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Tuesday 21 November 2017
Local Man Heads to Prison on Multiple Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Kingsville man has been ordered to prison following his convictions of trafficking more than a kilogram of cocaine as well as being a felon in possession of both a firearm and ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. A federal jury convicted Elias Gonzalez Alvarez Aug. 10, 2017, following a one-day trial and approximately 40 minutes of deliberations.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey, who presided over the trial, handed Alvarez a 120-month sentence for his drug trafficking conviction and 108 months each for the felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition convictions. All of the sentences are to be served concurrently and followed by eight years of supervised release.
Authorities had learned that Alvarez had been engaged in trafficking cocaine and, on May 12, 2015, conducted surveillance on his apartment in Corpus Christi. Authorities stopped him for a traffic violation as he left his residence. His license was found to be suspended and Alavarez was arrested. At that time, authorities conducted a search of his vehicle and discovered a box with a bag inside that contained 1.01 kilograms of cocaine.
A search warrant was also executed on his residence where authorities found a .38 caliber handgun and ammunition. Alvarez is a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
At trial, the jury also heard that Alvarez is a member of the Calaveras Outlaw motorcycle gang. Today, the court prohibited any further membership with any gang as a condition of his supervised release.
Alavarez had attempted to convince the jury the drugs found in his vehicle and the gun and ammunition discovered in his apartment did not belong to him. They did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Alvarez was taken into custody following the return of the verdicts in August where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.
Justice Department Awards $98 Million to Hire Community Policing OfficersRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday announced $98,495,397 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.
“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”
CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.
In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS Office grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. 143 of the 179 (80%) awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The complete list of award recipients can be found here.
U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “We are pleased that the Northern Indiana Police Departments of Fort Wayne and Lafayette received funding to hire more officers. We have always and will continue to focus on cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement in our fight against crime.”
The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Felon to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 65 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of violation federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Andrew Jones, 40.
Jones had previously been convicted by a federal jury of the crime of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. In addition, information was presented to the court that the firearm had been reported stolen prior to the time that Mr. Jones possessed it. Federal law prohibits a person convicted of a crime punishable by in excess of one year imprisonment from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rachael Dizard and Katherine A. King prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jones.
James Douglas Overbey Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Tuesday, November 21, 2017, James Douglas Overbey was administered the oath of office to become U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, by the Honorable Thomas A Varlan, Chief United States District Judge. Overbey was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve in this position.
“I am deeply appreciative to Senators Alexander and Corker for recommending me to the President and to President Trump for nominating me to the office. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Tennessee in this position and working with the dedicated people in the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey.
As U.S. Attorney, Overbey is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of Tennessee, which is the largest federal district in Tennessee, with a population of over 2.6 million, encompassing 41 of the 95 counties, and spanning 420 miles. He oversees a staff of attorneys and non-attorney support personnel in the Knoxville headquarters office, as well as two branch offices in Chattanooga and Greeneville.
The U.S. Attorney’s office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Overbey, a resident of Maryville, Tennessee, received his undergraduate degree from Carson- Newman College, graduated first in his class from the University of Tennessee, College of Law and has practiced law for 38 years. In 1982, he co-founded the law firm of Robertson Overbey where he was the senior partner.
Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Overbey was serving his third term in the Tennessee State Senate representing Blount and Sevier counties. From 2000 to 2008, he represented a portion of Blount County in the House of Representatives. He served on the Finance and Health Committees in both the House and Senate, was Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and the General Assembly’s Arts Caucus, and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees.
His many awards include the 2009 Law & Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty, the 2011 Community Leadership Award from Leadership Blount for more than three decades of community service, and the 2011 Bud Cramer Award from the National Children’s Alliance for his steadfast advocacy of children’s issues. In 2013, he was selected as a member of the CSG Toll Fellows Class and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Carson-Newman University.
Overbey has also been a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs, including 16 years presenting the Knoxville Bar Association’s annual Legislative Update, served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee College of Law, and had two articles published in the Anglican Digest.
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Jacksonville Man Arrested and Indicted for Distributing Child Sex Abuse VideosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announced today that Pryce Elijah Demars (24, Jacksonville) has been arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury for distribution of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime of supervision. Demars has been detained pending his trial on January 2, 2018.
According to court documents, on November 15, 2017, FBI agents and local police officers executed a federal search warrant at Demars’s Jacksonville residence, in connection with a child exploitation investigation into online users of a particular file-sharing program. FBI agents determined that from August 3, 2016, through April 12, 2017, Demars had distributed videos depicting young children being sexually abused to other individuals using a computer over the Internet. During an interview, Demars admitted that he had searched for child pornography on the Internet, downloaded it, and distributed it to another individual in exchange for video games and other items of value.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case 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 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."
Illinois Man Sentenced to 61 MonthsRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Gary Smith, 28, of Robbins, Illinois, was sentenced by District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen for using counterfeit access devices, illegal possession of device making equipment and aggravated identity theft.
Smith was sentenced to 61 mos imprisonment and 2 years supervised release to be served consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving in Illinois. Smith was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,346.
According to Court filings, beginning in August 2014 Smith knowingly and with the intent to defraud used counterfeit access devices, stolen credit card numbers issued to other persons. He used these numbers without lawful authority in relation to a felony crime of wire fraud. Smith also possessed device-making equipment.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. This case was handled by Assistant United State Attorney Philip C. Benson.
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Illegal immigrant charged with kidnapping minor and bringing her to Georgia for sexRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Andres Castaneda-Guzman has been arraigned on charges for taking a 14-year-old girl against her will from Texas to Stockbridge, Georgia, and allegedly engaging in unlawful sexual activity. Castaneda-Guzman, who is in the United States illegally, lived in Jonesboro, Georgia, until August 2017, when he moved to Terrell, Texas. He was indicted on November 14, 2017.
“This kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor is stunning,” said U. S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Prosecuting violent crime, including child exploitation, is an important priority for the Department of Justice. We are fully engaged in combatting child exploitation and will prosecute anyone who believes they can pursues this vile practice.”
“Child exploitation in any form is dreadful, but the kidnapping a child for sexual purposes is an atrocity of the worst kind,” said ICE HSI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory Wiest. “HSI will continue to prioritize child exploitation investigations and utilize all that we bear to bring those accused to justice”
According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On the evening of September 3, 2017, in Terrell, Castaneda-Guzman allegedly persuaded the minor female to get into his vehicle. He then drove her Georgia, where he eventually took her to a hotel in Stockbridge and allegedly forced her to have sexual intercourse with him. The girl was recovered after Castaneda-Guzman’s former in-laws in Jonesboro notified him that Clayton County law enforcement officers were seeking her return.
The indictment alleges that Andres Castaneda-Guzman, 24, formerly of Jonesboro, Georgia, now of Terrell, Texas, kidnapped a minor and transported a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Traynor is prosecuting the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Accessing with Intent to View Child PornographyRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Thomas Wayne Anderson, 57, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 84 months in federal prison, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, for accessing with intent to view child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Anderson to pay $1,340.75 in restitution and to forfeit the laptop computer Anderson used to commit his crime. Anderson pleaded guilty to the charge on August 24, 2017.
According to the plea agreement, Anderson had been apprehended in connection with a series of acts of vandalism at recreational sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management when authorities obtained a search warrant and searched Anderson’s laptop computer. Law enforcement found screen captures of child pornography that appeared to be from videos depicting child pornography. When interviewed, Anderson admitted to using online video-conferencing services to view child pornography with other individuals.
The case was investigated by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Bureau of Land Management.
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.”
Houston Man Sentenced in $6.4 Million Diamond Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Christopher Arnold Jiongo, 57, of Houston, Texas, appeared this morning before U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3,786,595 in restitution for his role in a diamond investment scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Jiongo pleaded guilty in May 2017 to one count of wire fraud. Judge Fitzwater ordered Jiongo to report to the Bureau of Prisons on January 9, 2018.
