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4 April 2018
Saratoga Orthopedic Surgeon Sentenced to A Year in Prison for Providing False Billing Statement to Health Care Benefit ProgramRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE- Gregory Belcher was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for making a false statement related to a health care benefits program, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Judge, following an eight-week trial in which Belcher and his wife, Dr. Vilasini Ganesh, were convicted of making false statements to a health care benefit program.
On December 15, 2017, Belcher, 56, and his wife, Ganesh, 47, both of Saratoga, Calif., were convicted of crimes related to making misrepresentations related to health care matters. The evidence at trial demonstrated Belcher submitted a false claim in connection with a billing matter related to the physical therapy practice he conducted from the offices of the Campbell Medical Group in Saratoga, Calif. Evidence also demonstrated Ganesh, Belcher’s wife and office partner, submitted false and fraudulent claims to several health care benefit programs for services that she knew were not properly payable. For example, Ganesh included claims for days when a patient had not been seen by the provider. She also submitted claims for patients who had been seen by another physician provider who no longer was affiliated with her practice.
On July 13, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted the defendants, charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h); multiple counts health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 2; and making a false statement relating to health care matters, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1035. The jury convicted Belcher of one count of making a false statement relating to health care matters and convicted Ganesh of five counts of health care fraud and five counts of making false statements. The jury acquitted the defendants of the remaining counts.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Koh sentenced Belcher to a 3-year term of supervised release. Belcher will begin serving the sentence June 6, 2018.
Judge Koh scheduled Ganesh’s sentencing hearing for April 25, 2018, at 9:15 a.m., in San Jose.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Delahunty and Jeff Nedrow are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider and Nina Burney Williams. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
San Angelo Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANGELO, Texas — A San Angelo, Texas, man, Mateo Raymond Flores, III, aka “Lawrence Flores,” “Arturo Flores,” “Rogelio Cadena,” “Gordo,” “Mr. G,” 49, was sentenced last week to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, following his guilty plea in November 2017 to an indictment charging one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement today.
Flores, who was a fugitive on state charges and living in Mexico at the time of indictment, was charged in a July 2017 federal indictment along with codefendants, Romelia Flores, 47, Pablo Cantu Hernandez, 61, Mario Moreno, Jr., 39, and Shelly Brannon Fowler, 51. All defendants pleaded guilty to their roles. Judge Cummings previously sentenced Hernandez to 235 months in federal prison, Moreno to 151 months in federal prison and Fowler to 188 months in federal prison. Romelia Flores is awaiting sentencing.
According to the plea agreement factual resume, Flores was identified as a source of supply of methamphetamine in the San Angelo area. Flores used the residence of Hernandez as a storage location for his methamphetamine.
On April 26, 2016, a state search warrant was executed at the San Angelo residence of Hernandez. Hernandez admitted that he was storing methamphetamine for Flores. Investigators seized approximately 2.89 pounds of methamphetamine. Hernandez stated that he had stored and distributed approximately 150 pounds of methamphetamine for Flores for the past three years at his residence, collected drug proceeds and sent them to Flores in Mexico.
U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Juanita Fielden prosecuted the case.
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Romanian Man Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Entry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Novak Ciurar, 30, of Romania, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison to time served (four days) for entering the United States illegally.
Court records reveal that on March 31, 2018, Ciurar entered the United States from Canada in Hodgdon, Maine at a location not designated for entry to the United States. U.S. Border Patrol agents located the defendant shortly after his entry. Ciurar is a citizen of Romania and did not have any immigration documents that would allow him to remain in the United States. Ciurar has now been placed in proceedings to remove him from the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol which is the mobile, uniformed law enforcement arm of U.S. Customs and Border Protection within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for securing U.S. borders between ports of entry. The U.S. Border Patrol relies on cooperation and assistance from members of the community that live along the border. If you observe suspicious activity in the border area, please do not hesitate to contact the U.S. Border Patrol at (800) 851-USBP; if this activity is in Canada, please call (800) 222-TIPS.
Rochester Attorney Admits to Unlawfully Receiving Retirement BenefitsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Diane M. Cecero, age 64, of Pittsford, New York, admitted today to unlawfully “double-dipping” and receiving state retirement benefits to which she was not entitled. She agreed to pay back those benefits, with interest, as part of a pretrial diversion agreement.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
From 1982 to 1996, Cecero was an Assistant Attorney General with the New York State Attorney General’s Office (NYAG). In that job, she earned retirement credits as a participant in the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS).
In 1996, she left the NYAG to become the Legal and Labor Relations Officer at Monroe Community College (MCC), part of the State University of New York. Cecero eventually became General Counsel of MCC and was employed there until August 2015.
When she left the NYAG, Cecero retained her membership in NYSLRS, but she stopped earning NYSLRS service credit. When she joined MCC, Cecero chose to join the SUNY Optional Retirement Program (SUNY ORP), a public retirement system separate from NYSLRS.
As part of the diversion agreement, Cecero admitted that while employed with MCC, she incorrectly filled out an Application for Service Retirement, dated April 3, 2008, which caused NYSLRS to pay to her approximately $85,000 in retirement benefits to which she was not entitled during the years 2008 through 2014. Cecero also admitted that while drawing retirement benefits from NYSLRS, she also participated in SUNY ORP. As part of the agreement, Cecero did not admit to committing fraud or to any criminal conduct.
United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said: “Thanks to the thorough investigation by the Comptroller’s Division of Investigations, improper retirement benefits are being repaid with interest. We are committed to continued work with the Office of the Comptroller to safeguard the public fisc and use all appropriate means to secure restitution and individual accountability for violations of law.”
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said: “For the six years Ms. Cecero was general counsel to Monroe Community College, she unlawfully took $85,000 in state pension benefits on top of her six-figure salary. As a result of our investigation, she must repay the money with interest. I thank United States Attorney Jaquith for prosecuting this case.”
The practice of drawing retirement benefits while remaining a public employee is informally known as “double-dipping,” and is prohibited under state law with few exceptions, none of which applied to Cecero. Additionally, while she was improperly receiving retirement benefits from NYSLRS, Cecero unlawfully participated in a second retirement plan, SUNY ORP, to which her then-employer MCC contributed more than $100,000 for her benefit.
Today, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a wire fraud charge against Cecero. As part of the pretrial diversion agreement, it agreed that it would dismiss the charge if, within 18 months, Cecero paid total restitution of $156,918.20: $116,918.20 to NYSLRS and an additional $40,000 to MCC.
This case was investigated by the Office of the State Comptroller’s Division of Investigations, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Cyrus P.W. Rieck.
Richland County Man Indicted on Methamphetmine-Related ChargeRead the Press Release
A Richland County, Illinois man was indicted on April 3, 2018, on a methamphetamine- related charge, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Justin R. Mason, age 35, of Olney, Illinois was the only defendant named in the one-count Indictment, which charges that from August 2017, until on or about March 7, 2018, in Richland County, and elsewhere, Mason conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine. The Indictment further alleges that the conspiracy involved fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
If convicted of the charge, Mason faces 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years.
An Indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for armed bank robbery.
Michael A. Dirocco, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 77 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2017, Dirocco pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery.
On Nov. 14, 2014, two men entered a branch of the Webster Bank in Seekonk, Mass. One of the men vaulted over the teller’s counter and started taking money from the drawers. The other man brandished what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the tellers. The two then fled the scene in a large black SUV with $10,065 in stolen cash.
A short time later, an individual in Rhode Island observed two men removing license plates from a large black SUV and exchanging them with Rhode Island plates. The individual was able to record the Rhode Island license plate numbers and provide them to law enforcement officers. The officers then spoke to the registered owner of the vehicle with Rhode Island license plates and determined that the owner’s son, Dirocco, was operating her vehicle.
When officers in Rhode Island later located the black SUV, Dirocco was no longer the operator; he was now using a green pickup truck, which was later observed heading in their direction. Upon seeing police, the truck’s driver, later confirmed to be Dirocco, stopped the vehicle, made an abrupt U-turn, and sped off, resulting in an extended car chase that culminated with Dirocco crashing the vehicle into a tree. Dirocco matched the description of the gun wielding bank robber and was subsequently arrested. In September 2016, Dirocco was charged in federal court in Boston and has been detained since.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement today. The Rhode Island State Police and Burrillville, R.I., Cranston, R.I., Pawtucket, R.I., and Seekonk, Mass., Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Indicted on Charges of Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal grand jury has charged Taylor Vanderploeg, 20, of the 700 block of West California, Urbana, Ill., with receipt and possession of child pornography. The two-count indictment, returned today, alleges that on or about Dec. 24, 2017, Vanderploeg received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also alleges that on March 2, 2018, Vanderploeg possessed mobile devices and other digital storage material containing child pornography.
On March 28, 2018, Vanderploeg was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint. During a court appearance on March 28, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, in Urbana, Vanderploeg was ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, at the time of the alleged offenses, Vanderploeg was on probation for a September 2017 conviction for possession of child pornography in Iroquois county, Ill., and is also a registered sex offender.
If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for receipt of child pornography, as a repeat offender, is 40 years in prison; the maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is 20 years in prison. Both charges carry fines of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Probation Office.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Portsmouth Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 25 YearsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for drug distribution and possession of multiple firearms.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Benitez Auguarius Moody, 35, distributed crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in Portsmouth from the summer of 2015 through March 2016. Moody was arrested on Aug. 10, 2016, after the Portsmouth Police Department conducted a series of controlled buys of heroin with Moody and executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered 97 grams of crack cocaine, two grams of heroin and fentanyl mixture, four firearms (two special revolvers and two semi-automatic pistols), and $4,000 in cash.
Moody was convicted by a federal jury on April 28, 2017, of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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, and Tonya D. Chapman, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherrie Capotosto prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-124.
Portland Woman Given 15 Months in Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Anna Ngo, 57, of Portland, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution for a tax evasion scheme involving two local businesses. Ngo previously pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C. §7201 on December 14, 2017.
“As a business owner, Ms. Ngo had a legal obligation to pay her fair share of taxes and she failed to do so,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Tax evasion is a serious crime that victimizes all Americans. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue similar prosecutions in an effort to preserve the fairness and integrity of our tax system.”
“With the April 17th tax deadline looming, it is important for people to have confidence that when they pay their taxes, their neighbors and co-workers are doing the same,” said Troy A. Burrus, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Seattle Field Office.
According to court documents, Ngo evaded payment of her tax liabilities in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 by placing two of her businesses, Hot Rocks Beauty Salon and Beyond Hair Nails Spa, in the names of nominees with the cooperation of her niece. Ngo told the IRS she did not own the businesses. Additionally, Ngo filed fraudulent income tax returns upon which she failed to report income from the two businesses.
