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Thursday 18 January 2018
Wynantskill Woman Pleads Guilty to Misusing Names of Government AgenciesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kristina Gross, age 37, of Wynantskill, New York, pled guilty today to misusing the names of the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a misdemeanor offense.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeastern Field Division of the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
As part of her guilty plea, Gross admitted that she worked for a construction services company in Rensselaer County, whose bank account had been levied by the IRS on February 14, 2017. On February 23, Gross twice emailed a bank employee what she claimed was an IRS release of levy form, in an unsuccessful attempt to induce the bank to provide her company with access to funds that the bank had frozen as a result of receiving the IRS levy.
Gross admitted that the document she sent to the bank on February 23 was forged, inaccurate and not approved or authorized by the Department of the Treasury or the IRS. She also knew that the document would create the false impression at the bank that the IRS had actually issued the document when, in fact, the IRS had not.
Gross faces up to a year in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine when she is sentenced on May 18, 2018 by United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case was investigated by TIGTA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
West Hartford Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and PCP to Overdose VictimRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHEN MALDONADO, also known as “Chewy,” 31, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and PCP to an overdose victim in 2016. Judge Underhill also ordered MALDONADO to pay restitution to the victim’s family to cover the victim’s funeral expenses.
This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 25, 2016, Bristol Police and emergency medical personal responded to a Bristol residence on a report of an untimely death and encountered a deceased 24-year-old female on a bed in the residence. At the scene, officers seized drug and non-drug evidence, including the victim’s cellphone, numerous wax folds that are typically used to package heroin, and two Naloxone injectors (one used and one unused) contained within an overdose kit. A witness at the scene reported that the victim had recently sought medical assistance for bleeding from the ears.
The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently determined that the victim died from fentanyl and PCP intoxication.
The investigation revealed that MALDONADO provided drugs to the victim shortly before her death. The victim’s cellphone contained numerous text messages between MALDONADO and the victim. In one text message sent the day before she was found dead, the victim stated “Omg! Im bleeding out my ears!! Wat did u giv me?”
MALDONADO was arrested on May 26, 2016. On September 26, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and phencyclidine (“PCP”).
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Bristol Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Waterville Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Darin Doe, 41, of Waterville, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. Doe pled guilty on July 12, 2017.
According to court records, on about November 4, 2015, Doe possessed over 7,000 computer files depicting images of child pornography. Many of these images, which he had purposely sought out and downloaded from the Internet, depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent girls under the age of 12. Doe was subject to a mandatory-minimum prison term of 10 years because of his 2002 federal conviction for receiving child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
Waterloo Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing GunRead the Press Release
A man who broke into a semi-truck and stole the driver’s firearm was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison.
Willie Johnson, age 46, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 29, 2017, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted he knowingly possessed the firearm, despite being a felon with previous convictions including assault by display of a weapon, carrying weapons, and possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver. Evidence at sentencing showed that Johnson obtained the firearm after breaking the windows of a semi-truck during a domestic dispute, and stealing the driver’s firearm when she fled to get help. Johnson was apprehended later that day with the firearm in his possession. Evidence also showed that Johnson, a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter, threatened the driver and her family members on multiple occasions in an attempt to dissuade her from testifying about his theft of the firearm.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
“Fighting violent crime is one of the highest priorities of this office and the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to send armed offenders to prison and make our communities safer.”
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ravi T. Narayan and Lyndie M. Freeman and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-2019.
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Valparaiso Man Sentenced to 60 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Brian Oliver, age 41, of Valparaiso, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody. Oliver was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment, and 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Brian Oliver, pled guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. On July 15, 2016, the defendant knowingly possessed a stolen firearm which was a Glock 19 9mm pistol, a firearm that had been shipped in interstate commerce before being stolen.
The case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Valparaiso Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Armando Salinas.
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Union Officer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, Aggravated ID TheftRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A former business manager and financial secretary for the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 40 in Rhode Island pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to charges that he embezzled approximately $319,795 in union funds.
Richard D’Antuono, 42, of Cranston, pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with embezzlement from a labor organization, embezzlement from an employee benefit plan, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Boston-Buffalo District Office.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, D’Antuono admitted to the Court that for two years, beginning in 2015, he embezzled approximately $319,795 from a union operational account and from an apprentice fund, an employee benefit plan used to finance training programs for apprentice plasterers and masons and for the retraining or refresher training of journeymen union members.
D’Antuono admitted to the Court that he made checks out to himself substantially in excess of his salary and a stipend to which he was entitled. In some instances, he had the authorized signatories sign blank checks, which he later used to embezzle funds from the operational account. In other instances, he forged the signature of the authorized signatories on checks. D’Antuono admitted that he also embezzled funds from the Apprenticeship Fund by writing checks payable to the Local 40 operation account and then embezzling the funds in the same manner.
D’Antuono was the sole full-time officer of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 40.
D’Antuono is scheduled to be sentenced on April 6, 2018. Embezzlement from a labor organization is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of $10,000 and a term of supervised release of 3 years. Embezzlement from an employee benefit plan is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 3 years. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by statutory penalties of mandatory term of two years imprisonment in addition to the sentence imposed on counts on the embezzlement charges.
The case is being prosecuted by John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards with the Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations - Labor Racketeering & Fraud, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $3,332,723.69 in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2017Read the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced today that the District of Maine collected $3,332,723.69 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. Of this amount, $2,755,431.76 was collected in criminal actions and $577,291.93 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the District of Maine worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $283,936.46 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $6,000 was collected in criminal actions and $277,936.46 was collected in civil actions.
Overall, the Justice Department collected just over $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the FY 2017 ending September 30, 2017.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Maine, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $915,194 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2017. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
U.S. Attorney Presents Program to Streamline Decision on State or Federal ProsecutionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town today presented Alabama district attorneys with a new program to boost collaboration between state and federal prosecutors in choosing which jurisdiction is best for prosecuting repeat offenders or defendants accused of serious criminal conduct.
Town detailed his Prosecutor-to-Prosecutor Program, or P3, at a statewide gathering of state prosecutors at The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover for the Alabama District Attorneys Association 2018 Winter Conference. Every district attorney in the Northern District of Alabama has agreed to participate in P3, he said.
P3 is a six-step process by which state and federal prosecutors jointly determine whether a criminal case should be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Town said. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s centerpiece program for fighting violent crime. PSN and P3 both underscore the need to target the worst offenders in the worst areas of crime in order to reduce violence.
“This program will advance the common goal of state and federal prosecutors to charge our worst offenders with the most serious, readily provable offense in whichever jurisdiction offers the greatest available sanction,” Town said.
P3 is designed to capture cases that, otherwise, would not come to the attention of federal prosecutors.
P3 liaisons in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and in each of the district attorney’s offices within the Northern District will ensure consistent communication among the prosecutorial agencies. DA’s offices also have received a “P3 Overlay” identifying state and federal criminal statutes with similar elements. Common elements that could trigger federal prosecution include use of a firearm, crossing of state lines, use of phones or internet to commit a crime, or victimizing an institution that is federally regulated or insured, or that receives federal grant funds.
“The training conducted today is the product of local, state and federal law enforcement representatives investing hundreds of hours to develop P3’s strategic framework,” Town said. “Prosecutors at all levels can now collectively target our worst offenders like never before.”
