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27 November 2017
Media Advisory: Local Investigative Team Wins Federal Law Enforcement Award for Murder InvestigationRead the Press Release
On November 30, 2017, five members of the team that investigated the May, 2011 killing of Tony Canfield will be recognized for their efforts with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) national group achievement award. The award ceremony will take place at the Sioux City Police Department at 4:30 p.m., and will be followed by a press conference.
The FLEOA was founded in 1977, and is a non-profit organization that represents federal law enforcement agents across the nation, and currently represents more than 25,000 federal law enforcement agents from over 65 different agencies.
The recipients of the FLEOA award are FBI Special Agent Jonathan Moeller, Northern District of Iowa Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild, Sioux City Police Department Detectives Heather Albrecht and Mike Simons and Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Walsh. The national award stems from the recipients’ group efforts in the investigation of Sioux City resident Tony Canfield’s murder. The case began on May 1, 2011, when Mr. Canfield and his wife were robbed at gunpoint by three men. One of the robbers held and brutalized the wife, while the other two physically robbed Mr. Canfield of marijuana and cash. Mr. Canfield resisted his attackers and attempted to escape the robbery by fleeing his home. While fleeing, Mr. Canfield was shot and killed on his front porch. The crime went unsolved for five years, owing to the fact there was no forensic evidence identifying the perpetrators, and neither the murder weapon, nor any shell casings were recovered at the scene. In addition, the wife could not identify the robbers as they were wearing masks. Nonetheless, through dogged investigative work, which included numerous interviews conducted in a number of different states, the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted. In 2016, all three defendants were convicted, and sentenced. The sentences ranged from 20 to 35 years’ imprisonment.
Press releases and interview opportunities will be available.
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Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Child Abuse on Navajo ReservationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Nathan Joe, 36, of Nazlini, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 21 months in prison for physically abusing a child on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
In February 2014, Joe physically assaulted the minor victim, including slapping him with enough force to leave a handprint-sized bruise on the victim’s face. Both Joe and the victim were living on the Navajo Indian Reservation at the time the assault occurred. Joe is an enrolled member of that tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08037-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-113_Joe
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Six Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for conspiring with others to conduct six armed robberies of banks and other financial institutions in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
According to court documents, Rashad Harris, 26, and others robbed three separate Title Max stores and an Advance America Cash Advance store in Portsmouth, and an armed robbery of the BB&T bank in Chesapeake and a Wells Fargo bank in Portsmouth. During these robberies, Harris and a co-conspirator would enter the financial institutions pretending to be interested in obtaining a loan. They would then suddenly brandish firearms and demand money. During the last robbery of the Wells Fargo bank, Harris handed the teller a robbery note demanding money. Harris left the note behind and the tellers noticed it was a starter check issued by Wells Fargo bank to Harris. The tellers then looked up a picture of Rashad Harris on Facebook and noticed he was the same person who had just robbed them. In addition to his prison sentence, Harris was also ordered to pay $12,428 in restitution which was the total amount taken during all the armed 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 Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Muhr 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-109.
Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Pizza RestaurantRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 16 1/2 years in prison for the armed robbery of Ricco’s Pizza in Hampton.
According to court documents, Brian Gale, 55, robbed Ricco’s Pizza on the evening of July 3, 2016. Gale entered the store through the rear employee entrance wearing a mask and carrying a firearm. He pushed and ordered employees to the floor and then fired his gun toward the front of the store while demanding money. Gale stole approximately $1,400 from the business before fleeing, leaving the mask he had worn inside the business. As he was fleeing, Gale encountered a delivery driver returning to the store to make additional deliveries. Gale pointed his gun at the driver’s face as he ran past. The driver and the store’s owner followed Gale to the area behind the store and watched as he fled into a nearby residential neighborhood. Before entering the neighborhood, Gale looked back and fired his gun a second time. As Gale crossed into the neighborhood, he dropped his cell phone, which was later used to identify him. Gale also discarded homemade zip-tie handcuffs and rubber gloves. Gale’s identity was further confirmed through DNA testing of the mask found inside Ricco’s Pizza.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Terry L. Sult, Chief of Hampton Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton 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-47.
MEDIA ADVISORY-- Federal and State Officials to Make Significant Law Enforcement AnnouncementRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney will make a significant law enforcement announcement at 2:00 P.M., TODAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque, N.M. Acting U.S. Attorney Tierney will be joined by Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, Special Agent Clement Rogers of IRS Criminal Investigation in Albuquerque, and Christopher Moya, Acting Director of the New Mexico Regulations and Licensing Department’s Financial Institutions Division.
WHO:
Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney
Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade, Albuquerque Division of the FBI
Special Agent Clement Rogers of IRS Criminal Investigation in Albuquerque
Christopher Moya, Acting Director of the New Mexico Regulations and Licensing Department’s Financial Institutions Division
WHAT:
Significant law enforcement announcement
WHEN:
TODAY (MONDAY), NOVEMBER 27, 2017
2:00 P.M.
WHERE:
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico
201 Third Street NW
10th Floor Multi-Media Room (Reception on Ninth Floor)
Albuquerque, NM 87102
OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media representatives must present government-issued photo I.D. (i.e., driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials. Media representatives may begin to arrive at 1:45 p.m. Inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to USAO Media Coordinator Alyssa Ferda, contractor, at 505-224-1480 or [email protected].
Grand Jury Indicts Lackawanna Man on Multiple Drug Charges, Including Heroin and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an six-count indictment charging Elias Armand, 40, of Lackawanna, NY, with various drug offenses involving Armand’s possession and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, U-47700, and cocaine. The indictment also charges him with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul C. Parisi, who is handling the case, stated that between 2014 and February 2, 2017, the defendant is accused of conspiring with others to possess and distribute illegal narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, an individual working with the Drug Enforcement Administration made a controlled purchased of approximately 10 grams of suspected heroin from the defendant.
On April 13, 2017, DEA special agents and detectives from the Lackawanna Police Department executed a search warrant at defendant’s residence and recovered the following: a plastic bag containing approximately 500 grams of suspected cocaine; a 9mm semi-automatic pistol; two magazines filled with ammunition; a digital scale; packaging equipment: and three empty packages addressed from China, the main distributor of the synthetic opiate fentanyl. Officers also located a kilogram press.
The defendant was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Former Seattle Police Officer Pleads Guilty for Role in Drug Conspiracy Transporting Large Amounts of Marijuana to East CoastRead the Press Release
A former Seattle Police Officer pleaded guilty today for his role in a drug ring smuggling hundreds of pounds of marijuana from the Seattle area to Baltimore, Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. ALEX CHAPACKDEE, 44, of Seattle, was a 16-year veteran of SPD, who resigned shortly after his arrest in May 2017. CHAPACKDEE pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend the mandatory minimum five-year sentence when CHAPACKDEE is sentenced on March 1, 2018. U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence up to the statutory maximum of 40 years in prison.