An investigation revealed that Ngo evaded payment of her outstanding tax liability. Her evasion included “quitclaiming,” or relinquishing ownership of rental property she owned to her son shortly before federal income tax liens were filed in 2011. Investigators also found that Ngo spent significant amounts of money at electronic stores, including $126,900 in 2011 alone, despite owing significant taxes and being aware of the liability. Multiple audits revealed that Ngo owes more than $502,000 in taxes, penalties and interest for 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Clemon D. Ashley, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Portland Man Receives Prison Sentence for Selling Counterfeit Nike Sneakers OnlineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – James Pepion, of Portland, was sentenced today to four months in prison followed by three years supervised release for selling counterfeit Nike sneakers online and laundering his proceeds. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for July 9, 2018.
According to court documents, Pepion offered rare Nike sneakers for sale on the website Get-Supplied.com and through related businesses, including Supplied, Inc., and SwagSupply, Inc. using online platforms such as Instagram, eBay, and Shopify. Though Pepion acquired many of the limited-edition sneakers he resold through legitimate channels, he also imported counterfeit versions of some sneakers directly from black market sources in China, selling them as authentic Nike footwear to unwitting buyers. These fraudulent sales triggered numerous complaints to Nike as well as to Pepion.
Between June 2013 and September 2015, Pepion wired $174,460.00 to sellers in China, almost all of which was for counterfeit shoes and packaging. Pepion combined the proceeds of the sales of these counterfeit Nike sneakers with the proceeds of sales of authentic sneakers in various financial accounts in order to conceal the illegal source of much of his income.
Pepion previously pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking in counterfeit goods and money laundering on Friday, June 30, 2017.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) and prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds and Julia E. Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Defendant faces at least five and up to 20 years in federal prison
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pled guilty today to a child pornography crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Terry Allen Riley, 59, entered his guilty plea to receiving child pornography. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Parkersburg Police Department.
“These cases are truly crimes of hideous violence and a priority for my team,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Riley’s conviction means another child predator will soon be behind bars.”
Riley admitted that on June 12, 2015, he received a video of a prepubescent minor engaged in sex acts. The video was received on Riley’s computer located at his residence. The investigation revealed that Riley was using a cloud-based email service to download, receive, and distribute child pornography. Riley further admitted to possessing over 600 images and videos of minors engaged in sex acts, and that some of those images involved sadistic conduct or conduct involving infants and toddlers.
Riley faces at least five and up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 3, 2018. Upon his release from prison, he will be required to serve a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
First Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald are in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Follow us on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart
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Oklahoma City Behavioral Health Counselor Pleads Guilty to Defrauding MedicaidRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – SAMUEL OKERE, 61, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud, announced Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Mike Hunter, Oklahoma Attorney General.
Okere is a licensed professional counselor and owner of New Life Counseling Services. On November 15, 2017, a federal grand jury charged him with 224 counts of defrauding the Oklahoma Health Care Authority through false claims for behavioral health counseling. In particular, the indictment alleged that Okere billed for counseling sessions for multiple individuals, primarily children, at times when he could not have been counseling them. For example, some of the times and dates billed were when clients were at school. Others were when Okere was engaged in activities inconsistent with counseling, such as speaking on the phone with representatives of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
On April 3, 2018, Okere pleaded guilty to health care fraud. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of ten years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He could also be fined up to $250,000 and will be required to pay restitution to Medicaid in the amount of $141,545.16. A portion of the restitution will go to SoonerCare and a portion to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.
"Our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office is strong and effective in combatting health care fraud in Oklahoma," said Acting U.S. Attorney Troester.
"I appreciate U.S. Attorney Troester and his office for their assistance in helping us reach this successful outcome," Attorney General Hunter said. "Health care fraud harms defenseless citizens who rely on essential services and taxpayers, who fund these programs. I am glad we could work together on this case to hold Okere accountable for his actions."
This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Maxfield Green and Assistant Oklahoma Attorney General Lory Dewey, who is also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to court filings for further information.
North Royalton man indicted for conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues commonly sold as MollyRead the Press Release
A North Royalton man was indicted in federal court for conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues commonly sold on the street as Molly.
Robert Przybylski, 37, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of controlled substances to intent to distribute and two counts of attempted possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.
Przbylski conspired with others from September 2016 to the present to possess N-ethyl Pentylone and N-ethyl Norpentylone, Schedule I analogue drugs often sold as the street drug Molly, according to the indictment.
Przbylski possessed 46 grams of N-ethyl Norpentylone in October 2016. He attempted to possess a kilogram of N-ethyl Norpentylone on Oct. 4, 2016 and tried to possess N-ethyl Pentylone on July 10, 2017, according to the indictment.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Medina County Drug Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Cronin.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
New Orleans-Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Possess Oxycodone by Fraud and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone on the Black MarketRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A New Orleans, Louisiana-area woman pleaded guilty today for her participation in a scheme to obtain oxycodone through fraud by creating fictitious prescriptions and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone on the black market.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Eric J. Rommal of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s New Orleans Field Division made the announcement.
Danielle Nicole Lesslie, 30, of Metairie, Louisiana was charged in a one-count Information with conspiracy to acquire and obtain possession of oxycodone through fraud and to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. She pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk of the Eastern District of Louisiana. She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Africk on June 28.
“Danielle Lesslie used a physician’s stolen prescription template to create fraudulent prescriptions for opioids and then used those prescriptions to distribute approximately 312,050 milligrams of oxycodone pills on the black market,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “This case is indicative of the Department’s ongoing, multifaceted approach to combating the opioid epidemic.”
“The costs imposed on our society by the opioid epidemic are great,” said U.S. Attorney Evans. “That is why we will continue to prosecute individuals like Ms. Lesslie who participate in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs to members of the public.”
“The opioid epidemic continues to ravage our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rommal. “This case demonstrates how the FBI will continue to investigate those who contribute to this problem, especially those who steal from physicians to do so.”
“HHS-OIG will never hesitate to investigate those who defraud federal health care programs in order to obtain and then sell opioid prescriptions on the black market,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Porter. “Working with our law enforcement partners, our investigators will continue to crack down on prescription drug fraud in order to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not illegally being utilized to fund the opioid epidemic, as well as to protect the public from the illegal distribution of these prescription drugs.
“Danielle Lesslie and her co-conspirators in this scheme heartlessly contributed to the opioid epidemic plaguing our society today,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Azzam. “This malicious conduct puts lives at risk and won’t be tolerated. We will continue to protect the integrity of the medical profession, including physicians who have their prescription templates stolen from them. DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to perpetuate and profit from the opioid crisis in this country, as well as undermine our nation’s taxpayer funded federal health care programs.”
On Oct. 5, 2017, Lesslie was arrested on a federal criminal complaint, which alleged that Lesslie used a physician’s stolen prescription template to create fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone that were filled by New Orleans area pharmacies and then resold on the black market.
In pleading guilty, Lesslie admitted that, between February 2017 and September 2017, she created fraudulent prescriptions using personal identifying information provided to her by her co-conspirators, which were then used to obtain oxycodone pills that were subsequently resold on the black market. She admitted to providing these fraudulent prescriptions to other individuals who she knew would fill the prescriptions, and then would facilitate the resale of the pills on the black market. In some instances, Lesslie knew that certain individuals used their Medicaid benefits when filling the fraudulent prescriptions. In total, she admitted distributing approximately 312,050 milligrams of oxycodone pills that were obtained using the fraudulent prescriptions that she created.
This case was investigated by the FBI; HHS-OIG, Office of Investigations; the DEA and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Jared Hasten of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier of the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged over 3,000 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for over $11 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
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New Orleans-Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Possess Oxycodone by Fraud and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone on the Black MarketRead the Press Release
A New Orleans, Louisiana-area woman pleaded guilty today for her participation in a scheme to obtain oxycodone through fraud by creating fictitious prescriptions and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone on the black market.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Eric J. Rommal of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s New Orleans Field Division made the announcement.
Danielle Nicole Lesslie, 30, of Metairie, Louisiana was charged in a one-count Information with conspiracy to acquire and obtain possession of oxycodone through fraud and to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. She pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk of the Eastern District of Louisiana. She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Africk on June 28.
“Danielle Lesslie used a physician’s stolen prescription template to create fraudulent prescriptions for opioids and then used those prescriptions to distribute approximately 312,050 milligrams of oxycodone pills on the black market,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “This case is indicative of the Department’s ongoing, multifaceted approach to combating the opioid epidemic.”
“The costs imposed on our society by the opioid epidemic are great,” said U.S. Attorney Evans. “That is why we will continue to prosecute individuals like Ms. Lesslie who participate in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs to members of the public.”
“This case is yet another example of how the opioid abuse and trafficking epidemic is affecting New Orleans and many other U.S. cities," said Special Agent in Charge Rommal. "Using her knowledge and experience in the medical field, Danielle Lesslie was able to generate numerous fraudulent prescriptions, resulting in a substantial number of pills on the street. In many instances these pills were sold for profit by Lesslie in an effort which ultimately contributed to the overall opioid epidemic. Through Lesslie’s fraudulent activities and greed, countless people were harmed, as well as several New Orleans area communities placed at risk. The FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners remain committed to investigating allegations of prescription fraud and abuse in Louisiana.”
“HHS-OIG will never hesitate to investigate those who defraud federal health care programs in order to obtain and then sell opioid prescriptions on the black market,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Porter. “Working with our law enforcement partners, our investigators will continue to crack down on prescription drug fraud in order to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not illegally being utilized to fund the opioid epidemic, as well as to protect the public from the illegal distribution of these prescription drugs.
“Danielle Lesslie and her co-conspirators in this scheme heartlessly contributed to the opioid epidemic plaguing our society today,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Azzam. “This malicious conduct puts lives at risk and won’t be tolerated. We will continue to protect the integrity of the medical profession, including physicians who have their prescription templates stolen from them. DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to perpetuate and profit from the opioid crisis in this country, as well as undermine our nation’s taxpayer funded federal health care programs.”
On Oct. 5, 2017, Lesslie was arrested on a federal criminal complaint, which alleged that Lesslie used a physician’s stolen prescription template to create fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone that were filled by New Orleans area pharmacies and then resold on the black market.
In pleading guilty, Lesslie admitted that, between February 2017 and September 2017, she created fraudulent prescriptions using personal identifying information provided to her by her co-conspirators, which were then used to obtain oxycodone pills that were subsequently resold on the black market. She admitted to providing these fraudulent prescriptions to other individuals who she knew would fill the prescriptions, and then would facilitate the resale of the pills on the black market. In some instances, Lesslie knew that certain individuals used their Medicaid benefits when filling the fraudulent prescriptions. In total, she admitted distributing approximately 312,050 milligrams of oxycodone pills that were obtained using the fraudulent prescriptions that she created.
