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Friday 3 November 2017
Taunton Man Sentenced for Role in Heroin and Fentanyl SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for dealing heroin and fentanyl.
Xavier Ramos, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to 64 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In July 2017, Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
In October 2015, Ramos was arrested and charged along with 24 others in connection with a heroin trafficking ring led by Dedwin Cruz-Rivera in southeastern Massachusetts; an April 2016 superseding indictment brought the number of defendants charged in the case to 26. These charges are the result of a 15-month investigation into heroin and fentanyl trafficking in Taunton and surrounding communities.
Ramos assisted co-defendant Dedwin Cruz-Rivera by acting as a Spanish to English translator and brokered deals between Cruz-Rivera and another individual. Ramos also purchased small amounts of heroin, some of which he distributed to others to support his own heroin habit.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Kanwit of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Tan Co. Owner and Three Other Plead Guilty to Federal Kidnapping ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Todd Beckman, owner of Tan Co., pled guilty on Thursday to federal kidnapping charges on a Maplewood man. Beckman appeared before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, who set sentencing for Friday, February 9, 2018 at 10:00AM.
According to court documents, on November 21, 2016, brothers Blake and Caleb Laubinger entered the victim’s residence and, when he arrived home, attacked and confined him with zip ties, threatening to kill him if he screamed. They transported the victim in a rental truck to Blake Laubinger’s residence, and held him in the basement in zip ties, handcuffs and duct tape. Todd Beckman and Kerry Roades arrived at the residence. Beckman and Roades beat the victim and pressed the barrel of a handgun to his head. They accused him stealing from Blake Laubinger and demanded money. The next day, the Laubinger brothers told the victim if they did not get ransom money from his parents in Florida they would kill him. The victim was repeatedly beaten, tased, and assaulted by the kidnappers. The kidnappers made ransom calls to the victim’s parents demanding money in exchange for his life. On the night of November 21, Zachary Smith arrived at the residence and observed the victim secured in the basement but failed to notify the authorities.
On November 22, Blake and Caleb Laubinger, and Todd Beckman, transported the victim in the rental truck to Todd Beckman’s property and confined him in a shipping container. Beckman put a handgun to the victim’s head and threatened to kill him.
On November 23, the victim’s parents paid approximately $27,000 in ransom to Todd Beckman. Shortly after, the kidnappers removed the victim from the shipping container and threatened to kill him if he said anything to anyone. The kidnappers took the victim in a “St. Louis Tan Co.” van to Gravois Bluffs shopping center, where they released him.
“The crime was brutal and protracted. For almost three days, the victim was secured to a pole in a basement, physically assaulted and told of a plan to wrap him in plastic wrap, shoot him and deliver his body to California. In the end, the kidnappers released the victim in exchange for $27,000 ransom money supplied by his parents,” said John T Davis, Assistant United States Attorney.
Todd Beckman, 53 of Fenton, pled guilty on November 2; Co-defendants Caleb Laubinger, 27, of Pacific, pled guilty on November 1; Blake Laubinger, 25, of Pacific, pled guilty today; and Kerry Roades, 56, of Fenton, pled guilty today – each to one felony count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping; Zachary Smith, 25, of Eureka, pled guilty in May to misprision of a felony (helping conceal a crime) and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20.
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In addition, each of the defendants agreed to forfeit multiple pieces of real property, several vehicles, and numerous firearms all connected with this offense.
This case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maplewood Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John T Davis is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Shreveport resident to serve 24 months in prison for driving while intoxicated for the fifth timeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison with eight years suspended for driving while intoxicated on Barksdale Air Force Base.
Jesus J. Maldonado, 30, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of driving while intoxicated, fifth offense. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. According to the July 25, 2017 guilty plea, a Barksdale security officer pulled over Maldonado’s vehicle on April 13, 2017 after it was seen driving erratically and showing signs of being in a wreck. He was found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also found to have been convicted on four previous occasions of driving while under the influence on October 20, 2007 in Bossier City, La.; on June 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.; on March 8, 2013 in Shreveport; and on May 16, 2013 in Shreveport.
The FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Odom prosecuted the case.
Sherwood Woman Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Tracey D. Montaño, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Special Agent in Charge, announced today that United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker sentenced Lynn Alisa Espejo, 53, of Sherwood, to 45 months in federal prison for her role in a scheme in which she stole more than $600,000 from her employers.
On February 8, 2017, after a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Espejo guilty on 4 counts of filing false tax returns, 15 counts of wire fraud, and 6 counts of money laundering. On Friday, Judge Baker, in addition to the prison time, imposed three years of supervised release and $2,500 in special assessment penalties. Restitution in this type of case is mandatory, and Judge Baker announced that she will determine the amount of restitution Espejo must pay the IRS and issue an order at a later time.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Ms. Espejo’s crimes,” Hiland said. “She stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from people who trusted her, and then repeatedly lied about it. These financial and tax-related crimes hurt not just the actual victims Ms. Espejo stole from, but also all citizens who are honest and pay their taxes as they should.”
From 2007-2010, Espejo served as office manager for Practice Management Services, Inc. (PMSI) and Blanford Medical Services, Inc. (BMSI), corporations that administered business expenses for doctors in Little Rock. Espejo was responsible for managing PMSI's general financial ledger. During her employment, Espejo stole approximately $611,099 by wire transfer from PMSI and BMSI to her personal bank accounts. Espejo misrepresented these transactions in the accounting software Quickbooks and concealed the wire transfers from the doctors and their accountant. Espejo used stolen money for personal expenses such as making payments toward a vehicle, a pool, and construction expenses on a new house.
In addition to the money stolen by wire transfer, Espejo obtained a PMSI debit card and used it for personal purchases from Wal-Mart, including grocery items such as snow crab, bacon, and popcorn balls, video gaming devices, school supplies, and a trampoline.
During this same time period, Espejo filed false tax returns with the IRS in which she failed to report the stolen money as income on her tax returns. These returns resulted in a tax loss of approximately $207,941 for tax years 2007 through 2010.
“Ms. Espejo’s employers entrusted her to ethically and responsibly manage their business’ financial affairs, but instead she decided to divert funds for her personal benefit,” Montaño said. “IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents are experts in unraveling complex tax fraud and money laundering schemes utilizing our forensic accounting skills. These specialized skills coupled with our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office are key to the identification, investigation, and prosecution of these types of white collar crimes.”
This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Mazzanti and Jamie Dempsey prosecuted the case for the United States.
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Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Interstate ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday yesterday sentenced Gary Paul Moorman (35, Cincinnati, Ohio) to 20 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum penalty, for inducement to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2017.
According to court documents, Moorman systematically and violently abused multiple victims and induced them, against their wills, to travel between Florida, Ohio, and elsewhere to engage in criminal sexual activity. Specifically, he induced the victims to commit acts of prostitution for his own financial gain. In furtherance of his criminal activity, Moorman took provocative photos of the victims and posted prostitution advertisements on the Internet. After the victims were forced to provide the sex acts, Moorman demanded and took all of the proceeds for himself.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Tampa Division (Pinellas Resident Agency), with support from St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office and the Cincinnati Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris and Kristen A. Fiore.
Sabine Parish resident sentenced to 3 years in prison for not updating sex offender statusRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Florien man was sentenced Wednesday to 36 months in prison for not complying with sex offender registration requirements after he did not inform authorities he had moved back to Louisiana.
Christopher Shane Lewing, 37, of Florien, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the July 10, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents arrested Lewing on January 25, 2017 in Sabine Parish on a warrant from Tennessee for a probation violation. He was living in Tennessee but had moved back to Louisiana in July of 2016 without informing law enforcement. Lewing told U.S. Marshals he knew he was required to update his sex offender registry but had not.
The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Maria A. English, 28, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that between November 2012 and September 2013, English and co-conspirator, Michael Debardlabon, using the names, social security numbers and dates of birth of two different Florida residents, obtained financing to purchase used automobiles, including an Infinity, a Lexus and a BMW. The funding was obtained through financial institutions such as ESL and Ally Financial. The Florida residents never authorized the financial transactions to occur. In addition, on one occasion, the personal information of a third Florida resident was used to open an American Express card and charge air fare for English.