In his plea agreement CHAPACKDEE admits he conspired with his brother-in-law, alleged ringleader Tuan Van Le, 42, of Maple Valley, Washington; 32-year-old Phi Nguyen; and 38-year-old Samath Khanhphongphane, to distribute hundreds of pounds of marijuana and transport and launder the proceeds from the drug sales. CHAPACKDEE has remained in custody since his arrest in May 2017.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Seattle Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad revealed that on multiple occasions between June 2013, and April 2017, Le made trips between Seattle and Baltimore. While Le often flew one way or roundtrip, other members of the conspiracy made the trip by driving virtually non-stop. The vehicles carried marijuana to the Baltimore area and the cash proceeds back to Seattle. CHAPACKDEE participated in multiple trips driving his RV one or both ways in September, October and November, 2016. CHAPACKDEE -- who was an SPD officer throughout the conspiracy -- admits that while he was furthering the conspiracy he was armed and carried his Seattle Police Department badge. CHAPACKDEE, Le and the other conspirators linked up at both ends of the trip, apparently distributing drugs and the cash proceeds. Bank records indicate CHAPACKDEE deposited cash in his account in amounts just under $10,000 thereby avoiding reports to law enforcement. In his plea agreement CHAPACKDEE admits that he used his status as a police officer to cover and protect the conspiracy.
This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Multiple agencies assisted with the arrests and the serving of search warrants including the Port of Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
Former Kansas CPA Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former Kansas CPA pleaded guilty Tuesday to filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Robert M. Purinton, 69, formerly of Overland Park, Kan., now of Rancho Mirage, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement on his 2009 tax return by under-reporting his income by about $202,000. He agreed to make restitution of $71,543 for the additional taxes due and owing for that year. He also agreed to make restitution of $34,512 for 2010, although he did not plead guilty to any criminal activity for that year. During those years, he was a CPA with an accounting firm in Overland Park.
The sentencing date will be set after his presentence report is completed. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, and total restitution of $106,055. Beall commended the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton for their work on the case.
Former Employees of Southern California Ambulance Company and Dialysis Center Plead Guilty to Medicare Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
A former employee of a Southern California ambulance company and a former employee of a Los Angeles dialysis treatment center both pleaded guilty today to fraud charges for their roles in a fraud scheme that resulted in more than $6.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Three other individuals charged in the case previously pleaded guilty.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown of the Central District of California, Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Region and Acting Assistant Director in Charge Danny Kennedy of the FBI’s Los Angeles Division made the announcement.
Aharon Aron Krkasharyan, 53, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Maria Espinoza, 47, also of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks for health care referrals. U.S. District Judge George H. Wu of the Central District of California accepted the guilty pleas. Krkasharyan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2018, and Espinoza is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2018.
Krkasharyan was employed as the Quality Improvement Coordinator for Mauran Ambulance Inc., an ambulance transportation company operating in the greater Los Angeles area that provided non-emergency services to Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom were dialysis patients. According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between June 2011 and April 2012, Krkasharyan conspired with other Mauran employees to submit claims to Medicare for ambulance transportation services for individuals who did not need such services. Krkasharyan also admitted that he and his co-conspirators instructed Mauran emergency medical technicians to conceal the patients’ true medical conditions by altering paperwork and creating fraudulent reasons to justify the ambulance services.
Espinoza was an administrative assistant at DaVita Doctors Dialysis of East Los Angeles. As part of her guilty plea, Espinoza admitted that she conspired with an employee of Mauran to receive cash kickbacks in return for referrals of dialysis patients to Mauran for whom Mauran submitted claims to Medicare for non-emergency ambulance transportation services.
Earlier this month, Toros Onik Yeranosian, 55, the former owner of Mauran, and Oxana Loutseiko 57, the former general manager of Mauran, each pleaded guilty before Judge Wu to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for their roles in the fraud scheme. The former Dispatch Supervisor at Mauran, Christian Hernandez, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in December 2015.
In connection with his guilty plea, Yeranosian admitted that during the course of the conspiracy, Mauran submitted to Medicare at least $6.6 million in false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary transportation services, of which Medicare paid at least $3.1 million. As part of their plea agreements, all five defendants agreed to pay restitution to Medicare.
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Trial Attorneys Alexis D. Gregorian and Jeremy R. Sanders of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 3,500 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $12.5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Wire-Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – CHARLES DANIEL LYNN, 34, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty today to accepting a bribe as a federal correctional officer and conspiring to commit wire fraud, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to an indictment filed on August 16, 2017, Lynn served as a correctional officer at Great Plains Correctional Facility in Hinton, Oklahoma, during the latter half of 2016. Operated by GEO Group, Great Plains is a low-security institution that contracts with the Bureau of Prisons to house approximately 1,871 federal inmates. Federal regulations prohibit certain contraband items in correctional institutions, including cell phones and electronic music players.
The indictment charges Lynn with conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud and also with accepting a bribe as a federal official. The indictment also charges ARMANDO TABARES, 30, of Misson, Texas, and JOSE TOMAS CASTILLO-GARZA, 39, an inmate at Great Plains, with conspiracy and bribery. In particular, the grand jury alleges that Lynn agreed to receive contraband items from Tabares, to smuggle these items into Great Plains, and to deliver them to Castillo-Garza, who is Tabares’s brother-in-law. The contraband items included cell phones, electronic music players, and other items. The indictment also alleges that Lynn escorted Castillo-Garza to various parts of Great Plains to distribute the contraband to other inmates. In exchange for Lynn’s services, Tabares and others paid Lynn through interstate wire transfers via Walmart Money Gram. The alleged conspiracy deprived the government of Lynn’s honest services as a prison employee.
Today Lynn pleaded guilty before Judge David L. Russell to one count of accepting a bribe and one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. At sentencing, Lynn could be sentenced to up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for bribery. For the conspiracy, Lynn could be sentenced to up to twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000. After any prison term, he could be required to serve up to three years on supervised release. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.
Castillo-Garza pleaded guilty to conspiracy on November 7, 2017. He faces up to twenty years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of three years. His sentencing will also take place in approximately 90 days.
Tabares is charged with conspiracy and with paying a bribe to a federal official. His trial is scheduled in January 2018.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. McKenzie Anderson is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to court records for further information.
Former Employees of Southern California Ambulance Company and Dialysis Center Plead Guilty to Medicare Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former employee of a Southern California ambulance company and a former employee of a Los Angeles dialysis treatment center both pleaded guilty today to fraud charges for their roles in a fraud scheme that resulted in more than $6.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Three other individuals charged in the case previously pleaded guilty.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown of the Central District of California, Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Region and Acting Assistant Director in Charge Danny Kennedy of the FBI’s Los Angeles Division made the announcement.
Aharon Aron Krkasharyan, 53, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Maria Espinoza, 47, also of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks for health care referrals. U.S. District Judge George H. Wu of the Central District of California accepted the guilty pleas. Krkasharyan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2018, and Espinoza is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2018.
Krkasharyan was employed as the Quality Improvement Coordinator for Mauran Ambulance Inc., an ambulance transportation company operating in the greater Los Angeles area that provided non-emergency services to Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom were dialysis patients. According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between June 2011 and April 2012, Krkasharyan conspired with other Mauran employees to submit claims to Medicare for ambulance transportation services for individuals who did not need such services. Krkasharyan also admitted that he and his co-conspirators instructed Mauran emergency medical technicians to conceal the patients’ true medical conditions by altering paperwork and creating fraudulent reasons to justify the ambulance services.
Espinoza was an administrative assistant at DaVita Doctors Dialysis of East Los Angeles. As part of her guilty plea, Espinoza admitted that she conspired with an employee of Mauran to receive cash kickbacks in return for referrals of dialysis patients to Mauran for whom Mauran submitted claims to Medicare for non-emergency ambulance transportation services.
Earlier this month, Toros Onik Yeranosian, 55, the former owner of Mauran, and Oxana Loutseiko 57, the former general manager of Mauran, each pleaded guilty before Judge Wu to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for their roles in the fraud scheme. The former Dispatch Supervisor at Mauran, Christian Hernandez, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in December 2015.