This case was investigated by the FBI; HHS-OIG, Office of Investigations; the DEA and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Jared Hasten of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier of the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged over 3,000 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for over $11 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty to CounterfeitingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Lee Banks, age 40, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Counterfeiting An Obligation Of The United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 471 and 2, punishable by not more than 20 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both for each count.
The Indictment alleged that in or about November, 2017, to on or about January 16, 2018, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Defendant, Ricky Lee Banks Jr., with intent to defraud, did counterfeit and falsely make an obligation of the United States, that is, a falsely made and counterfeited one-hundred-dollar Federal Reserve Note, Back plate number 158, No front of bill, No serial number.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Secret Service.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney John David Luton represented the United States.
Mulberry Woman Sentenced for Setting Fire in the Ozark National ForrestRead the Press Release
Fort Smith, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Shelly Raye Winfrey, age 47, of Mulberry, was sentenced today to 130 days incarceration, with credit for 130 days served, followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,500.00 in restitution on one count of Setting Fire on Lands of The United States. The Honorable Chief Judge P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
According to Court records, on April 9, 2017, an off-duty Crawford County Deputy Sheriff and a friend were driving up a dirt road in Franklin County north of Mulberry, Arkansas, when they saw a woman get out of her vehicle, bend over, and then get back in her vehicle and drive off at a high rate of speed. As she left, they saw she had ignited a dead pine tree. The men attempted to extinguish the fire and called the Sheriff’s Office for a local fire department to respond to the scene. The deputy also provided a description of the woman and vehicle. The woman was later identified as Winfrey.
The Mulberry Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire. The Deputy and friend then continued their journey north and came upon another fire burning approximately one mile from the first fire. They called that fire in and left the area due to concern that they could be trapped by a forest fire. The Mulberry Fire Department extinguished the second fire as well as a third fire that was located further north of the second fire.
During this time, the fire department personnel saw a vehicle that matched the description given by the deputy. A Franklin County Deputy Sheriff arrived, and as he tried to stop the vehicle, the driver and sole occupant, Winfrey, began throwing ignited currency out of the window. Winfrey was taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County Detention Center.
During the investigation it was determined that Winfrey set fires on land belonging to the United States. Specifically, land belonging to the United States Forest Service known as the Ozark National Forest. Winfrey confirmed and admitted that she illegally set timber on fire on April 9, 2017.
Winfrey was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2017 and entered a guilty plea in December 2017.
This case was investigated by the U.S Forest Service and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Claude Hawkins prosecuted the case for the United States.
Mobile County Man Receives 10-Year Sentence for Bank Robbery and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney, Richard W. Moore, announces that Gregory Owens, a 55 year old, resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 121 months of incarceration followed by five years of supervised release for a bank robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, bank robbery.
On September 14, 2017, Owens entered the Hancock Bank located at 2110 Demetropolis Road, Mobile, Alabama with a green handgun. He approached a teller, gave her a note that demanded money. When she hesitated, he pointed the firearm at her. In fear, the teller then gave Owens approximately $5,645.00 that included a dye pack. Owens took the money then fled the bank. Almost immediately, the dye pack exploded and Owens dropped the money and continued to flee. The note he provided to the teller had his address affixed to it. Officers then went to Owens’ residence. He was not there. Officers spoke to his mother. His mother provided his cell number and Owens was located at an area hotel by tracking his cell phone. Owens was arrested still wearing the clothes he wore during the robbery. He was Mirandized and then gave consent to search his vehicle and the green firearm was located inside the vehicle. Owens pled guilty on December 29, 2017.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Mobile Police Department investigated the case and presented it to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case was Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.
Mexican National Sentenced to 210 Months for Conspiring with Edgewood Man to Distribute Heroin Resulting in User’s DeathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Rosendo Flores Angulo, 40, a Mexican national, was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to 210 months of imprisonment for participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin that resulted in the death of the user. Angulo will be deported after he completes his prison sentence.
This case was initiated on Sept. 18, 2015, by the filing of a criminal complaint charging Angulo with heroin trafficking charges based on a number of heroin sales to two undercover DEA agents in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, N.M., between July 2015 and Sept. 2015. On Oct. 20, 2015, Angulo and co-defendant Curtis Hutchinson, 32, of Edgewood, N.M., were indicted and charged with participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy. In addition to the conspiracy charge, the 17-count indictment charged both men with two counts of heroin distribution and Angulo alone with an additional 14 counts of heroin distribution.
On May 25, 2016, a federal grand jury returned an 18-count superseding indictment against Angulo and Hutchinson that added a “death resulting” count charging that the two men had conspired to distribute, and had distributed, heroin that resulted in the death of the person who used the drug. According to the superseding indictment, on April 29, 2015, Angulo and Hutchinson distributed heroin to a person who died as a result of using that heroin. The two men were charged with committing this crime in Bernalillo County.
On March 8, 2017, Angulo entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin. In his plea agreement, Angulo admitted being a mid-level drug dealer who distributed heroin to low-level drug dealers and heroin users in Albuquerque in 2014 and 2015. Hutchinson was one of the low-level drug dealers to whom Angulo supplied heroin. Angulo admitted supplying heroin to Hutchinson on April 29, 2015, and acknowledged learning that Hutchinson sold some of the heroin to a young man, who collapsed and died after using the heroin. The plea agreement states that a medical toxicologist concluded that the heroin was the cause of the young man’s death; the young man would not have died if he had not used the heroin.
Hutchinson previously pled guilty on Sept. 22, 2016, to conspiring with Angulo to distribute heroin that resulted in the death of a person who used the heroin. When Hutchinson entered his guilty plea, he admitted selling $20.00 of heroin – approximately 0.25 of a gram – to an acquaintance on April 29, 2015, and acknowledged learning that the acquaintance died as result of using that heroin. At sentencing, Hutchinson faces a statutory penalty of not less than 20 years and not more than life imprisonment. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
The Albuquerque office of the DEA investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez, as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.
The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), the Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.
The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Smuggling 53 Aliens in Tractor TrailerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Mexican National on a visitor visa has entered a guilty plea to attempting to smuggle illegal aliens behind a load of produce, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Luis Valero-Carrizales, 39, Feb. 28, 2018. Today, he pleaded guilty as charged.
Valero-Carrizales admitted he conspired to transport illegal aliens hidden behind a load of produce in the trailer portion of the 18-wheeler he was driving. On Dec. 16, 2017, Valero-Carrizales drove a freightliner and approached the primary inspection lane at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near Falfurrias. During a routine immigration inspection, a service canine alerted to the trailer.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, authorities discovered 53 illegal aliens hidden inside. The temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was 54 degrees.
He was taken into custody at that time where he remains pending his sentencing hearing, set for Aug. 2, 2018. At that time, he faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Miller is prosecuting the case.
Metro-Atlanta travel agency operators charged with fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Elisabeth Greenhill and Jonathan Greenhill have been charged for running a fraud scheme that targeted faith-based and humanitarian groups conducting mission work overseas.
“These defendants allegedly lined their pockets with money that a number of groups had raised to conduct charitable work overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Fraud schemes that target faith-based and humanitarian groups continue to grow in number and complexity. Charitable groups should always make certain that a reputable business is helping them make arrangements for their mission work.”
“There are many people who suffered from this alleged fraud, including the needy, the generous groups who volunteer their time and money, and the travel agencies who provide the means for the good work to reach the needy,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a priority to prosecute anyone who tries to take advantage of the generosity and kindness of our citizens.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: Elisabeth Greenhill and Jonathan Greenhill operated “Mission Trip Airfare,” a travel agency that specialized in booking trips for faith-based and humanitarian groups conducting mission work overseas. Mission Trip Airfare typically purchased tickets from other travel agencies for its customers.
The indictment alleges that beginning in 2015, the defendants accepted funds from faith-based and humanitarian groups for tickets but failed to send these funds to the travel agencies doing business with Mission Trip Airfare. Instead of paying the travel agencies, the defendants used the client funds for their own personal benefit. Once the travel agencies threatened to stop doing business with Mission Trip Airfare, the defendants began using new customer funds to pay down the outstanding balances with the travel agencies. During this timeframe, the defendants also continued to use customer funds for their own personal benefit. After the faith-based and humanitarian groups started to complain about not receiving tickets, the defendants falsely stated that Mission Trip Airfare was in the process of issuing refunds. The indictment further alleges that the defendants continued to misappropriate customer funds even after the faith-based and humanitarian groups contacted them asking for refunds.
The defendants’ fraud scheme allegedly caused the travel agencies and the faith-based and humanitarian groups to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, the vast majority of which the defendants allegedly used for their own personal benefit.
Elisabeth Greenhill, 55, of Roswell, Georgia was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard. Jonathan Greenhill, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia has not yet been arraigned.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Krepp is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who believe they were impacted by this scheme are encouraged to contact the FBI at (404) 679-9000.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
MS-13 Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Retaliation Murder on Long IslandRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Edwin Amaya-Sanchez (“Strong”), a member of the Guanacos Little Cycos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, pleaded guilty to firearms-related murder charges in connection with his participation in the July 14, 2014 murder of Jose Lainez-Murcia, who was shot and killed while sitting in a car outside his home in Brentwood. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Stuart J. Cameron, Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Amaya-Sanchez admitted that he participated in the planning and execution of a murder on Long Island in which the victim was marked for death because he was suspected of having killed MS-13 gang members in El Salvador,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office and our partners on the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force will continue working tirelessly to eliminate MS-13 and the threat this transnational criminal enterprise presents to our community.”
“MS-13 believes it can operate with its own form of vigilante justice, without any repercussions,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “The FBI Long Island Gang Task Force won't allow them to continue terrorizing the community, acting outside of the law.”
“The Suffolk County Police Department is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in bringing criminal gang members and their associates to justice,” stated SCPD Acting Commissioner Cameron. “This guilty plea of a murderer will send a strong message to gangs across Long Island that illegal activities will not be tolerated.”
As set forth in prior court filings and the defendant’s statements during his guilty plea, Amaya-Sanchez and other MS-13 members orchestrated the murder of Lainez-Murcia because they suspected that Lainez-Murcia was an assassin who had killed MS-13 members in El Salvador. Amaya-Sanchez knew where Lainez-Murcia lived, what car he drove, and what time he left for work in the morning, because they previously worked together. In the early morning hours of July 14, 2014, Amaya-Sanchez drove two other MS-13 members, each of whom was armed with a 9mm handgun, to Lainez-Murcia’s neighborhood and dropped them off. When Lainez-Murcia left the house and entered his car, the MS-13 members approached and fired multiple times with the 9mm handguns, killing him. The two MS-13 members ran down the block where Amaya-Sanchez picked them up and drove away.
Amaya-Sanchez, an illegal alien from El Salvador who previously was deported from the United States and illegally returned, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced by Judge Bianco on October 17, 2018. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant faces deportation from the United States.
