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11 January 2018
Former Police Officer Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Use of Excessive Force During ArrestRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware II to 12 months in prison and one year of supervised release for his use of excessive force during an arrest of a woman in 2015, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Office. He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and complete 300 hours of community service after serving his term of imprisonment.
Richard Scavone, 51, pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2017, to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. He was working as a LVMPD patrol officer when the incident occurred. After conducting its own investigation into Scavone’s conduct, LVMPD terminated his employment.
According to the plea agreement, Scavone, who wore a body-worn camera, admitted that, on Jan. 6, 2015, he assaulted a handcuffed woman in his custody outside a Hampton Inn Hotel on Tropicana Blvd. He admitted that during the interaction with A.O., and while A.O. was handcuffed, he: shoved A.O. to the ground; grabbed her around the neck with his hand and threw her to the ground; struck her in the forehead with an open palm; grabbed her by the head and slammed her face onto the hood of his patrol vehicle; grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face onto the hood of his patrol vehicle a second time; and slammed A.O. into the door of his patrol vehicle. Scavone admitted that he took those actions without legal justification and that he knew his actions were against the law.
This case was investigated by the FBI with the cooperation of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip N. Smith Jr. and Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice prosecuted the case.
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Former New Hampshire Pharmacist Pleads Guilty for Tampering with Narcotics at Bedford PharmacyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Thomas Kellermann, 65, of Bedford, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements in court, Kellerman was employed as a pharmacist at a pharmacy in Bedford that dispensed prescription drugs to patients, including patients at hospice facilities. In 2011, Kellermann began abusing narcotic pain relievers. In March of 2012, Kellermann took medical leave from his position. While on medical leave in March and April 2012, Kellerman repeatedly returned to the pharmacy after business hours and on weekends and stole narcotic pain medication for his personal use. Kellermann removed the plastic top of vials containing hydromorphone and morphine, inserted syringes into the vials, and withdrew drugs from the vials. He then injected saline into the vials, placed a small amount of glue on top of the vials to reattach the plastic caps, and placed the vials back into pharmacy stock. This made it appear that the vials were unused. Kellermann also accessed hydromorphone that had been prepared for delivery to a patient, but which had been returned to the pharmacy and wasted.
The tampering was discovered when an employee of the pharmacy detected irregularities in certain vials of drugs. After the tampering was discovered, some of the vials were analyzed by an independent laboratory and found to be substantially below their labeled strength.
Kellermann pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging him with one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2018.
“Tampering with controlled substances by health care workers is a very serious crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “This type of activity is a betrayal of the trust that patients place in the health care system. Tampering and diversion not only can deprive patients of needed medicine but also can expose patients to other substantial health risks. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute health care workers who engage in this very dangerous conduct.”
“Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the proper treatment from those entrusted with providing their medical care,” said Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “We must hold medical personnel accountable when they take advantage of their unique position and tamper with drugs needed by their patients. Tampering can not only endanger the health of patients by exposing them to contaminated products but also may deny them access to the treatments they need.”
“The reckless action by this health care worker is not only a violation of the Controlled Substance Act but a betrayal of the public trust,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA’s obligation is to improve public safety and public health, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Hawkins of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
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Former Loan Officer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Timothy Murphy, 53, of St. Louis, pled guilty today to participating in a scheme to defraud Excel Bank and assisting in making illegal insider loans. He pled guilty to one count of bank fraud. The maximum punishment is 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.00.
Murphy appeared before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2018.
Excel Bank was a federally insured bank with main offices in Sedalia, Missouri. Shaun Hayes held a controlling stock interest in the bank which, by 2009, had opened a Loan Production Office (LPO) in Clayton. Hayes hired Murphy as the primary loan officer for the Clayton LPO. Murphy also became executive vice-president of Excel Bank. Murphy worked under Hayes’s direction and control.
Murphy admitted that he assisted Hayes in engaging in unlawful self-dealing by causing loans to be made which directly benefitted Hayes and his associates while concealing Hayes’s interest in the loans. Murphy admitted that he processed a loan at Excel Bank to a straw party and caused some $906,000.00 of the proceeds of that loan to be paid to Centrue Bank to pay off a loan Hayes and his business associate, Michael Litz, had guaranteed for their entity McKnight Man I LLC. Murphy admitted that Hayes’s interest in the loan was concealed from bank officials and that Hayes and Litz made no payments to Excel Bank.
Hayes pled guilty on January 3, 2018 to one count of bank fraud and one count of misapplication of Excel Bank funds. Hayes is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2018.
Litz is scheduled to go to trial on January 22, 2017 on the superseding indictment charging both him and Hayes. As is always the case, charges do not constitute proof of guilt and every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Federal inmates plead guilty to weapons chargesRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Two inmates who possessed weapons at the Federal Correctional Institution at Beckley pleaded guilty today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Brandon Owens, 22, pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by an inmate. In a separate prosecution, George Harper, 32, entered his guilty plea to the same federal weapons charge.
Owens admitted that on June 3, 2017, a Bureau of Prisons staff member located an object in the waist band of his pants. The object was a handcrafted weapon commonly referred to as a “shank.” The weapon was over four inches long, made of metal, sharpened to a point on one end, and outfitted with a piece of bed sheet on the other end to function as a handle.
In a separate prosecution, Harper admitted that on July 16, 2017, a Bureau of Prisons staff member saw him put something into his coffee cup. The staff member discovered that the object in the cup was a shank. The weapon was made of metal, over four inches long, and sharpened to a point on one end.
Owens and Harper each face up to five years in federal prison when they are sentenced on April 19, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the Federal Bureau of Prisons for their investigative work on these cases. Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecutions. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the plea hearings.
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Federal Jury Convicts Fayetteville Man for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that today in Federal court, QUINTIN LAMAR MOLETTE, a 28-year-old resident of Fayetteville, was convicted following a two-day trial before Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III. The jury found MOLETTE guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The evidence at trial showed that MOLETTE was a convicted felon and was subject to probationary and parole supervision by the State of North Carolina as a “high risk” offender.
On March 17, 2015, North Carolina probation and parole officers conducted a warrantless search of MOLETTE’s residence. The search was predicated, in part, on information indicating MOLETTE was in violation of his terms of probation and parole. At the time of the search, a member of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office was also present in order to execute an arrest warrant against MOLETTE.
During the course of the search, officers discovered a loaded firearm in the room MOLETTE had been occupying. Particularly, the evidence showed that officers located the firearm under the bed on the side MOLETTE had been sleeping. Further, the evidence presented indicated MOLETTE had the firearm on his person earlier that day.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayetteville Police Department, and North Carolina Probation/Parole.
Fairmont City Latin King Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Geovany Calderon-Osorio, 24, from Fairmont City, Illinois, was sentenced to 144months in prison on seven different counts of trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine, Don Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Calderon-Osorio also was ordered to pay a special assessment of $700 and to serve five years supervised release. Calderon-Osorio was sentenced on January 11, 2018, after having pled guilty to the seven counts in the indictment on August 16, 2017.
Evidence presented in court showed that Calderon-Osorio, who identifies as a member of the Fairmont City Latin Kings, was involved in distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in Madison and St. Clair counties between October 2015 and March 2017. Courtroom evidence also showed that Calderon-Osorio possessed multiple firearms.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation which was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. Agencies participating in this case include the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, and the Illinois State Police. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Don Boyce.
FBI Releases Age-Progressed Photos of Four Most Wanted Terrorists from Pan Am Flight 73 HijackingRead the Press Release
The FBI Washington Field Office announced today the release of age-progressed photographs of four alleged hijackers charged in the United States with the September 5, 1986 attack of Pan American World Airways Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan: Wadoud Muhammad Hafiz al-Turki, Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Abdullah Khalil Hussain ar-Rahayyal, and Muhammad Ahmed al-Munawar. These images were created by the FBI Laboratory using age-progression technology and original photographs obtained by the FBI in the year 2000.
The attack on Pan Am Flight 73 resulted in the murder of 20 passengers and crew, including two Americans, the attempted murder of 379 passengers and crew, and the wounding of more than 100 individuals on board.
This announcement is in coordination with the U.S. Department of State Rewards for Justice Program, which is offering a reward of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the alleged hijackers. Each of these individuals is believed to have been a member of the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO), previously on the U.S. Department of State’s list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Each suspect is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.
Anyone with information regarding these terrorists is asked to contact the FBI, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip on https://tips.fbi.gov, which can remain anonymous.
