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11 April 2018
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison as Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JAMES CORNELIUS CHRISTIAN, 40, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
On October 11, 2017, a jury found Christian guilty of possessing a Ruger, model LCP, .380 caliber pistol after he had previously been convicted of a felony. He was acquitted on a second count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At a sentencing hearing today, United States District Judge David L. Russell took into consideration Christian’s multiple prior serious drug offenses, which qualified Christian as an armed career criminal under federal law. As an armed career criminal, he was subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, or 180 months.
In addition to the 235-month sentence, Judge Russell ordered Christian to serve three years of supervised release after his release from prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn M. Hutzell and David Petermann. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001.
North Carolina Return Preparer Sentenced to over 10 Years in Jail for Filing Fraudulent ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Durham, North Carolina, tax return preparer was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing fraudulent tax returns for herself and her clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to documents and information presented to the court, Keesha Frye, owned and operated KEF Professional Tax Services, a Durham tax preparation business. From 2012 through 2014, Frye and other KEF employees falsified their clients’ tax returns by including fake and inflated sources of income to qualify for and maximize the earned income tax credit and increase the refunds claimed on the returns. Frye also filed false personal income tax returns that claimed bogus childcare expenses and business losses. In total, Frye’s scheme caused a tax loss of more than $1.7 million.
In addition to the prison term imposed, Frye was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $1,742,823 in restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Nathan Brooks and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Ramaswamy, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
North Carolina Return Preparer Sentenced to over 10 Years in Jail for Filing Fraudulent ReturnsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Durham, North Carolina, tax return preparer was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing fraudulent tax returns for herself and her clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to documents and information presented to the court, Keesha Frye, owned and operated KEF Professional Tax Services, a Durham tax preparation business. From 2012 through 2014, Frye and other KEF employees falsified their clients’ tax returns by including fake and inflated sources of income to qualify for and maximize the earned income tax credit and increase the refunds claimed on the returns. Frye also filed false personal income tax returns that claimed bogus childcare expenses and business losses. In total, Frye’s scheme caused a tax loss of more than $1.7 million.
In addition to the prison term imposed, Frye was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $1,742,823 in restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Nathan Brooks and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Ramaswamy, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
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Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Participating in Business Email Compromise ScamsRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ONYEKACHI EMMANUEL OPARA pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty in Manhattan federal court to charges stemming from his participation in fraudulent business email compromise scams that targeted thousands of victims around the world, including the United States. Collectively, the scams attempted to defraud victims of millions of dollars.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Onyekachi Emmanuel Opara ran a global email scam business that victimized thousands of people out of millions of dollars. And even though he operated his so-called ‘business’ in a country halfway around the world, our Office’s global reach ensures that he will serve time in the United States for his crimes.”
According to allegations in an Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:
Between 2014 and 2016, OPARA and co-conspirator David Chukwuneke Adindu participated in Business Email Compromise scams (“BEC scams”) targeting thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States. As part of the BEC scams, fraudulent emails were sent to employees of various companies, purportedly from their supervisors or from third party vendors, directing that funds be transferred to specified bank accounts. The fraudulent emails were sent from either email accounts with a domain name that was very similar to the legitimate domain name of the purported sender, or the metadata in the emails had been modified so that the emails appeared as if they were from legitimate email addresses belonging to the purported sender. After victims complied with the fraudulent wiring instructions, the transferred funds were quickly withdrawn or moved into different bank accounts controlled by members of the scheme. In total, the BEC scams attempted to defraud millions of dollars from victims.
OPARA and others carried out BEC scams by exchanging information regarding: (1) bank accounts used for receiving funds from victims; (2) email accounts for communicating with victims; (3) scripts for requesting wire transfers from victims; and (4) lists of names and email addresses for contacting and impersonating potential victims.
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OPARA, 29, of Lagos, Nigeria, was arrested in South Africa on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant in December 2016 and was extradited on January 22, 2018. He pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. OPARA is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on July 11, 2018, at 11 a.m.
Adindu, 30, of Lagos, Nigeria, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft, and was sentenced to 41 months in prison on December 14, 2017.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the FBI. Mr. Berman also thanked Oath’s E-Crime Investigations Team, the National Prosecuting Authority for South Africa, the South African Police Service, and noted that the investigation is continuing.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Daniel M. Loss are in charge of the prosecution.
Niagara County Man Sentenced on Child Pornography and Cyberstalking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Travis Guerriera, 28, of Olcott, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography and cyberstalking, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary C. Baumgarten, who handled the case, stated that in September 2015, a female victim reported to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department that she received unsolicited communications from an individual on Facebook. The individual threatened to distribute and post images that the female victim sent to her then-boyfriend when she was about 14 years-old. During the investigation, it was determined that co-defendant Timothy Laubacker was the individual who had contacted the female victim on Facebook. The investigation further determined that defendant Guerriera, who had possession of the images that the victim had previously shared with her former boyfriend, had provided such images to Laubacker.
Timothy Laubacker was previously convicted and sentenced to 180 months in prison.
Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDRE MILLER, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad targeted a New Haven-based heroin trafficking organization led by Bienvenido and Antonio Gonzalez. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that the Gonzalez brothers regularly purchased bulk quantities of heroin from suppliers located in the Bronx, New York, and sold the heroin through a network of redistributors, including MILLER, in New Haven and elsewhere.
The investigation resulted in federal charges against 24 individuals.
MILLER was arrested on March 16, 2017. On November 14, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of heroin.
Bienvenido Gonzalez and Antonio Gonzalez pleaded guilty to related charges. On March 28, Bienvenido Gonzalez was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment. Antonio Gonzalez awaits sentencing.
The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Hamden, Milford, Monroe, New Haven, Shelton, Wallingford and Wilton Police Departments. The New Haven, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments, together with the U.S. Coast Guard, provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patrick F. Caruso.
Mount Rainier Man Sentenced to 10 and A Half Years in Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Greenbelt, Maryland – United States District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced James Emory Jones, Jr. a/k/a “Kirk,” age 41, of Mount Rainier, Maryland to 126 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of phencyclidine (a/k/a "PCP”) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The sentence was announced by the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the FBI, Baltimore Field Office; and Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI, Washington Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, pursuant to court-authorized wiretap interceptions from June through October 2016, Jones was heard discussing distribution of cocaine base (a/k/a “crack cocaine”), cocaine, and phencyclidine (a/k/a "PCP.”)
On April 5, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant at Jones's apartment in Mount Rainier, Maryland, where they recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a shoulder holster, and a shotgun. In addition, agents recovered more than one kilogram of PCP, ten empty glass vials, a plastic dropper (typically used to distribute PCP), a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine, a digital scale, and $10,700 in U.S. currency.
Prior to April 5, 2017, Jones had sustained convictions for offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, which made him ineligible to possess a firearm and ammunition.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Cross Border Task Force-Safe Streets, Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department-District of Columbia, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration HIDTA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Sykes and Nicolas A. Mitchell who prosecuted the case.
Monmouth County Investment Adviser Admits Investment Fraud Scheme, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Preparing Phony Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Farmingdale, New Jersey, man today admitted perpetrating a long-running scheme to defraud investment clients out of millions of dollars, forging an attorney’s signature without authorization in connection with that scheme, and preparing false tax returns for his clients, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Scott Newsholme, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and preparing fraudulent tax returns.
In September 2017, Newsholme was charged by criminal complaint with mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud, and was released on bail. In October 2017, after law enforcement discovered that Newsholme continued his fraudulent scheme while out on bail, he was charged in an amended criminal complaint with mail fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Newsholme’s bail was revoked and he was detained pending trial.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Since 2002, Newsholme owned and operated at least three different financial advisory and tax return preparation businesses. Between 2007 and 2017, Newsholme recommended to multiple clients that they invest their money with him, which he would use on their behalf to invest in various securities and other investments, including bond instruments issued by a private New Jersey country club, a bond investment in a video-game production company, and investments in the production of a movie.
Newsholme also represented to clients that he would invest their money in more traditional securities, including mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, college education accounts, money market funds, and an escrow account for the purchase of a house. Newsholme directed his investment clients to write checks to him or one of his companies so that he could execute the investments on their behalf.
However, rather than invest the money as he represented, Newsome cashed or deposited the checks and used the funds for personal expenses, including multiple vehicles, bedroom furniture, debits at casinos, bank transfers to Newsholme’s personal bank accounts, and ATM withdrawals.
Newsholme concealed his scheme by diverting incoming investment funds to pay other clients who had requested to withdraw funds from their investment portfolios. Newsholme also provided his clients phony account statements, security instruments, and other documentation that falsely represented to the clients the status of their investments.
In October 2017, in furtherance of the scheme, Newsholme provided a letter to one of his investment clients from whom he had misappropriated approximately $62,000. The letter, which Newsholme represented had been prepared by an attorney, stated that the client’s funds were held safely in an escrow account established by the attorney. However, as he admitted today, Newsholme fabricated the letter and forged the attorney’s signature without the attorney’s authorization in order to conceal his misappropriation of the funds.
During the scheme, Newsholme misappropriated more than $3.1 million from his investment clients, resulting in net investment losses of more than $1.8 million.