Today’s conviction is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent international criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States, comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the largest and most violent street gang on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district, and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Centre Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Michael T. Keilty and Raymond A. Tierney are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
Edwin Amaya-Sanchez (also known as “strong”)
Age: 30
Brentwood, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-403 (S-4)(JFB)
Lone Female Armed Robber Heads to PrisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 24-year-old Houston woman has been ordered to prison for the armed robbery of two auto parts stores in the Houston area, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Latoya Taylor pleaded guilty Dec. 6, 2017, to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed Taylor a 51-month sentence for the robberies. She also received an additional 84 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The sentences will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
On April 1, 2017, Taylor robbed the Advance Auto Parts store at 1821 W Mount Houston Rd. She first robbed one employee and then went directly to the next register and pointed the gun at two more employees. All three employees were able to positively identify her as the lone robber. Authorities also discovered the same sunglasses and a hat she was wearing during the robbery after conducting a search of a family member’s residence.
Just a few days later, Taylor entered the AutoZone located at 2202 West 43 St. in Houston. She again pointed the gun at two employees, demanded money and left. Both of the employees were also able to identify Taylor.
She has been and will remained in custody.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Harris County Sherriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting the case.
This is an example of coordination between law enforcement who are part of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which combines personnel and resources from numerous federal, state and local agencies. The goal is to proactively fight and reduce violent crime across the Greater Houston area by targeting the region’s most violent offenders, augmenting investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and enhancing training, public awareness and education.
The 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 late 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.
Local Man Indicted on 16 Charges Related to Sex Crimes Against Children, Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A federal grand jury has charged Tyler Ulm, 23, of Dayton, with production and other crimes related to child pornography.
Law enforcement officials ask anyone in the public with information about other potential victims related to this case to contact the FBI at 513-421-4310.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the charges.
The indictment charges Ulm with seven counts of producing child pornography over the course of at least one year with at least two minor victims.
It is also alleged that Ulm advertised, distributed, received and possessed child pornography, as well as attempted to travel with the intent of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.
Finally, Ulm allegedly committed a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender.
Producing child pornography is a crime punishable by 15-30 years in prison. Attempting to travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct is a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Advertising child pornography carries a potential penalty of 15 to 30 years in prison. Distributing and receiving child pornography are each crimes punishable by five to 20 years in prison, and possessing child pornography carries a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender adds 10 years in addition to any other sentence imposed.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), as well as Assistant United States Attorney SaMee Harden, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Local Man Charged in a Federal Complain in Connection with the Robbery at Vincent's Jewelers in Creve CoeurRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Michael Gladney, 41, of St. Louis, was arrested this morning after being charged in a federal criminal complaint dated March 30, 2018.
According to the affidavit submitted in support of the complaint, on March 19, 2018, at approximately 12:40 p.m., Gladney and three other people entered Vincent’s Jewelers located at 11733 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141, for the purpose of committing a robbery. These individuals ordered the workers to the rear of the business at gunpoint. Gladney and two other individuals were armed with a firearm and the fourth individual was armed with a pipe.
The individuals gained access to the jewelry inside the case by discharging a firearm into the case. Gladney and another individual used the pipe to smash the glass. He and two other individuals took numerous pieces of jewelry from the cases.
During the course of the robbery, Gladney shot himself. As he ran away from the glass case, a trail of blood was left behind. The trail of blood was discovered leading from the glass case outside to the location where the get-a-way vehicle was parked.
St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) Crime Scene Detectives responded to Vincent’s Jewelers to process the scene and obtained multiple samples of the blood from the trail of blood Gladney left after he shot himself. SLCPD Crime Lab was able to develop a DNA profile from the blood samples and was placed into the CODIS database. A search of the CODIS database resulted in a DNA match to Michael Anderson Gladney.
Gladney was charged with one felony count of armed robbery and one felony count of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Gladney was taken into custody without incident and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Louis this afternoon. The United States Attorney requested that Gladney be detained pending trial.
As is always the case, charges set forth in the complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Creve Coeur Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Orwick is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Livingston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – Joseph Alan Nyhart, a 35-year-old resident of Livingston, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms in December. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters handed down the sentence.
In May 2016, Nyhart and his codefendant Austin Gottfried Schwarz, both prohibited from possessing firearms, were arrested after a lengthy, high-speed chase with law enforcement. Nyhart was the passenger. It was immediately obvious to the officers that both were under the influence of a drug. The officers seized two loaded rifles from the stolen truck. The officers determined that either Nyhart or Schwarz loaded the rifles after they stole the truck.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Godfrey and Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, Montana Probation and Parole, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Stillwater Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, and Columbus Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Lewes Business Owner Sentenced in Federal Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced that John B. Alwood, 54, of Lewes, Delaware, was sentenced today to 40 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Based on documents filed and statements made in open court, Alwood, co-owner of the Lewes Daily Market, in Lewis, Delaware, gained sexual gratification from viewing child pornography several hours a day, every day, for ten years. Alwood did so using internet software that allowed him to view and masturbate to child pornography, all the while communicating with other pedophiles doing the same thing. The pornographic videos playing in these live-stream child pornography groups included, but were not limited to, the rape of prepubescent children.
U.S. Attorney Weiss said about the sentencing, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware is committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us – our children – from the abhorrent shadow industry that produces, distributes, and collects child pornography and from those who lurk in its base marketplace.”
“HSI special agents remain committed to targeting and arresting child predators engaged in this terrible crime,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “We owe it to the young victims to make certain that these offenders pay a high price for their wrongdoings.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations within the federal Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Robinson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lebanon Man Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment for Operating A Heroin Mill in Lebanon CountyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Leandro Nazario, age 39, currently in Adams County Correctional Complex, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 2, 2018, to 20 years’ imprisonment and five-years supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine in Lebanon County.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the two-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force culminated with the execution of search warrants at 513 Arnold Street and 443 North 6th Street, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2015. During the search at 513 Arnold Street, law enforcement agents discovered a “heroin mill” where kilograms of heroin were being processed on a weekly basis.
The investigation revealed that Julio Aviles, Sr., a previously convicted drug dealer, owned and operated the heroin mill and employed a network of sellers, packagers, brokers and testers to conduct this illegal enterprise. Nazario, formerly of Puerto Rico, was the second-in-command of the drug trafficking organization and was the foreman of the processing mill. All together 13 individuals were charged. Packagers were paid approximately $500 a week like factory workers to process and package the heroin for later distribution. The testers operated as quality assurance inspectors to ensure the heroin was of sufficient quality. At the time of the searches, law enforcement agents found over 400 grams of heroin, over 85 grams of cocaine powder, and over 71 grams of crack cocaine. A kilogram of heroin, which weighs approximately 2.2 pounds is equivalent to approximately 40,000 to 50,000 individual doses of heroin, any one of which can be fatal depending on its purity and the nature of its other ingredients. In this case the evidence established that the drug trafficking organization was mixing the heroin with Fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone and Lidocaine. Law enforcement agents estimated that this drug operation was distributing heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine for a two-year period and during the last few months was distributing kilogram quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine powder. The value of the drugs distributed has a conservative street value of between $3 million and $5 million.
Law enforcement also located three handguns, ten rifles, six shotguns and paraphernalia consistent with a large-scale drug trafficking operation. During the search at 443 North 6th Street, law enforcement officers located additional quantities of heroin, cocaine powder, and crack cocaine along with drug packaging materials.
The individual defendants previously convicted:
- Israel Nazario was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment;
- Julio Aviles, Sr. is awaiting sentencing;
- Michael Millan-Miranda is awaiting sentencing.
The individual defendants who previously pleaded guilty:
- Eliezer Soto-Concepcion was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment;
- Suheidy Soto-Concepcion was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment;
- Julio Aviles, Jr. was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment;
- Brenda Soto was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment;
- Geidy Arroyo was sentenced to time served and three years’ supervised release;
- Brittany Rivera is awaiting sentencing;
- Brent Moyer is awaiting sentencing;
- Carlos Nazario is awaiting sentencing.
Kengie Millan-Miranda remains a fugitive. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Kengie Millan-Miranda please contact law enforcement.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lebanon County Drug Task Force, Lebanon County Detective Bureau, Lebanon City Police Department, Cornwall Borough Police Department, and assisted by the Lebanon County Probation Department. Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nichole Eisenhart, who also serves as the First Assistant District Attorney in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case was also 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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Leader of “Bmb” Street Gang Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison on Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that NICO BURRELL, a/k/a “Zico Nico,” a leader of a violent street gang in the Bronx called the “Big Money Bosses” (“BMB”) was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in prison on racketeering charges. BURRELL was sentenced by United States District Judge Alison J. Nathan.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Burrell played a leadership role in the violent BMB street gang, and himself participated in the gang’s violence and drug dealing. This violence included a shooting in February 2009 in which Burrell shot a rival gang member and an innocent bystander. In addition, Burrell was responsible for BMB’s extensive distribution of oxycodone. Yesterday’s sentence serves as a reminder that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute all those who engage in these senseless acts of violence and drug dealing in our communities.”
According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the public proceedings in this case:
BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. Between 2007 and 2016, members and associates of BMB committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members in the Bronx—including murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies—and sold crack cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone.
BURRELL was a leader of BMB. On February 11, 2009, he attempted to murder a rival gang member by shooting him in the back. One of BURRELL’s bullets also struck a woman waiting at a bus stop. Both victims survived. BURRELL was also responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of oxycodone by BMB.
BURRELL, 25, was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang Squad (the “Bronx Gang Squad”), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang Unit (“HSI”), the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx. On April 27, 2016, Indictment 15 Cr. 95 (AJN) was unsealed, charging 63 members and associates of BMB with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms charges. One defendant remains in the case, scheduled for trial in May 2018.
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Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Investigation, NYCHA Inspector General’s Office, and the New York State Department of Parole for their ongoing support in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Maimin, Micah W.J. Smith, Hagan Scotten, Jessica Feinstein, and Drew Skinner are in charge of the prosecution.
Justice Department Seeks to Denaturalize Two Foreign-Convicted War Criminals Who Fraudulently Obtained Refugee Status and Naturalized into U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed denaturalization lawsuits against two convicted war criminals and natives of the former Yugoslavia, who according to the Department’s complaints, murdered civilians and prisoners of war because of their religion and ethnicity, then fraudulently obtained refugee status and later naturalized into U.S. citizenship by concealing their crimes. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the District of Oregon and the District of Columbia.
“War criminals will find no safe haven or shelter within the United States,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We will be steadfast as we investigate and prosecute human rights violators, torturers, and war criminals. This is especially true for those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. For too long, we have tolerated egregious fraud in our refugee program, our immigration system, and the naturalization process. This Administration will hold alleged fraudsters accountable.”