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U.S. Attorney Announces Senior Leadership TeamRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –United States Attorney Bill Powell has announced his Senior Leadership Team. Those appointed to the team bring a combined 109 years of service to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, and will assist Mr. Powell in the management of the Wheeling, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, and Elkins offices.
Those named are Randolph J. Bernard, First Assistant United States Attorney; Helen Campbell Altmeyer, Civil Division Chief; Paul T. Camilletti, Criminal Division Chief; Fawn E. Thomas, Administrative Officer; and Traci M. Cook, Branch Office Supervisor Clarksburg.
“I am excited about our team. We have important work to do, but I am confident we will get it done. The guidance and support I have already received has been invaluable. Along with our dedicated Assistant United States Attorneys and all of our support staff, we will continue to do the work of our district in a professional and unwavering manner,” said Powell.
Assistant United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard has been named First Assistant United States Attorney, after the retirement of former First Assistant Betsy Steinfeld Jividen. Mr. Bernard previously served as the Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Bernard joined the office in 2002. Mr. Bernard has also served as the District Office Security Manager. Before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Bernard served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Wheeling, West Virginia Resident Agency. Prior to the FBI, he was a litigator with Coolidge, Wall, Womsley & Lombard in Dayton, Ohio.
Helen Campbell Altmeyer will continue in her role at the Civil Division Chief. She has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division since 1989. Before joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Ms. Altmeyer was an Associate at Bachmann, Hess, Bachmann & Garden, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She also served as an Assistant County Prosecutor in Ohio County, West Virginia, where she was primarily responsible for handling child abuse and neglect cases.
Paul T. Camilletti has been named the Criminal Division Chief. Mr. Camilletti was most recently the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. He joined the office in 1991 as an Assistant United States Attorney responsible for Asset Forfeiture. He has also served as a task force attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. He presently serves as the National Security Cyber Specialist and Crisis Management Coordinator. Before joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Camilletti was a partner in the law firm of Camilletti & Sacco in Wheeling, West Virginia. He has also served as an assistant Prosecuting Attorney in both the Ohio County and Marshall County, West Virginia Prosecutor’s offices.
Fawn E. Thomas will continue in her role as Administrative Officer, serving as the Chief of the Administrative Division and as the primary advisor to the United States Attorney for planning and managing all office resources. Ms. Thomas has been with the office since 1983. Prior to her appointment as Administrative Officer, she served as the Public Affairs Specialist and the Human Resource Specialist. Ms. Thomas was previously an EEO Investigator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and an Evaluation and Review Staff Evaluator. Ms. Thomas also served on the Administrative Officers’ Working Group.
Traci M. Cook is the branch office supervisor in the Clarksburg office. Ms. Cook joined the office in 2016. Before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Cook was a senior assistant prosecuting attorney in Harrison County. She also served as an associate attorney at Reed Kimble PLLC in Morgantown, West Virginia. Prior to that, she was an assistant public defender in Clarksburg, West Virginia and an associate attorney at Seibert & Kasserman, LC in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Tyler County man admits to meth distribution and a firearm violationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Middlebourne, West Virginia man has admitted to a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
William “Jack” Parr, age 51, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess With Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.” Parr admitted to distributing methamphetamine from 2015 to August 2017 in Tyler County, West Virginia. Parr, having previously been convicted of a felony in the Circuit Court of Tyler County, also admitted to illegally possessing two .22 caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, and a .45 caliber pistol.
Parr faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
Two Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H.—Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Jose Serrano Ayuso, 31, and Lilian Zapata, a/k/a Marta Arus, 52, both previously of Manchester, New Hampshire, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in 2016.
According to court records and statements in court, on several occasions between August and October of 2016, investigators used a cooperating individual to make purchases of heroin from Ayuso. On two occasions when Ayuso was unavailable, Zapata delivered the requested drugs. Laboratory analyses later showed that the defendants actually were distributing fentanyl.
During the execution of a search warrant at the defendants’ shared residence in Manchester in October 2016, investigators found more than 230 grams of fentanyl, a handgun, drug ledgers, over $5,000 of U.S. currency, and identifying documents in Ayuso’s bedroom. In the apartment kitchen, investigators found an iced tea container containing over 640 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also located a scale and a press for forming “fingers” of fentanyl for distribution in other areas of the apartment. In total, this investigation led to the seizure of more than one kilogram of fentanyl.
Both Zapata and Ayuso pleaded guilty in fall 2017. On January 5, 2018, Zapata received a sentence of 54 months in prison. On January 18, 2018, Ayuso received a sentence of 144 months in prison.
“As our state grapples with the challenges of the opioid crisis, there are still those who seek to profit from the sale of fentanyl and other deadly drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Far too many lives in New Hampshire have been lost to drug overdoses. Those who choose to sell fentanyl and other deadly drugs are endangering their customers and causing great damage to our community. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of fentanyl into the Granite State and to protect our community from further harm.”
“Mr. Ayuso and Ms. Zapata will now pay the price for their roles in a large scale drug operation that distributed more than a kilo of fentanyl, the top cause of drug related deaths in New Hampshire,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Boston Division. “Each and every day, the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force is hard at work targeting distributors and their supply chains, who are blatantly contributing to the tragic opioid crisis that is wreaking havoc in communities all over our state.”
The matter was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which consists of FBI Special Agents and members of the Manchester Police Department, the Hudson Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Nashua Police Department, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. Investigators also received assistance of the New Hampshire HIDTA. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Two Mineral County men appear on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Keyser, West Virginia man and a Piedmont, West Virginia man appeared in federal court after being indicted by a grand jury in November 2017 for drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.Jordan Foster, of Piedmont, age 22, was indicted on one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base,” four counts of “Distribution of Cocaine Hydrochloride,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride,” and “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Hydrochloride.” Foster is accused of distributing cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride in July and August 2017 in Mineral County.
Brandon Suter, of Keyser, age 26, was indicted on one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Hydrochloride.” Suter is accused of assisting Foster in possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride in August 2017 in Mineral County.
Foster faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Suter faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force is investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Two Men Indicted for Illegally Trafficking American EelsRead the Press Release
Joseph Kelley and James Lewis were each indicted in Newark, New Jersey, with crimes related to illegally trafficking juvenile American eels, also known as “elvers” or “glass eels.” A seven-count indictment was returned on Jan. 18, 2018, charging Kelley and Lewis with conspiracy to smuggle elvers and violate the Lacey Act.
The Indictment alleges that Kelley and Lewis knowingly harvested elvers illegally in the states of New Jersey and Massachusetts, and sold those elvers to dealers or exporters. Among those dealers is Thomas Choi, who pleaded guilty to related crimes in the District of Maine in 2016, and who was subsequently sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for those offenses.
The indictments were announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Acting Director Greg Sheehan of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Eels are highly valued in east Asia for human consumption. Historically, Japanese and European eels were harvested to meet this demand. However, overfishing has led to a decline in the population of these eels. As a result, harvesters have turned to the American eel to fill the void resulting from the decreased number of Japanese and European eels. Because of the threat of overfishing, elver harvesting is prohibited in the United States in all but two states: Maine and South Carolina. Maine and South Carolina heavily regulate elver fisheries, requiring that individuals be licensed and report all quantities of harvested eels to state authorities.
