015 through Oct 16, 2017, in Dona Ana County, N.M. According to the complaint, the investigation into Rosales was initiated in April 2017, when Rosales’ neighbors reported to the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office that Rosales possessed a tablet computer containing child pornography. The complaint also alleged that Rosales used a cellular phone to take photographs of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 16, 2017, law enforcement agents recovered numerous SD cards, cellular phones, a tablet computer and other electronic devices from Rosales’ home.
Rosales was indicted on Jan. 17, 2018, and was charged with 15 counts of producing child pornography and three counts of possessing child pornography. The indictment charged Rosales with producing child pornography four times on Sept 28, 2016, and 11 times on Sept. 30, 2016. It also charged Rosales with possessing child pornography on two micro SD cards and a smartphone on Oct. 16, 2017. According to the indictment, Rosales committed the crimes in Otero County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Rosales pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.
At sentencing, Rosales faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, Las Cruces Police Department, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander B. Shapiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. Individuals with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse are encouraged to contact the Children’s Advocacy Center tipline at (575) 526-3437.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico (ICAC) Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 86 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Yossi Rafael Rincon Ramirez, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least December 6, 2016, through May 2, 2017, the defendant delivered fentanyl to the customers on behalf of a drug dealer based in Lawrence, Massachusetts. On four separate occasions, the defendant sold fentanyl to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agent in Nashua, New Hampshire, and on May 2, 2017, law enforcement arrested Rincon Ramirez as he travelled to Nashua for another drug delivery.
Rincon Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and four counts of distribution of a controlled substance. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2018.
“Fentanyl distribution continues to pose a serious danger to the safety of our community and the health of our citizens.” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who attempt to profit from the sale of this deadly substance.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and the police departments of Hudson, NH, Nashua, NH, and Methuen, MA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Detroit Felon Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced today to 18 months for a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Quadralon Mayberry-Figures, 20, previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Stuart applauded the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department.
“Prosecuting felons with firearms is a priority of mine,” said United States Attorney Stuart. “In order to protect the rights of citizens who legally possess guns, we must enforce guns laws aimed at keeping weapons out of the hands of people like Mayberry-Figures that are prohibited from having them.”
On February 17, 2017, an officer with the Hurricane Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 64. The defendant was a passenger in the vehicle. Upon searching the defendant, the officer located a Diamond Back arms 9mm caliber pistol in his right front pocket. Mayberry-Figures was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of multiple felony convictions, including a 2016 conviction for carrying a concealed weapon in Michigan.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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DOJ-Led Opioid Task Force Surge Leads to over 100 Arrests and Large Heroin and Fentanyl SeizuresRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– In the first quarter of 2018, federal and state prosecutors and their law enforcement partners combined resources to investigate and prosecute opioid cases throughout Arizona. The goal of this surge was to disrupt opioid trafficking throughout the state while promoting case coordination and intelligence sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement. During this surge period, the Task Force prosecuted over 90 heroin and opioid traffickers and diverted over 300 people suffering from substance abuse for drug treatment. Law enforcement seized nearly 300 pounds of heroin, 80 pounds of fentanyl, and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills that were manufactured to appear to be OxyContin. Of particular note, this surge led to the prosecution of a Tucson dealer whose heroin caused the death of a victim, the prosecution of a Phoenix medical professional who was purchasing OxyContin and morphine from a patient at a medical facility, and an interdiction of a large load of pure fentanyl powder in Mohave County. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also continued its efforts and initiated over 25 new opioid trafficking investigations.
“The opioid epidemic is a significant public safety concern that continues to kill a record number of Arizonans,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “In the last three months, our office has devoted additional resources to assist federal and state law enforcement to enforce our drug laws. This surge of resources and coordination with our federal and state law enforcement partners will continue until significant strides are made in disrupting the flow of heroin and fentanyl into our communities and schools.”
“The relationship between the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and our Federal and local law enforcement partners is as strong as it has ever been,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “By collaborating together, we are working towards a common goal of dismantling large scale opioid trafficking operations from Arizona communities.”
