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9 February 2018
Nineteen New United States Citizens Naturalized Thursday in NatchezRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Nineteen people from 14 different countries were sworn in as United States citizens yesterday during a Naturalization Ceremony held at the United States District Court in Natchez, Mississippi.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bramlette III presided over the ceremony. Judge Bramlette welcomed family, friends, soon-to-be citizens, and special guests, including Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell. Following a performance of “America the Beautiful” and “My Country Tis of Thee” by Damira McGruder from Natchez Cathedral High School, the candidates were presented for citizenship by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kristi H. Johnson, on behalf of the Attorney General of the United States Jeff Sessions.
After Arthur Johnston, Clerk of the U.S. District Court, administered the Oath of Allegiance for citizenship, those assembled recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time as United States citizens.
Judge Bramlette congratulated the new citizens and commended the honorees for their hard work to achieve citizenship. “We’re here this morning because you have seen the lighthouse beckoning you,” Bramlette said. “Each of you have your own story to tell . . . . Your hopes and dreams are as diverse as the regions that brought you here. You’ve come, perhaps to escape social oppression and discrimination and some strife, but all of you are here to enjoy justice, which is available to you in the land of the free. The pathway that was put out for some of you, perhaps all of you, has been emotionally and financially exhausting. Democracy is not easy.”
Judge Bramlette then presented them with certificates of citizenship. Representatives from the local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented American flags and gift bags to the new citizens.
The new citizens originated from the following 14 countries: India, Vietnam, Turkey, Moldova, Lebanon, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Senegal, Yemen, Chile, and Australia.
Nigerian Man Sentenced for Using A False PassportRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ibilola Rasheedat Yussuf, 30, of Nigeria, who was convicted of using a passport secured by a false statement in application, was sentenced to nine months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cantil, who handled the case, stated that on September 12, 2017, the defendant applied for admission to the United States at the Peace Bridge Port-of-Entry in Buffalo. As proof of identity and citizenship, Yussuf presented a fraudulently obtained United States passport bearing the name Olivia Payne, born in 1981 in Chicago, Illinois. This passport was secured by reason of false statements provided in a passport application.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Niagara Falls Man Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit GoodsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Mohsen Kassem Abdulrab, 58, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of trafficking in counterfeit goods, was sentenced to two years supervised release and fined $2,000 by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between January 6, 2014, and February 13, 2014, the defendant sold or attempted to sell unauthorized copies of trademarked works at his store, the Hip Hop Center, located at 2417 Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls. The counterfeit merchandise included UGG, Michael Kors, The North Face, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, Polo Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Timberland, and others. The value of the counterfeit merchandise, if genuine, was more than $40,000.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
New Orleans Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DARREN RUFFIN, age 26, of New Orleans, was charged in a one-count Indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the Indictment, RUFFIN, who had previously been convicted of a felony in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, possessed a .40 caliber Glock Model 27 pistol in December 2017.
If convicted, RUFFIN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.
Nashville Man Facing Federal Firearms Charges After Six-Hour Standoff with PoliceRead the Press Release
Justin Jerome Jones, 29, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged in a federal criminal complaint this afternoon with three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.
The complaint was filed in response to yesterday’s incident where Jones is alleged to have fired several rounds from a pistol, after which he barricaded himself inside an apartment in the Tony Sudekum public housing development and continued firing at responding Metro Nashville police officers.
According to the charging document, Jones had become upset with his 11-year old daughter and took her outside the apartment and begin firing rounds into the ground. MNPD officers arrived and observed Jones inside an apartment. Jones slammed the door and subsequently fired at responding officers on several occasions, including SWAT officers. One round struck an MNPD officer. After several hours, Jones exited the apartment and was taken into custody.
A search warrant was obtained shortly thereafter and officers recovered from inside the apartment, several spent shell casings, a cocked .357 caliber revolver; a .38 caliber revolver; and parts from a 9mm pistol. Additional firearms parts and boxes of ammunition were recovered from the apartment today.
The complaint also alleges that Jones had been convicted of aggravated robbery in Davidson County, Tenn., in 2007 and also convicted of aggravated robbery in Hamilton County Ohio in 2009, relating to armed bank robbery. Jones was released from custody in Ohio in December 2016 and paroled to the State of Mississippi.
If convicted, Jones faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.
U.S. Attorney Cochran praised the efforts of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the ATF in the resolution of this incident and the subsequent investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Motley County High School Teacher Sentenced for the Enticement of a Sixteen Year-Old StudentRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK — Shonna Lynn Calaway, 48, of Matador, Texas, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in federal prison for having a sexual relationship with a sixteen year-old student, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Calaway pleaded guilty in October 2017 to one count of enticement of a minor. She has been in custody since September 2017.
According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the case, during the 2016-2017 school year, Calaway was employed as a teacher at Motley County High School. In December 2016, Calaway used the Snapchat application to communicate with a sixteen year-old sophomore, John Doe, at Motley County High School. Calaway sent John Doe a message asking him if he wanted to “hang out,” followed by sexually explicit photos.
Shortly after the Snapchat exchange, Calaway drove to a residence in Roaring Springs, Texas, and picked up John Doe. She drove him to a somewhat secluded scenic location near Roaring Springs and engaged in sexual conduct with John Doe.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state and local resources to better investigate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children. Project Safe Childhood also prioritizes identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office, Motley County Sheriff’s Office, Floyd County District Attorney’s Office and Lamb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag was in charge of the prosecution.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Minneapolis, MN, man convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft was sentenced on February 8, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Jason Maurice Fagin, age 38, was sentenced to 65 months of custody and 3 years of supervised release. Fagin was also ordered to forfeit personal property and contraband, and to pay restitution and $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Fagin was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 9, 2017, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. On November 9, 2017, Fagin pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
According to court documents, between September 2016 and November 16, 2016, Fagin engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions while using the personal identifying information of other individuals. Fagin would use the proceeds of the fraud scheme to purchase methamphetamine for his use and to distribute to others for money.
More specifically, on November 16, 2016, Defendants Angelica Marie Hatch-Pequin (“Hatch”) and Jason Maurice Fagin were arrested at the Royal River Casino in Flandreau, South Dakota, for attempting to negotiate counterfeit checks. While trying to negotiate the check, Hatch presented a driver’s license belonging to another individual. Hatch, aided and abetted by Fagin, used the identification of that individual without lawful authority.
Hatch and Fagin would steal mail from mailboxes located in affluent neighbors of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hatch and Fagin would target mail that appeared to contain bills and checks. Fagin would then use the personal, business, and banking information contained in those mail matters to create fraudulent checks. After Fagin created the fraudulent checks, Hatch would usually cash the counterfeit checks at convenience stores and casinos located throughout the Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota region. Hatch and Fagin created and passed fraudulent checks for approximately two months leading up to their arrests in November.
Two types of checks were created: payroll and personal checks. Payroll checks would be drafted in amounts ranging from $450 to $2,000; the check presented to the Royal River Casino was for $1,500. Personal checks were made in amounts from $100 to $800. The effected banks were insured by the FDIC at the time of the offenses. The stipulated loss amount relating to Fagin’s and Hatch-Pequin’s criminal conduct was between $40,000 and $95,000.
The investigation was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Flandreau Sioux Tribe’s Police Department and Security Department of the the Hotel and Casino, and the Flandreau Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Fagin was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service and the Bureau of Prisons. Hatch-Pequin also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was previously sentenced to federal prison.
Mineral County man sentenced for distributing heroinRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Lee Sutter, IV, of Keyser, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 months incarceration for distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Sutter, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin” in October 2017. Sutter admitted to conspiring with others to distributing heroin in Mineral County and elsewhere from November 2010 to September 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Task Force investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mexican National Sentenced to 37 Months for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LUIS CHAVEZ-LOPEZ, age 31, a native of Mexico, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien.