These indictments were the result of “Operation Broken Glass,” a multi-jurisdiction, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) investigation into the illegal trafficking of American eels. To date, the investigation has resulted in two other indictments, as well as guilty pleas for nineteen other individuals in Maine, Virginia, and South Carolina. These defendants combined have admitted to illegally trafficking more than $4.5 million worth of elvers.
Operation Broken Glass was conducted by USFWS and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section in collaboration with the Maine Marine Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Conservation Police, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Police, USFWS Refuge Law Enforcement, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Law Enforcement, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game Division of Law Enforcement, Maryland Natural Resources Police, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Yarmouth, Massachusetts Division of Natural Resources, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Police Department and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorneys Cassandra Barnum and Shane Waller.
Two Men Admit They Were Crew Members Aboard a Go-Fast Vessel Full of Cocaine; Plead Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Walker Hobson (619) 961-0287
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 18, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Roberto Carlos Sanchez-Loor and Jose Antonio Gomez-Cuzme, both Ecuadorian nationals, pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to distribute and cause the distribution of approximately 980 kilograms of cocaine, knowing that the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
Each defendant admitted that they were crew members on board a stateless go-fast vessel (GFV) in international waters approximately 110 nautical miles southwest of the Guatemalan and El Salvadorian border and that they were helping transport the cocaine northward for distribution into the United States.
According to court documents, on May 23, 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) interdicted the GFV in international waters after a maritime patrol aircraft initially detected the GFV with three persons onboard. The USCG Cutter Waesche interdicted the GFV.
The defendants will appear for sentencing on April 6, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw. The remaining defendant, Edwin Cristobal Vera-Solorzano, is set for a motion hearing on January 26, 2018 at 2 p.m.
Bales of Cocaine Seized from GFV
Blue GFV containing bales of cocaine
Individual cocaine packages weighing 980 kilograms taken from GFV.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No.17CR1656DMS
ROBERTO CARLOS SANCHEZ-LOOR 32 years old Ecuador
JOSE ANTONION GOMEZ-CUZME 31 years old Ecuador
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to distribute cocaine intending to unlawfully import into the United States
21 U.S.C. 959, 960 and 963
Maximum Penalty: Ten-year mandatory minimum to life; fine of $1 million
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Brazilian nationals indicted after being arrested with credit card skimmers, 250 counterfeit credit or bank cards and nearly $140,000 in cashRead the Press Release
Two Brazilian nationals were indicted after police arrested them with two credit card skimmers, more than 250 counterfeit credit or bank cards and nearly $140,000 in cash, law enforcement officials said.
Felipe Trovo Pena, 27, and Antonio Pedro de Oliveira Neto, 26, were charged in a five-count indictment with conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, use of counterfeit credit cards and possession of counterfeit credit cards.
Pena and Neto were arrested on Nov. 12, 2017 after a teller at the Cortland Banks branch in Hubbard called police to alert them to an individual(s) making ATM withdrawals while obscuring the camera in the ATM. The bank had been victimized by fraudulent withdrawals two days earlier, according to court documents.
Pena and Neto were taken into custody and an extensive investigation resulted in the search of a storage unit they had rented on West 61st Street in Cleveland. A search of the unit uncovered approximately $139,480 in cash, the true Brazilian passports of Pena and Neto, 420 cards with magnetic strips, including 253 which were counterfeit credit or bank cards containing customer account data and two skimming devices, among other items, according to court documents.
Pena and Neto, between August and November 2017, covertly installed skimming devices on ATMs to fraudulently capture the magnetic data on credit and debit cards, which they then re-encoded on counterfeit credit and bank cards. They then used the counterfeit cards to obtain cash, according to court documents.
“These defendants stole personal information from people and then used it to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars through counterfeit bank and credit cards,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony said: “Individuals engaged in typical day to day credit and debit card transactions unfortunately became financial victims to these fraudsters. Financial fraud is a significant, damaging crime that can occur without your knowledge. The FBI would like to remind people to review their credit card and bank statements on a regular basis and report any suspicious activity to the respective financial institution. The FBI will continue to investigate and hold financial scammers, such as these, responsible for their actions.”
“This case involves suspects traveling around the state of Ohio and placing skimming devices on ATMs and stealing innocent peoples’ personal and financial information,” said Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Schuck. “These suspects would then use that information for their financial gain. These types of investigations are complex and the successful prosecution of these suspects are due to the great collaboration of law enforcement agencies working together.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz following an investigation by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, the Hubbard Police Department and the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office.
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 violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Twin Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Second Federal Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
BOISE – Karl Valencia, 39, of Twin Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to the plea agreement, Valencia was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 1997 aggravated assault conviction in Twin Falls County. In 2016, Valencia was convicted for the first time of unlawful possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. In July 2017, he was serving the remainder of his federal sentence in the 2016 case at the Port-of-Hope halfway house. On July 16, 2017, after not returning to the Port-of-Hope as scheduled, Valencia was stopped for a traffic infraction in Mountain Home, where he was found in possession of a Ruger pistol. As part of his plea, Valencia also agreed to forfeit the Ruger pistol.
Sentencing is set for April 18, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye.
Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release up to three years.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Tunica Biloxi tribal chairman pleads guilty to illegally taking more than $83,000 from tribeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Chairman Joey Barbry pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally taking more than $83,000 from the tribe’s check cashing business.
Barbry, 40, of Mansura, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. According to the guilty plea, Barbry cashed 105 non-sufficient fund (NSF) checks totaling $83,510 from July 2014 to November 2014 with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Barbry made the checks out to the Tunica Biloxi Financial Services (TBFS), which is an organization the tribe owns that functions as a check cashing business for the tribal casino. Normal operation of the TBFS for NSF checks would require that the person writing NSF checks be placed into a computer tracking system and would be barred from writing further checks. The violator would also be turned over to the Avoyelles Parish District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution if the money was not repaid. TBFS manager Brent Barbre told employees not to input Barbry into the tracking system, and that he would handle the chairman’s NSF checks personally. Brent Barbre allowed the defendant to continue writing NSF checks because he was the chairman of the tribe and Brent Barbre’s supervisor.
Barbry faces five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Enticing A Woman to Travel Across State Lines to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Erwin Phillips Burley (29, Houston, TX) to eight years in federal prison for enticing a woman to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution. The Court also ordered him to pay restitution to the victims in the case.
Burley pleaded guilty on May 9, 2017.
In July 2016, law enforcement officers received information that Burley was offering women for prostitution in the Jacksonville area. Further investigation resulted in the identification of a woman who said she had been picked up in New Orleans, Louisiana and transported to Jacksonville to engage in prostitution for Burley.
“This defendant exploited the victim for his own benefit,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Human trafficking offenders, like this, pose a threat to the overall safety of our communities, and the FBI is committed to working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to identify these predators, and seek justice for the heinous acts they commit."
“I appreciate the investigators for their work on this case,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge John Burke. “FDLE is committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in keeping our Florida communities safe.”
This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
Tennessee felon pleads guilty to federal gun crimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Tennessee felon pleaded guilty today to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Marvin Dunigan, 46, of Johnson City, entered his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Beckley Police Department.