In addition to the wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, Newsholme also admitted preparing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of his clients. The fraudulent returns that Newsholme prepared claimed inflated deductions for unreimbursed employee business expenses, charitable donations, and medical expenses to which his clients were not entitled.
The wire fraud charge to which Newsholme pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft charge to which Newsholme pleaded guilty carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, which must run consecutive to the sentences on the other two counts. The false tax return charge carries a maximum potential sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 19, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation. He also thanked the SEC’s New York Regional Office, under the direction of Director Mark P. Berger, and the N.J. Bureau of Securities, under the direction of Bureau Chief Christopher Gerold, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brendan Day of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Defense Counsel: Lisa Van Hoeck, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender
Mission Man Indicted for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder.
Narvin James Bordeaux, Jr., a/k/a Narvin Bordeaux, age 55, was indicted on March 13, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 10, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about October 3, 2017, Bordeaux killed a man by stabbing him with a knife. The charge is merely an accusation and Bordeaux is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case. Bordeaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mexican National and Two Texas Men Plead Guilty to Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MANUEL SERRATA, age 42, JOSE GUADALUPE CERVANTES-MARRON, age 48, and JOSE HINOJOSA, age 45, pleaded guilty today to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents, the three men were part of a conspiracy to distribute fifteen kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride. Several members of the conspiracy were arrested in November 2016 with fifteen kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride in Houma, Louisiana. Two others have previously pleaded guilty to their role in the conspiracy.
SERRATA and HINOJOSA each face a minimum term of ten years of imprisonment up to life, a maximum fine of $10,000,000, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. CERVANTES-MARRON faces a term of zero to twenty years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. Sentencing is set before Judge Martin L. C. Feldman on July 18, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Terrebonne Parish Sherriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James S. C. Baehr and David Haller are in charge of the prosecution.
Member of Gangster Disciples Pleads Guilty to RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – One of 16 alleged Gangster Disciples members and associates indicted on racketeering charges in May 2016 pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western Division of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Gavin of the FBI’s Memphis Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jack Webb of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Memphis Field Division, made the announcement.
Tommy Earl Champion, Jr., a/k/a "Duct Tape," 29, of Jackson, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on April 2 before U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering offense, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the indictment, the Gangster Disciples is a highly organized national gang active in more than 35 states. The scope of the Gangster Disciples’ crimes is wide-ranging and consistent throughout its national operation. The gang protects its power through threats, intimidation, and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault and obstruction of justice. The Gangster Disciples promotes its enterprise through member-only activities and provides financial and other support to members charged with or incarcerated for gang-related offenses or who are fugitives from law enforcement.
Members and associates of the Gangster Disciples are subject to a strict code of discipline and are routinely fined, beaten, and even murdered for failing to follow the gang’s rules. "Enforcers" within the enterprise ensure that members who violate the strict rules of the enterprise are appropriately punished.
Champion is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2018.
This prosecution was brought as part 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, multilevel 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.
The FBI; ATF; the Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit; the Memphis Police Department; the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; the Jackson Police Department Gang Enforcement Team; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Madison County Sheriff’s Department; the 28th Judicial District West Tennessee Drug Task Force; the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office; the 26th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office; the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office; the Atascosa County District Attorney’s Office; and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Francesca Liquori of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth Boswell of the Western District of Tennessee and Samuel Stringfellow of the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
Member of Darknet Drug Trafficking Organization “ItalianMafiaBrussels” Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
DENVER – United States Attorney Bob Troyer announced today that U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Leonardo Cristea, 22, to 36 months’ imprisonment. Cristea had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963.
On May 3, 2016, in a joint U.S./European enforcement action, law enforcement dismantled the ItalianMafiaBrussels Drug Trafficking Organization, arresting ten defendants during early morning raids in Bruges, Belgium and surrounding areas. Leonardo Cristea and Filip Lucian Simion were arrested simultaneously in Bucharest, Romania, and extradited to the District of Colorado in July and October of 2016, respectively.
The nine-count indictment underlying the extraditions charged Filip Lucian Simion, Leonardo Cristea, and others with conspiracies to distribute and import into the United States controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 963. The defendants were also charged with substantive counts of importation of controlled substances and aiding and abetting, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 952(a), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. In addition, Filip Lucian Simion was charged in several counts of distribution of controlled substances by means of the Internet, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(h)(1)(A) and conspiracy to launder money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
The leader of the organization, Filip Lucian Simion, pleaded guilty on Monday, April 9, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to import into the United States controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963, and one count of conspiracy to launder money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h). Both charges carry a maximum possible penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Simion will be sentenced in Denver on August 30, 2018.
According to court documents, from January 2013, through May 3, 2016, members of the conspiracy imported kilogram quantities of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a Schedule I controlled substance commonly known as Ecstasy) into the United States via the mail from various countries in Europe. The transnational organization operated online as the Darknet vendor “ItalianMafiaBrussels” or “IMB” and operated on black markets, such as the now defunct Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0, to sell the MDMA throughout the United States and other countries. The organization accepted payment for the drugs in bitcoin.
This case was investigated by the Denver Illicit Digital Economy Working Group, comprised of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, in partnership with the Romanian Central Anti-Narcotics Unit in Bucharest, Romania, and the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, East Flanders Drug Unit in Dendermonde, Belgium. Other United States and international agencies assisting the working group in this investigation included: the Boulder County Drug Task Force, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices nationwide, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Europol, and Eurojust.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele R. Korver.
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Manhattan U.S. Attorney announces arrests of former NYPD officers and FDNY firefighter for fraudulently obtaining over $1 million in disability benefitsRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and John F. Grasso, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the United States Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, announced that GERARD SCPARTA, a former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officer, SCOTT MARAIO, a former NYPD officer and former New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) firefighter, and KENNETH RUBERO, a former NYPD detective, were arrested today for separate schemes to fraudulently obtain a total of more than $1 million in disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). SCPARTA lied to the SSA about his disability, and SCPARTA, MARAIO, and RUBERO each falsely represented to the SSA that they could not work due to disability and failed to report earnings from employment as required. At the same time SCPARTA, MARAIO, and RUBERO were collecting disability benefits, each of them were working in various positions and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars. SCPARTA, MARAIO, and RUBERO were arrested earlier today at their residences, and will be presented later today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated: “As alleged, these three defendants, all former law enforcement officers, told lie after lie to obtain a total of over one million dollars in disability benefits through fraud. In doing so, they allegedly took money from truly disabled individuals who are dependent on this important source of public support. Scparta and Maraio also allegedly concealed their employment and income from the Social Security Administration by hiding behind corporate entities purportedly owned by their wives. I would like to thank the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, for their work in bringing these alleged schemes to their proper end.”
Special Agent-in-Charge John F. Grasso stated: “Social Security Disability benefits are an earned benefit, for those who are truly deserving. It is not a treasure chest to be pilfered by alleged greedy liars and scammers. Unlike other crimes, when someone allegedly cheats Social Security, they are not just taking from one of us, they are stealing from all of us. I would like to thank our partners in this investigation, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the NYC Department of Investigation. If you suspect Social Security fraud, I strongly encourage you to call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271 or visit oig.ssa.gov/report<http://oig.ssa.gov/report>.”
According to the allegations contained in Complaints unsealed today:
The SSA administers Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSD”), a federal benefits program that provides monthly cash benefits to individuals who have worked in the past and paid into Social Security, but who can no longer engage in any substantial gainful activity due to medical disabilities. SSD is a disability benefit available only to individuals who have a qualifying disability and are unable to work in any profession. In order to receive SSD, a beneficiary must certify that he or she is incapable of performing any gainful activity due to disability. In addition, a beneficiary must report to the SSA all sources of income from work activity and any changes in the beneficiary’s medical condition, which are taken into account in determining whether the beneficiary is entitled to payments and the amount of those payments.
GERARD SCPARTA
Between in or about 1986 and in or about 1997, SCPARTA worked as a police officer with the NYPD. In or about 1997, after reportedly sustaining an injury at the age of 32, SCPARTA was referred to an individual (“CC-1”) who helped him fraudulently obtain disability benefits. Specifically, CC-1 submitted SSD application materials signed by SCPARTA that falsely stated, among other things, that SCPARTA suffered from severe depression and anxiety, could not do anything around his house, and was unable to work in any capacity. In addition, CC-1 coached SCPARTA to make the same false statements to physicians who examined SCPARTA for the purpose of establishing his disability and submitting reports to the SSA. Based on these false statements and representations by SCPARTA in documents and reports submitted to the SSA, the SSA approved SCPARTA to receive disability benefits from in or about 1997 onward.
In addition to lying about his disability status and inability to work, SCPARTA falsely claimed on multiple forms submitted to the SSA that he did not work, and failed to report earnings from employment as required. In fact, from in or about April 2004 up to and including at least in or about December 2017, SCPARTA worked as a security guard and host at a strip club located in Manhattan, New York (the “Strip Club”). From in or about 1997 up to and including in or about 2017, SCPARTA received a total of over approximately $638,000 in disability benefits for himself, his wife, and his children, during which time SCPARTA earned approximately $1.6 million from his work at the Strip Club. In order to conceal his income and prevent the SSA from discovering his fraud, SCPARTA arranged for the income from his work in connection with the Strip Club to be paid to a third-party corporate entity purportedly owned by SCPARTA’s wife.