United States District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced CHAVEZ-LOPEZ to 37 months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. According to court documents, CHAVEZ-LOPEZ was previously removed from the United States on February 5, 2015. He was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 3, 2017, without permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the country.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
Medford Man Sentenced for Oxycodone TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Medford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing oxycodone throughout the North Shore.
Paul Williams, 54, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2017, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone.
In March 2014, investigators began tracking the activities of Joseph Romano and eight co-defendants. Through surveillance and a cooperating source, investigators were able to make controlled purchases of oxycodone from Romano and his associates. Paul Williams, along with co-defendants Anthony Panarese and Jarod Presterone supplied Romano with oxycodone. On roughly a weekly basis, Romano contacted each of the suppliers separately to arrange meetings to obtain pills for redistribution. Co-defendant Eric Vaughn assisted Panarese in distributing Oxycodone pills. Through the conspiracy, Romano distributed more than 5,000 30 mg. Oxycodone pills.
In May 2015, Romano advised co-defendant Ashley Turner that he was going on vacation and asked that she distribute Oxycodone pills for him while he was away. Romano explained that Ashley Turner would need to get the pills to distribute from Paul Williams. Ashley Turner agreed to the arrangement and distributed pills on Romano’s behalf. Ashley’s father, David Turner Sr., served as a liaison and obtained pills from Paul Williams for Ashley Turner to distribute.
During an August 2017 search of William’s home, agents seized 400 30 mg. Oxycodone pills and approximately $23,350. In total, Williams was held accountable for the distribution of 1,678 Oxycodone 30 mg. pills.
Eight of the nine defendants have been sentenced. Romano was sentenced to four years in prison; Panarese was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Vaughn was sentenced to two years in prison; Marcelle Milbury was sentenced to one year in prison; David Turner Sr. was sentenced to five years of probation; Ashley Turner, who graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to four years of probation with a six-month curfew; and Sans Milbury, who also graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to three years of probation. Co-defendant Presterone has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Office; Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Danvers Police Chief Patrick M. Ambrose made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Maryland woman sentenced for heroin distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Chasity Chadae Stone, of Brooklyn, Maryland, was sentenced today to 10 months incarceration for heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Stone, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin” in November 2017. Stone admitted to being in possession of heroin with the intent of distributing in May 2015 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Maryland man sentenced for selling crack cocaineRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony McIntosh, also known as “Lo,” and “Polo,” of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced today to 120 months incarceration for selling cocaine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
McIntosh, age 47, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base” in October 2017. Anthony admitted to selling crack cocaine in Berkeley County in November 2013.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Martinsburg men sentenced for drug distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Martinsburg, West Virginia men were sentenced today for heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Christopher Deshaun Walker, age 28, was sentenced to five years probation. Walker pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin” in November 2017. Walker admitted to selling heroin in October 2015 in Berkeley County, West Virginia.
Henry Aaron Shepherd, age 36, was sentenced to five years probation. Shepherd pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin” in November 2017. Shepherd admitted to aiding another in selling heroin in November 2015 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Camilletti prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drugs & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
###Man Sentenced for ID Theft and Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to four years in prison for his role in a credit card fraud and identity theft scheme that stole over 5,000 credit card numbers and resulted in a loss of over $1.5 million.
According to court documents, Alvin Serry, aka Blue, 24, was part of a years-long conspiracy that committed credit card fraud throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Members of the conspiracy would purchase stolen credit card numbers belonging to Americans from foreign-based criminal websites. Serry would then encode the stolen credit card numbers onto physical cards, provide those cards to a crew of individuals, and direct them to use the cards to make fraudulent purchases at retail stores using the credit card numbers of unsuspecting victims. Serry was twice caught in possession of stolen credit cards and thousands of dollars in cash, and is the fourth member of the conspiracy to be sentenced. Moussa Sy, Musa Kamara, and Maxx Tapp received sentences of 60, 37, and 12 months, respectively, for their roles in the scheme.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, M. Jay Farr, Chief of Arlington County Police, and Timothy J. Altomare, Chief of Anne Arundel County Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang and Kellen S. Dwyer 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. 1:17-cr-82.
Luzerne Man Charged with Drug Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Michael F. Bogdon, age 25, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 6, 2018, by a federal grand jury for drug distribution resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that on or about December 12, 2017, Bogdon knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a controlled substance, fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, resulting in the death of another. Bogdon is also charged in a separate count with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Scranton, and the Kingston Police Department. United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
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 guilty 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 drug distribution resulting in death is life imprisonment. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1,000,000 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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Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert Romasiewicz, age 25, of Exeter, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 months in prison on February 6, 2018, by Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley, for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Romasiewicz previously admitted to possessing a handgun in late July-early August 2017. At the time Romasiewicz possessed the handgun, he had a previous conviction for a federal drug trafficking offense.
Romasiewicz was charged in an Information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office in October 2017. Judge Munley also ordered Romasiewicz to serve three years on supervised release following his prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
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Longmeadow Man Sentenced for Failing to Report Foreign Bank Account of over $2 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Longmeadow man was sentenced today for concealing from the Internal Revenue Service an Irish bank account he held with a balance of over $2 million.
Michael Fitzgerald, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to six months in prison, three months of community confinement, six months of home confinement, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a penalty of $1,115,320. In October 2017, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to one count of willfully violating the foreign bank reporting requirements.
United States citizens and residents who have a financial interest in a foreign bank account with a value of more than $10,000 must file with the United States Department of the Treasury a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. From at least 2005 through 2012, Fitzgerald, the owner and operator of a local roofing company, held bank accounts with the Bank of Ireland in Isle of Man. In 2012, those bank accounts held a combined balance of over $2.3 million. Fitzgerald willfully failed to report his foreign bank holdings to the Treasury Department.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Liberty Man Sentenced for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Liberty, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet.
Mark Anthony Barrett, 60, of Liberty, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Barrett to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration, and ordered Barrett to pay $5,000 in restitution to one of the victims portrayed in his collection of child pornography (or $3,000 in restitution if paid within 30 days).
On Oct. 6, 2017, Barrett pleaded guilty to attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet. Barrett admitted that he used peer-to-peer file-sharing software to download child pornography from the Internet, which was also then made available to others on the sharing network. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence and seized a desktop computer, a laptop computer and five hard drives.
Barrett admitted to viewing child pornography for more than two years. Investigators found 272 images and 76 video files of child pornography (one of which was particularly violent and involved a female toddler) on a hard drive that had been removed from Barrett’s desktop computer. The majority of the images appeared to be of prepubescent females being sexually abused; the age of the victims ranged from toddler to prepubescent.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Leader of Beaufort Gun and Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More than Twenty Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Brandon Singleton, age 34, of Seabrook, South Carolina, to 248 months in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, in federal court in Charleston. Singleton and his five co-defendants were charged in a twenty-two count indictment involving cocaine and gun trafficking activities in the Beaufort, South Carolina area. In July 2017, Singleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses.
During the course of the investigation, state and federal agents made undercover buys of nine firearms and more than 700 grams of cocaine from Singleton and his co-defendants. As the leader of the organization, Singleton arranged and directed all of the undercover purchases. In total, law enforcement seized 14 firearms from Singleton and his codefendants throughout the investigation, including stolen firearms, semi-automatic firearms, and high capacity magazines.
Singleton’s conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, and investigators with the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. In response to the sentence, U.S. Attorney Drake stated, “ We work best when we work together. Many thanks to the Beaufort County Sheriff and to ATF. Your great work enabled us to make the case and make South Carolina safer.” ATF Resident Agent in Charge Scott Perala stated, “This significant sentence is the result of the outstanding partnership between ATF and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office working together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to remove the most violent offenders involved in the criminal use of firearms and drug trafficking activities from the community.” Assistant United States Attorney Emily Limehouse and Special Assistant United States Attorney Carra Henderson prosecuted the case.