In connection with his guilty plea, Yeranosian admitted that during the course of the conspiracy, Mauran submitted to Medicare at least $6.6 million in false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary transportation services, of which Medicare paid at least $3.1 million. As part of their plea agreements, all five defendants agreed to pay restitution to Medicare.
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Trial Attorneys Alexis D. Gregorian and Jeremy R. Sanders of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 3,500 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $12.5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
David J. Freed Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David J. Freed was sworn in today to be the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The oath of office was administered by Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Freed was nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney by President Trump on September 8, 2017, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 15, 2017. Mr. Freed replaces Bruce D. Brandler, who was appointed United States Attorney on an interim basis on October 2, 2016 upon the resignation of Peter J. Smith, who had served in that capacity since 2010.
Mr. Freed, 47, of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, will serve a four-year term and preside over an area that covers 33 Pennsylvania counties located in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania. Mr. Freed has an extensive background in public service including serving as the Cumberland County District Attorney since 2006, First Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County and as an Assistant District Attorney in York County. He also served as President of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association from 2013-2014 and served as a law clerk for Judge Harold Sheely of the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and received his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
“It is a true honor to be sworn in to work alongside of the excellent career prosecutors, civil attorneys and staff of the Middle District, said United States Attorney David J. Freed. I look forward to continuing the great work of the office on behalf of our citizens.”
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Cuban National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Voting, False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Cuban national formerly residing in St. Joseph, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges in two separate indictments.
Leonardo Lleras-Rodriguez, 55, of Kansas City, Mo., a citizen of Cuba formerly residing in St. Joseph, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to the charges contained in two separate federal indictments.
Lleras-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to casting a fraudulent election ballot and, in a separate case, to three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.
By pleading guilty today, Lleras-Rodriguez admitted that he cast a fraudulent ballot in six elections from 2010 through 2014 for federal, state and local candidates, including the presidential election on Nov. 6, 2012. Lleras-Rodriguez also admitted that he prepared fraudulent federal income tax returns for numerous clients.
Lleras-Rodriguez falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen when he registered to vote in Buchanan County, Mo., on Nov. 5, 2009. Under Missouri law, only persons who are U.S. citizens who have not been convicted of a felony are eligible to vote. Lleras-Rodriguez was convicted in the Middle District of Florida of conspiracy to distribute cocaine on June 27, 2000, and sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. When Lleras-Rodriguez was released from prison on Feb. 7, 2003, he was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation processing. Lleras-Rodriguez was ordered deported from the United States, but due to the inability to obtain a travel document from Cuba, he was placed on an ICE order of supervision until a travel document to deport him to Cuba could be obtained.
Lleras-Rodriguez, who operated a self-owned tax preparation business in St. Joseph, also pleaded guilty to preparing three fraudulent tax returns in February and March 2014 that included false claims for itemized deductions. According to court documents, Lleras-Rodriguez prepared 45 fraudulent tax returns from 2012 to 2014, which resulted in a total tax loss to the United States of $134,898.
Under federal statutes, Lleras-Rodriguez is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole for casting a fraudulent ballot, and a sentence of up to three years in federal prison without parole on each of the three counts of false income tax returns. 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.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes, IV. They were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Crookston, MN, Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Flying J Truck Stop MurderRead the Press Release
FARGO – U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on November 27, 2017, LORIE ORTIZ, age 33, of Crookston, MN, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson to serve 70 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for her role as an Accessory After the Fact in the drug-related death of Austin Forsman. Judge Erickson further sentenced Ortiz to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund in addition to restitution in the amount of $9,409.11.
Law enforcement’s investigation into the murder of Austin Forsman at the Flying J Truck Stop in Grand Forks, ND, in the early morning hours of March 11, 2016, resulted in the Indictment of 13 conspirators in connection with a methamphetamine ring in the Grand Forks area. There were twelve other defendants charged in this case, including Modesto Torrez who was found guilty after a jury trial regarding the drug trafficking conspiracy and murder in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, as well as obstruction of justice. Torrez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2017, in Fargo.
This case was investigated by the Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Rodenbiker, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Ensrud.
Christina E. Nolan Sworn in as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
Burlington, VT. – Christina E. Nolan has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont. Ms. Nolan was nominated by President Donald Trump on September 28, 2017, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 9, 2017. She took the oath of office in the chambers of Christina C. Reiss, Chief United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.
Ms. Nolan stated: “It is an honor to serve Vermont and the people of the United States in this new capacity. The United States Attorney’s Office in Vermont is comprised of good and extraordinarily talented people. It is a privilege to be appointed as their United States Attorney and I will strive every day to be worthy of the honor. The USAO looks forward to strengthening our ties with our partners in the community and in federal, state, and local law enforcement. We must collaborate with them closely to tackle the various threats to the health and safety of Vermonters, from the opiate epidemic and violent crime, to crippling financial frauds, to child exploitation.”
As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Nolan is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the District of Vermont. She oversees a staff of 48 employees, including 20 attorneys and 28 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases, brings affirmative civil challenges on behalf of the United States, and collects debts owed to the United States.
Ms. Nolan, a Vermont native, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Vermont since 2010. She has prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including complex drug trafficking offenses, money laundering, firearms offenses, violent crime, and crimes against children. As a federal prosecutor, she twice received the New England Narcotic Enforcement Officer’s Association Award for Outstanding Contribution.
Ms. Nolan previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. From 2005 to 2009, Ms. Nolan worked as a litigation associate at Goodwin Procter LLP, in Boston, where she concentrated her practice in white collar criminal defense. Ms. Nolan clerked for The Honorable F. Dennis Saylor IV, of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She graduated with departmental honors from the University of Vermont, summa cum laude, with degrees in political science and history. She received a law degree, magna cum laude, from Boston College Law School.
Ms. Nolan is a member of the Vermont and Massachusetts Bar Associations. She is a graduate of Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, Vermont, and was inaugurated into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ms. Nolan is the first female United States Attorney for the District of Vermont. A public ceremony marking Ms. Nolan’s swearing is expected to be scheduled in the near future.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 60 MonthsRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Tido Kirby, 37, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen for distribution of heroin.
Kirby was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.
According to Court filings, on November 29, 2016 Kirby sold 4 bags of heroin for $200 to an undercover police officer. The defendant fled from police and dropped several more bags of heroin which were recovered. Kirby admitted, before his arrest he purchased 25 grams of heroin for $75 per gram each day from another individual. Kirby also admitted he sold heroin to approximately 9-10 ten regular customers.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas R. Mahoney.
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Charleston felon sentenced to nearly five years in prison for second federal gun crimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Charleston man was sentenced today to four years and nine months in federal prison for a gun charge, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Markus Davis, 40, previously pleaded guilty to a single-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On February 22, 2017, officers with the Charleston Police Department pulled Davis over on Virginia Street in Charleston for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, officers found a stolen, loaded Taurus handgun in his pants. Davis was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of previous felony convictions. Additionally, this is the second federal gun conviction for Davis. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2011 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He was also convicted of first degree robbery in 2004 in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
The Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Haley Bunn and Matt Davis handled the prosecution. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
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Carlsbad Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Federal Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Eric Anthony Lopez, 32, of Carlsbad, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 84 months in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine and heroin trafficking charges. Lopez will be on supervised release for four years after completing his prison sentence.
Lopez was arrested on March 31, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with drug trafficking offenses on Oct. 28, 2015, in Eddy County, N.M. According to the complaint, Lopez was arrested after law enforcement agents located approximately 461 grams of methamphetamine, 39 grams of heroin and $5,620 in cash in Lopez’s vehicle during the execution of a search warrant.