Co-defendants Craig Allen Otteson, 65, and Jay Bruce Heimburger, 59, were previously sentenced by Judge Fitzwater to 121 months and 97 months, respectively, in federal prison. Jiongo received a reduction to his sentence due to his early guilty plea and cooperation with the government’s investigation, as well as his testimony at Heimburger’s recent sentencing hearing.
According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the case, Otteson acted as the Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer of Stonebridge Advisors, LLC, located in Dallas. Stonebridge Advisors was involved as the Managing Partner of Worldwide Diamond Ventures, L.P., also located in Dallas, and it acted as the General Partner of Worldwide Diamond. Heimburger acted as a Principal Partner of Worldwide Diamond, and he was also listed as the registered agent and Director of JBH Securities, Inc. located in Dallas. JBH Securities was primarily involved in the business of providing investment advice. Worldwide Diamond was primarily involved in the business of buying and reselling diamonds on the international market. On October 1, 2013, Worldwide Diamond filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas.
The indictment charged that Jiongo drafted $50,000 diamond notes which Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger later used as investment vehicles to generate investment funds. As part of their original business plan, Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger represented to American Safe Retirements (ASR) that all investment funds would be used to buy and resell diamonds and that every dollar invested would always be fully secured by the cash and diamond inventory of Worldwide Diamond. Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger all understood that ASR would instruct ASR sales agents to represent to investors that every dollar invested through the diamond notes would always be fully secured by the cash and diamond inventory of Worldwide Diamond.
The indictment also alleged that sometime in the summer of 2011, Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger all realized that their original business plan was not working out as planned and that the defendants therefore could not honor the original promises and representations made to investors. Rather than inform ASR and the investors of the changed circumstances caused by their failed business plan, Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger chose to deceive ASR when they failed to inform ASR that 100% of all investment funds would not be secured by cash and/or the diamond inventory of Worldwide Diamond. By deceiving ASR, Jiongo, Otteson and Heimburger knew that they were also causing the investors to be deceived about the use of investor funds.
The indictment alleged that during the period from 2011 through 2013, Otteson, Heimburger, and Jiongo caused over $6.4 million to be fraudulently collected from 77 Worldwide Diamond investors.
This case is one of many felony indictments of bankruptcy-related crimes prosecuted as part of the Bankruptcy Fraud Initiative (BFI), United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas. These prosecutions were the result of criminal referrals made by the United States Trustee’s Office in Dallas, Texas. Since 2013, as a result of the BFI, 23 defendants have been convicted and 2 defendants are pending trial.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis prosecuted.
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Honduran Man Ordered to Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Honduras has been sentenced to federal prison for assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol (BP) agent, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Aug. 17, 2017, against Hernan Cortez-Mazariegos following a one-day trial and approximately two hours of deliberations.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen handed Cortez-Mazariegos an 18-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, Cortez-Mazariegos is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
On Nov. 15, 2016, BP agents responded to illegal alien traffic south of the border fence near Azucena street in Brownsville. A BP agent attempted to apprehend Cortez-Mazariegos, but he fled. The agent followed and attempted to arrest him, at which time Cortez-Mazariegos struck him on the side of his face, sustaining minor injury. Cortez-Mazariegos was eventually subdued and apprehended with the assistance of another BP agent.
Cortez-Mazariegos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Coronado and Jody Young prosecuted the case.
Honduran Man Found in Jackson, Tennessee, Indicted for Illegal Reentry and Being an Alien in Possession of 16 FirearmsRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – On November 20, 2017, a federal grand jury charged a Honduran man found in possession of multiple firearms in Jackson, Tennessee, in a 33-count indictment. D. Michael Dunavant,U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
According to the indictment, on November 9, 2017, Melvin Melendez-Garcia, a/k/a/ "Joker," a/k/a Melvin Melendez, a/k/a Melvin Arteaga-Rivas, 32, reentered the United States after being deported and removed from the United States on multiple prior occasions, and did not have consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the country.
Melendez is also charged with 16 counts of being an alien in possession of several firearms, including shotguns, pistols, revolvers, and semi-automatic high capacity rifles. Melendez faces 16 additional counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of the same firearms.
If convicted, the defendant will face up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal reentry. Melendez will also face up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the individual firearm counts.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Madison County Sherriff’s Office and Jackson Police Department Metro Narcotics Unit; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Eskridge is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Homestead Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing PistolRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 21 months in prison on his conviction of federal firearm offenses, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence yesterday on Michael Horvwalt, 31, of Homestead, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on November 26, 2016, the defendant was stopped by a Munhall Police Officer who found a loaded 40 caliber pistol under the driver seat of the vehicle which was registered to the defendant. On December 1, 2016, the defendant confessed to Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), that he possessed the firearm.
On December 4, 2016, the defendant was seen on surveillance video where approximately 45 gun shots were exchanged between multiple people. Surveillance video was reviewed and revealed that there was a white male, who resembled the defendant, exiting the driver seat of a vehicle that was registered to the defendant. The individual in the surveillance footage was seen firing shots from a firearm in his possession. The vehicle in the incident was the same vehicle in which the defendant was driving on November 26, 2016, when he was stopped by Munhall Police.
On December 5, 2016, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s house looking for the firearm seen in the surveillance video. The police did not locate the firearm in the home, however they found a 30-30 caliber hunting rifle under his bed and approximately five other firearms in the home he shares with his mother. The Pennsylvania Game Commission provided information confirming that the defendant purchased a hunting license in 2009, despite his felony convictions in 2006, 2008 and later in 2015.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti stated that 21 months in jail, followed by 24 months of supervision by the United States Probation Office was sufficient but not greater than necessary, given the circumstances of this case and the prior record of Horvwalt.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt of the Violent Crimes Section prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Munhall Police Department and the ATF for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Horvwalt.
Grand Jury Indicts Mass. Man on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A federal grand jury in Providence returned a three-count indictment today charging a Boston area man with travelling to Rhode Island in October 2017 for the purpose of transporting and distributing child pornography.
It is alleged in court documents that Fetahe Makonnen, 34, of Malden, Mass., travelled from Massachusetts to Rhode Island on October 28, 2017, and brought with him digital storage devices containing hundreds of videos and images of child pornography, which he provided to an undercover Rhode Island State Police detective.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Michael S. Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England announce the indictment which charges Makonnen with transportation, possession and distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, it is alleged that in July 2017, Makonnen began engaging in online communications about sharing child pornography with a member of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Makonnen resumed communicating with the detective on September 16, 2017, with discussions centered around his interests in viewing child pornography involving prepubescent minors between 1 year and 13 years of age.
On October 27, 2017, it is alleged that Makonnen agreed to travel to Rhode Island the next day to meet with the person he had been communicating with and to view child pornography. He agreed to bring with him images and videos of child pornography. When they met, it is alleged that Makonnen provided an undercover ICAC Task Force detective with two thumb drives, which the detective opened on his laptop computer. It is alleged both thumb drives contained images and videos depicting child pornography involving prepubescent children.
Makonnen was arrested on a Rhode Island state charge and ordered held on $10,000 surety bail. A federal criminal complaint was filed in this matter on November 9, 2017, and Makonnen was ordered detained in federal custody.
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Transportation and distribution of child pornography are punishable by statutory penalties of a 5-20 years imprisonment and up to lifetime supervised release. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and lifetime supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force, including law enforcement personnel from Homeland Security Investigations. The ICAC Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the Rhode Island State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Services, and the Warwick, Cranston, East Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket Police Departments.