“This successful operation has highlighted two continuing truths: 1- law enforcement in Arizona at the federal, state, and local level are committed to combining our resources to offer treatment alternatives to those in need of substance abuse help while also interdicting the sales and distribution of deadly heroin, fentanyl, and counterfeit opioids into our community and 2 - heroin and fentanyl traffickers continue to seek to exploit Arizona as a major thoroughfare for drug trafficking to the detriment of Arizonans and the Arizona legislature should give us the tools we are asking for to deal with this clearly identified threat,“ said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.
“Opioid overdoses kill 115 Americans every day,” said Doug Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Phoenix Division. “The DEA in Arizona will target those who prey on the addiction of others by illegally distributing opioids, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure these criminals face justice.”
The removal of unused prescribed opioids from the public is also a vital component of the Department of Justice’s overall strategy to reduce opioid abuse. This strategic component is crucial due to the significant rise in the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl pills that mimic the look of OxyContin pills. If you have unused prescription opioids or other prescription drugs in your home, and want to dispose of them safely, please take advantage of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collection sites will be set up throughout the state on that day to provide the public with a safe, convenient, and responsible way of disposing of prescription drugs. Please go to www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ to find the nearest collection site.
The members of this DOJ-led Opioid Task Force include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the Phoenix Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-048_ Opioid Task Force
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Centerville Man Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jeremy Rickman, age 31 of Centreville, Illinois, was sentenced on Friday, April 20, 2018 to 100 months in federal prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce announced today.
Rickman pled guilty to the one-count federal indictment on December 4, 2017. At his change of plea hearing, Rickman admitted that he had distributed approximately 75 grams of ICE (99% pure methamphetamine) in the East St. Louis, Illinois area, and in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2016. Rickman received approximately $2,500.00 for the ICE that he sold.
Two other co-defendants charged in the same indictment are awaiting trial.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation which was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations.
The investigation that resulted in Rickman’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.
Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc. Fined $750,000 for Repeatedly Discharging Hazardous Waste into Public Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Today in federal court, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc. to pay $750,000 in criminal fines for repeatedly discharging untreated wastewater from its lens-manufacturing facility in Clackamas, Oregon to the Kellogg Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate any business, corporation, or individual that bypasses federal environmental laws to seek a competitive advantage or to maximize profits,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals and corporations whose illegal conduct threatens our region’s natural resources and public health.”
“Our laws are designed to keep communities safe and protect our natural resources by requiring companies to take appropriate steps in managing hazardous chemicals,” said Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Companies that fail to comply with the law out of negligence or that seek economic advantage will be held responsible for their actions.”
According to court documents, over a multi-year period, Zeiss knowingly discharged a variety of hazardous substances to the Clackamas County sewer system.
In May 2012, Clackamas Water Environmental Services sent Zeiss a “Non-Residential Questionnaire” or industrial user survey as required by the Clean Water Act. In response, the company falsely described its wastewater as being 200 gallons per day of “green lens cleaner” that required no pretreatment. In reality, Zeiss regularly discharged cadmium-and-lead alloys, acidic lens polish, and potassium hydroxide the company attempted to neutralize with hydrochloric and muriatic acids.
In March and June 2015, EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division installed pH probes in the sewer line coming from the Zeiss manufacturing facility. These probes detected regular unlawful discharges. Investigators recorded unlawful waste discharges (with excessively high or low pH levels) on two-thirds of the days monitored. The government estimates Zeiss avoided $382,000 in proper disposal costs over the period of the offense. By failing to disclose its discharges to Clackamas County, the company operated completely outside pretreatment regulations for years.
Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Zeiss International based in Oberkochen, Germany. The company previously pleaded guilty on January 4, 2018 to one count of violating the wastewater pretreatment requirements outlined in Section 1319(c)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act.
This case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan W. Bounds and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Gebel Perrin.
Bend Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme Involving Consumer Aviation CompanyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore. – Fred Schrameck II aka Rick Schrameck, 73, of Bend, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to a single count of wire fraud for a scheme involving his consumer aviation company, Aircraft Completion Services LLC (ACS).