“We at DHS are committed to working with our partners across the federal government to target those who seek to break our immigration laws to obtain U.S. citizenship. There will be consequences,” said Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from the Department of Homeland Security. “National security is homeland security and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated. Those who abuse our generous immigration system take opportunities away from those who follow our laws and who undoubtedly deserve U.S. citizenship.”
Today’s lawsuits allege that Edin Dzeko, 46, and Sammy Rasema Yetisen, aka Rasema Handanovic, aka Zolja, 45, were part of an elite unit of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that attacked the village of Trusina on April 16, 1993, in what is known as the Trusina massacre. The unit targeted Bosnian Croats who resided in the village because of their Christian religion and Croat ethnicity, killing 22 unarmed individuals including women and the elderly. A Bosnian court previously found that Dzeko and Yetisen played key roles in the massacre: both were part of a firing squad that executed six unarmed prisoners of war and civilians, and Yetisen proceeded to make sure all six were dead by shooting them again. In addition to his participation in the firing squad, Dzeko also killed a crippled elderly man, and then shot the man’s wife in the back, killing her because she would not stop crying.
According to the complaints, Dzeko’s and Yetisen’s actions came to light in 2011 when the United States granted their extradition to Bosnia and Herzegovina at that country’s treaty-based request. In April 2012, Yetisen was convicted in a Bosnia court pursuant to a guilty plea of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians based on the firing squad execution-style killings. In exchange for her plea and cooperation, Yetisen was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. In June 2014, Dzeko was convicted in Bosnia court of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians, and held responsible for the eight killings described above, in part based on Yetisen’s testimony against him. Yetisen has been released from prison and resides in Oregon. Dzeko is still serving his sentence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Before their war crimes had come to light, Dzeko and Yetisen each requested and received refugee status from the United States, claiming themselves to be victims of persecution. The complaints allege that Dzeko and Yetisen concealed and affirmatively misrepresented their criminal history, military service, and persecutory acts throughout their immigration proceedings. Such benefits would have been denied had immigration authorities known about the defendants’ roles in the Trusina massacre.
“The United States has been a safe haven and symbol of hope for people fleeing from persecution, not for war criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia. “The actions taken in the District of Columbia and in Oregon today demonstrate that we will use every tool to ensure the integrity of our refugee programs.”
“The United States is a refuge for those fleeing violence and the atrocities of war, not those responsible for these unthinkable acts,” said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon. “I applaud the hard work and coordination of law enforcement across the country that culminated in these lawsuits.”
Today’s civil denaturalization cases follow on the recent criminal conviction of a Bosnia Serb residing in North Carolina for making materially false claims and statements on his initial application for refugee status, which involved similar concealment of service in a military unit involved in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre that resulted in the deaths of between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men.
The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit), with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Human Rights Law Section and Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The cases are being jointly prosecuted by Deputy Chief Timothy Belsan and Senior Counsel for National Security Aram Gavoor of OIL-DCS’s NS/A Unit and Trial Attorney Steven Platt of OIL-DCS, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynne Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cox of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The claims made in these complaints are allegations only, and there have been no determinations of liability.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form; or the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section at 1-202-616-2492. Callers may remain anonymous.
Justice Department Seeks to Denaturalize Two Foreign-Convicted War Criminals Who Fraudulently Obtained Refugee Status and Naturalized into U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today filed denaturalization lawsuits against two convicted war criminals and natives of the former Yugoslavia, who according to the Department’s complaints, murdered civilians and prisoners of war because of their religion and ethnicity, then fraudulently obtained refugee status and later naturalized into U.S. citizenship by concealing their crimes. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the District of Oregon and the District of Columbia.
“War criminals will find no safe haven or shelter within the United States,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We will be steadfast as we investigate and prosecute human rights violators, torturers, and war criminals. This is especially true for those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. For too long, we have tolerated egregious fraud in our refugee program, our immigration system, and the naturalization process. This Administration will hold alleged fraudsters accountable.”
“We at DHS are committed to working with our partners across the federal government to target those who seek to break our immigration laws to obtain U.S. citizenship. There will be consequences,” said Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from the Department of Homeland Security. “National security is homeland security and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated. Those who abuse our generous immigration system take opportunities away from those who follow our laws and who undoubtedly deserve U.S. citizenship.”
Today’s lawsuits allege that Edin Dzeko, 46, and Sammy Rasema Yetisen, aka Rasema Handanovic, aka Zolja, 45, were part of an elite unit of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that attacked the village of Trusina on April 16, 1993, in what is known as the Trusina massacre. The unit targeted Bosnian Croats who resided in the village because of their Christian religion and Croat ethnicity, killing 22 unarmed individuals including women and the elderly. A Bosnian court previously found that Dzeko and Yetisen played key roles in the massacre: both were part of a firing squad that executed six unarmed prisoners of war and civilians, and Yetisen proceeded to make sure all six were dead by shooting them again. In addition to his participation in the firing squad, Dzeko also killed a crippled elderly man, and then shot the man’s wife in the back, killing her because she would not stop crying.
According to the complaints, Dzeko’s and Yetisen’s actions came to light in 2011 when the United States granted their extradition to Bosnia and Herzegovina at that country’s treaty-based request. In April 2012, Yetisen was convicted in a Bosnia court pursuant to a guilty plea of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians based on the firing squad execution-style killings. In exchange for her plea and cooperation, Yetisen was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. In June 2014, Dzeko was convicted in Bosnia court of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians, and held responsible for the eight killings described above, in part based on Yetisen’s testimony against him. Yetisen has been released from prison and resides in Oregon. Dzeko is still serving his sentence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Before their war crimes had come to light, Dzeko and Yetisen each requested and received refugee status from the United States, claiming themselves to be victims of persecution. The complaints allege that Dzeko and Yetisen concealed and affirmatively misrepresented their criminal history, military service, and persecutory acts throughout their immigration proceedings. Such benefits would have been denied had immigration authorities known about the defendants’ roles in the Trusina massacre.
“The United States has been a safe haven and symbol of hope for people fleeing from persecution, not for war criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia. “The actions taken in the District of Columbia and in Oregon today demonstrate that we will use every tool to ensure the integrity of our refugee programs.”
“The United States is a refuge for those fleeing violence and the atrocities of war, not those responsible for these unthinkable acts,” said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon. “I applaud the hard work and coordination of law enforcement across the country that culminated in these lawsuits.”
Today’s civil denaturalization cases follow on the recent criminal conviction of a Bosnia Serb residing in North Carolina for making materially false claims and statements on his initial application for refugee status, which involved similar concealment of service in a military unit involved in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre that resulted in the deaths of between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men.
The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit), with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Human Rights Law Section and Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The cases are being jointly prosecuted by Deputy Chief Timothy Belsan and Senior Counsel for National Security Aram Gavoor of OIL-DCS’s NS/A Unit and Trial Attorney Steven Platt of OIL-DCS, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynne Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cox of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The claims made in these complaints are allegations only, and there have been no determinations of liability.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form; or the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section at 1-202-616-2492. Callers may remain anonymous.
Justice Department Seeks to Denaturalize Two Foreign-Convicted War Criminals Who Fraudulently Obtained Refugee Status and Naturalized into U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today filed denaturalization lawsuits against two convicted war criminals and natives of the former Yugoslavia, who according to the Department’s complaints, murdered civilians and prisoners of war because of their religion and ethnicity, then fraudulently obtained refugee status and later naturalized into U.S. citizenship by concealing their crimes. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the District of Oregon and the District of Columbia.
“War criminals will find no safe haven or shelter within the United States,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We will be steadfast as we investigate and prosecute human rights violators, torturers, and war criminals. This is especially true for those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. For too long, we have tolerated egregious fraud in our refugee program, our immigration system, and the naturalization process. This Administration will hold alleged fraudsters accountable.”
“We at DHS are committed to working with our partners across the federal government to target those who seek to break our immigration laws to obtain U.S. citizenship. There will be consequences,” said Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from the Department of Homeland Security. “National security is homeland security and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated. Those who abuse our generous immigration system take opportunities away from those who follow our laws and who undoubtedly deserve U.S. citizenship.”
Today’s lawsuits allege that Edin Dzeko, 46, and Sammy Rasema Yetisen, aka Rasema Handanovic, aka Zolja, 45, were part of an elite unit of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that attacked the village of Trusina on April 16, 1993, in what is known as the Trusina massacre. The unit targeted Bosnian Croats who resided in the village because of their Christian religion and Croat ethnicity, killing 22 unarmed individuals including women and the elderly. A Bosnian court previously found that Dzeko and Yetisen played key roles in the massacre: both were part of a firing squad that executed six unarmed prisoners of war and civilians, and Yetisen proceeded to make sure all six were dead by shooting them again. In addition to his participation in the firing squad, Dzeko also killed a crippled elderly man, and then shot the man’s wife in the back, killing her because she would not stop crying.
According to the complaints, Dzeko’s and Yetisen’s actions came to light in 2011 when the United States granted their extradition to Bosnia and Herzegovina at that country’s treaty-based request. In April 2012, Yetisen was convicted in a Bosnia court pursuant to a guilty plea of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians based on the firing squad execution-style killings. In exchange for her plea and cooperation, Yetisen was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. In June 2014, Dzeko was convicted in Bosnia court of war crimes against prisoners of war and war crimes against civilians, and held responsible for the eight killings described above, in part based on Yetisen’s testimony against him. Yetisen has been released from prison and resides in Oregon. Dzeko is still serving his sentence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Before their war crimes had come to light, Dzeko and Yetisen each requested and received refugee status from the United States, claiming themselves to be victims of persecution. The complaints allege that Dzeko and Yetisen concealed and affirmatively misrepresented their criminal history, military service, and persecutory acts throughout their immigration proceedings. Such benefits would have been denied had immigration authorities known about the defendants’ roles in the Trusina massacre.
“The United States has been a safe haven and symbol of hope for people fleeing from persecution, not for war criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia. “The actions taken in the District of Columbia and in Oregon today demonstrate that we will use every tool to ensure the integrity of our refugee programs.”
“The United States is a refuge for those fleeing violence and the atrocities of war, not those responsible for these unthinkable acts,” said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon. “I applaud the hard work and coordination of law enforcement across the country that culminated in these lawsuits.”
Today’s civil denaturalization cases follow on the recent criminal conviction of a Bosnia Serb residing in North Carolina for making materially false claims and statements on his initial application for refugee status, which involved similar concealment of service in a military unit involved in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre that resulted in the deaths of between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men.