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Last defendant in St. Mary Parish cocaine conspiracy sentenced to 8 years in prisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Houston man was sentenced Thursday to 96 months in prison for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy operated in St. Mary Parish.
Omar Mascorro, 42, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the guilty plea, Mascorro was the source of the cocaine provided to Artey D. Foulcard, 39, of Franklin, La., who then provided to others to distribute. The drugs were distributed in St. Mary Parish, Ascension Parish and Baton Rouge from January 2000 to June 2015.
The other members of the conspiracy are:
Barry Druilhet, 44, of Baldwin, La., was found guilty after a three-day trial that ended on August 2, 2017 of conspiracy and use of a communication facility in facilitating a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced on December 21, 2017 to 240 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Duanyell Williams, 43, of Franklin, La., pleaded guilty on June 19, 2017 to conspiracy, and he was sentenced on December 15, 2017 to 55 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Michael McDaniel, 44, of Missouri City, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on April 25, 2017, and he was sentenced on October 19, 2017 to 110 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
Cordell Johnson, 40, of Jeanerette, La., pleaded guilty on June 26, 2017 to conspiracy, and he was sentenced on October 19, 2017 to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
Calvin Burrell, 50, of Franklin, pleaded guilty on April 25, 2017 to conspiracy, and he was sentenced on October 19, 2017 to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
D’Arnold T. Deville, 49, of Bourg, La., was transferred to the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans on July 12, 2017 where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and additional charges.
Foulcard previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance in a bill of information in January 2016 in the Western District of Louisiana. The case was transferred to the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge in February 2016, and he was sentenced on March 2, 2017 to 85 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
The defendants were arrested as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation named “Hater Hurterz.” The FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert F. Moore and Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.
Lake City Farmer Sentenced to More Than a Year in Federal Prison after Pleading Guilty to Three Felony OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who farmed land in north central Iowa and made false statements to a bank and to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and committed bankruptcy fraud was sentenced on February 7, 2018, to more than a year in federal prison.
Clint Devries, age 36, from Lake City, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 26, 2017, guilty plea to two counts of making false statements to influence financial institutions and one count of bankruptcy fraud.
In a plea agreement, Devries admitted that, in 2013, 2014, and 2015, he lied to a bank about the amount of crops he had in storage and the value of other property he was using for collateral in order to obtain farm operating loans from the bank. Devries ended up defaulting on more than $400,000 in farm loans he received from the bank. Devries also admitted he lied to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation from 2012 to 2015. Devries falsely understated the amount of crops he produced each year in order to obtain crop insurance proceeds to which he was not entitled. During those years, defendant received more than $450,000 in crop insurance proceeds than he would have received but for his lies. Finally, Devries admitted that, after filing for bankruptcy in October 2015, he lied to the bankruptcy case trustee regarding having sold some of his crops.
Devries was sentenced in Sioux City by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Devries was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
A special assessment of $300 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $1,190,696.12 in restitution to the victims of his false statements. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Devries was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marsha; on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee in the Northern District of Iowa.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 17-cr-3041.
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Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Henry Ford Allegiance Health on Antitrust ChargesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with Henry Ford Allegiance Health (“Allegiance”) for conspiring with a rival hospital in a neighboring county to restrict marketing in that rival’s county. The settlement ends almost three years of litigation and a scheduled March 6 trial relating to agreements to restrict marketing among hospitals in South Central Michigan.
“As a result of Allegiance’s per se illegal agreement to restrict marketing of competing services in Hillsdale County, Michigan consumers were deprived of valuable services and healthcare information,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “By prohibiting further anticompetitive conduct and educating Allegiance executives on antitrust law, this settlement will ensure that consumers receive the fruits of robust competition.”
The proposed settlement, joined by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. If approved by the court, the settlement will end Allegiance’s unlawful conduct and provide residents of South Central Michigan the full benefits of competition. The Department’s Antitrust Division previously settled claims against three other South Central Michigan hospitals. The Department charged Allegiance and these other hospitals with insulating themselves from competition by agreeing to withhold outreach and marketing in each other’s respective counties, so as not to solicit certain customers. As a result, consumers were denied the benefits of competition, including free screenings and other services, as well as valuable information that informs healthcare choices and opportunities for higher quality care.
The Department’s proposed settlement with Allegiance expands on the terms of the Department’s previous settlements in this action, which the court entered more than two years ago. Specifically, the proposed settlement prevents Allegiance from engaging in improper communications with competing providers regarding their respective marketing activities and entering into any improper agreement to allocate customers or to limit marketing. It explicitly prevents Allegiance from continuing to carve out Hillsdale County from its marketing and business development activities. The proposed settlement further requires Allegiance to report any violations to the Department, and imposes an annual obligation to certify compliance with the terms of the final judgment. Allegiance must also submit to compliance inspections at the Department’s request. The proposed settlement requires Allegiance to reimburse the Department and the state of Michigan for certain costs incurred in litigating this case.
Pursuant to Department policy, the settlement includes several new provisions included in all consent decrees designed to improve the effectiveness of the decree and the Division’s future ability to enforce it. “The proposed settlement will make it easier and more efficient for the Department to enforce the decree by allowing the Department to prove alleged violations by a preponderance of the evidence,” said Assistant Attorney General Delrahim. “These provisions will encourage a stronger commitment to compliance and will ease the strain on the Department in investigating and enforcing possible violations.” Similar provisions have been included in a number of recent consent decrees where the Department’s new leadership has sought divestitures as a condition of clearing transactions under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
Henry Ford Allegiance Health is a 475-bed health system that operates the sole general acute care hospital in Jackson County, Michigan, along with primary care physician offices, physical rehabilitation facilities, and diagnostic centers across several counties in South Central Michigan. In March 2016, Allegiance became part of the Henry Ford Health System. Henry Ford Health System is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and is the second largest health system in Michigan, operating Allegiance, five other hospitals, several medical centers, and one of the nation’s largest medical group practices. Its 2016 revenues were over $5 billion.
The proposed settlement, along with the Department’s competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register, consistent with the requirements of the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Peter Mucchetti, Chief, Healthcare & Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon a finding that it serves the public interest.
Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Heroin Dealer to 8 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to eight years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating the federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Clinton Robinson, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, from January 2016 to August 2016, Clinton conspired with others to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 700 grams but less than one kilogram of heroin. In addition, on August 22, 2016, Clinton attempted to possess with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. Johnston prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution was part of a federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that resulted in several federal indictments in August of 2016. The OCDETF task force was headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was comprised of members drawn from the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, and the Allegheny County Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by FBI San Juan, Puerto Rico (St. Thomas Resident Agency, U.S. Virgin Islands) and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Numerous other FBI field offices, including Detroit, Cleveland, New York, and Atlanta, in addition to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, also assisted with this investigation. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
United States Attorney Brady commended the agencies for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clinton Robinson.
Jefferson County Man Arrested for Possessing Homemade BombsRead the Press Release
Mark Avrey Rudd was arrested today pursuant to a criminal complaint issued by the U.S. District Court charging him with possession of an unregistered destructive device. Rudd appeared in federal court this afternoon on the charges.
Iowa Man Sentenced to 53 Months in Federal Prison for Bomb Threat to Tipton County JailRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jermaine Dickerson, 41 of Ankeny, Iowa (formerly of Brighton, TN) pled guilty to one count of use of a telephone to maliciously convey false information concerning an attempt to damage and destroy a building and other real and personal property by means of an explosive and for failure to appear for sentencing. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to the facts alleged in the indictment and revealed during the sentencing hearing, on March 6, 2016, Jermaine Dickerson called the Tipton County Jail at 1801 South College Street, Covington, Tennessee, threatened jail personnel and threatened to blow up the jail if the inmates were not released. Due to this call, the jail was put on lockdown and emergency response teams were deployed to search the area. No bomb was located.
