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Wednesday 20 December 2017
Man Sentenced for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“Lionel Williams planned to conduct a lone-wolf style terror attack,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He adhered to a radicalized version of Islam, publically declared his allegiance to ISIS on social media, and ordered an AK-47 assault rifle the day after the San Bernardino terrorist attack. What started with radicalized internet postings escalated to attempts to help ISIS buy weapons and ammunition, and ended with a plan to kill law enforcement officers here in Virginia. I want to thank the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Suffolk Police Department for their extraordinary work on this case.”
According to court documents, Lionel Williams, 27, attempted to send money to a person he believed was an ISIS financier on two occasions, believing the money would be used to kill. In court documents, Williams admitted his interest in ISIS began in 2014. On Dec. 3, 2015, the day after the San Bernardino terrorist attack, he bought an AK-47 assault rifle. In March 2016, he publicly declared his support for ISIS on social media, described his hope that ISIS would take over the United States, and stated he would decapitate any law enforcement agents he caught surveilling him. After donating money to an individual he believed to be an ISIS financier - but was actually a persona adopted by an FBI employee - Williams was told his donation had helped purchase a rocket-propelled grenade. He responded with an Arabic phrase meaning, “Praise be to Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.” Later in 2016, Williams began discussing plans for a “martyrdom operation” with a woman living outside the United States, asked an FBI confidential source to send him specific types of AK-47 ammunition, and told an FBI employee that his plan was for a local operation. Williams was arrested and charged shortly thereafter. After his arrest, he told agents he supported ISIS and believed he was part of a “holy war.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Williams was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release.
Dana J. Boente, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Thomas E. Bennett, Chief of Suffolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Andrew C. Bosse, and Trial Attorneys Alicia H. Cook and Joshua D. Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-1.
Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Kidnapping His Children to Saudi ArabiaRead the Press Release
Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York (“FBI”), announced that FAYCAL TAHIRI was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison for international parental kidnapping. TAHIRI pled guilty on July 17, 2017, before Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Faycal Tahiri, a naturalized U.S. citizen and practicing doctor, kidnapped his own children in order to keep them from their mother. For more than two years, in defiance of court orders from both U.S. and Moroccan courts, he moved from country to country to prevent his young sons from seeing their mother. We are committed to prosecuting all those who, like Tahiri, unlawfully interfere with a parent’s right to be with her child.”
According to the Superseding Indictment filed against TAHIRI, other court documents publicly filed in this case, and statements made in court proceedings, including yesterday’s sentencing:
Between June 2010 and November 2015, TAHIRI kept his two American-born sons outside of the United States and away from their mother, moving between Morocco, Europe, and Saudi Arabia. TAHIRI kidnapped his children to Saudi Arabia in December 2012, and lied to the children’s mother, the FBI, the Moroccan authorities, and an American court about the children’s whereabouts. TAHIRI kept his children out of contact with their mother for approximately two years, and the children were located and returned to the United States thanks to the efforts of their mother and the FBI. The two boys were eight and ten years old when they reunited with their mother.
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In addition to the prison term, TAHIRI, 42, of Bay Shore, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, and expressed gratitude for the efforts of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine Geddes and Danielle R. Sassoon are in charge of the prosecution.
Man Arrested on Fraud Charges for Posing as a DoctorRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Glen Allen man was arrested late yesterday in Kansas on charges of fraud, false statements, and identity theft.
According to allegations in the indictment, Vishal J. Patel, 30, used the personal identifying information of licensed physicians to pose as a doctor in online employment applications to medical staffing companies. Patel falsely claimed in such applications to be licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To support this claim, Patel created and submitted false diplomas and certificates concerning his education, training, certifications, and licenses in which he included registration and licensing numbers belonging to various licensed physicians. To obtain access to their information, Patel posed as the physicians when contacting various oversight entities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. Patel directed those entities to alter the physicians’ licensing records so that they appeared to be associated with Patel. He then directed these entities to mail him copies of the altered records. Through the scheme, Patel fraudulently induced various medical staffing companies to employ him as an independent contractor. Patel obtained employment through at least one company at a free clinic in Newport News, where he saw nearly two dozen patients before he was terminated due to the clinic’s inability to verify his credentials.
Patel has been charged with wire fraud, furnishing false information in a DEA record, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years, along with a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison, if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin C. Gratton and Brian J. Samuels are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-125.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Louisiana Company Pleads Guilty to Transporting and Dumping Hazardous Waste in Savannah NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
Savannah, GA – Boasso America, Inc., headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and with a facility in Garden City, Georgia was sentenced to 5 years of organizational probation last week by United States District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. for its actions in the illegal transportation and dumping of hazardous waste. Additionally, Boasso was ordered to pay full restitution, including cleanup costs; to pay the maximum criminal fine penalty of $500,000; and to establish, implement, and enforce an effective environmental compliance plan, so that future dumping incidents do not happen.
Boasso pled guilty to a felony violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a law regulating the storage and transportation of hazardous waste. Boasso’s conviction follows the convictions of two of its former employees, Ray Mitchell, 52, of Pooler, Georgia, and Maurice Miller, 40, of Savannah, for their individual roles in the illegal transportation and dumping of hazardous waste. Earlier this year, Miller was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison. Mitchell was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison.
According to evidence presented during multiple guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Boasso provides transportation services for tank containers containing hazardous wastes. Boasso’s Garden City facility stored and transported its customers’ tanks containing hazardous waste. In 2015, rather than properly transporting and safely disposing of drums and totes at its Garden City facility that contained the hazardous chemical naphthalene, Boasso employees Mitchell and Miller illegally transported and dumped a significant amount of naphthalene into the ground of a nearby Savannah neighborhood. Exposure to amounts of naphthalene, a main ingredient found in mothballs, can cause serious health issues. Once discovered, law enforcement and environmental officials quickly removed the hazardous waste before it caused any health concerns. Further investigation by law enforcement officials uncovered that Boasso employees fabricated invoices in an effort to hide their illegal dumping of hazardous waste.
United States Attorney Bobby L. Christine said, “The Southern District of Georgia is an historic and beautiful land. Companies doing business in our great District will be held accountable for any and all harm they cause and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to enforce our federal laws and keep Savannah beautiful.”
“The actions of the defendants in this case resulted in hazardous waste being illegally dumped in Savannah’s Carver Village community,” said Andy Castro, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program for Georgia. “This case shows that EPA and its law enforcement partners will prosecute those who put public health at risk by avoiding the cost of handling or disposing of dangerous chemicals properly.”
The investigation of this case was led by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, and the Savannah Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Tania D. Groover and Charlie Bourne prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For any questions, please contact Appellate Chief R. Brian Tanner at (912) 652-4422.
Lawrence Woman Sentenced for Role in Heroin and Fentanyl RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for her role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring operating in southeastern Massachusetts.
Miguelina Mejia Ruiz, a/k/a Doris, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In June 2017, Mejia Ruiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
Mejia Ruiz was the wife of Eric Matos, who was charged with supplying heroin and fentanyl to a drug trafficking organization led by Dedwin Cruz-Rivera. The investigation revealed that Cruz-Rivera obtained large quantities of heroin and fentanyl from drug suppliers, including co-defendant Matos, which he then resold in the Fall River, New Bedford and Providence, R.I., communities. Mejia Ruiz delivered drugs and collected money on behalf of Matos. Mejia Ruiz was caught delivering almost 300 grams of fentanyl and 200 grams of heroin in separate incidents.
The investigation culminated with the arrests and charges of Mejia Ruiz and 24 others in connection with Cruz-Rivera’s heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation; an April 2016 superseding indictment brought the number of defendants charged in the case to 26.
On July 27, 2017, Mejia Ruiz’s husband, Matos, from whom she is separated, was sentenced to 121 months in prison. Cruz-Rivera pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 16, 2018.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Kanwit, formerly of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, prosecuted the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Beausey, Katherine Ferguson and Ann Taylor.
Lancaster Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on December 19, 2017, Senior U.S. District Court Judge William W. Caldwell sentenced Jameil O. Jackson, age 38, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to 120 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Jackson engaged in a conspiracy to sell between 196 and 280 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack cocaine,” in the Middle District of Pennsylvania between June 2014 and October 2014. Co-defendants Randy Smith, Marc Singleton, Carlos Burgos-Melendez, Benny Jackson, Darnell Jackson and Eric Tittel have pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in this drug trafficking organization.
Jackson has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his bond was revoked on October 28, 2015, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office request.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith A. Taylor.
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Justice Department Welcomes Tribal Nations Leadership CouncilRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice welcomed representatives of the Tribal Nations Leadership Council (TNLC) to the department Monday and Tuesday for a series of discussions on how the United States and Tribal Nations can best work together to strengthen public safety and the government-to-government relationship.
On Tuesday, the TNLC met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand, and Office of Tribal Justice Director Tracy Toulou, capping a two-day conference on a wide range of issues facing Indian Country.
“It is an honor to welcome the Tribal Nations Leadership Council, and to discuss ways to improve the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. “We are working to support them and reduce the violent crime and drug abuse that is devastating communities across our nation.”
