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19 October 2017
Moline Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, Life Term of Supervision for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow today sentenced William Tyler Burrows, 33, of the 1800 block of 2nd Street, Moline, Ill., to serve 121 months in prison for receiving child pornography, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Hansen, Central District of Illinois. Judge Darrow further ordered that Burrows remain on supervised release for life upon his release from prison.
On May 31, 2017, Burrows entered a plea of guilty for receiving three child pornography videos over the internet between July 11 and August 18, 2015.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith DeCarlo. The charges were investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Moline Police Department.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
A man found with nearly a pound of methamphetamine was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison.
Paul Daniel Greseth, age 32, from Wanamingo, Minnesota, received the prison term after a March 30, 2017, guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the guilty plea, Greseth admitted possessing over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on January 22, 2017. On that date, Greseth traveled from Minnesota to Waterloo, Iowa, to meet with an individual he thought would buy some of the methamphetamine. While he was in Waterloo, law enforcement officers surrounded Greseth at a carwash. Officers told Greseth to put his hands up but he failed to follow their directions. An officer fired two shots at Greseth following his failure to follow the officers’ orders. Greseth was not hit and was subsequently arrested. Officers found over 428 grams of methamphetamine in Greseth’s possession. Greseth later stated that while surrounded at the carwash, he was attempting to rip open bags containing methamphetamine, hoping to vacuum up the methamphetamine before law enforcement could seize it.
Greseth was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States Chief District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Greseth was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Greseth is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, West Union Police Department, Goodhue County, Minnesota, Sheriff’s Office, Tri-County Drug Task Force, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-02008-001.
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Mingo County woman pleads guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mingo County woman pleaded guilty today to a sex trafficking crime involving a minor, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Misty Dawn Baisden, 40, of Delbarton, entered her guilty plea to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor.
Baisden admitted that in March 2017, she conspired with a codefendant on her cell phone to engage a minor in commercial sex. The communication involved photographs of a minor and the discussion of exchanging money, items, or other things of value for sexually explicit photographs or sexual activity. Baisden admitted that she understood from the entire conversation that her codefendant would be providing her with assistance in engaging in commercial sexual activity with a minor.
Baisden faces up to life in federal prison when she is sentenced on January 23, 2018. She will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, the West Virginia State Police, the Ashland Police Department, and the Boyd County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, Carlos Vidal-Mix, a.k.a. “Gato”, originally of Campeche, Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years (120 months) in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and for reentry of a removed alien. Vidal-Mix had previously been removed from the U.S. to Mexico by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 21, 2014, in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Following the prison term, he will again be removed to Mexico.
On October 17, 2016, the DEA arrested Vidal-Mix and two co-conspirators after they took delivery of 21 pounds of methamphetamine that had arrived for distribution in the Omaha metropolitan area.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Omaha.
Member of Taunton Drug Conspiracy Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former resident of Providence, R.I., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston for his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated in Taunton and Boston.
Jose Arias, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In February 2017, Arias was arrested and charged along with 22 other co-defendants. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 23, 2018.
From mid-2016 through February 2017, federal law enforcement investigated two drug trafficking organizations operating in Taunton and Boston led by Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, 32, a Dominican national operating in Boston, and Fernando Hernandez, 42, a Dominican national residing in Providence, R.I. Hernandez allegedly ran a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization in Taunton, assisted by Arias, his son. The organization sold heroin and fentanyl to customers who re-distributed the drugs. It is alleged that Hernandez obtained drugs from a network of suppliers that included Lugo-Guerrero.
Lugo-Guerrero allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization in Fall River and Boston. It is further alleged that Lugo-Guerrero and his associates obtained a significant quantity of illegal drugs by robbing other drug traffickers.
Hernandez and Lugo-Guerrero each pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; and Bristol Country District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore B. Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maine Man Charged with Resisting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Thomas G. Walker, 43, of Pemaquid, Maine, was indicted today in federal court in Boston on one count of resisting a federal officer.
According to the indictment, Walker resisted a Deputy United States Marshal on July 24, 2017, resulting in physical contact with the Deputy Marshal.
The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than eight years in prison, three years of supervised released and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; U.S. Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Longview Man Found Guilty of Student Financial Aid Fraud During Federal TrialRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 30-year-old Longview, Texas man has been convicted of federal violations for his role in a student financial aid fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Robert Brisco was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2017, and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and 16 counts of student financial aid fraud and aiding and abetting. Brisco was found guilty today by a jury on all counts. At sentencing, Brisco faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for each mail fraud charge and 5 years in federal prison for each student financial aid fraud charge.
According to information presented in court, from June 2013 to September 2015, Brisco and others conspired to use wire communications and the mail to fraudulently obtain student financial aid funds through the Pell Grant Program and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Under federal statutes, Brisco faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
Brisco's mother, Gracie Brisco, 54, and his sister, Shanitra Frost Brisco, 34, both of Longview, pleaded guilty in July 2017, to student financial aid fraud and each face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. Six other individuals have been charged in connection with the student aid fraud scheme. All have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
“Student financial aid fraud deprives deserving students of funds essential to their education,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “We are committed to prosecuting these crimes and appreciate our federal agents who work so tirelessly to ensure our economy is not crippled by these fraudulent activities.”
“OIG Special Agents aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers,” said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region. "I'm proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Brisco accountable and for protecting the integrity of Federal education dollars."
“This case represents the successful collaboration between the Secret Service, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Education, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas,” said Special Agent in Charge William Noonan, U.S. Secret Service. “The Secret Service is committed to working with its federal partners in investigating these complex financial crimes.”
“The successful conviction in this case should serve as a lesson to all who would want to defraud the government of vital education funds,” said Thomas L. Noyes, Inspector in Charge, Fort Worth Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “I appreciate the U.S. Attorneys, Secret Service Agents, Agents from the Department of Education Office of Inspector General, and the Postal Inspectors whose hard work and diligence resulted in the guilty verdict.”
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Longview Police Department, and the Kilgore College Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and L. Frank Coan are prosecuting this case.
Longview Man Found Guilty of Student Financial Aid Fraud During Federal TrialRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A 30-year-old Longview, Texas man has been convicted of federal violations for his role in a student financial aid fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Robert Brisco was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2017, and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and 16 counts of student financial aid fraud and aiding and abetting. Brisco was found guilty today by a jury on all counts. At sentencing, Brisco faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for each mail fraud charge and 5 years in federal prison for each student financial aid fraud charge.
According to information presented in court, from June 2013 to September 2015, Brisco and others conspired to use wire communications and the mail to fraudulently obtain student financial aid funds through the Pell Grant Program and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Under federal statutes, Brisco faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
Brisco's mother, Gracie Brisco, 54, and his sister, Shanitra Frost Brisco, 34, both of Longview, pleaded guilty in July 2017, to student financial aid fraud and each face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. Six other individuals have been charged in connection with the student aid fraud scheme. All have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
“Student financial aid fraud deprives deserving students of funds essential to their education,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “We are committed to prosecuting these crimes and appreciate our federal agents who work so tirelessly to ensure our economy is not crippled by these fraudulent activities.”
“OIG Special Agents aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers,” said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region. "I'm proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Brisco accountable and for protecting the integrity of Federal education dollars."