SCOTT MARAIO
From in or about 1985 through in or about 1986, MARAIO worked as an NYPD police officer. Beginning in or about July 1987, MARAIO began working as a firefighter with the FDNY. In or about January 2002, at the age of 37, MARAIO stopped working as a firefighter due to a claimed disability, and began receiving disability benefits. On multiple forms submitted to the SSA, MARAIO falsely claimed he could not work due to problems with his neck and back and failed to report earnings from employment as required. In fact, from in or about September 2008 through in or about August 2014, MARAIO worked as a security guard at the Strip Club. In addition, from in or about July 2012 through at least in or about February 2018, MARAIO worked for a staffing company (the “Staffing Company”) in various positions relating to fire safety on construction sites, including as a fire safety manager and fireguard.
From in or about October 2008 through in or about February 2018, MARAIO received a total of over approximately $364,000 in disability benefits for himself, his wife, and his children, during which time MARAIO earned a total of approximately $450,000 from his employment at the Strip Club and with the Staffing Company. In order to conceal his income and prevent the SSA from discovering his fraud, MARAIO arranged for the income from his work in connection with the Strip Club and the Staffing Company to be paid to a third-party corporate entity purportedly owned by MARAIO’s wife called Blondie Consultants (“Blondie Consultants”), as well as another company.
KENNETH RUBERO
In or about 1985, RUBERO began working as an NYPD police officer and was subsequently promoted to detective in or about 1991. In or about December 1997, at the age of 33, RUBERO stopped working with the NYPD due to a claimed disability, and began receiving disability benefits. On multiple forms submitted to the SSA, RUBERO falsely claimed he could not work due to problems with his knees, neck, and back, and failed to report earnings from employment as required. In fact, since at least in or about 2008, RUBERO has been an owner and manager of Baychester Payment Center, LLC (“Baychester”), a check cashing and money services business located in the Bronx, New York, and an owner and president of Secure Logistics, Inc., a purported security company located at RUBERO’s residence. From at least in or about 2008 up to and including at least in or about February 2018, RUBERO received a total of approximately $396,000 in disability benefits for himself and his child, during which time RUBERO had earned a total of over approximately $720,000 from his work with Baychester and Secure Logistics.
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SCPARTA, 53, of Campbell Hall, New York, MARAIO, 53, of Staten Island, New York, and RUBERO, 53, of White Plains, New York, are each charged with one count of theft of government property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of making false statements in connection with Social Security disability benefits, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the United States Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Berman also thanked the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance with the investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
MS-13 Member Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy Involving MurderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An MS-13 member was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for racketeering conspiracy, including his involvement in a shooting that led to the death of an innocent bystander, as well as his involvement in an attempted murder of a rival gang member and armed robbery.
Hector Ramires, a/k/a “Cuervo,” 24, a Honduran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 years in prison. Ramires will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In October 2017, Ramires pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
Ramires was a member of MS-13’s Enfermos Criminales Salvatrucha (ECS) clique, which operated in Chelsea and other parts of Massachusetts. On Oct. 18, 2014, Ramires and Bryan Galicia Barillas, a/k/a “Chucky,” another member of MS-13’s ECS clique, were walking the streets of Chelsea when they encountered a group of rival gang members. Ramires, who was armed, shot at one of the gang rivals and missed, killing a woman - an innocent bystander - who was looking out a nearby window of a room she shared with her three children. Both Ramires and Galicia Barillas were charged with RICO conspiracy and held responsible for the murder of the innocent bystander. Galicia Barillas was sentenced in March 2018 to 22 years in prison.
Ramires also accepted responsibility for his role in a March 28, 2014, attempted murder of a rival gang member in Chelsea, and an April 9, 2014, armed robbery in Chelsea.
After a multi-year investigation, Ramires was one of 61 persons named in a superseding indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts. Ramires is the 19th defendant to be sentenced in this case.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. All remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Local Victim Advocates Honored During National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 8-14, 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi held a Crime Victims’ Rights Awards Ceremony today to recognize law enforcement professionals who have demonstrated exceptional service to crime victims within the Southern District of Mississippi.
"In law enforcement, we are sworn to serve and protect," Attorney General Sessions said. "We carry out this oath every day by protecting the rights of law abiding people from criminals and by achieving justice for crime victims. This week, we remember the millions of Americans who have been victimized by criminals and we thank those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service to those victims. As we do so, we recommit ourselves to fulfilling our oath and to reducing crime in America."
"While fighting crime, we must remember why we do this – for people. We take our responsibility very seriously to protect people from crimes and to help victims after crimes have occurred. I commend these individuals for their outstanding service to victims and their families and for their steadfast and unwavering support and pursuit of justice," said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
U.S. Attorney Hurst made the following awards presentations during today’s ceremony:
AUSA Victim Assistance Award: Glenda R. Haynes, Assistant U.S. Attorney. This award recognizes an AUSA who is an extraordinary advocate for the rights of victims and demonstrates exceptional commitment to the pursuit of justice. Ms. Haynes’ professional dealings with victims are honest and effective, reflecting well on the United States Attorney’s Office and furthering the goal of restorative justice.
Special Agent Victim Assistance Award: Todd Key, Special Agent, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. This award recognizes a Special Agent who consistently displays superior investigative skills and sensitivity to the rights and needs of victims. Special Agent Key has demonstrated steadfast persistence and dependability during the all phases of the investigation and prosecution of cases involving victims of crime.
Support Staff Victim Assistance Award: Lisa Dunn, Legal Assistant, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gulfport branch. This award recognizes a support staff member who goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist victims. Mrs. Dunn consistently promotes trust and confidence between victims and advocates and provides exceptional support to victims in direct communication and through court preparation.
State/Local Law Enforcement Victim Assistance Award: Richard Johnson, FBI Task Force Officer and Special Investigator with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. This award recognizes a member of state or local law enforcement that exhibits professionalism and superior service and sensitivity to victims. Johnson has been unwavering in his efforts to restore a sense of security and trust to victims, while also vigorously pursuing justice. A notable example of his exceptional work involved a particularly heinous federal criminal case with multiple child victims.
Crime Victim Service Legacy Assistance Award: Marge Whitmarsh, FBI Victim Specialist. This award recognizes an extraordinary individual whose dedication to crime victim advocacy has been particularly noteworthy. Ms. Whitmarsh has a passion for helping crime victims. She works tirelessly to facilitate justice for victims by promoting and ensuring their legal rights.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 8-14, with the theme Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Jackson at 601-965-4480.
Leland Man Indicted for Lying to Federal Firearms Licensee During Attempted Purchase of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that a grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment charging HOWARD JOSEPH BURCHFIELD, 36 of Leland, NC with two counts of providing a false statement in connection with purchasing a firearm and one count of possession of ammunition as a prohibited person. Each count carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2016 and April 1, 2017, in Shallotte, North Carolina, BURCHFIELD tried to purchase firearms from two federal firearm licensees. BURCHFIELD was required to fill out an ATF 4473 Form, as part of the federal background check, in order to purchase the firearms. On that form, BURCHFIELD checked the box “no” when asked if he had ever been adjudicated as a mental defective or been committed to a mental institution. At the time, BURCHFIELD knew that he had been adjudicated as a mental defective in Colorado in 2013, and had been committed to a mental institution in Florida in 2010. BURCHFIELD was unsuccessful in purchasing the firearms on both occasions. BURCHFIELD again provided this same false written statement in connection with attempting to purchase a firearm on March 2, 2018 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. BURCHFIELD was again unable to purchase the firearm.
The FBI in the Eastern District of North Carolina arrested BURCHFIELD for the above offenses on March 20, 2018, and he has remained in custody pending the outcome of this case.
This case is consistent with Attorney General Jeff Sessions directive to federal prosecutors, issued on March 12, 2018, to swiftly and aggressively prosecute individuals who lie in an attempt to thwart the federal background check system when purchasing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilmington Resident Agency Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Wilmington Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Onslow County Sheriff's Office and Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Peggah B. Wilson is handling the prosecution of this case for the government.
Lebanon Man Sentenced to 24 Years for MethRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Lebanon, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine that was hidden in computer hard drives that were mailed to a neighbor’s residence.
Adam E. Billings, 43, of Lebanon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 24 years and four months in federal prison without parole.
Billings pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2017, to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. He admitted that he had received methamphetamine through the mail 10 times, with quantities ranging from a couple of ounces to a pound. Billings paid a neighbor $100 for allowing the packages to be delivered to his residence.
The investigation began on Jan. 20, 2016, when the Lebanon Post Office received a suspicious package on which a K-9 alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. The next day, two envelopes arrived at the post office, addressed to the same residence. A K-9 again indicated the presence of a controlled substance in both envelopes.
Investigators arranged for a controlled delivery of the envelopes. A resident at the address took possession of the parcels, then took the parcels next door to Billings’s residence. Law enforcement officers searched Billings’s residence and found the two envelopes, which had been emptied, as well as another envelope that contained 110.1 grams of pure methamphetamine. Billings stated that he took the hard drives out of the just-delivered envelopes, removed the methamphetamine from the hard drives, and placed the methamphetamine in the third envelope. In the master bedroom, an officer found a methamphetamine pipe on top of a dresser, a black bag containing a digital scale with visible powder residue on a nightstand and four computer hard drives which had been opened.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group.
Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Miguel Vasquez, 23, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least January of 2017 through July of 2017, Vasquez made deliveries of heroin and fentanyl to customers of a drug organization working out of a residence on Water Street in Lawrence. Customers, including customers from New Hampshire, would call to order drugs and Vasquez and others would drive to locations in Methuen and Salisbury, Massachusetts to deliver the drugs.
Vasquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin and fentanyl. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2018.
“Those who choose to distribute heroin and fentanyl endanger their customers as well as the general public. Maintaining public safety requires that they be prosecuted aggressively,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We work closely each day with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to profit from the sale of these deadly substances.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the Massachusetts State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Lawrence Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald A. Feith.
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Lakeside Gang Member Indicted in Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorney Mark Conover (619) 546-6763, Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Finn (619) 546-7342
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 11, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Documented Lakeside gang member Uriah Odish was indicted by a federal grand jury for selling fentanyl that led to the death of a 25-year-old La Mesa woman, identified in court documents only as T.H., who was found dead in her home on January 23.
“There is a raging opioid epidemic in this country, and we want dealers to be on notice: Every time we have an overdose death, we are going to come looking for you,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “Attorney General Jeff Sessions has directed the Department to use all available criminal and civil tools to combat this deadly epidemic. We are firmly committed to this endeavor and will do everything in our power to stop these tragic losses.”
“By holding dealers accountable for the deaths of overdose victims, we bring justice to loved ones and reaffirm to all those dealing in death that we will not let it go unpunished,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen I. Flowers.
Odish, 28, made an appearance in federal court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin. The defendant declined to seek bond and remains in custody. His next hearing is scheduled for May 4.
Odish is the fourth person since January to be charged in the Southern District of California with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death. The other cases include:
- On March 16, 2018, Corey Green was charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a Fallbrook man. Two days before he was found dead on the floor of his home, he’d told his wife he’d been sober for 100 days. She called 911 but it was too late.
- On March 2, 2018, Kyle Shephard was charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a 25-year-old Marine Corporal at Camp Pendleton. According to the complaint, Shephard distributed fentanyl pills to the Marine Corporal with Shephard acknowledging that the pills could lead to an overdose.
- Max Gaffney was arrested January 29, 2018, and charged with distribution of heroin resulting in death. According to the indictment, Gaffney distributed heroin on February 16, 2017, which resulted in the death of a person identified only as K.R.
According to court records, Odish has numerous arrests and at least one prior drug felony. As a result of his prior felony drug offense, Odish could face a mandatory sentence of life in prison for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
The United States faces the deadliest drug crisis in history. Approximately 64,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2016 – the highest drug death toll and the fastest increase in that death toll in American history. This epidemic is being driven primarily by opioids – prescription painkillers, heroin, and synthetic drugs like fentanyl. For Americans under the age of 50, drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death.
In February, Braverman announced the appointment of a criminal and civil coordinator to implement our strategy to combat opioids. The newly designated Opioid Coordinators will make prosecution of all prescription opioids, heroin and fentanyl a top priority, including civil cases involving illegal diversion and unlawful prescribing of these drugs.
The United States Attorney’s Office is working closely with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and our other federal, state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these cases. Braverman thanked the La Mesa Police Department for its support in this new case.
For those who suffer from addiction, please know there is help. Call the Crisis line at 888-724-7240; it’s always open.
DEFENDANT Case Number 18-CR-1812-BTM
Uriah Odish Age: 28
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 20 years in prison up to life
AGENCY
La Mesa Police Department
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Narcotics Task Force
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
- On March 16, 2018, Corey Green was charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a Fallbrook man. Two days before he was found dead on the floor of his home, he’d told his wife he’d been sober for 100 days. She called 911 but it was too late.
La Familia Michoacán Drug Cartel Leader Sentenced to 43 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DALLAS — “La Familia Michoacán” (LFM) Mexican drug cartel leader, Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, aka “La Minsa,” 48, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade to serve a total of 520 months in federal prison and a $5 million fine for offenses related to his leadership role within LFM. LFM was responsible for trafficking thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine into the United States and delivered to stash locations in the Northern District of Texas and elsewhere. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Rueda-Medina pleaded guilty in September 2017 to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Judge Kinkeade sentenced Rueda-Medina to 520 months in federal prison on the drug conviction and 240 months in federal prison on the money laundering conviction, to run concurrently. Rueda-Medina was arrested in Michoacán, Mexico on July 11, 2009, and was extradited to the United States on January 27, 2017.
“Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of our United States law enforcement team and the critical assistance and sacrifice of our Mexican counterparts, a notorious drug cartel leader is where he should be --behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “My office will continue to devote our time, energy, focus and expertise to helping disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations with our law enforcement partners in the United States and abroad to stem the flow of deadly drugs into our country and stop the violence inflicted by people like Rueda-Medina.”
“High ranking cartel figures operating in the North Texas area will not be tolerated,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, Clyde E. Shelley Jr. “The DEA and the US Attorney’s Office are working around the clock to combat the massive amount of drugs brought into the United States as a result of the direct actions of Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, aka “La Minsa,” and the continuing threat posed to our communities by the remnants of the LFM.”
On February 25, 2010, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Rueda-Medina under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his involvement in drug trafficking. The Kingpin Act blocks all property and interests in property, subject to U.S. jurisdiction, owned or controlled by significant foreign narcotics traffickers, as identified by the President. The Act also prohibits U.S. citizens and companies from doing any kind of business activity with Rueda-Medina, and it virtually froze all of his assets in the United States.
According to plea documents, from September 2007 through October 21, 2009, Rueda-Medina held a leadership position within LFM, a Mexican drug cartel and organized crime syndicate based in the Mexican State of Michoacán. LFM was responsible for trafficking methamphetamine into the United States through border checkpoints near Laredo, Texas and Tijuana, Mexico.
Rueda-Medina was arrested on July 11, 2009, by Mexican Law Enforcement. After his arrest, members of LFM attempted to free him, and although unsuccessful, a shootout ensued through the streets of Morelia, Michoacan. LFM operatives subsequently attacked several other locations and Federal Police Officers. In response, law enforcement deployed personnel to various locations throughout the state of Michoacan. On July 13, 2009, a group of 12 officers were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered. A note found at the scene where the bodies were dumped stated “Vengan por otro, los estamos esperando” (“Come for another, we are waiting for you”). At least four other officers and two Mexican Marines were killed by LFM operatives responding to the arrest of Arnoldo Rueda-Medina. Several others were wounded.
According to plea documents, LFM used a sophisticated network of individuals in Mexico and the United States to distribute the methamphetamine in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and to collect proceeds from the methamphetamine sales. The drug proceeds that were collected were delivered to cartel members or associates in Mexico either by way of bulk cash smuggling in vehicles utilized by LFM couriers or through money remitters such as Western Union.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dallas Police Department, Garland Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) provided special assistance. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs also assisted in the extradition of the defendant to the United States to face charges. The Government of Mexico assisted in the investigation and in securing the extradition of Rueda-Medina to the United States.
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
OCDEFT and Narcotics Section Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert and Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case.
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Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owners and Managers of Oswego-Area Rental PropertiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that Douglas S. Waterbury, a residential property owner and landlord in the Oswego, New York, area, subjected female tenants and potential tenants to egregious sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Along with Douglas Waterbury, the Department’s complaint names his wife and business partner, Carol A. Waterbury, and two residential property companies, Ontario Realty Incorporated and E&A Management Co., as defendants.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleges that since at least 1990, Douglas Waterbury has sexually harassed numerous women who have lived in or inquired about the defendants’ residential rental properties. The suit alleges that Waterbury’s conduct has included demanding or pressuring female tenants and potential tenants to engage in sex acts with him in order to obtain or keep rental housing; subjecting female tenants and potential tenants to unwelcome sexual contact and groping; offering to grant tangible housing benefits, such as reduced rent or deposit payments, in exchange for sex acts; refusing needed maintenance services or otherwise taking adverse housing actions against female tenants who refused his harassment; and making unwelcome sexual comments and advances. The conduct alleged in this complaint is egregious, ranging from demands to exchange sex for rent, to unwanted sexual encounters.
“Subjecting tenants and those looking for housing to harassment and demands for sex is unacceptable,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Combatting sexual harassment in housing is among the Department’s top priorities. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act this month, the Civil Rights Division stresses its commitment to tackling this scourge, which strikes at the heart of access to fair housing, free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination.”
“The complaint alleges severe, pervasive sexual harassment, including pressure to engage in sexual activity to obtain or keep rental housing and unwelcome sexual contact with actual and prospective female tenants,” said Grant C. Jaquith, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “We are committed to the full and fair application of the Fair Housing Act to give meaning to its protection of renters from unlawful discrimination. Housing cannot be conditioned on submission to sexual harassment.”
In October, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative specifically seeks to increase the Department’s efforts to protect individuals from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners.
The Justice Department has filed or settled nine sexual harassment cases and has recovered over $1.6 million for victims of sexual harassment in housing since January 20, 2017.
Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate the victims, civil penalties, and a court order barring future discrimination. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct. The allegations must be proven in federal court.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or operated by Douglas Waterbury, Carol Waterbury, Ontario Realty, Incorporated, or E&A Management Co., or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line, by calling 1-800-896-7743, pressing 1 to continue in English, and selecting mailbox 92 to leave a message.
