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19 April 2018
6 Ohio Men Charged with Conspiring to Bring Drugs into PrisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged six individuals in a narcotics conspiracy involving the alleged smuggling of narcotics into an Ohio prison.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Warren County Sheriff Larry L. Sims announced the charges.
Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those charged include:
Name
Age
Residence
Joseph Brodbeck
59
Columbus
Alton Herron
46
Dayton
Gerry Branner
27
Cincinnati
William A. Lowery
30
London Correctional Institution
Daviontae Norvell
26
Dayton
Rodney J. Herron
27
Dayton
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute Suboxone, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana inside London Correctional Institute.
Brodbeck was a contract employee of the prison’s food service company and worked in the prison kitchen. He allegedly smuggled narcotics in to inmates after purchasing the narcotics in various cities in Southern Ohio, including Middletown, Dayton and Springfield. Brodbeck’s co-defendants were each inmates of the facility at one point and allegedly paid Brodbeck for the narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
5 Members of Slip-And-Fall Scheme Charged with Defrauding New York City-Area Businesses and Their Insurance Companies of More Than $31.7 MillionRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging PETER KALKANIS, BRYAN DUNCAN, KERRY GORDON, ROBERT LOCUST, and RYAN RAINFORD with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent insurance reimbursement and other compensation for fraudulent slip-and-fall accidents. The Indictment also charges PETER KALKANIS with one count of aggravated identity theft. The five defendants were arrested earlier this morning and will be presented today before United States Magistrate Stewart D. Aaron in Manhattan federal court. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, these defendants employed one of the oldest plays in the fraudster handbook – the fake slip-and-fall routine – to develop a network of ‘fall victims’ to obtain an astonishing $31 million in fraudulent insurance and compensation payouts. Allegedly, some of the ‘victims’ went as far as having unnecessary surgery to increase the likelihood of a higher settlement. Today, however, these defendants’ fraud careers are over, and they will be forced to answer for their alleged crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The intentional misrepresentation of an accidental slip and fall, and the subsequent defrauding of businesses and insurance companies, is a reprehensible crime in and of itself. But perhaps the most shocking allegation revealed today is the fact that additional incentives were offered for participants to undergo surgery in order to receive payment for their involvement. One thing is for sure – the alleged activity carried out by Kalkanis and his co-conspirators was no accident, and neither are our charges today.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
Since 2013, the defendants have been engaged in a widespread fraud scheme through which the defendants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging slip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged slip-and-fall accidents. The fraud scheme participants recruited individuals to stage slip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout New York City and to claim that they injured themselves as a result of their accidents. The recruited patients were directed to claim that they had injured themselves and to seek medical treatment.
After the staged slip-and-fall accidents, recruited patients were referred to specific attorneys who would file lawsuits against the owners of the accident sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the “Victims”). The lawsuits did not disclose that the recruited patients had deliberately fallen at the accident sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all. During the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, attempted to defraud the Victims of at least $31,791,000.
The recruited patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors. The fraud scheme participants advised the recruited patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery. As an incentive to getting surgery, the recruited patients were offered a payment after they completed surgery as well as a percentage of any settlement payment from their lawsuit.
KALKANIS, a former chiropractor, was the organizer and leader of the scheme. As alleged in the indictment, KALKANIS paid his co-defendants to recruit patients into the scheme and transport the patients to medical and attorney appointments. KALKANIS also organized the recruited patients’ legal and medical appointments, and assisted in procuring the funding for the recruited patients’ medical treatment and lawsuits.
DUNCAN, GORDON, LOCUST, and RAINFORD helped recruit patients into the fraud scheme, transported patients to medical and legal appointments, identified potential accident sites, and coached recruited patients on faking their injuries.
* * *
KALKANIS, 70, Queens, New York, DUNCAN, 30, Queens, New York, GORDON, 34, Queens, New York, LOCUST, 52, Brooklyn, New York, and RAINFORD, 28, Queens, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. KALKANIS is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a two year mandatory prison sentence. The maximum potential sentences and minimum sentence in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. Mr. Berman also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Folly, Alexandra Rothman, and Nicholas Chiuchiolo are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
35 Pounds of Suspected Methamphetamine Seized in Albany CountyRead the Press Release
On Friday, April 13, 2018, law enforcement in Albany County, Wyoming was conducting drug interdiction. As a result, police identified a vehicle they suspected contained controlled substances. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle that resulted in the location and seizure of approximately 35 pounds of suspected methamphetamine; one kilogram of suspected heroin and one kilogram of suspected fentanyl. This case remains under investigation.
15th Annual Project Sentry Logo/Meme Contest Winners AnnouncedRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today the winners of the United States Attorney’s Office 15th Annual Project Sentry Logo/Meme Contest. The winners are from the following schools:
K-2nd grade division winner: Samantha Bitts (Grade 2), Ocean Drive Elementary School, N. Myrtle Beach, SC
3rd-5th grade division winner: Ayden Downey (Grade 3), Ocean Drive Elementary School, N. Myrtle Beach, SC
6th-8th grade division winner: Alexia Hernandez (Grade 6), Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science, Winnsboro, SC
9th-12th grade division: Nia Lott (Grade 11), Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston, SC
Overall winner: Alexia Hernandez (Grade 6), Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science, Winnsboro, SC
Honorable mentions:
Nacyjai McKensey (Grade 6), St. James- Sumter Elementary and Middle School, McClellanville, SC
Emily Ulmer (Grade 7), Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, Bamberg, SC
Samone Stevens (Grade 12), Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston, SC
Tamara Pendarvis (Grade 12), Garrett Academy of Technology, N. Charleston, SC
The winners were chosen from 104 entries from eight schools across South Carolina. Each division winner will receive a $50.00 award, with the overall winner receiving an additional $50.00 award. The winners will receive their awards during upcoming school award ceremonies. All of the students who participated will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for logo/meme submissions.
The statewide contest fosters an opportunity for South Carolina students to tell the entire state how they prevent gun violence in their school and focuses on deterrence of juvenile gun violence and ensuring secure school environments. The contest was open to students in all South Carolina schools.
The winning entries were selected by “The Insiders,” a select group of students from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, who travel throughout the state, encouraging troubled children and promoting community awareness of the prevalence and consequences of juvenile crime. The U.S. Attorney's Office coordinated with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association Foundation (SCLEOA) to provide the cash awards to the winners.
Project Sentry, which is part of the district’s Project Safe Neighborhoods/Project CeaseFire program, is a vital step in strengthening our ability to prevent gun crimes among our young people and to ensure a safe learning atmosphere for our children. For more information on the Project Sentry program and to view this year’s winning submissions (also attached) as well as winning logos over the years, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/sc/programs/logowinners.html
U.S. Attorney Beth Drake commended the students and their engagement on helping foster this very important dialogue. "Thanks to all of the students who participated and congratulations to our winners! The students demonstrated some real wisdom we can all learn from."
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samantha_bitts_k-2_winner.pdf ayden_downey_3-5_winner.pdf nia_lott_9-12_winner.pdf alexia_hernandez_overall_winner.pdf13 Members and Associates of A Transnational Criminal Organization Charged in Federal Court with Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Richard Conway, Chief of the Port Chester Police Department, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JESUS GONZALEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA, NICOLE MAISONET, GABRIEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Bebe,” MARIA ROLON, EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro,” HECTOR SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Tito,” GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA, a/k/a “John-John,” with firearms and narcotics offenses. The defendants have been charged as a result of their membership and participation in a transnational criminal organization that trafficked in firearms and narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine. Nine defendants were arrested or taken into federal custody on these charges today in various locations throughout the United States, namely Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. ORTIZ, who is in custody on state charges in Rochester, New York, will be transferred to federal custody as soon as possible. ROLON, GONZALEZ, and INZUNZA have not been arrested to date.
Six of the defendants – CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA – were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith this afternoon in White Plains federal court. Three other defendants –EDGARDO RUIZ, NICOLE MAISONET, and HECTOR SANCHEZ – will be presented today in federal courts in Maryland and Massachusetts.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, these defendants operated a nationwide drug distribution network to push heroin and methamphetamine onto U.S. streets. Thanks to the dedicated work of the FBI and Port Chester Police, these defendants are behind bars and face significant prison time for their alleged crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The members of this criminal organization created a spider web of illegal drug sales, moving their drugs from south of the border and crisscrossing the states allegedly attempting covering their tracks. These are the types of operations contributing to the deadly epidemic of overdoses in our country, indiscriminately killing people of all ages and races. The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners have created such a vital working relationship that we are having a significant impact in stopping the flow of illegal drugs at the source.”
Port Chester Police Chief Richard Conway said: “I'm very proud our Department’s role in this investigation, which is perhaps the largest scale operation we have ever undertaken. Today’s arrests represent an example to us all of what can be accomplished when agencies work together.”
According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in White Plains federal court:
From 2017 to 2018, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JESUS GONZALEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA, NICOLE MAISONET, GABRIEL ORTIZ, MARIA ROLON, EDGARDO RUIZ, HECTOR SANCHEZ, GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The criminal organization trafficked in both heroin and methamphetamine. As part of the criminal organization, CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ and FABIOLA VEGA possessed firearms in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking and, together with co-defendants HERNANDEZ, RUIZ, and TORRES, participated in a conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license between 2017 and 2018.
* * *
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided in the attached table for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Port Chester Police Department. Mr. Berman also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Westchester County Police Department, and the Peekskill Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Olga Zverovich and Sam Adelsberg are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. Cristian Fernandez, et al.