“This case represents the successful collaboration between the Secret Service, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Education, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas,” said Special Agent in Charge William Noonan, U.S. Secret Service. “The Secret Service is committed to working with its federal partners in investigating these complex financial crimes.”
“The successful conviction in this case should serve as a lesson to all who would want to defraud the government of vital education funds,” said Thomas L. Noyes, Inspector in Charge, Fort Worth Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “I appreciate the U.S. Attorneys, Secret Service Agents, Agents from the Department of Education Office of Inspector General, and the Postal Inspectors whose hard work and diligence resulted in the guilty verdict.”
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Longview Police Department, and the Kilgore College Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and L. Frank Coan are prosecuting this case.
Local Man Sentenced to 197 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine from Los Angeles to DaytonRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Aaron Brown, 34, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 197 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Brown recruited at least two individuals to assist him with trafficking cocaine by having the individuals drive from Dayton to Los Angeles, Calif. with cash. Brown would fly to Los Angeles and meet the individuals to obtain the cash. He then used the money to purchase cocaine and would conceal it in the vehicles of the individuals, who would then drive it back to Dayton.
Brown and the co-conspirators would meet up again in Dayton in order for Brown to obtain the cocaine and distribute it to local customers in the Dayton area.
Brown pleaded guilty in February 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA, including DEA Las Vegas and Flagstaff, Nevada Highway Patrol and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office in Ariz., as well as Assistant United States Attorney Sheila G. Lafferty, who is representing the United States in this case.
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Lemoore Woman Indicted on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Nancy Lopez Perez, 42, of Lemoore, California, charging her with two counts of distributing methamphetamine and three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Perez obtained and delivered multiple pounds of methamphetamine and five firearms, including an assault rifle, during three separate undercover transactions. Perez is prohibited by law from possessing firearms.
This case was the product of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Kings County Narcotic Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case. The mission of the OCDETF Program is to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in the United States and diminish the violence and other criminal activity associated with the drug trade. To accomplish this mission, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its federal law enforcement agency members, including the FBI and ATF.
If convicted of the drug offenses, Perez faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of ten years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of the firearms offenses, Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lawrence, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Ernesto L. Reyes, 26, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for possessing heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Reyes committed a series of traffic violations while driving a motor vehicle on the evening of November 11, 2016, in Plaistow, New Hampshire. Reyes was stopped by a New Hampshire State Trooper. When Reyes exited the vehicle, the Trooper observed a package wrapped in green plastic wrap containing a powder that appeared to be heroin. The package was located on the floor along the left side of the driver’s seat. Subsequent testing confirmed that the package contained nearly 100 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
Reyes previously pleaded guilty on July 5, 2017.
“The United States Attorney’s Office works each day with our law enforcement partners to prevent fentanyl and heroin from being distributed in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “I thank our partners at the State Police for their work on this matter. Their actions prevented these deadly drugs from being sold in New Hampshire.”
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki.
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Large Scale Boise Methamphetamine Distributor Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – James Peirsol, 53, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine throughout the Treasure Valley, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge also sentenced Peirsol to serve ten years of supervised release.
Peirsol pleaded guilty on July 6, 2017, to one count of distributing more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. According to court records, Peirsol admitted to distributing 444.9 grams of actual methamphetamine to a confidential informant on February 25, 2016. On May 28, 2016, Peirsol distributed 493.2 grams of additional actual methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Peirsol had previously been convicted of three drug-related felonies and one felony domestic battery offense.
This case was the result of a joint investigation by Garden City Police Department, the Idaho State Police and the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
KC Woman Pleads Guilty to False Tax Return Related to $466,000 EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., woman who embezzled from her family’s company has pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to pay taxes on at least $466,000.
Tammera Goodman, 56, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, to making false statements on a tax return.
Tammera worked as office manager for a business owned by her family, Restoration Remediation Resources Corporation d/b/a Rainbow International of Kansas City (Re-Corp). From 2011 to 2015, Goodman unlawfully used Re-Corp funds to pay at least seven personal credit cards, which she used exclusively for personal spending. She also wrote at least 26 fraudulent unauthorized Re-Corp checks to herself, and used unauthorized Re-Corp funds to pay her personal mortgage.
From 2011 to 2015, Goodman embezzled at least $466,274 from Re-Corp. She spent the money she embezzled on retail purchases, restaurants, cash, and vehicles, among other items. She did not declare the embezzled income on her federal or state income tax returns.
Goodman pleaded guilty to a specific charge of claiming $33,164 in income on her federal income tax return for tax year 2015. In reality, Goodman’s income for 2015 (including stolen money) was $151,236.
Under federal statutes, Goodman is subject to a sentence of up to three years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Missouri Department of Revenue Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Judge Sentences Drug Dealer to Maximum Sentence for Supervised Release ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 36 months of incarceration for violating his Supervised Release by committing new crimes, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Fischer imposed the sentence yesterday on Santana Wygant, age 40, formerly from McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Wygant had previously been convicted of federal drug charges for selling crack cocaine near a playground in West Virginia, and served 87 months in federal prison. While he was on federal supervision after being released from incarceration, Wygant committed multiple violations that included raping his former girlfriend, assaulting that woman, assaulting his infant child, and entering the victim’s home without permission. Wygant also was also found to have absconded from a halfway house, tested positive for marijuana use, failed to report to his probation officer and failed to attend drug treatment.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Fischer reviewed and considered that Wygant began his criminal career with an armed robbery offense as a juvenile and amassed numerous subsequent adult convictions.
Judge Fischer imposed the maximum sentence allowable by law, 36 months of incarceration, after considering factors that included the seriousness of the offenses and the need to protect the public from future acts of Wygant. The Judge also ordered that, following his release, Wygant spend the first six months in a halfway house, and that the United States Probation Office supervise him for five more years. Wygant faces the possibility of additional periods of incarceration if he violates the Court’s order by having any contact with the rape victim or the infant daughter he assaulted.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt of the Violent Crime Section prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the United States Probation Office for their efforts in this matter.
Jason Paul Schaefer Will Make Initial Appearance in Federal Court Today at 1:30 P.M.Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Jason Paul Schaefer, 26, of Portland, Oregon, will appear in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You today at 1:30 p.m. Schaefer is charged by Criminal Complaint with Assault on a Federal Officer and Using and Carrying an Explosive to
Commit a Federal Felony.
This morning, Judge You ordered that the Criminal Complaint be unsealed. A copy of the Criminal Complaint is attached. Due to the ongoing nature of the criminal proceedings, no additional information will be released at this time.
A Criminal Complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Indiana County Man Sentenced to Probation with Community Confinement for Social Security ScamRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 42 months probation with six months at a community confinement center on his conviction of theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Carmen Donofrio, 63, of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, from in and around July 2013, through in and around May 2015, Donofrio received approximately $16,577 in Supplemental Security Income to which he was not entitled because he had concealed a retirement account from the Social Security Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Donofrio.
Hurricane Harvey Ravaged Eastern District of Texas Establishes Disaster Fraud Task Force to Combat Fraud and AbuseRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Acting United States Attorney Brit Featherston announced today that a Disaster Fraud Task Force has been created in the Eastern District of Texas comprised of local, state, and federal agencies to combat hurricane Harvey related disaster fraud activity.