In the subsequent investigation, officers developed information regarding the phone that was used to place the call. It was determined that Dickerson used the phone on March 6, 2016, to place the call from Iowa to the Tipton County Jail. In an interview with FBI agents, Dickerson admitted that he made the call, but stated he did not know why and that he meant no harm to anyone. Investigation also revealed Dickerson had been booked into the Tipton County jail on over 40 previous occasions.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This office, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, are vigilant to protect and prevent attacks on any critical infrastructure sites in West Tennessee, including correctional facilities. We take all threats seriously, and false reports of explosives cause law enforcement agencies to unnecessarily expend scarce and valuable government resources to respond, at the expense of taxpayers. We are pleased that the defendant has been held accountable for this disturbing crime of dishonesty, and we commend the quick and thorough response of FBI and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office."
On July 24, 2017, Dickerson pled guilty to the bomb threat charge before U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Judge Lipman ordered Dickerson to appear for his sentencing hearing on October 19, 2017.
On October 19, 2017, Dickerson failed to appear for his sentencing. He was subsequently indicted for this new offense. On November 6, 2017, United States Marshals arrested Dickerson in Iowa.
On February 8, 2018, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Dickerson to serve a total of 53 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Tipton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Huachuca City Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Assault on a Federal Officer, Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Katherine Rose Sparks, 23, of Huachuca City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to serve 84 months in prison and pay $49,930.73 in restitution. Sparks had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Sparks’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.
On Feb. 23, 2017, a United States Border Patrol surveillance vehicle saw an SUV near Bisbee, Ariz. being loaded with bundles. The SUV was then observed traveling west on Highway 92. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) followed the SUV west, activating their law enforcement lights, until the vehicle stopped at a red traffic light on the east side of Highway 92’s San Pedro River bridge crossing. At the stoplight, the SUV veered off the right side of the road, traveled down a steep embankment, and began driving on the dirt area on the side of the road, maintaining a high rate of speed. At one point, the vehicle was briefly airborne as it drove through a trench. When it landed, the SUV came to a stop, appearing to be stuck in a ditch on the roadside.
Two BPAs exited their vehicles, proceeding to the front doors on either side of the SUV. When the passenger refused to exit the vehicle, the agent opened the door and attempted to remove him. During this altercation, Sparks, who had still not turned off the SUV, slammed the car into reverse, causing the open passenger door to trap and drag one of the agents underneath the door of the SUV. While the agent was trapped under the door, the passenger climbed back into the SUV and, after the agent freed himself, shut the passenger’s door. Afterward, Sparks successfully negotiated the vehicle back onto Highway 92 traveling east. Agents located the SUV the following day, still containing the bundles of marijuana. The driver of the SUV was later identified as Katherine Rose Sparks.
The injured agent was transported to Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista, Ariz. for medical treatment. The injuries to his knee were substantial and resulted in significant surgery.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista. The prosecution was handled by Erica L. Seger, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00478-TUC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-012_Sparks
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Home Health Care Aide Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Her EmployerRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Cassie Tillinghast, 32, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of bank fraud, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, two years supervised release to include six months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $6,464.89 by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2015, the defendant was hired as an in-home health care aide to assist with the care of Victim 1’s elderly mother in the home of Victim 1 and her husband. Subsequently, Tillinghast fraudulently applied for a Discover credit card in the name of Victim 1, and between November 25, 2015, and December 21, 2015, the defendant fraudulently used the Discover credit card in Victim 1’s name at retail establishments in the Western District of New York to obtain goods and merchandise. Discover Financial Services suffered a total loss of $6,462.89.
In addition, Tillinghast manipulated Victim 1 into buying her a truck, motorcycle, house, jewelry, and giving her cash. The defendant also convinced Victim 1 to change her will, making Tillinghast the main beneficiary of her estate, change her two life insurance policies designating Tillinghast and her children as beneficiaries of those policies, and execute a health care proxy giving Tillinghast the ability to make health care decisions.
At the time the defendant committed this offense, she was on probation for Attempted Grand Larceny in Third Degree.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Raymond Moss, Boston Field Division.
Hartford Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl to Rocky Hill Overdose VictimRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDWIN ESCRIBANO, also known as “Bebo,” 26, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and fentanyl to an overdose victim in 2016.
This prosecution is part of an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 14, 2016, Rocky Hill Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a restaurant on a report of a male who had overdosed and was not breathing. The male, who was 29 years old, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers seized drug and non-drug evidence, including a cellophane tourniquet and syringe in the restaurant bathroom that ultimately tested positive for the presence of heroin and fentanyl. The investigation, which included analysis of the victim’s and ESCRIBANO’s cellphones, revealed that ESCRIBANO had provided the drugs to the victim shortly before the victim’s death.
Analysis of ESCRIBANO’s cellphone revealed thousands of text messages pertaining to his heroin trafficking activity between June 2016 and May 2017.
ESCRIBANO was arrested on federal criminal complaint on May 30, 2017. On November 14, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of fentanyl and heroin.
ESCRIBANO, who is released on bond, was ordered to report to prison on March 13.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Rocky Hill Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Lauren Clark.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Misuse of an Identification DocumentRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Francisco Nicolas Lucas-Miranda, age 23, of Guatemala, was sentenced today to a term of imprisonment of time served (145 days) for misuse of an identification document, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Edward Payan, Acting Chief Patrol Agent, Buffalo Sector-U.S. Border Patrol.
Lucas-Miranda, a citizen of Guatemala, was found in Cazenovia on August 8, 2017, after he was stopped for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Investigation by United States Border Patrol Agents established that he was in possession of a Guatemalan passport bearing his name and he admitted that he entered the United States illegally. Lucas-Miranda further admitted that he had previously been working at a farm in Fabius, New York, and had used a fraudulent permanent alien resident card and fraudulent social security card to procure that employment.
Following the sentencing, Lucas-Miranda was remanded to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, which will place him into removal proceedings.
The case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and the Village of Cazenovia Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Levine.
Greene Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography pled guilty on February 6, 2018 in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
David Myers, age 54, from Greene, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography. At the plea hearing, Myers admitted that, between 2005 and 2014, he used the Internet to receive child pornography. In a plea agreement, Myers admitted that, in 1998, he was convicted of three charges of sexual abuse in the third degree.
Sentencing before Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Myers was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Myers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for 5 years to life following any imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 17-2077.
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Grandview, Belton Men Plead Guilty to Illegal Explosives That Destroyed BusinessRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Belton, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally trafficking in thousands of illegal fireworks and explosives following an explosion that destroyed a Grandview, Mo., business last year.
Thomas McKeehan, 67, of Belton, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hays to engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials without a license.
Co-defendant James Witt, 76, of Grandview, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2017, to participating in a conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials without a license.
Witt was the owner of JW’s Lawn and Garden Equipment, 12010 S. 71 Hwy., Grandview, which was destroyed in an explosion on Jan. 3, 2017.
Witt admitted that he and McKeehan entered into a partnership to manufacture illegal explosive devices at Witt’s business, and to sell both the illegal explosive devices and commercial fireworks without a license to do so, from January 2015 to January 2017. McKeehan admitted that their unlicensed trafficking included approximately 1,080 commercially packaged 1.3g, 3-inch aerial display shells, approximately 13,968 (M-Series) improvised explosive devices, approximately 3,200 (larger M-Series) improvised explosive devices and approximately 1,633 commercially packaged 1.3g, 3-inch aerial display shells.