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Four Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamines and HeroinRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned indictments charging BRIAN ALLEN GARDNER, age 39, of Wilson, SEAN JASON HARSTINE, age 31, of Lucama, CRYSTAL MARIE PATE, age 32, of Bailey, JAMES MADISON PARKER, age 27, of Wilson, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamines and heroin.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamines and heroin, the defendants would face not more than 40 years imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine and a term of 4 years supervised release following any term of imprisonment and not more than 20 years imprisonment and a term of 3 years of supervised release for the substantive distribution charges.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
Four Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging BRIAN BONILLA-RODRIGUEZ, age 21, of Honduras, VICTOR CAMACHO-LOPEZ, age 29, of Mexico, CARLOS HUMBERTO MIRANDA-ESCOBAR, age 36, of El Salvador, and GERARDO QUINTANAR-DE LA CRUZ, age 51, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.
If convicted of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, BONILLA-RODRIGUEZ, found in Sampson County, CAMACHO-LOPEZ, found in Wake County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
MIRANDA-ESCOBAR, found in Wake County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to a felony conviction (illegal reentry of a removed alien). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
QUINTANAR-DE LA CRUZ, found in Wake County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction (sale of cocaine). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 324 MonthsRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch, II, announces that, Eduardo Martinez, age 32 of Fort Wayne, IN was sentenced, before United States District Court Chief Judge Theresa Springmann after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm as an illegal alien.
Martinez was sentenced to a total of 324 months of imprisonment and was ordered to serve a total of 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Martinez distributed methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana from July of 2013 through December of 2014. The investigation utilized wiretaps of Martinez's telephones, and the wiretaps revealed that in November and December of 2014, Martinez coordinated an incoming shipment of multiple kilograms of heroin. The investigation concluded with the seizure of the entire heroin shipment, not all of which was delivered to Martinez, and the arrests of Martinez and six other co-defendants.This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fort Wayne Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
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Former Postal Employee Federally Charged in Case Related to Death of Co-WorkerRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 30-year-old Houston man is set to appear in federal court on charges of kidnapping of an employee with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. The victim was later found deceased.
A criminal complaint was filed under seal Nov. 20, 2017, charging Don Gaines, 30, with kidnapping. Federal authorities arrested him today, at which time the complaint was unsealed. He is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
The charges allege that Gaines did unlawfully seize, confine, kidnap, abduct and carry away the victim without her consent from Texas to Louisiana for the purpose of killing her or disposing of her body. The victim had been reported missing after she had not shown up for work for two days.
According to the criminal complaint, Gaines worked at the same location as the victim at the time of the alleged crime and was the father of her two children.
On or about Sept. 11, 2017, Gaines allegedly choked the victim in her car and he believed she was dead. However, while transporting her, the woman regained consciousness, according to the charges. Gaines allegedly continued to transport her against her will. The criminal complaint alleges that during the trip, Gaines stopped the car along the feeder road of Interstate 10, took the victim into the woods where he shot her in the head and abandoned her body.
If convicted, Gaines could potentially face the death penalty.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation along with the Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and Harris County Sheriff’s Offices; Louisiana State University; Louisiana State Police and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Jocher and Jim McAlister are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Paramedic Supervisor Convicted on 38 Counts Involving Tampering, Wire Fraud, Making False Statements and Identity Theft Regarding His Theft of Fentanyl and MorphineRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Jason Laut, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, was found guilty of 38 counts by a jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois. The jury convicted Laut on 38 counts, including six counts of wire fraud, 29 counts of making false statements on narcotics logs, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of tampering with the consumer product fentanyl.
Evidence at trial included that, while Laut was acting as a paramedic supervisor for MedStar ambulance company, he tampered with at least 85 vials of fentanyl that were on active duty ambulances by placing a needle through the tamper resistant packaging, removing the fentanyl, and replacing it with water or saline. This action left these tampered vials on ambulances potentially to be used by paramedics who were unaware of the tampering.
Evidence was also presented regarding how Laut altered and falsified documents and records between January of 2013 and May of 2015 to conceal his theft of fentanyl and morphine. These thefts were in addition to the fentanyl removed by tampering. There were 91 unique instances in which Laut stole fentanyl or morphine or both. Fentanyl and morphine are addictive Schedule II controlled narcotic painkillers. These thefts of controlled substances were from narcotic boxes maintained on ambulances in order to render aid to injured individuals consistent with operating procedures approved by a medical director or hospital orders. Memorial Hospital in Belleville supplied Southwestern Illinois EMS system ambulances with the morphine and fentanyl in the narcotic boxes, and suffered the financial loss occasioned by the thefts.
Counts of conviction 1 through 6 charged a wire fraud scheme in which Laut used his MedStar ambulance company administrator access to alter records, known as patient care reports, to indicate falsely that controlled substances had been given to patients.
Counts of conviction 7 through 35 charged that Laut made false statements on narcotics logs submitted to Memorial Hospital. Paramedics used the narcotics logs to record the administration of fentanyl and morphine to patients, and thereby account to Memorial Hospital for the use of the drugs. The jury heard that Laut falsely claimed to have given fentanyl and morphine to patients who did not exist ("phantom" patients) or to patients who did not actually receive fentanyl or morphine.
Counts 36 and 37 of conviction charged that Laut concealed his theft of fentanyl and morphine by utilizing falsely and without authorization the name of a former Memorial Hospital doctor on narcotics logs as authorization for administering fentanyl and morphine, when Laut did not actually administer the drugs. In fact, Laut even claimed to have received such authority, when the doctor no longer worked at Memorial Hospital, to administer fentanyl and morphine to a "phantom" patient.
Counts 1 through 6 for wire fraud, each carry a possible penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Counts 7 through 35 for making false statements, each carry a possible penalty of up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Counts 36 and 37 for aggravated identity theft, each carry a mandatory two years of imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by one year of supervised release.
Count 38 for tampering with a consumer product, carries a penalty of up to ten years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing has been set for March 2, 2018, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sparta, Illinois Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. MedStar Ambulance of Sparta, Illinois, and Memorial Hospital in Belleville assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Ranley R. Killian and Michael J. Quinley prosecuted the case.
Former Jersey City, New Jersey, Official Admits Accepting BribeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former employee at the Jersey City tax assessor’s office admitted accepting a cash bribe in exchange for changing the tax description for a Jersey City property, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Bennie Anderson, 60, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of attempting to obstruct, delay and affect interstate commerce by extortion under color of official right.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Jersey City tax descriptions reference how many units a particular property can have. Owners who wanted to change a property’s tax description would have to seek approval from the Jersey City zoning board. The tax assessor's office would change the tax description only if the zoning board approved a zoning variance.
Anderson, by virtue of his position, had the ability to improperly change the tax description without going through the required process. In December 2012, Anderson changed the tax description of a particular property from two to three units in exchange for a cash bribe from the owner.
The extortion count to which Anderson pleaded guilty is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2018.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy A. Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Gerald Miller Esq., Jersey CityFormer Jefferson County Resident Sentenced for Identity Theft and Student Loan Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Malachi Duncan, a/k/a “Demarcus Brewster,” was sentenced to 45 months in prison for charges of student loan fraud and aggravated identity theft. Duncan was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $57,139.00.
According to court documents, Duncan fraudulently used the pedigree information of co-conspirator “Demarcus Brewster” to enroll and gain admission as a full-time student during the 2013-2014 school year at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO. As part of the scheme, Duncan fraudulently used Brewster’s identity to obtain federal financial aid, student housing, and on-campus employment. Duncan ultimately was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee where he used an alias to fraudulently enroll as a student, and obtain financial assistance, at the University of Memphis.
Duncan, 32, a former resident of Hillsboro, Missouri, pled guilty in July to one count of conspiracy to commit student loan fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge John A. Ross.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Department of Education, the Office of the Inspector General/Social Security Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the Hillsboro Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Jefferson College Campus Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Roy is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Five People Plead Guilty to Participating in Fraud that Targeted Elderly Victims Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
Five people from the Dubuque, Iowa area who participated in a scheme to defraud victims across the United States have pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Tiffany Reynolds, age 32, Joshua Willis, age 21, Payton McCarville, age 23, Morgan Cornell, age 20, and Paul Chase, age 34, all pled guilty over the last week and each was convicted of one count of wire fraud.