The Justice Department established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) following Hurricane Katrina and it is specifically designed to be ready for situations like Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria. The Center acts as a clearinghouse of information related to disaster relief fraud and has already received over 400 complaints of suspected fraudulent activity since Hurricanes Harvey and Irma struck the Gulf Coast in August and September.
Although the Eastern District of Texas has witnessed acts of heroism, compassion and generosity from its citizens and from across the nation, there are individuals and organizations that will use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
- Impersonation of federal law enforcement officials;
- Identity theft;
- Fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government;
- Fraudulent activity related to solicitations for donations and charitable giving;
- Fraudulent activity related to individuals and organizations promising high investment returns from profits from recovery and cleanup efforts;
- Price gouging;
- Theft, looting, and other violent crime.
"Relief funds provide critical support and assistance for those whose lives were profoundly affected by Hurricane Harvey, and our citizens have the right to expect that those funds will be used to the greatest advantage,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Anyone who illegally diverts those funds, or fraudulently profits from this disaster, should face a storm of their own creation and this task force exists to ensure that happens."
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected] (link sends e-mail). Learn more about the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at http://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.
The Disaster Fraud Task Force for the Eastern District of Texas is comprised of the following agencies: the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; Homeland Security Investigations; Environmental Protection Agency-OIG; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Health & Human Services;-OIG; U.S. Internal Revenue Service-CID; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development-OIG; U.S. Small Business Administration-OIG; Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office; Orange County District Attorney’s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Orange County Sheriff’s Office; Orange Police Department; Hardin County Sheriff’s Office; Port Arthur Police Department; and the Social Security Administration-OIG.
Huntsville Nursing Home Pays the United States and the State of Texas $5 Million to Settle Claims Alleging Poor Quality of CareRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Health Services Management Inc. (HSM) has paid the United States $5 million to resolve claims that the company billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for worthless services and for services that were never provided, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. HSM is based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and owns and operates nursing homes throughout Texas and the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only with no determination of liability.
The United States and Texas began the investigation following the filing of a qui tam, or whistleblower, lawsuit on Oct. 17, 2014. The whistleblower worked at Huntsville Health Care Center, a 92-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility that HSM owned and operated. She claimed that during her employment, she witnessed patient abuse and neglect, inadequate care, physical and verbal abuse and denial of basic services, such as providing patients with food and water.
The investigation concluded that from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2015, Huntsville Health Care Center billed for services that were not provided or which were so substandard and deficient that they were considered worthless and potentially harmful to specific Huntsville patients. The claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid for those services were deemed to be fraudulent and submitted in violation of federal and state law.
“We take seriously the care of our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly and infirm,” said Martinez. “When providers accept federal funds for reimbursement, they have a duty and responsibility to provide the best care possible to the patient, especially when those patients are elderly and at times incapacitated. The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Texas will aggressively hold those accountable who fail to provide the care that is expected when the failure to do so results in harm to the patients and the treasury.”
“It's disturbing when a nursing home company accepts Medicare and Medicaid money to care for vulnerable nursing home residents and in return provides substandard care, as alleged in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “We will continue to hold nursing homes accountable to give residents the quality health services, and living conditions, taxpayers pay them to provide.”
As part of the settlement, HSM also agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with DHHS-OIG.
Under the False Claims Act and the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, a private party - known as a relator - can file an action on behalf of the United States and Texas and receive a portion of the recovery. In this case, the relator received $1 million.
The USAO, DHHS-OIG and the Texas Attorney General’s Office - Civil Medicaid Fraud Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Venezia handled the matter.
Houston Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for IH-10 Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 21-year-old Houston woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Emily Eliza Villarreal pleaded guilty on June 27, 2017 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
According to information presented in court, on Oct. 27, 2016, law enforcement officers pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 10 eastbound in Beaumont for a traffic violation. Villarreal was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Hugo Alejandro Garcia. The driver was extremely nervous and during questioning he and Villarreal provided officers with inconsistencies as to their travel plans. Garcia gave consent to search the vehicle which resulted in officers discovering four bundles wrapped in black electrical tape and concealed under the carpet in the trunk. Garcia admitted to transporting narcotics and stated he was on his way to Louisiana with the drugs. The bundles contained four kilograms of crack cocaine. Garcia and Villarreal were indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 2, 2016.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Rapp.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, announced that LUIS ALONSO MUNOZ-MADRID, age 35, pled guilty today to being in the United States illegally.
According to the court documents, on August 29, 2017, MUNOZ-MADRID, a citizen of Honduras, was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana after having been previously deported from the United States on December 14, 2011.
MUNOZ-MADRID faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years and a fine of $250,000, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant, one year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing will be held before the Honorable Nannette Jolivette Brown on November 30, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, announced that LUIS ALONSO MUNOZ-MADRID, age 35, pled guilty today to being in the United States illegally.
According to the court documents, on August 29, 2017, MUNOZ-MADRID, a citizen of Honduras, was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana after having been previously deported from the United States on December 14, 2011.
MUNOZ-MADRID faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years and a fine of $250,000, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant, one year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing will be held before the Honorable Nannette Jolivette Brown on November 30, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter.
Great Falls Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Robert David Linn, Jr., a 52-year-old resident of Great Falls, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison followed by 5 years supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in July. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris handed down the sentence.
In late 2015, the Russell Country Drug Task Force began investigating the defendant, Robert David Linn, Jr., for trafficking methamphetamine in Great Falls, Montana. Through further investigation, law enforcement learned that the defendant typically sold a pound of methamphetamine for $15,000, or an ounce of methamphetamine for $1,250. On occasion, the defendant sold smaller quantities of heroin. Law enforcement also acquired information that the defendant frequently traded methamphetamine for stolen property.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, law enforcement seized approximately five pounds of actual methamphetamine from various individuals in Great Falls who had all received their methamphetamine directly from the defendant. On April 8, 2017, law enforcement arrested the defendant after receiving information that he had recently received approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine through delivery by a shipping company.
Following the defendant’s arrest, law enforcement executed numerous search warrants. First, law enforcement went to a home in Great Falls where agents had information that the defendant stored his methamphetamine supply. There, agents seized 4359.2 grams, or approximately ten pounds, of actual methamphetamine from a concealed location in the home. Agents also seized 13 firearms located in extremely close proximity to the methamphetamine. These firearms included two semi-automatic rifles, four revolvers, and seven semi-automatic pistols. Upon further examination, two of the firearms possessed obliterated serial numbers, and agents discovered three of the firearms were stolen. Law enforcement also seized 202.2 grams of actual methamphetamine from the defendant’s truck. Lastly, in addition to the methamphetamine seizures, agents recovered over $250,000 in cash proceeds from the defendant and his associates.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley and investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Germantown Woman Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Her Employer of More Than $1 MillonRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact BAILEY DRUMM
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Greenbelt, Maryland – Sobeida Maria Laboy, age 47, of Germantown, Maryland was sentenced today by United States District Judge Peter J. Messitte to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for bank fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the financial institution for which she worked of more than $1 million. Laboy was also ordered to pay restitution in the full amount of the loss to the victims.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning, and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to her plea agreement, Laboy worked in the Chevy Chase branch office of a financial institution that offered online banking services to its customers and had affiliates that offered homes loans and other financial services. Laboy admitted that from December 2007 through June 19, 2014, she created fraudulent invoices, which she submitted, along with check requests, for payment by her employer. The invoices purported to be for services provided by a specific vendor. Laboy submitted the fraudulent invoices along with a check request form, stating that the check should be sent to her at her office in Chevy Chase. Laboy forged the signature of another employee in the “approval” section of the form. Instead of sending the checks for payment to the vendor, Laboy endorsed the checks with her own signature and deposited them into her personal bank accounts.