The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS) National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit), with consultation and support from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Human Rights Law Section and Seattle Office of the Chief Counsel, and the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The cases are being jointly prosecuted by Deputy Chief Timothy Belsan and Senior Counsel for National Security Aram Gavoor of OIL-DCS’s NS/A Unit and Trial Attorney Steven Platt of OIL-DCS, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynne Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cox of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The claims made in these complaints are allegations only, and there have been no determinations of liability.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals or naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged to call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form; or the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section at 1-202-616-2492. Callers may remain anonymous
NOTE: The relevant court documents can be found here: Dzeko Complaint for Denaturalization and Yetisen Complaint for Denaturalization
Judge Sentences Cambria County Woman to 6 Years in Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Portage, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court in Johnstown to 72 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on her conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Dawn M. Strayer, 36.
According to information presented to the court, on May 18, 2016, Strayer distributed less than 100 grams of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Strayer.
Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa. pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Daniel Culmer, 50, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on June 7, 2016, Culmer distributed less than 100 grams of heroin.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for August 2, 2018, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Culmer.
Houston Resident Heads to Prison for Multiple Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old man from Houston has been ordered to prison for his convictions of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Samier Patrick Clark pleaded guilty to all charges Nov, 1, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Clark to 151 months in prison. At the hearing, the court heard that the images and videos included children under the age of five and that more than 50 videos were longer than five minutes in length with some as long as 45 minutes. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Clark had been engaged in this type of behavior for seven years. Clark will serve a minimum of 10 years on 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. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Clark first came to the attention of law enforcement in September 2016 after multiple images of child pornography were found associated with his online account. Authorities discovered Clark used a peer-to-peer network to obtain child pornography and later conducted a search of his residence, leading to the discovery of 68 videos and 143 images. Some of the images are of known victims identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Clark admitted ownership of the child pornography as well as the online account and computer media he used to obtain it.
At the time of his plea, Clark admitted to using peer-to-peer software to search for, download and obtain child pornography. He also admitted to distributing the child pornography through his online account.
Clark was ordered into custody following his guilty plea where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie N. Searle is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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."
Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
William Maradiaga-Oseguera, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. Maradiaga-Oseguera will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In January 2018, Maradiaga-Oseguera pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
On Aug. 29, 2017, law enforcement officers in Boston encountered Maradiaga-Oseguera and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Maradiaga-Oseguera was previously deported on March 27, 2009; March 17, 2012; July 9, 2012; and Nov. 13, 2013.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Hamburg Man Who Fled Country Sentenced for Wire FraudRead 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 Michael Wilson, 31, formerly of Hamburg, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to 108 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen Jr., who handled the criminal case, and Richard D. Kaufman, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Asset Forfeiture and Financial Litigation Unit, stated that Wilson defrauded investors out of more than $10,000,000 between June 2008 and July 2010. The defendant created several fraudulent investment companies known collectively as “New Frontier,” including such names as “Phantom Holdings” and others, all purportedly located at 6553 Boston State Road in Hamburg, adjacent to his residence. Wilson thereafter induced individuals and companies to invest in financial instruments with complex sounding names, such as “leveraging agreements,” that promised high-yield earnings and returns.
Rather than investing clients’ money, the defendant spent it on a variety of personal items, including $2,500,000 for a down payment for Boston State Road properties, automobiles - including a Hummer, a Corvette, two Land Rovers, and a Mercedes ML 500 - artwork, and other items. In addition, in January 2009, Wilson paid $1,800 to hire an actor from a talent agency to portray a person using the name of his alias “George Possiodis,” which name and persona the defendant used during his scheme.
As part of his sentence, a judgement in the amount of $5,617,750.00 has been entered against him. This will allow the government to forfeit the proceeds of his fraudulent activities along with any interest he has in several bank accounts in Canada, Singapore, and the Grenadines. The defendant also forfeited his interest in two condominiums in downtown Toronto, a bank account in Singapore containing over $60,000, as well as $50,000 in lieu of two villas he had built in Vietnam. Early on in the investigation, the Government seized and forfeited Wilson’s luxury automobiles and expensive artwork. In 2017, four accounts, which contained approximately $950,000, at the Euro Pacific Bank were forfeited by Judge Skretny. Finally, Wilson transferred ownership to the Government of several computers and smart phones he used in his fraudulent investment schemes. The government plans to use all of the forfeited proceeds towards victim restitution.
Wilson, a dual citizen of Canada, traveled to the Toronto area after learning he was under investigation. After being arrested in Canada in July 2013, Wilson was released on conditions and challenged extradition to the United States in Canadian Courts. Before his final appearance in Canadian Court, in February 2016, Wilson chartered a private jet and flew to Vietnam with his wife, mother, and three dogs. Wilson was arrested in Vietnam in June 2016, and returned to the United States in December 2016.
“Despite his efforts to flee and to hide, Michael Wilson was ultimately unable to outrun or escape his criminal past,” said U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Although his fraud and dishonesty gave him temporary possession of luxury items, including residences around the globe, fancy cars, and expensive works of art, the one thing that he will be able to hold onto the longest will be the bars of his jail cell. Fortunately, through the tremendous work of this Office and our law enforcement partners, we were able to forfeit significant assets, which will be used to help to make restitution to the victims of Wilson’s crimes. Hopefully, today’s lengthy sentence, combined with the forfeiture of Wilson’s ill-gotten gains will help to send the message that truly ‘crime does not pay,’ thereby deterring others from ever engaging in similar conduct.”
"By the time Michael Wilson was 21 years old, he was comfortable stealing money from people, and he was good at it," said FBI Buffalo Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons. "When he realized his investment schemes were unraveling he became even better at trying to hide that stolen money -- and himself -- in multiple countries across the globe. Today, almost 10 years later, Michael Wilson found out the real cost of his crimes. The FBI is committed to protecting American citizens and pursing criminals wherever they try to hide."
The sentencing the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Kevin P. Lyons, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, James D. Robnett; Toronto Police Service; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security; and other law enforcement partners, including LEGAT, Seoul, Korea, and the U.S. State Department.Greenwich Man Admits to Stealing $889,000 from EmployersRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GEORGES AVRIDOR, 42, of Greenwich and Stamford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to a fraud offense related to his theft of more than $800,000 from two individuals in Greenwich.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 2013 and October 2016, AVRIDOR stole personal bank checks from two Greenwich residents who employed him as a driver. He then made the checks payable either to “Cash” or to himself for various amounts of money and forged the signature of one of his employers on the checks. He then cashed the checks at a bank or had the proceeds deposited into a bank account that he controlled. AVRIDOR stole a total of $889,425 through this scheme.
AVRIDOR pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
AVRIDOR was arrested on June 30, 2017. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Greenwich Police Department, U.S. Secret Service and Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Greenville Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced DEVIN LAMAR EBRON, 32, of Greenville, to 164 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
EBRON was named in a two-count Indictment filed on May 10, 2017. On January 16, 2018, EBRON pled guilty to two-counts of Distribution of a Quantity of Cocaine Base (Crack).
In March 2016, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Greenville, North Carolina, began investigating the narcotics distribution activity of EBRON after a confidential informant (CI) indicated he/she could purchase cocaine base (crack) from EBRON. As a result of the information, two controlled purchases of crack were made from EBRON using a CI. In addition to the controlled purchases, the CI observed an unknown amount of crack in EBRON’S vehicle during one of the purchases that appeared to be ready to distribute. EBRON further informed the CI that EBRON had guns here and there, but no firearm was recovered in either purchase.
The Sentencing Court afforded specific consideration to EBRON’S criminal history when fashioning the sentence. Specifically, the Court noted the multiple drug trafficking related felonies on EBRON’S record and the need to deter similar conduct in the future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) and the Greenville Police Department conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Bradford Knott handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
Four East Central Illinois Men Indicted on Possession of Machine Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – The federal grand jury in Springfield today returned an indictment that charges Michael Hari, 47; Joe Morris, 22; Michael McWhorter, 29; and, Ellis Mack, 18, all of Clarence, Ill., a rural community in east central Illinois, with possession of a machine gun. The four men were previously arrested and charged with the offense in a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on March 13, 2018.
The men will make their respective initial appearances on the indictment in federal court in Urbana on a date to be determined by the U.S. Clerk of the Court.
The indictment alleges that the four men were in possession of a machine gun from October 2017, up to and including Feb. 27, 2018.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Springfield Division; FBI Minneapolis Division; University of Illinois Police Department; Ford County Sheriff’s Office; Champaign Police Department; Illinois State Police; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Urbana Division, Central District of Illinois, working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
The men have been ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Forney Man Sentenced to 480 Months in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing and/or Producing Child Pornography of at Least Ten BoysRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Kevin Scott Morris, 45, of Forney, Texas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade to 480 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release, following his guilty plea in December 2017 to one count of enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
According to the factual resume and criminal complaint filed in the case, from at least 2009 through the time of Morris’ arrest in this case in 2016, Morris held himself out to parents and children as a member of law enforcement, a photographer, and a film director. In so doing, he convinced at least ten children and their parents to allow him to photograph the children, film the children, and even travel with Morris for the purpose of film and photography sessions that his victims thought would lead to modeling or acting careers. During these “sessions,” Morris built up the trust of, and groomed, several boys who he then sexually abused and/or used to create child pornography.
Law enforcement learned of Morris’ abuse when one of his victims made an outcry that Morris had sexually abused him when he was thirteen years old. When Morris was arrested, law enforcement uncovered numerous videos and images of Morris sexually abusing several other children. In addition, Morris possessed child pornography that he did not produce, including videos of toddlers being sexually abused and a video of a prepubescent boy being raped with his hands tied behind his back.
Morris and the government entered into a plea agreement, in which both parties agreed to the term of imprisonment.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state and local resources to better investigate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children. Project Safe Childhood also prioritizes identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”
The FBI, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cypress Police Department in California investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie L. Hoxie prosecuted.
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Former St. Joseph Business Owner Sentenced for $1.5 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for leading a $1.5 million tax fraud scheme.
Dinorah Lynn Stoll-Weaver, 50, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Stoll-Weaver to pay $1,493,991 in restitution to the government for unpaid personal and business taxes.
On July 28, 2017, Stoll-Weaver pleaded guilty to failing to pay over employee payroll taxes to the IRS.
Beginning in 2001, Stoll-Weaver owned and operated Homeward Bound Health Services, Inc., a home health provider located in St. Joseph. Her sister and co-defendant, Dawn Langlais (formerly Ankrom-Brown), 60, of St. Joseph, was vice president and helped to operate the business. Between 2001 and 2010, Homeward Bound collected employment taxes from employees but did not pay them over to the IRS. The IRS notified Homeward Bound as early as 2004 that employment taxes were not paid. Revenue investigators had regular contact with Stoll-Weaver. From 2004 to 2009, Homeward Bound failed to pay $326,209 in employment taxes it had withheld from employees.
To avoid responsibility for their debts and theft of tax money, Stoll-Weaver and Langlais converted Homeward Bound into Silver Linings in 2010, using their parents as straw owners and operators.
For 13 years, from 2002 to 2012, Homeward Bound/Silver Linings withheld and failed to pay a total of $1,459,727 in Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax.