During a two-day conference on Monday and Tuesday, the Council covered a range of issues, including drug trafficking, prosecution and treatment, cooperation across jurisdictions, data collection and access to data, violence against women, civil rights and hate crimes. The group met with the U.S. Attorney from the District of Montana and representatives from the Office of Tribal Justice, Executive Office on U.S. Attorneys, Office on Violence Against Women, the Civil Rights Division, the Office of Justice Programs, the Environment and Natural Resources Division, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services also participated in several sessions.
The TNLC is composed of tribal leaders representing American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages from regions around the country. The TNLC was created in 2010 and meets periodically to confer with top officials in the department and discuss issues of mutual concern.
Jury Convicts Man of Kidnapping Woman in Las VegasRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Texas man was convicted by a jury Tuesday of kidnapping and driving a woman against her will from Nevada to New Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.
Jack William Morgan, 32, of Texas, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of kidnapping. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2018. Morgan faces the statutory maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the indictment, on Jan. 30, 2017, Morgan and a co-defendant conspired together to use force and violence to kidnap a woman in Las Vegas. They abducted the woman, chained her to the floor of a vehicle, and drove her from Nevada to New Mexico. Law enforcement rescued the victim and arrested Morgan and his co-defendant in New Mexico.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Cushman and Kathryn Newman are prosecuting the case.
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Juan Thompson Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 60 Months in Prison for Cyberstalking and Making Hoax Bomb Threats to JCCs and Other Victim OrganizationsRead the Press Release
Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JUAN THOMPSON was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel to 60 months in prison for cyberstalking and making hoax bomb threats as part of THOMPSON’s campaign to harass and intimidate a particular woman (“Victim-1”). Over a period of months in 2016 and 2017, THOMPSON, among other things, communicated at least 12 threats to Jewish Community Centers (“JCCs”) and other Victim Organizations in Victim-1’s name and his own name and made false allegations about Victim-1 to Victim-1’s employer. THOMPSON was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) on March 3, 2017, and pled guilty before Judge Castel on June 13, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Today, Juan Thompson was held to account and justly punished for his efforts to harass an ex-girlfriend by sending disturbing and dangerous hoax threats to Jewish Community Centers and other organizations across the country in her name. Thompson’s harassment and threats caused severe distress to both his victim and to Jewish communities around the country. We thank our partners at the FBI for their excellent work on this important case.”
According to the Complaint, the Information, and statements made at sentencing:
In July 2016, THOMPSON began a months-long campaign of harassment targeting Victim-1 after Victim-1 ended their relationship. THOMPSON’s conduct culminated with a series of hoax threats, including hoax bomb threats, targeting JCCs, organizations that provide service to and on behalf of the Jewish community, schools, and police departments.
THOMPSON started his campaign of harassment of Victim-1 in 2016. In July of that year, an email was sent to Victim-1’s employer, which made false allegations about Victim-1, including that she had broken the law, using an internet protocol (“IP”) address that THOMPSON had previously used to access his social media account. On October 15, 2016, an IP address that traced back to THOMPSON’s residence was used to falsely report that Victim-1 possessed child pornography. When confronted by law enforcement on November 22, 2016, THOMPSON claimed that his email account had been hacked a few weeks earlier.
THOMPSON also made at least 12 hoax threats targeting JCCs. For instance, on February 21, 2017, the Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”) received an emailed threat at their midtown Manhattan office that indicated that “[Victim-1’s name and birthdate] is behind the bomb threats against jews. She lives in nyc and is making more bomb threats tomorrow.” The next day, the ADL received a phone call claiming that explosive material had been placed in the ADL’s midtown Manhattan office.
Some of THOMPSON’s threats were made in his own name, as part of an apparent effort to claim that Victim-1 was trying to frame THOMPSON for a crime. For instance, on or about February 7, 2017, a JCC in Manhattan received an emailed bomb threat from an anonymous email account, which stated: “Juan Thompson [THOMPSON’s birthday] put two bombs in the office of the Jewish center today. He wants to create Jewish newtown tomorrow.” The email’s use of the phrase “Jewish newtown” appeared to refer to a December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which a gunman murdered 26 victims.
In February 2017, a Twitter account used by THOMPSON (the “Thompson Twitter Account”) was used to accuse Victim-1 of responsibility for the JCC Threats and claim that Victim-1 was trying to frame THOMPSON for her crimes. For instance, on February 24, 2017, the Thompson Twitter Account posted: “[s]he [Victim-1], though I can’t prove it, even sent a bomb threat in my name to a Jewish center, which was odd given her antisemitic statements. I got a visit from the FBI. So now I’m battling the racist FBI and this vile, evil, racist white woman.” On February 26, 2017, the Thompson Twitter Account posted: “The hatred of Jews goes across all demos. Ask NYC’s [Victim-1’s employer]. They employ a filthy anti-Semite in [Victim-1]. These ppl are evil.”
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In addition to the prison term, THOMPSON, 32, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, and thanked the United States Secret Service, New York City Police Department, and Saint Louis Police Department for their ongoing investigative assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism & International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Warren and Andrew DeFilippis are in charge of the prosecution.
Jewelry Distributor Pleads Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island jewelry distributor pleaded guilty today to federal charges that he orchestrated a long-running fraud scheme that defrauded a debtor finance company of more than $3.6 million dollars.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Gerald Kent, 52, of Groton, CT, owner and operator of Kent Jewelry, formerly located in Johnston, RI., admitted that he executed the fraud scheme while selling his company’s jewelry on the internet, primarily using websites such as Groupon.com and Zulily.com.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Brian Deck, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Office of the U.S. Secret Service; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division announced Kent’s guilty plea to one count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
At the time of his guilty plea, Kent admitted to the Court that he submitted fraudulent invoices to a factoring (debtor finance) company based in Chicago, Ill., mostly from Groupon and Zulily, which resulted in payments to him of nearly $5 million dollars. Kent admitted that he created hundreds of fraudulent invoices which were submitted to the factoring company for which he received payment; created and used a fraudulent clone of Groupon, Inc.’s website; enlisted coconspirators to pose as Groupon employees; and opened bank accounts in the names of Groupon and Zulily, Inc., in order to deceive the debtor finance company into believing it was receiving payments from these companies.
Factoring is a financial transaction and a type of debtor finance in which a business sells its accounts receivable (i.e., invoices) to a third party (called a factor) at a discount. Factoring companies work with businesses to provide working capital in order to grow their businesses without having to wait for outstanding accounts receivables to be paid.
Kent was first charged in this matter by way of a criminal complaint filed on July 17, 2017. He was ordered released on $50,000 unsecured bond on July 26, 2017. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2018.
Wire fraud is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greater; and a term of supervised release of 3 years. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by statutory penalties of up to a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 2 years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000; and a term of supervised release of 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee H. Vilker and John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by agents from the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz Sentenced for Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and Transmitting a Communication Containing a Threat to InjureRead the Press Release
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney David J. Freed for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division announced today that Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, 21, a U.S. citizen and resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 160 months of imprisonment and 12 of years of supervised release by Chief United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. Chief Judge Conner also ordered Aziz to pay $6,635.79 in restitution to the service members he threatened.
According to court documents, from July 2014 to December 2015, Aziz engaged in a concerted and prolonged effort to support the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIL” or “ISIS”), by knowingly conspiring to provide material support, including personnel and services, to ISIS. Aziz was steadfast and outspoken in his support for ISIS. Aziz pledged his allegiance to the leader of ISIS and used at least 72 different Twitter accounts to advocate violence against the United States and its citizens, to disseminate ISIS propaganda, and to espouse pro-ISIS views.
On at least three occasions, Aziz used his Twitter accounts and other electronic communication services to assist persons seeking to travel to and fight for ISIL. In one instance, Aziz acted as an intermediary between a person in Turkey and several well-known members of ISIS. Aziz passed location information, including maps and a telephone number, between the person in Turkey and the ISIS member.
Aziz also used one of his Twitter accounts to threaten approximately 100 U.S. service members. He disseminated a “kill list” that contained the names, addresses, photographs and military branches of the service members. A well-known ISIS member compiled the list, which commanded ISIS supporters to “kill the [service members] in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their street thinking that they are safe.”
A court-authorized search of a tactical/military style backpack located in Aziz’s closet identified five loaded M4-style high-capacity magazines, a modified straight edge knife, a thumb drive, medication, flashlights, a toothbrush, sunflower seeds, a lighter, nail clippers, fingerless gloves, a pocket watch and a black balaclava, which is a type of mask frequently worn by ISIS fighters and supporters.
On December 22, 2015, Aziz was charged in an indictment with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. A superseding indictment was returned on May 18, 2016, which added solicitation to commit a crime of violence and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. On January 30, 2017, Aziz pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure.
“Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz conspired to provide material support to ISIS by aiding individuals in their pursuit of traveling overseas to join the designated foreign terrorist organization and by using social media to propagate ISIS’s threats to injure U.S. service members,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to hold accountable those who seek to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and threaten members of our military.”