Michael Debardlabon was convicted and sentenced.
The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski, Boston Division, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2018, before Judge Wolford.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Johnny Blackshell, Jr., 23, Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas E. Gregory and Brett Harvey, who are handling the case, stated that on August 10, 2015, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Blackshell and co-defendant Joseph Lowry entered the 7-Eleven convenience store located on Lake Avenue in Rochester intending to rob both cash and goods. After entering the store, the defendant and Lowry jumped over the service desk and ordered the employees to the ground. Blackshell then pointed a silver handgun at the victim’s head and instructed the victim to open the cash register. Lowry took $80 in United States currency from the cash register. In addition to the money, Blachshell and Lowry took an unknown quantity of Newport Cigarettes, tobacco, chewing gum, and numerous rolls of New York State scratch-off lottery tickets. The two then left the store and ran eastbound towards Lake Avenue. Several of the stolen lottery tickets were later redeemed, and attempted to be redeemed, as winners. Blackshell received monies for the winning lottery tickets.Blackshell was previously sentenced in state court to life in prison without parole for the murders of Johnny Johnson, Raekwon Manigault, and Jonah Barley during a mass shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester on August 19, 2015.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent–in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
Joseph Lowry was previously convicted and sentenced to 128 months in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
Rochester Man Convicted of Possessing A Defaced GunRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Brian Patterson, 25, of Rochester, NY, was convicted after a jury trial of possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 7, 2015, Rochester Police Department officers were in the area of Dewey Avenue and Emerson Street investigating multiple calls regarding a fight. An officer saw the defendant standing in front of a corner store speaking with other people wearing khaki pants, and carrying a backpack but he was not wearing a shirt. The officer received information that a person fitting this description may have been involved in the fight. The defendant crossed the intersection of Dewey Avenue and Emerson Street and walked quickly into the building at 513 Dewey Avenue after turning and looking in the direction of police officers. Officers followed the defendant inside and found him at the top of a set of stairs but he was not wearing the backpack. Rather, Patterson had discarded the backpack out of sight from the officers by placing it around the corner on a landing leading to another flight of stairs.
Officers looked in the backpack and found a loaded .22 caliber semiautomatic rifle, along with a sweatshirt, a t-shirt and a belt. The serial number on the rifle was defaced by a deep scratch. Further, the barrel had been sawed off and the rifle stock was removed.
The trial verdict is the result of an investigation by Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2018, at 3:00 PM before Judge David G. Larimer, who presided over the trial of the case.
Randolph County Resident Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On November 1, 2017, Brian A. Mudd, 59, Ruma, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. The offense occurred between June 2016 and December 8, 2016, in Randolph County. The methamphetamine offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. Mudd is currently being held without bond pending a February 13, 2018, sentencing hearing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda A. Robertson and Adam E. Hanna for prosecution.
Portland Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mustafa Hassan, 34, of Portland was sentenced on November 1 in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to seven years in prison and four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack. The defendant was convicted following a jury trial on March 16, 2017.
Court records and trial evidence revealed that between January and March 2016, Hassan, Carlos Manuel Perez-Crisostomo a/k/a “Nelson Calderon,” and others trafficked in cocaine and crack in southern Maine. The two men were arrested on March 6, 2016, as law enforcement interrupted a pending drug transaction. A subsequent search warrant at Perez-Crisostomo’s residence revealed about 160 grams of crack and about 460 grams of cocaine.
On November 21, 2016, Perez-Crisostomo entered a guilty plea to the drug conspiracy charge. On September 7, 2017, he was sentenced to 121 months in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) in conjunction with the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the DEA; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Portland, South Portland, and Lewiston Police Departments.
Patrick County Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government MoneyRead the Press Release
Danville, VIRGINIA – A Patrick County, Virginia man, who stole more than $230,000 from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services in disability benefits to which he was not entitled, pleaded guilty yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Danville, Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle announced.
Mark S. Huffman, 46, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday to a one-count Information charging him with theft of government monies. As part of his plea agreement, Huffman agreed to pay restitution for $234,134 to the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, the defendant faces a maximum term of incarceration of up to 10 years.
According to evidence presented at yesterday’s guilty plea hearing by Assistant United States Attorney’s Charlene R. Day, Huffman collected $234,134 in disability benefits from the government while also earning money working a full-time job, which he failed to report to the Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Service, as required by law.
The investigation of the case was conducted by Department of Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Oklahoma City Man Pleads Guilty to Millions of Dollars of Gift-Card FraudRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – LEONARD RAY FOSTER, of Oklahoma City, has pled guilty to fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud retailers of millions of dollars through gift cards, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to charges filed earlier this week, Foster owned and operated Acquisitions Unlimited, LLC, also known as A-to-Z Giftcards. This business bought unused or partially used retail gift cards, also known as store value cards, for a fraction of the cards’ face value. With Foster’s personal involvement, the business then sold the value on the cards to Giftcard Zen, an online retail gift card exchange based in Phoenix, Arizona.
According to the charges, from May 2015 to March 2017, individuals affiliated with Foster or his business shoplifted large quantities of high-dollar items from retail stores, including Walmart, Lowe’s, Target, and Home Depot. They then returned these stolen items, without a receipt, to the retailer for a store value card in the amount of the returned merchandise. Each day, Foster purchased multiple cards from these individuals for a small fraction of the cards’ face values. He knew the cards had been obtained through fraud. Indeed, Foster sometimes directed the shoplifters himself. Through A-to-Z Giftcards, he then sold the face value on the cards to Giftcard Zen, in violation of terms of service that prohibited selling store value cards obtained through fraud.
Foster is charged in two separate counts. First, he is charged with wire fraud in connection with a particular wire during the scheme: a $59,035.38 transfer on December 9, 2015, from Giftcard Zen’s out-of-state bank to an account of Acquisitions Unlimited at Bank of America in Oklahoma. Second, he is charged with money laundering, based on a December 10, 2015, withdrawal from Bank of America in the amount of $18,000. The charges also include forfeiture allegations that seek a 1969 Ford Mustang, currency seized from accounts at First Fidelity Bank, and proceeds of the offenses generally.
Today Foster pled guilty to both wire fraud and money laundering. In a plea agreement, he has acknowledged that the losses associated with his scheme are between $3.5 million and $9.5 million. At sentencing, he could receive up to 20 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release on Count 1. On Count 2, he could receive up to 10 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He will also be subject to mandatory restitution in an amount to be determined by the court and fines of up to $250,000 per count.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry, Ashley L. Altshuler, and Wilson McGarry. Reference is made to court records for further information.
Oakland Resident Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Marcus Jones was sentenced to ten years in prison and a $100,000 fine today after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Jon S. Tigar, United States District Judge.
On August 11, 2017, Jones, 33, of Oakland, pleaded guilty without a written agreement to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). As part of the guilty plea, Jones admitted to possessing a firearm and ammunition after sustaining a felony conviction. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Tigar accepted the fact that Jones was arrested after he left Oakland International Airport and exited his vehicle near his residence. The judge found that when Jones was arrested, he possessed in his waistband a black .40 caliber fully loaded semi-automatic Glock handgun with a 22 round extended magazine. Jones also possessed a bulletproof vest, $19,478.00 in cash on his person, and an additional $14,980 in his luggage. Judge Tigar also found that additional items retrieved from Jones’s residence belonged to him; the additional items include an AK-47 assault rifle, 1,268 grams of marijuana, $240,280.00 in cash, and evidence of credit card fraud including credit-card-making devices. Judge Tigar concluded that all these items, including the Glock handgun found in defendant’s waistband during his arrest, were used to facilitate a drug trafficking operation. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Tigar stated:
Defendant’s attempt this morning to explain his possession of a firearm and a bulletproof vest because people are constantly shooting at him were unpersuasive. And the idea that he has no idea why it is that people in various locations in the United States are shooting at him is simply incredible. It defies belief. . . . When I include the relevant conduct, the nature and severity of the offense is greater than any felon in possession case that I have seen. . . . [The defendant] is a danger to the community.”