On June 5, 2017, Lopez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. In entering his guilty plea, Lopez admitted that on Oct. 28, 2015, law enforcement found approximately 461 grams of methamphetamine and 39 grams of heroin during a search of his vehicle. Lopez further admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute the substances to other individuals.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force. The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Saltman of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.
The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), the Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.
The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org
Attorney Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Stemming from $50 Million Scheme that Defrauded the EB-5 Visa Program and Chinese InvestorsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An attorney who lives in El Monte pleaded guilty today to federal fraud and money laundering charges for participating in a multi-faceted scheme that collected more than $50 million from foreign investors seeking “Green Cards” through the EB-5 visa program.
Victoria Chan [陳莹莹], who along with her father operated a San Gabriel-based business called California Investment Immigration Fund, LLC (CIIF), admitted that she exploited the EB-5 visa program,which provides lawful permanent residence – commonly known as a “Green Card” – to foreign nationals who invest at least $500,000 in a domestic business that creates 10 new American jobs.
Chan admitted that much of the money collected by CIIF from the primarily Chinese investors either was stolen by the conspirators or was refunded to the foreign nationals. This undermined one of the basic principles of the EB-5 program because the money was not actually invested in the United States, nor did it lead to the creation of 10 new American full-time jobs, as required under the program.
Chan admitted submitting about 130 fraudulent EB-5 visa applications to federal immigration authorities, and many of those applications falsely claimed that the foreign investments were being used to fund construction projects that were creating new jobs.
As part of the wire fraud conspiracy, Chan admitted that she fraudulently used hundreds of thousands of dollars in EB-5 investor funds to purchase homes in her name, including residential properties each worth nearly $1 million in Diamond Bar and Rancho Cucamonga.
“This fraud scheme subverted the federal immigration process, which resulted in dozens of foreign nationals obtaining green cards they were not entitled to receive,” said Acting United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. “In addition to the millions of dollars they charged in fees, Chan and her father personally benefited by wrongfully using the EB-5 investment funds to purchase expensive homes in their names. We are committed to preserving the integrity of this nation’s immigration system as part of our overarching dedication to protecting the national security of the United States.”
Chan, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and international money laundering. Chan pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on July 9, 2018.
“Defendant Chan got rich by operating a long-term fraudulent scheme during which she manipulated a government program intended to encourage investors and stimulate the U.S. economy,” said Danny Kennedy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our federal partners will continue to investigate allegations of visa fraud which damage the credibility of immigration incentives and discourage foreign investment.”
“Our message is clear – America’s legal immigration system is not for sale,” said Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “In addition to posing significant security and safety vulnerabilities that could be exploited by criminals and others who pose a danger to our community, immigration benefit fraud undermines the integrity of our legal immigration process and penalizes those who abide by the law. HSI will work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who would exploit our nation’s immigration system for their own enrichment are brought to justice.”
In relation to this case, Chan, along with other people and entities related to her, agreed to forfeit to the government eight properties worth nearly $25 million that federal prosecutors linked to the fraudulent scheme. A ninth property named in an asset forfeiture complaint related to the scheme, a parcel in Rancho Cucamonga, is expected to be forfeited in the coming weeks.
Chan pleaded guilty to charges contained in a criminal information filed earlier this month. According to the information and a related plea agreement, Chan played a key role in the scheme by submitting fraudulent visa applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and refunding the purported investments by wire transferring millions of dollars to Chinese nationals.
Members of the conspiracy convinced more than 100 Chinese nationals to invest over $50 million in CIIF and related companies, according to court documents. Some of the foreign nationals were on China’s “100 Most Wanted List” after being charged with crimes such as bribery.
“Government programs designed to provide a pathway to permanent legal residency for foreigners and full-time jobs for Americans will not be exploited by greed,” stated IRS Criminal Investigation’s Special Agent in Charge, R. Damon Rowe. “Today’s guilty plea is the result of untangling a global web of complex financial transactions used by Ms. Chan to facilitate her immigration fraud scheme. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to share its hallmark financial investigative expertise in this and other increasingly sophisticated financial investigations.”
The scheme related to CIIF started in 2008 in Garden Grove and was later relocated to San Gabriel. The operation was shut down in April when federal authorities executed a series of search warrants on CIIF’s office and Chan’s residence.
As a result of the today’s guilty pleas, Chan faces a statutory maximum sentence of 45 years in federal prison.
The ongoing investigation into the EB-5 fraud scheme is being conducted by the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and IRS-Criminal Investigation. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also provided valuable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
USCIS Los Angeles District Director Donna Campagnolo stated: “This is an excellent example of federal agencies working together to combat fraud and maintain the integrity of our immigration system. USCIS is committed to providing information to our investigative colleagues to bring fraudsters to justice.”
Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting the criminal case. The asset forfeiture complaints were filed by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage man was sentenced in federal court to 20 years for distributing child pornography.
Jay Leavitt, 27, of Anchorage, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to serve 20 years in prison. Upon release, Leavitt will be under supervised release for the remainder of his lifetime.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Walker, Leavitt was previously sentenced in state court to three years of active imprisonment for attempted sexual abuse of a minor. Shortly after being released, Leavitt began distributing child pornography using a smartphone, even though he was under probation supervision.
Specifically, between March 27, 2017, and April 7, 2017, Leavitt used a computer to upload 55 images to his Twitter and Gmail accounts, and eight video clips, knowing that those images and videos depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Leavitt’s state probation supervision included polygraph examinations, also known as lie-detector tests. Leavitt successfully deceived a lie detector test by falsely denying committing the new offense.
Judge Gleason remarked that the 20-year sentence was imposed due to the seriousness of the crime. The Court considered the victim-impact statements presented by victims of child pornography and their guardians.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better identify, 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.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
An Alabama man pleaded guilty today to producing child pornography between 1997 and 1998, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town of the Northern District of Alabama.
Charles Mark McCormack, 54, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography before Chief U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre of the Northern District of Alabama. Sentencing is set for April 3, 2018.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, between Aug. 1, 1997, and Oct. 15, 1998, McCormack used a minor, born in or about 1992, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the conduct, by videotaping the minor urinating in a bathroom in his residence in Colbert County, Alabama. McCormack was employed as a kindergarten teacher during a May 2016 search of his residence, which resulted in law enforcement discovering fewer than 25 images of nude and topless females believed to constitute child pornography and a suitcase containing young girls’ panties.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this case with the cooperation of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Trial Attorney William M. Grady of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Fortune of the Northern District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
This investigation is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
24 November 2017
Philadelphia Man Charged in Superseding Indictment with Enhanced Penalty Provision for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that David Serrano-Munoz, age 38, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged on November 22, 2017, in a superseding indictment for offenses involving the exploitation of a minor.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Serrano-Munoz is alleged to have coerced a minor to take sexually explicit photographs of herself and transmit those images to him over the internet. He was charged in a three-count indictment in July with production of child pornography, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The superseding indictment alleges Serrano-Munoz was a registered sex offender at the time he allegedly committed the child pornography offenses. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of all electronic equipment used to take those images.
This case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the production of child pornography offense is 50 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Those charges carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years. The receipt and distribution of child pornography charge is punishable by a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. That charge carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years. The possession of child pornography charge is punishable by a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. That charge carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years. The penalty for committing an offense against a minor while being a registered sex offender is 10 years in addition to the penalty imposed for the underlying offense. 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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Harrisburg Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Benny Rodall, age 48, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 22, 2017, by a federal grand jury with unlawful possession of a firearm and drug distribution,
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on or about July 15, 2017, Rodall unlawfully possessed a Smith and Wesson 38 Special firearm with an obliterated serial number as a previously convicted felon. Rodall is also charged with possessing the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, heroin, and clonazepam pills on July 15, 2017.