United States Attorney David J. Freed said, “We in law enforcement know that the fight against terrorism is not limited to far-away battlefields. This sentence should serves as ample notice that we will cede the security of our community to no one. The outstanding work of the investigators and attorneys in this case has brought to justice an individual who provided real, material support to terrorist groups and who attempted to spread hate and destruction in our community and abroad. We will remain ever vigilant to protect the security of our citizens.”
"Mr. Aziz shared ISIL propaganda via social media, helping the terrorists' twisted worldview spread further, faster," said Michael Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. "Spewing violent jihadist beliefs, this young man – an American citizen – called for the murder of U.S. service members, and aided other radicalized individuals seeking to travel and take up arms alongside ISIL fighters. The dangers he posed are clear, and chilling. FBI Philadelphia's Joint Terrorism Task Force will never stop working to detect and disrupt the activities of terrorists and those who assist them."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes the Pentagon Force Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom and Trial Attorneys Robert Sander and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz Sentenced for Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and Transmitting A Communication Containing A Threat to InjureRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney David J. Freed for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division announced today that Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, age 21, a U.S. citizen and resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 160 months of imprisonment and 12 of years of supervised release by Chief United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. Chief Judge Conner also ordered Aziz to pay $6,635.79 in restitution to the service members he threatened.
According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, from July 2014 to December 2015, Aziz engaged in a concerted and prolonged effort to support the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIL” or “ISIS”), by knowingly conspiring to provide material support, including personnel and services, to ISIS. Aziz was steadfast and outspoken in his support for ISIS. Aziz pledged his allegiance to the leader of ISIS and used at least 72 different Twitter accounts to advocate violence against the United States and its citizens, to disseminate ISIS propaganda, and to espouse pro-ISIS views.
On at least three occasions, Aziz used his Twitter accounts and other electronic communication services to assist persons seeking to travel to and fight for ISIL. In one instance, Aziz acted as an intermediary between a person in Turkey and several well-known members of ISIS. Aziz passed location information, including maps and a telephone number, between the person in Turkey and the ISIS member.
Aziz also used one of his Twitter accounts to threaten approximately 100 U.S. service members. He disseminated a “kill list” that contained the names, addresses, photographs and military branches of the service members. A well-known ISIS member compiled the list, which commanded ISIS supporters to “kill the [service members] in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their street thinking that they are safe.”
A court-authorized search of a tactical/military style backpack located in Aziz’s closet identified five loaded M4-style high-capacity magazines, a modified straight edge knife, a thumb drive, medication, flashlights, a toothbrush, sunflower seeds, a lighter, nail clippers, fingerless gloves, a pocket watch and a black balaclava, which is a type of mask frequently worn by ISIS fighters and supporters.
On December 22, 2015, Aziz was charged in an indictment with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. A superseding indictment was returned on May 18, 2016, which added solicitation to commit a crime of violence and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. On January 30, 2017, Aziz pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure.
“Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz conspired to provide material support to ISIS by aiding individuals in their pursuit of traveling overseas to join the designated foreign terrorist organization and by using social media to propagate ISIS’s threats to injure U.S. service members,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to hold accountable those who seek to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and threaten members of our military.”
United States Attorney David J. Freed said, “We in law enforcement know that the fight against terrorism is not limited to far-away battlefields. This sentence should serves as ample notice that we will cede the security of our community to no one. The outstanding work of the investigators and attorneys in this case has brought to justice an individual who provided real, material support to terrorist groups and who attempted to spread hate and destruction in our community and abroad. We will remain ever vigilant to protect the security of our citizens.”
"Mr. Aziz shared ISIL propaganda via social media, helping the terrorists' twisted worldview spread further, faster," said Michael Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. "Spewing violent jihadist beliefs, this young man – an American citizen – called for the murder of U.S. service members, and aided other radicalized individuals seeking to travel and take up arms alongside ISIL fighters. The dangers he posed are clear, and chilling. FBI Philadelphia's Joint Terrorism Task Force will never stop working to detect and disrupt the activities of terrorists and those who assist them."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes the Pentagon Force Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom and Trial Attorneys Robert Sander and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
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Indictment: Scott Tucker Failed to Report Millions in IncomeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A professional racecar driver who lives in Leawood was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of failing to report millions in income from payday lending business he owned, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. The defendant’s accountant was indicted, too.
Scott Tucker, 55, Leawood, Kan., is charged with one count of filing a false tax return, and W. Brett Chapin, 46, Shawnee, Kan., is charged with aiding in the filing of a false tax return.
The indictment alleges that in 2008 Tucker orchestrated a sham sale of his company CLK Management to the Miami tribe for $120,000. In fact, Tucker continued to control CLK and a new entity, AMG Services, Inc.
After the sale, other people and entities were listed as owners of Tucker’s payday lending businesses. In fact, Tucker controlled the daily operations of those business. He was the source of funds being lent and he bore the risk of loans not being repaid.
Tucker’s payday lending businesses included Ameriloan, Cash Advance, One Click Cash, Preferred Cash Loans, United Cash Loans, US FastCash, 500 FastCash, Advantage Cash Services and Star Cash Processing.
Chapin was a CPA who prepared Tucker’s tax returns for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. On Oct. 19, 2009, Tucker signed a 2008 tax return prepared by Chapin that failed to report more than $42.5 million in income from Tucker’s payday lending businesses. On Oct. 20, 2011, Tucker signed a 2010 tax return prepared by Chapin that failed to report more than $75 million in income from Tucker’s payday lending businesses.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: Up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Filing a false tax return: Up to three years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return: Up to three years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask are prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Richard Armenta, 57, Overland Park, Kan., is charged with one count of bank robbery.
The indictment that on Nov. 24, 2017, Armenta robbed Capitol Federal Savings Bank at 9001 E. Santa Fe in Overland Park, Kan.
If convicted he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
The Overland Park Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan is prosecuting.
Anois Coronado-Floriano, 31, Kansas City, Kan., Idania Daniela Ortiz, 37, Kansas City, Kan., and Carlos Coronado, 26, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 6, 2017, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Esteban Muniz-Torres, 50, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Dec. 1, 2017, in Johnson County Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
Dennis Bowen, 46, Ottawa, Kan., is charged with escaping from federal custody. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 6, 2017, in Leavenworth County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
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Indianapolis businessman sentenced to four years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis-United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of an Indianapolis man for his role in an elaborate scheme to defraud local business. James D. Victery, 58, Indianapolis, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Michael Reagan after being found guilty in a jury trial in September of this year. At trial, Victery was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
“Mr. Victery’s greed cost local businesses and the government nearly $600,000 in losses,” said Minkler. “Let’s call white collar crime, what it really is; stealing, and those who do will be held accountable for their actions.”
Victery represented himself as a person who was in the business of providing a variety of services to contractors who were considering bidding on government jobs. Those services included acting as an escrow agent, providing bonds, and loans, through a company called TEAM (Tripartite Escrow Agreement Management). The victim-business was a factoring agent that agreed to pay contractors’ invoices before the government was ready to pay, giving the contractors’ prompt access to money to fund their construction projects. Victery purported to his victim-business that he would serve as an escrow agent, holding in trust the money exchanged between the victim-business and the contractors. Victery provided written agreements and emails memorializing the arrangement.
Victery submitted invoices to the victim-business for work that was never performed by the contractors. The evidence at trial revealed Victery had misrepresented himself to the contractors as a provider of bonds, and to the victim-business as an escrow agent. The victim-business paid almost $600,000 to Victery on the fraudulent invoices, and Victery squandered the money on personal business interests and debt in a few months’ time.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
“This sentence highlights the partnership of the FBI and IRS and our mission to dedicate investigative resources to rooting out such corrupt business practices and hold people accountable for their financial fraud,” said W. Jay Abbott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “These criminals are motivated by greed and a desire to see how much they can get away with without care or concern for the consequences and it won’t be tolerated.”
Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation stated, “IRS-CI does not tolerate corrupt business practices that put taxpayers’ dollars at risk. This investigation compliments the many other IRS-CI successes of 2017, announced last week in the IRS-CI Annual Report. We are committed to identifying and stopping financial frauds.”
According to Cindy Cho and Winfield Ong who prosecuted this case for the government, Victery must make restitution of $404,000 and serve three years supervised released release after his sentence.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with the District’s law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute matters involving complex fraud schemes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 5.1.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Olvin Humberto Matute-Lopez, a/k/a “Humberto Lopez-Barralaga,” a/k/a “Fernando Dolero-Juarez,” a/k/a “Juan Carlos Matute,” a/k/a “Juan Lopez,” a/k/a “Humberto Lopez,” age 36, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Illegal Re-entry into the United States after Deportation. United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Matute-Lopez to 15 months in federal prison with 1 year of supervised release to follow.
Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on May 13, 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) Officers in Charleston, SC, discovered that Olvin Humberto Matute-Lopez, a native and citizen of Honduras, had been arrested by the Horry County Police Department for Driving Under the Influence and other traffic violations. In 2008, Matute-Lopez was deported from the United States back to Honduras. A records check revealed that Matute-Lopez had not received permission to enter, re-enter, or remain in the United States.
The case was investigated by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) and the Horry County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
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Huntsville Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $107,707 in Government Funds Through Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A Huntsville woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing more than $107,000 from the government by filing fraudulent income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Holloman.