Witt and McKeehan purchased bulk supplies of raw chemicals, including aluminum powder, potassium perchlorate and Sulphur, to create an explosive mixture. They packed the explosive powder in cardboard tubes obtained by McKeehan. They also purchased and sold commercial fireworks, including 1.3g fireworks, without a license to do so.
Following the Jan. 3, 2017, explosion at JW’s Lawn and Garden Equipment, Witt and McKeehan traveled to McKeehan’s storage unit in Belton and removed the fireworks stored at that location. On Jan. 17, 2017, Witt and McKeehan moved a white van to a location in Lone Jack, Mo., and loaded the van with commercial fireworks and illegal explosive devices in order to transport the explosives to a person in Wisconsin with whom McKeehan had negotiated the sale. The explosives in the van included approximately 1,080 commercially packaged 1.3g, 3-inch aerial display shells, approximately 13,968 (M-Series) improvised explosive devices, approximately 3,200 (larger M-Series) improvised explosive devices and approximately 1,633 commercially packaged 1.3g, 3-inch aerial display shells.
Under federal statutes, McKeehan is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Witt is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Fort Hall Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Tyrell Dixey, 33, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty Wednesday in United States District Court to possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
According to the plea agreement, on January 30, 2017, a vehicle was stopped by the Fort Hall Police Department. Dixey was a passenger in the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found a Mossberg, Model 500A, 12 gauge shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length. The shotgun was later determined to have Dixey’s fingerprints on it. Sentencing is set for April 30, 2018, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length, unless the firearm is registered with ATF. Possession of an unregistered firearm is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release up to three years.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Fort Hall Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Former sergeant sentenced to federal prison for abusing inmate at Dekalb County JailRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Dwight Hamilton has been sentenced to one year in prison for abusing a female inmate by tasing her without any legitimate justification. Leonard Dreyer, Hamilton's former supervisor at the jail, was sentenced on Tuesday February 6, 2018, to 21 days of confinement in a halfway house for attempting to obstruct the federal investigation into Hamilton's use of excessive force by making false statements to the FBI.
“Abuse of power by any law enforcement officer is always unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Law enforcement officers stand in the gap every day to keep us safe, whether they are patrolling a beat, or a correctional officer working in a jail or prison. Hamilton’s conduct is not reflective of how we expect officers to conduct themselves. In this country, even those incarcerated have the right to fair treatment and decency.”
“Hamilton’s unjustified violent actions grossly violated the civil rights of an inmate whom he had a sworn duty to protect,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Any unlawful act of violence or malice by an officer against an inmate will not be tolerated by this Department of Justice.”
“It is a corrections officer’s duty to protect the constitutional rights of everyone in his or her custody,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. “This sentence reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to hold those who fail to do so accountable. However, it should not obscure the fact that the majority of men and women working in correctional facilities conduct themselves admirably under challenging conditions.”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Hamilton, who worked as a sergeant at the DeKalb County Jail, admitted during his guilty plea that on November 1, 2011, he responded to the medical floor of the jail when an inmate asked to speak to a supervisor because her family visitation had been unexpectedly cancelled by jail staff. Rather than explain the situation to the inmate, Hamilton tased the inmate until she defecated on herself. Hamilton, who had been trained on proper Taser usage, admitted that he knew that tasing the inmate under these circumstances was wrong but did it anyway. As a result of the tasing, the inmate suffered permanent scarring to her breast.
Dwight Hamilton, 54, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to one year in federal prison. When Hamilton is released from prison, he will be under federal supervision for three years. Hamilton pleaded guilty to his charge on November 20, 2017.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Trial Attorney Christopher Perras of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Top Official with Guatemalan National Police Arrested on Visa Fraud Charge for Allegedly Failing to Disclose Murder ChargesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The former chief of the National Police in Guatemala’s second-largest city was arrested today on visa fraud charges in relation to his procurement of a “green card” after he allegedly failed to disclose to U.S. immigration authorities that he had been charged with murdering two political activists in Guatemala.
Catalino Esteban Valiente Alonzo, 77, of Fontana, who was the chief of the National Police in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, was arrested after being charged in a one-count indictment returned on Tuesday by a federal grand jury.
The indictment specifically alleges that Valiente entered the United States in April 2013 with a Lawful Permanent Resident card he fraudulently obtained by failing to disclose that he had been arrested and tried for kidnapping and murder in Guatemala.
In late 1987, Valiente and others were charged in Guatemala with the kidnapping and murder of two people affiliated with the Agronomy Department at the Centro Universitario de Occidente in Quetzaltenango. Valiente was convicted twice, but both convictions – and two 30-year sentences – were overturned on appeals, and the matter was remanded to a trial court for further proceedings in 1993. An arrest warrant for Valiente was issued in July 1993, and it renewed twice, but the warrant was rescinded in 2015. It is unclear if charges remain pending against Valiente in Guatemala.
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.
Valiente is expected to be arraigned on the indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
If he were to be convicted of visa fraud, Valiente would face a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), in coordination with the HSI Attaché in Guatemala City and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
The investigation was supported by ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009 to identify, track and prosecute human rights abusers, the HRVWCC leverages the expertise of a select group of agents, lawyers, intelligence and research specialists, historians and analysts who direct the agency’s broader enforcement efforts against these offenders.
Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes may call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2423 (1-866-347-2423). Callers may remain anonymous.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Fernandez of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.
Former Latin Kings Gang Member Sentenced to More than Nine Years for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich today sentenced former Latin Kings game member Anibal Angel Rios-Mulero (33, Tampa) to nine years and nine months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the firearms and ammunition.
Rios Mulero pleaded guilty on October 16, 2017.
According to court documents, on November 12, 2015, Rios-Mulero, a convicted felon, possessed and fired a Taurus.380 caliber pistol during an altercation outside his residence. After the shooting, law enforcmeent officers went to Rios-Mulero’s house and seized a .380 caliber shell casing in the driveway, and a another .380 caliber shell casing around the sidewalk area in front of the house. Two days later, on November 14, 2015, officers searched Rios-Mulero’s house and found a loaded black Taurus .380 caliber pistol, ammunition, and 56 baggies bags of heroin packaged for distribution in the attic.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon A. Gaugush.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Former Jail Sergeant Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusing Inmate at DeKalb County JailRead the Press Release
Dwight Hamilton, 54, of Atlanta, Georgia, was today sentenced to one year in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for abusing a female inmate by tasing her without any legitimate justification. Leonard Dreyer, Hamilton’s former supervisor at the jail, was sentenced on Tuesday to one year of probation conditioned upon his serving 21 days in a halfway house for attempting to obstruct the federal investigation into Hamilton’s use of excessive force by making false statements to the FBI.
At the sentencing, Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia said Mr. Hamilton’s actions showed an “extraordinary absence of empathy,” and that Hamilton “was out of control and a lot of people suffered because of it.”
“Hamilton’s unjustified violent actions grossly violated the civil rights of an inmate whom he had a sworn duty to protect,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Any unlawful act of violence or malice by an officer against an inmate will not be tolerated by this Department of Justice.”
“Abuse of power by any law enforcement officer is always unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Law enforcement officers stand in the gap every day to keep us safe, whether they are patrolling a beat, or a correctional officer working in a jail or prison. Hamilton’s conduct is not reflective of how we expect officers to conduct themselves. In this country, even those incarcerated have the right to fair treatment and decency.”
Hamilton, who worked as a sergeant at the DeKalb County Jail, admitted during his guilty plea that on Nov. 1, 2011, he responded to the medical floor of the jail when an inmate asked to speak to a supervisor because her family visitation had been unexpectedly cancelled by jail staff. Rather than explain the situation to the inmate, Hamilton tased the inmate until she defecated on herself. Hamilton, who had been trained on proper Taser usage, admitted that he knew that tasing the inmate under these circumstances was wrong but did it anyway. As a result of the tasing, the inmate suffered permanent scarring to her breast.