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Count One
Narcotics Conspiracy
CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ
JOHNNY FERNANDEZ
JESUS GONZALEZ
JUAN HERNANDEZ,
JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA
NICOLE MAISONET
GABRIEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Bebe”
MARIA ROLON
EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro”
HECTOR SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Tito”
GILBERT TORRES
FABIOLA VEGA
JOHN VIEIRA a/k/a “John-John”
As to defendants CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, GONZALEZ, INZUNZA, ORTIZ, RUIZ, SANCHEZ, VEGA:
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
As to defendants JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, HERNANDEZ, MAISONET, ROLON, TORRES, and VIEIRA:
40 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison
Count Two
Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms without a License
CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ
JUAN HERNANDEZ
EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro” GILBERT TORRES
FABIOLA VEGA
Five years in prison
Count Three
Firearms Offense
FABIOLA VEGA
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison
Count Four
Firearms Offense
CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
18 April 2018
Waterford Man Pleads Guilty to Accessing Child Pornography Web SiteRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brian Napier, age 34, of Waterford, New York, pled guilty today to accessing a child pornography web site available only through an anonymous Internet network.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his plea, Napier admitted that in 2015, he accessed Playpen, an online forum through which registered users advertised, viewed and distributed child pornography. Images and videos shared through the site were highly categorized according to victim age and gender, and type of sexual activity depicted.
Before the FBI seized the Playpen web site and shut it down, it was available only through an anonymous Internet network, which allowed users to access websites including Playpen without revealing their actual Internet Protocol address, geographic location, or other identifying information. Napier admitted that he logged into Playpen in order to access its child pornography content.
Napier, who is in custody, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy on August 16, 2018. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
U.S. Attorney David Joseph urges parents to attend parent drug prevention event at Byrd High SchoolRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph urges parents to attend the “Let’s Talk about Prevention” program to be held Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at the C. E. Byrd High School auditorium in Shreveport. Refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana (CADA) and the Caddo Parish School District to present the free event. The program begins with the showing of the film “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,” followed by a panel discussion with the U.S. Attorney’s First Assistant Alexander C. Van Hook, Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Allison Bushnell, DEA Special Agent Will Green, CADA Executive Director Bill Rose, and Child/Family Psychiatrist Dr. Pamela McPherson.
“The threat of opioids to our youth is real and growing,” Joseph stated. “I’m asking parents to attend this event so they can obtain the tools necessary to protect their children from this epidemic. It is through education, awareness, and joining with law enforcement agencies, public and private organizations, and parents that we can help prevent the loss of life associated with this poison. Even if just one life is saved because of this program, it will have been a success.”
“Fentanyl is a newer synthetic opioid painkiller that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Drug dealers are adding fentanyl to heroin and to pills that look like other prescription drugs such as Xanax, which too often produces deadly results. The most important thing that parents can do is talk to their children about the dangers of these drugs and look for changes in their children’s lives. Education and awareness of the problem is key. That’s why the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA have been working closely with schools in the community to spread the word about the horrific consequences of addiction.”
“We created the ‘Let's Talk’ series to mash myths about addiction and educate our community about the prevalence of use across all social-economic sectors,” said CADA Executive Director Bill Rose. “We partnered with the U.S. Attorney's Office to produce this next parent prevention series in order to educate parents about the deadly impact of fentanyl use among adolescents and to provide resources for prevention.”
Reservations are helpful but not mandatory. Free CEHs will also be offered to addiction-specific professionals. To make a reservation or for more information, call CADA at 318-222-8511, email [email protected] or visit cadanwla.org. You can also call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 318-676-3600 and ask to speak to Tanya’ Porter.
U.S. Attorney Announces Leadership TeamRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Robert M. Duncan, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, has announced changes to the leadership team for his Office. The changes include creating an Executive Assistant United States Attorney position, promoting a new Criminal Chief, and replacing the manager of Ft. Mitchell Branch Office.
“I believe the changes I am announcing will help the Office continue to be successful and strong,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such an outstanding Office, with such dedicated public servants who are committed to the mission of justice. I especially want to thank the men and women listed below who have agreed to help me serve in leadership of the Office. I am confident that the leadership team will help me execute the priorities of the Department of Justice and continue to be of service to the citizens of the Eastern District of Kentucky.”
The changes listed below became effective on April 18, 2018.
Carlton S. Shier, IV – First Assistant United States Attorney
Mr. Shier will continue to serve as the First Assistant United States Attorney. He has served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney since April of 2013 and served as the Acting U.S. Attorney from January to November of 2017. As First Assistant, Mr. Shier will continue to serve as second in command and act as United States Attorney in the absence of U.S. Attorney Duncan. In addition to his executive duties, Mr. Shier will directly supervise the Administrative Division, Civil Division, the Community Relations functions, and the Litigation Support Unit.
Effective April 27, 2018, Mr. Shier will also serve as Acting Administrative Officer, until a new Administrative Officer is selected. Rhonda Trent, the current Administrative Officer, will retire on April 27, 2018, after more than 30 years of service with the government.
Mr. Shier joined the USAO in 2010, as the Chief of the Civil Division. Prior to joining the office, he served as the Deputy General Counsel for Kentucky’s health services agency, the Cabinet of Health and Family Services. He has also served as a state court prosecutor, both with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the Fayette County Attorney’s Office, and worked in the private practice of law in Lexington. Mr. Shier received a J.D., in 1997, and an M.S., in Justice Administration, in 1994, from the University of Louisville. He received his undergraduate degree from Centre College, in 1992.
“I am very appreciative of Carlton’s assistance to me as I have transitioned to the job of U.S. Attorney,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan. “Carlton has provided me with good advice, which I have, and will continue to rely on. Carlton has a wealth of experience, from serving as both the First Assistant and as the Acting U.S. Attorney. He is well respected for his legal skills and good judgment, and he is also a skilled administrator. I appreciate very much his willingness to take on expanded responsibilities and for his continued service to the Office.”
Kevin C. Dicken – Executive Assistant United States Attorney
Mr. Dicken will serve as the Executive Assistant United States Attorney. As part of his executive duties, he will directly supervise the Office’s Criminal Division, Fraud Division, Appellate Division, and two Branch Offices, in Ft. Mitchell and London. Mr. Dicken will also be involved in the District’s effort to reduce violent crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Since 2010, Mr. Dicken has served as the Criminal Chief. Prior to becoming Criminal Chief, Mr. Dicken served as Deputy Criminal Chief, supervising narcotics and white-collar crime, from 2007 to 2010. From 1998 to 2007, Mr. Dicken served as the Lead OCDETF Attorney. He joined the Office in 1995; and from then until 1998, he worked in the Office’s General Crimes Unit.
Prior to joining the Office, Mr. Dicken served from 1987 to 1995 as a law clerk for two magistrate judges, in the Eastern District of Kentucky: the Honorable James Cook and the Honorable James Todd. Mr. Dicken graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1986 and from Alma College, in Michigan, in 1983.
“Kevin is a skilled litigator and supervisor, and a respected leader within the Office,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan. “Kevin’s background and expertise make him especially well-suited for this new role. I have relied on his advice throughout my career, and will continue to do so. I am excited for him and our Office, and appreciate very much his willingness to continue to serve in leadership.”
Ron L. Walker Jr. – Chief of the Criminal Division
Mr. Walker will serve as the Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Walker has served as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) since 1999, and previously served as the Deputy Criminal Chief and Lead Attorney for the OCDETF program. He is formerly a partner in the law firm of Brooks & Fitzpatrick, practicing in the areas of education law, family law, civil rights, constitutional rights, personal injury, criminal law, probate law, and litigation. Mr. Walker served as law clerk for Hon. George E. Barker, Judge, Fayette Circuit Court from 1987-1988. He is a 1984 graduate of Furman University and he received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, in 1987.
“Ron is a talented and respected prosecutor, both inside and outside the Office,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan. “He has served for several years with distinction as Deputy Criminal Chief, and I believe his transition to the role of Criminal Chief will be seamless.”
Paul McCaffrey – Chief of the Fraud Division
Mr. McCaffrey will continue to serve as Chief of the Fraud Division, a hybrid unit comprised of white-collar criminal AUSAs, Affirmative Civil Enforcement AUSAs, and associated support staff. Mr. McCaffrey joined the United States Attorney’s Office in February 2010, from private practice with an international law firm, and previously served as Deputy Chief of the Fraud Division and as Chief of the Civil Division. In 2016, Mr. McCaffrey won an EOUSA Director’s Award, for Superior Performance as a Civil AUSA, for his work on a $40.9 million False Claims Act settlement involving unnecessary cardiac stents. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Washington University School of Law.
Christine Corndorf - Deputy Chief of the Fraud Division
Mrs. Corndorf will continue to serve as the Deputy Chief of the Fraud Division. She will also supervise the Office’s Litigation Support Unit. Mrs. Corndorf is responsible for supervising and handling affirmative civil matters, including those that arise under the False Claims Act, Controlled Substances Act, and civil rights statutes. In her role as supervisor of the Office’s Litigation Support Unit, she oversees litigation support functions and leads the effort to manage the office’s discovery workflow. Mrs. Corndorf is a member of the EOUSA eLitigation Working Group, through which she serves as a mentor to other offices across the country on eLitigation issues. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she worked in private practice at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, in New York City, and at Fultz Maddox & Dickens, in Louisville, where she handled complex commercial litigation and internal investigations. Earlier in her career, she served as a law clerk for the Hon. Faith S. Hochberg in the District of New Jersey. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford Law School.
Lee Gentry - Chief of the Civil Division
Mr. Gentry will continue to serve as the Chief of the Civil Division. He has been an AUSA for 26 years and has done criminal prosecutions and defensive civil litigation, asset forfeiture, and financial litigation. Mr. Gentry previously served as the branch supervisor of the London, Kentucky office and as Chief of the Civil Division. Prior to coming to the Office, he was in private practice and served as a part-time Assistant Commonwealth Attorney. Mr. Gentry is a retired 22-year veteran of the Army National Guard, where he served as a JAG officer and on active duty during the Iraq War.