Over the course of the scheme, Laboy deposited at least 60 checks issued by her employer and made payable to the vendor. Laboy deposited at least six additional checks either issued by her employer and made payable to other vendors, or issued by other vendors and made payable to her employer. As a result of the scheme, Laboy fraudulently obtained at least $1,020,576.28
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsay Eyler Kaplan and Nicolas A. Mitchell, who prosecuted the case.
Former postal worker pleads guilty to stealing methamphetamine from the mailRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A former postal worker who stole methamphetamine from a package pleaded guilty today, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Turner Connolly, 25, of Charleston, entered his guilty plea to theft of mail by a postal employee.
Connolly was a mail processing clerk who was employed at the South Charleston Post Office. Through his work experience, Connolly was able to identify packages that were intended for the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. On November 4, 2016, he stole a package from the Marshall County Drug Task Force that was to be delivered to the laboratory. This package contained approximately 1.69 grams of methamphetamine. Connolly gave a statement to federal officers in which he admitted stealing the package, and he is no longer an employee of the United States Postal Service.
Connolly faces up to five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 22, 2018.
The United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.
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Former President of Linens Supply Company Admits Using Corporate Credit Card to Steal $245,000Read the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Sewell, New Jersey, man and the former president of a linens supply company today admitted defrauding his employer of $245,000 that he disguised as legitimate business expenses, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Michael A. Vicchairelli, 62, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between January 2012 and August 2014, while he was the president of the victim company, Vicchairelli used his corporate American Express Card for personal unauthorized expenditures, including costs related to gentleman’s lounges, escorts, auto repairs and restaurants. Vicchairelli then submitted reimbursement claims to the company for these expenses.
To conceal the fraud, Vicchairelli instructed company employees to hide these personal charges by coding them within the company’s ledger system as legitimate business expenses, such as maintenance, tolls, and delivery charges. Overall, Vicchairelli received at least $245,000 in reimbursements and other unauthorized payments from the company.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Vicchairelli has agreed to pay restitution to the victim company. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2018.Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Michael J. Engle Esq., PhiladelphiaFormer Bath Man Sentenced to more than 27 Years in Prison on Federal Child Sex Abuse ChargeRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that David Miller, 54, of Flushing, Michigan (formerly Bath, Maine) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 327 months months in prison and five years of supervised release for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual abuse. Miller pleaded guilty to the charge on June 1, 2017.
Court records reveal that during the summer of 1995, Miller, then age 33, was working as a long haul truck driver for a company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. In June and July of that year, Miller took his adopted thirteen-year-old daughter with him on two trips through several states, including Maine and Nebraska. Miller sexually assaulted his daughter multiple times in his truck and at a motel in Nebraska. The FBI in Maine began investigating the case in 2015 when Miller’s daughter came forward to report the 1995 abuse. She was prompted to make the report when she saw a Facebook photograph which showed a five-year-old girl sitting on Miller’s lap. In October 2016, Miller was interviewed by FBI agents in Flint, Michigan and he admitted that he had sexually abused his daughter during the 1995 cross-country trips.
The investigation was conducted by the Bath Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Portland ME, Boston MA and Detroit MI.
Foreign National Sentenced for Role in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme Using Hacked UPMC Employee InfoRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A foreign national residing outside of the United States has been sentenced in federal court to term of imprisonment of time served as to Count 17 and six months imprisonment as to Count 18, to run consecutive as to Count 17 on his conviction of charges of money laundering and aggravated identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Yoandy Perez Llanes.
According to the information presented to the court, early in 2014, thousands of employees of UPMC had their personal information stolen by hackers, who intruded into a UPMC database and stole names, social security numbers, and PII. This data was then used to file false 2013 federal tax returns. Investigators learned that names and other identifiers were used by Llanes and other conspirators to file 935 false tax returns in which unlawful refunds were requested in the form of Amazon.com gift cards. Quick action by the IRS, UPMC, and Amazon.com frustrated the efforts of the fraudsters to file additional false returns and obtain further fraudulent proceeds. Though the perpetrators sought approximately $2.2 million in fraudulent refunds, $1.4 million was actually disbursed in Amazon.com gift cards, which were used by the fraudsters to purchase electronic merchandise.
This criminal scheme was complex and crossed national borders. Llanes and the conspirators used anonymous and encrypted email to disguise their identities and proxy computers to file returns. Using the fraudulently obtained Amazon.com gift cards, Llanes and others purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars in electronic merchandise for shipment through reshipping services in Miami, Florida, to overseas destinations in Maracay or Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song commended the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service for the successful investigation leading the prosecution of Yoandy Perez Llanes.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Making Telephonic Threat to Shoot Congregants at the Islamic Center of Greater MiamiRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that Gerald Wallace, 35, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to threatening to shoot members of a mosque in Miami Gardens, Florida. Wallace pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by making the threatening call.
During the plea hearing, Wallace admitted that on the evening of Feb. 19, he left a voicemail message for the Islamic Center of Greater Miami, located in Miami Gardens, Florida. The defendant admitted leaving a hate-filled and profanity laden message against Islam, the prophet Mohammed, and the Koran, during which he threatened to go to the mosque, and stated, “I’m gonna shoot all y’all.” He further admitted that by leaving this threatening message, he obstructed congregants who worship at the Islamic Center from freely exercising their religious beliefs.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate threats of hate violence, which threaten whole communities’ sense of safety and security,” said John Gore, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute hate crimes so that all people, no matter how they worship, the color of their skin, or their country of origin, can live their lives freely and without fear.”
“Hate crimes, no matter their form, engender fear and have no place in our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg. “By leaving a hate-filled and profanity laden message against Islam and threatening to shoot the members of the mosque he targeted, Gerald Wallace obstructed the free exercise of religion. Hate crimes not only violate our laws, but they are contrary to our country’s most fundamental principles. We will not tolerate the targeting of any community in our society. We will continue to prosecute hate crimes aggressively to ensure that all members of our community can live without fear.”
Wallace faces a maximum statutory penalty 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his guilty plea to the hate crime charge. Sentencing is set for Jan. 17, 2018, in front of U.S. District Court Judge Marcia G. Cooke.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the Miami Gardens Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry C. Wallace, Jr. of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Making Telephonic Threat to Shoot Congregants at the Islamic Center of Greater MiamiRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that Gerald Wallace, 35, pleaded guilty to threatening to shoot members of a mosque in Miami Gardens, Florida. Wallace pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by making the threatening call.