A federal grand jury indicted Jones on April 6, 2017, charging him with a single count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Pursuant to his plea, defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the prison term and the $100,000 fine, Judge Tigar also sentenced Jones to a three-year period of supervised release, to commence after Jones completes his prison sentence. Jones has been in custody since his arrest and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Gullotta is prosecuting the case with assistance from Noble Hughes, Julissa Rey, and Katie Turner. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the San Leandro Police Department and the FBI.
Norwalk man indicted for sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors and fraudRead the Press Release
A Norwalk man was indicted on multiple charges after fraudulently inducing teen girls into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and recording the conduct under the false promise that he was producing a pornographic film, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.
Charles Thomas Barbarotta, 32, was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of wire fraud.
Barbarotta used fraud to cause two minors to engage in commercial sex acts in December 2016. He also induced two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, according to the indictment.
Barbarotta also used a scheme to induce the two minor victims into performing sex acts with him for what he fraudulently purported would be a pornographic film he would produce or direct, according to the indictment.
Barbarotta is suspected of engaging in similar conduct with other victims. Anyone with information about him is encouraged to call the FBI at 419-243-6122.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ottawa, Huron and Erie County Sheriff’s Offices. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Northern Colorado Bank Robber Indicted and Then ArrestedRead the Press Release
DENVER – A bank robber allegedly responsible for two bank robberies in Northern Colorado has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver. James Wilbert Gray, age 25, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, was arrested in Texas after first being charged with bank robbery in Kentucky. He was later indicted for two bank robberies in Colorado.
Gray faces two counts of bank robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and Denver Division of the FBI Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers announced. Gray has made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Texas, where he was advised of the charges pending against him. He is currently in custody in Kentucky where he is also facing bank robbery charges. He is being held without bond, and will be transferred to Colorado after the matter in Kentucky is resolved.
According to the Denver federal grand jury indictment, which was returned on September 26, 2017, Gray on July 24, 2017 robbed the TCB Bank, located in Keenesburg, Colorado. Also, on July 27, 2017, he robbed the Bank of the West in Lyons, Colorado. Both bank robberies carry a penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution.
The investigation was handled by the FBI with substantial assistance from the Lochbuie Police Department and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Bohn.
The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Member of the “Felony Lane Gang” Sentenced in $1 Million Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – On November 2, 2017, United States District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced Tara Kathleen Whyte, age 30, of Hollywood, Florida, and Gambrills, Maryland to 54 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release for bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft stemming from a banking scheme involving over $1 million in losses. Judge Garbis also ordered Whyte pay restitution in the amount of $77,422.06.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Caruso of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; Chief Antonio DeVaul of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division; Acting Chief Stanley Johnson of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George’s County Division; Chief Gary L. Gardner of the Howard County Police Department; Chief Terrance B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
Whyte was one of 13 members of a nationwide group of fraudsters known as the “Felony Lane Gang.” These individuals traveled from Florida to Maryland and other states, broke into vehicles parked at recreation areas, sports fields, gyms, fitness centers, and other locations, and stole wallets, purses and other items left in the vehicles. The defendants then used the victims’ stolen checks, credit cards and identifications to conduct fraudulent financial transactions. Traveling groups generally consisted of two to four managers and one to six “faces” (sometimes called “sliders” or “workers”) or persons who passed the fraudulent and stolen checks. They traveled in rental cars and stayed in hotels sometimes using victims’ identities and credit cards.
Eight other defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced as follows.
Courtney B. Walker, age 29, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – sentenced to 54 months;
James J. Blakey, age 30, of Ft. Lauderdale – sentenced to 57 months;
Vincent Lee Sands, age 27, of Lauderhill – sentenced to 42 months;
Tracy Lee Whyte, age 36, also of Hollywood, and Gambrills– sentenced 54 months;
Shannon Elise Isley, age 31, of Sunrise, Florida – sentenced to 48 months;
Lauren Anne Bole, age 30, of Miramar, Florida – sentenced to 26 months;
Felicia Kaye Waybright, age 28, of Daytona Beach, Florida – sentenced to 31months; and
Amie Nicole Carter, age 33, of Casselberry, Florida – sentenced to time served (7 months).
The remaining defendants pled guilty but have not yet been sentenced.
According to the 27-count indictment, from September 2012 through July 2015, the defendants used the checks, credit cards, identifications, and other items they stole from breaking into unattended vehicles to pose as the victims or to access the financial accounts of the victims. The defendants recruited prostitutes, drug addicts, and other vulnerable individuals to travel with them to conduct financial transactions using the stolen checks, driver’s licenses, and other materials, and paid them with drugs, food, and small amounts of cash amounting to a fraction of the total value of the checks they cashed. The conspirators often wore wigs and glasses to more closely resemble the victims whose stolen driver’s licenses they used to conduct the transactions.
Over the course of the scheme the defendants fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain over $1 million from more than a dozen financial institutions using the identification of hundreds of individual victims.
The Maryland Identity Theft Working Group has been working since 2006 to foster cooperation among local, state, federal, and institutional fraud investigators and to promote effective prosecution of identity theft schemes by both state and federal prosecutors. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Working Group, demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to work with financial institutions and businesses to address identity fraud, identify those who compromise personal identity information, and protect citizens from identity theft.
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the U.S. Secret Service, Maryland National Capital Park Police - Montgomery and Prince George’s County Divisions, and the Howard County, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County Police Departments for their work in the Maryland portion of this multi-state, multi-agency investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamera L. Fine and Ayn B. Ducao, who prosecuted the case.
Medford Woman Indicted for Social Security, Medicare, MassHealth, and Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Medford woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, MassHealth and Food Stamps.
Stephanie DiPierro, 37, was charged with three counts of theft of public funds, two counts of making false statements, and one count of falsely representing a Social Security number. She will appear in federal court in Boston today at 3:45 p.m.
According to the indictment that was unsealed today, from October 2007 through May 2017, DiPierro stole $73,288 in Social Security benefits, $8,455 in Medicare benefits, $8,615 in MassHealth benefits and $17,929 in Food Stamps. In September 2015, she falsely informed the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance that she did not have any income other than her Social Security benefits when, in fact, she was receiving income as a result of her work as a personal care attendant. DiPierro falsely told Social Security in March 2016, while she was working as a personal care attendant, that she did not take care of any other individual. DiPierro also falsely represented her Social Security number on a time sheet submitted in connection with her work as a personal care attendant.
The charges of theft of public funds provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charges of making false statements provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Six Years for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Adam Williams, a/k/a “Pacman,” 37, of Worcester, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for distributing cocaine base, commonly known as crack. Williams pleaded guilty to the offense on April 6, 2017.
According to court records, on April 10, 2015, in Bangor, Williams sold crack to an individual working with law enforcement.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Woodcock noted that the defendant had three prior felony convictions in Massachusetts involving the distribution of controlled substances and that his conduct pending sentencing was “reprehensible.”
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty ToMailing Threatening CommunicationsRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Michael Dube, 48, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to three counts of mailing threatening communications, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley of the District of New Hampshire announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between March 2, 2016, and June 2, 2016, Dube sent three letters to victims located in New Hampshire, which contained threats to break the addressee’s legs, sexually assault his daughter, and to kill his son. The letters were postmarked in Boston and delivered to a residence in Sandown, New Hampshire.
Dube is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2018.
This Sandown Police Department investigated the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation. The Derry Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Raymond Police Department, and the Tewksbury Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
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Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Craig Alexander Brodie, 29, from October 2016 to September 2017, conspired and carried out a plan to rob prostitutes in Newport News and Williamsburg. During the course of the conspiracy, Brodie identified potential victims over the internet, then set up meetings in person. His co-defendant, Kimberly Lannytte Gardner, acted as a driver for him. Once he was at the victims' rooms, he brandished a firearm and robbed the victims. In multiple cases, he forced the women at gunpoint to strip naked and then fondled or attempted to fondle the victim's breasts. During the robberies, Brodie said to his victims, “you don't understand, you're about to die,” and “next time it will be worse,” and “the only reason I'm not killing you is because you have kids.” Brodie also bragged about being in the Army and said he was “trained for this sort of thing.” As an additional intimidation tactic, Brodie took pictures of multiple women's drivers’ licenses during the robberies.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Cowles prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-41.
Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Steven Vernon Roland, 44, formerly of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between December 28, 2013 and March 19, 2014, Roland knowingly received over 28,000 images and 50 videos depicting child pornography. Roland was identified by law enforcement during an undercover investigation targeting use of peer-to-peer file sharing networks.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Amy Schuller Hitchcock is prosecuting the case.
Roland is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. on January 19, 2018. Roland faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety.
Maine Fisherman Sentenced for Illegally Trafficking American EelsRead the Press Release
Tommy Water Zhou was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment today for trafficking juvenile American eels (also called “elvers” or “glass eels”) in violation of the Lacey Act, following a hearing in federal district court in Norfolk, Virginia. The sentence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and United States Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia.
In April 2017, Zhou pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act by purchasing elvers in interstate commerce that had been harvested illegally in Virginia. Court documents indicate that Zhou trafficked at least 105 pounds of elvers, which is approximately 210,000 individual eels, and worth more than $105,000. Zhou subsequently sold these elvers to international buyers and exported them from the United States.
“Illegal harvesting and trafficking of wildlife represents a dire threat to our critical ecosystems,” said U.S. Attorney Boente. “This case reaffirms our commitment to protecting Virginia’s natural resources for future generations.”
“Wildlife trafficking is a transnational crime which devastates species both at home and abroad,” said Acting Chief of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ed Grace. “In this case, the defendant chose to illegally harvest American eels – the only species of freshwater eel found in North America. This animal plays a critical role in native ecosystems and is negatively impacted by the illegal wildlife trade. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice and others to protect this species and bring those who choose profit over preservation to justice.”
Eels are highly valued in East Asia for human consumption. Historically, Japanese and European eels were harvested to meet this demand; however, overfishing has led to a decline in these populations. As a result, harvesters have turned to the American eel to fill the void.
American eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea, an area of the North Atlantic Ocean bounded on all sides by ocean currents. They then travel as larvae from the Sargasso to the coastal waters of the eastern United States, where they enter a juvenile or elver stage, swim upriver, and grow to adulthood in fresh water. Elvers are exported for aquaculture in East Asia, where they are raised to adult size and sold for food. Harvesters and exporters of American eels in the United States can sell elvers to East Asia for more than $2,000 per pound.
Because of the threat of overfishing, Atlantic Coast states have cooperatively prohibited elver harvesting in all but two states: Maine and South Carolina. Maine and South Carolina heavily regulate elver fisheries, requiring that individuals be licensed and report all quantities of harvested eels to state authorities. Other Atlantic coast states, including Virginia, have commercial fisheries for adult or “yellow” eels.
This case was the result of “Operation Broken Glass,” a multi-jurisdiction U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation into the illegal trafficking of American eels. To date, the investigation has resulted in guilty pleas for 18 individuals whose combined conduct resulted in the illegal trafficking of more than $5 million worth of elvers.
“In this operation, we are actively partnering with state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to protect our nation's marine resources from further exploitation.” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood.
Operation Broken Glass was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section in collaboration with the Maine Marine Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Conservation Police, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Police, USFWS Refuge Law Enforcement, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Law Enforcement, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game Division of Law Enforcement, Maryland Natural Resources Police, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Yarmouth, Massachusetts Division of Natural Resources, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Police Department and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorneys Cassandra Barnum and Shane Waller, and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Kosky.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Sex Trafficking of A MinorRead the Press Release
27 year-old man used 14-year-old girl for commercial sex acts
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman today announced the sentencing this week in United States District Court, before Senior Judge Charles R. Simpson III, of a Louisville man, to 121 months in prison for sex trafficking of a minor.
Keith L. Napier, Jr., 27, admitted that beginning in March of 2016, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, he asked Jane Doe, a 14-year-old female, if she could help him earn money to pay off debts by performing commercial sex acts. Napier had a reasonable opportunity to observe Jane Doe, and also knew her real age. From March 2016 to May 2016, Napier transported Jane Doe to and from appointments with clients for commercial sex. The commercial sex acts frequently took place at hotels, frequented by out-of-state visitors. Napier advertised the commercial sex acts on the internet website, Backpage.com.
The investigation was opened during a prostitution sting coinciding with the Kentucky Derby when Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers found a listing on Backpage.com advertising prostitution. A LMPD Detective arranged a meeting and encountered a 14-year-old female. Napier had transported the minor to the Jefferson County hotel to perform a commercial sex act.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda E. Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky. The case was investigated by LMPD and the FBI’s Louisville Division.
Latin Kings Member Sentenced to Prison for Drug DealingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Latin Kings street gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing drugs in New Bedford.
Virgilio Adorno, a/k/a “Trigga,” a/k/a “Goyo,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In August 2017, Adorno pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine.
In March 2017, Adorno and others were charged following a long-term investigation into drug trafficking in the New Bedford area. Among other things, the investigation revealed that the Bonneau Court area of New Bedford had been overwhelmed by drug dealing and violent crime. Latin Kings gang members and associates were observed regularly using a section of Bonneau Court known as “The Pit” as a site for drug trafficking and other illegal activity. As part of the investigation, Adorno was caught selling crack cocaine to a cooperating witness in the Bonneau Court area. A subsequent search warrant executed at Adorno’s residence resulted in the seizure of additional crack cocaine.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn A. MacKinlay, Chief of Weinreb’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha, also of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit, are prosecuting the cases.
Keene Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Andrew Beezub, 34, of Keene, was sentenced on Thursday to 37 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children became aware in February 2016 that images and videos of suspected child pornography had been uploaded to a Dropbox account. Additional investigation by the Keene Police Department determined that the account was associated with the defendant. A search warrant in April 2016 resulted in the seizure of the defendant’s computer and telephone. A forensic analysis of the defendant’s telephone established its link to the Dropbox account where videos of child pornography were stored.
Beezub pleaded guilty on May 1, 2017, to one count of possessing child pornography. After servicing his sentence, he will be on supervised release for five years.
The U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Keene Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was also provided by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Hinsdale Police Department, and the Hampton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Jury Convicts Joplin Man of Large-Scale Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Joplin, Mo., man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.
Santiago Soto-Garcia, 24, of Joplin, was found guilty on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, of one count of participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Soto-Garcia was also convicted of a forfeiture allegation that requires him to forfeit to the government $7,000 that was seized by law enforcement officers and was derived from the proceeds of the conspiracy.
Co-defendants Destiny O’Brien, also known as “Destiny Smith,” 21, of Joplin, and Michael L. Gonzalez, also known as “Chavez,” 24, of Texas, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to possessing firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Evidence introduced during the trial proved to the jury that Soto-Garcia and O’Brien, assisted by Gonzalez, were multiple-pound distributors of methamphetamine in the Joplin area from late 2014 to August 2015.
After an investigation that began in February of 2015, Soto-Garcia, O’Brien, and Gonzalez were arrested on Aug. 11, 2015, following a traffic stop by a Joplin Police Officer. Soto-Garcia was the driver of a silver 2006 BMW, with O’Brien a passenger in the front seat and Gonzalez in the rear driver’s side passenger seat. When Gonzalez rolled down his window, the officer saw two pistols on the floorboard by Gonzalez’s feet and all three defendants were instructed to get out of the vehicle. The Hi-Point .40-caliber firearm and the Kel-Tec .223-caliber firearm, along with loaded magazines, were removed from the vehicle.
After the occupants and the firearms were removed from the vehicle, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the BMW from outside of the vehicle. When the officer attempted to open the door of the vehicle to conduct an interior search, he found the doors were locked.
