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12 October 2017
Two People Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two people were charged in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy after U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers found more than six kilograms of cocaine in neck pillows following their arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Rafael Francisco Bautista Perdomo, 20, and Brenda Alyssa Mancebo, 20, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Both appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court and were detained without bail.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Oct. 11, 2017, Perdomo and Mancebo arrived at Newark Liberty on an inbound flight from Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Each brought a neck pillow with them onto the flight as carry-on items.
During a routine baggage screening, CBP officers discovered approximately three kilograms of cocaine sewn inside each of the neck pillows that the defendants were carrying.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a potential maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited officers of CBP, under the direction of Leon Hayward, Acting Director, New York Field Operations, and special agents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New Jersey Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Debra Parker, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari B. Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Toledo man indicted for armed robbery of Jimmy John's sandwich shopRead the Press Release
A Toledo felon was indicted for using a firearm during the robbery of a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop last month, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, Toledo Police Chief George Kral and Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Columbus Field Division.
Mark Larkett, 29, was indicted on one count each of Hobbs Act robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Larkett used a firearm on Sept. 25 to rob the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop at 405 Adams Street in Toledo. He possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol on that date despite a prior conviction for robbery, according to the indictment
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Toledo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Weldon.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The First “Operation Gun Grabber” Defendant Pleads Guilty to Firearms Trafficking in York CountyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenge Lewis, III, age 24, of York, Pennsylvania, the first of the nine individuals indicted as a result of a joint ATF-York County Drug Task Force operation in York, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on October 11, 2017, before United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Lewis was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 29, 2017, and charged with possessing a .22 caliber I.J.A. & C.WKS revolver loaded with eight Winchester .22 caliber Super X cartridges. United States Magistrate Court Judge Susan E. Schwab arraigned Lewis on April 18, 2017, and determined he should be detained pending trial.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Lewis sold a .22 caliber I.J.A. & C.WKS revolver that was loaded with eight Winchester .22 caliber Super X cartridges on January 23, 2017, in York. Lewis has previously been convicted of a felony offense and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
A sentencing date is not yet scheduled.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the York County Drug Task Force, the York City Police Department, York County Adult Probation Department, and the York County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, and includes a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Texas man pleads guilty to illegally receiving more than $100,000 in disability payRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Texas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to not reporting more than $100,000 of income he received while on disability.
Jon Halbrook, 59, of Hemphill, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of theft of government property. According to the guilty plea, Halbrook began receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits in 2003, but it was later learned that Halbrook had been working from June 2012 to June 2016 at a Many, La., company. Halbrook did not report to the SSA as required by law that he was working during that time period and illegally received $101,616 in disability payments to which he was not entitled.
Halbrook faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of February 22, 2018.
The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Charged with Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice and Making False Documents, and False Statements in Relation to Blowout Preventer Testing on Oil Platform in Gulf of MexicoRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENNETH JOHNS, age 45, of Rosharon, Texas, was charged today in a three-count indictment in relation to the veracity of blowout preventer testing on an offshore oil and gas platform located at Ship Shoal 225 positioned on a federal mineral lease in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, JOHNS is charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and make false documents, and two counts of making false statements to agencies or departments of the United States.
According to court documents, on or about November 27, 2012, production and well workover operations were being conducted on the platform and the blowout preventer system had to be tested. A blowout preventer system is designed to ensure well control and prevent potential release of oil and gas and possible loss of well control.
On or about November 28, 2012, JOHNS and another worker created a false blowout preventer test. The next day when Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) inspectors conducted a routine compliance inspection of the platform, the fabricated blowout preventer pressure test chart was presented to the BSEE inspectors with the expectation that it would be a passing test and the inspectors would not find the platform to be in non-compliance for failing to properly test the blowout preventer system. JOHNS signed the fabricated pressure chart and a schematic of the testing sequence as if he had actually been involved in the BOP testing.
During subsequent investigation of the veracity of the blowout preventer test by the Department of Interior, JOHNS lied and told investigators the BOP chart with his signature was pre-signed and that he had been testing a pump when he made the chart.