During the plea hearing, Wallace admitted that on the evening of Feb. 19, he left a voicemail message for the Islamic Center of Greater Miami, located in Miami Gardens, Florida. The defendant admitted leaving a hate-filled and profanity laden message against Islam, the prophet Mohammed, and the Koran, during which he threatened to go to the mosque, and stated, “I’m gonna shoot all y'all.” He further admitted that by leaving this threatening message, he obstructed congregants who worship at the Islamic Center from freely exercising their religious beliefs.
“Hate crimes, no matter their form, engender fear and have no place in our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg. “By leaving a hate-filled and profanity laden message against Islam and threatening to shoot the members of the mosque he targeted, Gerald Wallace obstructed the free exercise of religion. Hate crimes not only violate our laws, but they are contrary to our country’s most fundamental principles. We will not tolerate the targeting of any community in our society. We will continue to prosecute hate crimes aggressively to ensure that all members of our community can live without fear.”
“The Justice Department will not tolerate threats of hate violence, which threaten whole communities’ sense of safety and security,” said John Gore, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute hate crimes so that all people, no matter how they worship, the color of their skin, or their country of origin, can live their lives freely and without fear.”
Wallace faces a maximum statutory penalty 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his guilty plea to the hate crime charge. Sentencing is set for Jan. 17, 2018, in front of U.S. District Court Judge Marcia G. Cooke.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the Miami Gardens Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry C. Wallace, Jr. of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
ARelated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
First in the Nation Criminal Indictment of a Chinese National for Manufacturing and Distributing Fentanyl and Other OpiatesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss- A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Mississippi recently indicted a Chinese national for conspiracy to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other deadly chemicals in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam, Mississippi Commissioner of Public Safety Marshall Fisher and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director John M. Dowdy, Jr.
This Chinese national is the first manufacturer and distributor of fentanyl and other opiate substances to be indicted in the history of the United States while being designated as a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT). CPOT designations are those who have "command and control" elements of the most prolific international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and are considered by DEA to be some of the most significant drug trafficking threats in the world. On Sept. 7, Xiaobing Yan, 40, of China, was indicted in the Southern District of Mississippi on two counts of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute multiple controlled substances, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, and seven counts of manufacturing and distributing the drugs in specific instances. According to the Indictment, Yan, a distributor of a multitude of illegal drugs, used different names and company identities over a period of at least six years and operated websites selling acetyl fentanyl and other deadly fentanyl analogues directly to U.S. customers in multiple cities across the country. Yan also operated at least two chemical plants in China that were capable of producing ton quantities of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Yan monitored legislation and law enforcement activities in the United States and China, modifying the chemical structure of the fentanyl analogues he produced to evade prosecution in the United States. Over the course of the investigation, federal agents identified more than 100 distributors of synthetic opioids involved with Yan’s manufacturing and distribution networks. Federal investigations of the distributors are ongoing in 10 judicial districts, and investigators have traced illegal proceeds of the distribution network. In addition, law enforcement agents intercepted packages mailed from Yan’s Internet pharmaceutical companies, seizing multiple kilograms of suspected acetyl fentanyl, potentially enough for thousands of lethal doses.
"This case illustrates that the opioid crisis we face is a global epidemic with international roots and deadly outcomes in our local communities. The President and Attorney General have made combating this scourge a priority and we will continue to pursue local traffic stops involving these horrific substances all the way up to the international drug kingpins that supply them in order to safeguard and protect our citizens. Our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are to be commended, as they are united with us in this effort and we together will not be stopped," said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam stated: "Opioids, including fentanyl, are killing people across this country at horrific rates. In this investigation, law enforcement literally reached across a hemisphere to strike a blow against a criminal drug trafficking organization that was a vital lifeline to several domestic manufacturing and distribution networks. DEA is proud to be part of this historical effort in fighting this opioid crisis. This indictment alleges that Xiaobing Yan manufactured and imported tons of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues into the United States. Currently, a criminal drug trafficking organization that misused technology to open the world’s medicine cabinet, placing unbridled greed before public health and safety, has been stopped."
"At a rate of 175 overdose deaths per day, agencies working together on cases like this one is essential to the fight against the opioid epidemic plaguing our state and nation as a whole," said Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher. "Citizens need to be aware of the dangers of ordering illicit drugs online and the gravity of the number of people that are dying from doing so."
"This indictment is a significant enforcement action that hopefully will help curb the tide in the opioid epidemic we’re fighting," said MBN Director John Dowdy. "Our partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to be invaluable in this fight. Fentanyl is a death drug and we must use every available asset to get this killer off our streets."
"This case is evidence of how illegal substances on the streets of our communities are provided through complex organizations that cross local, state and national borders." said Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania. "It also shows that no criminal organization can avoid the collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement efforts."
The indictment announced today is the result of a coordinated, multi-agency, multi-national investigation conducted by agents and investigators of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a partnership between federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies, including in this case Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Gulfport, and D'Iberville Police Departments, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
If convicted, Yan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Possessing Gun and Ammo While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to six years of imprisonment on his conviction of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and the related violation of his supervised release, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Marcus Thompkins, age 27, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Thompkins was on supervised release from a prior federal drug trafficking conviction that involved the armed robbery of a drug dealer. Two United States Probation Officers attempted to visit Thompkins on December 12, 2016 when Thompkins pointed a firearm at them. On the next day, Officers from the Probation Office and the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force conducted a search of Thompkins’ residence, and they recovered the firearm and ammunition.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Schwab stated that he considered, as part of his sentence, the need to protect the safety of the Probation Officers as they go about their excellent work.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Song commended the United States Probation Office and the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thompkins.
Federal Jury Convicts Apopka Felon of Cocaine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that a federal jury has found Joshua Otis Gordon Carter (26, Apopka) guilty of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2018.
Carter was indicted on October 26, 2016.
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 29, 2016, officers executed a search warrant at a home in Apopka, where Carter lived with his girlfriend and three small children. In the master bedroom closet of the home, officers discovered a loaded firearm, more than one kilogram of cocaine, and more than $11,000 in cash. At the time of the search, Carter was a previously-convicted felon and, therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Altamonte Springs Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan W. Hill and Shawn Napier.
Family Dollar Store Robber Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that Karlos Alexander Wilson, Jr. (24, Pinellas Park) today pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 32 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, on January 14, 2017, Wilson and a co-conspirator (CC-1) committed an armed robbery at a Family Dollar Store in Tampa, stealing approximately $3,300 from the store. On June 3, 2017, Wilson and CC-1 committed another armed robbery at a Family Dollar Store in Hillsborough County, stealing approximately $685 from the store. Forensic analysis of DNA from the crime scene led to his arrest.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN) — a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety-one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, Acting U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Fairview Heights Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Michael S. Putman, 51, of Fairview Heights, was sentenced on October 18, 2017, to 77 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for robbing the Regions Bank in Collinsville, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today. After serving this federal sentence, Putman will serve an additional sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections for burglarizing the China King restaurant in Fairview Heights in January of 2017.
Putman had previously pled guilty to the February 10, 2017 robbery of the Regions Bank at #1 Eastport Plaza in Collinsville, Illinois. When officers attempted to pursue Putman after the bank robbery, a high-speed chase ensued through East St. Louis, wherein Putman finally crashed his vehicle and was apprehended near the entrance to the Eads Bridge.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Collinsville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.