When Hamilton is released from prison, he will be under federal supervision for three years. Hamilton pleaded guilty to his charge on Nov. 20, 2017.
This case was investigated by the Atlanta Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Trial Attorney Christopher Perras of the Civil Rights Division.
Former Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes to Dismiss Indictment Against Colombian Narcotics KingpinRead the Press Release
A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Special Agent was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for orchestrating, through multiple misrepresentations to numerous government agencies, the dismissal of a drug trafficking indictment filed against a fugitive narcotics kingpin, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
According to admissions in his plea agreement, Christopher V. Ciccione II, 52, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, accepted cash and other things of value and used his official position to cause a drug trafficking indictment against Colombian national Jose Bayron Piedrahita Ceballos to be dismissed. Piedrahita and Colombian national Juan Carlos Velasco Cano met with Ciccione in Bogota, Colombia in December 2010, where they provided him with approximately $20,000 in cash, dinner, drinks and prostitutes. In exchange, Ciccione disclosed the identities of confidential sources cooperating against Velasco three times, made numerous misrepresentations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI management, and altered law enforcement records to represent to decision makers that Piedrahita was a “former” suspect of a closed investigation, rather than a “current” subject; that Piedrahita was “never positively identified” during that investigation; and that his case should be dismissed because no one could obtain probable cause to “supersede another indictment.” Ciccone also falsified the concurrence of several other federal agents and attempted to parole Piedrahita into the United States.
“Christopher Ciccione abused his law enforcement authority for personal profit,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “His actions not only comprised an ongoing investigation and nearly allowed a dangerous drug kingpin to escape justice, but they also betrayed the public trust placed in him to carry out his sworn duties with integrity. Today’s sentence demonstrates the hard work of our federal law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice—no matter who they are.”
Ciccione was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. of the Southern District of Florida. Velasco was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Jan. 17. Piedrahita is currently incarcerated in the Republic of Colombia.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Piedrahita as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act on May 3, 2016.
ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Office of the Judicial Attaché in Colombia and the Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance to the investigation. The Colombian Attorney General’s Office also provided invaluable support. Trial Attorneys Luke Cass and Jennifer A. Clarke of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Alarm Monitoring Company Worker Admits to Stealing from CompanyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Rosharon woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Sonja Martinez admitted she and her co-conspirators electronically submitted falsified vendor requests for payment to divert money to themselves from their former employer’s bank account.
Martinez worked at the Houston branch of a Florida-based security company that installed, tested and monitored fire and security systems. The Florida company had acquired the Houston branch from another company and she had worked at the predecessor company.
The company used third party vendors to install its alarm systems. Martinez worked in the Accounting Department and was responsible for paying the vendors and noting in the company’s accounting system. From November 2011 until May 2016, Martinez and others participated in a scheme to divert approximately $1,661,163 to themselves and their family members.
A computer in Texas was used to submit fraudulent vendor requests for payment to their employer’s out-of-state bank. Martinez and others then utilized an electronic bank token to release funds and transfer money from their employer’s account to their own bank accounts and the bank accounts of their relatives.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea today and set sentencing for April 26, 2018, at which time Martinez faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. At the hearing today, the court also entered a money judgment against Martinez for $739,450.36.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending her sentencing.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Who Assaulted Airline Flight Crew and Passengers Enroute to China Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A Tampa, Florida, man who assaulted crew and passengers on a Delta Airlines flight bound for China pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four federal felonies in connection with the July 16, 2017 incident, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. JOSEPH DANIEL HUDEK IV, 24, is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on May 15, 2018. The four federal felonies (interference with a flight crew and three counts of assault in a special aircraft jurisdiction) are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
According to records in the case and the plea agreement signed today, HUDEK was seated in first class on the Delta flight. The aircraft had 210 passengers on board and 11 crew members. The plane had just passed over Vancouver Island and was over the Pacific Ocean when HUDEK came out of the first class bathroom and in an agitated state attempted to raise the lever of the exit door of the aircraft. Two flight attendants attempted to stop HUDEK and he threw one to the floor and punched the other. When a passenger attempted to assist the flight attendants, HUDEK hit him over the head with a wine bottle. Ultimately, multiple passengers were required to restrain HUDEK, and one lowered the exit handle of the door as the aircraft returned to Seattle.
In court filings HUDEK admits he ingested marijuana edibles before the flight. In a pretrial ruling Judge Coughnour barred HUDEK from using a mental incapacity defense based on his voluntary consumption of marijuana.
HUDEK has agreed to pay restitution to the injured passengers in an amount to be determined at the sentencing hearing.
HUDEK remains out of jail on bond, but is prohibited from traveling on aircraft.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Gregory Hubbard, aka Jibreel, 54, of West Palm Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty on Feb. 8, to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Edward O’Callaghan, U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Robert F. Lasky of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and members of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), made the announcement. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg
According to the factual basis, Hubbard was arrested on July 21, 2016, at Miami International Airport where he and an FBI confidential human source (CHS) had been driven by co-defendant Darren Arness Jackson for a scheduled flight to Berlin, Germany. From Berlin, Hubbard intended to travel to Syria to join ISIS.
At various times during the conspiracy, which ran from approximately July 2015 until Hubbard’s arrest, Hubbard, and his co-defendants, Dayne Antani Christian and Jackson, talked with the CHS about their support for ISIS and jihad, including acts of terrorism committed by and attributed to ISIS and its supporters. During the conspiracy, Hubbard and his co-defendants including the CHS and others, practiced shooting weapons multiple times in preparation for Hubbard and the CHS traveling to Syria to join ISIS.
Hubbard, a U.S. citizen, will be sentenced on April 19, and faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Christian pleaded guilty on March 29, 2017, to conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, and to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson pleaded guilty on April 4, 2017, to conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS. Christian and Jackson both face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy plea. Christian faces an additional statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for his plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Both co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced following Hubbard’s sentencing in April.
The FBI and JTTF investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Transportation Security Administration; Miami International Airport Police Department; Boca Raton, Florida, Police Department; Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; City of West Palm Beach Police Department; and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen E. Gilbert and Edward C. Nucci and Trial Attorneys Larry Schneider and Bridget Behling of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Florida CPA Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for multiple counts of tax fraud and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Greg Takesian, 54, of Miami, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison and one year of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $286,433 and a $10,000 fine. In November 2017, following a five-day jury trial, Takesian was convicted of four counts of filing false tax returns and one count of attempting to obstruct and impede the IRS.
Takesian, a certified public accountant, worked for Takesian & Company, a tax consulting firm owned by his father. Between 2008 and 2011, Takesian & Company received more than $2 million for tax and consulting services from At Home VNA, a home healthcare agency based in Waltham, Mass. In 2014, At Home VNA’s founder and owner, Michael Galatis, was convicted for fraudulently billing millions of dollars from Medicare.
Takesian spent more than $991,000, taken from Takesian & Company’s bank account, on personal expenses, including cash and check payments to his wife and his girlfriend. In total, Takesian gave his wife more than $500,000 from the company bank account and his girlfriend over $200,000 of company funds. He also spent the money on Caribbean cruises, expensive clothing and nightclubs. Takesian did not report his personal spending from the Takesian & Company bank account on his personal tax returns. After learning of the federal investigation, Takesian also filed false corporate and personal amended returns in an effort to cover up the nearly $1 million of unreported income.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil J. Gallagher and Rachel Y. Hemani of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Federal Inmate Charged with EscapeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Harvey Shaner, age 51, an inmate housed at the United States Federal Prison Camp, FCI Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 6, 2018, by a federal grand jury with escape.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Shaner escaped from the United States Federal Prison Camp, FCI Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania on December 22, 2017. He was subsequently taken into custody on January 3, 2018.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service in Scranton. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations.