The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for unlawful possession of firearm by a previously convicted felon is 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number is 5 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base is 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute clonazepam is 5 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Four Previously Deported Aliens Charged with Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that four previously deported aliens were indicted separately on November 22, 2017, by a federal grand jury for illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Fausto Lubo-Castillo, age 33, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in September 2008. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after September 2008, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Andres DeLeon-Cedillo, age 25, of Guatemala, was previously deported from the United States to Guatemala in June 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after June 2012, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers
Under federal law, Lubo-Castillo and DeLeon-Cedillo, both face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Marcelo Barranco-Ramirez, age 28, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on three occasions, April 2007, October 2014, March 2015. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2015, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers. In October 2014, he was convicted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania of Illegal Reentry by a Previously Deported Alien, an offense which subjects him to enhanced penalties in the current case.
Because of Barranco-Ramirez’s previous conviction, under federal law he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Mario Peralta-Lopez, age 32, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in June 2013 and May 2016. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2016 and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers. In August 2015, he was convicted in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas of Delivery or Possession With the Intent to Deliver Cocaine, an offense which subjects him to enhanced penalties in the current case.
Because of Peralta-Lopez’s previous conviction, under federal law he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is prosecuting the cases.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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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Columbia Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Thomas M. Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Columbia, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. That indictment was unsealed today when Gurley appeared before a federal magistrate judge. Gurley remains in federal custody pending his formal arraignment and detention hearing set for November 28, 2017, at 2:45 p.m.
The indictment alleges that between April 1, 2016 and May 22, 2017, the dates being approximate, within Boone County, in the Western District of Missouri, Gurley knowingly possessed a Mossburg, Model 500 A, 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition.
According to the government’s motion to detain, the defendant has a prior felony conviction from North Carolina for felonious restraint in 1997 and is alleged to have shot and killed another individual during the timeframe of the indictment.
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Columbia, Missouri, Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
22 November 2017
Wasilla Man Sentenced for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Terry Lee Keehn, II, 44, resident of Wasilla, Alaska, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to serve 13 years, 10 months in prison, to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for two counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion.
According to documents filed in the case, on Jan. 13, 2016, Alaska State Troopers (AST) served a state search warrant on the defendant’s vehicle and house for evidence of the sex trafficking and drug crimes. During a search of the defendant’s truck, law enforcement officers found a backpack with drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale, glass pipes, and unused baggies commonly used for distribution of drugs. In a backpack in the truck was methamphetamine and heroin.
During the drug investigation, Troopers identified several women the defendant recruited to work for him as prostitutes in and around Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. In his recruitment, the defendant targeted drug addicted women and recruited them to work for him by promising safe shelter and help getting off heroin. In some instances, the defendant substituted methamphetamine for heroin, continuing the victims’ dependence on controlled substances. In exchange for lodging, food, and drugs, the victims worked as prostitutes for the defendant, providing him with money and sexual favors.
Judge Burgess based his sentence primarily on the seriousness of the offense, the need to deter others, and the need to protect the public. “There are a lot of serious crimes in the world, but [sex trafficking] is up there as being among the most serious,” said Judge Burgess. Judge Burgess noted that the defendant targeted drug-addicted victims, and used that drug dependency “for his own benefit.” The defendant’s conduct toward his victims was “incredibly manipulative, coercive, and demeaning,” said Judge Burgess, and was “going to impact [his victims] probably for the rest of their lives.”
The case was the product of an investigation by the Alaska State Troopers, Special Crimes Investigation Unit, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.
Vincennes tax preparer sentenced in fraud schemeRead the Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
Evansville – United States Attorney Josh Minkler announced today that a tax preparation business owner was sentenced in federal court for her preparation of over 350 false tax returns in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Deborah L. Richards, 56, previously pleaded guilty to three counts willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Richards was sentenced to 48 months (four years) imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
“We have all learned to trust our tax preparer to tell us what we rightfully owe or are due from the government,” said Minkler. “Ms. Richards betrayed that trust and because of her greed, is going to have four years in the Bureau of Prisons to think about her actions.”
In 2015, Richards worked for Desirable Tax Services in Washington, Indiana, and prepared tax returns for clients. Then in 2016, Richards established Terry’s Tax Service in Vincennes, Indiana, where prepared tax returns for clients in 2016 and 2017.
Richards claimed false education credits, false American Opportunity credits, and false itemized deductions to inflate refunds due to her clients. In addition, she provided altered copies of the tax returns to her clients which were different from the tax returns she caused to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Richards then charged increased fees for her preparation of these fraudulent tax returns. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney James Warden who prosecuted this case for the government, Richards earned over $250,000 in fees for her fraudulent tax preparation work.
As a result of Richards’ efforts, more than 350 false federal income tax returns were filed with the IRS between 2014 and 2017, which resulted in a loss to the Internal Revenue Service and the American taxpayers of $550,001.
Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, said, “IRS-CI does not tolerate abuse of the U.S. tax system to enrich the greedy at the expense of the honest. Ms. Richards abused her position of trust with the taxpayers she represented for her own personal gain. IRS special agents identified Richards’ scheme, collected the evidence, and today, obtained justice for the American taxpayer.”
Judge Young ordered Richards to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $550,001.
Richards must serve one year of supervised release following her sentence.
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Two Syracuse Men Indicted for Heroin and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Matos, age 29, and Jeremias Matos, age 28, both of Syracuse, were arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and for possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Jeremias Matos is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler.
The indictment charges both defendants with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin from approximately August 2012 until April 2015. The indictment also charges Jose Matos individually with possessing a .45 caliber handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment further charges Jeremias Matos individually with illegally possessing a .45 caliber handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and with being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, the defendants each face at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life, in connection with the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin charge. Both men face potential consecutive sentences of 5 years in prison if convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jeremias Matos also faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The defendants were arraigned yesterday in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, who ordered them detained pending a trial scheduled for January 16, 2018.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Syracuse Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Levine.
Tobacco Companies to Begin Issuing Court-Ordered Statements in Tobacco Racketeering SuitRead the Press Release
Several of America’s major cigarette manufacturers will begin issuing court-ordered “corrective statements” in major daily newspapers and on television beginning Friday, November 24, 2017. The statements will clarify for the public the effects of tobacco use and will appear in full-page print ads in the editions of more than 50 newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, and Washington Post over four months. The same statements will also appear in television markets across the country beginning the following week for the next year.
Following a nine-month civil racketeering trial, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the tobacco companies, including Altria, its Philip Morris USA subsidiary, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, to issue the corrective statements as part of a permanent injunction in 2006 designed to “prevent and restrain” further deception of the American people regarding tobacco use. Multiple appeals following the 2006 permanent injunction delayed issuance of the statements until now.
In its 2006 permanent injunction, the district court found that “Defendants lied, misrepresented, and deceived the American public,” on a host of topics. These topics included:
- Fraudulently distorting and minimizing the health effects of smoking;
- Falsely denying and minimizing the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine;
- Designing cigarettes to create addiction;
- Fraudulently presenting light/low-tar cigarettes as less dangerous;
- Falsely denying marketing to youth; and
- Falsely denying the hazards of secondhand smoke.