If convicted, JOHNS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years per count and/or a maximum fine of $250,000 per count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Interior-Office of Inspector General (Energy Investigations Unit) with assistance from the Investigations and Review Unit, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Greenfield of the United States Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
South Jersey Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Crack Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for his role in a crack cocaine distribution conspiracy operating in Camden, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Julian Dickerson, a/k/a “Juelz,” 30, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. Judge Simandle imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Dickerson admitted that he was a member of an organization that controlled the distribution of drugs, including crack cocaine, in and around the 1100 block of Lansdowne Avenue in Camden. Dickerson admitted that he was supplied crack cocaine by other members of the conspiracy, which he sold to customers in the area and to an undercover officer on several occasions.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Simandle sentenced Dickerson to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief J. Scott Thomson; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Rick Fuentes, with the investigation.
He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: Michael E. Riley Esq., Mount Holly, New Jersey
Sentencings for October 10 - October 12, 2017Read the Press Release
Damien Anthony Jerome, a/k/a "Dey-Dey", 31, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 12, 2017, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jerome was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 211 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $1,000.00 in restitution and a $200.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Misael Diaz, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on October 12, 2017, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Diaz was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 70 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
John James Gravelis, 35, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 11, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a firearm during in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Gravelis was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Christopher Eugene Shaw, 32, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 11, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Shaw was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 147 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $800.00 in restitution and a $200.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Raymond Marshal Fruits, 41, of Lincoln City, Oregon, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 10, 2017, on three counts for sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person. Fruits was arrested in Portland, Oregon. He received 37 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $300.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Jeffrey Dennis Hunsaker, Jr., 20, of Nashville, Tennessee (formerly of Douglas, Wyoming), was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 10, 2017, for possession of child pornography. Hunsaker was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received 48 months of imprisonment, to be followed by ten years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $9,000.00 in restitution and a $100.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
David Allen Labriola, 33, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on October 10, 2017, for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and theft of firearms from federal firearms licensee. Labriola was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 101 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $300.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Scott woman pleads guilty to tax preparation scheme that led to more than $105,000 in IRS lossesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Scott tax preparer pleaded guilty Tuesday to putting false information on clients’ tax forms that caused the IRS to pay out more than $105,000.
Vida Prejean Thomas, 44, of Scott, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false documents under Internal Revenue laws. The plea will be final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, the IRS began investigating Thomas’ tax preparation business after receiving a tip alleging fraudulent activity. They interviewed nine of her customers and found that their 2010 through 2013 personal income tax returns contained false information put there without their knowledge or authorization. The false returns Thomas prepared caused a loss of $105,813 to the IRS.
Thomas faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. The court set a January 2, 2018 sentencing date.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national was indicted today in federal court in Boston on a federal immigration charge.
Oscar Ayala-Herrera, 23, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2017, law enforcement officers in Boston encountered Ayala-Herrera and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Ayala-Herrera was previously deported on April 22, 2016.
Ayala-Herrera faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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 Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine 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.
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Amit Pandey, 41, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that Pandey was arrested in February 2017 by deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, after he was discovered having sex in a parked vehicle with a 16-year old minor female. The defendant’s cell phone was seized during the arrest. A forensic analysis uncovered sexually graphic chats and images using the Kik application between Pandey and the minor female. One of the images was that of a person that Pandey knew was a minor.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn and Special Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 20. 2018, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Wolford.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Possessing, Distributing and Attempting to Produce Images of Child Rape and MolestationRead the Press Release
A registered sex offender with multiple prior convictions was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 35 years in prison, and lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. RAYMOND EARL DEVORE, 44, of Arlington, Washington, was convicted at a bench trial of possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, and attempted enticement of a minor. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly found that DEVORE qualified for the 35 year mandatory minimum sentence because of his prior convictions. “You weren’t just surfing the internet for child pornography,” said U. S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly. “You were really a predator, obsessed with connecting with young teens.”
“This defendant has demonstrated repeatedly that he poses a grave risk to children,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Congress put in place significant mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders with this kind of criminal history to ensure our communities are protected for as long as possible.”
According to records filed in the case, DEVORE came to the attention of law enforcement in January 2015, when he was living at a residence for sex offenders under the supervision of the Washington State Department of Corrections. Law enforcement learned that DEVORE had been sending text messages to a young teen-age girl in Oregon. Investigators seized DEVORE’s phone and discovered hundreds of images of child molestation and rape. The forensic examination also found a Dropbox account with additional images. The investigation also revealed that DEVORE used a messaging app to communicate with 87 different people, many of whom indicated they were teenagers. DEVORE attempted to lure some of them into providing him with sexually explicit images. DEVORE had sexually explicit discussions with two young teen-age girls, preying on them after learning they had been victims of sexual abuse.