At their plea hearings, all five individuals admitted participating in a scheme to defraud people throughout the United States and that the fraud was primarily targeted towards the elderly. They each admitted that other individuals called victims on the phone and told these victims that a relative was in jail. The caller would then ask the victims to wire money via Western Union or MoneyGram to get the relative released. Each defendant further admitted that the money was being wired to various participants in the fraud who would pick up the wire transfers and each admitted being one of the participants in and around Dubuque who received wire transfers from the victims.
Sentencing for each individual before United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after presentence reports are prepared. Willis remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Reynolds, McCarville, Cornell, and Chase remain free on bond previously set. Each person faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Five other people have previously pled guilty to their roles in the scheme. On March 2, 2017, Shawn Vaassen pled guilty and admitted that he too was picking up wire transfers sent to the Dubuque area by victims. At the same plea hearing, Vaassen also pled guilty to unlawfully possessing a sawed off shotgun. On May 9, 2017, Carlos Rodriguez pled guilty and admitted that he was also picking up wire transfers sent to the Dubuque area by victims. Michael and Stephanie Marcov, a married couple, each pled guilty to wire fraud on May 19, 2017, and admitted to picking up wire transfers sent by victims. On October 19, 2017, Tobey Hines pled guilty and admitted that he was also picking up wire transfers sent by victims.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Vavricek and Anthony Morfitt and were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Investigations and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 17-CR-1001, 17-CR-1004, and 17-CR-1038.
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Felon from Hobbs Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jesus Fabian Jimenez, 41, of Hobbs, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 60 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws by unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. Jimenez will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
Jimenez was arrested on Nov. 10, 2016, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Jan. 9, 2014, in Lea County, N.M. According to the indictment, Jimenez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted on battery on a peace officer, larceny and trafficking a controlled substance.
On March 3, 2017, Jimenez pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lea County Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
The Lea County Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, Hobbs Police Department, Lovington Police Department, Eunice Police Department the Tatum Police Department and the Jal Police Department, and is part of the NM HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
Fairlawn, New Jersey, Tax Preparer Gets 13 Months in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A tax preparer was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for preparing fraudulent income tax returns on behalf of her clients, causing losses of over $130,000, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Shirley Arias, a/k/a “Shirley Zambrano,” 43, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to an information charging her with one count of aiding and assisting others in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. Judge Salas imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Arias was an owner and operator of Santos & Associates in Union City, New Jersey. For the tax years 2012 through 2014, Arias assisted in the filing of income tax returns based on false information. She used a number of fraudulent practices, including falsely claiming deductions and fabricating educational credits in order to obtain refunds for her clients in amounts greater than those to which they were entitled. The bogus returns resulted in a tax loss to the government of approximately $130,279.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Arias to one year of supervised release and ordered her to pay restitution of $130,279.Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, and inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin, with the investigation. He also thanked special agents with the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt in Newark, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Gould of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Defense counsel: Katey Theurer Esq., Jersey City, New Jersey
Erie Woman Admits Preparing False Tax Returns for Herself, Friends and OthersRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of false income tax return and aid or assist false or fraudulent document, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Yalonda Ballard, 29, pleaded guilty to eleven counts before United States District Judge David C. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Ballard prepared false federal income tax returns for herself, friends and others referred to her for calendar years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for April 16, 2018. The law provides for a total sentence of 42 years in prison, a fine of $2,750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Ballard on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ballard.
Erie Man Sentenced for Role in Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Brian Alex Vergotz, 50, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around May 2015, to in and around March 2016, Vergotz and a co-defendant engaged in a scheme to defraud auto loan providers by using straw purchasers to buy cars from Vergotz knowing that the vehicles would not actually be in the possession of the straw purchasers. Vergotz and a co-defendant also falsified the loan applications to make the straw purchasers appear more credit worthy.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for April 16, 2018. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Vergotz on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Vergotz.
Erie Man Sentenced for Role in Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 4 years probation on his conviction of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Eric S. Chadwick, 32.
According to information presented to the court, on February 19, 2015, Chadwick and a co-defendant were involved in the robbery of $1,565 from the First National Bank, located at 3310 West 26th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania. Chadwick has an untreatable form of cancer.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Millcreek Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Chadwick.
Epsom Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Eric Collins, 43, of Epsom, pleaded guilty in federal court to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February of 2017, Concord police officers executed a search warrant for the defendant’s vehicle and recovered two firearms, over $7,500 in cash and various controlled substances, including methamphetamine packaged for sale.
Collins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2018.
“Drugs and guns are a potentially deadly combination,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “I commend the law enforcement officers whose work on this case helped to improve the safety of our community.”
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
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Elm City Man Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamines and HeroinRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned an indictments charging TYRELL ELIZA WATSON, age 25, of Elm City, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base, and substantive distribution counts, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
If convicted of any of the charged heroin offences, WATSON would face not more than 20 years imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine and a term of 3 years supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of the firearm offenses, WATSON would face not more than life imprisonment, $250,000 fine and up to 5 years supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
Easton Man Charged with Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Joseph Marcus, 51, of Easton, Pennsylvania was charged today by Indictment with the receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.
If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of one hundred years imprisonment, a mandatory minimum fifteen years imprisonment, a mandatory minimum five years supervised release up to lifetime supervised release, a $750,000 fine, a $300 special assessment, and an additional $15,000 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri A. Stephan.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
East Windsor Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JHOVANY VALDES, 41, of East Windsor, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division targeting gang violence and narcotics trafficking in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, and related overdoses. The investigation specifically targeted criminal activity being committed by members and associates of the Orange Street Killas (OSK), which operated principally in the area of Orange, Cherry and Arbor Streets. The investigation followed a series of reports of shots fired in the area, and a homicide that was committed on Cherry Street in October 2015. The prosecution was built on court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, all of which revealed that OSK members acquired heroin and crack cocaine and then sold the narcotics on the streets of Hartford.
The investigation revealed that VALDES supplied an OSK member with thousands of bags of heroin for further distribution.
On February 10, 2017, investigators arrested VALDES and several of his codefendants. On that date, a search of VALDES’ East Windsor residence revealed approximately 155 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, most of which was packaged in approximately 2,000 bags, as well as numerous items used to process and package heroin, including a kilogram press. The search also revealed three loaded handguns, one of which had been reported stolen.
VALDES has been detained since his arrest. On August 29, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Sixteen individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division and Shooting Task Force have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Doctor Ordered to Pay $296,000 in Civil Penalties for Controlled Substances ViolationsRead the Press Release
After a non-jury trial, United States District Court Judge John E. Dowdell entered a Judgment yesterday in the amount of $296,000 against Darnell E. Blackmon, M.D., for 430 violations of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. The violations occurred while Dr. Blackmon was the Medical Director of Enhanced Skin and Body Medical Spa.
Judge Dowdell found that Dr. Blackmon permitted registered nurses to examine and determine the type and course of treatment for patients, and prescribe and/or administer testosterone and phentermine (controlled substances) in his absence and without the presence of another licensed physician. All of this occurred outside the course of his professional practice and with no doctor-patient relationship, as required by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. Additionally, the Court found Dr. Blackmon failed to obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration registration for the dispensing activities at the spa and failed to maintain controlled substance records as required by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.
“Any healthcare practitioner who violates the law and puts the public’s health and safety at risk should know we will use all tools at our disposal to hold them accountable as the gatekeepers to controlled substances. This Judgment should alert all practitioners to their responsibilities under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act,” said United States Attorney Shores.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Marianne Hardcastle.