Charles P. Wisdom Jr. – Chief of the Appellate Division
Mr. Wisdom will continue to serve as the Chief of the Appellate Division. He joined our Office in 1991; and since 1998, he has supervised the Office’s appellate practice. He served on an appellate working group, under the direction of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, from 2002 to 2009 and helped develop the Department of Justice’s appellate standards for United States Attorney’s Offices. Mr. Wisdom is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law and a former law clerk for the late U.S. District Judge, the Hon. Charles M. Allen.
Jason Parman – Branch Manager of the London Office
Mr. Parman will continue to serve as the Branch Manager of the London Branch Office. He has been an AUSA for ten years and has served as the London branch manager since 2013. Mr. Parman graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, with a degree in police administration, and from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Prior to joining the Office, Mr. Parman worked as a criminal defense lawyer in both federal and state court, before serving as a United States Probation Officer for five years.
Elaine Leonhard – Branch Manager of the Ft. Mitchell Office
Mrs. Leonhard will serve as the new Branch Manager of the Ft. Mitchell Office. She replaces Bob McBride who recently left government service for private practice, after a thirty-year career.
Mrs. Leonhard has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2006, prosecuting a wide variety of criminal cases, including violent crime, drug trafficking, immigration, child pornography, and white-collar crime. Prior to joining the Office, she clerked for U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning. Mrs. Leonhard graduated from Northern Kentucky University’s Chase College of Law, where she was a member and editor of the Northern Kentucky Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, in 2001.
“I am pleased to welcome Elaine to the leadership team,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “Elaine has had a wide range of experiences during her career with the Office, and I believe that she is well-suited for her new role.”
Hydee R. Hawkins – Senior Litigation Counsel
Mrs. Hawkins will continue to serve as the Senior Litigation Counsel. She has been an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky since August of 2002. In addition to her duties as Senior Litigation Counsel, Mrs. Hawkins serves as the Criminal Discovery Coordinator and the Civil Rights Coordinator. She handles criminal and civil cases involving civil rights violations. Mrs. Hawkins previously worked at the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the Kentucky State Police legal office. She moved to Kentucky nineteen years ago, after working as a local prosecutor in California. Mrs. Hawkins graduated from Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, in 1988 and received her J.D., from the University of San Diego School of Law, in 1991.
Other Office Points of Contact
In addition to the management team, the following AUSAs serve as Office points of contact for various Department of Justice priorities, including the opiate and opioid reduction efforts, Project Safe Neighborhoods program, the Project Safe Childhood program, immigration enforcement, and terrorism-related matters.
Todd Bradbury – Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Lead Attorney and Opioid Coordinator
Andrew Smith – Opioid Fraud and Abuse Healthcare Coordinator
Cynthia Rieker – Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinator
David Marye – Project Safe Childhood Coordinator
Andrew Boone – Anti-Terrorism Coordinator
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecutes criminal and civil matters on behalf of the United States of America and defends claims against the federal government in the 67 eastern-most counties of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Office employs a staff of approximately 45 AUSAs and 45 support staff and contractors.
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Two Whiteville Men Pled Guilty to Bank Robbery and Firing Weapons at Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that in federal court today, RASHAD DAVONTE YOUNG, 27, and JERAMIE ROSS VAUGHN, 30, of Whiteville, North Carolina pled guilty in Raleigh before United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to one count of Bank Robbery and one count of Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Bank Robbery.
On January 23, 2018, at approximately 3:35PM, YOUNG, VAUGHN, and two co-conspirators entered the PNC Bank in Lumberton, North Carolina where they held the PNC Bank employees and a customer at gunpoint while they stole over $40,000 in United States Currency. They were in the bank for approximately 10 minutes. When the Lumberton Police Department responded to the scene of the robbery, they observed a gray-in-color Saturn, matching descriptions given by witnesses, near the PNC Bank. They initiated a vehicle pursuit with the fleeing vehicle.
During the pursuit, VAUGHN was the getaway driver and YOUNG was seated in the back passenger seat. The perpetrators fired their weapons at law enforcement during the vehicle pursuit, striking six Lumberton Police Department vehicles and one Robeson County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. Specifically, at one point, while the Saturn was stopped, VAUGHN fired shots at law enforcement. YOUNG also fired at law enforcement using a Tech-9 gun. When the Saturn reached a convenience store in Lumberton, YOUNG jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. VAUGHN continued to drive through Columbus County, where the vehicle was abandoned, and the remaining three perpetrators escaped into the woods.
The following day, approximately thirty hours after the robbery, VAUGHN was located by a homeowner in Lumberton. He was wet and cold, and was wearing the same clothing that was captured on the bank surveillance video. YOUNG was arrested during a traffic stop on January 25, 2018. Both individuals provided confessions to law enforcement about their roles in the robbery.
VAUGHN faces a sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life along with a fine up to $500,000 and up to 5 years of supervised release at sentencing.
YOUNG faces a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life along with a fine up to $500,000 and up to 5 years of supervised release at sentencing.
Daquan Madrid Pridgen and Demetris Sean Robinson have also been charged in connection with this case and their cases are pending.
Mr. Higdon commented: “We are pleased to have resolved the cases against these two defendants so promptly. Jeopardizing people’s safety and risking the lives of law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in this federal district. Two defendants have not yet concluded their cases and we look forward to presenting their cases to a trial jury in the near-future so we may see justice served come and all who are responsible are held responsible.”
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.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lumberton Police Department, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Peggah B. Wilson handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
Two Stockton Men Charged with Unemployment Benefits Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 20-count indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of one of two defendants charged in an unemployment benefits fraud and an identity theft scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On March 22, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted John Michael “Mike” Herron II, 36, of Stockton, and Robert Joseph Maher, 39, formerly of Stockton, charging both with 18 counts of mail fraud, and one count each of aggravated identity theft. Maher is currently in custody.
According to court documents, from at least November 2010 through January 2018, Herron and Maher allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud the State of California by filing fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits. In furtherance of this scheme, the defendants created fictitious companies to act as employers, devised fictitious employees (by using the real identities of persons with and without their knowledge), and filed fraudulent claims with the California Employment Development Department, falsely claiming that the fictitious employees had been laid-off or fired from the fictitious employers they previously established.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Employment Development Department’s Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schuller Hitchcock is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the mail fraud charges. Each defendant also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, which would run consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two South Carolina Men Indicted for Concealing Opioid Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina--------United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Charles Rayford Hunt, Jr., age 40, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in a multi-count indictment with misprision of felony in connection with concealing the distribution of cocaine and heroin the use of which resulted in death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4. The indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2017, Hunt disposed of the body of a victim of a drug overdose and did not as soon as possible make known the same to an appropriate authority.
Hunt is additionally charged with aiding and abetting the possession of the drugs that led to the overdose. Jose Anthony Ortiz, Jr., age 38, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was also charged with misprision of felony for his role in destroying the personal effects of the overdose victim.
The maximum penalty Hunt and Ortiz could receive for the currently pending charges is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or 3 years imprisonment. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Everett McMillian of the Florence office for prosecution. The investigation is ongoing.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Two Men Apprehended at the Emancipation Gardens Post Office Plead Guilty to Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Tommy Ramirez, 29, of the Dominican Republic and Ramon Clavel, 55, of Haiti, plead guilty today in District Court before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2018, Ramirez instructed Clavel to present himself at the Emancipation Gardens post office to claim a package that contained a white powdery substance. The white powdery substance was sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory and testing confirmed to be one kilogram of cocaine, a controlled substance.
Ramirez and Clavel face a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of $250,000.00. Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2018.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Services (USPIS), and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Two Fayetteville Men Sentenced to 10 Years for Stealing FirearmsRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced BRIAN LAMAR MARTIN, 22, of Fayetteville and KEYWONOUS ROGERS, 22, of Fayetteville to 120 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
MARTIN and ROGERS were named in a 2-count indictment filed on May 17, 2017 charging both defendants with possession of a firearm by felon and possession of a stolen firearm. On November 6, 2017, MARTIN pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm by Felon. On December 4, 2017, ROGERS also pled guilty to one-count of Possession of a Firearm and by Felon.
On September 14, 2016, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence in St. Pauls, North Carolina after receiving a call for service that the victims of the residence had been robbed. The victims advised that ROGERS and an unidentified male, later determined to be MARTIN, initially were invited into the residence, however, once they were inside, MARTIN brandished a firearm while ROGERS stole eighteen guns from a safe in the residence. As they fled the scene, their vehicle overturned into a ditch, where one of the firearms was abandoned and recovered by law enforcement.
On September 21, 2016, ATF agents went to a residence in Fayetteville, North Carolina where ROGERS had been staying. The homeowner provided consent to search the residence, and the agents recovered two of the stolen firearms. ROGERS confessed that he had stolen several firearms on September 14, 2016.
On April 16, 2017, the victims identified the second perpetrator as MARTIN after seeing his picture on the news after he had been arrested for First Degree Murder. MARTIN subsequently confessed to pointing a firearm at the victims, and assisting in stealing the eighteen guns. Both MARTIN and ROGERS are convicted felons.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Peggah B. Wilson handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
Tsaile Man Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Earlier this month, Douglas Dane Jones, 41, of Tsaile, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 20 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by lifetime supervised release with mandatory sex offender registration and conditions. Jones had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and production of child pornography.
Jones sexually abused the victim over the course of several months in 2017. Jones also produced child pornography. The victim’s family brought the matter to the attention of law enforcement authorities. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation promptly began an investigation, which led to Jones’ arrest and prosecution. Jones and the victim are both members of the Navajo Nation, and the abuse occurred both within the Navajo Nation Reservation and outside of it, including in the city of Chandler, Ariz.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chandler Police Department, with the assistance of other federal, state, and tribal agencies. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-08031-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-042_ Jones
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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.