Individuals on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List have been indicted by sitting Federal Grand Juries in various jurisdictions in the United States for the crimes reflected on their wanted posters. The indictments currently listed on the posters allow them to be arrested and brought to justice. Additional information regarding the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists program can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terroristsEdmond Sports Marketing Agent Sentenced to 15 Months for Tax Fraud Through Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – WILLIAM G. HORN, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to fifteen months in federal prison for making false statements on federal tax returns for The Tommie Harris Foundation, a non-profit corporation, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to charges filed on September 6, 2017, Horn was a sports marketing agent who operated charitable organizations associated with NFL and NBA athletes. He registered one of these, The Tommie Harris Foundation, with the Oklahoma Secretary of State in late 2006 and used his home as the Foundation’s principal office. Horn sought and received tax-exempt status from the IRS under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. He personally solicited donations for the Foundation, which held an annual celebrity golf event to raise money for those in need. He also managed the Foundation’s finances and filed its Forms 990, which are federal tax returns for tax-exempt organizations. According to the charges, Horn signed and filed Forms 990 for the Foundation for tax years 2007 through 2012. During those years, the Foundation was alleged to have reported total donations received of $1,840,495.00 and total distributions to other organizations of $705,699.00. The majority of the difference of $1,134,796.00 was reported as "functional expenses."
Horn was charged with making false statements on Forms 990 for the 2011 and 2012 tax years. He reported falsely on both returns that he received no compensation from the Foundation. According to the charges, he actually diverted approximately $136,620.06 to personal bank accounts in 2011 and made approximately $39,205.42 in purchases for personal use on a Foundation credit card. In 2012, according to the charges, he diverted approximately $129,451.04 to himself and made approximately $41,126.37 in purchases for personal use on a Foundation credit card. He also allegedly made false statements on these returns about having distributed tens of thousands of dollars to other charities—Straight From the Heart Foundation, Mercy Church West Coast, and Opportunity Knox—when in fact he controlled those charities and spent the money on himself.
Horn pleaded guilty to these charges on September 20, 2017.
Today U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Horn to fifteen months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. At today’s hearing, the court considered that Horn’s concealment of funds from the IRS included sending money to and receiving money from a church in California. The court also heard that he used Tommie Harris Foundation credit cards to fund expenses that benefitted himself and his family, including luxury car payments, restaurants, vacations, living expenses, air travel, and a home in California. Horn will be required to pay restitution to The Boys & Girls Clubs of America in the amount of $697,842.69, which accounts for his diversion of funds from the Foundation’s charitable giving.
This case is the result of an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Brown prosecuted the case.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that on January 10, 2018, Bernard L. Cherry, 30, of Granite City, Illinois, was sentenced after being convicted of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In July 2017, a federal jury in East St. Louis convicted Cherry after a two-day jury trial.
At the time of his arrest, Cherry was on supervised release in two separate prior federal cases involving convictions for felon in possession. Petitions to revoke his supervised release were filed in both cases after Cherry’s arrest. The Honorable David R. Herndon sentenced Cherry to a total of 84 months in federal prison on the conviction as well as the two supervised release revocation cases. Cherry’s prison sentence is to be followed by three years of supervised release, along with a fine of $375 and a $100 special assessment. Cherry also agreed to forfeit the illegal firearm that he possessed.
Court proceedings revealed that on December 13, 2016, East St. Louis police officers responded to a 911 call and discovered Cherry, a previously convicted felon, standing by his vehicle in the front yard of an abandoned house. Officers spotted and recovered a loaded pistol on the ground by Cherry’s feet.
The case was investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Hoell and Derek Wiseman.
Denver Man Sentenced to Prison Following Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
DENVER – A Denver man was sentenced earlier this week to serve 7 years in federal prison for brandishing and use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston announced. The man, James Harley Wheeler, age 24, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson, was remanded into custody at the conclusion of the hearing. A co-defendant, Kara Elizabeth Stewart, has pled guilty and awaits sentencing.
On May 8, 2017, Wheeler was charged by Criminal Complaint. A federal grand jury indicted the defendant on May 24, 2017. An Information and Change of Plea took place on September 21, 2017. He was sentenced on January 9, 2018.
According to court documents, including the stipulated facts in the plea agreement, on April 21, 2017, Wheeler and his co-defendant girlfriend, Kara Stewart, drove to a strip mall located at West Evans and South Sheridan in Denver, Colorado, with the intent to sell marijuana and marijuana wax resin. Both of the defendants, as well as the buyer had semi-automatic handguns.
At the strip mall, the defendant met the buyer. He got out of his minivan and got into the back seat of the buyer’s car. He then handed the drugs to the buyer’s brother, who was in the front passenger seat, who took it and started to weigh it on a scale. The buyer and Wheeler then got in a discussion about the quality of the marijuana wax. Shortly thereafter, the buyer, who was turned around in the driver’s seat, pulled his gun on Wheeler. There was a struggle over the gun and the buyer fired two shots, which missed Wheeler and went into the back seat. Wheeler pulled out his gun and fired at least one shot, which hit the buyer at close range in the chest and killed him. At that point, Stewart leaned over from the driver’s seat and fired her gun twice at the buyer’s car. One shot shattered the back passenger’s window and one lodged in the passenger door. The defendant got out of the buyer’s car and reached into the front passenger seat, to grab the marijuana. He then got back into the minivan, and the defendants drove away.
The defendants fled to Chicago immediately after the shooting. Police located the defendants a few days later in a public housing complex in south Chicago and placed them under arrest. The defendant had dropped his gun in the buyer’s car and picked up the buyer’s .40 handgun and fled with that. He and Stewart later sold her gun and the .40 caliber gun for $200 each in Chicago.
“This case is a great example of exceptional law enforcement in Colorado focusing on public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “Regardless of substance or tool used, we will continue to go after those who endanger our communities.”
“This case demonstrates that ATF, along with our local and Federal partners, will tirelessly pursue those who would bring violence into our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston. “There is no distance that would prevent ATF and its law enforcement partners from ensuring such individuals are brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the ATF, with assistance from the Denver Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, and the Chicago office of the FBI.
The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Covell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a District crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
DOJ Settles with Everett Fire Department over Improperly Inflated Fees for Medical TransportRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice, the Washington State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the City of Everett Fire Department (EFD) today settled all claims that EFD had been overbilling government programs for medical transports, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. Under the terms of the settlement, Everett will pay the two federal programs $127,848, and will pay the Washington State Medicaid program $75,158.
“When local entities improperly bill federal programs, it increases costs for consumers and taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “This settlement, with Everett paying two times the damages they caused as allowed under federal law, sends a clear message to others who may try to ‘fudge’ the paperwork to get higher reimbursement rates than allowed.”
According to the settlement signed today, between January 1, 2010, and June 26, 2016, Everett Fire Department personnel submitted claims to federal and state health benefit programs indicating that a higher level of life support service was provided to patients covered by those programs. When the Everett Fire Department paramedics provided only basic life support (BLS), they still coded the claims as if they had provided advanced life support (ALS) which is entitled to a higher reimbursement. Analysts used a sample of claims to determine the damages appropriate in this case.
Records indicate that a whistleblower within the Everett Fire Department had expressed concern about the routine up-coding, but was ignored. The fraudulent billing allegations were first publicized by news reports on KIRO-TV. The reports triggered further examination by federal investigators from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Health Agency which administers the TRICARE program for military retirees.
“Insiders willing to report illegal practices are important to safeguarding government health programs and taxpayers,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Together with our federal and state law enforcement partners we will continue to investigate entities that fraudulently bill federal health care programs.”
Everett will pay $117,581 to the Department of Health and Human Services, and $10,267 to the Department of Defense. An additional $75,158 will be paid to Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for the State of Washington.
Under the terms of the settlement, Everett is not admitting any liability.
The matter was handled for the U.S. Attorney’s Office Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit by Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Stahman. Senior Counsel Carrie L. Bashaw handled the matter for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
Convenience Store Owner Sentenced to Probation with Home Detention for Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to two years of probation, together with six months home detention, and restitution of $85,000.00 on his convictions of food stamp fraud and theft of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Atif Imran, age 40, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
According to the information presented to the court, Imran, through the A to Z Convenience Store and gasoline station located in Homestead, engaged in an illegal pattern of exchanging food stamp benefits for cash.