District Court Enters Permanent Injunctions Shutting Down Two Groups of International Defendants Responsible for Multi-Million Dollar Mail Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A federal court in New York entered consent decrees in two civil actions, permanently barring 14 individuals and entities from operating alleged multi-million dollar international mail-fraud schemes.
Both schemes followed a similar pattern, involving a complicated web of actors located across the world. Fraudulent “direct mailers” created letters falsely claiming that the recipient has won, or will soon win, cash or valuable prizes, or otherwise will come into good fortune. In order to collect these benefits, the letters say that the recipients need only send in a small amount of money for a processing fee. The letters appeared to come from legitimate sources, typically on official-looking letterhead, but were in fact fictitious individuals and organizations including “Baroness de Rothman,” “DNF Funds Office,” “Finkelstein & Partner,” the “Harrison Institute,” and Marie de Fortune. Moreover, even though the solicitations are in reality identical form letters sent to thousands or tens of thousands of recipients – the letters appear to be personally addressed.
"The Department of Justice is committed to protecting all Americans from fraud and exploitation,” Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand said. “This exploitation is repugnant and the Justice Department will pursue those who target our nation’s seniors and other vulnerable American consumers for financial gain. These consent decrees are just one example of the department’s broad efforts to protect seniors—and every American—from mail fraud."
“The defendants preyed on the elderly and other vulnerable citizens through fictitious lotteries and other exploitive games, unfairly enriching themselves at the expense of these victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Rohde for the Eastern District of New York. “These consent decrees put the defendants out of the exploitation business. This Office is committed to pursuing the perpetrators and enablers of such schemes, in New York and abroad, to hold them accountable and to protect others from being swindled.”
“These actions are an important step in dismantling the many components of this fraudulent mass-mailing industry,” said Inspector in Charge Regina Faulkerson. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate everyone involved in facilitating these predatory mailings.”
United States v. BDK, et al.
The first case, in which consent decrees were entered on Nov. 21, 2017, names defendants located around the globe, including Swiss corporation BDK Mailing GmbH; Singapore companies Mailing Force Pte. Ltd. and Only Three Pte. Ltd; Chantal Seguy of France; Marion Elchlepp of France; Aurora Jouffroy-Brandtner of Switzerland; U.S. corporation Macromark Inc., Macromark employee Mary Ellen Meyer; Mail Order Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. (MOSI), an Indian corporation; and MOSI’s owners, Dharti B. Desai of New York, New York, and Mehul A. Desai of India. The United States’ complaint, filed in September 2016, alleges that the defendants’ fraud scheme victimized hundreds of thousands of Americans, and targeted primarily the elderly and vulnerable. According to the complaint, the victims sent the defendants payments totaling $50 to $60 million annually between 2005 and 2016.
The consent decrees, entered yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, resolve the litigation. As part of the consent decrees, defendants BDK Mailing GmbH, Mailing Force Pte. Ltd. and Only Three Pte. Ltd. (collectively “BDK”) admit that they acted as “direct mailers” responsible for mailing millions of advertisements, solicitations, or promotional materials on behalf of dozens of fictitious psychics, sweepstakes, lotteries and other wealth-building programs (collectively “covered direct mailings”) to hundreds of thousands of potential victims throughout the United States each year between 2005 and 2016. BDK further admits that the solicitations falsely promised that recipients would receive large sums of money, guaranteed money-making methods and/or powerful talismans in return for payment of a fee of $50 to $55. In reality, however, BDK admits the purported senders and the promised winnings were fictitious. Although victims sent the requested fees by cash, check or credit card, they received nothing in return. Defendants Macromark Inc. and Mary Ellen Meyer do not dispute that they facilitated BDK’s rental of numerous “customer lists” containing hundreds of thousands of consumer names that would be used to address BDK’s direct mailing campaigns. Defendant Mail Order Solutions Inc., in turn, would print millions of copies of BDK’s covered direct mailings and deliver them via air cargo and international post into the United States for delivery to unwitting U.S. consumers.
United States v. Ercan Barka, et al.
The second case, in which consent decrees were entered Oct. 5, 2017, names defendants Ercan Barka, a resident of Turkey and New Jersey, Ryan Young of New Jersey, and True Vision LLC, a Delaware-based corporation. The United States’ amended complaint, filed in May 2017, alleges that Barka and Young worked together as “direct mailers,” sending fraudulent solicitations to hundreds of thousands of American victims through an international web of shell companies. The complaint alleges that Barka and Young’s mailings informed recipients that they had won prizes including millions of dollars in cash and luxury cars, and that recipients would receive delivery of the prizes upon payment of a fee. Victims allegedly received nothing in return for their payments, while Young and Barka collected an estimated $29 million from American victims from 2012 through 2016.
Under the consent decrees entered in both cases, the defendants may not use the U.S. mail to distribute fraudulent mailings or any mailings promoting similar schemes. The consent decrees also prevent the defendants from printing, receiving, handling, opening, forwarding, or processing any such direct mailings. The defendants are also prohibited from creating, renting, or selling any lists of demographic information relating to consumers who have responded to defendants’ or other certain direct mailings. Nor may the defendants process any payments received in response to certain direct mailings. Finally, the consent decrees authorize the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to return any victim money or personal checks sent to the defendants and detained by the Postal Inspection Service.
The United States’ cases are being handled by Trial Attorneys Gabriel Scannapieco and Ann Entwistle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Chief of Affirmative Civil Enforcement John Vagelatos and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Price of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, in coordination with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Additional information on the original enforcement actions and mass mailing schemes is at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-and-law-enforcement-partners-announce-civil-and-criminal-actions-dismantle. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny.
Department of Justice Awards over $500,000 to Four Oklahoma Cities to Hire Community Policing OfficersRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The Department of Justice has awarded more than $500,000 to four Oklahoma cities to enhance law enforcement, announced Mark A. Yancey, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Brian J. Kuester, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The recipients are:
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Dewar Police Department: $69,208
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Lindsay Police Department: $99,428
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City of Sallisaw: $95,569
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Shawnee Police Department: $250,000
These funds will enable Dewar, Lindsay, and Sallisaw to hire one additional police officer each. Shawnee will be able to hire two additional officers.
These grants are part of more than $98 million awarded to 179 law enforcement agencies across the United States through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, also known as “COPS.” These funds will support hiring 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.
The Department of Justice’s national press release on these grants is available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-announces-98-million-hire-community-policing-officers.
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Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual Abusers in Florida, Illinois, and TexasRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice filed denaturalization lawsuits against five individuals who, according to the Department’s complaints, unlawfully procured their U.S. citizenship by concealing sexual abuse of minor victims during the naturalization process. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Texas (two cases), and the Southern District of Texas.
“Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American people’s generosity,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children. The Department of Justice has a duty to prosecute these crimes vigorously, particularly so for individuals who commit fraud in the naturalization process. I am confident that justice will be done in these cases, and I want to thank ICE, CBP, USCIS, our Civil Division, and our U.S. Attorneys’ offices for their hard work. This Department will continue to fight to denaturalize immigration fraudsters and to protect the American people from sex offenders.”
The cases were referred to the Department of Justice by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection with investigative support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“I commend the DHS personnel working diligently to remove dangerous criminals from our streets,” said Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine Duke. “Those who unlawfully procured citizenship by concealing crimes – especially sexual abuse of minors – should have their citizenship revoked.”
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and his or her certificate of naturalization canceled, if naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.
The five defendants committed crimes of sexual abuse of minor victims prior to naturalizing. As the civil complaints allege, such crimes rendered the defendants ineligible for citizenship from the start. By willfully concealing child sexual abuse crimes, the defendants also independently rendered themselves subject to denaturalization.