Three Southwest Kansas Men Convicted of Plotting to Bomb Somali Immigrants in Garden CityRead the Press Release
Three men from the southwest Kansas area were convicted today on charges of conspiring to detonate a bomb at an apartment complex in Garden City where Muslim immigrants lived, announced Attorney General Jeff Sessions; Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division John Gore; Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division John Demers; U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister; and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kansas City Division Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones.
After a four-week trial, a federal jury convicted Patrick Eugene Stein, 49, of Wright, Kansas, Curtis Allen, 50, of Liberal, Kansas, and Gavin Wright, 49, of Beaver County, Oklahoma, on one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and one count of conspiracy to violate the housing rights of their intended victims. Both conspiracies stemmed from the defendants’ plot to blow up the apartment complex in an effort to kill the Somali Muslim immigrants who lived there. The jury also convicted defendant Wright of lying to the FBI.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that the defendants plotted, over the course of several months, to attack an apartment complex that contained a mosque at 312 W. Mary Street in Garden City, Kansas, where Muslim immigrants from Somalia lived and worshipped. Evidence during trial established that the defendants held numerous meetings to plan the attack and took significant steps – including making and testing explosives – toward implementing their plan. During an eight-month-long FBI investigation, a confidential source, whom the government credited for thwarting the attack and saving the lives of innocent victims, recorded numerous conversations during which the defendants discussed and refined their plan. As the plan solidified, the defendants discussed obtaining four vehicles, filling them with explosives and parking them at the four corners of the apartment complex to create an explosion that would be sure to level the building and kill its occupants.
During the course of the investigation, defendant Stein also met with an undercover FBI agent posing as a black market arms dealer, in an effort to obtain a bomb. During one of the meetings, Stein took the agent to see the apartment building that the defendants were planning to destroy.
At their sentencing hearing on June 27, the defendants will face up to life in federal prison.
“The Department of Justice is resolute every day in fighting terrorist threats to the United States, both foreign and domestic," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "The defendants in this case acted with clear premeditation in an attempt to kill people on the basis of their religion and national origin. That's not just illegal—it's immoral and unacceptable, and we’re not going to stand for it. Today's verdict is a significant victory against domestic terrorism and hate crimes, and I want to thank everyone who helped bring the defendants to justice—the dedicated professionals with our National Security and Civil Rights Divisions, our United States Attorney's office in Kansas, the FBI, and our state and local partners. Law enforcement saved lives in this case."
“We are fortunate that law enforcement agents thwarted the defendants’ plan to bomb and shoot innocent, peaceful Muslim immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney McAllister. “The jury’s verdicts are a vindication of outstanding investigative work and prosecution. Terrorists, whether they be foreign or domestic, must be stopped and punished according to the law. Today’s verdicts are a victory for the rule of law, civil rights, and national security.”
“As law enforcement, we are charged with and have an obligation to take action and protect the public whenever an individual expresses a desire to commit violence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones of the Kansas City Division. “Allowing an individual intent on killing people to proceed without a government response is not an option and will never be an option. Law enforcement, working with our partners, must continue to detect, disrupt and deter attacks to our nation, against our citizens and our freedom. The dedication and efforts of the FBI Agents and law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to investigate and build this case was apparent throughout the trial. Today's verdict emphasizes their commitment to keeping all of our communities safe and from harm.”
Gore, Demers, McAllister, and Jones commended the following law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for their exceptional and exemplary efforts investigating and prosecuting this important case: the FBI, the Liberal Police Department, the Seward County Sheriff’s Office, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Garden City Police Department, the Dodge City Police Department, the Finney County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and National Security Division. The case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi and Trial Attorneys Risa Berkower and Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division and supported by Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Appellate Attorney Danielle Tarin of the Office of Law and Policy.
Three Southwest Kansas Men Convicted of Plotting to Bomb Somali Immigrants in Garden CityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three men from the southwest Kansas area were convicted today on charges of conspiring to detonate a bomb at an apartment complex in Garden City where Muslim immigrants lived, announced Attorney General Jeff Sessions; Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division John Gore; Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division John Demers; U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister; and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kansas City Division Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones.
After a four-week trial, a federal jury convicted Patrick Eugene Stein, 49, of Wright, Kansas, Curtis Allen, 50, of Liberal, Kansas, and Gavin Wright, 49, of Beaver County, Oklahoma, on one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and one count of conspiracy to violate the housing rights of their intended victims. Both conspiracies stemmed from the defendants’ plot to blow up the apartment complex in an effort to kill the Somali Muslim immigrants who lived there. The jury also convicted defendant Wright of lying to the FBI.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that the defendants plotted, over the course of several months, to attack an apartment complex that contained a mosque at 312 W. Mary Street in Garden City, Kansas, where Muslim immigrants from Somalia lived and worshipped. Evidence during trial established that the defendants held numerous meetings to plan the attack and took significant steps – including making and testing explosives – toward implementing their plan. During an eight-month-long FBI investigation, a confidential source, whom the government credited for thwarting the attack and saving the lives of innocent victims, recorded numerous conversations during which the defendants discussed and refined their plan. As the plan solidified, the defendants discussed obtaining four vehicles, filling them with explosives and parking them at the four corners of the apartment complex to create an explosion that would be sure to level the building and kill its occupants.
During the course of the investigation, defendant Stein also met with an undercover FBI agent posing as a black market arms dealer, in an effort to obtain a bomb. During one of the meetings, Stein took the agent to see the apartment building that the defendants were planning to destroy.
At their sentencing hearing on June 27, the defendants will face up to life in federal prison.
“The Department of Justice is resolute every day in fighting terrorist threats to the United States, both foreign and domestic," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "The defendants in this case acted with clear premeditation in an attempt to kill people on the basis of their religion and national origin. That's not just illegal—it's immoral and unacceptable, and we’re not going to stand for it. Today's verdict is a significant victory against domestic terrorism and hate crimes, and I want to thank everyone who helped bring the defendants to justice—the dedicated professionals with our National Security and Civil Rights Divisions, our United States Attorney's office in Kansas, the FBI, and our state and local partners. Law enforcement saved lives in this case."
“We are fortunate that law enforcement agents thwarted the defendants’ plan to bomb and shoot innocent, peaceful Muslim immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney McAllister. “The jury’s verdicts are a vindication of outstanding investigative work and prosecution. Terrorists, whether they be foreign or domestic, must be stopped and punished according to the law. Today’s verdicts are a victory for the rule of law, civil rights, and national security.”
“As law enforcement, we are charged with and have an obligation to take action and protect the public whenever an individual expresses a desire to commit violence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones of the Kansas City Division. “Allowing an individual intent on killing people to proceed without a government response is not an option and will never be an option. Law enforcement, working with our partners, must continue to detect, disrupt and deter attacks to our nation, against our citizens and our freedom. The dedication and efforts of the FBI Agents and law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to investigate and build this case was apparent throughout the trial. Today's verdict emphasizes their commitment to keeping all of our communities safe and from harm.”
Gore, Demers, McAllister, and Jones commended the following law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for their exceptional and exemplary efforts investigating and prosecuting this important case: the FBI, the Liberal Police Department, the Seward County Sheriff’s Office, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Garden City Police Department, the Dodge City Police Department, the Finney County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and National Security Division. The case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi and Trial Attorneys Risa Berkower and Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division and supported by Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Appellate Attorney Danielle Tarin of the Office of Law and Policy.
Three More Defendants Charged in Fraud Scheme Involving Small Business ContractsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that three defendants agreed to plead guilty to an Information charging them with federal crimes related to a long-term fraud scheme led by Brian L. Ganos involving government-funded contracts intended to benefit small businesses. The three defendants are James E. Hubbell (age: 50) of Sussex, WI, Jorge Lopez (age: 57) of Worthington, Minnesota, and Telemachos Agoudemos (age: 43) of Big Bend, WI.
According to the charges, the scheme involved Ganos, Hubbell, and others operating construction companies with straw owners who qualified as a disadvantaged individual or as a service-disabled veteran, but who did not actually control the companies. The scheme participants fraudulently obtained small business program certifications to win millions of dollars in government-funded contracts to which they were not entitled. Specifically, the following is alleged:
- Nuvo Construction Company, Inc. (Nuvo”) was misrepresented to be majority-owned and controlled by Lopez to obtain certifications as a Small Disadvantaged Business from the U.S. Small Business Administration and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise from Milwaukee County. In reality, Lopez worked full-time for a different entity in Minnesota and did not actually control Nuvo.
- C3T, Inc. was misrepresented to be majority owned and controlled by Agoudemos to obtain verification as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. In reality, for long stretches, Agoudemos had virtually no involvement in C3T.
Hubbell and Lopez agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by virtue of the scheme in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Agoudemos agreed to plead guilty to making false statements to federal agents in order to conceal that C3T, Inc. did not qualify as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. The maximum penalties for these offenses is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Earlier this month, on April 3, 2018, charges were filed against four defendants in two cases that are related to today’s charges. First, in Case No. 18-CR-62, an indictment was filed charging Brian L. Ganos (age: 57) of Muskego and Mark F. Spindler (age: 56) of Menomonee Falls, and the business Sonag Company, Inc. with crimes related to the fraud scheme. The indictment also alleged that Ganos engaged in money laundering with proceeds from the scheme. The indictment included a forfeiture notice indicating that the United States seeks to forfeit a condominium located in Winter Park, Colorado; the office building used by the companies at 5500-5510 West Florist Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible; and more than $2.2 million seized from two bank accounts. Each of those assets is subject to civil forfeiture actions filed by the United States.