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.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal escape statute is 5 years’ 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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Federal Charges for Weapons Trafficking and CarjackingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On February 8, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging three individuals for trafficking firearms without a license, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is in charge of the investigation of the case.
The indictment charges Helmer Colón-Figueroa, Erick Cotto-Romero, and Luis Estrada-Rivera with conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking without a license. The object of the conspiracy was to purchase firearms in the State of Florida, transport them to Puerto Rico, and sell them to other individuals in Puerto Rico, for profit.
Helmer Colón-Figueroa is also facing charges for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Defendants are facing a forfeiture allegation of nine pistols, seven rifles and a money judgment of $47,300. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, and up to 10 years for possession of a machine gun and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In an unrelated case, Puerto Rico Police Department officers arrested Adriel Carrasquillo-Carmona for carjacking. On Saturday, February 3, 2018, Carrasquillo-Carmona, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, took a gray 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass vehicle from the presence of a 70-year-old male victim causing him serious bodily injury. The defendant struck the victim in the head and body with a sledgehammer several times. The victim struggled with Carrasquillo-Carmona, who after beating him reached inside the victim’s pockets and took a cell phone, $800 and the vehicle. The defendant was arrested on February 4 and the FBI assumed jurisdiction. If convicted, Carrasquillo-Carmona faces up to 25 years in prison.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with all the law enforcement agencies, federal and state, to fight the wave of crime that is alarming our communities in Puerto Rico,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor Acevedo-Hernández is in charge of the prosecution of the firearms case and AUSA Marie Christine Amy is in charge of the prosecution of the carjacking case. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Federal Agents Make Arrests Related to Firearms and Narcotics ViolationsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Authorities executed multiple search warrants and arrested five Corpus Christi residents following enforcement actions resulting in criminal complaints for federal firearms and/or narcotics violations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Those arrested today include Annabella Lynn Davila, 20, Carlos Virgilio Hernandez, 30, and John Rudy Hernandez, 27, and Abelardo Garza Jr., 33. All made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington, at which time they were ordered into custody pending a detention hearing set for Feb. 14 at 9:00 am. Travis Robert Hellman, 34, was taken into custody last night on unrelated charges and is expected to appear in federal court in the near future.
Hellman and Davila are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, while Carlos and John Hernandez are charged with possession of a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Garza was taken into custody for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm.
As part of an undercover operation, Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) Narcotics Division purchased multiple firearms from individuals operating out of the Touch of Ink tattoo parlor in Corpus Christi, according to the indictment. On each occasion, the individual selling the firearm was allegedly prohibited from possessing the firearm and/or ammunition under federal law.
Further, during one of the firearms purchases, Hellman agreed to sell methamphetamine that Davila delivered, according to the complaint.
The possession of firearms charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Those charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances face up to 20 years of imprisonment and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
The ATF and CCPD conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the cases.
Fayetteville Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Stormy Sea Lane, age 28, of Fayetteville, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $1,900.00 fine on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, during a traffic stop in April 2017, law enforcement officers conducted a parole search of Lane and found several baggies containing methamphetamine in her purse. Lane was arrested, taken to jail, and searched again by law enforcement. This search produced another baggie of methamphetamine on her person. Lane was released from jail on bond in May 2017. In June 2017, law enforcement learned that Lane was selling methamphetamine in the Springdale, Arkansas area. Officers found and engaged with Lane and another individual. Officers seized an additional seven grams of methamphetamine as a result of this encounter. All of the methamphetamine seized from Lane was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for testing. The lab determined that the substance contained 28.43 grams of actual methamphetamine.
Lane was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2017 and entered a guilty plea in November 2017.
This case was investigated by the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
FBI New Haven Task Force Investigation Results in Crack and Oxycodone Charges against 19 IndividualsRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell today announced that a grand jury in New Haven returned a 30-count indictment yesterday charging 19 individuals with federal narcotics offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and oxycodone in and around New Haven.
According to allegations made in court, in June 2017, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a New Haven drug trafficking organization headed by Jermayne Butler. The investigation, which included physical surveillance, 13 controlled purchases of narcotics, and court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, revealed that Butler and others were distributing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the New Haven area.
Charged in the indictment are:
JERMAYNE BUTLER, a.k.a. “Main,” “Main Live” and “Liver,” 36, of New Haven
TYRESE HARGROVE, a.k.a. “T.Y.,” 36, of New Haven
DEQUEISHA SLEDGE, a.k.a. “Queish” and “Shontay,” 35, of New Haven
TORRENCE GAMBLE, a.k.a. “Bones” and “Bone,” 44, of New Haven
RONNIE GORDON, a.k.a. “Pop,” 36, of New Haven
ANTHONY MCBRIDE, a.k.a. “Moto,” 49, of New Haven
JOEY FULLER, 28, of New Haven
MALCOLM NEWTON, a.k.a. “Biggie,” 23, of New Haven
MARQUIS PARKER, 25, of New Haven
MARVIN SPRUILL, a.k.a. “Marv,” 25, of West Haven
MILTON VEREEN, a.k.a. “M.D.,” 38, of New Haven
RASHAAN WOOLFOLK, a.k.a. “Booka,” 26, of West Haven
HUSAIN REDMOND, a.k.a. “Pullie,” 37, of West Haven
ROBERT THOMPSON, a.k.a. “Bobby D” and “Bobby Diesel,” 49, of New Haven
CHAUNCEY EVANS, a.k.a. “Chaos,” 45, of New Haven
CARNELL EDWARDS, 47, of Bridgeport
OSVALDO SAEZ, 30, of New Haven
ZARKEE SANDERS, 40, of HamdenOn February 6, 2018, investigators arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Tyrese Hargrove, Anthony McBride and Chauncy Evans, who were already incarcerated in state custody. One defendant is still being sought.
In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of seven properties in New Haven and Hamden and seized seven firearms, ammunition, approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $14,000 in cash.
The indictment charges Butler, Gamble and Sanders with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”). If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Hargrove, Sledge, Gordon, McBride, Fuller, Newton, Parker, Spruill, Redmond, Evans, Edwards and Saez are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base. If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Woolfook is charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine base, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Butler, Hargrove, Sledge, Spruill, Vereen and Thompson are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, oxycodone, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
In addition, the indictment charges each of the defendants with one of more counts of possession and/or distribution of crack cocaine and/or oxycodone.
U.S. Attorney Durham noted that the investigation is ongoing, and some of the defendants may face additional charges related to the firearms that were seized at the time of their arrests.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, which includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, West Haven Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and David C. Nelson.
Eunice company’s former IT manager sentenced to 160 months for defrauding employer $2.8 millionRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Duson was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud a Eunice pipeline company out of more than $2.8 million.
Richard Walter Borek Jr., 43, of Duson, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of wire fraud. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $2,858,975 restitution. According to the August 9, 2017 guilty plea, Borek worked as the information technology (IT) manager for a Eunice pipeline company from 2012 to 2016. He conducted a scheme where he bought cell phones and electronic tablets using company funds. He then sold them online to another company and kept the money for his own personal use. He also sold web hosting services and computer equipment to the pipeline company through his own company called Statix, even though the web hosting services were being provided by another company and the computer equipment was never delivered to the pipeline company’s office. The loss from the scheme included unauthorized electronics purchases, fraudulent charges from Statix and costs of the investigation total $2,858,975.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.