A description of each of the five cases and the allegations of the United States follows:
Jorge Luis Alvarado
Jorge Luis Alvarado, 56, a native of Mexico, naturalized on March 9, 2000. Shortly before filing his naturalization application, Alvarado made unlawful sexual contact with a sixteen-year-old child. In March 2007, he pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony. Alvarado was ordered to community supervision and to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in southern Texas. United States of America v. Jorge Luis Alvarado (S.D. Tex.).
Alberto Mario Beleno
Alberto Mario Beleno, 64, a native of Colombia, naturalized on Feb. 26, 2001. Before Beleno naturalized as a U.S. citizen, he committed lewd and lascivious acts on a six-year-old child. In 2001, less than three months after he naturalized, Beleno was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty/nolo-contendere in Florida state court to committing felony lewd and lascivious exhibition and felony lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor in 1993 and 1994. Beleno was ordered to register as a sex offender for his conduct. His last known residence in the United States is in Miami, Florida. United States of America v. Alberto Mario Beleno (S.D. Fla.).
Eleazar Corral Valenzuela
Eleazar Corral Valenzuela, 49, a native of Mexico, naturalized on June 15, 2000. Prior to applying to naturalize, he sexually abused a minor child. In November 2000, after he had naturalized, Corral pleaded guilty in Illinois state court to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. He was ordered to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in Aurora, Illinois. United States of America v. Eleazar Corral Valenzuela (N.D. Ill.).
Moises Herrera-Gonzalez
Moises Herrera-Gonzalez, 55, a native of Mexico, naturalized on Sept. 25, 1999. On Jan. 1, 1996, before he filed his naturalization application, Herrera-Gonzalez sexually assaulted and injured a six-year-old child. He filed his naturalization application in September 1996, nine months after the sexual assault. On July 8, 2002, after he naturalized, Herrera-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing bodily injury to a child, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to five years in prison. He has been residing in Arlington, Texas. United States of America v. Moises Herrera-Gonzalez (N.D. Tex.).
Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola
Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola, 60, a native of Nigeria, naturalized on July 1, 2004. Before he filed his naturalization application in May 2003, Omopariola made unlawful sexual contact with a seven-year-old child. In 2015, after he naturalized, Omopariola pleaded guilty in Texas state court to Indecency with a Child – Sexual Contact, a second-degree felony. He was ordered to five years of community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry. He has been residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. United States of America v. Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola (N.D. Tex.).
These cases were investigated by ICE, CBP, and USCIS, and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS). These cases are being prosecuted by OIL-DCS and its National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit) with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual Abusers in Florida, Illinois, and TexasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice filed denaturalization lawsuits against five individuals who, according to the Department’s complaints, unlawfully procured their U.S. citizenship by concealing sexual abuse of minor victims during the naturalization process. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Texas (two cases), and the Southern District of Texas.
“Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American people’s generosity,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children. The Department of Justice has a duty to prosecute these crimes vigorously, particularly so for individuals who commit fraud in the naturalization process. I am confident that justice will be done in these cases, and I want to thank ICE, CBP, USCIS, our Civil Division, and our U.S. Attorneys’ offices for their hard work. This Department will continue to fight to denaturalize immigration fraudsters and to protect the American people from sex offenders.”
The cases were referred to the Department of Justice by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection with investigative support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“I commend the DHS personnel working diligently to remove dangerous criminals from our streets,” said Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine Duke. “Those who unlawfully procured citizenship by concealing crimes – especially sexual abuse of minors – should have their citizenship revoked.”
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and his or her certificate of naturalization canceled, if naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.
The five defendants committed crimes of sexual abuse of minor victims prior to naturalizing. As the civil complaints allege, such crimes rendered the defendants ineligible for citizenship from the start. By willfully concealing child sexual abuse crimes, the defendants also independently rendered themselves subject to denaturalization.
A description of each of the five cases and the allegations of the United States follows:
Jorge Luis Alvarado
Jorge Luis Alvarado, 56, a native of Mexico, naturalized on March 9, 2000. Shortly before filing his naturalization application, Alvarado made unlawful sexual contact with a sixteen-year-old child. In March 2007, he pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony. Alvarado was ordered to community supervision and to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in southern Texas. United States of America v. Jorge Luis Alvarado (S.D. Tex.).
Alberto Mario Beleno
Alberto Mario Beleno, 64, a native of Colombia, naturalized on Feb. 26, 2001. Before Beleno naturalized as a U.S. citizen, he committed lewd and lascivious acts on a six-year-old child. In 2001, less than three months after he naturalized, Beleno was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty/nolo-contendere in Florida state court to committing felony lewd and lascivious exhibition and felony lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor in 1993 and 1994. Beleno was ordered to register as a sex offender for his conduct. His last known residence in the United States is in Miami, Florida. United States of America v. Alberto Mario Beleno (S.D. Fla.).
Eleazar Corral Valenzuela
Eleazar Corral Valenzuela, 49, a native of Mexico, naturalized on June 15, 2000. Prior to applying to naturalize, he sexually abused a minor child. In November 2000, after he had naturalized, Corral pleaded guilty in Illinois state court to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. He was ordered to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in Aurora, Illinois. United States of America v. Eleazar Corral Valenzuela (N.D. Ill.).
Moises Herrera-Gonzalez
Moises Herrera-Gonzalez, 55, a native of Mexico, naturalized on Sept. 25, 1999. On Jan. 1, 1996, before he filed his naturalization application, Herrera-Gonzalez sexually assaulted and injured a six-year-old child. He filed his naturalization application in September 1996, nine months after the sexual assault. On July 8, 2002, after he naturalized, Herrera-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing bodily injury to a child, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to five years in prison. He has been residing in Arlington, Texas. United States of America v. Moises Herrera-Gonzalez (N.D. Tex.).
Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola
Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola, 60, a native of Nigeria, naturalized on July 1, 2004. Before he filed his naturalization application in May 2003, Omopariola made unlawful sexual contact with a seven-year-old child. In 2015, after he naturalized, Omopariola pleaded guilty in Texas state court to Indecency with a Child – Sexual Contact, a second-degree felony. He was ordered to five years of community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry. He has been residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. United States of America v. Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola (N.D. Tex.).
These cases were investigated by ICE, CBP, and USCIS, and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS). These cases are being prosecuted by OIL-DCS and its National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit) with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Dallas Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Gregorio Alexandro Landeros, 30, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 210 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the case, in June 2015, the father of a fourteen year old minor female child, Jane Doe 1, reported that he had reviewed his daughter’s cellular telephone and noticed that a person named “Alex” had sent nude videos to the child and requested that the child send photos and videos of herself to him. Texts from “Alex” stated that he was 17 years old and that Jane Doe 1 had told “Alex” she was 15 years old. Text messages were also sent to Jane Doe 1 directing her on how to produce sexually explicit videos. Law enforcement determined that the cellular telephone number used by “Alex” belonged to Landeros.
A search warrant was obtained for Landeros’ cell phone and a review of the phone revealed images of child pornography of Jane Doe 1 that Landeros had the child produce and send to him.
On March 30, 2016, Landeros was arrested and consented to an interview, according to the plea agreement factual resume. Landeros admitted to using his cellular telephone to misrepresent himself as a teenage male to Jane Doe 1 and multiple other minor females in hopes of obtaining sexual images from them. Landeros solicited female minors because he felt they were the most likely to provide him with nude images. Landeros used the photographs of younger friends and random nude images from the internet to mask his identity while communicating with the children.
At the time of his arrest, Landeros possessed a total of 206 images and 22 videos of child pornography on his cellular telephone.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Read prosecuted.
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Connie Forrest Imprisoned for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Connie Forrest, 57, of Pittsford, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to three months of imprisonment following her guilty plea to a charge of Social Security fraud. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered that Forrest serve a one-year period of supervised release following her prison term. As a condition of supervised release, Forrest must serve an additional three months of home confinement. Judge Reiss directed Forrest to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 9 to begin serving her sentence.