Second, in Case No. 18-CR-64, Nicholas Rivecca agreed to plead guilty to an Information charging him with conspiring with Ganos and others to use Nuvo’s DBE status to win government-funded concrete orders. Rivecca and Ganos were the co-owners of Sonag Ready Mix, LLC, which is alleged to have filled the concrete orders in Nuvo’s name.
The following agencies are participating in the investigation that led to these charges: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Investigations Division; Defense Contract Audit Agency; and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit.
The cases are being prosecuted by United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger and Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey. The related civil forfeiture cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott J. Campbell.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Statement from Attorney General Sessions on the Passing of Former First Lady Barbara BushRead the Press Release
Today Attorney General Jeff Sessions released the following statement on the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush: “Barbara Bush was a symbol around the country—and across the world—of dignity, humanity and strength,” Attorney General Sessions said. “She spoke her mind and used her position and her popularity to advocate for causes that benefit all of us, like literacy and civil rights. In many ways, Barbara formed the core of the Bush family, projecting without affectation her own dignity and grace whatever the events around her. It was an honor for me to continue to serve as United States Attorney under President Bush. I join the rest of the country in offering my condolences to the Bush family and in lifting them up in prayer at this difficult time.”
St. David Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, James Dewayne Munkus, 55, of St. David, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 108 months’ imprisonment. Munkus had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery.
Using a fake bomb, Munkus robbed an eastside branch of Pima Federal Credit Union on January 9, 2017, taking over $3,000. Five days later, Munkus used a handgun to rob an eastside branch of US Bank of over $64,000. Law enforcement officers apprehended Munkus in Gadsden, Ala., on March 21, 2017.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Tucson Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-0639-TUC-RCC-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-041_ Munkus
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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.
Springfield Woman Sentenced for $718,000 Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a $718,000 tax fraud conspiracy.
Nancy Lorine Walker, 56, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to seven years and eight months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Walker to pay $317,498 in restitution (the amount of refund actually received).
On Aug. 10, 2017, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of presenting a false claim, one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Co-defendants Carolyn Alice Cobb, 56, and Clementine Lockett, 43, both of Springfield, have also pleaded to their roles in the conspiracy. In addition to the conspiracy, Cobb pleaded guilty to two counts of presenting a false claim and one count of theft of government property. Lockett also pleaded guilty to two counts of presenting a false claim. Cobb was sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison and ordered to pay $215,184 in restitution. Lockett is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2018.
Walker, Cobb and Lockett participated in a conspiracy, which operated from January 2010 to April 23, 2013, to submit false federal income tax returns and make false claims for federal income tax refunds for the 2009-2012 tax years.
Conspirators used the means of identification of individuals, including their names and Social Security numbers, and Turbo Tax to prepare and electronically file federal income tax returns. Those returns were false and fraudulent in that they included fictitious IRS Form W-2 information, listing employers who did not employ the individual listed on the return and reporting wages not earned and employment taxes not withheld from the individual.
The conspiracy resulted in a total of $718,927 in false claims for federal income tax refunds. Conspirators actually received a total of $317,498 in refunds.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
South Bay Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Marlon Lee Davis was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Nielsen. The sentence was handed down yesterday afternoon by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, U.S. District Judge, following the entry of Davis’s guilty plea on April 11, 2017.
According to his plea agreement, Davis, 56, of San Jose, admitted that in August and September of 2016, he knowingly conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine with codefendant Yara Banderas Martinez. Davis admitted he let Banderas Martinez use his San Jose apartment to store the drugs that they intended to distribute. Also, on August 30, 2016, Davis accompanied Banderas Martinez to a one kilogram methamphetamine transaction. Davis admitted that he delivered the drugs to Banderas Martinez and her buyer while they were in the buyer’s car.
On September 14, 2016, law enforcement agents searched Davis’s apartment where they found 388.9 grams of methamphetamine. Davis admitted that he gave permission to store the drugs in his apartment as part of the drug distribution activity.
On April 10, 2017, Davis was charged in a superseding information with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, Pursuant to his guilty plea, Davis pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman ordered Davis to serve a five-year period of supervised release. Davis is currently in custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately. After pleading guilty to her role in the conspiracy, Banderas Martinez fled in February 2018 and became a fugitive.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Vieira is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA.
Fugitive Yara Banderas MartinezShooting Felon Receives Maximum Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Delano McPherson, 29, from Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court by United States District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel, who imposed the maximum possible sentence under federal law. McPherson was sentenced to 10 years in the federal penitentiary. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm after pleading guilty on October 24, 2017.
McPherson’s case illustrated the effectiveness of the surveillance cameras installed in the city’s high-crime and densely populated areas of Charleston, South Carolina. These have been very beneficial in not only preventing crime but also helping to solve crimes after they happen.
Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed that on September 7, 2015, the CPD Camera Room Operator called dispatch to advise that he had seen an individual shooting a gun from the location of the intersection of America Street and South Street, about three blocks from East Bay Street. This happened around 11:15pm in the late evening. From witnessing the incident on the surveillance camera, the operator was able to provide a description of the individual. He also was able to fully describe the car (a silver Nissan Altima) and its license tag. He informed dispatch that the shooter left the scene in the vehicle as a passenger, fleeing towards East Bay Street on South Street. City of Charleston Police Department Officers responded immediately and spotted the car. They made a felony stop at a gas station, two blocks from the scene of the shooting. The driver was found to be Desmond Campbell. In the rear passenger’s seat was the driver’s brother, Delano McPherson. An officer looked in the back seat area and saw the grip and hammer of a revolver beneath the front passenger seat. This was where McPherson had been sitting. The officer retrieved the gun, which was a silver Smith and Wesson .357 magnum caliber revolver. It had six spent shell casings.
The car was further searched. The glove box held a Glock magazine, loaded, with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The car itself was damaged. The officer observed a gouge in the roof of the vehicle, which was visible from the outside.
The video surveillance tapes were reviewed and showed the full sequence of events. McPherson, the aggressor, got into a confrontation moments before the shooting, on America Street.
He walked away, and down South Street.
About fifteen minutes later, he returned, carrying what appeared to be a silver revolver, in his right hand.
He then turned away and walked down South Street. An Altima pulled up and the driver, his brother, got out and walked away, down South Street.
The operator noticed that after the individual shot the gun, he walked west on South Street, while leaving the car running and the lights on.
McPherson stood on the corner of America and South Street with the pistol in his hand.
After looking around, and using the Altima for cover, he walked up to the car and began shooting.
He started to leave, again down South Street, and there was return fire.
He hid the gun on top of the wheel well of an adjunct car, then retrieved it and got into the passenger’s seat of the Altima. His brother also returned and the two drove off.
Police immediately responding to the 911 calls turned from America Street onto South Street.
The 911 calls were from neighborhood residents. Rounds from the shooting penetrated several homes.
During the sentencing hearing, McPherson testified that he was trying to defend himself. While being cross-examined by Assistant United States Attorney, Sean Kittrell, he admitted that he shot at a person during the course of the incident. He also admitted to having sold drugs at the same corner that McPherson shot from, a crime of which he had previously been convicted. In this case, Judge Gergel found that McPherson had used the firearm in an attempted murder and imposed the maximum sentence.
United States Attorney Drake recognized the work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which investigated the case, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF are working with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify violent offenders who are tearing our communities apart. One of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce street violence is to take violent repeat felons who use guns off of the street using the federal law that prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm. It’s all about protecting our communities.”
The resident agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, praised the fast work of the City of Charleston Police Department and said that, “This investigation is another example of the outstanding partnership between ATF, the Charleston Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office working collaboratively to target violent crime in the City of Charleston.”
McPherson was convicted of violating the felon in possession of a firearm statute. This is Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
McPherson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior separate state conviction for distribution of crack cocaine (3 counts), possession of crack cocaine (two convictions), a federal conviction
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Charleston Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Kittrell and Special Assistant Solicitor Stephanie Linder, who is an Assistant Solicitor for the 9th Judicial Circuit, prosecuted the case for the government. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
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Schenectady Man Sentenced for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marty Humphrey, age 65, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Humphrey pled guilty on March 9, 2018, admitting to conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in Schenectady, between August 2016 and May 2017. He was prosecuted as part of a takedown of a drug trafficking ring that operated in Schenectady and Albany. Charges are still pending against several of Humphrey’s co-defendants. The charges against them are merely accusations, and they are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Humphrey’s case was investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Crack and Powder CocaineRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrance Robinson, a/k/a “Rico,” age 31, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to distributing cocaine and cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine).
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his plea, Robinson admitted to selling a quantity of powder cocaine for $1,300 on September 1, 2016, to selling a quantity of powder cocaine for $1,500 on November 10, 2016, and to selling a quantity of crack cocaine for $170 on November 15, 2016.
Robinson faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 13, 2018 by Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 6 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes members of the Schenectady Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Rockwall Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for BriberyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Kevin Gerard Cauley, 51, of Rockwall, Texas, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 15 months in federal prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving the concealment of information to defraud the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Cauley pleaded guilty in June 2017 to one count of honest services wire fraud. Judge Lindsay ordered Cauley to surrender to the Bureau of Prison on June 19, 2018.
According to the information filed in the case, Cauley worked as a Highway Patrol - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (“CVE”) Sergeant employed by DPS and assigned to Region I, that covered Dallas County. As a CVE Sergeant, Cauley was responsible for, among other things, enforcing traffic and criminal laws, instructing in training schools and academies, and performing safety inspections of commercial vehicles in order to provide Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspection (“CVSA”) decals to commercial vehicles.
Safety inspections were performed by DPS CVE Troopers to ensure their commercial vehicles were safe for highway travel. Safety Inspections were coded Levels 1 through 5. A level 1 inspection was the highest level which meant it involved the most areas of inspection. Once a Level 1 inspection was passed, the commercial vehicle received a CVSA decal.