The officer determined that Soto-Garcia had locked the doors with the key fob for the BMW and asked Soto-Garcia for the key fob. Instead of handing the fob to the officer, Soto-Garcia took the fob out of his pocket and threw it under the patrol vehicle. As Soto-Garcia began struggling with the officers, O’Brien ran over to the patrol vehicle and obtained the key fob. O’Brien then resisted officers as well. After obtaining the fob and arresting O’Brien and Soto-Garcia, officers searched the vehicle. Joplin police officers found a package that contained approximately a pound of methamphetamine and then arrested Gonzalez as well.
That same day, investigators searched Soto-Garcia’s residence and found a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun, a Tanfoglio .40-caliber handgun, a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun, a North American Arms 22-caliber magnum revolver, ammunition, a bullet-proof vest, a money counter, and approximately five grams of methamphetamine. Investigators then searched another residence being used as a stash house by Soto-Garcia and found a Phoenix Arms .22-caliber handgun and approximately 852.3 grams of methamphetamine hidden in an air vent.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated less than two hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, Oct. 30, 2017.
Under federal statutes, Soto-Garcia is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Larison, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Garrison, and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Randy Eggert. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, ATF, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin Police Department, and the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team.
Jamestown Man Sentenced on Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
FARGO – U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on November 3, 2017, Alexander Robert McManus, age 56, of Jamestown, ND, was sentenced before Judge Ralph R. Erickson following a guilty plea to one count of Receiving Materials Containing Child Pornography and two counts of Possession of Materials Containing Child Pornography. Judge Erickson sentenced McManus to serve 22 years in federal prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release. McManus was further ordered to pay $300 to the Crime Victims’ Fund, as well as $2,500 in restitution to the victim.
This case came to the attention of law enforcement after a child reported that McManus had been sexually abusing her since a young age. The Jamestown Police Department initiated an investigation after which defendant’s wife reported finding a cell phone containing child pornography that was concealed behind the refrigerator in their residence. Law enforcement subsequently searched McManus’ residence during which time they recovered additional media that contained child pornography. Defendant later admitted to receiving and possessing child pornography that he concealed in his residence. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and the Jamestown Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl prosecuted the case.
Inland Empire Pimp Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Twenty Women and Girls as ProstitutesRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA – A pimp, known by the moniker “Classified,” who recruited approximately 20 women and girls through a social media website and advertised their services as prostitutes in an online publication, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for sex trafficking of a child by force, fraud or coercion.
Lawrence T. Gunn, Jr., 33, of Woodland Hills, who was previously convicted for similar conduct, was sentenced by United States District Judge David O. Carter.
According to court documents, Gunn forced his victims into prostitution through physical and verbal abuse and tattooed his moniker “Classified” on their bodies including on the faces of some of his victims who he recruited on Facebook. He branded his victims with the tattoo to permanently mark his sex workers as his own. Gunn admitted that he used force, threats of force, fraud and/or coercion to cause the victims to engage in commercial sex acts between May 2015 and late February 2016. He then took all of the money the victims collected from customers.
Gunn physically struck the women if they attempted to keep any of the money or if they tried to leave, breaking a young victim’s nose on one occasion. Gunn also admitted that he threatened to kill one 16-year-old victim, who he had tattooed “Classified” over her right eye, if she tried to leave him.
The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking investigation in late 2016 found that advertisement’s for commercial sex acts were placed on various social media sites including Backpage.com and that Gunn had about a dozen women and girls working for him. One of the victims had posted hundreds of ads for sex services in states as far away as Alaska and Minnesota, according to court documents. Several victims told law enforcement authorities that Gunn took all of the money they collected from customers, including more than $17,000 that Gunn caused the victim to wire to him over the course of three months.
Once he completes his 15-year prison term, Gunn will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes representatives from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The Moreno Valley Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department assisted in the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tritia L. Yuen of the Riverside Branch Office.
Information: Federal Court ArraignmentsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on November 1, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
- STEVEN MARSHALL MELCHER, a 34-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, MELCHER faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. PACER Case Reference. 17-119
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 23, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
- DAVID DORROW ROUNDY, a 41-year-old resident of Laurel, appeared on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, ROUNDY faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. PACER Case Reference. 17-112
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on October 23, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
- BRANDON CORDELL BENNETT, a 43-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, BENNETT faces 30 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release. The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Great Falls Police Department. PACER Case Reference. 17-68
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to File Fraudulent Tax Returns Using Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
A Chicago, Illinois, woman was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for conspiring to file fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Joel R. Levin of the Northern District of Illinois.
According to documents filed with the court, from 2012 to 2015 Dominique King, 27, conspired with Roxann Gist, 45, and another co-conspirator to file at least 858 fraudulent income tax returns, using stolen names and social security numbers. Those fraudulent returns sought more than $2.7 million in refunds. As part of the scheme, Gist and King acquired the personal identification information of thousands of unsuspecting individuals and directed others to receive and collect fraudulent income tax refund checks and to open up bank accounts to access direct deposits of such refunds.
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, King was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $1,332,935 in restitution to the IRS. King also pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to steal public money and aggravated identity theft. In September Gist was sentenced to 36 months in prison. She previously pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to steal public money, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg commended the Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Timothy M. Russo of the Tax Division, who prosecuted this case. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their substantial assistance in the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
ISIS Supporter Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man, who is a previously convicted felon and supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), pleaded guilty today to acquiring a firearm three weeks after he was released from state prison.
According to court documents, Casey Charles Spain, 28, was in prison for over seven years after being convicted in 2010 for abduction with intent to defile. While in prison, Spain became radicalized and expressed a desire to engage in acts of violence. Additionally, the FBI received information that Spain swore a pledge of loyalty, commonly known as bayat, to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. Spain also obtained a tattoo of the ISIS flag on his back.
After Spain was released from the Virginia Department of Corrections on August 11, he took up residence in the Richmond area. Due to his activity while in prison, the FBI began conducting surveillance of Spain immediately upon his release, including making covert contact with Spain with FBI undercover employees (UCE), as well as the use of a Confidential Human Source (CHS). Spain spoke on multiple occasions to the CHS about his strong desire to obtain a handgun. On August 30, the CHS and a UCE met with Spain and Spain described to the CHS his intention to purchase a semi-automatic handgun with a 50-round barrel canister, and that he had made arrangements to buy the handgun from an individual online. Given Spain’s criminal history, his desire to obtain a firearm, and the impatience he exhibited with regard to obtaining one, the CHS—as part of a controlled FBI undercover operation—offered to provide Spain with what the CHS described as his own personal weapon. In reality, the firearm, which was a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, was the property of the FBI that had been rendered inert for safety reasons.
On August 31, as part of the undercover operation, the CHS and UCE met Spain outside of his residence. The CHS provided Spain the above-described firearm, at which point members of the FBI Richmond SWAT team moved in to arrest Spain. Spain initially attempted to flee and escape arrest by running and jumping a nearby fence, but FBI SWAT members pursued Spain on foot and quickly apprehended him, and also recovered a mobile phone discarded by Spain during the chase and the above-described firearm.
Spain pleaded guilty to being a being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 12, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hood and Trial Attorney Raj Parekh of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-123.
Huntington man pleads guilty to federal heroin chargeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who received a shipment of heroin in the mail in December 2016 pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. David Lee Zirkle, 36, entered his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute heroin.
On December 9, 2016, officers were notified that a package suspected of containing controlled substances was scheduled for delivery to a residence at 2422 Collis Avenue in Huntington. A West Virginia State Police K-9 officer gave a positive indication that the package contained drugs, and a search warrant was obtained for the package. Law enforcement found approximately 30 grams of heroin inside the package. Investigators then removed the heroin, replaced it with a representative quantity of heroin, and then conducted a delivery of the package utilizing an undercover postal inspector. Zirkle accepted delivery and took possession of the package at the Collis Avenue address. A search warrant was then executed at that residence, and upon entry, officers located Zirkle with the envelope containing the sample of drugs in his hand. Officers also discovered digital scales and cash in the residence.