JOAN MARIE CHANDLER, 42, also known as Joan Marie Robinson, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor to one count of theft of government funds. The judge scheduled her sentencing April 10.
“Today’s guilty plea by Ms. Chandler again emphasizes that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to aggressively pursue those who attempt to defraud America’s tax system,” Town said. “Those who threaten the integrity of the tax system, and cheat the public treasury, will pay their fair share, one way or another.”
“Stealing from the government is not a way to earn a living,” Holloman said. “Refund fraud results in major loss of revenue to the United States Government. Every taxpaying citizen is affected when tax dollars are stolen. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue our efforts to investigate similar schemes and recover the stolen funds.”
According to Chandler’s plea agreement, the U.S. Treasury deposited numerous electronic refund payments into accounts held by Chandler at three banks in the Huntsville area between February 2015 and April 2015.
An investigation revealed two Treasury Refund Electronic Transfer of Funds deposited into Chandler’s account at Branch Banking and Trust, six electronic refund deposits into her account at PNC Bank, and two electronic refund deposits into her account at Wells Fargo Bank, according to the plea agreement.
The 10 refund transfers totaled $107,707. PNC seized $38,608 from Chandler’s account and returned that money to the U.S. Treasury, according to the plea agreement.
The maximum penalty for theft of government funds is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
IRS-CI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney David Estes is prosecuting
Honeywell to Restore Onondaga Lake Natural Resources Under Proposed Agreement with the United States and the State of New YorkRead the Press Release
The Departments of Justice and the Interior joined with the New York State Office of the Attorney General (NYSOAG) and Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) today to announce a proposed settlement with Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) and Onondaga County related to contamination of Onondaga Lake, portions of its tributaries, and surrounding wetlands and uplands.
The proposal would resolve claims brought under the federal Superfund law for damages to natural resources stemming from releases of mercury and other hazardous substances from facilities owned and operated by Honeywell (formerly Allied-Signal) and Onondaga County at the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site in Syracuse, New York.
As part of its operations over many years, Honeywell contributed hazardous substances that resulted in the contamination of Onondaga Lake, portions of its tributaries, and surrounding wetlands and uplands. Hazardous substances from Onondaga County’s operations made their way into Onondaga Lake as well. Federal Superfund law seeks to make the environment and public whole for injuries to natural resources and ecological and recreational services resulting from releases of hazardous substances to the environment.
The proposed settlement requires Honeywell to implement and maintain 20 restoration projects to restore and protect wildlife habitat and water quality, and increase recreational opportunities at Onondaga Lake. Honeywell will also pay over $6 million allocated to restoration and preservation programs overseen by the federal and state trustees, Department of Interior, and the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation acting through NYSDEC.
Onondaga County will operate, repair, maintain, and monitor five of these restoration projects located on or adjacent to County parklands for 25 years. The settlement terms are outlined in a proposed consent decree filed in federal court in Syracuse, New York today. The total value of this proposed settlement is $26 million.
“This settlement will help restore the precious natural resources of the Onondaga Lake watershed, bringing lasting benefits for future generations of Central New Yorkers to enjoy,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeff Wood for the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This joint action with the Department of Interior and the State of New York is yet another testament to the value and effectiveness of cooperative federalism, and I am grateful to all of our partners for the efforts that brought us this resolution.”
“With this proposed settlement, the communities of Onondaga Lake are one step closer to reclaiming this resource for the people and wildlife that live here,” said New York Field Supervisor David Stilwell for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “These funds would support both habitat restoration and protection for the benefit of fish and wildlife, as well as improved opportunities for people to enjoy Onondaga Lake and all that it could offer. We look forward to continuing collaboration with the state, county, Honeywell, and surrounding communities.”
“This settlement marks a critical step toward returning Onondaga Lake to the community that surrounds it – requiring the investment of millions to restore and protect water quality, wildlife, and recreation,” said Bureau Chief Lem Srolovic for the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Office of the New York Attorney General. “We encourage members of the community to review the settlement during the comment period, and look forward to continuing to work in partnership to ensure the restoration of this remarkable natural resource.”
“This proposed agreement is another significant step in the remarkable restoration of Onondaga Lake,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “DEC looks forward to the successful implementation of these projects and working with the community on the development of additional restoration work available under the settlement. The input from the public on the recovery of Onondaga Lake has been invaluable, and implementation of this restoration plan will return this unique natural resource to the surrounding community for use and enjoyment that has been unavailable for decades.”
This past August, the trustees, through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of New York, issued a final restoration plan and environmental assessment plan outlining these 20 restoration projects to restore the Lake and wildlife habitat and improve recreational resources. This plan also included responses to oral and written comments received from the public on the draft plan during a 90-day public comment period, which included four public meetings and one public hearing held throughout Syracuse during the spring 2017.
Since 2008, Honeywell and the trustees have worked together to assess and identify potential restoration projects to benefit natural resources affected by releases of mercury and other hazardous substances. Some of the damaged natural resources include fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Recreational fishing opportunities were also impacted by mercury contamination.
Today’s proposed settlement, lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, is subject to a 30-day public comment period to begin following notification in the Federal Register. The settlement is subject to final approval by the court. To view the proposed consent decree, visit the department’s website: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
More information about the Onondaga Lake Natural Resource Damage Assessment is online at https://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/ec/onondaga.htm.
Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Life for Two Overdose DeathsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton Roads man was sentenced today to life in prison for distributing heroin in Hampton and Newport News that caused two overdose deaths.
According to court documents, Terry Glenn Williams, Jr., 33, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy, distribution of heroin resulting in death, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and money laundering. During the course of his drug trafficking, Williams was involved in four heroin overdoses – two fatal and two nonfatal. Williams’ drug-trafficking organization operated in Hampton and Newport News by moving to and from various hotels, moving in excess of a kilogram of heroin and 280 grams of cocaine base. In addition to drug trafficking, Williams used drug addicts as prostitutes, at times using the prostitutes to distribute heroin for him after he used their addiction to keep them with him in his prostitution business.
The case was investigated by the DEA as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Raw Sugar. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard J. Zlotnik and Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-16.
Hazelton Man Indicted for Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Felix Silva, age 49, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was indicted on December 19, 2017, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Silva, also known as “Carlos Santana” and “Hector Borero,” possessed with the intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin on December 9, 2017, in Sugarloaf Township, Pennsylvania. One hundred grams of heroin is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 individual doses of heroin.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Harwich Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Harwich man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fentanyl conspiracy.
Dean Viprino, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2018.
Viprino was a customer of Alex Fraga, one of four people arrested as part of a drug ring that shipped large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin from Boston to Cape Cod, where it was then redistributed. In mid-August 2017, Alex Fraga and his brother Kevin Fraga were arrested by federal investigators after large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine were seized from them. Wiretap interceptions and surveillance indicated that Viprino had been purchasing fentanyl from Alex Fraga for personal use and distribution.
The charge provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Weinreb’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Hartford Man Charged with Robbery and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on November 30, 2017, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a six-count indictment charging ISAIAH HALLIDAY, 18, of Hartford, with robbery and firearm offenses stemming from a scheme that victimized several individuals who sought to purchase items over mobile classifieds web apps.
HALLIDAY has been detained since his arrest on November 17. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and was ordered detained.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September and November 2017, more than a dozen robberies have occurred in Hartford during which individuals lured would-be customers with real or nonexistent items posted to mobile classifieds web apps, such as Offer Up, Letgo and Craigslist, through the use of a fake account. Upon arrival, the customers were robbed of money and cell phones. In all of the robberies, assailants brandished what victims described to be a firearm.
It is alleged that on November 11, 2017, Hartford Police officers responded to a location on Blue Hills Avenue in response to a report of a male suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, the victim stated that he had traveled to Mansfield Street in Hartford to meet with an individual he contacted on Offer Up to purchase an iPhone. When he arrived, an individual, who was subsequently identified as HALLIDAY, approached the front passenger door of his vehicle and pointed a black handgun at him. After the victim attempted to drive away, HALLIDAY fired one round at him, striking him in the right forearm.
The indictment charges HALLIDAY with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, for robberies that occurred on September 19 and October 16; one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for the robbery that occurred on November 11 describe above; one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery for another attempted robbery on November 11, and one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery on November 17.
Each of the robbery offenses carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and the firearm offenses carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Greenwood Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Victor G. Dearing, age 35, of Greenwood, pled guilty in federal court in Anderson, to possession of a firearm by a felon, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain, of Anderson, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on May 25, 2017, Greenwood City police officers received a tip that there was a subject with a gun selling heroin on Marion Avenue. They went to investigate and saw Dearing in the immediate area. They approached Dearing to speak with him and he ran. The officers pursued him and noticed that he appeared to being reaching for something inside his coat pocket. Dearing eventually got tangled in briars and underbrush as he tried to escape in the woods. The officers detained him and discovered that Dearing had a 9 mm handgun and ammunition as well as marijuana and 8.8 grams of heroin.
Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Dearing can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, three years of supervised release, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the Greenwood City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
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Greenville Felon Pleads Guilty to Multiple Armed Robberies Outside of Upstate HotelRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Dominique Romando Turner, age 24, of Greenville, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea in federal court to “Conspiracy to Carry a Firearm During a Crime of Violence,” a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); “Felon in Possession of Firearm,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); “Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); “Hobbs Act Robbery,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); and “Possessing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on April 23, 2016, Turner conspired with Trevis Bland, a/k/a/ “HellRell,” and another co-conspirator to rob a prostitute he solicited from backpage.com with a Technicorp .22 caliber revolver outside an Upstate hotel. Turner set up the date with the victim and met her at the car. The co-conspirators pointed a gun at the victim, forced her out of the car, and took her money. Bland carjacked the victim’s car.
Again, on April 27, 2016, Turner and Bland robbed three victims at gunpoint outside of the same hotel. One individual was hit on the back of the head with a hard object, and the co-conspirators took their money. The co-conspirators drove away in a truck. The getaway truck was recovered, and many of the victims’ items were found. The firearm had initially belonged to Turner, but Turner sold it to Bland. Both Turner and Bland have prior felony convictions that prohibited them from possessing firearms. Bland previously pled guilty before Judge Cain to conspiracy, armed robberies, carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon involving these facts.
Mrs. Drake stated the maximum penalty for these offenses is life imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of ATF, the Greenville Police Department, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, and the Easley Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville USAO is prosecuting the case.
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Geneseo Man Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison for Stolen Valor OffensesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow today ordered William R. Jones, 68, of Geneseo, Ill., to serve eight months in federal prison for theft of government funds and making false statements about his military service to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Jones was also ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 and to pay restitution in the amount of $71,472 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jones was ordered to remain on supervised release for a term of three years following his release from prison.
Jones had entered pleas of guilty on Aug. 22, 2017, to the offenses. During court hearings and according to court documents, the government established that Jones entered service in the armed forces of the United States in 1971 via the Air National Guard. Thereafter, Jones served in various Reserve or National Guard components. Jones retired from the military in 2002 as a Lieutenant Colonel. At no time did Jones ever serve in the Southeast Asia or Republic of Vietnam (RVN) theater of combat operations or in any other theater of combat operations.
In 2003, after retirement, Jones sought disability benefits, based on claims in statements to the VA that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder attendant to combat service in the RVN. Jones falsely claimed that he had been a Special Operations air crewman on an AC-130 Spectre gunship and was shot down and wounded. Jones claimed that he had been awarded a Bronze Star Medal with V for Valor and a Purple Heart for RVN service. The VA denied the claims after checking Jones’ military service records and determining that he was never in RVN.
Jones, however, continued to press for claims for disability based on combat service, submitting a false DD-214 to the VA and causing the American Legion and public officials to petition or write the VA in support of the defendant based on Jones’s false representations. As a result of his false representations, Jones received $71,472 from the VA for combat-related disability.
On Oct. 31, 2013, Jones caused the American Legion to submit to the VA on his behalf a new claim with supporting documents that included a copy of an article from the Geneseo, Ill., newspaper. The article was based on false information provided by Jones about his purported combat service, including copies of several false certificates for combat awards, a false certificate from MACV SOG (Vietnam Special Operations Group) attesting to Jones’s purported SOG service, a false certificate representing that “Staff Sergeant Jones” had received an Enlisted Aircrew badge in November 1971, and a letter dated 2008 from then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama stating that the defendant was a RVN veteran.
In addition, on July 16, 2013, Jones submitted to the office of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin a “Privacy Act Release” form that contained false information indicating that Jones had served in combat in Vietnam in 1972; that Jones had been assigned to Special Operations in Vietnam; and, that Jones was shot down in enemy territory but rescued by U.S. Marines three weeks later. In fact, as Jones well knew, he never served in Vietnam; was never assigned to Special Operations in Vietnam, and, was never shot down and rescued by U.S. Marines. As a result of these false statements to Senator Durbin, the Senator conveyed the false statements to the VA in support of the defendant’s claim for disability benefits.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro. The charges resulted from an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Franklin County Resident Charged with Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Benton, Illinois, has charged a Franklin County, Illinois, resident with methamphetamine related offenses. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced the charges today. Carl L. Darnell was charged in a nine-count indictment with possessing pseudoephedrine pills intending that they be used to manufacture methamphetamine. If convicted, Darnell faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each count. Darnell appeared in Court and was ordered held without bond after the Court advised him of his rights and at the completion of a detention hearing.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation in this case was conducted by, the Illinois State Police, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, the Sesser, Illinois, Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff=s Office, the Energy, Illinois Police Department, the West Frankfort, Illinois, Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Franconia Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Cassandra Chandler, 25, of Franconia, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley of the announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 18, 2017, after an investigation of Chandler's possession of drugs, law enforcement officers from the Franconia, Littleton, and Sugar Hill, New Hampshire police departments executed a search warrant for Chandler's apartment in Franconia, New Hampshire. In Chandler’s bedroom, within arm's reach of her bed, officers found approximately 48 grams of fentanyl.
Chandler is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2018.
“Fentanyl and other deadly drugs are causing tremendous harm in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “I commend the work of the police officers in this case. By getting this fentanyl off the streets, they may have saved several lives.”
This matter was investigated by the Franconia Police Department, with the assistance of the Littleton and Sugar Hill Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.
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Four Men Convicted of Participating in A Large Heroin and Crack Cocaine Distribution Ring Out of South PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Yesterday a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts against four men from Philadelphia, Basil Bey, 28, Reginald White, 31, Tyrik Upchurch, 30, and Amin Wadley, 26, in connection with their participation in a large heroin and crack cocaine distribution group. Bey, White, Upchurch, and Wadley were each convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Bey and White were also each convicted of one count of distributing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a playground.
As presented at trial, from at least April 2015 through December 2016, Bey was the leader of a narcotics distribution group that sold heroin and crack cocaine nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week to customers in South Philadelphia. The group, which included White, Upchurch, and Wadley as members, sold its customers narcotics by use of a cellular telephone, which would result in the delivery of narcotics by vehicle. Members of the group worked shifts in order to serve their narcotics customers day or night. Bey, Upchurch, and Wadley also maintained residences around Philadelphia in order to store and package the narcotics for distribution. Due to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement in this case, approximately thirty-five controlled purchases of heroin and/or crack were made from this drug group—all captured on video. Law enforcement also lawfully obtained a wiretap that captured some of the group’s activities on its telephone.
Basil Bey and Amin Wadley each face a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, with a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and other penalties. Tyrik Upchurch and Reginald White each face a mandatory minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and other penalties. U.S. District Court Judge Gerald McHugh has not yet scheduled sentencing hearings for the four men.
Five other coconspirators of Bey, White, Upchurch, and Wadley have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Jerome Lyles, 33, of Philadelphia, was also indicted* as part of this narcotics distribution group, and a reward is being offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for information that leads to his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Bologna and Kevin Jayne.
* An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Washington State Auditor Convicted of Nine Criminal Counts for Fraud Relating to Business He Operated Prior to Statewide Elective OfficeRead the Press Release
Former Washington State Auditor TROY X. KELLEY was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma of possession of stolen property, making false declarations in a court proceeding, and tax fraud announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. The jury deliberated for two days following a five-week trial. The charges stem from a business KELLEY operated before being elected to statewide office. KELLEY is scheduled for sentencing on March 30, 2018.
“Troy Kelley stole money from thousands of homeowners, then tried to hide it by passing it through a variety of accounts – ultimately he committed tax fraud to try to hide the theft and keep as much of the ill-gotten gain as he could,” said U.S. Annette L. Hayes. “I commend the investigators and the trial team that worked diligently to present a complex case, and the jury who carefully reviewed all the evidence before returning this verdict.”
According to testimony at trial, between 2003 and 2008, KELLEY operated a business that was paid by real estate title companies to track documents related to real estate sales and refinancing. KELLEY had agreements with those companies that he would charge a flat $15 or $20 for each of the title documents his employees tracked on county websites. While the title companies withheld $100-$150 on each loan to pay the fee and any other potential costs, unneeded money was to be returned to the borrower. But beginning in 2005, in virtually every case, KELLEY kept the entire amount withheld on each loan resulting in nearly $3 million in stolen money. When the fees became the subject of class action litigation in 2008, KELLEY moved the stolen money through various bank accounts to hide it. One of the title companies sued KELLEY for the fees and he settled the case by paying more than $1 million. KELLEY was convicted of possession of stolen property, two counts of making false declarations, and six counts of tax fraud. The jury found him not guilty on five counts of money laundering.
In closing arguments, prosecutors said TROY KELLEY “had found the perfect crime,”… because no one was watching what was happening to the money that should have been refunded to homeowners. Prosecutors said, “Kelley engaged in ten years of lies to steal millions of dollars and to hide the money he had stolen.”
This is the second trial on these charges. The first trial in March 2016 ended with the jury able to reach a verdict on only one count, acquitting KELLEY on lying to the Internal Revenue Service agent who questioned him about his scheme in 2013.
Possession and concealment of stolen property is punishable by up to ten years in prison. False declarations and false statements are punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The remaining charges are punishable by up to three years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Arlen Storm, Andrew Friedman, Seth Wilkinson and Katheryn Frierson. Appellate attorney Michael Morgan provided significant assistance.