Individuals can also report sexual harassment and other forms of housing discrimination by calling the phone number above and leaving a message in the general mailbox, or by e-mailing the Justice Department at [email protected].
Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owners and Managers of New York Rental PropertiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that Douglas S. Waterbury, a residential property owner and landlord in the Oswego, New York, area subjected female tenants and potential tenants to egregious sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Along with Douglas Waterbury, the Department’s complaint names his wife and business partner, Carol A. Waterbury, and two residential property companies, Ontario Realty Inc. and E&A Management Co., as defendants.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleges that since at least 1990, Douglas Waterbury has sexually harassed numerous women who have lived in or inquired about the defendants’ residential rental properties. The suit alleges that Waterbury’s conduct has included demanding or pressuring female tenants and potential tenants to engage in sex acts with him in order to obtain or keep rental housing; subjecting female tenants and potential tenants to unwelcome sexual contact and groping; offering to grant tangible housing benefits, such as reduced rent or deposit payments, in exchange for sex acts; refusing needed maintenance services or otherwise taking adverse housing actions against female tenants who refused his harassment; and making unwelcome sexual comments and advances. The conduct alleged in this complaint is egregious, ranging from demands to exchange sex for rent, to unwanted sexual encounters.
“Subjecting tenants and those looking for housing to harassment and demands for sex is unacceptable,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Combatting sexual harassment in housing is among the Department’s top priorities. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act this month, the Civil Rights Division stresses its commitment to tackling this scourge, which strikes at the heart of access to fair housing, free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination.”
“The complaint alleges severe, pervasive sexual harassment, including pressure to engage in sexual activity to obtain or keep rental housing and unwelcome sexual contact with actual and prospective female tenants,” said Grant C. Jaquith, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “We are committed to the full and fair application of the Fair Housing Act to give meaning to its protection of renters from unlawful discrimination. Housing cannot be conditioned on submission to sexual harassment.”
In October, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative specifically seeks to increase the Department’s efforts to protect individuals from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, security guards, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners.
The Justice Department has filed or settled nine sexual harassment cases and has recovered over $1.6 million for victims of sexual harassment in housing since Jan. 20, 2017.
Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate the victims, civil penalties, and a court order barring future discrimination. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct. The allegations must be proven in federal court.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or operated by Douglas Waterbury, Carol Waterbury, Ontario Realty Inc., or E&A Management Co., or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line, by calling 1-800-896-7743, pressing 1 to continue in English, and selecting mailbox 92 to leave a message.
Individuals can also report sexual harassment and other forms of housing discrimination by calling the phone number above and leaving a message in the general mailbox, or by e-mailing the Justice Department at [email protected].
Juneau Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Mack Arthur Parker, 52, of Juneau, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on June 25, 2017, in Juneau, Parker was found unconscious behind the wheel of a running vehicle, with the window down and blocking traffic. When the officer woke Parker, the officer saw Parker immediately reach under his leg after the vehicle lurched forward. The officer stuck his head in the window and observed that Parker was reaching for a pistol tucked under his leg. The officer reached in the vehicle and secured the firearm, which had a loaded magazine and round in the chamber. Parker was also in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, a glass pipe, and a digital scale.
Parker had previously been convicted in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska on Feb. 11, 2001, for Robbery in the First Degree. As someone convicted of a felony, Parker was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Juneau Police Department (“JPD”) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt.
Jamaican man admits to scamming Americans with lottery scamRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Zicko Peterkin, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, has admitted to operating a lottery scam to defraud American citizens, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Peterkin, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.” As a part of that conspiracy, Peterkin and others made unsolicited phone calls and emails to hundreds of residents in the United States, making false claims that the recipients had won a multi-million dollar lottery prize and a Mercedes Benz vehicle. Peterkin and co-conspirators told victims that, to receive these prizes, they had to send money to cover “processing fees.” Peterkin also sent images of forged cashier’s checks to the recipients, showing the intended target as the payee of the check. In response, victims wired at least $250,000 to Peterkin and his co-conspirators. The crime occurred from September 2008 to July 2011 in the Northern District of West Virginia and other locations across the country.
Peterkin faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for the Tax Administration.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Commercial Driver’s License FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. –Andre Cooper, 39, of Jackson, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to a one-count federal information charging him with making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Marlies Gonzalez with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General Regional S.
Cooper previously worked for a company that provided training and certification to individuals seeking commercial driver’s licenses ("CDLs"). His employment only authorized certification to those that were students of the company. However, Cooper provided paperwork to those who wanted a CDL that were not students of his employer. He prepared paperwork representing that the applicant had taken the road skills test, when in fact they had not.
The fraudulent paperwork was given to individuals seeking to obtain a CDL in exchange for payment to Cooper. Such fraudulent paperwork would be presented by these individuals to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety in order to secure a commercial driver’s license. A review of the commercial drivers’ paperwork in Mississippi showed that some of the applicants could not have achieved the results on the paperwork. Some Commercial Driver’s License holders were interviewed and said they had never taken the test and just paid Cooper for the paperwork.
Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Reeves on June 21, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Chalk.
Illegal Alien Admits Re-entering U.S. Without PermissionRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A citizen of Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown on his conviction of re-entry of an illegal alien, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Yovani Escalante-Escalante, 32, of Blair County, Pa., pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on Oct. 12, 2017, Escalante-Escalante, an alien who had been deported from the United States on May 13, 2009 was found in Blair County, Pa. He had unlawfully reentered this Country without receiving permission to do so from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for Aug. 14, 2018, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Escalante-Escalante.
Hermosa Man Charged with Postal CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Hermosa, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Theft of Mail, Access Device Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Tobin Nettifee, age 39, was charged on March 20, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on April 9, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Nettifee stealing mail from a mailbox and using another person’s identity to obtain credit cards. The charges are merely an accusation and Nettifee is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspector. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Nettifee was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Hardin County EMS Enters Settlement with United States to Resolve an American with Disabilities ComplaintRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced the settlement agreement with Hardin County Emergency Medical Services (HCEMS), on March 28, 2018, to resolve a complaint, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), regarding the provision of emergency medical services to qualified individuals with disabilities, including individuals using service animals.
The complaint alleged that emergency medical technicians and/or paramedics of Hardin County EMS failed to modify its policies and procedures to permit use of a service animal inside an ambulance providing emergency medical transportation services, in March of 2014 and again in November of 2016. Specifically, the service animal was a dog, trained to do work and perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with the disability.
Under the agreement, within 60 days HCEMS will adopt and publish grievance procedures for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints against HCEMS; will not discriminate against a person with a disability in violation of Title II of the ADA; will propose and implement a two-hour training program for all employees who have contact with the public on the requirements of the ADA, including reasonable modifications for people with disabilities who use a service animal.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R.C. Malloy represented the United States. HCEMS conducted an independent investigation of the allegations contained in the complaint and cooperated fully in the United States’ investigation and received assistance from the Hardin County Attorney in resolving this matter.
The United States Attorney’s Office in coordination with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice vigorously enforces federal civil rights laws throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These laws prohibit discrimination, protect the constitutional rights of residents, and affirm equal opportunity for all. The United States Attorney’s Office enforces civil rights through civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, and, in all cases, represents the interest of the United States.
For information about the civil rights laws enforced by the United States Attorney’s Office, please click on the following links:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws that prohibit disability discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA) and other laws that prohibit discrimination in schools.
Title II of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin in places of public accommodation.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin by programs that receive federal financial assistance.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by state and local government employers.
The anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA)
The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA)
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and other laws that prohibit law enforcement misconduct.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Hardin County EMS Enters Settlement with United States to Resolve an American with Disabilities ComplaintRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced the settlement agreement with Hardin County Emergency Medical Services (HCEMS), on March 28, 2018, to resolve a complaint, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), regarding the provision of emergency medical services to qualified individuals with disabilities, including individuals using service animals.
The complaint alleged that emergency medical technicians and/or paramedics of Hardin County EMS failed to modify its policies and procedures to permit use of a service animal inside an ambulance providing emergency medical transportation services, in March of 2014 and again in November of 2016. Specifically, the service animal was a dog, trained to do work and perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with the disability.
Under the agreement, within 60 days HCEMS will adopt and publish grievance procedures for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints against HCEMS; will not discriminate against a person with a disability in violation of Title II of the ADA; will propose and implement a two-hour training program for all employees who have contact with the public on the requirements of the ADA, including reasonable modifications for people with disabilities who use a service animal.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R.C. Malloy represented the United States. HCEMS conducted an independent investigation of the allegations contained in the complaint and cooperated fully in the United States’ investigation and received assistance from the Hardin County Attorney in resolving this matter.
The United States Attorney’s Office in coordination with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice vigorously enforces federal civil rights laws throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These laws prohibit discrimination, protect the constitutional rights of residents, and affirm equal opportunity for all. The United States Attorney’s Office enforces civil rights through civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, and, in all cases, represents the interest of the United States.
For information about the civil rights laws enforced by the United States Attorney’s Office, please click on the following links:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws that prohibit disability discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA) and other laws that prohibit discrimination in schools.
Title II of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin in places of public accommodation.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin by programs that receive federal financial assistance.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion by state and local government employers.
The anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA)
The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA)
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and other laws that prohibit law enforcement misconduct.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act
hardin_settlement_agreement_0.pdfGuatemalan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who unlawfully used fraudulent identification documents was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Tomas Perez-Cobo, age 34, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 31, 2018, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of identification documents.
At the guilty plea, Perez-Cobo, an illegal alien, admitted that on August 13, 2017, he used a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card when completing employment forms to obtain a job in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The social security account number and the immigration number on the cards used by Perez-Cobo were not his. Earlier that year, on January 15, 2017, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Perez-Cobo and his minor child in Texas after they illegally entered the United States. On January 16, 2017, Lopez-Morales was released pending immigration proceedings.
Perez-Cobo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Perez-Cobo was sentenced to 98 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Perez-Cobo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-101-LTS.
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Georgia Man Sentenced in International Parental Kidnapping CaseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced today that Divett Lidrell Mays, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for kidnapping his daughter and fleeing to Egypt. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. also sentenced Mays to three years of supervised release after he is released from prison.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on May 26, 2011, Mays picked up his seven-year-old daughter, K.M., from her mother’s Charlotte home for a custodial visit. Mays and K.M.’s mother had agreed that he could take her to Atlanta for the weekend and that he would return K.M. to Charlotte on either May 29 or 30, 2011. According to court records, Mays did not return K.M. to Charlotte as agreed. Instead, without the permission or knowledge of K.M.’s mother, Mays purchased plane tickets and flew with K.M. to Egypt.
Court records show that K.M. and Mays departed the United States on May 30, 2011, and arrived in Egypt on June 1, 2011. Mays retained K.M in Egypt until December 2014, when she was reunited with her mother through an FBI/U.S. State Department ruse and returned to the United States. Around May 2017, Egyptian authorities realized that Mays, a U.S. citizen, had no immigration status in Egypt and that he had outstanding charges in the U.S., so they facilitated Mays’ removal to the United States.
According to court records, in order for K.M. to travel from the U.S. to Egypt, she needed a passport, which Mays obtained by fraud. Over the course of the investigation, it was determined that on August 17, 2010, Mays went to a U.S. Post Office in Fulton County, Georgia, and submitted a signed and notarized two-parent consent form along with the passport application for K.M. The investigation further revealed that the application contained false information and a forged signature for K.M.’s mother on the parental consent form. The passport was later issued, and Mays used the fraudulently obtained passport to transport K.M. to Egypt. K.M.’s mother did not give consent for Mays to obtain a passport for K.M.
Mays is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray commended the FBI for their work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Former Tax Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former Las Vegas tax preparer was charged in federal court today with 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false federal income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation.
Martha L. Williams, 40, of Las Vegas, prepared taxes for customers at Across the Board Management Company, a business in Las Vegas. She made her initial appearance today before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe. A jury trial is set for June 19, 2018.
The indictment alleges Williams knowingly prepared fraudulent Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, and accompanying Schedules A or C, for individuals during tax years 2011, 2012, and 2013. As a result, individuals fraudulently paid less income tax owed and they received inflated tax refunds. The approximate loss is $146,542.
If convicted, Williams faces the statutory maximum of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared L. Grimmer is prosecuting the case.
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Former Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to 63 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A former Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for one count of Hobbs Act extortion; one count of receipt of a bribe by a government agent and one count of solicitation to tamper with a witness. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
After ten days of trial in December 2017 before U.S. Senior District Judge Samuel H. Mays, a federal jury convicted Jeremy Drewery of attempting to extort thousands of dollars from an alleged drug dealer in August of 2016. Drewery was also convicted of soliciting a person to tamper with the witness in the extortion case – thereby obstructing justice.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by law enforcement officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions. We must root out, expose, and hold accountable those officials who violate the public trust by corrupt acts of extortion, bribery, and witness tampering, and this sentence does just that."
According to information presented in court, Drewery was assigned to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Division at the time of these events, but has since been terminated from the department. The evidence at trial showed that after executing a search warrant on the home of an alleged drug dealer, Drewery demanded money from the man. In exchange, Drewery would not institute a criminal case on the man. The alleged drug dealer contacted the FBI, which began an investigation. Over the course of three weeks, Drewery met with the alleged drug dealer and received a total of $8,000. Each of the meetings and numerous phone calls between Drewery and the alleged drug dealer were recorded.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Floyd Bonner said, "It is always a sad day when someone who was sworn to uphold the law is convicted of violating the law. This outcome is proof that no one is above the law. The Sheriff’s Office is proud to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure equal justice for all."
The evidence at trial showed that, after Drewery’s arrest on the attempted extortion, he paid a confidential informant $2,000 to solicit a person to kill the alleged drug dealer.
"When law enforcement officers break the law they swear to uphold, they undermine the trust and confidence the citizens have that law enforcement will serve and protect them," said Michael T. Gavin, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "This sentence will send a strong message to those who would stray from their mission to uphold and enforce the law, that the FBI will aggressively identify, investigate, and bring you to justice."
At today’s sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor requested an enhanced sentence for the defendant, describing the offense as "an egregious violation of the public’s trust in law enforcement." Judge Mays sentenced Drewery to 63 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release to begin after his period of incarceration.
This case was investigated by the Tarnished Badge Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan M. Taylor and Mark Erskine prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Former Resident of Las Vegas, N.M., Sentenced to Four Years for Synthetic Cannabinoid Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ray L. Smith, 52, a former resident of Las Vegas, N.M., was sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 48 months of imprisonment for his conviction on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Smith will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. Smith also was ordered to forfeit to the United States $1,062,592 in cash, five properties located in New Mexico and Arizona, and nine vehicles. He also was ordered to pay $5,000 in community restitution and a $5,000 fine.
Smith and co-defendant Tamara Phillips, 47, of Kingman, Ariz., were arrested by the DEA in Feb. 2016, and charged in a four-count indictment that was filed in Feb. 2016, alleging drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. The indictment subsequently was superseded in May 2017, and charged Smith and Phillips with conspiring to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, maintaining premises for the purpose of distributing synthetic cannabinoids, and participating in a conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. According to the superseding indictment, between Feb. 2010 and Feb. 2016, Smith and Phillips participated in a conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids from three businesses in New Mexico and Arizona owned by Smith that were jointly managed by Smith and Phillips
The superseding indictment alleged that Smith and Phillips used the three businesses – “Smokin Body Jewelry” stores located in Las Vegas, Raton and Kingman – to sell synthetic cannabinoids. Employees at the stores allegedly sold synthetic cannabinoids to customers while acting at the direction of Smith and Phillips. The superseding indictment included information about two alleged drug transactions occurring on Sept. 29, 2015; the first involved the sale of $1,687.46 of synthetic cannabinoids by an employee at the Raton store, and the second involved the sale of $1,556.91 of synthetic cannabinoids by an employee at the Las Vegas store. The superseding indictment included forfeiture allegations seeking forfeiture of property and other assets constituting the proceeds of the drug trafficking offenses charged in the superseding indictment or that were used to facilitate those crimes including seven parcels of real property located in New Mexico and Arizona, funds in 20 bank accounts, a safety deposit box, and four vehicles.
During law enforcement operations executed on Feb. 18, 2016, law enforcement agents and officers seized 18 bank accounts, a safety deposit box and the eight parcels of real property identified in the indictment. They also executed six search warrants, including search warrants for each of the three stores, a second commercial property in Kingman, and two residences. The estimated aggregate value of the real property, currency and other assets seized on Feb. 18, 2016, exceeded $2.3 million, including approximately $380,000 in cash. The agents and officers also seized approximately 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) of precursor chemicals allegedly shipped from China in the primary residence of Smith and Phillips. In addition, approximately 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of suspected synthetic cannabinoids with a street value of $250,000 were seized from the three stores and the residence of Smith and Phillips.
On Nov. 2, 2017, Smith pled guilty to four counts of the superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In entering the guilty plea, Smith acknowledged that from Feb. 2010 through Feb. 2016, he was the founder, owner and proprietor of “Smokin’ Body Jewelry,” which operated at various times from 2010 through 2016 in New Mexico and Arizona. Smith admitted that during that timeframe, he conspired to sell large quantities of synthetic cannabinoids to the general public.
Smith further admitted that synthetic cannabinoids were “Smokin Body Jewelry’s” best-selling item, and that he engaged in the routine practice of mixing, transferring and spreading deposits throughout personal and business bank accounts in order to conceal the source of his revenue as primarily derived from the unlawful sale of synthetic cannabinoids. Smith admitted he used revenue from the sale of synthetic cannabinoids to pay for his personal salary and the salaries of store employees, and to purchase several parcels of land, property and vehicles.
Phillips has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the superseding indictment and is scheduled for trial in May 2018. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the DEA’s offices in Albuquerque, N.M., and Flagstaff, Lake Havasu and Yuma, Ariz., with assistance from the Raton Police Department and the Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shaheen P. Torgoley and Joel R. Meyers are prosecuting the case.
The synthetic cannabinoids charged in the indictment are commonly referred to as “spice.” According to the DEA, over the past several years, there has been a growing use of synthetic cannabinoids. Smoke-able herbal blends marketed as being “legal” and providing a marijuana-like high have become increasingly popular because they are easily available and, in many cases, more potent and dangerous than marijuana. These products consist of plant material that has been coated with dangerous psychoactive compounds that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. These substances, however, have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process. Synthetic cannabinoids often are labeled as incense to mask their intended purpose.