The court concluded that, absent court action, the tobacco companies were “reasonably likely” to continue engaging in this behavior and imposed a permanent injunction to prevent future violations. Among other things, this injunction requires the tobacco companies to issue these “corrective statements” in multiple mediums: newspaper, television, company websites, and package “onserts.” Another placement for the statements, at retail point-of-sale, was set aside on appeal by the D.C. Circuit, and whether to reinstate it remains pending before the district court.
Numerous Justice Department attorneys have played a role in this case over the years. In the most recent phase of the litigation, the United States was represented by Trial Attorneys Daniel K. Crane-Hirsch and John (Josh) Burke of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch; Linda McMahon of the Commercial Litigation Branch; and Melissa Patterson, Alisa Klein, Mark Stern, and Lewis Yelin of the Civil Appellate Staff.
Six public health organizations – the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund – joined the Department of Justice case as intervenors in 2005.
Tax Fraud Fugitive Sentenced to over Eight Years for Role in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich today sentenced Everett Taylor to eight years, six months in federal prison for theft of government funds and aggravated identify theft. The Court also ordered him to forfeit real property located in Tampa, which is traceable to the offenses. In addition, the Court entered a money judgment in the amount of $124,521, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
Everett Taylor pleaded guilty on July 3, 2017.
According to court documents, Taylor and his brother, Robert Earl Taylor, were involved in a scheme to file false and fraudulent income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to generate large refunds. The investigation revealed that the IRS had received fraudulent tax returns and had issued refunds totaling $304,411.24 based on fraudulent tax filings in the amount of $575,884.24. Pending trial, Everett Taylor was released from detention and ordered to home confinement and electronic monitoring. In June 2015, he removed his electronic monitoring device and fled from pretrial release. He remained a fugitive until mid-2017.
In January 2015, Robert Earl Taylor was sentenced to eight months of home detention for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government property, and making fraudulent claims to the Department of the Treasury.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam M. Saltzman and Sara C. Sweeney.
Tampa Couple Sentenced to Life and 40 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing 7-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Richmond Joseph McDonald (40, Tampa) and Shauna Maryann Boselli (25, Tampa) to life, and 40 years in federal prison, respectively, for enticement of a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. McDonald and Boselli previously pleaded guilty.
According to court documents, McDonald and his wife, Boselli, engaged in sexual activity with a 7-year-old girl, with the consent of her relative. McDonald and Boselli engaged in explicit conversation, via the Internet and text messages, with the minor’s relative regarding sexual acts with the child victim.
On July 19, 2016, the child’s relative brought the child to Tampa to meet McDonald and Boselli for the purpose of all three engaging in sex acts with the victim. The relative took the child to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, where they met with McDonald and Boselli. After spending time at the zoo and taking the child for ice cream, McDonald and Boselli led the relative and the child to their house in Tampa. While at the house, McDonald and Boselli sexually abused the child while the relative watched. Afterwards, the relative and the child returned to their hotel in Tampa. On July 21, 2016, McDonald and Boselli met with the relative and child at their hotel, where couple engaged in multiple sex acts with the victim.
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a federal search warrant at the defendants’ residence and seized numerous electronic devices and the vehicle that McDonald and Boselli had used in the commission of the offense. A forensic analysis on all of the devices revealed that McDonald was in possession of over 1,300 child-pornographic images, including images and videos of the child victim performing sex acts.
The victim’s relative was prosecuted in federal court, in Orlando, and was previously sentenced to 75 years in prison.
“These crimes are tragic and heart breaking beyond comprehension,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Our greatest hope is that putting this predatory couple behind bars can help this young girl in her recovery process.”
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Josephine W. Thomas.
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 United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Standing Rock Woman Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Standing Rock, South Dakota, woman convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced on November 20, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Desarae Makes Him First, age 26, was sentenced to 365 months of custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Makes Him First was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 18, 2016. She pled guilty on July 20, 2017.
The conviction stems from a series of events that occurred between October 11 and October 12, 2016, when Makes Him First participated in, and failed to protect her five-year-old daughter from, severe repeated physical abuse. Though slight bruising was initially detected by staff at the Wakpala, South Dakota, school and South Dakota Department of Social Services, the majority of the injuries were caused over an extended weekend.
Over the next several days, the young child was hit about the head, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. As a result of the beatings, the young child suffered severe abdominal injuries, which led to internal bleeding and ultimately death. Makes Him First brought her child to the Mobridge Hospital where staff noticed she was not breathing and “cool” to the touch. Resuscitative efforts were not successful. Makes Him First ultimately confessed to authorities that she and her live-in boyfriend were responsible for the injuries that led to the death of her child.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Makes Him First was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving her sentence.
Springfield Couple Sentenced for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield couple was sentenced yesterday in federal court for operating a prostitution business advertised as “Sinful Innocence.”
U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced Milford Lewis, 37, to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release, and his wife, Tiana Lewis, 32, to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. In July 2017, the pair agreed to plead guilty to three counts of inducing travel to engage in prostitution, one count of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution and four counts of extortionate threats.
Milford and Tiana Lewis purported to be the CEOs of an adult talent agency called Sinful Innocence. Through the internet, the couple enticed young women to work as models, adult entertainers, adult pornography actors and escorts. The pair convinced the women to come from other states to Springfield, and in one case, they transported a woman from Connecticut to Springfield to work.
The women signed year-long contracts, for which there was a $350 early termination fee. The victims were taken to a house in Springfield and/or to various motels in West Springfield to work as prostitutes, sometimes without receiving any pay. If they wanted to leave, or if they broke the rules of Sinful Innocence, they were subjected to beatings and threats to kill or harm them. The couple also threatened the women with violence when the women were unable to pay the $350 termination fee imposed.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Weinreb’s Springfield Office prosecuted the case.
This case is the result of a coordinated investigation led by the Western Massachusetts Human Trafficking Working Group, which was established in August 2015 and includes the United States Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, as well as other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The Working Group aims to surge law enforcement resources to cooperatively investigate and prosecute crimes involving commercial sex trafficking.
Saugus Man Arrested on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Saugus man was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with dealing firearms.
Leny Soares, 49, was charged by complaint with one count of dealing firearms without a license. He appeared yesterday before Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley and was detained pending a hearing on Dec. 4, 2017.
According to court documents, law enforcement began investigating the sale of firearms by Soares with the use of a cooperating witness. Over a period of six months, at the direction of law enforcement, the cooperating witness purchased seven firearms from Soares.
The charge of dealing firearms without a license provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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 Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rolling Prairie Man SentencedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND - The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Nathan Kellogg, age 34, of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for several robberies in St. Joseph and LaPorte Counties in Indiana.
Kellogg was sentenced to eighty-five (85) months imprisonment followed by one (1) year of supervised release.
According to documents in this case, Kellogg drove the car when another individual committed several armed robberies. He drove the robber to the Admiral gas station and a Dollar General store, both in St. Joseph County on January 12, 2017. He also drove when the other individual robbed the Blacksmith Shop restaurant in LaPorte County and Jet’s Pizza in Mishawaka, Indiana, both on January 14, 2017.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of South Bend Police Department, St. Joseph County Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Assault was sentenced on November 22, 2017, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Calmer Cottier, age 26, was sentenced to 210 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund as to the Second Degree Murder charge. He was sentenced to 120 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund as to the Conspiracy to Commit Assault charge. The times of custody and supervised release are to run concurrently to each other.
Cottier was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15, 2015. He was subsequently found guilty following a trial in Federal District Court in Rapid City on June 9, 2017.