Former SunTrust Bank Employee Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling Almost $600,000Read the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Connie Moorman Willis (52, Morriston) to six years and three months in federal prison for mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, embezzlement by a bank employee, and access device (credit card) fraud. She pleaded guilty on July 14, 2017.
According to the plea agreement, Willis worked at SunTrust Bank as a business banker with wide-ranging authority over customer accounts. Beginning in February 2013, she stole the identities of two customers by using their personal information to create a fraudulent bank account. She had all written correspondence for this account mailed to her home address in order to keep the customers from learning of her activities. Willis subsequently transferred large amounts of money from other customers, without their permission, into this fraudulent account. She then used the stolen funds to pay for her personal expenses.
Willis’s victims included customers who were elderly or in poor health. In one instance, investigators learned that Willis had opened two fraudulent credit card accounts and had taken out a $140,000 mortgage in the name of an elderly relative. She then used stolen funds to pay off the mortgage and to make payments on the fraudulent credit cards.
Once Willis’s fraud was discovered, she texted one of her customers and admitted that she had “made a big mistake.” In total, Willis stole $591,545.33.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the City of Ocala Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Former Rutland Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Ordered to Forfeit $8,000 in Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that Javon Wright (a.k.a. “Ace”), 32, previously of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to 21 months imprisonment for the crime of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the Rutland area. Wright had previously pled guilty to this offense. Judge Crawford also sentenced Wright to three years of supervised release by the United States Probation Office, which begins after Wright serves his term of imprisonment.
As part of the plea agreement, the parties agreed to the 21-month sentence and the forfeiture of the $8,294 in drug proceeds, which the Bennington Police Department seized from Wright after a traffic stop in Bennington on March 15, 2016. According to the Government’s allegations, in and around March 2016, Wright paid persons in the Rutland area crack cocaine to allow him to stay at their residence and also to help him transport and sell his drugs. Judge Crawford accepted the parties’ recommendation of a 21-month sentence, in part, because of Wright’s drug addiction issues.
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Wright is represented by Robert Sussman, Esq., of Burlington, Vermont.
Former Marion County, Kentucky, Resident Guilty of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Possess Marijuana with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Johnny Boone pled guilty, with sentencing to follow on March 15, 2017
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman today announced the guilty plea, by John Robert Boone, in United States District Court, before Senior Judge Charles R. Simpson III, to a single count of a Superseding Information on December 19, 2017.
John Robert Boone a/k/a Johnny Boone, formerly of Marion County, Kentucky, has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service after being deported from Montreal, Canada in April of 2017.
Yesterday afternoon, Boone pled guilty to a Superseding Information containing a single charge. Boone admitted yesterday that on May 27, 2008, in Washington County, Kentucky, he conspired with other persons to possess more than 1000 marijuana plants, intending to cultivate and grow the plants and distribute the marijuana when the plants were harvested. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Boone watered and fertilized the plants, and concealed them on a farm in Washington County on Walker Lane near his residence.
According to the plea agreement, Boone faces a maximum prison term of five years, a fine of $250,000, and a possible three-year term of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for March 15th at 2:30, in Louisville, before Senior Judge Simpson.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress.
boone_-_superseding_information_002.docx boone_-_plea_agreement_002.docxFormer Manhattan City Attorney Sentenced on Child Porn ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A former city attorney of Manhattan, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to 210 months in federal prison on child pornography charges, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Bill Raymond, 55, Andover, Kan., pleaded guilty to three counts of transporting child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Raymond admitted that he emailed child pornography to himself using a cellular telephone and a computer on Nov. 9, 2014, Feb. 28, 2015 and May 17, 2015. He also admitted that on July 30, 2015, he possessed child pornography.
The crimes occurred in Butler and Riley counties. Raymond became the city attorney in Manhattan after serving as an assistant county counselor in Sedgwick County.
Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Former FCI Aliceville Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with InmateRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A former corrections officer at the federal prison for women in Alabama pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing a sexual act with an inmate and lying about his contact with her while he worked at the facility, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith.
JESSE BAILEY, 28, of Carrolton, Ala., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia E. Hopkins to one count each of abusive sexual contact and making false statements to the government. The judge scheduled Bailey’s sentencing for March 13.
“Our office takes seriously the responsibility of holding individuals accountable when they violate the trust and responsibility placed on them to supervise and protect prisoners by, instead, abusing them — sexually or otherwise,” Town said. “Bailey’s action makes a very dangerous job more difficult for all members of law enforcement, the vast majority of whom conduct themselves with the highest professional standards and utmost levels of integrity.”
“The OIG is committed to protecting the safety of inmates and investigating incidents of alleged abuse by correctional staff,” Boyersmith said. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that corruption and abuse of power within our federal correctional system will not be tolerated.”
Bailey worked as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution at Aliceville, a low-security prison for women, from January 2015 to August 2016. He had direct custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority over inmates, including the victim, whom court records identify as H.G.
In January 2016, Bailey was assigned to the prison dorm unit where H.G. was housed and soon began a flirtation with her that resulted in the sexual act that took place in a staff bathroom near the dorm unit. Over the course of the flirtation that lasted several weeks, Bailey began communicating with H.G., even when he was not assigned to her dorm, including by email and telephone, according to his plea. Such communication between corrections officers and inmates is strictly prohibited.
Agents from the FBI and the DOJ Office of the Inspector General interviewed Bailey at FCI Aliceville in August 2016 about allegations of improper communications and sexual contact with H.G. Bailey falsely denied the sexual contact and told the agents he had never communicated with H.G. or other inmates by phone or email outside of his assigned role as a corrections officer, according to his plea.
The maximum penalty for abusive sexual contact is 15 years and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for making false statements is eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI and DOJ-OIG investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier O. Carter Sr. is prosecuting.
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Former Executive Director of B.W. Cooper RMC Sentenced for Conspiracy to Misapply, Embezzle Federal Funds and to Commit Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DARRELL J. WILLIAMS, age 46, of Houston, was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Indictment for conspiracy to misapply, embezzle federal funds and to commit access device fraud.
U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced WILLIAMS three years of probation, with the first year to be served on home detention. Additionally, WILLIAMS was sentenced to perform 125 hours of community service, ordered to pay $91,356.27 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, from a time unknown, but prior to January 2009, and continuing through on or about May 19, 2011, WILLIAMS, embezzled in access of $5,000 from B.W. Cooper Resident Management Corporation (B.W. Cooper RMC) and that he continued to use the B.W. Cooper RMC credit card for personal expenses.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of HUD-OIG in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González was in charge of the prosecution.
Former Congressional Candidate Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Hampton woman with fraud and theft of government property for allegedly stealing from the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
According to the indictment, Shaun Brown, 58, worked with JOBS Community Outreach Development Corporation (JOBS), a non-profit registered in Virginia. In 2011 and 2012, JOBS was a sponsor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SFSP, a federally-funded program to feed children during the summer when free-lunch programs end at the conclusion of the school year. Brown was responsible for running the SFSP for JOBS, and in 2012, Brown and others submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement. As part of the scheme, Brown would direct staff to inflate the numbers of children actually fed and falsify documents in order to obtain additional money. In 2016, Brown was the democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 2nd District.
Brown has been charged with wire fraud and theft of government property, and faces a maximum penalty 20 years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, Michael C. Westfall, Acting State Inspector General of Virginia, and Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General for U.S. Department of Agriculture, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-169.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Former Chief Financial Officer at Publicly Traded Company Charged with Accounting and Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former chief financial officer for Bankrate Inc., a publicly traded financial services and marketing company headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida, was charged in an indictment unsealed today for his alleged participation in a complex accounting and securities fraud scheme.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida and Inspector in Charge Regina Faulkerson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
Edward J. DiMaria, 52, of Fairfield County, Connecticut, was charged in an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to make false statements to a public company’s accountants and to falsify a public company’s books, records and accounts; six counts of false entries in a public company’s books, records and accounts; three counts of false statements to a public company’s accountants; one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud; one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud. DiMaria, who previously worked at Bankrate’s offices in New York City, made his initial appearance earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres of the Southern District of Florida and was released on bond.
“The deceptive accounting practices that Edward DiMaria allegedly engaged in can cause real financial harm to investors, along with broader reputational harm to U.S. markets and our country,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “Safeguarding the integrity of our markets – while holding responsible those executives who refuse to follow the rule of law – are important priorities for the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners.”
“This type of sophisticated financial fraud scheme can have a negative impact on the financial markets in the United States and around the world,” said Inspector in Charge Faulkerson. “Anyone who engages in such conduct should know they will not go undetected and be held accountable. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has an extensive history of investigating complex financial fraud schemes in order to protect investors as well as the integrity of the financial marketplace from fraudulent activities by trusted insiders who abuse their positions.”