Last June, Forrest pleaded guilty to a single-count information charging her with Social Security fraud. According to the information and court records, beginning in about 1995, Forrest became disabled and began receiving monthly Supplemental Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration. The SSI program provides stipends to low-income individuals who are 65-years-old or older; are blind; or are disabled. Applicants for SSI have to certify that their income and assets are below threshold levels, and are under a duty to inform the Social Security Administration about changes in their financial circumstances that could affect their continuing eligibility for SSI benefits.
In her guilty plea, Forrest admitted that, between about 2009 and early 2016, she concealed from SSA the fact that she maintained employment as a nurse aide, and earned substantial income (more than $470,000) from that employment. As a result of Forrest’s deception, SSA paid her more than $79,000 in SSI benefits that she was not entitled to receive. Forrest did not report any of this income to the Internal Revenue Service, and did not pay any income taxes.
Last month, Forrest repaid the Social Security Administration in full for the benefits she unlawfully received.
This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General of the SSA.
Forrest is represented by Peter Langrock. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Citizen of the Dominican Republic Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTIAN PAULINO RODRIGUEZ, 47, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2016, RODRIGUEZ arranged for the sale and delivery of kilogram quantities of cocaine, for $31,000 per kilogram, to an individual working with law enforcement. DEA Task Force officers arrested RODRIGUEZ on November 15, 2016, after he coordinated the sale of approximately five kilograms of cocaine to the individual.
RODRIGUEZ has been detained since his arrest. On July 18, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
RODRIGUEZ faces immigration proceedings when he is released from prison.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Stamford and Norwalk Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.
Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Fentanyl Distribution that Resulted in OverdoseRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Michael Chandler, 29, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 200 months in prison for distributing fentanyl. As part of his sentence, Chandler was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution to cover the funeral costs for an overdose death that resulted from Chandler’s drug distributing.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.
This investigation was initiated by the Campbell County, Ky. Drug Task Force and investigated by the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Investigators were alerted on April 20, 2016 to a suspected heroin overdose. According to the statement of facts in this case, the overdose was actually caused by the ingestion of fentanyl, which was traced back to Chandler as the source of supply. The next day, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Chandler.
While executing a search warrant at a residence used by Chandler on Lowell Avenue in Cincinnati, investigators discovered nearly 644 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, a handgun, ammunition and other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia.
Chandler was indicted on the six drug distribution charges in June 2016 and pleaded guilty in May 2017.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Drug Task Force and Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is representing the United States in this case.
The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force was established in early 2015 by the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police for the purpose of investigating all source dealers of heroin and other opiates that lead to overdoses and overdose deaths, and ultimately prosecute the source dealer on applicable State of Ohio and Federal charges. The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force has agents assigned from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati Police Division, Amberley Village Police Department, Sharonville Police Department, Blue Ash Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cincinnati Resident Office. The Task Force has formal partnerships with the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General’s Office and all 44 police agencies in Hamilton County.
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Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine ChargeRead 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 Damar Currie, 42, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of cocaine, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga, who is handling the case, stated that between December 10, 2014, and March 31, 2015, the defendant possessed and distributed cocaine and crack cocaine. On three occasions, Currie sold cocaine in exchange for money. In addition, the defendant utilized 55 Krupp Avenue and 24 Palos Place, both in Buffalo, for the purposes of manufacturing, distributing and storing cocaine, and crack cocaine.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
Bryan Schroder Sworn in as United States Attorney for the District of AlaskaRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – Bryan Schroder has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. Mr. Schroder was nominated by President Donald Trump on July 21, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 9, 2017. Today, he took the oath of office from Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess.
“I’m honored to have been selected as U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska,” said Mr. Schroder. “Every day, the staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office works diligently to protect the people of this state, and the resources of the United States. I am proud to have been their colleague for the past 12 years, and am excited to continue working with them as we move forward. I also look forward to continuing the essential working relationships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Finally, I want to thank my family and friends. I would not be here today without their support.”
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Schroder is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the State of Alaska. He oversees a staff of 49 employees, including 24 attorneys and 25 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Mr. Schroder is also one of the nine U.S. Attorneys recently selected by Attorney General Sessions as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). AGAC represents the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys.
Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Schroder served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, and previously served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Schroder has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 12 years, prosecuting a variety of cases including violent crimes, drug distribution, gun crimes, fraud, tax evasion, environmental crimes, and fisheries and wildlife offenses. Mr. Schroder is a retired Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, having served for 24 years. Mr. Schroder graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1981 and the University of Washington School of Law in 1991.
Brockport Kindergarten Teacher Arrested on Child Pornography Charges; Investigators Looking for Assistance from the PublicRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Roland Yockel, II, 30, of Hilton, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2016, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Special Agents in Phoenix became involved in an ongoing child pornography investigation with investigators from the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwheuna, Digital Child Exploitation Team (NZDCET). That investigation identified individuals who utilized the Internet based application “Chatstep.com” to receive and distribute child pornography.
On May 22, 2017 and July 24, 2017, a NZDCET investigator, acting in an undercover capacity, observed multiple individuals accessing Chatstep chat rooms, including an individual with the user name “Ryancba.” The individual also posted links to image files depicting suspected child pornography. The IP address traced back to the defendant, Roland Yockel, a kindergarten teacher in the Brockport Central School District. The sexually explicit images included pre-pubescent children
On November 21, 2017, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s North Avenue residence. Agents recovered DVD’s containing numerous videos and images of child pornography. Yockel resides in the basement of the North Avenue residence with his parents and siblings and his parents provide babysitting services at the residence.
U.S. Attorney Kennedy emphasized that given the defendant’s access to children, HSI Special Agents working the case are seeking the public's help in order to determine whether there are additional minor victims.
"Based upon his access to children and the nature of the allegations in this case, we believe there is a possibility there are unidentified child victims," said Kevin Kelly, Special Agent-in-Charge for HSI Buffalo, which covers the region. "We encourage anyone in the Rochester area who may have information that could be relevant to the case to come forward."
Members of the public who have information related to this case are urged to contact the local HSI Buffalo Office at 716-464-5923. HSI victim-witness specialists will be available to assist any parent or guardian should they need victim-related resources.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Richard Allen.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Boynton Beach Officers Convicted of Using Excessive Force Against Arrestee and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal jury on Friday convicted Boynton Beach Police Sergeant Philip Antico for obstruction of justice during a federal investigation into the excessive use of force by officers after an August 2014 traffic stop, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida. Last week a federal jury convicted Officer Michael Brown of using excessive force and using a firearm during a crime of violence for repeatedly striking an arrestee multiple times while holding his firearm after that traffic stop.
Evidence presented at both trials established that after Brown used excessive force, he wrote a report omitting that he had kicked the arrestee and struck the arrestee while holding a gun in his hand. At trial, the government presented evidence that Brown’s report changed significantly over the course of a week. In February 2015, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a criminal investigation into the officers’ use of force, Antico, Brown’s supervisor, misled a federal agent who was conducting the investigation. Specifically, Antico falsely claimed that Brown’s report of the arrest and his use of force never changed, when in fact Antico approved the report knowing that Brown had made material changes to his report about his use of force after a video recording of the arrest came to light.
"Police officers must abide by the laws they enforce and protect the constitutional rights of all persons,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Gore. “The department will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s laws that ensure the civil rights of all persons are protected.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice and the FBI stand committed to holding those who betray the public trust accountable for their actions, while supporting the men and women who proudly uphold their duties to serve and protect the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Greenberg.
Brown faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment for the civil rights violation and 5 years imprisonment for his use of a firearm in the commission of that crime. Antico faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. Sentencing will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg of the Southern District of Florida.