Orlinte Cruz owned commercial trucking companies that operated in Dallas, Texas, Cruz and Sons Transportation and UGMA Logistics.
The CVSA decal served as a notice to any other CVE personnel in the United States, Canada, or Mexico that the vehicle had recently passed a Level 1 inspection and prevented the vehicle from being stopped at an inspection station or scale so that safety violations were not as readily detected. A commercial vehicle company's safety rating was directly related to the number of violations recorded. A good safety rating translated into lower insurance premiums and a higher volume of contracts.
According to the information filed in the case, in July 2014 Cruz approached Cauley about conducting safety meetings for employees of Cruz and Sons Transportation. Shortly thereafter, Cauley began conducting inspections of Cruz and Sons Transportation and UGMA Logistics’s commercial trucks. From July 2014 and continuing until September 2015, Cauley reported conducting thirty-nine Level 1 inspections on Cruz and Sons Transportation’s vehicles. Thirty-nine of these inspections resulted in a CVSA decal. Cruz paid Cauley in United States currency at least $4,000, to receive favorable treatment from Cauley concerning the performance, or non-performance of CVSA inspection procedures.
Cruz has also pled guilty to his role in this scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
The Texas Rangers, Department of Transportation- Office of Inspector General, and FBI, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne E. Frazior prosecuted.
# # #Richard Monroe Pleads Guilty in Connection with the Death of Kevin DeOliveiraRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on April 18, 2018, Richard Monroe, age 25, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont, to possessing firearms in furtherance of his cocaine trafficking and to discharging a handgun and killing Kevin DeOliveira on January 2, 2015. At the time of his death, DeOliveira was 23 years old and enrolled at the University of Vermont. Specifically, Monroe pleaded to two federal crimes in front of Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford. He admitted to conspiring with Zachery Hust and others to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine during the second half of 2014. He also pleaded guilty to a firearms charge that he carried, used and possessed firearms during, and in furtherance of, the cocaine conspiracy, and, in particular, that he discharged a handgun on January 2, 2015, resulting in the death of Kevin DeOliveira.
In court, Monroe admitted participating in the cocaine conspiracy. During 2014, Monroe regularly obtained quantities of cocaine from DeOliveira and redistributed part of that cocaine to various customers in the Burlington area. In late 2014, Hust joined the conspiracy. For example, Hust and Monroe planned to obtain a kilogram of cocaine to sell to a marijuana customer of Hust, though that deal never came to fruition. During 2014, the conspiracy involved well over 500 grams of cocaine.
Monroe also admitted carrying, using, and possessing firearms in furtherance of this cocaine conspiracy. In 2014, the defendant possessed several firearms, including two handguns, a Glock and a Browning Buckmark .22. He regularly carried the Glock or displayed it in his residence when distributing cocaine. Monroe also admitted shooting DeOliveira and killing him on January 2, 2015. In late 2014, Monroe had a financial dispute with DeOliveira over several ounces of cocaine that had been damaged. DeOliveira claimed that the defendant owed him several thousand dollars for the cocaine. Monroe disputed this debt. On the morning of January 2, 2015, Monroe approached the door of DeOliveira's residence at 58 Green Street in Burlington. When DeOliveira opened the door of his apartment, the defendant discharged his Browning Buckmark .22 pistol, firing one bullet into DeOliveira’s eye. This shot killed Kevin DeOliveira.
The charges Monroe pleaded guilty to carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years, with a maximum sentence of life. Monroe, however, pleaded guilty pursuant to a binding plea agreement in which the parties agreed to a sentence of 25 years in prison. The court accepted the plea but deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until after the court’s consideration of the presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. If the court rejects the plea agreement, Monroe will have the option of withdrawing his guilty plea.
The arrest of Monroe was the culmination of a multi-agency investigation that began in early 2015. The collaborative effort was led by the Burlington Police Department, U.S. Marshal Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted extensively with the investigation of the case, particularly in its early stages.
U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the extraordinary investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the ATF and the contributions of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office. She stated: “this was a dogged investigation involving local and federal law enforcement and local and federal prosecutors that spanned years and entailed extensive cooperation. I commend the top-notch team effort that resulted, finally, in justice for the victim’s family and closure for them and our community. This kind of senseless violence in connection with the drug trade is abhorrent and we will continue to come together to put a stop to it. Those who would use violence, or carry or discharge firearms, to further their drug business, must understand that law enforcement will unite and work tirelessly to show zero tolerance and achieve justice. You will be priority targets for federal prosecution.”
State’s Attorney Sarah George commented: “Our office is extremely grateful to the many agencies who played a part in the investigation, prosecution, and resolution of this heinous and senseless murder. We are incredibly relieved that both justice and closure have finally come for Mr. DeOliveira and his family.”
“We will investigate this city’s homicides until every lead is exhausted or an arrest is made, and we are reassured by the knowledge that our partners in the US Attorney’s office are just as determined and relentless,” said Brandon del Pozo, Burlington’s Chief of Police. “The city owes a debt of gratitude to this top-notch team of detectives and prosecutors. They have given closure to the family of the victim and made sure justice was served to Mr. Monroe.”
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan and Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf are prosecuting the case. Monroe is represented by Attorneys Mark Kaplan and Natasha Sen.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Resident of the Colony Admits Role in $10 Million FraudRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Ima Maria Isham, 22, of The Colony, Texas appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Isham faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution is mandatory. Isham remains on bond; a sentencing date was not set.
According to documents filed in the case, beginning in March 2015 and continuing until March 2016, Isham, along with coconspirators Eddie Contreraz, Stephanie Loraine Contreraz, Bryce Carragan Armijo, Elizabeth Flint, Abraham Valdez, and Kwanghee (Kathy) Anh, conspired with each other, to commit bank fraud.
Isham and other conspirators were employed at Preferred Marketing Group (PMG), also known as PMG Business Solutions. PMG was a loan brokerage company that assisted clients obtain loans, lines of credit, and credit cards. Since the majority of clients had low credit scores, as well as insufficient or unverifiable income or employment, most lenders did not consider these clients to be good credit risks. To overcome these obstacles to obtaining funding, conspirator PMG employees were aware that conspirator Eddie Contreraz frequently created fake paystubs, tax forms and other fraudulent documents in order to falsely inflate clients’ income, as well as falsify a client’s employment position and length of employment. Isham and other conspirators caused many clients to fraudulently obtain funding by causing clients to submit to various lenders false financial and false employment information provided by co-defendant Eddie Contreraz.
The defendants fraudulently obtained loan proceeds from several federally insured banks in the Dallas and Fort Worth area by causing borrower loan applications to be submitted to banks which contained false information. False loan information submitted to financial institutions included, inflated false income figures; falsely list the loan applicant’s position as manager of a company (when the applicant actually owned the company or was employed in a lower salaried position); and falsely reported employment when a client was actually unemployed.
According to documents filed in the case, Isham and coconspirators caused borrowers with low credit scores to use “credit repair” services to raise the borrower’s credit score in order to qualify for loans later obtained through the use of false and fictitious documents created by defendant Eddie Contreraz.
From March 2015 through March 2016, Isham and coconspirators fraudulently obtained loans, credit lines, and credit cards from several banks in the total amount of at least $10 million.
The Fort Worth Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis is in charge of the prosecution.
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Prospect Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Offense Related to Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL USZAKIEWICZ, 52, of Prospect, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a conspiracy offense related to a bribery scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, USZAKIEWICZ is the owner of K&M Fire Protection in Southington. Javed Choudhry was employed by Building and Land Technology, Inc. (“BLT”), a construction company in the Stamford area. Between approximately 2011 and 2014, USZAKIEWICZ and other contractors paid a total of $250,000 to $500,000 in bribes to Choudhry to receive millions of dollars in BLT contracts on construction projects in Stamford.
USZAKIEWICZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford on July 9, 2018.
As part of his guilty plea, USZAKIEWICZ agreed to forfeit $1,121,106, which was seized from his bank accounts on March 28, 2016.
USZAKIEWICZ is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
On May 16, 2017, Choudhry, of Glastonbury, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. On January 22, 2018, Kevin Dunn, the president of Delmar Electrical Contractors in Watertown, admitted that he also paid bribes to Choudhry and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both await sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
Press Conference to Be HeldRead the Press Release
Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Arthur D. Peralta will hold a press conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to announce the results of a significant law enforcement operation carried out pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
The press conference will be held at 2:00 pm on the steps of the United States District Courthouse located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon.
Questions concerning the press conference should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Press Conference to Be HeldRead the Press Release
Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Arthur D. Peralta will hold a press conference on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to announce the results of a significant law enforcement operation carried out pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
The press conference will be held at 2:00 pm on the steps of the United States District Courthouse located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon.
Questions concerning the press conference should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
Phoenix Men Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding the Small Business AdministrationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell sentenced Harold Halman, II, 58, and Alexander Schaap, 62, to 36 and 30 months in prison, respectively. Both must serve 3 years of supervised release following their prison sentences. The Court also ordered them to pay $4.5 million in restitution. Craighton Boates, 44, New River, Ariz., was also sentenced to 5 years’ probation.
Evidence showed that Halman, Schaap, and Boates were principals in a now defunct company known as Global Medical Equipment of Arizona (“GMEA”). They defrauded the Small Business Administration, Metro Phoenix Bank, and Republic Bank of Arizona by submitting loan applications containing false information that included the percentage of GMEA ownership, the use of the loans for pre-existing debts, forged emails and letters misrepresenting that down payments had been made by the principals, and a concealed kickback. The defendants defaulted on nearly $4.5 million in loans.
"These loans should have been granted to qualified small business owners. Instead the defendants effectively denied an opportunity to legitimate small businesses deserving access to capital,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and seek criminal prosecution or civil remedies when fraud is perpetrated by corrupt borrowers who attempt to obtain financial assistance through the SBA’s guaranteed loan programs. We would like to thank the SBA-OIG, IRS-CID, and the FBI for their thoroughness and dedicated professionalism throughout this investigation."