Zirkle faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 5, 2018.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Ona Division, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case was brought 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 prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national charged with a federal immigration crime pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Boston.
Yener Jacobo Sabillon-Thompson, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Sabillon-Thompson to time served (approximately seven months) and one year of supervised release. Sabillon-Thompson will be subject to deportation proceedings.
In September 2017, Sabillon-Thompson was encountered by law enforcement officers in Boston and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Sabillon-Thompson was previously deported four times.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Hershey Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Jay Jackson, age 57, of Hershey, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson to bankruptcy fraud related charges.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Jackson was charged in an indictment in February 2017 with 12 counts of wire fraud, five counts of bankruptcy fraud, nine counts of false bankruptcy declarations, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Jackson pleaded guilty to all 28 counts of the indictment.
Jackson admitted he defrauded his creditors, the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of PA, and his wife, by filing seven Chapter 13 and 11 bankruptcy petitions, five of which were filed under Jackson’s name and two of which were filed under his wife’s name without her knowledge. The petitions contained false information regarding Jackson’s income, assets, and employment, and were filed in order to postpone multiple Sheriff’s sales of his Hershey residence.
Jackson filed the last two petitions on June 3, 2015, and January 19, 2017, under his wife’s name without her knowledge after the Bankruptcy Court barred Jackson from filing any further petitions for two years on May 28, 2015.
The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Offices of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel is prosecuting the case.
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.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Bankruptcy fraud and false statements in Bankruptcy matters both carry a five-year statutory maximum. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.
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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Harrison County woman admits to methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Crystal Michelle Haggarty, 34, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, admitted to her role in a methamphetamine distribution operation, United States Attorney William J. Powell announced.
Haggarty pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” She admitted to distributing crystal meth in May 2017 in Harrison County.
Haggarty faces up to 20 years and a $1,000,000 fine. 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 are investigating.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gardner Men Arrested on Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Gardner men were arrested today and charged in federal court in Worcester with firearms offenses.
Travis Miller, 29, and Edwin Labaw, 33, were each charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Miller and Labaw appeared before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy this afternoon.
According to the charging document, Miller had indicated to a government cooperating source that he had access to, and could sell, firearms, silencers and pipe bombs. In September 2017, Miller sent Facebook messages to the cooperating source regarding the potential sale of a double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun and a 9mm rifle, as well as ammunition for the shotgun. On Sept. 19, 2017, Miller and Labaw met with the cooperating source and an undercover agent in Gardner and sold them a double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun, a 9mm Kel-Tech Sub 2000 rifle, and 11 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition for $1,200.
It is further alleged that Miller subsequently communicated with the cooperating source on Facebook regarding the potential sale of an AK-47 style rifle. On Sept. 27, 2017, the cooperating source and an undercover agent met Miller, Labaw, and a third individual in Fitchburg to purchase a 7.62x39mm caliber SKS rifle, along with ammunition and magazines, for $1,800.
According to court documents, both Miller and Labaw each have prior felony convictions and are therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
Each defendant faces 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.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. This case was investigated with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police and the Worcester, Gardner, and Fitchburg Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Franklin LSD Dealer Sentenced to Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Franklin man was sentenced today to 76 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Taylor Beale, 23, sold LSD to an undercover Franklin Police detective on three occasions in September 2016. Beale brought a handgun to one of these drug deals and showed it to the undercover Franklin detective. On a fourth occasion in September 2016, Beale was also stopped by Virginia State Police Meherrin Drug Task Force Officers and found to be in possession of twenty dosage units of LSD and a handgun. When Beale was arrested, he admitted that he had previously robbed another LSD dealer at gunpoint. In addition to the 76 month sentence, the court also ordered the forfeiture of Beale’s car, and two guns Beale brought to LSD deals.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, Phillip M. Hardison, Chief of the Franklin Police Department, and Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-100.
Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was arrested today and charged in connection with embezzling over $22,000.
Dennis Reis, 37, of Taunton, was charged in an indictment with one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records. Reis will appear in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the indictment, Reis was employed by the USPS since approximately 2000, and was the Lead Sales & Service Associate at the East Taunton Post Office since 2014. In that capacity, Reis sold stamps to customers and maintained accountability for the funds and stamp stock. From January 2015 to March 2017, Reis engaged in a scheme to embezzle funds by voiding cash transaction sales of stamps so that the system did not account for the cash paid by customers. Reis then entered a “no sale” transaction into the system, causing the cash drawer to open and taking the cash paid by customers for his own use. Through this scheme, Reis embezzled at least $22,773 from the USPS.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Eileen Neff, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Weinreb’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Fergus Falls High School Teacher Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced the sentencing of JOSHUA NOBLE, 39, to 60 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography through online chatrooms. NOBLE was charged by felony information on April 17, 2017, and pleaded guilty on June 29, 2017, to one count of distribution of child pornography. NOBLE was sentenced yesterday before Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, NOBLE was a substitute teacher in Fergus Falls, Minn. for approximately 15 years. On March 4, 2016, undercover law enforcement officers observed NOBLE using an internet-based messaging service called Chatstep.com to obtain and distribute images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Noble possessed at least 244 such images, including depictions of prepubescent children under 12 years of age and infants and toddlers.
This case resulted from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations-Grand Forks and Washington, D.C.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children while identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources.”
Defendant Information:
JOSHUA NOBLE, 39
Fergus Falls, Minn.
Convicted:
- Distribution of child pornography, 1 count
Sentenced:- 60 months in prison
- 10 year term of supervised release
- $26,000 in restitution
- $5,000 special assessment paid to the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600Former FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and Owners of Miami Aviation Repair Company Charged in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A former FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and the co-owner of a South Florida aviation repair company, AVCOM Avionics and Instruments Inc., were charged with various offenses in connection with bribery scheme during 2010-2013. To date, the other co-owner of AVCOM Avionics and Instruments Inc. has also been convicted and sentenced in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Marlies T. Gonzalez, Regional Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), and Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Patricia Suarez, a/k/a “Patricia Bailly,” a/k/a “Patricia Del Castillo,” 49, of Coral Gables, was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(1)(C) and (b)(2)(C), and fifteen counts of bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201(b)(1)(C). If convicted, Patricia Suarez faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count and fifteen years’ imprisonment each for the bribery counts, as well as a fine up to $250,000 or triple the bribery proceeds.
Manuel R. Fernandez, 40, of Miami, was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(1)(C) and (b)(2)(C); fifteen counts of bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201(b)(2)(C); one count of providing false statements to a federal agency, in violation Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2); two counts of wire fraud, in violation Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; and two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. If convicted, Fernandez faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count, fifteen years’ imprisonment each for the bribery counts, five years’ imprisonment for the false statements count, twenty years’ imprisonment for each wire fraud count, and a two-year consecutive mandatory minimum sentence for the aggravated identity theft counts, as well as a fine up to $250,000 or triple the bribery proceeds.
Rolando Suarez, 56, of Coral Gables, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(1)(C). Rolando Suarez was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. Rolando Suarez also agreed to pay approximately $711,940 in joint and several restitution in relation to the bribery scheme.
Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg stated, “The Suarez’s, through their company, paid tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to Fernandez, an FAA Aviation Inspector, for the sake of minimizing the cost of doing business, gaining inside information on its competitors, and maximizing profits. This indictment represents our joint efforts to ensure that businesses compete on a level playing field, without improper outside influences or the payment or receipt of bribes.”
“This investigation of alleged bribery demonstrates that those entrusted with ensuring the safety our aviation system are held to the highest standards of integrity in the roles for which they are employed,” said Marlies T. Gonzalez, Regional Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG). “The Department of Transportation has made safety and accountability a top priority. Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to prevent, detect and prosecute fraud schemes that compromise the safety of the traveling public.”
“When those entrusted with aviation system safety put self-interest and personal enrichment ahead of their obligation, they breach the public's trust,” said Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “We encourage anyone who may have information about corruption to come forward and report it. This information is vital to our work. The South Florida community can be assured that public corruption will remain a top priority for the FBI.”