Dunigan admitted that on August 16, 2016, he possessed a Cobra Model C32, .32 caliber firearm in Beckley. Dunigan was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2010 conviction in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Dunigan faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 2, 2018.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the plea hearing.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime.
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Tax preparer sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax scheme that led to more than $105,000 in IRS lossesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Scott tax preparer was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for falsifying tax returns and causing the IRS to pay out more than $105,000.
Vida Prejean Thomas, 44, of Scott, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false documents under Internal Revenue laws. She was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $105,813 restitution. According to the October 10, 2017 guilty plea, the IRS began investigating Thomas’ tax preparation business after receiving a tip alleging fraudulent activity. They interviewed nine of her customers and found that 2010 through 2013 personal income tax returns contained false information put there without their knowledge or authorization. The false returns Thomas prepared caused a loss of $105,813 to the IRS.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.
Tampa Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Natalie Rene Panko (57, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, three counts of theft of government property, three counts of access device fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each theft of government property and access device fraud count, and a consecutive 2-year prison term for the aggravated identity theft charges. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Panko is the owner and operator of “Ladies of the Sea,” a restaurant in Tampa that has operated for over 15 years. Between August 22 and November 28, 2012, Panko, along with co-conspirators Rico Simmons and Mazie Hill, used the restaurant to extract tax fraud proceeds from debit cards issued by various card companies.
During 2012, individuals connected with this conspiracy filed more than 60 fraudulent tax returns with the IRS using identities stolen from living and deceased taxpayers. These fraudulent tax returns directed tens of thousands of dollars in tax refunds to debit cards issued in the names of the identity theft victims. Simmons brought the debit cards, loaded with the fraudulently obtained refunds, to Panko and Hill at Ladies of the Sea. Together, they devised a plan to retrieve the funds from the cards by swiping them at the restaurant and pretending the transactions were for legitimate purposes, such as catering. After the cards were swiped at Ladies of the Sea, the tax fraud money was deposited into Panko’s and Hill’s respective bank accounts. The women then made large cash withdrawals, keeping some of the money for themselves and sharing some with Simmons.
Simmons and Hill previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case. Simmons’s sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 22, 2018. Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2018.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Kistler, Kelley Howard-Allen, and Simon Gaugush.
Supporting the Priorites of the U.S. Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
Since being sworn in as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee on November 21, 2017, I have been working diligently to support the Department of Justice (DOJ) priorities outlined by United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions as well as the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Currently, the top five DOJ priorities include: reducing violent crime; establishing a lawful and constitutional immigration system that makes us safer and more secure; combatting the drug/opioid addiction crisis; protecting our national security; and, enforcing the rule of law. To aid in the enforcement of these priorities, Attorney General Sessions has announced several new tools, initiatives, and programs as well as enhancements to existing programs for U.S. Attorney’s offices and federal, state, and local law enforcement.
In May 2017, Attorney General Sessions issued a memo establishing DOJ charging and sentencing policies. This guidance reestablished the longstanding DOJ policy, trusting our federal prosecutors to use their discretion and judgment to apply the law to the facts of the investigation and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense(s) supported by the facts of the case.
Attorney General Sessions has also repeatedly reinforced his commitment to assist law enforcement in performing their duties, celebrating the noble, honorable, essential, and challenging work of law enforcement communities, while always seeking to affirm the critical role of police officers in our society. Supporting our law enforcement partners and the excellent work that they do as well as promoting coordination and cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, will also continue to be a top priority in East Tennessee.
The nation is currently facing the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Unfortunately, East Tennessee is not immune to this problem. In fact, statistics show that Tennessee is one of the “hot spots” for drug abuse and overdose related deaths in the country. Combatting this drug/opioid crisis is a top priority for President Trump and his administration as well as Attorney General Sessions. Accordingly, the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to take every action available to address this crisis, including working with our federal, state, and local partners, to target and prosecute those who are unlawfully furthering this epidemic.
In August 2017, the Attorney General announced the formation of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, a new Department of Justice program to utilize data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Eastern District of Tennessee received one of 12 experienced Assistant U.S. Attorney positions allocated across the country to focus solely on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to prescription opioids, including pill mill schemes and pharmacies that unlawfully divert or dispense prescription opioids.
In October 2017, Attorney General Sessions announced the expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which encourages U.S. Attorneys’ offices to work with the communities they serve to develop customized crime reduction strategies. Originally launched in 2001, one study showed that, in its first seven years, PSN reduced violent crime overall by 4.1 percent with case studies showing reductions in certain areas of up to 42 percent. The PSN program has always been strong in the Eastern District of Tennessee and will continue to thrive during a reinvigoration of the district’s crime reduction strategy incorporating lessons learned since its inception. I am fully onboard with making our neighbors, schools, and communities free from illegal drugs and crime.
Also in October 2017, the Attorney General announced Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative promoting creative enforcement strategies and best practices to assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. MS-13, identified as one of the most violent and ruthless gangs on the streets today, was designated as a priority, allowing federal law enforcement to utilize an expanded toolkit in its efforts to dismantle the organization.
While the current administration has made great progress toward establishing a lawful and constitutional immigration system to make us safer and more secure, the threats we face from terrorists are diverse and evolving. A report released in January 2018 by DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2016, three of every four individuals convicted of international terrorism-related charges in U.S. federal courts were foreign-born. During this same period, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed 1,716 aliens with national security concerns. Further, in 2017 alone, DHS encountered 2,554 individuals on the terrorist watch list (also known as the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database) traveling to the United States.
There is no higher DOJ priority than protecting the nation against acts of terrorism and other threats to national security. The hard work of DOJ professionals and our partners at home and abroad have enabled the disruption of numerous terrorist plots and the successful prosecution of those involved. We will use every available tool to continue these efforts.
In the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC), established after the terrorist attacks in September 2001, serves as a conduit for information sharing about suspected terrorists among federal, state and local law enforcement entities. The ATAC operates as an umbrella organization of local, state, and federal agencies that coordinates activities, develops policy, implements strategic plans, and provides training to combat terrorism. It also coordinates with the other ATACs around the nation and works closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Member agencies include those from law enforcement, public health, emergency planning and response, the military, and the intelligence community.
Finally, Attorney General Sessions has pledged that it is his duty to ensure that the laws of the United States are enforced and that the Constitutional order upheld. Enforcing the law saves lives, protects communities and taxpayers, and prevents human suffering. Failure to enforce the laws in the past has put our nation at risk of crime, violence, and even terrorism. During my watch as United States Attorney, the experienced prosecutors and other professionals in our office will continue to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, ensuring the fair and impartial administration of justice for the people of East Tennessee.
J. Douglas Overbey
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Tennessee
Suburban Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Manufacturing Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A south suburban man has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for manufacturing synthetic cannabinoids into a smokeable drug known as K2, or “spice.”
KHALID HAMDAN, 51, of Justice, mixed the synthetic cannabinoids with leaves and other substances to create the drug. Hamdan then sold wholesale quantities of the drug to customers under various brand names, including “Diablo,” “Bomb Marley,” “Joker,” and “7H Hydro.”