Fairmont man and Morgantown woman admit to their roles in an oxycodone distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two West Virginia residents have admitted to their roles in a drug distribution operation, United States Attorney William J. Powell announced.
Leon Jamar Maddox, age 34, of Fairmont, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone.” Maddox admitted to selling oxycodone in Monongalia County in September 2015.
Amanda Maddox, age 32, of Morgantown, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.” She admitted to using a telephone to assist in distributing oxycodone in Monongalia County in March 2017.
Leon Maddox faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Amanda Maddox faces up to four years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Federal Jury Convicts Child Pornographer on All CountsRead the Press Release
BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson announced today that a federal jury unanimously convicted CHRISTOPHER G. WAGUESPACK, 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following a three-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles. The defendant had been charged in a Superseding Indictment with distribution of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2), and possession of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B). A sentencing date has not yet been set, but WAGUESPACK faces a significant term of imprisonment, including a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least 5 years, as a result of his convictions.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that WAGUESPACK used his computer to search for, download, store, categorize, and share images of children, under twelve years old, engaged in explicit sexual activity. WAGUESPACK then took actions to conceal his misconduct and evade detection by law enforcement by employing anti-forensic software, wiping software, and encryption on his computer.
Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson stated, “Justice was done today. The evidence at trial established the defendant as a sophisticated child pornographer with a sexual interest in children. His conviction contributes to the safety and security of children not only in our community, but around the world. The market for child pornography is perpetuated by those, like this defendant, who possess and distribute such despicable material. I greatly commend the excellent work of the prosecutors and agents involved in this important matter, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit.”
Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the New Orleans office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated, “Cases like this one reinforce our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners. This is another example of the success of Operation Broken Heart and shows how we can continue to remove these threats to our children when we work together.”
This matter was a joint investigation between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office – Cyber Crime Unit, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Baton Rouge Police Department, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie A. Flowers, Jr. and Cam Le.
FBI Arrests Individual for Attempted Hobbs Act RobberyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Magistrate Judge Camille L. Vélez-Rivé authorized a criminal complaint against Franklin Martínez-Rodríguez, charging him with attempted Hobbs Act robbery and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico. The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) are in charge of the investigation.
According to the criminal complaint, on October 16, 2017 at approximately 8:00 pm, two individuals entered a fast food located at Calle José De Diego in San Juan, and announced a robbery. Both men were carrying and brandishing firearms. One of the individuals, later identified as defendant Martínez, hopped the counter to retrieve the restaurants money from the register. At the same time, a private security officer emerged from the rear of the store. When the security officer saw the masked man holding a handgun he opened fired against the defendant. Martínez also fired his gun.
Two restaurant patrons were struck during the exchange of gunfire. A male patron was struck in the hand and a female patron was struck in the shoulder and across the chest. The unidentified individual fled the restaurant when the shooting began and entered a waiting vehicle just outside the restaurant. Shortly, emergency personnel arrived at the scene and Martínez was taken into custody by PRPD.
If convicted defendant faces a minimum of ten years up to life imprisonment (for discharging a firearm), as well as a period of supervised release of not more than five years. A criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor O. Acevedo Hernández has been assigned to prosecute this case.
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Eight Members and Associates of the Mount Vernon Goonies Street Gang Charged in Federal Court with Racketeering, Narcotics, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Anthony A. Scarpino Jr., Westchester County District Attorney, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MARKEL OVERTON, a/k/a “Kellz,” THOMAS BLANTON, a/k/a “LT,” MARQUIS COLLIER, a/k/a “Keise,” KADEEM DINHAM, a/k/a “Polo,” DONNIE DIXON, a/k/a “Scooter,” RAHEEM JONES, a/k/a “Rah Trigger,” a/k/a “Trigga,” JAMAAL SINCLAIR, a/k/a “Diggz,” and NOEL SMITH, a/k/a “Georgie,” with various crimes relating to racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses. The defendants have been charged as a result of their membership in the “Goonies” street gang that operated in the City of Mount Vernon, New York. OVERTON was arrested on these charges yesterday. COLLIER and DIXON were arrested on these charges today. DINHAM, who was already in custody on state charges, was transferred to federal custody today; BLANTON, SINCLAIR, and SMITH, who were also already in custody on state charges, will be transferred to federal custody as soon as possible; and JONES was already in federal custody on related charges. The defendants will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Lisa M. Smith this afternoon in White Plains federal court.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As alleged, the eight members and associates of a violent Mount Vernon street gang charged today engaged in attempted murder, drug dealing and firearms offenses. One of our most important missions, as federal prosecutors, is to investigate and prosecute street gangs that threaten our communities through violence and narcotics trafficking, as the Goonies allegedly did in Mount Vernon.”
Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said: “This gang was allegedly engaged in serious criminal activity that included shooting incidents, armed robberies, gun possession and narcotics distribution. We are pleased that this is now coming to an end. I want to thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District and the New York office of the FBI for their unstinting dedication and determination that led to this indictment and today’s arrests.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As alleged, the motives of this gang were sinister and criminal, using violence and illegal drugs to intimidate the community. The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force works diligently with our law enforcement partners every day to stop these gangs, and keep them from negatively impacting communities.”
According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in White Plains federal court:
From 2007 to 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, OVERTON, BLANTON, DINHAM, DIXON, JONES, SINCLAIR, and SMITH were members or associates of a racketeering enterprise known as the “Goonies.” In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Goonies committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including attempted murder and robbery; they conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics; and they obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and firing them. BLANTON, COLLIER, DINHAM, DIXON, and JONES also conspired with one another, and certain other members of the Goonies, to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana.
* * *
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided in the attached table for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Kim thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives from the Yonkers Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Westchester County Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, New York City Police Department, and U.S. Probation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Anden F. Chow, Christopher J. Clore, Sarah Krissoff, Olga Zverovich, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys John O’Rourke and Lauren Abinanti are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. Markel Overton, et al.
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Count One
Racketeering Conspiracy
MARKEL OVERTON
a/k/a “Kellz”
THOMAS BLANTON
a/k/a “LT”
MARQUIS COLLIER
a/k/a “Keise”
KADEEM DINHAM
a/k/a “Polo”
DONNIE DIXON
a/k/a “Scooter”
RAHEEM JONES
a/k/a “Rah Trigger”
a/k/a “Trigga”
JAMAAL SINCLAIR
a/k/a “Diggz”
NOEL SMITH
a/k/a “Georgie”
20 years in prison
Count Two
Firearms Offense
MARKEL OVERTON
THOMAS BLANTON
MARQUIS COLLIER
KADEEM DINHAM
DONNIE DIXON
RAHEEM JONES
JAMAAL SINCLAIR
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
Count Three
Firearms Offense
NOEL SMITH
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison
Count Four
Narcotics Conspiracy
THOMAS BLANTON
MARQUIS COLLIER
KADEEM DINHAM
DONNIE DIXON
RAHEEM JONES
Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
DEFENDANT
AGE
MARKEL OVERTON
27
THOMAS BLANTON
24
MARQUIS COLLIER
33
KADEEM DINHAM
25
DONNIE DIXON
28
RAHEEM JONES
28
JAMAAL SINCLAIR
29
NOEL SMITH
24
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fraud that Targeted Elderly Victims Throughout the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who participated in a scheme to defraud victims across the United States have pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Tobey Hines, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, pled guilty today and was convicted of one count of wire fraud.