The conviction stems from Cottier and others striking the victim with a cinder block, kicking the victim in the head and face, beating the victim with a stick, and striking the victim in the back of his head with a machete on July 12, 2015. The cause of death was multiple blunt trauma to the head, including a skull fracture and hemorrhaging.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Cottier was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
New Orleans Attorney Charged with Bank TheftRead the Press Release
HILLIARD FAZANDE, III (“FAZANDE”), age 50, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged in a Bill of Information today for bank theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to today’s Bill of Information, on October 26, 2015, FAZANDE opened a bank account at the Whitney branch located at 3001 Holiday Drive in New Orleans, Louisiana. On October 30, 2015, FAZANDE endorsed and deposited a TD Bank $387,000 cashier’s check made payable to “Attorney Hilliard C. Fazande III” into his account at the Whitney branch located at 3001 Holiday Drive in New Orleans, Louisiana. On October 31, 2015, FAZANDE went to the Whitney branch located at 8300 Louisiana Highway 23 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana and presented a bank teller with a temporary Whitney check in the amount of $5,000.00 knowing that he did not have sufficient funds to cover the transaction due to a bank hold on the $387,000.00 check. On October 31, 2015, FAZANDE, while at the Whitney branch located at 8300 Louisiana Highway 23 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, made a $5,000.00 cash withdrawal from his account. On November 4, 2015, a Whitney employee contacted FAZANDE and advised him that the $387,000.00 check was counterfeit and that he must return the $5,000.00 he withdrew. FAZANDE never returned the money to the Whitney Bank.
If convicted, FAZANDE faces a sentence of up to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years, and a $250,000.00 fine.
Acting U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Fraud Section Chief, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
Navajo Man Sentenced to 97 Months for Federal Voluntary Manslaughter ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Larry June, 58, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, N.M., was sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 97 months in prison for his conviction on a voluntary manslaughter charge. June will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety arrested June in Nov. 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing a Navajo woman by stabbing her with a knife on Nov. 25, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M. June was subsequently indicted on Dec. 20, 2016, and was charged with second-degree murder.
On Aug. 21, 2017, June pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter. In entering the guilty plea, June admitted that on Nov. 25, 2016, he stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife during a heated argument, and that the victim died as the result of the injuries she sustained.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niki Tapia-Brito and Michael D. Murphy prosecuted the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Munroe Falls man indicted after receiving shipments of fentanyl analogue from ChinaRead the Press Release
A Munroe Falls man was indicted in federal court after receiving shipments of a fentanyl analogue from China, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Don A. Maigari, 36, was indicted on one count of attempt to possess and distribute methoxyacetylfentanyl.
Maigari was arrested on a federal criminal complaint after receiving shipments of the drug from China last month. Packages containing the drugs were shipped to an apartment in Akron. Maigari retrieved the package on Oct. 13, according to court documents.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell following an investigation by the Akron Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mexican Citizen Admits Illegal Transportation of AliensRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Garcia-Flores, a/k/a Moises Agular-Munoz, age 42, formerly a resident of Waldorf, Maryland, and a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty yesterday to transporting three Mexican citizens who had illegally crossed into the United States from Canada.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
As part of his guilty plea, Garcia-Flores admitted that on the morning of September 17, 2017, along the international border near Champlain, New York, he picked up three Mexican citizens who had crossed the border illegally from Canada the night before. Garcia-Flores was driving the two men and one woman to Maryland when he was stopped and arrested by Border Patrol Agents at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 87 (the Northway) on the morning of September 17. At the time of his crime, Garcia-Flores himself was in the United States without authorization.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino is scheduled to sentence Garcia-Flores on March 19, 2018. He faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Following the completion of his sentence, the Department of Homeland Security will put Garcia-Flores into removal (deportation) proceedings.
The smuggled aliens, Samuel Alcaraz-Diaz, age 22, Jesus Enrique Vela-Hernandez, age 37, and Guadalupe Diaz-Arevalo, age 43, all of Mexico, were each sentenced on October 3, 2017 to 20 days in jail, and then placed into removal proceedings.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Men Sentenced for Robbery and Firearm Offenses in Henderson and Vance CountyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court today, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle, sentenced TYLER JONES, 21, of Henderson, NC to 84 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Also sentenced today was co-defendant DIJON DEVAR WILLIAMS, 26, of Henderson, NC to 200 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Additionally, JONES agreed to pay $1,439.47 in restitution and WILLIAMS agreed to pay $12,096.95 in restitution.
JONES and WILLIAMS were named in a fifteen-count Indictment filed on August 3, 2016. JONES subsequently pled guilty to one-count of Hobbs Act Robbery and Aiding and Abetting and one-count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. WILLIAMS pled guilty to two-counts of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
From around October 2015, to December 14, 2015, WILLIAMS executed a series of robberies at various business establishments in the Eastern District of North Carolina, in Henderson, Kittrell, and Middleburg, North Carolina. JONES also was charged with one of the robberies.
On December 5, 2015, WILLIAMS and JONES robbed Citi Trends in Henderson. WILLIAMS entered the store and pointed a revolver at the security officer’s chest. JONES remained at the entrance to the store and served as a lookout. They fled the scene with approximately $1,439.00. On December 5, 2015, Jones was apprehended in the vicinity of the robbery and was positively identified by a witness.
On December 14, 2015, WILLIAMS robbed Cruizers Store Number 240 (Cruizers) in Henderson. Shortly after entering the store, WILLIAMS walked behind the cash register counter, pointed a handgun at the cashier, and demanded money. While WILLIAMS grabbed $80 from the cash register, the cashier turned and fell to the floor. WILLIAMS fled the scene in a car shortly after the robbery.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
The Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorneys S. Katherine Burnette and Dennis M. Duffy handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
Medina man indicted for trying to induce minor to engage in sex, sending lewd images of himselfRead the Press Release
A Medina man was indicted in federal court trying to induce a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activities with him and sending images of himself engaged in sexual activities, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
Jason M. Sasso, 43, was named in the six-count indictment, with charges including enticement, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and transferring obscenity to a minor.
Sasso, via cell phoned, attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce what he believed were two girls who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. This took place from Aug. 25 through Oct. 15, 2017, and again Oct. 11 through Oct. 24, 2017, according to the indictment.
Sasso also used a cell phone to transfer digital files with images of himself engaged in sexual activity to a law enforcement officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He also attempted to persuade minor girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, according to the indictment.
He also received numerous images of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct or being sexually abused, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique 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.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced on November 20, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Matthew St. Pierre, age 32, was sentenced to 40 years in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
St. Pierre was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 18, 2016. He pled guilty on August 4, 2017.
The conviction stems from a series of events that occurred between October 11 and October 12, 2016, when St. Pierre participated in severe beatings to his girlfriend’s five-year-old daughter. Though slight bruising was initially detected by staff at the Wakpala, South Dakota, school and South Dakota Department of Social Services, the majority of the injuries were caused over an extended weekend.
Over the next several days, the young child was hit about the head, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. As a result of the beatings, the young child suffered severe abdominal injuries, which led to internal bleeding and ultimately death. The young child was brought to the Mobridge Hospital, where staff noticed she was not breathing and “cool” to the touch. Resuscitative efforts were not successful. St. Pierre’s girlfriend, Desarae Makes Him First, ultimately confessed to authorities that she and St. Pierre were responsible for the injuries that led to the death of her child.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
St. Pierre was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Maryland Man Convicted for Role in 2016 Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Maryland man today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jeffery Okyere, 32, of Laurel, along with two co-conspirators, participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin. Okyere acted as a local source of supply for a co-conspirator based in Texas, and provided heroin on an as needed basis to a local dealer on request.