Assistant United States Attorney James R. Wilson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Attorney commended the Department of Agriculture, assisted by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Atif Imran.
Connecticut Man Charged with Hacking Apple iCloud Accounts Belonging to More Than 250 People, Including Many CelebritiesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Connecticut man was charged today in federal court with a felony computer hacking offense related to a phishing scheme that gave him illegal access to over 250 Apple iCloud accounts, many of which belonged to members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.
George Garofano, 26, of Northford, Connecticut, was named today in a criminal information that accuses him of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
In a plea agreement that was also lodged today in United States District Court in Los Angeles, Garofano agreed to plead guilty to one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information.
While the case was filed by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, the parties have agreed to transfer the case to the District of Connecticut for the entry of Garofano’s guilty plea and sentencing. Once he enters the guilty plea, Garofano will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, from April 2013 through October 2014, Garofano engaged in a phishing scheme to obtain usernames and passwords for iCloud accounts. Garofano admitted that he sent e-mails to victims that appeared to be from security accounts of Apple and encouraged the victims to send him their usernames and passwords, or to enter them on a third-party website, where he would later retrieve them.
Garofano used the usernames and passwords to illegally access his victims’ iCloud accounts, which allowed him to steal personal information, including sensitive and private photographs and videos, according to his plea agreement. In some instances, Garofano traded the usernames and passwords, as well as the materials he stole from the victims, with other individuals.
The charge against Garofano stems from an investigation into the leaks of photographs of numerous female celebrities in September 2014 known as “Celebgate.” Although many of Garofano’s victims were members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, many non-celebrities who live in Connecticut were also victimized. By illegally accessing the iCloud accounts, Garofano gained access to at least 250 accounts.
The case against Garofano is the fourth case stemming from the Celebgate investigation. Chicago resident Emilio Herrera has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced next month in United States District Court in Chicago after federal prosecutors in Los Angeles charged Herrera in a phishing scheme that gave him illegal access to more than 550 Apple iCloud and Gmail accounts. Another Illinois man was sentenced last year to federal prison. In the third case, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced in 2016 to 18 months in prison.
The Celebgate investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case against Garofano was filed by Assistant United States Attorney Ryan White of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
Clinton, Pa., Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years imprisonment to be served consecutively to any state sentence, followed by 20 years of Supervised Release, on a charge of Receipt of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Nicholas James Gaworski, age 26, of Clinton, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, in December 2016, Gaworski received videos and images containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Allegheny County Police Department, for conducting the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gaworski.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Cibola County Man Sentenced to 75 Months for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Benjamin F. Chavez, 55, of Cubero, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 75 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction. Chavez also was ordered to forfeit five firearms.
Homeland Security Investigations arrested Chavez on Feb. 22, 2016, on an indictment charging him with distributing methamphetamine on April 21, 2015, in Cibola County, N.M. On Aug. 9, 2017, Chavez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with distributing methamphetamine and admitted that he distributed 55.74 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on April 21, 2015.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander M. Uballez.
Canton man pleads guilty to tax and money laundering chargesRead the Press Release
A Canton man pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to report more than $1 million in income over seven years, law enforcement officials said.
Paul G.A. Kasapis, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion, one count of the willful failure to collect and pay over employment taxes and two counts of money laundering.
Kasapis failed to pay over unreported personal income and unreported employee wages from PK Produce, Lucky Fox and El Dorado City of Gold resulted in a total criminal tax loss of approximately $533,434, according to court documents.
Kasapis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Kasapis will forfeit a residence in Cape Coral, Florida, and a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare account as properties derived from the proceeds of an illegal gambling business in violation of federal law.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis following an investigation by the IRS, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Stark County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Township Police Department.
Billings Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—Jason Bradley Mize, a 37-year old resident of Billings, was sentenced today to 27 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Susan Watters presided over the hearing.
On August 25, 2016, Mize was pulled over for speeding by a Billings Police Department officer. Mize initially provided the officer a false name and date of birth and was arrested after the officer discovered that Mize was lying about his identity and that his driver’s license was revoked. A drug-detecting K-9 later alerted on Mize’s vehicle, so officers impounded it and applied for a search warrant. During the execution of that warrant, officers found a Kimber 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the center console along with Mize’s Montana identification card. During an in-custody interview with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mize admitted to being in possession of the firearm. Mize is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law by virtue of several felony convictions.
Judge Watters sentenced Mize t0 27 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Because there is no parole in the federal system, Mize will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court, less any good time received, which will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.
The case was investigated by the Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sullivan.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Beaumont North End Drug Traffickers Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson announced today that eight individuals have been charged with federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas.
A federal grand jury in Beaumont returned indictments on Jan. 10, 2018, naming multiple individuals with various drug trafficking violations. Law enforcement agencies began arresting defendants today. The following eight defendants are in custody and will make initial appearances before federal magistrate judges in Beaumont:
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- Eric Paul Coleman, 32, of Beaumont, Texas
- Minnie Coleman, 56, of Beaumont, Texas
- Christopher Dudley, 39, of Beaumont, Texas
- Clayton Howard, 40, of Beaumont, Texas
- Jordan Marshall, 24, of Beaumont, Texas
- Arthur Jenkins, 46, of Beaumont, Texas
- Patrice Stocker, 28, of Beaumont, Texas
- Ivy Chatman, 30, of Beaumont, Texas
“The Department of Justice has made addressing neighborhood violent crime a priority, as has the Eastern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson. “Today’s indictment of Eric Coleman and his associates by a federal grand jury represents the culmination of months of hard work by the Beaumont Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This indictment is a direct strike against significant drug trafficking and violent crime in the city of Beaumont, and we will continue to use all available tools and resources to help keep our community safe.”
“This is one of the most important investigations for the Beaumont Police Department in recent years,” said Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary. “I cannot remember a more violent group of criminal that we’ve ever encountered in this city. We appreciate the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA in the investigation and prosecution of these individuals. I am very proud of our narcotics officers and special assignment unit officers and the excellent way they work with the DEA agents during this complex and high-risk investigation. In a press conference four months ago, we told the citizens of Beaumont we would get these individuals and we did. There are more out there and we’re going after them”
According to information included in the indictment, from December 2012 through December 2017, Coleman is alleged to have distributed both powder and crack cocaine from Beaumont's North End. The indictment alleges Coleman received powder cocaine from Christopher Dudley, who brought it to Beaumont from Houston. Clayton Howard assisted Dudley in transporting cocaine from Houston to Beaumont.
The indictment further alleges Coleman sold both powder and crack cocaine and manufactured crack cocaine from residences he owned in Beaumont’s North End that are within 1000 feet of the Homer Drive Elementary School. He did the same from the home of his mother, Minnie Coleman, who also helped Eric Coleman distribute powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Jordan Marshall, Arthur Jenkins, Patrice Stoker, and Ivy Chatman participated in distributing Coleman's narcotics. Eric Coleman, Minnie Coleman, and Patrice Stoker agreed to take cash proceeds from the narcotic sales and put them into a bank. To protect his narcotics operation, Coleman and associates such as Jordan Marshall, carried and agreed to carry firearms to protect territory from rival narcotics' dealers.
Defendants face from between ten years to life in federal prison if convicted.
These cases are being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Beaumont Police Department and being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Rapp.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Baltimore man admits to his role in a heroin distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Baltimore, Maryland man has admitted today to distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Steven Robinson, also known as “H,” age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.” Robinson admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin with an illegal street value of more than $300,000 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and elsewhere from August 2015 to December 2016.
Robinson faces up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000,000. 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 United States Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth D. Grant, also with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Attorney General Sessions Announces Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism TeamRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the creation of the Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism Team (HFNT), a group of experienced international narcotics trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, and money laundering prosecutors. HFNT prosecutors and investigators are tasked with investigating individuals and networks providing support to Hezbollah, and pursuing prosecutions in any appropriate cases. The HFNT will begin by assessing the evidence in existing investigations, including cases stemming from Project Cassandra, a law enforcement initiative targeting Hezbollah’s drug trafficking and related operations.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division will supervise the HFNT, and will convene a coordination meeting focused on identifying and combatting such support to Hezbollah. The HFNT will coordinate with, among others, investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), including the DEA’s Special Operations Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; Assistant United States Attorneys; and attorneys from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and National Security Division.