According to court documents, Schrameck and others solicited customers to purchase and help build experimental aircraft, including the EPIC LT, using three companies, Aircraft Investor Resources LLC (AIR), Epic Air LLC (EPIC), and ACS. According to purchase agreements, customers paid more than $1.4 million for the Bend-manufactured aircraft.
Schrameck gave customers Airframe Purchase Agreements and Aircraft Completion Assistance Agreements that misrepresented how the customers’ funds were being used. Without his customers’ knowledge, Schrameck used the funds for other projects, to complete existing EPIC LT aircraft, and to support his own lavish lifestyle.
Schrameck faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. He will be sentenced on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken.
This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investing (IRS-CI) and is being prosecuted by Scott E. Bradford, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Baltimore BGF Member Sentenced to 142 Months in Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Norman Handy, a/k/a “Norm,” a/k/a “Lil Norm,” age 23, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 142 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as the Black Guerilla Family’s Greenmount Avenue Regime.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr., of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
According to his plea agreement, Handy was a member of the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime, formerly known as the Young Guerilla Family, or YGF. Between 2005 and September 2017, Handy agreed with other BGF members to engage in crimes to further the interest of the gang, including drug distribution and armed robbery.
Specifically, Handy admitted that on March 23, 2013, he and another individual robbed Moses Malone of a cellular telephone and money. During the robbery, Handy used a .38 caliber handgun to shoot Malone in the foot. Malone was scheduled to testify in state court against Handy for the robbery; however, Malone was shot and killed by BGF gang member Wesley Brown to prevent him from testifying.
On October 31, 2013, Handy and another BGF member assaulted and robbed two other victims.
Handy further admitted that he conspired with members of the BGF to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana in furtherance of the gang.
United States Attorney Hur commended ATF Baltimore, FBI Baltimore, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Christina A. Hoffman, who prosecuted the case.
Baldwin County Man Receives 30 Month Sentence for Possession of a Firearm After Felony ConvictionRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney, Richard W. Moore, announces that Alan Eric Grime, a 27 year old resident of Loxley, Alabama was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a .45 caliber pistol after being convicted of Theft of Property, 1st Degree, a felony, on June 6, 2014.
On September 25, 2017, Fairhope, Alabama police officers responded to a bus stop after someone complained of a suspicious person at that location. The complainant gave a description of the person he/she was concerned about. When officers arrived at the bus stop, they saw a man fitting that description and they approached him to investigate. It was Grime. He was nervous and told the officers he was a felon recently released from prison. One officer then looked at the bus stop sitting area and saw a .45 caliber pistol. Grime was then handcuffed. Next, officers received consent from Grime to take items from his pocket. Approximately 16 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition was seized from his pocket. Grime was then read his Miranda Rights which he waived. Grime then told the officers that he borrowed the firearm from a friend who lives in Foley because he was afraid. Grime pled guilty on January 17, 2018.
Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with officers of the Fairhope, Alabama Police Department investigated the case and presented it to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case was Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Statement on Central American 'Caravan'Read the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today issued the following statement on the Central American 'Caravan':
“Pockets of the original, so-called ‘migrant caravan,’ which press reports indicate consists mostly of Honduran nationals, have begun to arrive at our southern border with the intent of claiming asylum. These individuals—and their smugglers—ignored the willingness of the Mexican government to allow them to stay in Mexico.
“Let today’s message be clear: our nation has the most generous immigration system in the world, but this is a deliberate attempt to undermine our laws and overwhelm our system. There is no right to demand entry without justification. Smugglers and traffickers and those who lie or commit fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Promoting and enforcing the rule of law is essential to protecting a nation, its borders, and its citizens. But, as President Trump has warned, the need to fix these loopholes and weaknesses in our immigration system is critical and overdue.
“Accordingly, I have directed our U.S. Attorneys at the border to take whatever immediate action to ensure that we have sufficient prosecutors available. I have also directed that we commit any additional necessary immigration judges to adjudicate any cases that may arise from this ‘caravan.’”