Okyere faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on March 23, 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 Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Tyler McGaughey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Peters 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. 1:17-cr-159.
Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement Continue Partnership with the Community with Second Greenville Safe Neighborhoods eventRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Greenville Safe Neighborhoods held its second notification meeting Monday evening in Greenville. Led by Chief Ken Miller and the Greenville Police Department, GPD launched Greenville Safe Neighborhoods in March, holding the inaugural meeting on March 27, with the stakeholders, partners, as well as the first round of participating individuals, all of whom are currently on state probation. Additional core partners in the program include the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the South Carolina Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, New Mind Health and Care, Inc., and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Greenville Safe Neighborhoods is a unified, proactive police and community collaboration that engages, educates and empowers repeat serious offenders to obtain assistance, change behavior, make healthy life choices or suffer consequences of unified police/prosecutorial focus and priority. Predicated on the work of Professor David M. Kennedy of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, this focused-deterrence model aligns intervention and prosecutorial resources to create an appropriate mix of legal and ethical pressure to change offender behavior, reduce recidivism and severity, and reduce victimization. The Greenville Police Department has been working with its core partners for several months in planning, developing and resourcing the pilot program.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office serves as a partner in similar iterations across the state, to include Aiken Safe Communities, Hartsville Safe Communities, Ceasefire Columbia, and most recently, Home Front--the focused-deterrence model focusing on domestic violence in Spartanburg County.
The Greenville Safe Neighborhoods initiative identifies participants based upon their present and past criminal conduct. Participants attend a meeting with local, state and federal law enforcement officials and prosecutors as well as with service providers, family and affected community members. In the meeting, participants have meaningful access to a host of services or contacts to help them address physical or psychological needs.
GPD Chief Ken Miller, who anchored the meeting on Monday evening, brought the program’s core partners together to make this initiative a reality. “The Greenville Police Department is committed to working with our community and our program participants and stakeholders to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe.”
During the meeting, the participants observed the unified commitment to this effort between law enforcement and the community. The goal the stakeholders hope to achieve is engaging a participant to address his or her needs, make meaningful strides, and avoid re-offending, thereby making the Greenville community safer. Also underscored during the meeting--the commitment between all levels of law enforcement and prosecution. Should a participant disregard this opportunity and re-offend, new offenses will be identified in “real time” and they will be brought to justice swiftly--in state court or federal court.
Solicitor Walt Wilkins has dedicated prosecutors to this effort and will be working closely with federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We are excited about this partnership and the promise that Greenville Safe Neighborhoods holds for effective communication between the community and local, state, and federal law enforcement.”
U.S. Attorney Drake thanked Chief Miller, Solicitor Wilkins, and the other agencies for their leadership and for bringing the stakeholders together. “These South Carolinians have some important choices to make in terms of changing their path in life. The resources and community commitment are there.”#####
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that on November 21, 2017, Michelle R. Schwab, 45, of Lincoln, was sentenced to 10 years (120 months) in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Following the prison term, Schwab will serve five years on supervised release.
Information provided to law enforcement indicated that Schwab was responsible for the distribution of at least 500 grams (approximately 18 ounces) of methamphetamine in the Lincoln area between January 1, 2013, and May 15, 2016. In January of 2016, an undercover officer purchased a small amount of methamphetamine from Schwab.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Knoxville Man Arrested for Posting Threats to Kill on Thanksgiving DayRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – An individual who threatened in a post on his Facebook page to kill everyone in Knoxville on Thanksgiving Day was arrested earlier today by agents with the Knoxville FBI. Dale Jeffries II, 43, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was taken into custody shortly before 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at a business in west Knoxville. Jefferies was charged with transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce. More detailed information on these charges can be found in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit on file with the U.S. District Court Clerk. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Jeffries appeared in U.S. District Court this afternoon and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, 2017.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jury Finds Waterloo Man Guilty of Sending Threatening Tweets to United States Senator Joni K. ErnstRead the Press Release
A man who sent threatening “tweets” on the Internet to United States Senator Joni K. Ernst was convicted by a jury today, after a one-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Joseph Hilton Dierks, 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of all three counts of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce. The verdict was returned around 1 p.m. today, following about five hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that, in August 2017, Dierks began sending Senator Ernst tweets from his Twitter account to her Twitter accounts. On August 13, 2017, Dierks sent Senator Ernst a tweet that stated, “I just want u to know I’d put a bullet in your head if u were my wife . . . not that I’ll ever have one,” with a link to a scene from the 2010 English-language French action film “From Paris with Love,” in which a man shoots a woman in the head and kills her. The United States Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. then contacted the Waterloo Police Department, which sent a law enforcement officer to Dierks’ home. Dierks promised the officer he would “tone it down” but, within 24 hours, Dierks began sending threatening tweets to the Senator. The jury found Dierks sent the following three threats to Senator Ernst on August 16, 2017:
“I’ll beat ur ass in front of ur widow I promise that”;
“I’ll f u up seriously in my sleep”; and
“@joniernst u r sn army bitch and I’ll @USMC u tf up :)(:”.
Witnesses testified at trial that defendant sent the threatening tweets to Senator Ernst because he wanted her to help him obtain an age-waiver to get into the military. The jury rejected the defendant’s argument that he was just an “Internet troll” who did not intend to threaten Senator Ernst and did not know that his tweets would be viewed as threatening. Trial evidence showed Dierks sent Senator Ernst other tweets, including “i want u to die sorry not sorry”; “I’ll flatline ur ass like @tendoublezero lol”; “@joniernst deserves death”; “i didn’t kill u cuz I have a message for u”; and “U were almost a widow . . . .”
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dierks remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Dierks faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $300 in special assessments, and nine years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and Richard L. Murphy and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the United States Capitol Police.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-2065-LRR.
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Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Man to 12+ Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months’ imprisonment on his convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Marieo Everett, age 33, of Pittsburgh, PA.
According to information presented to the court, from April through August 2016, Marieo Everett was intercepted over a DEA wiretap conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin. He also conspired with others to launder the proceeds of the heroin trafficking conspiracy.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Everett. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
John R. Lausch, Jr. Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — John R. Lausch, Jr., who served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago for more than a decade before entering private law practice, returned to government service today as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo today administered the oath of office after President Donald J. Trump signed U.S. Attorney Lausch’s commission. A public investiture ceremony will be held at a later date.
“I am excited to return to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “I am humbled and honored to lead such a tremendous team of attorneys and staff. I look forward to working with our law enforcement partners and continuing the office’s longstanding history of pursuing justice on behalf of the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois.”
Joel R. Levin, who for the past eight months served as Acting United States Attorney, will return to his role as the First Assistant United States Attorney.
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1999-2010, U.S. Attorney Lausch tried more than twenty jury cases involving racketeering, fraud, narcotics, extortion, firearms and other offenses. From 2005-2010, U.S. Attorney Lausch served as Deputy Chief in the Narcotics & Gangs Section, overseeing criminal prosecutions of drug trafficking organizations and street gangs. U.S. Attorney Lausch also served as the office's Violent Crime Coordinator, leading the District’s Anti-Gang and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs. He was twice awarded a Department of Justice Director's Award for Superior Performance.
From 2010 until his appointment as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Lausch worked in private law practice in Chicago.
U.S. Attorney Lausch earned his law degree in 1996 from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies (Government Concentration) in 1992 from Harvard University.