“The Justice Department will leave no stone unturned in order to eliminate threats to our citizens from terrorist organizations and to stem the tide of the devastating drug crisis,” said Attorney General Sessions. “In an effort to protect Americans from both threats, the Justice Department will assemble leading investigators and prosecutors to ensure that all Project Cassandra investigations as well as other related investigations, whether past or present, are given the needed resources and attention to come to their proper resolution. The team will initiate prosecutions that will restrict the flow of money to foreign terrorist organizations as well as disrupt violent international drug trafficking operations.”
“The investigation and prosecution of terrorist organizations that contribute to the growing drug crisis are a priority for this administration,” said Acting Assistant General Cronan. “At the Attorney General’s direction, the HFNT will use all appropriate tools to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who provide financial support to Hezbollah in an effort to eradicate the illicit networks that fuel terrorism and the drug crisis.”
Armed Robber Sentenced to 149 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Charles E. Peeler, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Edward W. Holt, III, was sentenced to 149 months in prison on January 10, 2018, for armed robbery and attempted armed robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act and for brandishing of a firearm during these robberies. Sentencing was by the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge, in Macon, Georgia.
The evidence showed that in the early morning hours of August 12, 2015, Edward Holt approached the Taco Bell, located at 709 Lake Joy Road in Warner Robins, and attempted to rob the restaurant by pointing a firearm at an employee operating the drive-thru window. He also pointed the firearm at a customer waiting at the drive-thru window. The employee and customer fled the scene before Mr. Holt could rob them. Within four hours, Mr. Holt traveled to the Waffle House, located at 301 N. Ga. 49 in Byron, where he entered the establishment, pointed a gun at one of the employees and demanded money from the cash register. Upon being given the cash register drawer, Mr. Holt fled the scene and ran into the woods. Police officers found Mr. Holt hiding in the woods and arrested him, recovering parts of the register drawer and some money belonging to the Waffle House as well as a Colt Trooper Mark III, .357 caliber revolver, which was used to commit both robberies.
“Mr. Holt’s one night robbery spree disrupted two local businesses and put innocent citizens in fear for their lives, not to mention the threat he posed to the officers who arrested him. He is certainly deserving of the sentence imposed upon him as the result of these actions. Bringing him to justice is the result of cooperation between federal and state law enforcement and prosecuting agencies,” said United States Attorney Peeler.
This case was investigated by Byron Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly S. Easterling prosecuted the case for the Government.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or [email protected].
Acoma Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Voluntary Manslaughter and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Darius L. James, 40, an enrolled member of Acoma Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to voluntary manslaughter and firearms charges.
James was arrested on Aug. 24, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing an Acoma Pueblo man by shooting him three times on the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation in Cibola County, N.M. According to the complaint, James encountered the victim hidden in a bedroom closet in James’ residence. As the victim fled the scene, James followed him into a nearby field and fired several shots, killing the victim. At the time, James was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon.
During today’s proceedings, James pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In entering the guilty plea, James admitted that on July 24, 2017, he used a rifle to shoot the victim. James also acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a convicted felon, and agreed to forfeit his firearms and ammunition to law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Acoma Pueblo Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
56th Defendant Sentenced on Charges Arising out of ATF-Led Operation Targeting Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crime in Bernalillo CountyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – In Aug. 2016, a multi-agency investigation led by the ATF concluded with the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 103 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. To date, 84 of these defendants have been convicted, including 83 who have entered guilty pleas, and 56 of them have been sentenced.
The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.
Today, Mexican national Antonio Perez-Contreras, 30, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for his conviction on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Perez-Contreras will be deported following his prison sentence.
Perez-Contreras and co-defendant Jesus Manuel Garcia, 43, of Albuquerque, were charged by indictment on June 30, 2016, with methamphetamine trafficking, firearms and illegal reentry offenses. The indictment was superseded on July 28, 2016, and again on Jan. 12, 2017. The ten-count second superseding indictment charged Perez-Contreras and Garcia with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from May 3, 2016 through July 6, 2016, and distributing methamphetamine on May 18, 2016 and July 6, 2016. Perez-Contreras was charged individually with being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and illegal reentry into the United States on May 18, 2016, and distribution of methamphetamine on June 9, 2016. Garcia was charged individually with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on May 17, 2016, May 18, 2016, June 7, 2016, and July 6, 2016. On Sept. 7, 2017, Perez-Contreras pled guilty to a felony information and admitted that on May 18, 2016, he distributed approximately 415.4 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. Perez-Contreras further admitted that he possessed a firearm and ammunition on May 18, 2016, and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was an alien unlawfully in the United States.
Sixteen of the defendants charged as the result of the ATF investigation have entered not guilty pleas. Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law. Two defendants are fugitives and the charges against two defendants have been dismissed.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez and Raquel Ruiz-Velez.
10 January 2018
Zuni Pueblo Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Misdemeanor Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Malorie Reyannon Lujan (Lujan), 30, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo who resides in Bosque Farms, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an assault charge.
Terrence Lujan, 31, an enrolled member of the Isleta Pueblo who resides in Bosque Farms, was arrested in Aug. 2016, on an indictment charging him with assaulting a woman on July 19, 2015. The indictment was superseded on Dec. 20, 2016, to include Lujan and another assault charge. The two-count superseding indictment charged Lujan and Terrence Lujan with assaulting two women and causing them to sustain serious bodily injuries. According to the superseding indictment, Lujan and Terrence Lujan committed the crimes on July 19, 2015, on the Pueblo of Isleta in Bernalillo County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Lujan pled guilty to a misdemeanor information charging her with one count of assault by striking, beating or wounding. In entering the guilty plea, Lujan admitted that on July 19, 2015, she participated in the assault of one of the victims by hitting, kicking and striking the victim, and by aiding and abetting others who assaulted the victim. Lujan admitted committing this crime hile others assaulted the other victim.
At sentencing, Lujan faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Terrence Lujan has entered a not guilty plea to the charges in the superseding indictment. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Isleta Pueblo Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Murphy and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy B. Solimon are prosecuting this case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico, which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native American women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
York Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Alexander Larriuz-Otero, age 20, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Larriuz-Otero distributed crack cocaine in York on February 8, 2017, and possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine in York on June 1, 2017. The indictment also alleges that Larriuz-Otero unlawfully possessed a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is a lifetime term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to a federal firearms charge.
Steven Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2018. Rivera was arrested on June 29, 2017, as part of a coordinated federal and state law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrests of nine individuals who have been charged with firearms-related offenses.
On Feb. 14, 2017, Rivera – who has multiple prior felony convictions, including drug-related offenses – sold two handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition to a cooperating source in Worcester. On Feb. 28, 2017, Rivera sold the cooperating source two more handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition.
The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Wood County man pleads guilty to federal methamphetamine crimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Timothy Waldron, 31, of Mineral Wells, entered his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
On November 20, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Waldron’s residence on Wills Street in Mineral Wells. Officers seized two rifles, nearly 1,300 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, sandwich baggies, and approximately $17,000 in cash from a safe found in the residence. The safe also contained Waldron’s birth certificate and Social Security card. Waldron then gave a statement to law enforcement, admitting that he had obtained over 10 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution during the two months prior to the search.
Waldron faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 10, 2018.
The Parkersburg Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John Frail is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of illegal drugs in communities across the Southern District.
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Whitaker Man Gets 10½ Years in Prison for Distributing Drugs that Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Whitaker, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 126 months imprisonment followed by six years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence yesterday on Justin Thornton, 34, of Whitaker, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, on August 7 and 8, 2015, Thornton distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of acetylfentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl. Thornton agreed that the drugs he distributed resulted in the death of A. N. Additionally, on August 13, 2015, Thornton possessed with intent to distribute heroin, acetylfentanyl, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine A. King prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Allegheny County Police Department, the West Mifflin Police Department, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thornton.
Wheeling man admits to firearm chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia man has admitted today to a firearm charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Charles Smith Rippy, Jr., age 62, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Rippy, having been convicted of two felonies, admitted to illegally possessing a .22 caliber pistol in Ohio County in April 2017.
Rippy faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Stephen L. Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., presided.Virginia man admits to a firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Stephens City, Virginia man has admitted today to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Lawrence Craig Rich, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “False Statement in Connection with the Acquisition of a Firearm.” He admitted to making a false statement when attempting to purchase a rifle in Berkeley County in June 2017.