At the plea hearing, Hines admitted he participated in a scheme to defraud people throughout the United States and that the fraud was primarily targeted towards the elderly. Hines admitted that other individuals called victims on the phone and told these victims that a relative was in jail. The caller would then ask the victims to wire money via Western Union or Money Gram to get the relative released. Hines further admitted that the money was being wired to various participants in the fraud who would pick up the wire transfers. Hines admitted that he was one of the participants in and around Dubuque who received wire transfers from the victims.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hines remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Four other people have previously pled guilty to their role in the scheme. On March 2, 2017, Shawn Vaassen pled guilty and admitted that he too was picking up wire transfers sent to the Dubuque area by victims. At the same plea hearing, Vaassen also pled guilty to unlawfully possessing a sawed off shotgun. On May 9, 2017, Carlos Rodriguez pled guilty and admitted that he was also picking up wire transfers sent to the Dubuque area by victims. Michael and Stephanie Marcov, a married couple, each pled guilty to wire fraud on May 19, 2017, and admitted to picking up wire transfers sent by victims.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Vavricek and Anthony Morfitt and were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Investigations and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 17-CR-1001, 17-CR-1004, and 17-CR-1038.
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Dracut Attorney Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dracut attorney was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for filing false federal tax returns.
John F. Paczkowski, 73, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole to six months in prison, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $192,974. In November 2016, Paczkowski pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false personal tax returns for 2009 and 2010.
Paczkowski operated a legal office in Dracut as a sole practitioner. In this capacity, he was required by the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers and the Rules of Professional Conduct to hold client funds in a trust account separate from his own funds. However, Paczkowski embezzled and misappropriated funds from the trust account and used clients’ funds for his own uses. Paczkowski failed to report to the IRS more than $630,000 he took from clients and failed to pay more than $192,000 in federal taxes.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Weinreb’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Felipe Rodolfo Baez-Romero, 46, was indicted today in federal court in Boston on one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.
According to the indictment, law enforcement in Boston encountered Baez-Romero on Sept. 29, 2017, and determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States. Baez-Romero was previously deported on May 7, 2013.
The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised released and a fine of up to $250,000. Baez-Romero will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder While Armed in July 4, 2015 Slaying of Kevin SutherlandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jasper Spires, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of first-degree murder while armed for the July 4, 2015 slaying of Kevin Sutherland on a Metrorail train, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Ron Pavlik, Chief of the Metro Transit Police.
Spires pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence in the range of 30 to 35 years. The Honorable Judith Bartnoff set a hearing for Jan. 12, 2018 to determine whether to accept the plea and sentencing range.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on July 4, 2015, at approximately 12:43 p.m., Spires was standing near the fare machines at the entrance to the Rhode Island Avenue – Brentwood Metro Station, in the 900 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE, when 24-year-old Kevin Sutherland entered the station. Mr. Sutherland proceeded through the turnstiles and up the escalator to the platform, where he walked toward the front end of the platform to wait for a downtown-bound Red Line train.
A short while later, Spires followed through the entrance and up the escalator. As he stepped off the escalator and onto the platform, Metro digital surveillance cameras captured Spires putting gloves on his hands. Spires also walked towards the front end of the platform.
When a downtown-bound Red Line train arrived, both Spires and Mr. Sutherland boarded the second car of the train. Mr. Sutherland sat down near the middle of the car, in a seat facing inward, towards the center of the car. As the train traveled between the Rhode Island Avenue and NOMA-Gallaudet University Metro stations, Spires approached Mr. Sutherland and snatched Mr. Sutherland’s cellphone from his hand. Spires then began to attack Mr. Sutherland with a knife. He stabbed Mr. Sutherland repeatedly in the abdomen, upper right back, left side, right side, left arm, and right arm. As Spires stabbed him, Mr. Sutherland fell to the floor of the train. Spires continued to stab Mr. Sutherland as he lay on the floor. He also kicked Mr. Sutherland in the body and head. At the end of the attack, Spires threw Mr. Sutherland’s cellphone at him, striking him in the head.
During this attack, witnesses aboard the train attempted to notify the train’s operator. Spires menaced one of these witnesses with his knife and told the witness to “Shut up.” He also menaced two other witnesses on the train with a knife and took their property. When the train pulled into the NOMA-Gallaudet station, Spires walked off the train and ran down the stairs leaving the platform. He discarded the knife in a trashcan before continuing his flight. As he hopped the exit turnstiles of the station, Spires dropped a backpack. He hesitated for a moment, as though he would stop to pick up the backpack, but then continued his flight without retrieving the backpack. Meanwhile, Metro employees and some civilians who had been on the train with Mr. Sutherland called 911, and some witnesses sat with Mr. Sutherland as they waited for emergency personnel to arrive. By the time first responders got to the scene, Mr. Sutherland was unresponsive and emergency personnel pronounced Mr. Sutherland to be deceased.
Spires was arrested on July 6, 2015, and has been in custody ever since.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia conducted an autopsy on Mr. Sutherland. During the autopsy, the deputy medical examiner observed 19 stab wounds and 16 cutting wounds on Mr. Sutherland’s body. Several of the stab wounds were very deep and caused damage to Mr. Sutherland’s internal organs.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Chief Newsham, and Chief Pavlik commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Metro Transit Police. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences and Bode Cellmark Forensics.
They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Donovan, David Gorman, Michelle D. Jackson, Colleen M. Kennedy, Silvia Gonzalez-Roman, Mark Aziz, Kara Traster, and Anwar Graves; Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation; Forensic Operation Program Specialist Benjamin Kagan-Guthrie; Criminal Investigators Durand Odom and Mark Crawford; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, Sandra Lane, Lashone Samuels, and Michelle Chambers; former Paralegal Specialists Karen Hansen and Vanessa Trent- Valentine; the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit, including Victim/Witness Advocates Jennifer Clark and Marcia Rinker and Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, and Administrative Services Specialist Sallie Rynas.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Macey and Kathryn Rakoczy, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Dangerous Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – On Thursday, October 19, U.S. Senior District Judge Anna J. Brown sentenced Jose Antonio Mejia, 33, of Woodburn, Oregon, to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release and sex offender registration. Mejia previously plead guilty to a federal Indictment charging him with Transportation of a Minor Across State Lines with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.
Investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local authorities revealed that, in March 2016, Mejia transported two minors—including one who was under the age of 12—from Oregon to Washington, without their parents’ permission. Once there, Mejia attempted to rape the younger minor. The following day, Mejia returned the minors to their parents and the younger minor subsequently disclosed Mejia’s abuse. A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Mejia on Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault and Travel with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. Following his arrest, Mejia has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
At sentencing, prosecutors noted Mejia’s “shockingly heinous” conduct, and urged that it “must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.” Prosecutors noted that Mejia chose a particularly young and vulnerable victim, who he sought to isolate and, having done so, attempted to rape.