U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah on Tuesday sentenced Hamdan to ten years in prison. It is the highest sentence to date in the Northern District of Illinois for manufacturing a synthetic cannabinoid.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert Bell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Bridgeview Police Department initiated the investigation with the DEA. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit also assisted with the investigation.
“Synthetic cannabinoids are often falsely marketed as the ‘legal,’ equivalent alternative to marijuana, but the effects are much stronger, more adverse, and less predictable than marijuana,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly M. Greening and Matthew Schneider argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant was a large-scale drug trafficker who manufactured and sold kilograms and kilograms of these drugs to customers across Illinois, Indiana and other states.”
A jury last year convicted Hamdan on one count of conspiracy to manufacture the synthetic cannabinoid XLR 11, and two counts of possessing XLR 11 with the intent to distribute.
Evidence at trial showed that Hamdan used storage units in Bridgeview and Chicago Ridge to manufacture and store the XLR 11 chemical and the finished K2 product. A law enforcement search of the Chicago Ridge storage unit in 2014 revealed tools and products for manufacturing the drugs, including the raw XLR 11 powder, cans of acetone, bottles of flavoring, boxes of untreated damiana tea leaves, and boxes for packaging.
Once manufactured, the drug was sold to consumers in baggies with professionally printed, animated designer labels.
Stratford Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Role in Large-Scale Fencing OperationRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MATTHEW HARWOOD, 43, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale fencing operation. Judge Shea also ordered HARWOOD to pay a $35,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between January 2012 and December 2014, HARWOOD participated in a conspiracy to purchase stolen property from “boosters,” who typically were shoplifters with opioid addictions, and then resell the property at online websites. HARWOOD, his co-conspirator Andrew Sacco, and others instructed the boosters to steal certain items from retail stores such as Petco, Staples, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond, and paid cash for the stolen items at approximately one-third of their retail price. At times, HARWOOD provided expenses for car rentals and spending money for overnight or out-of-state trips to steal products.
After receiving the stolen merchandise, HARWOOD and Sacco stored the merchandise at multiple locations, including HARWOOD’s former residence in Durham, Sacco’s former residence in Durham, and business locations in North Haven. HARWOOD and Sacco then sold the stolen products at online sites, including eBay and Amazon.
Through this scheme, retailers lost more than $3.9 million.
On November 3, 2016, HARWOOD pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property and one count of interstate transport of stolen property.
HARWOOD also has forfeited the house in Durham where he formerly resided, and two mutual fund accounts in his name.
HARWOOD, who is released on a $100,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on March 19, 2018.
Sacco pleaded guilty to the same charges and, on December 6, 2017, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.
This matter has been investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and the New Haven, North Haven, Milford, West Haven, Wallingford, Hamden and Orange Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Statement by Attorney General Sessions on Deputy U.S. Marshal Killed in the Line of Duty in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
Today Attorney General Sessions issued the following statement on Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, killed in the line of duty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, while protecting his community:
"Today in the law enforcement community, our hearts are broken over the senseless killing of one of our Deputy Marshals, Chris Hill. He was shot and killed while doing his job executing a warrant on a wanted fugitive. Every day, Deputy U.S. Marshals make the people of this country safer by catching fugitives on the run, protecting our courthouses, our judges, and witnesses at trial. They achieve these critical accomplishments at often heroic risk. Chris Hill’s ultimate sacrifice calls to my mind the example of Robert Forsyth, whose name is given to the Marshals Service award for valor. Chris Hill’s name should also be remembered as synonymous with valor.”St. Louis Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 108 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Andre Walker was sentenced on January 17, 2018, in the United States District Court in East St. Louis, to 108 months in federal prison for one count of delivery of fentanyl, with three years of supervised release to follow the imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment.
Facts revealed in open court at the sentencing and plea hearings established that Walker sold 324.8 grams of fentanyl between August 2016 and April 2017. Agents also discovered a make-shift manufacturing operation at Walker’s home, where he measured fentanyl into individual capsules. Additionally, Walker was arrested in this case while he was in possession of 89.4 grams of pre-packaged fentanyl, more than $3,000 in cash, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun, with a bullet in the chamber and an extended magazine containing 19 bullets. After considering many factors, such as the need to protect the public from dangerous narcotics like fentanyl, the District Court sentenced Walker to 108 months of imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Derek J. Wiseman prosecuted the case.
Somersworth Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Matthew Felton, 38, of Somersworth, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant used several social media accounts to disguise his identity, pose as a female representative of a modeling agency, and solicit sexually explicit photographs of young girls purportedly to help them secure modeling contracts. Specifically, he persuaded three girls (ages 12 through 14), all of whom were located in Canada, to photograph themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The girls sent the photographs to the defendant over the Internet.
Felton is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2018.
“Those who produce child pornography cause untold amounts of damage to their youthful victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Unfortunately, the widespread use of social media has increased the opportunities for young people to be victimized. While we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who rob children of their innocence by committing crimes like this, we also encourage parents to speak to their children about the need to be extremely cautious when communicating on social media.”
“This case was a great example of what strong coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors can achieve in combatting the scourge of child pornography and child endangerment from those who would engage in such depraved acts”, said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent–In -Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston. “HSI is committed to ensuring that justice is delivered against these type of predators.”
This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and law enforcement authorities in Canada. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana Konesky.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Sevierville Resident Sentenced to Serve 222 Months in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses and Attempted Enticement of a Minor for Illegal SexRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- On January 18, 2018, Michael Anthony Carpenter, 29, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge, to serve 222 months in prison for advertising and distributing child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Following his release from prison, the U.S. Probation Office will supervise him for the rest of his life. He will also be required to register with the sex offender registry in any state in which he resides, works, or attends school.
Carpenter pleaded guilty in August 2017 to federal charges stemming from two separate investigations. An undercover law enforcement task force in Australia first identified Carpenter in the spring of 2016, after he posted hyperlinks to his online storage account in a chat room devoted to exchanging child pornography so others could download his cache of child pornography. Australian law enforcement officers provided information concerning his involvement to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). During a separate undercover investigation in May 2017, Carpenter contacted undercover law enforcement officers and expressed interest in paying to have sex with a child. He was arrested in Sevier County, Tennessee, when he arrived at a pre-arranged location to have sex with who he believed was a nine-year-old girl.
“Technological advances, particularly the Internet and mobile devices, have facilitated the sex trafficking of children by providing a convenient worldwide marketing channel,” said J. Douglas Overbey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Individuals can now use online classifieds and social media to advertise, schedule, and purchase sexual encounters with minors. This individual committed some of the most serious criminal offenses perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of our society. This sentence sends a clear message that these crimes against children will continue to be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The local investigation was conducted by HSI and Knoxville Police Department, with assistance from the Sevierville Police Department and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Morris represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Serial Fraudster Convicted; Daniel Stephen Wray Directed Fraudulent Credit Card Scheme Targeting San Diego RetailersRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Pilchak and Matthew J. Sutton
(619) 546-9709 and (619) 546-8941
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 18, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Daniel Stephen Wray pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he was the leader of an elaborate scheme to steal identities and make and use fraudulent credit cards at multiple San Diego retailers.