Rich faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Paul T. Camilletti is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Upshur County man admits to a firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Buckhannon, West Virginia man has admitted today to his role in a firearms theft and sale scheme, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Dustin Cain Anderson, age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm – Aiding and Abetting.” He admitted to conspiring with others to receive, possess, barter, sell, conceal and dispose of 21 firearms in Upshur County in October 2016.
Anderson faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Buckhannon Police Department, and the Weston Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
United States Attorney Announces the Hiring of Two New Assistant United States AttorneysRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trent Shores announced today the appointment of Ryan M. Roberts and Christopher J. Nassar as Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma. As Criminal Division AUSAs, Messrs. Roberts and Nassar will represent the United States of America in the prosecution of criminal cases.
Mr. Roberts joins the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the District Attorney’s Office in Muskogee County where he was the First Assistant District Attorney. Previously, he proudly served the United States for over 15 years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, an AUSA in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and as an attorney in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys – General Counsel’s Office. Mr. Roberts received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
Mr. Nassar joins the U.S. Attorney’s Office from Rodolf & Todd where he was an associate attorney. Previously, he served as a Judge Advocate and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the United States Marine Corps in California and North Carolina. Mr. Nassar received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Arkansas and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
“I am thrilled that Ryan and Chris joined our team.” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “They have the knowledge, experience, and work ethic to make an immediate impact in our office. I am confident Ryan and Chris will help us to achieve our mission through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States.”
U.S. Attorney’s Offices Promote January as Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The United States Attorney Offices in the Northern District and Southern District of West Virginia are teaming up with law enforcement, service providers, and non-profit organizations to shed light on human trafficking in West Virginia.
In 2016, approximately 8,000 cases of human trafficking were reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, but only 21 of those cases were from West Virginia. Federal law enforcement officers believe that figure significantly underrepresents the scope of the problem in our state.
“With the climate in West Virginia ripe for human trafficking, more has to be done to educate the public about the issue and to combat it. Victims deserve more from all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Powell, Northern District of West Virginia.
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The U.S. Attorneys for West Virginia want community members to understand the causes of human trafficking, and report suspected human trafficking.
West Virginia has a Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by the United States Attorney Offices from the Northern and Southern District of West Virginia. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement officers, service providers, victim advocates, educators, and representatives of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, among others. The Task Force is unveiling its new website, https://stophumantraffickingwv.org. The Task Force will add more content and resources to the website as the year progresses.
Human trafficking is a federal crime involving the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for labor, services, or commercial sex. In addition, the facilitation or solicitation of children for commercial sex—even without force, fraud, or coercion—is a trafficking crime. As a state, West Virginia is particularly vulnerable to trafficking because of its poverty, drug problems, and proximity to states with a high incidence of trafficking crime. Trafficking can occur anywhere, with anyone, and Task Force members are especially concerned about a growing trend of trafficking within families in the state.
“Human trafficking is a human tragedy for which too many cases go unreported. We need the public to know the red flags of human trafficking so we can put a stop to it,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart, Southern District of West Virginia.
Residents should remain vigilant, watching for signs of trafficking. Some red flags for human trafficking include: • Lacking freedom to make basic decisions during work or free time
• Sexually explicit online profile
• Involvement in prostitution
• Indebtedness to employer
• Lacking personal possessions
• Lacking control of identification documents
• Possessing multiple cell phones
• Lying about age or identity
• Avoiding answering questions about self
• Resisting offers for help
• Expressing unusual fear of law enforcementFoster children and runaways are exceptionally vulnerable for trafficking. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1 in 6 runaways are believed to be victims of sex trafficking, and 86% of those trafficked children were in foster care or social services.
Events are planned throughout the state to bring awareness and support for victims. For a current list, go to https://stophumantraffickingwv.org/events.
U.S. Attorney's Offices promote January as Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts are teaming up with law enforcement, service providers, and non-profit organizations to shed light on human trafficking as part of Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
In 2016, approximately 8,000 cases of human trafficking were reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, but only 21 of those cases were from West Virginia. Law enforcement officers believe that figure significantly underrepresents the scope of the problem in our state.
“Human trafficking is a human tragedy for which too many cases go unreported. We need the public to know the red flags of human trafficking so we can put a stop to it,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart, Southern District of West Virginia.
“With the climate in West Virginia ripe for human trafficking, more has to be done to educate the public about the issue and to combat it. Victims deserve more from all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Powell, Northern District of West Virginia.
As part of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the U.S. Attorneys for West Virginia want community members to understand the causes of human trafficking, and report suspected human trafficking.
West Virginia has a Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, service providers, victim advocates, educators, and representatives of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, among others. The Task Force recently unveiled its new website, https://stophumantraffickingwv.org. The website includes information on reporting human trafficking, and the Task Force will add more content and resources to the website as the year progresses.
Human trafficking is a federal crime involving the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for labor, services, or commercial sex. In addition, the facilitation or solicitation of children for commercial sex—even without force, fraud, or coercion—is a trafficking crime. West Virginia is particularly vulnerable to trafficking because of its poverty, drug problems, and proximity to states with a high incidence of trafficking crime. Trafficking can occur anywhere, with anyone, and Task Force members are especially concerned about a growing trend of trafficking within families in the state.
Residents should remain vigilant, watching for signs of trafficking. Some red flags for human trafficking include:
- Lacking freedom to make basic decisions during work or free time
- Sexually explicit online profile
- Involvement in prostitution
- Indebtedness to employer
- Lacking personal possessions
- Lacking control of identification documents
- Possessing multiple cell phones
- Lying about age or identity
- Avoiding answering questions about self
- Resisting offers for help
- Expressing unusual fear of law enforcement
Foster children and runaways are exceptionally vulnerable for trafficking. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in six runaways are believed to be victims of sex trafficking, and 86% of those trafficked children were in foster care or social services.
For more information, go to https://stophumantraffickingwv.org.
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Two Men Sentenced Today to Prison Terms for Their Roles in Trenton Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – Two Trenton men were sentenced today to prison terms for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of grams of heroin in the Trenton area, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Ishmael Abdullah, a/k/a “Ish,” a/k/a “Gangsta,” a/k/a “Papi,” 27, pleaded guilty on Aug. 16, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 176 months in prison.
Prince Sarnoe, 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2017, before Judge Wolfson to an information charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 120 months in prison.
In December 2016, Abdullah and nine other members of a drug trafficking organization operating in Trenton were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin. The complaint referred to the drug trafficking organization as the “Abdullah DTO” after the organization’s leader.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From May 2015 through December 2016, Abdullah and others participated in a drug trafficking organization that operated in the area of Spring and Passaic streets in the Trenton. Multiple members of the organization, including Sarnoe – a previously convicted felon – possessed and maintained access to firearms.
Through the authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative means, law enforcement learned that Abdullah was a leader of the organization and was responsible for obtaining significant quantities of heroin from multiple suppliers. Members of the Abdullah DTO used temporary prepaid phones, stash houses and cars, and spoke in code to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Abdullah admitted that he conspired with others to distribute at least 400 grams of heroin. Abdullah, who is a previously convicted felon, also admitted knowingly possessing a SCCY Industries CPX-2 firearm.In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Abdullah to five years of supervised release and Sarnoe to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited agents and officers with the Greater Trenton Safe Streets Task Force, including special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Newark Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John B. Devito; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Ernest Parrey Jr.; officers of the Princeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Nicholas Sutter; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief John P. Stemler III; and detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.
He also thanked special agents of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Debra Parker; officers of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Joseph R. Fuentes; and officers of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John A. Kemler, for their assistance in the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brendan Day of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel: Abdullah: David E. Schafer Esq., Trenton
Sarnoe: John S. Furlong Esq., West Trenton, New JerseyTopeka Man Pleads Guilty to McDonald’s Restaurant RobberyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a robbery at a McDonald’s restaurant, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Brendon R. Thompson, 30, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of aiding and abetting another robber who brandished a firearm during the robbery.
In his plea, Thompson admitted that on July 10, 2017, he and another man robbed the McDonald’s restaurant at 1100 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka. Thompson went behind the counter and took money from the registers while the other robber brandished a firearm. The robbers fled when police arrived. Thompson was arrested near the restaurant, while the other robber got away.
Anyone with information about the other robber is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. Call 785-234-0007 or visit www.topekacrimestoppers.org online.
Thompson’s sentencing will be scheduled for a later date. Both parties have agreed to recommend a controlling sentence of not less than 130 months and not more than 165 months in federal prison.