The case was investigated by the West Palm Beach Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Osborne of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Boynton Beach Officers Convicted of Using Excessive Force Against Arrestee and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
A federal jury on Friday convicted Boynton Beach Police Sergeant Philip Antico for obstruction of justice during a federal investigation into the excessive use of force by officers after an August 2014 traffic stop, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida and Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Last week a federal jury convicted Officer Michael Brown of using excessive force and using a firearm during a crime of violence for repeatedly striking an arrestee multiple times while holding his firearm after that traffic stop.
Evidence presented at both trials established that after Brown used excessive force, he wrote a report omitting that he had kicked the arrestee and struck the arrestee while holding a gun in his hand. At trial, the government presented evidence that Brown’s report changed significantly over the course of a week. In February 2015, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a criminal investigation into the officers’ use of force, Antico, Brown’s supervisor, misled a federal agent who was conducting the investigation. Specifically, Antico falsely claimed that Brown’s report of the arrest and his use of force never changed, when in fact Antico approved the report knowing that Brown had made material changes to his report about his use of force after a video recording of the arrest came to light.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice and the FBI stand committed to holding those who betray the public trust accountable for their actions, while supporting the men and women who proudly uphold their duties to serve and protect the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Greenberg.
“Police officers must abide by the laws they enforce and protect the constitutional rights of all persons,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Gore. “The department will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s laws that ensure the civil rights of all persons are protected.”
Brown faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment for the civil rights violation and 5 years imprisonment for his use of a firearm in the commission of that crime. Antico faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. Sentencing will be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg of the Southern District of Florida.
The case was investigated by the West Palm Beach Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Osborne of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Boise Man Sentenced for Clean Water Act ViolationRead the Press Release
BOISE – James Findlay, 33, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to one year of probation for negligent discharge of waste in violation of the Clean Water Act, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.
On August 28, 2017, Findlay pleaded guilty to unlawfully discharging waste into the Boise sewage system between April 2012 and October 2014. According to Findlay’s plea agreement, he operated an entity called Sawtooth Fusion, LLC, which was based out of his rental apartment. Findlay obtained and stored quantities of depleted uranium and uranium powder. He had obtained some large chunks of depleted uranium from an aircraft salvage company. In his apartment, Findlay also chemically extracted uranium from various items he had acquired. He did this by soaking the items in muriatic acid. At the end of the process, he discharged the materials and acid mixture into the sink in his apartment, which was connected to the Boise Public Works sewage system. Due to their low pH and corrosive properties, the discharged materials violated Boise’s sewage system’s EPA-approved requirements and, as a result, the Clean Water Act. Findlay’s actions required a significant governmental response to address any potential public safety concerns. No widespread danger to the community was discovered.
“This case shows that EPA, along with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue criminal behavior in order to protect our communities,” said Jeanne Proctor, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in the Pacific Northwest.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Boise Fire Department and Boise Police were the first responders to the apartment complex where Findlay’s activities were discovered.
Billerica Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Billerica man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sexually exploiting two young boys over a five and a half year period.
Philip Toronto, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Feb. 15, 2018.
On Feb. 28, 2017, a search warrant was executed at Toronto’s home in response to multiple CyberTips that tracked the trade of child pornography over Skype to Toronto’s Billerica address. The search revealed evidence of child pornography during a preliminary on-scene review. Law enforcement confronted Toronto with evidence that some of the child pornography appeared to be homemade, and Toronto admitted to filming his sexual abuse of two young boys: a five-year-old boy as recently as September 2016; and a 10-year-old boy a few years earlier. More extensive forensic review of the devices seized from the home revealed surreptitious recordings of the children in various stages of undress as well as videos and images of Toronto raping and indecently assaulting each of the boys.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made the announcement today. This case was investigated in conjunction with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, which indicted Toronto for the rape and assault of both boys. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Weinreb’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of his Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Belmont County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Bridgeport, Ohio man has admitted to distributing cocaine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Phillip Weir, age 32 pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Crack Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school.” Weir admitted to working with another to sell crack cocaine near Madison Elementary School in Wheeling, WV on September 22, 2016.
Weir faces up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U. S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
Belen Man Sentenced to Six Years for Conviction on Federal Conspiracy, Fraud, Identity Theft and Theft of Mail ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Vallejos, 42, of Belen, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction on conspiracy, fraud, identify theft and theft of mail charges. During the sentencing hearing, the Court found that Vallejos was a leader and organizer of the conspiracy and that his criminal conduct resulted in a loss of $95,000 to $150,000.
Vallejos and co-defendants Brandon Sanchez, 24, also of Belen, and Manuel Chavez, 36, Marissa Rios, 27, and Elisha Muller, 32, all of Albuquerque, were charged in a 16-count indictment filed on Dec. 7, 2016, with conspiracy and eight counts of bank fraud. The indictment also charged Vallejos with theft of mail, aggravated identity theft, and tendering of a stolen and altered postal money order, and Sanchez with theft of mail. According to the indictment, the defendants committed the crimes from Nov. 2014 through March 2016, in Bernalillo and Valencia Counties, N.M., by stealing mail from authorized U.S. Mail depositories and from other individuals who had stolen mail. The mail stolen included checks and personal identifiers of victims, which the defendants used to commit further crimes.
On July 25, 2017, Vallejos pled guilty to conspiracy, three counts of theft or receipt of stolen mail, two counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of tendering of an altered postal money order. In entering the guilty plea, Vallejos admitted the following:
- Between Nov. 12, 2014 and March 26, 2015, Vallejos conspired with others to cash stolen checks that he fraudulently endorsed by forging the legitimate account holder’s name and then split the proceeds from the cashed checks;
- On Nov. 11, 2014, Vallejos stole letters and mail from a U.S. Post Office in Jarales, N.M.;
- On Jan. 2, 2015, and Jan. 14, 2015, Vallejos possessed mail he knew had been stolen;
- On March 20, 2015, Vallejos personally cashed a stolen check that he had previously endorsed to himself;
- On March 26, 2015, Vallejos attempted to cash a stolen check, but the check was rejected;
- On April 6, 2016, Vallejos attempted to pass a stolen and altered postal money order at a U.S. Post Office; and
- On March 20 and 26, 2015, Vallejos used the identity of another person to carry out fraudulent check transactions.
Three of Vallejos’ four co-defendants have entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced. Sanchez pled guilty on April 18, 2017, and was sentenced on July 11, 2017. Chavez pled guilty on March 22, 2017, and was sentenced on June 29, 2017. Muller pled guilty on June 1, 2017, and was sentenced on Sept. 21, 2017.
Rios has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. Charges in criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Attorney General Sessions Announces $98 Million to Hire Community Policing OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced $98,495,397 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.
“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”
Beth Drake, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, applauded the Department’s continued dedication to fighting violent crime at the local level and securing communities across South Carolina. “The COPS grants will result in the hiring of additional officers in Berkeley County, Myrtle Beach, and Spartanburg. Protecting our communities against violent criminals is paramount and we look forward to continuing these efforts and working closely with our state and local law enforcement partners.”
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $1,000,000 for eight new officers. The City of Myrtle Beach was awarded $1,250,000 in grant funding for the hiring of ten new officers. The Spartanburg Department of Public Safety received $244,409 which will provide for the hiring of two new officers.
CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.
In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS Office grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. Eighty percent of the awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
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Attorney General Sessions Announces $98 Million to Hire Community Policing OfficersRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On November 20, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced $98,495,397 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.
Two of these grants went to east Tennessee agencies. The Blount County Sheriff’s Department received $746,117 to fund six officers and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department received $250,000 to fund two officers.
“Both the Blount County and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Departments have a long history of working with the U.S Attorney’s Office to develop cases for successful federal prosecution. We are very pleased that they were chosen as two of 179 agencies across the country to receive these grants, which will allow them to hire additional officers and enhance their efforts to reduce crime in the Eastern District of Tennessee,” said U.S. Attorney Nancy Stallard Harr.
“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”
CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.
In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS Office grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. Eighty percent of the awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.
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