Wray, 29, pleaded guilty to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2017, charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud. As detailed in the plea agreement, indictment, and other publicly filed court documents, Wray recruited multiple co-conspirators to join his ring of credit card fraudsters in late 2016. Wray then provided these individuals with counterfeit access devices—credit cards bearing altered names, but encoded with real credit card numbers for the accounts of unwitting victims—and drove them to San Diego-area stores.
Investigators believe that many of the victims’ identities and credit card numbers were stolen after Wray and his co-conspirators installed a skimmer at a La Jolla gas station. A skimmer is a device capable of reading and recording account information, including customer names, account numbers, and personal identification numbers, from credit and debit cards. After creating the fraudulent credit cards with the stolen credit card numbers, Wray and his co-conspirators then used them to purchase tens of thousands of dollars of merchandise from multiple San Diego retailers, including Costco and Smart N Final.
In a proceeding today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew G. Schopler, Wray admitted his role as the leader of the fraudulent scheme, acknowledging that he obtained dozens of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices from multiple victims in San Diego County and then used these fraudulent credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in purchases, ranging from Apple iPads, luxury wristwatches, gold and silver, and large quantities of liquor and energy drinks from large San Diego retailers. Wray also admitted to being a prior federal felon in that he was previously convicted of illegally possessing 269 counterfeit access devices in 2014. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John Houston.
“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “We will vigorously prosecute those who prey on our citizens and steal their identities.”
“Today’s change of plea is a reminder that the U.S. Secret Service and its law enforcement partners will actively investigate and pursue prosecution of those who engage in financial fraud and use others’ personal information for their own personal gain,” said United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Brian S. Christensen.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Regional Fraud Task Force. The Task Force is led by the United States Secret Service, together with multiple state and local partners, including the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Pilchak and Matthew J. Sutton.
DEFENDANT Case Number 17CR3856-JAH
Daniel Stephen Wray Age: 29 San Diego, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1029; Term of custody including 20 years in prison, $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release and mandatory restitution.
AGENCIES
San Diego Regional Fraud Task Force:
- United States Secret Service
- San Diego Police Department
- San Diego District Attorney’s Office
Sentencings for January 8 - January 17, 2018Read the Press Release
Robert Allen Davis, a/k/a Robert A. Davis, Jr., 53, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on January 17, 2018, for failure to register as a sex offender. Davis was arrested in North Platte, Nebraska. He received 15 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $200.00 fine. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ann Songhee Tanquary, 37, of Selah, Washington, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on January 12, 2018, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Tanquary was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. She received 240 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $500.00 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Daniel James Montoya, 34, of Rozet, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on January 8, 2018, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Montoya was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Douglas Police Department, the Converse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Sanford Felon Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Selling Drugs and Firearms in OrlandoRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Christopher Gerard Dickerson (39, Sanford) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A federal jury found him guilty on October 23, 2017.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Dickerson conspired with others to possess and sell street-level quantities of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and crack. On two occasions in September 2016, in parking lots in east Orlando, Dickerson sold grams of heroin to a confidential informant who was working for law enforcement. Thereafter, he agreed to sell firearms and drugs to an undercover agent with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 17, 2017, at a hotel on International Drive in Orlando, Dickerson and a co-conspirator, David Charles Heineman, sold the undercover agent seven firearms, a bag of cocaine, ammunition, and a large-capacity drum magazine for one of the firearms. The firearms included semiautomatic pistols, a tactical rifle, shotguns, and an AK-47 style firearm. Three of the seven firearms had been reported stolen. Heineman also later sold two additional firearms, two bulletproof vests, and other drugs to the undercover agent.
On April 19, 2017, agents executed a federal search warrant at Dickerson’s and Heineman’s apartment in Titusville. After Dickerson’s arrest, agents recovered a stash of drugs from the apartment, including crack and fentanyl.
Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of cocaine, delivery of hydromorphone, possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Dickerson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
On October 3, 2017, Heineman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. On December 20, 2017, he was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
“ATF’s primary focus is protecting the public by reducing violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “ATF continues to aggressively pursue violent offenders and will continue to protect and serve communities with our law enforcement partners.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a historical program involving the successful collaboration of law enforcement, at all levels, to reduce violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception (2001). In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
San Francisco Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Bid-Rigging Conspiracy Involving Government ContractsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Brewer, 48, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty today to bid rigging, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Brewer and his co-defendant Brent Vinch were the owners of, and senior executives for, a company called Expert Network Consultants (ENC), which submitted bids to the State of California for various government contracts. Brewer admitted that from 2008 through early 2012, he conspired with co-defendants Vinch and Loraine Dixon, among others, to rig the state’s competitive bidding process by creating inflated bids for submission by co-conspirators to state contracting agencies in an effort to ensure that Expert Network Consultants received the contracts. Brewer solicited bids from individuals and companies that had no intention or ability to perform the work called for in the contracts, and Brewer directed Vinch to create and submit non-competitive bids. In total, ENC won over 40 state contracts as a result of the bid-rigging conspiracy from multiple state agencies, including the Employment Development Department, Department of Justice, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Department of Insurance. The value of those contracts exceeded $3 million.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared C. Dolan and Matthew M. Yelovich are prosecuting the case. The United States is grateful for the assistance of the California Attorney General’s Office in conducting the initial investigation into this matter and referring it to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Vinch pleaded guilty to bid rigging on December 14, 2017, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2018. Charges are pending against Dixon, and she has a status conference scheduled for March 29, 2018. The charges against her are allegations; and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Brewer is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on April 26, 2018. Brewer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to over 33 Years in Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeffrey Miles Hayes, 55, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 33 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release for receiving child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Hayes came to the attention of law enforcement through two related tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an individual who was posting images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to a social media blog. An Internet Protocol (IP) address used to access the blog site was registered to Hayes’s home. During a search of the residence, law enforcement identified an iPad containing a messaging application that Hayes used to send and receive images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hayes had over 2,000 images of children engaged in sexually explicit acts, including images showing sadistic/masochistic abuse and the sexual abuse of an infant, as well as links to cloud storage accounts containing child pornography. At the time, Hayes had a prior conviction in the Sacramento County Superior Court relating to distribution of child pornography and was a registered sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a federally and state-funded task force managed by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department with agents from federal, state, and local agencies. The Sacramento ICAC investigates online child exploitation crimes, including child pornography, enticement, and sex trafficking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger prosecuted the case.
This case 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Rochester Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Possession ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Cory Danis, 29, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2015 the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) was contacted by a New York firm that was in the business of producing canvas prints from photographs. The firm had received a photograph of a minor in a sexually explicit pose as part of an order for a canvas print of the image. The firm provided the FBI with contact information for the customer. Further investigation by the FBI resulted in the identification of Danis as the customer who possessed the image that was sent to the New York business and who ordered the canvas print.
Danis, who pleaded guilty on August 22, 2017, was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release, which will begin after he is released from prison.
“The protection of children is one of the most important missions of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to combat child pornography and other crimes that exploit children.”
“When children are sexually assaulted to produce photos, they are not just victimized once, but repeatedly re-victimized through the on-line trading of their images,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “It takes an engaged and attentive community to counter these threats to our most vulnerable, and the FBI would like to thank the concerned citizen who came forward to report these egregious acts and remind others of the importance of reporting these crimes to law enforcement.”