Beall commended the FBI, the Topeka Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Topeka Man Pleads Guilty to Five Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man pleaded guilty Wednesday to five bank robberies in four states, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Dakota Shareef Walker, 21, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to the following robberies:
- U.S. Bank, 5730 Southwest 21st, Topeka, Nov. 28, 2016.
- U.S. Bank, 221 West Gregory Blvd, Kansas City Missouri, Nov. 23, 2016.
- U.S. Bank, 748 Main Street, Evanston, Wyo, Dec. 6, 2016.
- U.S. Bank, 25 East 50 South, Malad City, Idaho, Dec. 14, 2016.
- Wells Fargo Bank, 5 North State Street, Preston, Idaho, Jan. 9, 2017.
In each case, Walker gave tellers a note warning not them not to activate any alarms or to make any sudden moves.
Sentencing is set for April 16. All parties have agreed to recommend a sentence in a range from 57 and 96 months in federal prison. Beall commended the FBI, the Topeka Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Three Members and Associates of the Westside Crips Criminal Street Gang Sentenced to Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Sex Trafficking, Narcotics Trafficking, and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Alessandra P. Serano (202) 252-5843 or Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 8, 2018
SAN DIEGO – Two gang members of the Westside Crips and one hotel manager of two national brand hotels in Oceanside were sentenced last week for their participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and other violent crimes.
Richard Cleveland (aka “Face”), Michael Sullivan (aka “Du-Low”), and Umesh Oza (aka “Kevin”), previously admitted their respective membership and association with the Westside Crips, who primarily operated in Oceanside and elsewhere. Last week, United States District Judge John A. Houston sentenced Cleveland to 57 months in prison, sentenced Sullivan to 36 months in prison, and Oza, a hotel manager for two national brand hotel chains, to 4 months in prison and 180 days of home detention. Three other co-defendants – Ameer Roby aka “Tiny Dum”, Peter Miranda aka “Lil’ Burger”, Shane Anderson aka “Tiny West” and Larry Monroe - are scheduled for sentencing for later this month.
According to court documents, the members of the conspiracy were involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, attempted murder, assaults, and robberies. Their criminal activity primarily occurred between 2004 through February 2017. According to court documents, members of Westside Crips are akin to a crime family, where all members work together committing various crimes for the purpose of making money. The indictment alleges that the defendants took on different responsibilities within the criminal enterprise. Some sold narcotics. Others managed prostitutes and transported them all over the country. The hotel manager provided a safe haven for the alleged gang members to conduct their illegal activities.
For that reason, the defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy—the statute traditionally used for organized-crime syndicates and mobsters. But as members, associates, and facilitators of criminal street gangs such as these, join forces and become more sophisticated and prolific in their illicit business pursuits, this statute is an effective tool to address all aspects of the criminal conduct.
In furtherance of the RICO conspiracy, Sullivan admitted he engaged in an aggravated assault using a semi-automatic firearm on two suspected juvenile rival gang members in 2004. More recently, Sullivan admitted to promoting prostitution of adult females between 2013 and 2016. Sullivan also admitted to possessing methamphetamine for sale. Moreover, to further his role in the RICO conspiracy, Cleveland admitted he engaged in drug trafficking and promotion of prostitution of adult females between 2015 and 2016. His drug trafficking activity also involved the sale of methamphetamine.
Oza admitted that as the manager of two motels located in Oceanside, California, he further the RICO conspiracy by allowing members of the Westside Crips to utilize the motels for their criminal activity. In particular, Oza admitted that he allowed members, whom he believed were pimps working for the criminal enterprise, to rent rooms to adult females acting as prostitutes.
January marks National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. President Trump recently remarked in a nation press release:
Human trafficking is a modern form of the oldest and most barbaric type of exploitation. It has no place in our world. This month we do not simply reflect on this appalling reality. We also pledge to do all in our power to end the horrific practice of human trafficking that plagues innocent victims around the world.
“Gang members and associates and those who assist them continue to plague our community with sex trafficking, violence, drugs and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “Our office will continue to use any and all resources to combat the problem.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 17cr0270-JAH
Richard Cleveland aka “Face” Age: 37 Oceanside, CA
Michael Sullivan aka “Du-Low” Age: 33 Oceanside, CA
Umesh Oza aka “Kevin” Age: 32 Oceanside, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d) - Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity; Title 18, United States Code, Section 1963 - Criminal Forfeiture
Maximum Penalties: 20 years’ incarceration, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release
AGENCIES
North County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration
Oceanside Police Department
Internal Revenue Service
Three Enter Guilty Pleas in Multi-Million Dollar Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
In Del Rio, 58-year-old James Edward Cox of Waxhaw, NC, admitted to conducting an advanced fee investment scheme through which he and others obtained in excess of $5 million from their victims announced United States Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio.
Appearing before United States District Judge Alia Moses yesterday afternoon, Cox pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Last year, co-defendants Kelly Ray Coronado, 50, of Del Rio and Gordon Richard Moskowitz, 54, of Sarasota, FL, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
By pleading guilty, the defendants admitted that from January 2010 to January 2017, they implemented a high-yield investment scheme to obtain money from multiple victims under false pretenses, promises and representations. Furthermore, they preyed on vulnerable parties – most of whom operated international non-profits – by promising them large-scale financing in exchange for upfront payments. Using a tapestry of deceit involving fake business entities, websites, and aliases, the defendants collected upfront payments from their victims, then worked together to frustrate law enforcement detection and victim redress.
All three defendants, currently on bond awaiting sentencing, face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and restitution. Sentencing for Cox has yet to be scheduled. Sentencings for Coronado and Moskowitz are scheduled for March 14 and 19, respectively, in Del Rio before Judge Moses. Cox and Coronado have also agreed to forfeit to the Government their respective residences that were used to conceal the illicit proceeds gained from the defendants’ scheme.
Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents in Del Rio, Tampa and Charlotte conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Paul T. Harle and Daniel S. Lee are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
Texas Mayor and Owners of Health Care Company Charged with Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Four individuals, including a Texas mayor who was a licensed physician and medical director, and three owners of a health care company, were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their roles in a $150 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme. Three of the defendants were also charged with counts relating to obstructing justice and providing false statements.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office and Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region made the announcement.
Rodney Mesquias, 47, of San Antonio, Texas; Henry McInnis, 47, of Harlingen, Texas; Jose Garza, 40, of Harlingen, Texas; and Franciso Pena, 82, of Laredo, Texas, were charged in an 11-count indictment filed in the Southern District of Texas. They were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Mesquias and McInnis were charged with six counts of health care fraud, and Garza and Pena were each charged with one count of health care fraud. Pena was also charged with one count of false statements and one count of obstruction of a health care investigation. Mesquias and McInnis were each charged with one count of obstruction of justice.
As set forth in the indictment, from 2009 through the filing of the indictment, Mesquias owned and controlled the Merida Health Care Group (Merida Group), a collection of health care entities located throughout the State of Texas that provided hospice and health care services. McInnis and Garza helped control, manage and oversee Mesquias’s various entities. Pena, a licensed physician, served as the Mayor of Rio Bravo, Texas, and as a medical director for the Merida Group’s affiliated entities.
According to allegations in the indictment, Mesquias, McInnis, Garza and Pena participated in a health care fraud conspiracy that involved over $150 million in Medicare billings for hospice and home health services. Mesquias, McInnis and Garza caused kickbacks and bribes to be paid to medical directors, including Pena, for the Merida Group’s affiliated entities in exchange for certifying that patients qualified for services when, in fact, they did not, and for referring patients for such services. Mesquias, McInnis, Garza and Pena also fraudulently kept patients on hospice services for multiple years in order to increase revenue from Medicare.
The indictment also alleges that the scheme involved laundering the proceeds of the fraud by, for example, using nominees to conceal the identifies of the true beneficial owners of the Merida Group’s affiliated entities, and causing profit distributions to be issued to the nominees to further conceal and disguise control of the fraud proceeds. The indictment further alleges that Mesquias and McInnis used proceeds derived from the scheme to purchase expensive vehicles such as a Porsche, expensive jewelry, luxury clothing from high-end retailers such as Louis Vuitton, exclusive real estate and season tickets for premium seating to see the San Antonio Spurs.