According to the indictment, from 2010 through June 28, 2013, Fernandez served as a FAA Aviation Safety Inspector with the FAA South Florida Flight Standards District Office (“FSDO”). Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez were the co-owners, officers, and directors of AVCOM, a Miami aviation repair company, which was subject to the jurisdiction and official responsibility of the FAA South FSDO.
Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez corruptly provided thousands of dollars in cash, income, credit cards, vacation cruises, airline tickets, and other things of value to Fernandez, in exchange for Fernandez violating his lawful and official duties as an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector. In violation of his lawful and official duties, Fernandez provided AVCOM with improperly obtained aviation repair manuals, which saved AVCOM vast sums of money. Fernandez assisted AVCOM in altering and erasing language, warnings, and advisories from the manuals that indicated confidential, proprietary, copyrighted, and trade secret material. Fernandez also provided AVCOM with notice and warnings as to FAA inspections and investigations regarding AVCOM and its competitors, disclosed to AVCOM sensitive and confidential information regarding AVCOM’s competitors, and concealed and failed to report AVCOM legal, regulatory, and policy violations to the FAA.
In addition to cash payments, in order to funnel additional money to Fernandez, Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez submitted documents to AVCOM’s payroll provider establishing Fernandez’s relative as a no-show employee. In turn, Fernandez’s relative promptly provided these AVCOM funds directly to him. Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez also issued various company checks made out directly to Fernandez.
According to the indictment, Fernandez also provided materially false statements to the FAA and DOT in order to hide his AVCOM activities. Additionally, Fernandez electronically submitted fraudulent sick leave requests to the FAA, including utilizing a forged and fictitious doctor’s note.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the DOT-OIG and the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. McLaughlin.
An indictment merely contains allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Former Compton Deputy Treasurer Sentenced to 78 months for Embezzlement of over $3.7 Million in City FundsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – The former deputy treasurer for the City of Compton was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison on charges stemming from his embezzlement of more than $3.7 million of city funds over the course of six years.
Salvador Galvan, 47, of La Mirada, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, on one count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds.
According to court documents, when Galvan entered his guilty plea in July, 2017, he admitted that he stole $3,721,924 from the City of Compton from May 2010 through December 2016.
Galvan, who worked as the Deputy Treasurer in the Compton Treasurer’s Office for more than 20 years, was responsible for tallying the cash received by the city as payment for parking tickets, business licenses and other fees. After the cash was counted, Galvan prepared the money for deposit into a city bank account.
According to court records, Galvan skimmed cash from the daily receipts on numerous occasions, sometimes taking as much as $8,000 per day.
Galvan has agreed to forfeit to the government the remaining proceeds of his embezzlement, which includes cash and cars purchased with the stolen money. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the City of Compton of $3,721,924.
In conjunction with Galvan’s guilty plea, his wife – Rosa Maria Galvan – was also sentenced today on federal money laundering charges related to the embezzled funds. She was sentenced to three years’ probation, 12 months of home detention and 800 hours of community service. Rosa Galvan is jointly liable for the $3,721,924 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel O’Brien, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section.
Former CFO of Insurance Brokerage Company Guilty of Embezzling $2 Million over A Two Year Period and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Money supported a family owned business, personal expenses and gambling activity
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The former Chief Financial Officer of Market Finders Insurance Corporation, pleaded guilty in United States District Court yesterday afternoon, before Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin, to tax evasion and embezzling nearly $2,000,000 during a two year period announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
Sylvia Rebecca Smith, 63, of Louisville, was charged by Information with one count of wire fraud for devising an embezzlement scheme to obtain money from her employer, Market Finders Insurance Corporation (“Market Finders”) and then diverting those funds to PBS Insurance Underwriting Corporation, and two counts of failing to report embezzled funds as income on her tax returns. At the time, Smith was the bookkeeper for PBS Insurance and her husband was the sole owner.
According to the plea agreement, Smith admitted that from July of 2013 through April of 2015, while employed as CFO of Market Finders, she generated fraudulent loan checks from her employer and diverted it into the bank account of PBS.
Specifically, during the relevant time period, the defendant devised a scheme to embezzle funds from Market Finders and Market Finders Insurance Premium Budget Corp. (“Market Finders Premium Budget”), a subsidiary of Market Finders, by creating fraudulent insurance financing contracts between Market Finders Premium Budget and existing insurance clients of PBS Insurance without the knowledge of those existing clients. Smith admitted to manipulating the records so that her theft of funds would not be detected by her employer.
Smith admitted that she and her husband used a portion of the fraudulent loan proceeds to fund her husband’s business and to pay for personal expenses for herself and her husband and to pay for gambling activity.
Further, Smith used a portion of the proceeds to make payments on the previous loans she had falsely created from Market Finders Premium Budget. When the scheme was discovered by Market Finders and brought to an end, Smith had not repaid approximately $674,093.
Additionally, Smith admitted to failing to report approximately $258,504 in embezzled funds as income for tax year 2013 and omitted approximately $514,696 in embezzled funds as income for tax year 2014 on Form 1040 of the U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
At sentencing, Smith agreed to pay $674,093 restitution and could be sentenced to no more than 26 years in prison. Smith was released from federal custody on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled for sentencing before Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. on February 5th, in Louisville.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Zimdahl and is being investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
smith_sylvia_information_11_3_17.pdfFormer CEO of Arthrocare Corporation Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in $750 Million Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
The former chief executive officer of ArthroCare Corporation, a publicly traded medical device company based in Austin, Texas, was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for his role in orchestrating a fraud scheme that resulted in shareholder losses of over $750 million.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin Jr. of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Field office made the announcement.
Michael Baker, 58, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of the Western District of Texas, who also ordered Baker five years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay a fine in the amount of $1 million and to forfeit $13.7 million. At the sentencing hearing, the Court found that investors lost more than $750 million as a result of the fraud scheme. On Aug. 18, after a two-week re-trial, Baker was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud and two counts of making false statements.
Evidence at trial showed that, beginning in 2005 and continuing until 2009, Baker, along with his co-conspirators, masterminded and executed a scheme to artificially inflate sales and revenue through a series of end-of-quarter transactions involving several of ArthroCare’s distributors. Baker, along with his co-conspirators, determined the type and amount of product to be shipped to distributors based on ArthroCare’s need to meet Wall Street analyst forecasts, rather than distributors’ actual orders. Baker and others then caused ArthroCare to “park” millions of dollars’ worth of ArthroCare’s medical devices at its distributors at the end of each relevant quarter. ArthroCare reported these shipments as sales in its quarterly and annual filings at the time of the shipment, enabling the company to meet or exceed internal and external earnings forecasts.
The trial evidence further showed that ArthroCare’s distributors agreed to accept shipment of millions of dollars of products in exchange for special conditions, including substantial, upfront cash commissions, extended payment terms and the ability to return products, allowing ArthroCare to falsely inflate revenue by tens of millions of dollars. In the case of ArthroCare’s largest distributor, DiscoCare, Baker caused ArthroCare to acquire DiscoCare specifically to conceal from the investing public the nature and financial significance of ArthroCare’s relationship with DiscoCare. In addition to falsely inflating ArthroCare’s revenue, Baker lied when he was deposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2009 about ArthroCare’s relationship with DiscoCare, the evidence showed.
Baker’s earlier conviction was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, resulting in the retrial. The sentence imposed on Baker today of 20 years imprisonment is identical to the sentence he received after his first trial.
Co-conspirators David Applegate and John Raffle, both former senior vice presidents of ArthroCare, pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in 2013 in connection with their participation in the scheme. Co-conspirator Michael Gluk, former chief financial officer of ArthroCare, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud on June 14, in connection with his participation in the scheme.