Former Financial Secretary for a United Steelworkers Local Sentenced for Embezzling Union FundsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Washington County resident was sentenced in federal court to three years’ probation, the first six months of which is to be served on home detention, and to pay a $2,500 fine upon her conviction of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Marianne Rodacy, 64, of Charleroi, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court at the time of the guilty plea proceeding, Rodacy was formerly the Financial/Recording Secretary of United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, Local 10-53-G, and from October 1, 2012 to June 24, 2015, she embezzled union funds totaling $21,539.93 for her personal use. In addition to a three-year term of probation and a $2,500 fine, Judge Bissoon ordered that Rodacy be barred from working for a labor union for 13 years. At the time of sentencing, Rodacy had already paid full restitution to the union for the misappropriated funds.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Marianne Rodacy.
Florida Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Operating Oak Park Pill MillRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in federal prison for writing illegal prescriptions for pain killers and for laundering the proceeds of his crimes, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon, Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Agent in Charge Manny Muriel, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.
Sentenced was Boris Zigmond, 52. The sentencing took place before U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh in Detroit. Judge Steeh revoked Zigmond’s bond and ordered him into custody.
According to court records, Boris Zigmond operated a clinic which was a front for a scheme to distribute medically unnecessary prescriptions for the most powerful painful killers. Zigmond admitted that he received $500 from people seeking to obtain medically unnecessary prescriptions between 2013 and 2015. He further admitted that he attempted to conceal more than $375,000 in cash from law enforcement.
As part of his sentence, Zigmond was ordered to forfeit $2,221,000 in cash seized during the investigation.
Eight other individuals, including two physicians, Jennifer Franklin and Carlos Godoy, have already been sentenced for prescribing the unnecessary prescription in exchange for $100 per patient. A ninth individual, Rodney Knight, is awaiting sentencing following his guilty plea for participating in the drug conspiracy and for illegally possessing an AK-47 after having previously been convicted of a felony.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Plancon stated, “The DEA has worked cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies to successfully target Boris Zigmond. We have sent a clear message that we have “zero tolerance” for drug dealers and the devastation that they bring to our community. This is yet another example of our resolve to dismantle criminal organizations, especially those who are contributing to the opioid abuse epidemic.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Manny Muriel said, “A physician takes a Hippocratic Oath to uphold ethical standards to help the sick. Boris Zigmond let greed take priority over that oath and in doing so, contributed to the opioid epidemic in Michigan. Let this sentence be a reminder to all doctors that IRS-CI and its partners will continue to work to identify those who look to gain financial reward from medically unnecessary prescriptions.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne F. Pratt and Philip A. Ross.
Florida Man Charged with Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on April 10, 2018, John Golom, age 52, of Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on sex trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that between 2014 and February 1, 2018, Golom trafficked two women as prostitutes through force, threat, and coercion in Florida and Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroe County Detectives Office, Stroud Regional Police Department, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is a life term of imprisonment, 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.
This case was brought as 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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Federal Inmate Admits Possessing Hundreds of Images and Videos of Child Sexual Abuse While in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Plain City, Ohio, man today admitted possessing hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse while imprisoned at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix for a previous offense involving the receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jordan T. Allen, 31, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Allen admitted that he possessed a micro SD Card containing 577 images and 340 videos of children being sexually abused, including videos of sadistic and masochistic sexual conduct involving infants and toddlers. In connection with his plea, Allen also admitted that he distributed child pornography to another inmate.
Allen and seven other inmates were arrested in April 2017 and February 2018 following an FBI investigation involving multiple covert recordings and several cooperating inmates. The investigation revealed that Allen and other inmates utilized contraband cellphones, micro SD cards, and access to the internet to obtain, view, and distribute child pornography within the prison. A co-defendant organized and helped facilitate this criminal activity by maintaining cloud accounts that were used as repositories for child pornography.
At sentencing, Allen faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2018.
Charges remain pending against Brian J. McKay, 47, of Brookhaven, Pennsylvania; Christopher D. Roffler, 30, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Jacob S. Good, 26, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; William H. Noble, 52, of Lowell, Massachusetts; and Charles Wesley Bush, 38, of Knoxville, Tennessee, all of whom were serving sentences for prior child pornography offenses while committing the alleged crimes in this case. The pending charges and allegations are merely accusations, and these defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two other inmates – Erik M. Smith, 36, of Iron Mountain, Michigan, and Anthony C. Jeffries, 32, of Orange, Virginia – have since pleaded guilty to informations charging them each with one count of possession of child pornography. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2018. Jeffries’ sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked officials of the Bureau of Prisons at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni and Alyson M. Oswald of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: Justin T. Lougry Esq., Camden
Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:
Pelzer Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges. Ronnie Beauford Eugene Gilmer, Jr., age 53, of Pelzer, South Carolina, was charged in a six-count indictment with possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person previously convicted of a felony and a criminal domestic violence crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and (g)(9); possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A); and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). The maximum penalty Gilmer could face is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or life imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.
Anderson Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Explosive Charges. Wesley Dallas Ayers, age 27, of Anderson, South Carolina, was charged in a twelve-count indictment with transportation of explosive materials with the intent to injure, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(d); possession and use of destructive devices during the commission of a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i), 924(c)(1)(A)(ii), 924(c)(1)(A)(iii), 924(c)(1)(B)(ii), 924(c)(1)(C)(ii), and 924(c)(3)(A); use of a destructive device during the commission of a felony, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(h)(1) and (2); and possession of a firearm that was not registered to him in the NTRTF, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d), and 5871. The maximum penalty Ayers could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or life imprisonment. This case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.
Rural Mail Carrier Indicted on Mail Theft. Tony T. Maclin, age 44, of Greer, South Carolina, was charged in a seven-count indictment with theft of mail matter by officer or employee, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. The maximum penalty Maclin could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr. of the Greenville office for prosecution.
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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Father and Son Plead Guilty in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Robert S. Khuzami, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced that HERZEL MEIRI and AMIR MEIRI pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud before the U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, in connection with their scheme to fraudulently induce distressed homeowners to sell their homes for little or no consideration to a company they owned and controlled. The defendants will be sentenced by Judge Ramos on July 27, 2018.
According to allegations in the contained documents filed in federal court, including the Indictment and Complaint:
From 2013 to 2015, HERZEL MEIRI and AMIR MEIRI defrauded distressed homeowners throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The MEIRIs and others falsely represented to these homeowners – some of whom were elderly or in poor health – that they could assist them with a loan modification or similar relief from foreclosure that could result in the homeowners saving their homes. But rather than actually assisting these homeowners, the defendants deceived them into selling their homes for less than the homes’ actual values to Launch Development LLC (“Launch Development”), a for-profit company owned and controlled by the MEIRIs.
Specifically, the MEIRIs’ direction fraudulently induced the homeowners to engage in a type of short sale in which the homeowner would sell the property to Launch Development. The MEIRIs and their conspirators falsely assured the homeowners that their homes would be returned to them after a short period, and that they could remain in their homes throughout the entire process. At the closing that followed, homeowners were encouraged to sign fraudulent documents, that unbeknownst to the homeowners transferred the homes Launch Development. Homeowners often were then forced to vacate their homes, and in many cases had no other place to live. Launch Development resold many of the homes, which were purchased at fraudulently deflated prices, for an enormous profit.
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HERZEL MEIRI, 64, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. He also consented to forfeit $6,469,291.41, as well as 31 real properties, four bank accounts, and one escrow account, as proceeds traceable to the offense.
AMIR MEIRI, 35, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and maximum fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. He also consented to forfeit the same 31 real properties, four bank accounts, and one escrow account, as proceeds traceable to the offense.
Mr. Khuzami praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and the New York State Department of Financial Services for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.
The prosecution of this case is being overseen by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Thomas and Sheb Swett are in charge of the case.
Essex County, New Jersey, Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery and CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 216 months in prison for robbing a Newark jewelry store and then stealing a car at gunpoint immediately afterwards, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Orlando Nieves-Velez, 30, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an indictment charging him with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 1, 2016, Nieves-Velez robbed a jewelry store in Newark while brandishing a firearm. During the robbery, Nieves-Velez pressed a gun to the back of an employee’s neck and threatened to shoot him if the other employees didn’t give him jewelry.
After leaving the store with more than $20,000 in jewelry, Nieves-Velez stepped in front of a 2006 Nissan Altima. Nieves-Velez pointed his gun at the driver and ordered the driver out of the car. Nieves-Velez fired his gun into the air before fleeing in the Altima.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Nieves-Velez to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $95,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark, the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos in Newark, and the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense Counsel: Kevin Carlucci Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
El Paso Area Doctor Indicted on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
In El Paso, a local physician faces federal drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve A. Borak, El Paso Division.
A twelve–count federal grand jury indictment returned last week charges 66–year-old Dr. Thomas Glenn Easter, II, and his co-defendant, 28-year-old Elizabeth Lightfoot of El Paso, with two counts of conspiracy to distribute Xanax and other controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice. Dr. Easter is charged with an additional ten counts of distributing Xanax and other controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice. Authorities allege that Dr. Easter, with assistance from Ms. Lightfoot, was responsible for doling out numerous prescriptions involving a variety of medications in exchange for favors.