Stoll-Weaver also withheld employees’ IRA contributions, medical and dental insurance payments and child support, and kept those withholdings as income for herself and other relatives. The theft of these payments had negative collateral consequences for their employees. Two employees filed lawsuits against Homeward Bound for money that Homeward Bound withheld from their paychecks, such as for child support, but did not pay as obligated. Stoll-Weaver retaliated against one of the employees by firing her; when the employee filed for unemployment benefits, her request was denied because Homeward Bound had not paid unemployment taxes.
Over the years, Stoll-Weaver represented to the IRS that the business was losing money, however, each of the principal employees, including Stoll-Weaver and her husband and co-defendant, Thad Weaver, 46, of St. Joseph, paid themselves well, in both reported and unreported income. From 2007 to 2012, Stoll-Weaver earned a total of $579,674 in unreported income.
During the course of the conspiracy, Stoll-Weaver filed false income and expense reports with IRS collections regarding her outstanding tax debts.
Langlais also pleaded guilty to failing to pay over employee payroll taxes to the IRS and was sentenced on Jan. 30, 2018, to 18 months in federal prison without parole.
Langlais and Stoll-Weaver admitted they received income from Homeward Bound and Silver Linings, which they failed to report on their individual federal income tax forms, and as a result, underpaid their federal income taxes. Langlais willfully failed to make an income tax return or pay personal income taxes from 2010 to 2012, for a total personal tax loss of $56,860.
Weaver and Stoll-Weaver were married and filed individual income tax returns for 2010 through 2012; Stoll-Weaver filed a separate return in 2009. Their combined unreported income was at least $257,827. Weaver’s total personal tax loss was at least $27,488. Stoll-Weaver’s personal tax loss was $34,264.
Langlais employed her daughter, co-defendant Jennifer Sturgis, 39, of St. Joseph, at Homeward Bound and Silver Linings. Weaver and Sturgis each pleaded guilty to making false statements on a tax return and were sentenced to five years of probation.
Weaver and Sturgis admitted they received income from Homeward Bound and Silver Linings, which they failed to report on their individual federal income tax forms, and as a result, underpaid their federal income taxes.
Sturgis willfully failed to make an income tax return or pay personal income taxes from 2007 to 2012, for a total personal tax loss of $148,347, including relevant conduct.
Additionally, from 2009 to 2012, Stoll-Weaver, Weaver and Sturgis each claimed personal federal income tax refunds, knowing that Homeward Bound and Silver Linings had not paid any income taxes to the IRS.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation.
Former Officers of New Mexico-Based Defense Contractor Sentenced for Convictions Arising Out of Fraudulent Kickback Scheme Relating to Iraq Rebuilding EffortsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two former officers of a New Mexico-based defense contracting firm were sentenced late yesterday afternoon in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., for convictions arising out of their involvement in a scheme to solicit and accept kickbacks in return for favorable treatment in awarding subcontracts relating to wartime rebuilding projects in Iraq.
Senior U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez sentenced Neal Kasper, 68, of Great Falls, MT, to 41 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. Kasper also was ordered to forfeit to the United States $431,911, which represents part of the net profit he derived from the crimes with which he was charged in this case. Of this amount, Kasper is wholly responsible for $303,084 and jointly responsible with White for $136,827. Judge Vazquez sentenced Kasper’s wife, Tiffany White, 51, of Cibolo, Tex., to one day of imprisonment, or time served, followed by two years of supervised release. White also was ordered to pay $33,997 in restitution to the IRS and to forfeit jointly with Kasper $136,827 to the United States.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez, Jr., of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Janice M. Flores of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southwest Field Office in Arlington, Tex.
Kasper and White are former officers of a New Mexico-based defense contractor, who, together with Bradley Christiansen and Sara Christiansen, both of Albuquerque, and four foreign nationals, were charged with conspiring to defraud the United States of more than $5 million through wire fraud in an indictment filed in Feb. 2012. The indictment also charged the defendants with wire fraud offenses and with offering and receiving illegal kickbacks. In addition, Kasper, White, Christiansen and Sara Christiansen were charged with money laundering offenses, and Christiansen with tax evasion offenses. The indictment was superseded in Aug. 2013, after Christiansen entered a guilty plea and the charges against Sara Christiansen and one of the foreign nationals were dismissed. Kasper and White entered guilty pleas in Feb. 2016.
According to court filings, during the Iraqi war and continuing through 2011, the United States funded numerous construction and rebuilding projects in Iraq and Jordan, including contracts administered by the United States Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE). Laguna Construction Company, Inc. (LCC), a minority disadvantaged business wholly owned by the Pueblo of Laguna, successfully bid and was awarded multiple contracts, including AFCEE contracts, for wartime reconstruction and rebuilding projects in Iraq and Jordan. From 2003 through 2009, LCC administered more than $350 million of Iraqi and Jordanian reconstruction contracts.
LCC was required to award subcontracts to foreign companies by generating requests for proposals and soliciting independent subcontract bids from qualified foreign companies. All subcontract bids were required to be independently prepared by the subcontractors without collusion from LCC, and LCC was required objectively to evaluate the bids and to award the subcontracts to the lowest qualified bidders. LCC and its personnel were prohibited from accepting anything of value, whether gifts, bribes or kickbacks, from the bidders. According to the superseding indictment, from Jan. 2004 through Feb. 2009, Kasper, Christiansen and White, who were officers and employees of LCC but not members of the Pueblo of Laguna, conspired with the four foreign nationals to defraud the United States of more than $5 million. They also conspired to launder the illegal kickbacks they received from the foreign nationals to conceal the unlawful nature of the proceeds.
Court filings reflect that AFCEE awarded two prime contracts to LCC relating to United States’ reconstruction efforts in Iraq, which required LCC to serve as a prime contractor and provide construction management services in response to task orders from AFCEE. From 2003 through 2009, LCC received and administered approximately $397 million through the two contracts which contemplated that LCC would award work to subcontractors to complete reconstruction projects. Christiansen was hired as a LCC division manager in 2002 by Kasper, who was then president of LCC, and became LCC’s operations manager and vice president of operations in 2005. In that capacity, Christiansen oversaw all LCC Iraq reconstruction projects under the supervision of Kasper, who was in charge of all of LCC’s construction operations, including those involving wartime reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Jordan.
Beginning in Dec. 2004, Kasper, Christiansen, White and others sought and obtained payments for task orders under the prime contracts under false pretenses by repeatedly certifying that all subcontracts were awarded pursuant to competitive bidding procedures when in fact they were accepting kickbacks from subcontractors in return for awarding subcontracts to them. From Dec. 2004 through Feb. 2009, Kasper, Christiansen, White and others conspired with the four foreign nationals to defraud the United States by soliciting and accepting kickbacks from the foreign nationals in return for awarding them subcontracts. Kasper and Christiansen accepted numerous kickbacks from the foreign nationals.
During his change of plea hearing on Feb. 26, 2016, Kasper pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to provide, solicit and accept kickbacks. In his plea agreement, Kasper admitted that from Dec. 2005 through Feb. 2009, while he was President of LCC, he conspired with others to accept improper payments from subcontractors in connection with subcontracts let by LCC. Kasper also admitted accepting wire transfers totaling $204,356 in improper payments from subcontractors between April 2007 and Nov. 2008.
Also on Feb. 26, 2016, White pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in the superseding indictment and a felony information charging her with one count of filing a false tax return. In her plea agreement, White admitted that while she was LCC’s Compliance Manager for federal contracts, she submitted subcontract bids to Kasper and Christiansen without proper compliance review and with knowledge that the bids would be altered so that particular subcontractors would be selected. The selected subcontractors then paid kickbacks to Kasper, Christiansen and White. White’s plea agreement provides details of how the kickback scheme operated and how Kasper, Christiansen and she used illegal kickbacks to pay for improvements to their homes and for other personal purposes. White also admitted failing to declare $93,912 she received in illegal kickbacks as income when she filed her 2008 federal tax return.
Christiansen pled guilty in July 2013, to conspiracy to provide, solicit and accept kickbacks and to solicitation and receipt of kickbacks and tax evasion, respectively. In his plea agreement, Christiansen admitted receiving his first kickback in Dec. 2004, through Kasper, who had received a $20,000 kickback and shared half with Christiansen. According to Christiansen, from Jan. 2005 through Feb. 2009, Kasper and he received numerous kickbacks from the foreign nationals, which they split 50/50. In addition to approximately $360,000 in monetary kickbacks, Christiansen also admitting to receiving a 2006 Porsche Cayman valued at $65,163, a Ford GT350 Shelby valued at $290,000, several watches valued at an aggregate of $103,800 as kickbacks from the foreign nationals. Christiansen also admitted that he willfully failed to declare the kickback payments and assets he received from the foreign nationals as personal income when filing his federal income tax returns in 2006, 2007 and 2008. As a result, Christiansen evaded approximately $389,413 in federal taxes.
The three foreign nationals who remain under indictment, Ramzi Snobar and Yacoub Snobar, citizens of Jordan, and Mustapha Ahmad, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Great Britain, have yet to be arrested and are considered fugitives. The charges in the indictment against these three defendants are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathon M. Gerson and Shana B. Long, and was investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, the Albuquerque office of IRS Criminal Investigation, the Southwest Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kotz is handling the related forfeiture proceedings.
Former Jefferson Parish Chief Deputy Craig A. Taffaro SentencedRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CRAIG A. TAFFARO, age 70, of Harvey, a former Chief Deputy for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced today to five years’ probation, a $10,000 fine, and $75,614 in restitution.
TAFFARO was convicted at trial of willfully attempting to evade tax due and owing by filing returns with false and exaggerated business expenses for tax years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 and was also convicted for willfully failing to file a tax return when required by law for tax year 2014.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Chandra Menon, Tracey Knight, and David Sinkman were in charge of the prosecution.
Former Employee of Bernalillo Public Schools Pleads Guilty to Federal Program Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Antoinette Garcia, 45, of Bernalillo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to committing federal program fraud.
Garcia was indicted on June 28, 2017, and was charged with committing federal program fraud by embezzling federal education grant funds received by the Bernalillo Public Schools system between Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2015. According to the indictment, the Bernalillo Public Schools system received benefits in excess of $10,000 of federal education grants in 2014 and 2015. The indictment alleged that, during each of those two years, Garcia was an agent of the Bernalillo Public Schools system and embezzled and stole at least $5,000 that had been entrusted to the Schools system. The indictment alleged that Garcia committed the offenses in Sandoval County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Garcia pled guilty to the indictment, and admitted that in 2014 and 2015, she stole between $40,000 and $95,000 intended for the Bernalillo Public Schools system. Garcia admitted stealing funds that were intended to pay for childrens’ education and supplies, and by writing herself checks with school money instead of paying school-related expenses.