“This sentence represents another step in our continuing efforts to protect children in Oregon and elsewhere from sexual predators. These abhorrent crimes are indefensible and destructive to victims.” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I remain grateful for the dedication and collaboration of our federal, state, and local partners who diligently followed the evidence in this case.” Williams added, “I am also grateful for the amazing courage that the minor victims in this case showed in coming forward. Thanks to their bravery, a dangerous criminal will remain behind bars for a very long time.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Salem Police Department, Seattle (Washington) Police Department, and Woodburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Sinha prosecuted the case in federal court.
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 U.S. Department of Justice and 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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
DEA Prepares for Prescription Drug Takeback DayRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. encourages the public to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. The biannual event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at thousands of collection sites around the country, including over 50 here in the Northern District of Iowa. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
United States Attorney Deegan stated, “Opioid and prescription drug abuse is at an all-time high in our country, and the human toll is devastating.” Deegan added, “Everyone can help combat this epidemic by taking time to get rid of outdated and unused prescription drugs.”
Last April, Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,050 tons—of pills. The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Some painkiller abusers move on to heroin: Four out of five new heroin users started with painkillers.
Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses the public safety and public health issues that surround medications languishing in home cabinets, becoming highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
Collection sites will be set up throughout communities nationwide. To locate a collection site near you, go the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback where you can search by zip code, city, or state. The service is free and anonymous.
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Corpus Christi Man Heads to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 69-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to prison after admitting he possessed child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Henry Franklin Reddick pleaded guilty April 28, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Reddick a 36-month sentence. At the hearing, a Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) computer forensic expert testified that Reddick was saving numerous images of child pornography on a digital storage device a month before his arrest. Reddick was further ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation into Reddick began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The CyberTipline provides the public and electronic service providers with the ability to report online instances of child pornography. The CyberTipline report indicated that an individual using the email address of [email protected] had uploaded 79 images of suspected child pornography onto a cloud storage service.
Law enforcement was able to determine Reddick was associated with that email address and executed a search warrant at his residence. At that time, agents seized various electronic devices on which forensic analysis later revealed more than 450 images and 13 videos of child pornography.
Reddick was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez and Elsa Salinas, 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."
Columbus Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Kidnap Man After Cocaine Sale FailedRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Citlaly Casillas, 22, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit kidnapping following a failed drug transaction.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy and Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer announced the plea offered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.
According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Casillas and co-defendant William Hernandez Castillo conspired to kidnap an individual from April 4 through April 7.
In March, the individual told Casillas that an associate of his wanted to buy one kilogram of cocaine. Casillas and Hernandez agreed and intended to sell the cocaine for more than $30,000.
When the time came to complete the transaction on April 4, the associate took the cocaine without paying.
Hernandez then called the owner of the drugs, who was in Mexico, to discuss how to respond. The owner of the drugs told Hernandez to hold the individual responsible for his associate. The owner said if he did not receive the drugs or the money, he would send enforcers to deal with the individual and his family.
Following the phone call, Hernandez told the individual that he had to come with Hernandez and Casillas.
From April 4 through April 7, Hernandez and Casillas seized, confined and kidnapped the victim for ransom at their Columbus residence. Hernandez told the victim that people from Mexico would harm his family if the drug owner did not receive the drugs or money.
“During his confinement, Casillas told the victim stories of a 2015 fatal shooting at La Michoacana market in Columbus in order to scare him and keep him from leaving the residence,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “She joked that Hernandez would cut off one of the victim’s fingers if he left.”
After contacting his girlfriend and mother, the victim was driven by Hernandez on April 7 to a location in Columbus, where they believed ransom money was waiting. When the victim arrived at the drop location, law enforcement secured him.
Casillas was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at her residence on April 17. Hernandez was arrested the same day, and the two have remained in custody since.
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Hernandez has also signed a plea agreement agreeing to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. His hearing to formally plead guilty has not yet been scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, DEA, Gahanna Police and Westerville Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is representing the United States in this case.
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Colfax County Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison for Assaulting Federal EmployeeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Cody Martinez, 31, of Raton, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to 92 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a federal employee. The sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney, 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos, and Inspector in Charge Keith Fixel of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Martinez was arrested on Jan. 29, 2016, on a federal criminal complaint for assaulting a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier. According to the criminal complaint, Martinez struck the victim in the back of the head with a brick while the victim was delivering mail in Colfax County, N.M., on Jan. 20, 2016. Martinez was apprehended shortly thereafter while attempting to flee from law enforcement officers. The victim sustained serious injuries as a result of the assault.
Martinez was indicted on Feb. 24, 2016, and was charged with assaulting a federal employee resulting in bodily injury. On Nov. 4, 2016, Martinez pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on Jan. 20, 2016, he assaulted a federal employee, a mail carrier, by striking him in the head with a dangerous weapon, a brick, causing bodily injury.
Martinez was arrested on Jan. 20, 2016 on local charges filed by the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Those charges were dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Raton Police Department, with assistance from the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez prosecuted the case.
Cohoes Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Donna M. Smith, age 57, of Cohoes, New York, pled guilty today to making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to fraudulently obtain Disability Insurance Benefits.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and John F. Grasso, Special Agent in Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office.
As part of her plea, Smith admitted to submitting two false statements in which she claimed to have not worked between 2006 and 2015, when in fact she had worked for a total of eight Capital Region employers. Disability Insurance Benefits are designed to replace, in part, the loss of income due to a disability.
Smith faces up to five years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years when she is sentenced on February 1, 2018 by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. 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.
This case was investigated by the SSA Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. White.
Cleveland Heights woman sentenced to more than three years in prison for tax fraudRead the Press Release
A Cleveland Heights woman was sentenced to more than three years in prison for fraudulently claiming false tax refunds for more than $700,000, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.
Janice Parks, 57, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi sentenced Parks to 41 months in prison and ordered her to pay $701,052 in restitution.
Parks represented herself as a tax preparer, first as the operator of J & H Professional Tax Services, which she operated from her home, then as the operator of Cleveland-based Jantaxx.
Parks and others falsely claimed tax credits on behalf of people who were not entitled to the credits. She directed others, including her incarcerated sons, to recruit people whose identities she could use to file fraudulent tax returns, according to court documents.
In many instances, Parks requested that portions of the refunds be directed to various bank accounts that she used for her personal gain, according to court documents.
Parks filed returns claiming nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent tax returns. The IRS paid refunds totaling approximately $700,000, according to court documents.
“This defendant stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from taxpayers and earned this prison sentence,” Herdman said.
“This defendant stole $700,000 in fraudulent income tax refunds and today’s sentencing proves that stealing from the government is a serious crime,” Korner said.
Helen Wynder, 55, of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the crime. She was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $701,052 in restitution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen E. Henderson and Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.
Charleston man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for a child pornography crime, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Jason Lee Smith, 39, previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. After Smith is released from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for 15 years, and will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Smith admitted that on March 21, 2015, he possessed over 600 images and videos of minors engaged in sexual acts. Many of the images and videos depict prepubescent minors. The images and videos were contained on his personal computer and other media devices seized from two separate locations in Charleston. The investigation revealed that Smith was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download, receive, and distribute child pornography.
The West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Parkersburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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