“Prescription drug abuse has become increasingly prevalent in the community,” stated United States Attorney John F. Bash. “We are going to crack down hard on licensed medical professionals who violate federal law — not to mention their professional obligations — in illegally dispensing controlled substances.”
Upon conviction, each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison. Both defendants are currently out on bond.
“Dr. Thomas Glenn Easter, II, and his co-defendant Elizabeth Lightfoot contributed to the controlled substance abuse epidemic plaguing our society,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Borak. “Their conduct put lives at risk and won’t be tolerated. DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who seek to perpetuate and profit from the diversion of prescription drugs.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad in El Paso along with Texas Department of Public Safety conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Rose Whyte is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Corpus Man Sent to Federal Prison for Online Solicitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of Corpus Christi has been ordered to prison following his conviction of two counts of online solicitation of minors and two counts of transfer of obscene material to minors, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury deliberated for approximately 20 minutes following less than two days of trial before convicting Spencer Salcedo on Jan. 9, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Salcedo a total 168-month sentence. Salcedo was further ordered to serve five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Salcedo will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Salcedo was communicating with a person he believed was the mother of two minor female children - ages 14 and 11. In reality, he was actually talking to an undercover police officer. During the course of the communications, he made arrangements to meet and engage in sexual activity with the mother’s children. Salcedo also sent sexually explicit photographs through text messages intended for the children.
He was apprehended as he arrived at the designated meeting place. At the time of his arrest, Salcedo had condoms with him and candy for the children.
At trial, the jury heard from an agent who testified that Salcedo gave a conflicting statement as to why he showed up to the meeting location.
Previously released on bond, Salcedo was remanded to custody following the verdict where he will remain 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 the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation as part of Operation Hidden Predator, a joint investigation targeting individuals involved in online solicitation of minors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez and Jeff S. Miller prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Nine Years for RobberiesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Seth J. Blewitt, 30, of Oakville, Connecticut was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release for bank robbery and armed Hobbs Act robbery. The Hobbs Act makes it a crime to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery. The charges arose from the robberies of a TD Bank branch and a Dollar Tree store. The defendant pleaded guilty on November 30, 2017.
Court records reveal that on May 28, 2017, the defendant robbed a TD Bank branch in Bangor. He entered the bank, approached a teller, and said, “I’m actually robbing you. I want all of your money, no dye packs or GPS trackers.” He was wearing a black knit hat, sunglasses, gloves, and a plaid shirt. The teller complied and the defendant absconded with a bag of cash.
The next day, the defendant robbed the Dollar Tree store in Bangor with a shotgun. He was wearing a mask and sunglasses and he demanded that a cashier open the register. When the cashier said that she could not open the register, he struck the register with the shotgun. The cashier yelled for the manager. The manager opened the register and gave cash to the defendant who absconded with it.
The defendant’s wife, Cara Blewitt, served as the getaway driver for both robberies. Officers from the Bangor Police Department arrested the Blewitts within minutes of the Dollar Tree robbery. On March 26, 2018, Cara Blewitt was sentenced to 33 months for aiding and abetting the robberies.
The investigation was conducted by the Bangor Police Department; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Clarksburg woman admits to her role in a drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kamesha Sherrail Claypool, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to her role in a drug distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Claypool, age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin” and one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of the Controlled Substance Analogue Cyclopropylfentanyl.” Claypool admitted to selling the heroin and cyclopropylfentanyl in August 2017 in Harrison County.
Claypool faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,0000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.Clairton Woman Allowed Her Home to be Used for Her Brother’s Drug Trafficking ActivityRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to maintaining a drug-involved premises, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Jalea Carter, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of using or maintaining a drug-involved location, between March and June 2017, as a place for the storage, packaging and distribution of narcotics. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Carter occupied the residence located at 804 Third Street, Clairton, Pennsylvania, and made her residence available for her brother, codefendant Skyler Carter, to store and distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. In connection with the guilty plea, Carter acknowledged her responsibility for the intended distribution of the 4.5 grams of heroin seized by federal agents from her home on June 28, 2017. She is the eleventh of 21 defendants charged in the case to enter a plea of guilty.
Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Carter remains on bond pending the sentencing hearing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Carencro man sentenced to 7 years in prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Carencro man was sentenced last week to 84 months in prison for possessing child pornography on his computer.
Michael DeBlanc, 57, of Carencro, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, on one count of possession of child pornography. He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and was ordered to register as a sex offender. According to the July 14, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement officers identified DeBlanc as possessing child pornography in November of 2016. DeBlanc had been trafficking child pornography by sharing the material online. Agents downloaded 33 videos from DeBlanc’s computer remotely using file sharing programs. During a later search of his residence, agents found child pornography on his computer’s hard drive. During an interview with agents, DeBlanc admitted to downloading child pornography.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Alexandria FBI office number is (318) 443-5097.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.
Career Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Fredericksburg man was sentenced today to 16 1/2 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
According to court documents, Marcellus White, 31, was under surveillance for suspicion of drug trafficking when, on April 13, 2017, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on his vehicle. During the traffic stop, a narcotic canine alerted to the odor of narcotics in the car, leading law enforcement to find White in possession of over $7,000 in cash. Subsequently, law enforcement learned that just prior to the traffic stop, White delivered six ounces of cocaine to a location in Woodbridge, and White admitted that the cash on his person were proceeds from narcotics sales. Law enforcement then performed a search of White’s home and found another $36,000 in cash, more than 600 grams of marijuana, and 500 grams of cocaine.
Due to White’s prior criminal convictions for trafficking cocaine, the sentencing court found him to be a “Career Offender” under the federal sentencing guidelines.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and Roger L. Harris, Spotsylvania County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Fredericksburg FBI Narcotics Task Force, which includes DEA, FBI, Department of the Treasury, Virginia State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and Fredericksburg Police Department.
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. 3:17-cr-147.
Canadian Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Thousands of Dollars at the Peace BridgeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Liliya Dzyuba, 42, a Ukraine National and citizen of Canada, pleaded guilty to bulk cash smuggling before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on January 25, 2018, the defendant attempted to enter the United States from Canada at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. During her primary inspection, Dzyuba stated that she was traveling with $5,000 in U.S. Currency. The defendant signed the CBP Customs Declaration Form indicating that she was not carrying over $10,000. During a secondary inspection, CBP Officers told Dzyuba that she was going to be patted down and was asked again if she had any additional money on her. The defendant then admitted that she was carrying $35,000.00 around her waist and hidden in her pants. Dzyuba was searched and officers recovered four black zipper pouches concealed around her waist, which contained a total of $37,000. In addition, $5,373 was found in the defendant’s wallet, for a total amount of $42,373.
The plea is the result of an investigation by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations under the direction of Special Agent-in- Charge Kevin Kelly, and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Vilardo.
Camden Man Arraigned on Federal Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. - A Camden man was arraigned in federal court today for his alleged role in a drug trafficking ring responsible for selling crack, heroin, and furanyl fentanyl in and around Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Davon Leak, 19, is charged in a second superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base as well as quantities of heroin and furanyl fentanyl. He was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court and was remanded to the custody of Camden County, where he is being held on other charges. Leak was charged in the federal indictment following the arrests of 10 other members of the drug ring in June 2017.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
John Gunther, 34, of Blackwood, New Jersey, and Taleaf Gunther, 32, of Camden, obtained bulk supplies of narcotics, prepared and packaged those controlled substances for street level sale, provided crack cocaine, furanyl fentanyl, and heroin to other members for resale to customers, collected drug proceeds, and oversaw the daily sales and operation of the organization. Taleaf Gunther also allegedly possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Other members of the organization – including William Roland, 36, Daron Suiter, 23, Karim Johnson, 39, Latoya Whealton, 33, and Malcolm McCoy, 27, all of Camden – assisted in the distribution and sale of the drugs. George Williams, 43, of Oaklyn, supplied heroin and furanyl fentanyl to the organization. Leak and Rajai Gaines, 36, of Camden, assisted with the preparation of drugs for resale. Mark Campbell, 28, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, supplied bulk quantities of crack cocaine to members of the organization.
The FBI-led investigation used surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and multiple telephone wiretaps and search warrants to uncover the operations of the drug trafficking organization. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of over 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia.
The drug conspiracy charge with which Leak is charged carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.On March 26, 2018, Johnson and Suiter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. As part of their pleas, Johnson and Suiter also accepted responsibility for distributing furanyl fentanyl to customers in Camden. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 60 months in prison when they are sentenced on July 10, 2018.
On March 12, 2018, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute furanyl fentanyl. His sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2018.On March 5, 2018, Whealton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. As part of her plea, Whealton also accepted responsibility for distributing furanyl fentanyl and heroin to customers in Camden. She faces a mandatory minimum term of 60 months in prison at her sentencing on June 11, 2018.
The charges against John Gunther, Taleaf Gunther, Roland, Campbell, McCoy, Leak, and Gaines are still pending and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster in Philadelphia; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief J. Scott Thomson; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, with the investigation.
He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: Teri Lodge Esq., Marlton, New Jersey