The FBI conducted the investigation of this case with assistance from the Rochester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Helen White Fitzgibbon and Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Ridgeview Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced that a Ridgeview, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on January 2, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Sterlyn Bartlett, age 20, was sentenced to 30 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $405.44, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Bartlett was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 16, 2017. He pled guilty on October 5, 2017.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 10, 2017, in Eagle Butte, when Bartlett got into a disagreement with his girlfriend on whether or not to sleep with a light on, which escalated to Bartlett hitting his girlfriend in the face and ultimately breaking her jaw.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Bartlett was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Revere Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to failure to register as a sex offender.
Steven Veno, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2018.
Veno is required to register as a Level 2 sex offender in Massachusetts based on Massachusetts state court convictions for rape of a child in 1993. The federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requires Veno to register in any jurisdiction where he lives or works.
Law enforcement officers learned that over the past several years Veno had been traveling from Massachusetts to Florida, where he lived and worked for periods of time over several years, without registering as a sex offender in that community. Veno has been in custody since his arrest in September 2017.
Failing to register as a sex offender provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Retired Highway Patrol Trooper Charged with Lying to FBI about GamblingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A retired highway patrol trooper was charged Thursday with lying to the FBI during an investigation into illegal gambling in Wichita, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Michael Frederiksen, 52, Derby, Kan., is charged with two counts of making false statements to FBI investigators. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Wichita alleges that in 2014, while Frederiksen was still a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper, he was filmed taking part in an illegal cash poker game. On Feb. 23, 2017, he was interviewed by FBI agents investigating illegal gambling businesses in Wichita.
The FBI had a video of Frederiksen playing in an illegal cash poker game held Feb. 12, 2014, at 922 1/2 E. Douglas in the Old Town district of Wichita. The site was equipped with poker tables, a cabinet for valuables and poker chips, video surveillance equipment, liquor and snacks. Staff included dealers, someone serving food and a waitress serving drinks and giving massages to the players.
An undercover investigator was at the game posing as a gambler. At one point, the undercover officer tried to use his phone to take photos. The men running the game took him aside and told him he was making other players nervous. They allowed the undercover officer to continue playing, but moved the game to other locations after that night.
The FBI also knew that Fredericksen had frequent contact with one of the organizers of the poker game, identified in the charges as J.S.
During the FBI interview, Fredericksen made false statements, downplaying his involvement in illegal poker and his relationship with the operator of the poker game.
If convicted, Fredericksen faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI, Wichita Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Smith and Mona Furst are prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Postal carrier pleads guilty to stealing mail containing prescriptions for veteransRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Monroe city postal carrier assistant pleaded guilty to taking parcels containing prescription drugs.
Bryan C. Massey, 31, of Oak Ridge, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes to one count of theft of mail matter by a postal service employee. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents learned that Veterans Affairs (VA) parcels containing prescription drugs were reported missing at the Main Post Office in Monroe. Agents narrowed down where the thefts were taking place and set up cameras. They recorded Massey, who worked as a city carrier assistant, taking the drug parcels and attempting to conceal his thefts by hiding the drug parcels among others he was carrying. When questioned, Massey admitted to taking at least 11 VA parcels from November 2016 to June 2017. Agents also searched his vehicle and found three pill bottles in the front right pocket of Massey’s postal uniform jacket. Each pill bottle contained an assorted number of white pills, which Massey had stolen from the VA parcels.
Massey faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 24, 2018.
The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.
Police Chief of village in Mahoning County indicted on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
The police chief of a village in Mahoning County was indicted on child pornography charges, law enforcement officials said.
Andrew M. Soloman, 36, was indicted on two counts of receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Soloman is the police chief of Craig Beach Village.
Soloman knowingly received files which contained visual depictions of a real minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place from Oct. 24 through Dec. 7, 2017. Soloman also possessed on Dec. 7, 2017, an Apple Iphone 7 smartphone which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.
Soloman met the juvenile victim when responding to her residence for calls about harassment and a juvenile runaway. During their interactions, the victim said in Soloman’s cruiser for several hours and talked. He provided her with his work email address, according to court documents.
The two continued to communicate via text and email through 2017. The victim sent Soloman sexually explicit photographs of herself and Soloman responded by sending sexually explicit photographs via his work email account, according to court documents.
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 violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and the Austintown Police Department.
Orlando Felon Sentenced to 9 Years for Possessing A Firearm and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Arkee Vernard Howard (27, Orlando) to 9 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. He pleaded guilty on September 27, 2017.
According to court documents, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 23, 2016, officers from the Orlando Police Department approached a vehicle stopped at an intersection with a green light and found Howard asleep behind the wheel. He admitted to the officers that he had drugs in his car and a search of the vehicle revealed more than 13 grams of cocaine, 3 grams of heroin, 300 grams of marijuana, and approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine. The officers also located a stolen .40 caliber pistol with a full magazine and a round in the chamber.
At the time of his arrest in December 2016, Howard had multiple prior felony convictions and is, therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a historical program involving the successful collaboration of law enforcement, at all levels, to reduce violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception (2001). In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Omaha, Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty for Threats to Public OfficialRead the Press Release
Robert William Simet made threats against Sen. Joni Ernst
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- On January 16, 2018, Robert William Simet, age 64, of Omaha, Nebraska appeared before United States District Court Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt and pleaded guilty to Influencing or Retaliating against a Federal Official, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Simet will be sentenced by District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey on May 23, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse in Council Bluffs.
According to the plea agreement, on July 5, 2017, Simet made verbal threats against Senator Joni Ernst to employees of the Harley Davidson dealership in Pacific Junction. Senator Ernst was scheduled to participate in a motorcycle ride at the dealership on July 8, 2017.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Iowa.
Ocala Felon Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Karon Dawson (38, Ocala) to eight years and eight months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty on September 18, 2017.
According to court documents, on March 15, 2017, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office followed Dawson’s vehicle after they had witnessed him engage in a drug transaction. When Dawson observed the unmarked patrol car, he fled and led the deputies on a chase, ultimately abandoning the car and fleeing on foot. After a brief chase, Dawson was arrested in an Ocala neighborhood. Inside his abandoned vehicle, deputies recovered plastic packets containing small amounts of crack cocaine and heroin, and a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
At the time of the incident, Dawson had 16 prior felony convictions and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (Gainesville) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dale Campion.
Northern District of California Collects over $65 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2017Read the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Acting U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse announced today that the Northern District of California collected $65,326,355.71 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2017. Of this amount, $59,083,869.47 was collected in criminal actions and $6,242,486.24 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Northern District of California worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,503,464,445.51 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $2,378,828.59 was collected in criminal actions and $1,501,085,616.92 was collected in civil actions.
Overall, the Justice Department collected just over $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2017.
“Year in and year out, the United States Attorney’s Office delivers results for the people of the United States in the form of millions of dollars in recoveries from criminal and civil defendants,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alex Tse. "This Office will continue the hard work of recouping victims’ losses from those who enrich themselves through crime and other violations of federal law.”