The indictment alleges that Pena gave a false statement to the FBI and obstructed a health care investigation. According to the allegations, a confidential source (CS) who worked in the health care industry met with Pena at City Hall, the Office of the Mayor for Rio Bravo, and elsewhere. During these meetings, the CS allegedly paid Pena a total of $5,000 in cash kickbacks for illegal referrals of hospice patients. In addition, during the course of the investigation, Pena allegedly told a cooperating witness that, with respect to hospice patients, “the way you make money is by keeping them alive as long as possible.” Thereafter, Pena was interviewed by the FBI and denied ever accepting kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals. After the FBI interview, Pena then allegedly contacted the CS and directed the CS to mislead the FBI in the event that the CS was interviewed about the cash kickbacks that Pena received in exchange for the illegal patient referrals.
The indictment also alleges that Mesquias and McInnis obstructed justice by producing false and fictitious records to a federal grand jury. As set forth in the indictment, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena to the Merida Group for specific medical records. In response, Mesquias and McInnis allegedly instructed their co-conspirators to manufacture false records and provide them to the federal grand jury in order to obstruct the grand jury’s investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the HHS-OIG’s McAllen Field Office, the FBI’s San Antonio Division, including the Laredo and McAllen Resident Agency Offices, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operates in nine locations nationwide. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged over 3,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for over $12.5 billion.
Terre Haute Man Charged with Hobbs Act RobberiesRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced an 8-count indictment against Rex Hammond, age 53, of Terre Haute, Indiana for 5-counts of Hobbs Act robbery, 2 counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and 1 count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents in this case, Hammond allegedly committed a string of robberies by holding employees of businesses, listed below, against their will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, immediate or future, by brandishing a firearm on the following dates and towns located in the Northern District:
Count 1- October 6, 2017, Gas Station in Logansport, Indiana
Count 2- October 7, 2017, Gas Station in Peru, Indiana
Count 3- October 9, 2017, Gas Station in Auburn, Indiana
Count 4- October 25, 2017, Gas Station in Decatur, Indiana
Count 5- October 27, 2017, Liquor Store in Logansport, Indiana.
Hammond also is being charged in Count 6 and 7 of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence for the robberies that occurred on October 6th and 7th. In Count 8, Hammond is being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “Federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation make these type of investigations possible.”
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Logansport Police Department, Peru Police Department, Indiana State Police, Auburn Police Department, Portage Michigan Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo Michigan Department of Public Safety, Decatur Police Department, and Marshall County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, Miami County Prosecutor’s Office, DeKalb County Prosecutor’s Office, Adams County Prosecutor’s Office, Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office, and Coldwater Michigan Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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Summit County men indicted on carfentil charges; one man faces additional firearms and drug chargesRead the Press Release
Two Summit County men were indicted in federal court on charges involving firearms, carfentanil and other drugs, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball.
Da Nico D. Geter, 27, of Akron, and Dustin W. Somerville, 29, of Barberton, Ohio, were both indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute carfentanil.
Geter is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and a marijuana analogue. He faces additional charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.
Geter and Somerville were arrested on Sept. 7, 2017 by the Akron Police Department and Akron Police Narcotics Unit. They were found with the aforementioned drugs and Geter had a Springfield Armory .45-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for heroin trafficking and possession of heroin, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Riley following an investigation by the Akron Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Statement of U.S. Attorney on Court’s Decision to Grant City of Seattle’s Motion for Full and Effective Compliance with the Consent DecreeRead the Press Release
SEATTLE – Today, U.S. District Court Judge James L. Robart granted the City of Seattle’s “Motion for Full and Effective Compliance with the Consent Decree.” The City entered into the Consent Decree with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2012 to address findings that DOJ made with respect to use of force and related constitutional issues. Both the DOJ and the Community Police Commission filed responses in support of the City’s Motion in October, and responded to further questions from the Court in December.
The Court ruled today that the City is in “full and effective compliance” with all requirements and obligations under the Consent Decree. The Court’s ruling is based on ten assessments that cover all of the requirements of the Consent Decree and were conducted by the Monitor and DOJ. The ruling now triggers a two-year period in which the Seattle Police Department (SPD) must hold compliance with those requirements.
The following is a statement from Annette L. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington:
Today, the Court recognized that the SPD has met a major milestone in the reform process – by putting in place new policies, critical training, and systems of oversight and accountability it has met all of the obligations contained in the Consent Decree. This is a credit to the hard work of SPD and City leadership, engaged community members including the Community Police Commission, and SPD officers whose dedication to the mission is essential to reform. We know that constitutional policing and effective policing go hand in hand, and that the safety of our City and the officers that serve us is enhanced when the civil rights of all are protected.
The Court’s ruling is based on rigorous assessments that examined SPD’s compliance with all aspects of the Consent Decree. As the Court pointed out, those data driven assessments demonstrate that SPD has eliminated the pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing that led to the Department of Justice’s investigation and findings in 2011.
Today’s ruling does not end the City’s hard work. SPD must sustain compliance for at least two years, and demonstrate that compliance to the Court and DOJ. The Court has indicated that it will continue to closely monitor SPD over the next two years before deciding whether termination of all or part the Consent Decree is warranted. We all must continue to hold SPD accountable to its commitments in the Consent Decree – to de-escalation, new and better approaches to people in crisis, and the internal supervision and independent civilian-led accountability systems that address problems when they arise.
We look forward to the continued engagement of the entire community in this next phase of the Consent Decree to ensure that reform in Seattle is real and lasting. There is no question that there remain parts of our City that expect more from their police department. Their engagement will continue to be important as we move forward. I know the new Mayor, City Attorney and City Council have made police reform a top priority, and I have full confidence that with that commitment, and the continued work by rank and file officers and command staff alike, SPD will continue its success under the Consent Decree
South Hills Man Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prison for Massive Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 78 months of incarceration on his conviction of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Donetta Ambrose imposed the sentence on James Nassida, IV, age 50, of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Nassida owned and operated a mortgage broker business called Century III Home Equity (Century III), which assisted borrowers in obtaining loans collateralized by real estate. At the time of the events at issue, which was between 2002 and 2008, Century III was one of the largest mortgage broker businesses in the Western District of Pennsylvania, and during the course of that timeframe brokered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans using more than a dozen different lenders. Many of those loans, however, involved one or more aspects of fraud.
Some of the aspect of the fraud included the following:
- Appraisals that fraudulently inflated the true value of the properties;
- Settlement statements that falsely reflected that the borrowers made substantial payments associated with the purchases of real estate;
- Settlement statements that failed to disclose secondary financing;
- Settlement statements that failed to include cash payments charged by Century III and paid by the borrowers;
- Settlement statements and closing documents that were backdated to reflect that the settlements had occurred on a date prior to the actual settlement date; and
- Various loan documents, including loan approval forms, good faith estimates, and underwriting transmittal forms, that failed to disclose secondary financing and falsely represented the combined loan to value ratio.
The fraud also involved misrepresentations to some of the borrowers to induce them to enter into the transactions, including concealing the fees Century III received from lenders for the borrowers’ transactions and the impact of those fees on the borrowers’ interest rates; and concealing the nature of the mortgage products, including that some of the mortgage products could negatively amortize. Lastly, the fraud also involved Nassida’s receipt of kickbacks from the settlement company that he failed to disclose to the borrowers and lenders, as required.
Nassida also submitted multiple fraudulent documents associated with loans in which he served as a loan officer, but also that the loan officers working under his direction regularly submitted false information to lenders and borrowers. In addition, Nassida caused the submission of fake documents to the lender in connection with his purchase of a $300,000 vacation home near Seven Springs, including the following: (1) a settlement statement that overstated the sales price; (2) a loan application that falsely stated his income and assets; and (3) fake statements from an investment company that falsely verified that he had more than $600,000 in investments when he really had about $15,000. In the loan application, James Nassida reported that he earned approximately $980,000 in 2006, but he did not even file his tax returns in 2006, and his reported taxable income in 2004 and 2005 was not even close to that figure.
"This case was a breeding ground for many of the other investigations led by the Western Pennsylvania Mortgage Fraud Task Force," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Johnson. “Mortgage fraud cases are a priority for the FBI because mortgage lending and the housing market have such a significant effect on the overall economy. At the time of this case, James Nassida was living a fancy lifestyle, in a million dollar home, taking money from victims who put their trust in him. That is why today's sentencing is significant. Since the task force formation in February, 2008, more than 100 people were charged and more than a half billion dollars in fraudulent loans were uncovered," added SAC Johnson.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Cindy Chung prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Brady commended the Mortgage Fraud Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Nassida. The Mortgage Fraud Task Force is comprised of investigators from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and others involved in the mortgage industry. Federal law enforcement agencies participating in the Mortgage Task Force include the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and the United States Secret Service. Other Mortgage Fraud Task Force members include the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office; the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office; the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Bureau of Consumer Protection; the Pennsylvania Department of Banking; the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation; and the United States Trustee's Office.