Essex County Man Charged with Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy Operating in Newark, New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Federal law enforcement authorities today took custody of the last of seven members of a drug trafficking organization that allegedly distributed over a kilogram of heroin and other narcotics in Newark and the surrounding areas, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Carlos Velasquez, a/k/a “Birdie,” 39, of Newark, is charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Velasquez, who was in state custody on unrelated charges, appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to the complaint:
From September 2016 through June 2017, Velasquez and others engaged in a heroin distribution conspiracy that operated in and around Newark.
Through the authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative means, law enforcement officers learned that Ahmad Johnson, a/k/a “OC,” 38, of Newark, was a leader of the conspiracy and was responsible for obtaining wholesale amounts of narcotics, including heroin and cocaine, and processing and packaging the narcotics for sale in and around Newark. Velasquez was an alleged heroin and cocaine dealer who got his narcotics from Johnson.
At times, after the narcotics were processed and packaged for sale, Johnson found users to “test” the narcotics to evaluate the quality, potency, and danger for broader distribution. After the narcotics were tested, members of drug trafficking organization sold the narcotics to other distributors and users in and around Newark.
During the takedown, law enforcement officers conducted a series of search warrants and found over a kilogram of heroin, over 200 grams of crack cocaine, and over 150 grams of fentanyl.
The conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.
The complaint charges six other defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Johnson, Sacha Negron, 33, and Keith Henderson, 46, all of Newark, were arrested in June 2017. Cory Canzater, 45, and Willie McPhatter, 46, both of Newark, were arrested in September 2017. Willie McPhatter’s brother, Maurice McPhatter, 45, of Newark, was arrested Feb. 8, 2018. Negron, Henderson, Canzater, and Willie McPhatter are out on bail. Johnson and Henderson remain in custody.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari B. Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense counsel: Michael A. Armstrong Esq., Willingboro, New Jersey
District Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for July 4, 2015 Slaying of Kevin SutherlandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jasper Spires, 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for the July 4, 2015 slaying of Kevin Sutherland on a Metrorail train, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Ron Pavlik, Chief of the Metro Transit Police.
Spires pled guilty on Oct. 19, 2017, to first-degree murder while armed (premeditated). The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon sentence in the range of 30 to 35 years. The Honorable Judith Bartnoff accepted the plea and sentenced the defendant accordingly at a hearing today in in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Following his prison term, Spires will be placed on five years of supervised release.
“Kevin Sutherland was on his way to a Fourth of July celebration when he was robbed and murdered in the middle of the day in the first killing ever to take place on a Metro train,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Other passengers were terrorized and remain traumatized to this day. Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, Jasper Spires was arrested for this senseless crime. Today’s sentence will keep this predator off our streets for decades to come.”
“This heinous crime shocked our entire community and deeply affected all of us at Metro,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Pavlik. “We continue to extend our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Kevin Sutherland, and hope that today’s sentencing may give them some comfort. I want to extend our gratitude to the Metropolitan Police Department for their work in quickly bringing this case to closure, as well as the prosecutors who ensured that justice is served.”
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on July 4, 2015, at approximately 12:43 p.m., Spires was standing near the fare machines at the entrance to the Rhode Island Avenue – Brentwood Metro Station, in the 900 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE, when 24-year-old Kevin Sutherland entered the station. Mr. Sutherland proceeded through the turnstiles and up the escalator to the platform, where he walked toward the front end of the platform to wait for a downtown-bound Red Line train.
A short while later, Spires followed through the entrance and up the escalator. As he stepped off the escalator and onto the platform, Metro digital surveillance cameras captured Spires putting gloves on his hands. Spires also walked towards the front end of the platform.
When a downtown-bound Red Line train arrived, both Spires and Mr. Sutherland boarded the second car of the train. Mr. Sutherland sat down near the middle of the car, in a seat facing inward, towards the center of the car. As the train traveled between the Rhode Island Avenue and NOMA-Gallaudet University Metro stations, Spires approached Mr. Sutherland and snatched Mr. Sutherland’s cellphone from his hand. Spires then began to attack Mr. Sutherland with a knife. He stabbed Mr. Sutherland repeatedly in the abdomen, upper right back, left side, right side, left arm, and right arm. As Spires stabbed him, Mr. Sutherland fell to the floor of the train. Spires continued to stab Mr. Sutherland as he lay on the floor. He also kicked Mr. Sutherland in the body and head. At the end of the attack, Spires threw Mr. Sutherland’s cellphone at him, striking him in the head.
Nine other passengers were on the train car at the time of the attack. As it unfolded, witnesses aboard the train attempted to notify the train’s operator. Spires menaced one of these witnesses with his knife and told the witness to “Shut up.” He also menaced two other witnesses on the train with a knife, one of whom was 76 years old, taking their property.
When the train pulled into the NOMA-Gallaudet station, Spires walked off the train and ran down the stairs leaving the platform. He discarded the knife in a trashcan before continuing his flight. As he hopped the exit turnstiles of the station, Spires dropped a backpack. He hesitated for a moment, as though he would stop to pick up the backpack, but then continued his flight without retrieving the backpack. Metro employees and some civilians who had been on the train with Mr. Sutherland called 911, and some witnesses sat with Mr. Sutherland as they waited for emergency personnel to arrive. By the time first responders got to the scene, Mr. Sutherland was unresponsive and emergency personnel pronounced Mr. Sutherland to be deceased.
Spires was arrested on July 6, 2015, and has been in custody ever since.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia conducted an autopsy on Mr. Sutherland. During the autopsy, the deputy medical examiner observed 19 stab wounds and 16 cutting wounds on Mr. Sutherland’s body. Several of the stab wounds were very deep and caused damage to Mr. Sutherland’s internal organs.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Chief Newsham, and Chief Pavlik commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Metro Transit Police. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences and Bode Cellmark Forensics.
They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Donovan, David Gorman, Michelle D. Jackson, Colleen M. Kennedy, Silvia Gonzalez-Roman, Mark Aziz, Kara Traster, and Anwar Graves; Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation; Forensic Operation Program Specialist Benjamin Kagan-Guthrie; Criminal Investigators Durand Odom and Mark Crawford; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, Sandra Lane, Lashone Samuels, and Michelle Chambers; former Paralegal Specialists Karen Hansen and Vanessa Trent- Valentine; the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit, including Victim/Witness Advocates Jennifer Clark and Marcia Rinker and Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, and Administrative Services Specialist Sallie Rynas.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Macey and Kathryn Rakoczy, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Probation for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A 33 year-old Providence man previously convicted of drug trafficking and assaulting several police officers was sentenced today to 3 years probation, the first six months to be served in home confinement with electronic monitoring, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 27-33 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 27 months in prison.
According to court documents, Kevin Malave has an adult criminal record beginning at the age of 18 involving eight arrests on 15 charges resulting in 12 counts of conviction.
Malave was arrested by Providence Police on May 17, 2017, following a foot pursuit in the area of the Chad Brown housing development, during which time Malave removed a firearm from his waistband and tossed into a bin as he ran up onto the front porch of a residence. After drawing his firearm and ordering Malave to show his hands, the officer arrested Malave and retrieved the firearm.
According to court documents, the Providence Police officer who arrested Malave had responded to a police dispatch of a man with a gun. As the officer approached the area, he saw and drove toward a man fitting the description of the person described in the police broadcast as having a gun. The individual, later identified as Malave, concealed both of his hands in the area of his waistband and began walking in the opposite direction. Malave fled when the officer accelerated his cruiser toward him.
During the foot pursuit, Malave injured his hand while climbing over a fence. A rescue transported Malave to a hospital for treatment. According to court documents, while at the hospital, Malave was overheard by two members of law enforcement telling a nurse, “I want to kill all the East Side (blank). I’m gonna carry a gun ‘till the day I die.”
Malave’s sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Malave, who had been free on unsecured bond, pleaded guilty on November 17, 2017, to felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch thanks the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance in the prosecution of this case.
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