One example of the work being done in the Northern District of California involves criminal defendant Hien Minh Nguyen. Evidence in the criminal case showed that Nguyen stole at least $1,449,365 from the San Jose Diocese between 2005 and 2011. On October 3, 2017, after Nguyen was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion charges, the district court ordered the defendant to pay $1,449,365 in restitution to the Diocese of San Jose, and an additional $434,518 in restitution to the IRS. The Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California recovered the entire $1,883,883 in restitution from Nguyen.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Northern District of California, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $9,206,346 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2017. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Newark Physician Arrested on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today Dr. David Blasczak, 69, of Newark, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant is a physician at the Clyde Family Health Center in Clyde, NY. According to the complaint, in 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona began an investigation into a fee based child pornography website. In September, 2017, investigators determined that the defendant made 10 purchases from this website. Each file purchased by Blasczak contained thousands of images of child pornography.
On January 18, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home on Jason Drive in Newark. Officers seized several digital devices including a laptop, a digital camera, multiple SD cards, multiple thumb drives, and two memory sticks. Officers estimate that they have already discovered in excess of 1,000 images and multiple videos of child pornography on the thumb drive.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the HSI Buffalo Office at 716-464-5931. HSI victim-witness specialists will be available to assist any parent or guardian should they need victim-related resources. If any members of the public have general questions or concerns regarding sexual abuse of children or would like guidance on how to discuss this issue with children, please call the Bivona Child Advocacy Center at 1-585-935-7800.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman and is being detained.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Neopit Man Indicted for Assault and Firearm Offense on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 17, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against a man allegedly involved in an assault and firearms offense on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Ronald J. Cloud (age: 34) of Neopit, which is located on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Count One of the indictment charged Cloud with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in violation of 18 United States Code 113(a)(3). Count Two charged Cloud with Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 United States Code 924(c). In Count One, Cloud faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. In Count Two, Cloud faces a mandatory 10-year consecutive sentence and up to life in prison.
According to the indictment, on about April 9, 2017, Cloud discharged a firearm in furtherance of an armed assault committed against another person
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Acting Public Information Officer Elizabeth Makowski at 414 297-1700
Morris County, New Jersey, Doctor Admits Illegally Prescribing Oxycodone and Defrauding Medicare, Medicaid Out of $30,000Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Long Valley, New Jersey, man today admitted writing illegal prescriptions for oxycodone and conspiring to bill Medicare and Medicaid for certain allergy tests without performing the required patient examinations, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jose Leyson, 71, of Long Valley, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of illegally distributing oxycodone and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Leyson was a physician specializing in urology who owned and served as the medical director of a clinic in Newark. The medical clinic purportedly provided various services to patients, including pain management and allergy testing.
On four occasions between Nov. 11, 2013 and Jan. 6, 2014, Leyson illegally sold prescriptions for oxycodone to a confidential source acting at law enforcement’s direction. In each instance, Leyson wrote these prescriptions without performing any medical treatment or patient examination and in exchange for cash payments or access to welfare benefits. In total, Leyson provided the confidential source with oxycodone 30 mg prescriptions for at least 420 pills.
In addition, from April 2010 to January 2013, Leyson and others at the medical clinic conspired to submit phony bills to Medicare and Medicaid for certain allergy tests that Leyson prescribed without examining the patients to determine if the tests were medically necessary. As a result, Leyson and the other conspirators were able to fraudulently obtain at least $30,000 from Medicare and Medicaid.
The unlawful distribution of oxycodone charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The healthcare fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Leyson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert.The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernard J. Cooney of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: John Roberts Esq., Chatham, New Jersey.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Federal Prison for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on January 12, 2018, Judge Pamela Pepper, sentenced Joel Rivera (age: 29) to 36 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for his role in armed robberies of local Family Dollar stores.
Rivera was convicted in federal court in September by a jury that found him guilty of two business robberies, known as “Hobbs Act Robberies,” violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the robberies, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Each robbery offense carried a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years. Together, the two firearm counts required an additional mandatory sentence of 32 years.
The offenses were part of a crime spree that consisted of five Milwaukee area business robberies, which began on January 4, 2017 and continued until January 17, 2017. The criminal activity targeted several restaurants in addition to the Family Dollar stores. During the robberies, Rivera’s accomplice wielded a loaded, semi-automatic handgun provided by Rivera, and the two men subsequently split the robbery proceeds, which they used primarily to purchase drugs.
During the sentencing hearing, Pepper, noted that Rivera, who has a prior armed robbery conviction dating back to 2007 and who had been charged but never convicted of two additional bar robberies, had achieved a new level of criminal sophistication in the instant case. She discussed at length, Rivera’s role in these armed robberies where he, as the leader and organizer of the criminal activity, minimized the risk to himself while making his accomplice the front man for the crimes.
In sentencing Rivera, Pepper considered all of the federal sentencing factors and concluded that the lengthy prison sentence was warranted in order to protect the public from further criminal conduct on his part.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, a collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carol L. Kraft and Benjamin A. Wesson.
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.
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For additional information contact:
Acting Public Information Officer Elizabeth Makowski at 414 297-1700
Michigan Doctor Sentenced to Prison for $1.7 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Detroit, Michigan-area doctor was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for his role in a $1.7 million health care fraud scheme that involved billing Medicare for physician home visits that were medically unnecessary and/or were billed under unwarranted treatment codes that resulted in inappropriately high payments.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.
Gerald Daneshvar M.D., 41, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn of the Eastern District of Michigan. Daneshvar was convicted in May 2017 after a two-week jury trial of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Daneshvar’s co-defendant, Stephen Mason, M.D., was previously sentenced to 18 months on Aug. 22, 2017, and his other co-defendant, Leonard Van Gelder, M.D., awaits sentencing. Mason and Van Gelder had each previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from August 2012 through August 2013, Daneshvar and his co-conspirators worked for Lake MI Mobile Doctors (Mobile Doctors), a home visiting physician company that provided doctor’s visits to purportedly homebound Medicare patients. While working at Mobile Doctors, Daneshvar billed Medicare for home patient visits that did not qualify for payment because the patients either were not sick or were not homebound. Daneshvar conspired with others to bill Medicare for the highest paying codes for these visits, even though the visits were short and perfunctory, or were unnecessary, the evidence showed. Additionally, Daneshvar referred these patients for home health services that were unnecessary and were then billed to Medicare. In exchange, Daneshvar was paid more by Mobile Doctors.
The chief executive officer of Mobile Doctors pleaded guilty in a related case in the Northern District of Illinois and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Another doctor who operated out of the Chicago branch of Mobile Doctors was convicted after trial and sentenced to 40 months in prison.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Amy Markopoulos and Stephen Cincotta prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operates in nine locations nationwide. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged over 3,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for over $12.5 billion.
McLaughlin Man Charged with Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor by Force.
Jerome Goodhouse, age 26, was indicted on October 17, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on January 16, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on April 5, 2016, Goodhouse knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a minor female victim, by the use of force.
The charges are merely accusations and Goodhouse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Goodhouse was released on bond pending trial, which has not been set.
Maryland woman indicted on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Westernport, Maryland was indicted by a grand jury in November 2017 for drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Shelley Kay Snyder-Windle, age 53, was indicted on two counts of “Distribution of Cocaine.” Snyder-Windle is accused of distributing cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride in July and August 2017 in Mineral County.
Snyder-Windle faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Grant, also with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations are investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.