The indictment alleges that between 2011 and 2014, DiMaria and his co-conspirators carried out a complex scheme to manipulate Bankrate’s financial statements and artificially inflate Bankrate’s earnings. According to the indictment, DiMaria and his co-conspirators allegedly engaged in so-called “cookie jar” or “cushion” accounting where over a million dollars in unsupported expense accruals were left on Bankrate’s books and then selectively reversed in later quarters to meet earnings goals. In addition, DiMaria and his co-conspirators allegedly misrepresented certain company expenses as “deal costs” in order to artificially inflate publicly reported adjusted earnings metrics, and made materially false statements to conceal the improper accounting entries from Bankrate’s auditors, shareholders and the investing public. The indictment further alleges that while Mr. DiMaria was misleading Bankrate’s auditors and the public about the company’s financial condition he realized millions of dollars from selling his own shares of Bankrate stock.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington, D.C. Division investigated the case. Assistant Chief Henry Van Dyck and Trial Attorneys Emily Scruggs and Jason Covert of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The Securities and Exchange Commission also provided assistance in this matter.
Former BB&T Bank Employee Sentenced for Stealing over $500,000Read the Press Release
Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A former BB&T employee, who over a period of approximately four years embezzled over a half-million dollar, was sentenced to more than 30 months in federal prison yesterday, United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle announced.
Anna B. Holt, 48, of Staffordsville, Va., was sentenced yesterday to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $400,868 in restitution. She previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee of moneys of the bank or entrusted to the custody of the bank.
Holt worked for BB&T Bank as a branch banker at the New River Branch in Pearisburg, Virginia. The defendant admitted that from around 2013 to August 2017, while being employed at the bank, she embezzled a total of $584,805 from 15 separate accounts. Holt used various methods to embezzle the money, including making withdrawals from customer accounts, cashing customers’ bonds and keeping the proceeds, and creating fake credit accounts in the names of relatives and withdrawing the loan proceeds. Some of the money embezzled was used to repay accounts from which Holt had previously stolen money.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer was prosecuted the case for the United States.
Florida Escort Service Owner Indicted for Allegedly Filing Fraudulent Corporate and Individual Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Florida escort service owner has been charged in an indictment for allegedly filing fraudulent corporate and individual income tax returns.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.
On December 19, Dennis Zarudny, 39, of Miami Beach, was charged in an eight count indictment with making and subscribing a false tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), and aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2). If convicted, Zarudny faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
According to the indictment, Zarudny owns Denzar, Inc., which does business as Elite Escort Service, and is located in Miami. The indictment alleges that according to Denzar’s internet website, Denzar was a “prestigious escort agency providing 24 hour outcall escort services & adult entertainment for upscale gentlemen and couples in South Florida.” The indictment further alleges that from 2011 through 2014 Zarudny filed with the IRS fraudulent corporate and personal income tax returns that underreported his business gross receipts and the income he earned from the business.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua S. Rothstein and Trial Attorney Grace Albinson of the Tax Division.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Five indicted for firearms crimesRead the Press Release
Five people were indicted for firearms offenses, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and ATF Special Agent in Charge Trevor Velinor.
Indicted are: Thomas O. Gibson, 24, of Akron; Gary K. Jones, 24, of Akron; Bernard Jefferson, 47, of Massillon; Duane Rine, 61, of Louisville, Ohio, and Tremaine Jackson, 28, of Cleveland.
Gibson on Oct. 6 had a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition, despite prior convictions for carrying concealed weapons, possession of heroin, felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm into a home or school, and other crimes, according to the indictment.
Jones on Nov. 17 possessed a Norinco SKS 7.62 mm rifle and ammunition, despite a prior conviction for burglary, according to the indictment.
Jefferson in November possessed a Smith and Wesson handgun despite a prior conviction for aggravated drug trafficking, according to the indictment.
Rine in 2015 unlawfully transferred a Plainfield .30-caliber machinegun, according to the indictment.
Jackson in November 2016 possessed a .57-caliber pistol despite previous convictions for drug trafficking, carrying concealed weapons and having weapons while under disability, according to the indictment.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin, Linda Barr and Aaron Howell following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (Jackson case).
The cases are unrelated.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing 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. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fitchburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Counterfeit Steroid ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to trafficking steroids.
Elizabeth Green, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances before U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who scheduled sentencing for March 15, 2018. Green and six others were charged in April 2017 for their roles in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, from approximately November 2015 until April 12, 2017, the conspirators manufactured steroid products made from raw materials that they purchased overseas and marketed as “Onyx” steroids using “Onyx” labels that were also ordered from overseas suppliers. Onyx, now owned by Amgen Inc., is a legitimate pharmaceutical company that does not manufacture steroids.
The defendants allegedly sold the steroids to customers across the United States using email and social media platforms, collected payment through money remitters, such as Western Union and MoneyGram, and used false identifications and multiple remitter locations to pick up the proceeds. Some of the defendants laundered proceeds from the steroid sales through Wicked Tan LLC, a tanning business in Beverly, which they owned and operated specifically to launder the proceeds of the steroid operation.
Green’s role in the conspiracy was to collect customer payments from money remitters using false identifications and provide those proceeds to another member of the organization. Green retrieved more than $220,000 in customer payments for steroid purchases.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss of the conspiracy. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and David J. D’Addio of Weinreb’s Cybercrime Unit are prosecuting the case.
Federal Judge Approves Final Distribution of Payments to Victims of Frank Vennes Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Yesterday in federal court, United States District Judge Ann D. Montgomery issued an order approving a final distribution of payments to victims of FRANK E. VENNES, JR., and dissolving the Liquidating Trusteeship established to administer the Asset Distribution Plan.
“Although nothing can erase entirely the years of financial hardship and emotional stress caused by this massive fraud scheme, we hope that through the Liquidating Trustee’s administration of the Asset Distribution Plan victims have experienced some measure of relief and closure,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Brooker.
Gary Hansen, the Liquidating Trustee, noted the many complexities in liquidating the VENNES assets, which included multiple business entities; office buildings, apartment buildings, and other real estate; an extensive art and rare coin collection; and many other assets spread across the country. “This has been a long and challenging process. We appreciate Judge Montgomery’s practical and flexible approach, which permitted us to resolve issues creatively and without substantial litigation or undue administrative expense. Many of those who placed their trust in Frank Vennes lost much or all of their life savings. We have not been able to make them whole, but have worked hard to provide the maximum possible recovery from the available assets,” said Hansen.
On October 18, 2013, VENNES was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraudulently raising money from individuals and through hedge funds for investment in Petters Company, Inc. (“PCI”). VENNES was a long-time associate of Thomas J. Petters, the Minnesota businessman who was convicted in 2009 of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. In January 2011, the Court issued an order approving an Asset Distribution Plan that provided for the distribution of cash or assets to the victims and creditors of the Vennes Defendants1, in connection to the Petters Ponzi scheme. After the final distribution, the total value of assets and cash distributed to victims and creditors through the Liquidating Trustee will total approximately $20 million.
This case was handled by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
The case is captioned United States of America v. Frank E. Vennes, Jr., et al. Case No. 8-cv-5348 (ADM/TNL).
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
1The Vennes Defendants are: Frank E. Vennes, Jr.; Metro Gem Finance; Metro Gem, Inc.; Grace Offerings of Florida, LLC; Metro Property Financing, LLC; 38 E. Robinson, LLC; 55 E. Pine, LLC; Orlando Rental Pool, LLC; 100 Pine Street Property, LLC; Orange Street Tower, LLC; Cornerstone Rental Pool, LLC; 2 South Orange Avenue, LLC; Mandan Properties, LLC; Century Apartments, LLC; Youngstown Holdings, LLC; Metro Development Properties, LLC; Grace Offerings of St. Paul, LLC; Project Riverwatch, LLC; Friends of Hope Academy, LLC; Plando, LLC; Art Group, LLC; and Metro Gold, LLC.
Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned an Indictment against the following:
Lancaster Man and Woman Indicted on Federal Firearm Charges. Brandon Shane Polston, age 32, Austin Lee Ritter, age 23, and Kimberly Denise Cannon, age 39, all of Lancaster, were charged in a 3-count indictment with being felons in possession of firearms, possession of machineguns, and possession of machineguns and a destructive device not registered to them under the National Firearm Act, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2, 922(g)(1), 922(o) and Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d), and 5871. Each of the charges carries a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lancaster Police Department, and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that on December 19, 2017, a Federal Grand Jury in Florence, South Carolina, returned an Indictment against the following:
Myrtle Beach Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Scott Borrowman, age 49, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with failure to register as a sex offender, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250(a). The maximum penalty Borrowman could receive is ten years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
Florence Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Tayquan Taylor, age 22, of Florence, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with failure to register as a sex offender, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250(a). The maximum penalty Taylor could receive is ten years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
Horry County Man Indicted for Illegal Reentry into the U.S. after Deportation. Juan Jose Mejia-Contador, age 23, of Horry County, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with illegal reentry into the US after deportation, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The maximum penalty Mejia-Contador could receive is two years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00. The case was investigated by Immigration and Custom Enforcement-Enforcement Removal Operations. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
Hartsville Man Indicted on Gun and Drug charges. Tyrez Lavor Johnson, age 29, of Hartsville, South Carolina, was charged in a 5 count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). The maximum penalty Johnson could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Taylor of the Florence office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Drug Maker United Therapeutics Agrees to Pay $210 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Paying KickbacksRead the Press Release
Pharmaceutical company United Therapeutics Corporation (UT), based in Silver Spring, Maryland, has agreed to pay $210 million to resolve claims that it used a foundation as a conduit to pay the copays of Medicare patients taking UT’s pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs, in violation of the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.