“SBA’s 7(a) program is intended to provide capital to grow the nation’s small businesses not line one’s pockets,” said Acting Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “Schemes to unjustly enrich oneself will be rooted out, and those responsible will be brought to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and leadership throughout this investigation.”
“A sophisticated scheme involving millions in illegally obtained loans does not happen without forethought and criminal intent. The defendants made false statements and omissions to the banks who relied on them to be truthful,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez, Jr. “We hope this prosecution discourages others from taking the path of fraud in their business ventures."
"These three individuals knowingly executed a scheme to defraud banks out of more than $6 million then conspired to launder the money," said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. "The guilty pleas of these individuals should send a message. The FBI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of crimes and protect the community from schemes to defraud financial institutions insured by the FDIC."
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-01015/00946/010159 DGC-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-039_ Halman etal
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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.
Peoria Woman Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Three of Her Children Plead Guilty to Other Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Yesterday, Fany Madrigal-Lopez, 45, of Peoria, Ariz., pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. A conviction for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death carries a minimum-mandatory sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Three of Madrigal-Lopez’s adult children also pleaded guilty to different controlled substance offenses. Paulina Madrigal-Macias, 26, of Hawaii, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Adolfo Macias-Madrigal, 27, of Peoria, Ariz., and Luis Angel Macias, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz., both pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a communications facility as part of a drug conspiracy.
According to publicly-filed court documents, between the fall of 2015 and August 2017, Fany Madrigal-Lopez obtained quantities of oxycodone, blue “M-30” pills that looked like oxycodone but contained fentanyl, cocaine, and alprazolam from others in Arizona. The four defendants then sold these substances to customers. On Nov. 16, 2016, Fany Madrigal-Lopez sold blue “M-30” pills to a customer who later died after consuming them.
Sentencing is set before the Honorable Douglas L. Rayes, United States District Judge, on June 19, 2018 for Adolfo Macias-Madrigal and Luis Angel Macias, on July 2, 2018, for Fany Madrigal-Lopez, and on July 9, 2018 for Paulina Macias.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, who were assisted by the Peoria Police Department and the Arizona National Guard. The prosecution is being handled by Carolina Escalante Konti, D.J. Pashayan, and Jeffrey Borup, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-1110-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-040_Madrigal-Lopez et al.
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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.
Ogdensburg Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Harry McCarthy, age 58, of Ogdensburg, New York, was sentenced today to serve 15 years in prison for his sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Albany FIeld Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, McCarthy admitted that in 2013 and 2014, he used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of that conduct. At the time of his crime, McCarthy was employed as an officer at the City of Ogdensburg, New York Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release, which will start after McCarthy is released from incarceration, and to pay a $10,000 fine. As a result of his conviction, McCarthy will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Geoffrey Brown.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Oahu Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Garrett Okubo, of Honolulu, Hawaii, pled guilty today in federal court to four counts of health care fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Okubo was the owner and operator of a physical therapy business in Honolulu. From January 2011 through October 2017, Okubo submitted false claims for payment for physical therapy services to TRICARE, Medicare, Medicaid, and HMSA. Okubo submitted claims to these health care benefit programs using his unique provider number, thereby falsely stating that Okubo himself had personally provided the physical therapy services to his patients, when in reality the services were provided by Okubo’s unlicensed staff members, including at times when Okubo was travelling on the U.S. mainland or in a foreign country. The government alleges that Okubo billed approximately $5.5 million of false claims for services provided by his unlicensed staff members, of which approximately $3.7 million was actually paid. Okubo reserved the right to challenge the loss amount in his plea agreement.
Okubo’s sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2018 before U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright. For each count, Okubo faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years. Okubo agreed to pay restitution, and agreed to forfeit the proceeds of his unlawful activity, in amounts to be determined by the Court.
The case was jointly investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and the State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marc A. Wallenstein.
Norfolk Woman Sentenced to Prison for ID Theft of PrisonersRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced today to 129 months in prison for operating multiple fraud schemes that included stealing the identities of local prisoners.
According to court documents, less than a month after her release from federal prison for a prior fraud scheme, Teresa Gallop undertook two new sophisticated frauds. In the first, Gallop created a fake legal services company that she used to lure inmates of local jails to disclose their identifying information and to release their personal property. Gallop used her son, who was then serving multiple state sentences for theft, to identify and prime inmate victims. Once she had their information and property, Gallop forged powers of attorney naming her conspirators as attorneys in fact for the inmates. Gallop and her co-conspirators used these documents to access and open inmate bank accounts, which they used to cash worthless checks.
In the second fraud, Gallop recruited others to open bank accounts at several financial institutions. She then used these accounts to negotiate checks she had stolen from the mail and elsewhere, ultimately disbursing the funds to herself in a variety of transactions. The total intended loss for both schemes exceeds $130,000.
Name
Age, Hometown
Conviction(s)
Info
Teresa Gallop
50, Norfolk
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentenced to 129 months
Delanio Vick
32, Norfolk
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentencing May 14
Jessie Davis
21, Portsmouth
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
4:16cr88
18 U.S.C. § 1349
18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Sentencing June 14
Aaren Ivey
22, Portsmouth
4:16cr86
18 U.S.C. § 1349
Sentencing June 25
Gloria Vick
60, Norfolk
Pending Trial
Trial July 10
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 4:16-cr-86 and 4:16-cr-88.
Newport News Man Sentenced for Firearms and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for drug trafficking and his role in stealing 52 firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in February 2017.
According to court documents, Xavier Justice Lee Greenauer-Mattox, was part of a robbery crew that stole 52 firearms from Hunter’s Heaven Gun Store in Hayes on Feb. 12, 2017. Approximately nine days later, law enforcement apprehended all four defendants, including Greenauer-Mattox, who fled in a vehicle travelling at over 100 miles per hour with co-defendant Philip Thomas Evans.
Name, Age
City
Charges
Result
Angel Lewis Bruno, 19
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
8 years in prison
Xavier Justice Lee Greenauer-Mattox, 23
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
13 years in prison
Philip Thomas Evans, 23
Yorktown
Pleaded guilty to: Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Sentencing set for April 30, 2018
Alissha Shalee Faulks, 28
Newport News
Pleaded guilty to: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Stolen Firearm
3 years’ probation
Law enforcement has recovered 18 of the stolen firearms to date. The investigation into the whereabouts of the outstanding firearms continues.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, and Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Cowles prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-72.
Newark Non-Profit Director and Political Fundraiser Sentenced to 38 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The former executive director of a Newark-based childcare and community program and a partner in a political fundraising and consulting company was sentenced today to 38 months in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Kiburi D. Tucker, 43, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
As the executive director of The Centre Inc., Tucker embezzled its funds through ATM, debit card and bank withdrawal transactions to fund personal expenditures, including gambling, travel, and furnishing his home. Tucker defrauded The Centre of $332,116 from 2012 through 2015.
In addition, Tucker, who was also receiving an annual salary from his employment at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, filed false personal income tax returns in which he intentionally under-reported both the proceeds that he embezzled from The Centre and income from his partnership in Elite Strategies, a political fundraising and consulting company. Tucker admitted that he was responsible for underreporting $177,040 in income from these sources for the 2015 tax year, resulting in a tax loss of $56,509.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Tucker to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $133,624 to the IRS and forfeit $334,116.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacques S. Pierre and Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Timothy M. Donohue Esq., West Orange, New Jersey and Alfred C. Decotis Esq., Teaneck, New Jersey
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 36 Months of Probation for Conspiracy to Alter U.S. Postal Money OrdersRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JARVIS WHEELER, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, which included eight months of home incarceration, by United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance after the defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to alter U.S. Postal money orders.
According to the court records, WHEELER conspired with others in the New Orleans area to buy U.S. Postal money orders in small amounts (typically $1.00) and then the money orders were sent out of state where they were altered to much higher amounts. WHEELER, working with other conspirators, then enlisted individuals to deposit the altered U.S. Postal money orders into local bank accounts. Once the money orders cleared, the funds were withdrawn and split by WHEELER and the conspirators.
In addition to incarceration, WHEELER was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to two local banks and to pay a $100.00 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspector Office for its handling of the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera prosecuted the matter.
Navajo Man from McKinley County Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Vinson Six, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Smith Lake, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to assault charges.
Six was arrested on Dec. 13, 2017, on a three-count indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon, a knife, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and robbery. According to the indictment, Six committed the crimes on April 14, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Six pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. In entering the guilty plea, Six admitted that on April 14, 2016, he forced himself into the victim’s home, and threatened and cut the victim with a knife. Six acknowledged that the victim suffered lacerations to his head and arm, which required medical attention, as the result of the assault.
At sentencing, Six faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas.
Multistate Serial Bank Robber Sentenced for Robberies in California, Nevada, and UtahRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gregory Jerome Brown, 28, of Bountiful, Utah, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to five years and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing three banks, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Brown robbed three banks in three different states. Brown wrote his demands on index cards, and in two instances, Nevada and Utah, he threatened tellers in demand notes with a gun. After the robberies, Brown rode away on his motorcycle. After the Utah bank robbery, Brown fled south and was apprehended in Phoenix, Arizona. At his guilty plea, Brown admitted that he robbed the following banks:
- On October 13, 2017, he robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 338 Elm Avenue, Auburn, California;
- On October 14, 2017, he robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 2895 Northtowne Lane, Reno, Nevada;
- On November 8, 2017, he robbed the America First Credit Union at 2928 East Mall Drive, Saint George, Utah.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Auburn Police Department, the Reno Police Department, the Saint George Police Department, and the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Monroe County Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Patrick Hynes, age 21, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on April 17, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Hynes admitted to participating in a conspiracy to distribute between 40 and 60 grams of heroin (which is equivalent to 1,600 to 2,400 individual doses of heroin), as well as additional quantities of cocaine, in the Monroe County area between May and July 2015. Davis was one of eleven individuals indicted by a grand jury in July 2015, and charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine in the Monroe County area.