On Aug. 29, 2014, Raffle was sentenced to 80 months in prison. On Aug. 29, 2014, Applegate was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Gluk’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2018.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Securities and Financial Fraud Unit Chief Benjamin D. Singer, Assistant Chief Henry P. Van Dyck and Trial Attorney Caitlin Cottingham of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Five Charged in Alleged Opioid Prescription, Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Five individuals have been charged by way of federal criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Providence for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to create fraudulent prescriptions for opioid pills and, at times, unlawfully pay for the prescriptions with the use of medical insurance. It is alleged that often times the pills were distributed to others in return for cash payments.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jeffrey Ebersole Resident Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) announced the filing of criminal complaints charging Robert Rose, 51, David Rose, 58, and Tammy Bonham, 53, of Providence, Victoria Coccia-Rose, 28, of Pawtucket, and Michael Slonski, 47 of Johnston, with conspiracy to unlawfully acquire or obtain possession of a controlled substance by fraud, to distribute a controlled substance, to commit healthcare fraud and to commit aggravated identity theft.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch said, “Earlier this week this office announced the arrest of more than two-dozen people who allegedly contributed to the addiction epidemic that is sweeping through Rhode Island by allegedly distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine. The arrests announced today highlight yet another scheme to profit from the addiction epidemic. Law enforcement on every level will continue to work together to identify, investigate, arrest and prosecute these traffickers and schemers.”
“Opioid addiction and the resulting overdoses and deaths are an enormous national crisis,” said Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who distribute illegally obtained opioids from outside the legitimate supply chain and make them available to U.S. consumers.”
According to court documents, it is alleged that an investigation by members of the Rhode Island FDA-OIC task force determined that participants of the scheme manufactured fraudulent prescriptions utilizing the identities, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identification numbers and signatures of medical practitioners without their consent. Prescriptions for varying amounts of oxycodone pills were written and presented to pharmacies by some members of the conspiracy and others working at the direction of the conspirators. It is alleged that the scheme often times included the fraudulent use of medical insurance to pay pharmacies for the illicit prescriptions. Most of the oxycodone pills gained with the use of fraudulent prescriptions were sold to others for distribution.
According to court documents, it is alleged that as part of the scheme, the alleged leader of the conspiracy, Robert Rose, paid for individuals’ identities, health care insurance information, and for various prescribing medical practitioners’ names and DEA numbers. Rose provided that information to another member of the conspiracy, along with special paper necessary to produce the fraudulent prescriptions. At times, it is alleged, Robert Rose ran the conspiracy while incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institution.
Robert Rose made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Providence on Thursday and was released on unsecured bond. David Rose, Tammy Bonham and Michael Slonski made initial appearances in U.S. District Court on October 17, 2017, and were released on unsecured bond. Victoria Coccia-Rose made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 18, 2017, and was released on unsecured bond.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations task force, with the assistance of Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.
The Rhode Island Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations task force consists of investigators from FDA-OCI, Rhode Island State Police, East Providence Police, North Providence Police, Westerly Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.
Additionally, Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jeffrey Ebersole, Resident Agent in Charge of FDA-OCI, thank the Office of Program Integrity, Executive Office of Rhode Island Health and Human Services for their assistance during this investigation.
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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Escape ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Eric Judkins, 34, formerly of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court to an escape charge, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Judkins received a 210-month federal prison sentence in 2000 for a bank robbery he committed in New Hampshire. While serving the sentence in a federal prison in Pennsylvania, Judkins pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate and received an additional 27-month prison sentence.
On June 13, 2017, Judkins was transferred from a federal prison in Kentucky to the Hampshire House Residential Reentry Center in Manchester, with an expected release date of April 8, 2018. With permission from the Hampshire House staff, Judkins left the facility on August 28, 2017, and was required to return before 4:30 p.m. He failed to return as required. On August 31, 2017, Judkins was arrested by Deputy United States Marshals and local law enforcement officers in Howard, Pennsylvania.
Judkins will be sentenced on February 13, 2018.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.
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ECI Correctional Officer Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – United States District James K. Bredar has sentenced Xavier Holden, age 28, of Salisbury, Maryland to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for his role in a racketeering conspiracy. Holden is one 80 defendants who were charged in two separate indictments for a racketeering conspiracy operating at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland. The indictments charge 18 correctional officers (COs), 35 inmates and 27 outside “facilitators,” for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved paying bribes to correctional officers to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, tobacco, and cell phones, into the prison.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Robert B. Wemyss of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Secretary Stephen T. Moyer of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
As of today’s sentencing, 66 of the 80 defendants originally indicted have pled guilty, including 12 of the 18 correctional officers who were charged. Chief Judge Bredar has sentenced all defendants who have appeared before him to date to a term of imprisonment, including the following inmates and facilitators. Today’s sentencing is the first sentencing of a correctional officer:
Inmates:
Shawn Benbow: 46 months
Joseph Branch: 42 months
Jamar Hutt: 41 months
Samuel Johnson: 29 months
Mark Lance: 27 months
Michael Page: 46 months
Kevin Stanley: 27 months
Kevin Thompson: 57 months
Ramel Chase: 33 months
Stewart Gough: 50 months
Deven Matos: 41 months
Facilitators:
Reggie Fosque: 24 months
Markayla Reynolds: 1 year + 1 day
Keisha Barksdale: 1 year + 1 day
Antoine Gray: 24 months
Elvia Hall: 21 months
Marcus Lisbon: 65 months
Rose Thomas: 21 months
Holden joined the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services on October 22, 2012 and was assigned to Housing Unit 1.
COs have a duty to further the legitimate purposes of ECI by ensuring that inmates follow the rules enacted for their health and safety and the health and safety of prison employees and the larger community, including, most importantly, the prohibition of criminal activity while incarcerated. The Defendant abused his position of trust as sworn officer of DPSCS by engaging in illegal activities for the purposes of enriching himself.
As a CO, Holden received annual training in ethics and professionalism. COs were taught that: Inappropriate relationships with inmates can include bribery, conflicts of interest, solicitation and acceptance of gifts, the offering of gifts, favors and services to inmates, ex-inmates, relatives of inmates, improper contact or failure to report contact with inmates, ex-inmates, relatives or friends and the appearance of inappropriate relationships.
According to the Correctional Officer’s Handbook: “The illegal possession and/or use of any controlled substance and/or controlled paraphernalia while on or off duty is strictly prohibited. . . . An employee may not possess or convey contraband into an institution or onto institutional property.”
Holden smuggled contraband into ECI in exchange for bribes from inmates. Holden delivered tobacco and K2 two times a week between August 2014 and June 2015 to co-defendant Samuel Johnson and another inmate associated with Johnson. Holden also smuggled contraband into ECI in exchange for bribes from inmate and co-defendant Ramel Chase.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Baltimore Police Department and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise, Robert R. Harding, and Daniel C. Gardner, who prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to a federal immigration charge.
Wellington Eustate, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan 25, 2018.
In October 2016, Eustate was encountered by law enforcement officers in Holden who determined that he was illegally present in the United States. Eustate was previously deported on Nov. 5, 2013.
Eustate faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated in Taunton and Boston.
Ernesto Jossiel Paredes-Lugo, also known as Juan Morales-Ortiz, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In February 2017, Morales-Ortiz was arrested and charged along with 22 other co-defendants. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2018.
From mid-2016 through February 2017, federal law enforcement investigated two drug trafficking organizations operating in Taunton and Boston led by Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, 32, a Dominican national, and Fernando Hernandez, 42, a Dominican national residing in Providence, R.I. Hernandez allegedly ran a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization in Taunton. The organization sold heroin and fentanyl to customers who re-distributed a portion of the drugs they obtained. It is alleged that Hernandez obtained drugs from a network of suppliers that included Lugo-Guerrero.
Lugo-Guerrero allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization in Fall River and Boston, assisted by others, including Paredes-Lugo, who sold to numerous customers. It is further alleged that Lugo-Guerrero and his associates obtained a significant quantity of illegal drugs by robbing other drug traffickers.
The conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; and Bristol Country District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Jonathan Julian Garcia, 38, a Dominican national residing in Roxbury, was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.
According to the indictment, Garcia was previously deported on Feb. 3, 2015. In October 2017, law enforcement encountered Garcia in Westwood and determined him to be illegally present in the United States.
Garcia faces a sentence of no greater than 20 in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.