When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part B or Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible (collectively “copays”). These copay obligations may be substantial for expensive medications. Congress included copay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs—including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical company is prohibited from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration—which includes money or any other thing of value— to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company’s product.
UT sells a number of pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs, including Adcirca, Remodulin, Tyvaso, and Orenitram (the “Subject Dugs”). The government alleged that UT used a foundation, which claims 501(c)(3) status for tax purposes, as a conduit to pay the copay obligations of thousands of Medicare patients taking the Subject Drugs. In particular, from 2010 to 2014, UT allegedly made donations to the foundation, which, in turn, used those donations to pay copays for the Subject Drugs to induce patients to purchase these drugs. The government alleged that UT routinely obtained data from the foundation detailing how much the foundation had spent for patients on each Subject Drug and that this data was used by UT to decide how much to donate to the foundation. The Government also alleged that UT had a policy of not permitting needy Medicare patients to participate in its free drug program, which was open to other financially needy patients, and instead referred Medicare patients to the foundation, which allowed claims to be submitted to Medicare.
“While we support efforts to provide patients with access to needed medications, such assistance must comply with federal law. Today’s settlement shows that the government will hold accountable drug companies that attempt to use illegal kickbacks to defeat mechanisms Congress designed to act as a check on drug pricing and healthcare costs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
UT has also entered into a corporate integrity agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The five-year CIA requires, among other things, that UT implement measures designed to ensure that arrangements and interactions with third-party patient assistance programs are compliant with the law. In addition, the CIA requires reviews by an independent review organization, compliance-related certifications from company executives and Board members, and the implementation of a risk assessment and mitigation process.
“Our corporate integrity agreement requires United Therapeutics to implement controls and monitoring designed to promote true independence from any patient assistance programs to which it donates,” said Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Without true independence, a drug company can use a foundation as a conduit for improper payments that expose the taxpayer-funded Medicare program to the risk of abuse.”
“UT used a third party to do exactly what it knew it could not lawfully do itself,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. “According to the allegations in today’s settlement agreement, UT understood that the third-party foundation used UT’s money to cover the co-pays of patients taking UT drugs. UT’s payments to the foundation were not charity for PAH patients generally, but rather were a way to funnel money to patients taking UT drugs. The Anti-Kickback Statute exists to protect Medicare, and the taxpayers who fund it, from schemes like these that leave Medicare holding the bag for the costs of expensive drugs.”
The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The investigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation: the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Dominican National Arrested and Charged with Fentanyl Conspiracy Including the Distribution of Counterfeit Pain PillsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national was arrested and charged today in federal court in Boston with crimes relating to his role in a wide-ranging narcotics trafficking operation that included distributing counterfeit prescription pain pills containing fentanyl throughout Boston and Cape Cod.
Santiago Pena, 49, a Dominican national residing in Roxbury, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge stems from Pena’s participation in a large-scale fentanyl and heroin trafficking ring that was dismantled in August 2017. Pena is the seventh defendant related to the drug trafficking operation to be charged in federal court; approximately 10 other defendants have been charged in state court.
According to court documents, a lengthy wiretap investigation revealed that James Ramirez, an individual charged separately, supplied large-quantities of fentanyl and heroin to Kevin and Alex Fraga, drug dealers on Cape Cod. Ramirez also sold fentanyl pills designed to look like legitimate prescription oxycodone pills. Wiretap intercepts revealed that Ramirez was distributing fentanyl pills in batches of 100 to numerous other drug dealers, and over 2,500 fentanyl pills were recovered as a result of Ramirez’s arrest in late August.
According to the indictment, Pena brokered fentanyl pill deals on Ramirez’s behalf, helping to connect Ramirez with a fentanyl pill supplier. On multiple occasions, Ramirez traded used cars for a combination of cash and fentanyl pills in deals that Pena helped arrange.
Alex Fraga, Kevin Fraga, and Ramirez each pleaded guilty in November. Their sentencings are scheduled for Feb. 8, 2018, Jan 24, 2018, and March 8, 2018, respectively
Pena faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe made the announcement today. The investigation was led by the DEA Cape Cod Resident Office and the Massachusetts State Police - Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Brewster, Harwich, Sandwich, Mashpee, Chatham, Yarmouth, and Barnstable Police Departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Weinreb’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Disabled Veteran Indicted on Charges of StealingRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Donald Crangle was charged with theft of government funds from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and making false statements to the Veterans Administration (VA) in relation to his receipt of disability benefits from those agencies.
In 1985, while on active duty in the United States Army, Donald Crangle sustained a back injury during a motor vehicle accident. While the injury was disabling, the VA found that it did not render him unemployable upon his discharge. After suffering a significant work-place accident while employed by the St. Louis Public School System, in 2003, Crangle requested additional disability benefits from the VA by claiming that the 1985 accident prevented him from working. He also requested disability benefits from the SSA. The government agencies granted his applications in November 2003.
However, when Crangle became certified to teach Concealed Carry Weapons classes by the National Rifle Association in 2009, he failed to notify either agency. According to records seized by St. Louis County Police Officers during an investigation of his classes and those obtained from St. Charles County, between August 2009 and December 2013, Crangle’s business had gross annual earnings were as high as $130,588. Nevertheless, Crangle made numerous false statements to the VA regarding the extent of his employment, and his income. As a result of his conduct, Crangle received fraudulently more than $314,000 in government funds from the VA and SSA.
Crangle, 57, of St. Louis, was indicted by a federal grand jury today on three felony counts of theft of government funds and five counts of making false statements.
If convicted of theft of government funds, Crangle faces up to 10 years in prison, and 5 years if convicted of making false statements. Both counts also carry the possibility of a fine of up to $250,000. Restitution to the victim is also mandatory. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the Offices of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Berry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Deported Guatemalan Charged with Illegally Re-entering United StatesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - An illegal alien found in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of Illegal Re-Entry After Deportation, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
The one-count indictment named Lorenzo Juarez-Perez, age 26, of Guatemala, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, Lorenzo Juarez-Perez, an illegal alien, was formally removed from the United States by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 2, 2010, and on August 17, 2010. Juarez-Perez was found to be illegally present on November 26, 2017.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Demopolis Man Sentenced for Child Pornography and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that James Derrick Robertson, age 53, of Demopolis, Alabama was sentenced today after earlier pleading guilty to receiving child pornography and obstruction of justice.
According to information presented at the sentencing hearing, Robertson taught students at Demopolis High School to operate the sound system at the school. On February 18, 2017, the principal of the high school contacted the Demopolis Police Department regarding a complaint about Robertson. Pursuant to this investigation, a search warrant was executed at Robertson’s home and his computers were seized.
In court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Robertson admitted that an examination of his hard drive revealed that he had possessed four videos of underage girls performing fellatio on adult males. Two of the girls appeared unconconscious. A forensic search of his telephone revealed two images of toddlers who were being raped.
Robertson also admitted that he became aware of the investigation on February 19, 2017, and that he searched the internet for methods to destroy data to prevent recovery by forensic tools and then downloaded a wiping program and deleted searches for child pornography, images of child pornography and incriminating chats with minors.
At sentencing, the United States argued that the defendant had downloaded images that with titles suggesting they were of violent acts against young girls including rape. Judge Callie V. S. Granade found that Robertson was a danger to the community and ordered that he be imprisoned for 235 months, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Robertson will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Demopolis Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Delaware Man Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – John B. Alwood pled guilty to one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography depicting a prepubescent child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced Acting U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss of the District of Delaware.
Alwood, 54, of Lewes, Delaware, pled guilty before Chief Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. District Court of Delaware on December 18, 2017. According to statements made in court at the hearing, Homeland Security Investigations identified Alwood as accessing an online video conferencing application in order to gain sexual gratification by viewing child pornography with other men.
Alwood is being detained until sentencing where he faces a sentencing range of 37 to 46 months in prison. Alwood also faces a term of supervised release following imprisonment and will be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives, works, or attends school.
“Homeland Security Investigations will leave no stone unturned to find those who commit the terrible crime of being in possession and viewing child pornography,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of these horrendous crimes, and my sincere appreciation goes out to those men and women who relentlessly investigate and prosecute these cases.”
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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Robinson of the District of Delaware prosecuted the case.
Dauphin County Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Large Amounts of CocaineRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Efrain Troche-Rivera, age 35, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 19, 2017, to 10 years’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo for conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Troche-Rivera possessed with the intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride in Harrisburg, beginning in September 2015, and continuing through August 2016. Investigators determined that the cocaine was shipped through the mail in child booster seats from Puerto Rico into the Harrisburg area.
Co-defendant Geraldo Rodriguez-Diaz, age 23, of Harrisburg, pled guilty on December 18, 2017, before Judge Rambo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and is awaiting sentencing. Rodriguez-Diaz possessed a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun in connection to the offense.
This matter was investigated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Schinnour and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smulktis.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
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