Judge Caputo ordered a presentence report to be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is up to twenty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Michigan Man Sentenced on Drug Charge in Federal Court in BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that a Michigan man was sentenced to prison on drug charges in federal court in Beckley. Tremaine Dean Pool Jr., 23, of Romulus, a suburb of Detroit, was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Stuart praised the work of the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies in Greenbrier County for working together to rid their streets of violent pill dealers,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Communities throughout southern West Virginia have been ravaged by opiate abuse and addiction and we are more committed than ever to putting an end to this epidemic.”
Pool pled guilty in January, admitting that on December 2, 2016, law enforcement authorities found a loaded 9mm handgun and a bag containing 68 40 mg oxymorphone pills close to him when they searched a residence in Lewisburg. Pool admitted that he possessed the pain pills with intent to distribute them and also possessed the gun. He further admitted that he worked with his codefendants, Joshua Adam Smith and Jessica Nicole Honaker, to distribute pain pills in Greenbrier County during November and December 2016, and that they distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute about 300 40 mg oxymorphone pills during that time. Smith received 96 months for his part in this drug activity, and Honaker was sentenced to 24 months.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. The case was investigated as part of the Greenbrier Valley Heroin and Pill Initiative. That initiative is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to combat illegal drug trafficking in communities across the Southern District. Assistant United States Attorney John File prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old woman from Guadalajara, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of importing methamphetamine into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Yezel Eunice Nevarez-Martell pleaded guilty Aug. 30, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Nevarez to serve 168 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Nevarez is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the court took into consideration that the methamphetamine had a 90% purity level which is commonly referred to as “ice.” In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that there are many young people that come before the court, sadly, on a regular basis and also expressed concern with the significant amount of such a significant drug which, once distributed, effects people at all levels of life.
At the time of her guilty plea, Nevarez admitted that on April 2, 2017, she drove a vehicle from Mexico and attempted to enter the United States at the Hidalgo port of entry, knowing the vehicle contained a controlled substance. Upon inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment within the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents seized 23 packages weighing approximately 22 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Nevarez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.
Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced as Part of Operation Leaving Las VegasRead the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Two defendants involved in a conspiracy that generated at least $1 million in drug proceeds by trafficking methamphetamine, oxycodone, and suboxone from Las Vegas to Southwest Virginia were sentenced in recent days in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, the United States Attorney’s Office announced.
Tracy Allen Callihan, 49, of Glade Spring, Va., was sentenced Tuesday, April 17 to 324 months imprisonment. Callihan was previously found guilty by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Callihan was also ordered to forfeit $30,000 in proceeds from his criminal activity. On April 12, Steven Cino, 52, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced to 292 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a money judgment of $251,633. Cino previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, methamphetamine and suboxone and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Cino and Callihan are the latest defendants to be sentenced as part of Operation Leaving Las Vegas, a multi-agency investigation that began in 2014 and resulted in charges against 32 individuals for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, oxycodone and suboxone in Southwest Virginia, Nevada, Eastern Kentucky, and elsewhere.
According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, members of the conspiracy sent crystal methamphetamine and oxycodone via FedEx and the United States Postal Service from Las Vegas to various individuals in Abingdon and Eastern Kentucky. Upon receipt, the drugs were redistributed. Investigators were able to identify and charge not only those who received the drugs locally but also the source of the substances in Nevada.
The proceeds from the conspiracy, which investigators found to be at least $1,000,000, were routinely transferred from Abingdon to Las Vegas using bank accounts in the names of drug suppliers who lived in Las Vegas. Funds were also transferred between Abingdon and Las Vegas using Western Union and MoneyGram services.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Abingdon Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Smyth County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee will prosecute the case for the United States.
Matthews, N.C. Man Sentenced to 16 ½ Years for His Role in Union County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced today that a Matthews, N.C. man was sentenced to 198 months in prison and five years of supervised release for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Nestor Javier Martin Fernandez, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on November 12, 2017, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Fernandez was driving and arrested Fernandez on outstanding warrants. Over the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered from Fernandez’s vehicle more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and two firearms.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Monroe Police Department, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Dillon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Lindahl of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge Stemming from Arson at Enfield RestaurantRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on April 16, 2018, MUSTAFA ZABANA, 32, a citizen of Iraq last residing in Westfield, Mass., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to a fraud offense related to an arson at his Connecticut restaurant.
According to court documents and statements made in court, ZABANA was the majority owner of Zabana, Inc., doing business as Bruno’s Pizza, a restaurant located at 634 Enfield Street in Enfield, Connecticut. On June 3, 2016, at approximately 10:42 p.m., ZABANA intentionally set a fire in Bruno’s Pizza, causing damage to the restaurant and its contents, as well as other commercial space in the mall where the restaurant was located. Emergency fire personnel responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.
After the fire, ZABANA filed an insurance claim with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual sent ZABANA an advance check of $5,000 for claimed loss. ZABANA then continued to pursue additional payments from Liberty Mutual through at least December 2016.
ZABANA pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for June 29, 2018.
ZABANA has been detained since his arrest on March 23, 2017.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT), ATF Fire Research Lab, Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, Enfield Police Department, and Thompsonville Fire Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Dave Vatti.
Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, announced that EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS, age 32, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS to 6 months incarceration, to be followed by 1 year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100.000 fine.
According to court records, EDY GARCIA-BANEGAS was found in the United States on December 14, 2017, after having been previously deported on multiple occasions.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González is in charge of the prosecution.
Louisville Man Charged with Possession and Distribution of MethRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville convicted felon was charged by grand jury indictment today with possession and distribution of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
Roger Dale Goodman, 37, is charged in a single count indictment with conspiring with others between January of 2017 and April of 2018, to knowingly and intentionally distribute meth.
Goodman is currently in state custody on a $50,000 bond, following a Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) police involved shooting. The incident occurred on February 1, 2018, on Derby Avenue. According to LMPD, Goodman was driving a truck that was stopped by Detectives Darrell Hyche and Bradley Woolridge as part of a narcotics investigation. A passenger, according to police, opened fire critically injuring Detective Hyche. Detective Woolridge returned fire, mortally wounding two passengers in the vehicle.
Goodman will be remanded to federal custody for an initial appearance on the single charge. The court date has not been scheduled.
If convicted at trial, Goodman could be sentenced to no less than ten years in federal prison, fined, and required to serve a five years period of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress and is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and LMPD.
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
goodman_roger_indictment_4_18_18_7.pdfLewiston Man Sentenced to Almost 22 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Nicholas T. Richard, 39, of Lewiston, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 262 months in prison and supervised release for life for receiving child pornography images. He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims depicted in the images. Richard pleaded guilty on November 20, 2017.
According to court records, in February of last year, Richard used the internet and peer-to-peer file-sharing software to download child pornography images. Richard was at the Auburn Public Library when he downloaded the images using the library’s wireless internet connection. Investigators seized Richard’s laptop computer and other electronic devices from him at the library and obtained a search warrant for them. The laptop contained thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography and child erotica. Richard was subject to an enhanced sentence because of a prior federal child pornography conviction.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Auburn Police Department. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative to locate, apprehend and prosecute people who sexually exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lead Defendants in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to Serve Time in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 17, 2018, David Byron Jones, 61, of Chatsworth, Georgia, was sentenced by the Honorable R. Leon Jordan, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 180 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (meth) in the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Jones pleaded guilty in January 2018. According to his plea agreement on file with U.S. District Court, he admitted to being responsible for at least 1.5 kilograms but less than 4.5 kilograms of actual meth.
In 2016, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together began an investigation into an evolving meth distribution network that was distributing multiple kilogram quantities of meth in and around Hawkins County, Tennessee. Jones, who lived in north Georgia, supplied this organization with kilograms of meth that was then distributed by members of conspiracy, most of whom were from Hawkins County, Tennessee. One of his distributors, Jonathan Delph, 51, of Rogersville, Tennessee, was sentenced in March 2018 to serve 210 months in federal prison after pleading guilty and admitting to being responsible for at least 1.5 kilograms but less than 4.5 kilograms of actual meth.
The convictions of Jones and Delph are the result of a 49-count indictment that also charged the following individuals for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Clay Seals, Jr., 51, of Surgoinsville, Tennessee
- Stephanie Bailey, 50, of Hawkins County, Tennessee
- Donna Strong, 54, a/k/a Donna Dunbar, of Surgoinsville, Tennessee
- Curtis Carpenter, 43, of Whitesburg, Tennessee
- Jerry Robinette, 48, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Edward Smith, 52, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Tyler Delph, 25, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Scottie Delph, 49, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- James Michael Whitaker, 54, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Paul Bledsoe Jr., 43, of Morristown, Tennessee
- William West, 58, a/k/a Bump, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Frankie Benton, 34, of Hawkins County, Tennessee
- James Dwayne Byington, 50, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Leonard Brad Eidson, 43, of Bull’s Gap, Tennessee
- Phillip Burton, 49, a/k/a Burger, of Rogersville, Tennessee
- Toby Jones, 40, of Chatsworth, Georgia
All of the individuals charged in this case have been convicted of conspiring to distribute meth. Several have already been sentenced in U.S. District Court and the remainder are scheduled to be sentenced between now and June 12, 2018.
The ongoing investigation leading to the indictment was the product of a partnership between Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department, Third Judicial Drug Task Force, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area - Rocky Top Task Force, Third Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Lampe represents the United States in court proceedings.
The investigation is a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
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