South Bend Man Sentenced for Possession of Heroin and Possession of A Firearm During A Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Denzel Rakim Bridges, age 25, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before District Court Senior Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
Bridges was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, on or about May 2017 a search warrant was executed on Bridges’ address in South Bend for heroin trafficking. During the execution of the warrant officers located a loaded handgun, $3600 in currency, marijuana on a coffee table and multiple small Ziploc style “gem packs” containing a gray powdery substance which later field tested positive for heroin. Also during the search of the residence in another room of the home there was another loaded firearm found along with a digital scale and approximately 16.8 grams of a substance that later tested positive for heroin.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Project Disarm Task Force with assistance by the St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit and South Bend Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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South Bend Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that William Westley Dill, age 25, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced before District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for one count of possession of child pornography.
Dill was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment, 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution.
According to documents in this case, on or about July 27, 2016, Dill had computer storage devices that in total contained over 1,500 files of visual depictions, including photographs and videos, of a minor or minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Multiple visual depictions involved prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained the age of 12 years. Dill also had visual depictions that involved the sexual abuse or exploitation of infants and toddlers.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly E. Donnelly.
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Soldier Creek Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced that a Soldier Creek, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Rylan Alton Joel Black Lance, age 22, was indicted on November 14, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 9, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, any term of years, not less than 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on August 5, 2017, Black Lance knowingly caused and attempted to cause a female victim to engage in a sexual act, by the use of force.
The charges are merely an accusation and Black Lance is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Nelson is prosecuting the case.
Black Lance was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Six Charged in Complex Fraud Involving Fraudulent Processing of Credit Card PaymentsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Six residents of New York, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh and arrested on a charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
A one-count indictment, returned in December 2017, named Devan Abrams, 37, of New York, NY, Tamara Feldman, 29, of Brooklyn, NY, Azad Khizgilov, 43, of Staten Island, NY, and Roman Shaulov, age 50, of Brooklyn, NY. Separate one-count indictments named Philip Krasnikov, 31, of Brooklyn, NY and Svetlana Kapralova, 30, of Brooklyn, NY.
According to the indictments presented to the court, the conspirators were involved in a complex fraud that involved fraudulently processing credit card payments. The credit card companies will not allow their products and services to be used to pay for certain precluded activities, including the on-line sales of pharmaceutical drugs and of products violating trademark infringement laws. The defendants participated in the conspiracy designed to conceal from the credit card companies the fact they used their products and services to pay for precluded activities and to subvert the internal controls the credit card companies had in place to detect and prevent this type of activity. The fraud involved establishing shell corporations and web sites associated with the shell companies that falsely claimed that they sold products other than pharmaceutical drugs or products that violated trademark infringement laws. The conspirators then applied for merchant accounts from the credit card companies in the names of the shell corporations and the fake web sites. Once the merchant accounts were established, they were used to process payments for pharmaceutical drugs or products that violated trademark infringement laws. Additionally, the conspirators arranged for the credit card statements sent to the consumers to have the names of the shell corporations and telephone numbers. The conspirators set up a telephone bank to receive calls from customers questioning billings on their credit card statements, and the conspirators explained to the customers the true nature of the transactions in hopes of avoiding charge-backs that could cause the credit card companies to question the legitimacy of the transactions.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Men Sentenced in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announces that two Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine were sentenced on January 4, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Cody Baade, age 25, was sentenced to 210 months in custody and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Corey Roelfsema, age 29, was sentenced to 240 months in custody and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A superseding indictment was issued against the two for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2017. Baade pled guilty to the Indictment on September 27, 2017. Roelfsema was found guilty after a jury trial on October 4, 2017.
Starting in 2014, Baade, Roelfsema, and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine that brought over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine to Sioux Falls.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.
Sinaloa Cartel Cell Leader Pleads Guilty for Involvement in the Importation of Tons of Narcotics into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Sinaloa Cartel cell leader Damaso Lopez-Serrano aka “Mini Lic,” pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for purpose of unlawful importation following his self-surrender to U.S. law enforcement authorities at the Calexico West, Mexico Port of Entry on July 27, 2017.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman of the Southern District of California and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve S. Woodland of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) San Diego made the announcement.
Lopez-Serrano, 29, of Culiacan, Mexico, is believed to be the highest-ranking Mexican cartel leader ever to self-surrender in the United States. Lopez-Serrano pleaded guilty to all charges in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in San Diego on Aug. 19, 2016, charging him and five of his close associates with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine intended for importation and conspiracy to import methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
Lopez-Serrano also pleaded guilty to an indictment returned Dec. 4, 2016, in the Eastern District of Virginia by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine intended for importation.
In a proceeding today before U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw, Lopez-Serrano accepted responsibility for his role as a leader within the Sinaloa Cartel, acknowledging that he organized the transportation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, for importation from Mexico into the United States. Lopez-Serrano also admitted to possessing firearms for the purpose of promoting the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics trafficking activities. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 12, 2018 at 10 a.m. before Judge Sabraw.
“Damaso Lopez-Serrano’s conviction strikes a serious blow to the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel and its violent drug trafficking activities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “The Administration, the Department and our law enforcement partners are steadfast in our commitment to pursuing and dismantling the international drug rings that poison our communities.”
“Cartel leaders have two options – self-surrender or we will work with our counterparts to find you, arrest you and extradite you to San Diego,” said U.S. Attorney Braverman. “For Lopez-Serrano’s distribution of literally tons of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin across the border to America, he will now face justice in a San Diego federal court.”
“The guilty plea of this defendant tells the drug traffickers what they need to know,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Woodland. “DEA will keep picking off these violent criminals one by one until there are no more willing to get involved for fear that law enforcement will be coming for them soon. In the face of the current drug crisis we face in this country, DEA will continue to investigate and bring to justice these violent criminals.”
The Southern District of California indictment in this case marked the conclusion of the fourth phase of a five-year investigation that, in total, has resulted in charges against over 125 people and has had a significant impact on the worldwide operations of the Sinaloa Cartel. This investigation has also offered one of the most comprehensive views to date of the inner workings of one of the world’s most prolific, violent and powerful drug cartels. Cartel members and associates were targeted in this massive investigation involving multiple countries, numerous law enforcement agencies around the United States, a number of federal districts and over 250 court-authorized wiretaps in the Southern District of California.
This case began in late 2011 as an investigation of what was at first believed to be a small-scale drug distribution cell in National City and Chula Vista in San Diego County, California. It became evident that the drugs were being supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel, and the case evolved into a massive multi-national, multi-state probe that resulted in scores of arrests and seizures of 1,397 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2,214 kilograms of cocaine, 17.2 tons of marijuana, 95.84 kilograms of heroin, and $27,892,706 in narcotics proceeds.
The primary indictment in this investigation was previously unsealed targeting the alleged leader of the cartel, Ismael Zambada-Garcia, known as “El Mayo,” as well as two of his four sons - Ismael Zambada-Sicairos, known as “Mayito Flaco,” and Ismael Zambada-Imperial, known as “Mayito Gordo.” Zambada-Imperial was arrested by Mexican authorities in November 2014 and is pending extradition to the Southern District of California. Also part of that indictment is Ivan Archivaldo Guzman-Salazar, known as “Chapito,” whose father Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was the alleged leader of the Sinaloa Cartel along with Mayo.
As part of this investigation, U.S. authorities previously arrested and prosecuted another son of Mayo - Serafin Zambada-Ortiz, who pleaded guilty in the Southern District of California in September 2014 to drug trafficking charges.
José Rodrigo Aréchiga-Gamboa, commonly referred to by his alias “El Chino Ántrax,” was arrested in the Netherlands, extradited to the United States by Dutch authorities in July 2014 and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in May 2015. Arechiga-Gamboa is believed to have worked for the Sinaloa Cartel as the leader of a violent enforcement arm of the Sinaloa Cartel called “Los Antrax” and a key lieutenant of Mayo.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations and Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Sutton from the Southern District of California and Trial Attorneys Amanda Liskamm and Michael Lang of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Sloan and Mary K. Daly of the Eastern District of Virginia.