At sentencing, Garcia faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and restitution as ordered by the Court. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec.
Former Arkansas Juvenile Detention Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Juvenile DetaineeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that former White River Juvenile Detention Center officer Jason Benton, 43, pleaded guilty today in federal court to using pepper spray to assault a fifteen-year-old boy, and for obstructing justice by falsifying an incident report about that assault.
According to the guilty plea, Benton instructed the juvenile, who was locked in his cell, to be quiet. Benton then had the juvenile’s cell door opened and ordered the juvenile to come out of his cell with his mattress. The juvenile picked up his mattress as instructed. As the juvenile turned to face the cell door, holding the mattress in both arms, Benton pepper sprayed the juvenile in the face from a distance of a few inches. Benton continued spraying the juvenile as he tried to turn his head away from the spray. Benton then took the juvenile to the ground. Benton covered up the assault when he falsified an incident report, saying that the juvenile had attempted to lunge at him with his fists clenched, when in fact the juvenile had posed no physical threat.
Benton is the third former officer to plead guilty to charges stemming from assaults on juvenile detainees at the White River Juvenile Detention Center. On April 26, 2017, former White River supervisors Captain Peggy Kendrick, 44, and Lieutenant Dennis Fuller, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assault juvenile detainees. Kendrick also pleaded guilty to assaulting a sixteen-year-old girl using pepper spray and for obstructing justice. Kendrick and Fuller await sentencing. Two other former White River Juvenile Detention Center officers, Will Ray, 26, and Thomas Farris, 48, are scheduled to begin trial on Aug. 28, before Senior United States District Judge Billy Roy Wilson in Little Rock on related charges of conspiring to assault and assaulting juveniles.
“Federal law protects all individuals – including those who are incarcerated – from the use of excessive force by those acting under color of law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who break the public trust in this way.”
“When law enforcement officers violate the law and the public trust, they will be prosecuted and held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Cody Hiland. “There will be no exception. This officer broke his oath to uphold the Constitution, injured a juvenile in the process, and then tried to cover it up. That is a crime, and those who commit crimes will be punished accordingly.”
Benton faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters of the Eastern District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
Former Arkansas Juvenile Detention Officer Pleads Guilty to Assault on Juvenile DetaineeRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the FBI, announced that former White River Juvenile Detention Center officer Jason Benton, 43, of Batesville, pleaded guilty today in federal court to using pepper spray to assault a 15-year-old boy, and for obstructing justice by falsifying an incident report about that assault.
A federal grand jury indicted Benton on May 5, 2017, on five counts related to violations of civil rights at the detention center. On Wednesday, before Senior U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson, Benton pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law and falsification of records. The White River Juvenile Detention Center is located in Batesville, Arkansas.
“When law enforcement officers violate the law and the public trust, they will be prosecuted and held accountable,” Hiland said. “There will be no exception. This officer broke his oath to uphold the Constitution, injured a juvenile in the process, and then tried to cover it up. That is a crime, and those who commit crimes will be punished accordingly.”
“The Constitution protects all individuals – including those who are incarcerated – from unjustified force by those acting under color of law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “We will vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who break the public trust in this way.”
According to the guilty plea, Benton instructed the juvenile, who was locked in his cell, to be quiet. Benton then had the juvenile’s cell door opened and ordered the juvenile to come out of his cell with his mattress. The juvenile picked up his mattress as instructed. As the juvenile turned to face the cell door, holding the mattress in both arms, Benton pepper sprayed the juvenile in the face from a distance of a few inches. Benton continued spraying the juvenile as he tried to turn his head away from the spray. Benton then took the juvenile to the ground. Benton covered up the assault when he falsified an incident report, saying that the juvenile had attempted to lunge at him with his fists clenched, when in fact the juvenile had posed no physical threat.
“Law enforcement officers are the cornerstone of our system of justice,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Upchurch said. “Benton failed as a law enforcement officer when he used excessive force and then tried to cover-up the assault. We appreciate the steadfast efforts made by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in effectively prosecuting this case.”
Benton is the third former officer to plead guilty to charges stemming from assaults on juvenile detainees at the White River Juvenile Detention Center. On April 26, 2017, former White River supervisors Captain Peggy Kendrick, 44, and Lieutenant Dennis Fuller, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assault juvenile detainees. Kendrick also pleaded guilty to assaulting a 16-year-old girl using pepper spray and for obstructing justice. Kendrick and Fuller await sentencing. Two other former White River Juvenile Detention Center officers, Will Ray, 26, and Thomas Farris, 48, are scheduled to begin trial on August 28, 2018, before Judge Wilson in Little Rock on related charges of conspiring to assault and assaulting juveniles.
The maximum potential penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) is 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) is 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Benton will be sentenced by Judge Wilson at a later date.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Field Division and the investigation is ongoing. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters of the Eastern District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line athttp://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter: @EDARNEWS
Benton Filed IndictmentFormer 22nd JDC District Attorney’s Office Investigator Sentenced to 37 Months After Previously Pleading Guilty to Soliciting and Receiving Sexual FavorsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MICHAEL J. COTTON, age 68, of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced today to thirty-seven (37) months in prison by United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle after previously pleading guilty to the one-count Bill of Information pending against him, charging COTTON with soliciting sexual favors from a woman in exchange for obtaining a bond reduction for her boyfriend.
According to court documents, COTTON worked as an Investigator with the Office of the District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District, which included St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. COTTON was responsible for investigating matters involving the issuance of bad checks, including initiating cases, reviewing records, interacting with victims, collecting fees and restitution from offenders, and obtaining warrants from municipal judges. COTTON also possessed and displayed a law enforcement badge and credentials, represented the DA’s Office in interactions with criminal defendants and witnesses in ongoing law enforcement investigations, and had access to sensitive case-related information. Furthermore, COTTON regularly corresponded with, had access to, and provided case-related recommendations to Assistant District Attorneys.
Between December 28, 2013, and July 10, 2015, COTTON offered to intervene in legal proceedings and obtain favorable legal outcomes, such as significant reductions in bond, for three (3) females charged with crimes within the 22nd Judicial District and their friends, family, and significant others who were charged with crimes in exchange for sexual favors. If females expressed reluctance, COTTON would either imply or state explicitly that he had the ability to influence the criminal justice system to exact harsher penalties against the females or their friends, families, or significant others.
For example, in July 2015, COTTON demanded sexual favors from a 23-year-old female identified as “Victim 1” in exchange for seeking a bond reduction for her boyfriend, who was a defendant in the Washington Parish jail, from $25,000 to a $30.00 signature bond. Between December 2013 and March 24, COTTON requested sexual favors from a 28-year-old female identified as “Victim 2” in exchange for arranging for her to retain custody of her minor children and eliminating a drug testing condition she had as the result of prior legal issues. COTTON told Victim 2 that he had strong relationships with, and possessed the power to influence, representatives of the Washington Parish Department of Children and Family Services, judges of the 22nd Judicial District, and the then-District Attorney, Walter Reed. In January 2014, COTTON used his position as Investigator to seek and obtain a significant bond reduction for an incarcerated 23-year-old female identified as “Victim 3” with whom he had a relationship that involved sexual activity. When, in February 2014, Victim 3 sought to end her sexual relationship with him, COTTON told her that he would use his position as Investigator to influence law enforcement authorities to imprison Victim 3 if she did not resume the sexual relationship.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.
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Fences Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar, Multi-State Criminal Theft OperationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two brothers are set to appear in court following the return of two indictments for their separate operations involving the possession and interstate transportation of stolen property, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
A federal grand jury returned the indictments March 28, 2018, against Yasser Saleh Ouwad, 47, of and Bilal Saleh Awad, 45, both of Houston. Luis Garcia-Oyuela, 33, a Honduran national who illegally resided in Houston is also charged for his role in Ouwad’s organization. Ouwad and Garcia-Oyuela are set for their arraignment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy at 10:00 a.m. Awad is scheduled for a detention hearing at 2:00 p.m. today before Judge Stacy. The indictment remains sealed as to others charged but not as yet in custody for their roles in the organizations.
Ouwad and Awad are alleged to have acted as high-level “fences” in multi-million dollar, multi-state criminal enterprises involving stolen over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, diabetic test strips and health and beauty supplies. The enterprises allegedly used “boosters” to steal OTC medication from large retailers.
A “booster” allegedly steals goods and merchandise not for personal use but for re-sale to a “fence” for a fraction of its retail value. A “fence” is a person who receives stolen goods and merchandise from “boosters” and others. The “fence” then re-sells the stolen goods and merchandise to third parties for a profit.
The scope of these criminal enterprises ranged from June 2015 to March 2018, according to the charges.
The indictment alleges Ouwad owned and operated Houston-based GPS Wholesale Inc. which he ran from his warehouse at 12440 Oxford Park, in Houston. At his warehouse, he and Garcia-Oyuela would receive stolen OTC, clean the products of anti-theft stickers and security labels, re-package the products into pallets and ship the merchandise to wholesale companies in the New Jersey, according to the charges. The indictment further alleges he hired undocumented aliens from Central America to travel throughout the United States to steal the OTC, beauty products and diabetic test strips from major retail chain stores such as Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens. He allegedly facilitated this interstate travel by fronting the boosters with travel money, wiring them money during their travels and paying the boosters for the stolen merchandise.
Awad allegedly ran a similar operation, but received his stolen merchandise at Cube Smart at 7001 Synott Road in Houston. The indictment alleges he cleaned and re-packaged the stolen OTC merchandise at his residence in Houston before shipping the product to a wholesale company in Oceanside, New York.
To avoid detection by law enforcement, the undocumented aliens would ship the stolen merchandise to Ouwad and Awad using fictitious names and company names, according to the charges. Once the stolen merchandise arrived in Houston, Awad and Ouwad or their associates would allegedly remove any retail store identifying labels and security features. The indictment alleges the fences would then have the stolen products repackaged and shipped to wholesalers in the Northeast for profit.
Authorities conducted a search of Ouwad’s warehouse on Feb. 27, 2018, at which time they seized almost $600,000 in stolen OTC as well as inventory lists and numerous items related to his alleged criminal activity. The following day, Awad was found with similar items related to his operation at his residence.
Ouwad, Awad and Garcia-Oyuela each face up to five years for conspiracy to transport stolen merchandise in interstate commerce as well as up to 10 years for each count of possessing and transporting interstate stolen merchandise. All charges also include a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Food and Drug Administration conducted the investigation with the cooperation of CVS, Walgreens, Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Abbott and Kroger. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Richard Hanes are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Felon Charged with Possessing Gun and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on April 3, named Tre Goins, age 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on June 23, 2017, Goins possessed a firearm and ammunition after having previously been convicted in state court of two separate cases involving firearms.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition. 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 Ross E. Lenhardt of the Violent Crimes Section is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. 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.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.