DEVORE was convicted in Snohomish County Superior Court in 2003 of possessing and dealing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. DEVORE was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in 2005, 2007, and 2011.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the Arlington Police Department, the McMinnville Oregon Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion, Kate Vaughan and Siddharth Velamoor.
Registered Sex Offender Convicted of Three Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 44-year-old Porter man has entered guilty pleas to distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Eric Furzland is a sex offender who has been required to register since his conviction for indecency with a child in 1997 in Harris County.
Authorities believed Furzland was uploading and storing child pornography into a virtual storage account. He had been using a variety of online applications to chat with others about child pornography and trade materials. He later posted such materials to a Cloud storage service and made the link to his account available to at least one other person.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, at which time they seized computer media and cellular phones. Forensic analysis of the phone, computer media and virtual storage accounts revealed 300 child pornography images and 2000 child pornography videos.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea today and has set sentencing for Dec. 20, 2017. At that time, Furzland faces a mandatory minimum of 15 and up to 40 years imprisonment for the distribution and receipt of child pornography as well as another 10-20 years for possession. All charges carry the possibility of an additional $250,000 fine. Furzland also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet. He will again be required to register as a sex offender for up to the rest of his life.
At a detention hearing held shortly after his arrest in April 2017, Furzland was found to be a flight risk and danger to the community. He has been in custody since that time where he will remain pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack is prosecuting the case, brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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."
Previous Deported Alien Sentenced for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on October 11, 2017, United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Gregorio Marmolejo, age 44, of Mexico, to 13 months’ imprisonment for illegal re-entry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Marmolejo pleaded guilty to unlawfully returning to the United States after having been deported to Mexico in 2008. Marmolejo was removed from the country after a 1992 conviction in New York for an attempted sale of cocaine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case.
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Poplar Grove Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Poplar Grove resident was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala for distributing 448 grams of methamphetamine.
ARMAN M. DINO, 46, who pleaded guilty to the charge on May 30, 2017, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, to be followed by eight years’ supervised release.
According to the written plea agreement, on May 19, 2016, Dino was at his residence on Candlewick Lake when he sold more than a pound of methamphetamine to an individual who was cooperating with the government. After the cooperating individual paid Dino $10,000 and left, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on Dino’s residence and seized an additional 37 grams of methamphetamine and $10,790 in cash. Dino was arrested that day.
The sentencing was announced by Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; John P. Selleck, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Dennis A. Wichern, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Boone County Sheriff David Ernest; and Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble.
The multi-jurisdictional investigation was conducted by the Belvidere/Boone County Metro Narcotics Unit, along with agents from the FBI, DEA and Rockford Police Department.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.
PA Man Sentenced for Environmental Crimes in WilmingtonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Lance A. Charen, a 52‑year old resident of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory M. Sleet to one year and one day incarceration for environmental crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2010, through January 2013, Charen was the branch manager of an oil recycling facility, located at 505 South Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware. International Petroleum Corporation of America (“IPC”) owned and operated the facility, which processed used oil and hydrocarbon-containing waste water and then sold the reprocessed petroleum to various companies for reuse. The facility had two components: oil recovery and waste water treatment. The facility’s petroleum processing activities generated waste water, which the company treated at its waste water portion of the facility prior to discharge into a sewer along Market Street owned by the City. It issued IPC a federally-enforceable Clean Water Act pretreatment permit which governed the types and concentrations of pollutants which IPC could discharge into the City’s sewer system. The pretreatment permit required IPC to take “representative” samples of its waste water on a monthly basis, to determine if it was complying with its permit limitations, and report its sampling results to the City every six months.
On June 22, 2017, Charen pled guilty to tampering with monitoring methods associated with IPC’s monthly samples. More specifically, Charen admitted that on sampling days he caused the facility to significantly reduce the volume of wastewater treated, because slowing the treatment process rendered it more effective. Additionally, Charen pled guilty to violating the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (“RCRA”) by transporting hazardous waste without a hazardous waste manifest. In June and July 2012, Charen caused to be transported for disposal in South Carolina approximately 27 truck-loads or 500,00 pounds of sludge (“tank bottoms”) which had been removed from the facility’s storage tanks. The tank bottoms contained concentrations of benzene, barium, chromium, cadmium, lead, tetrachloroethene (also known as “PCE”), and trichloroethene (also known as “TCE”), which each served to classify the material as RCRA regulated hazardous waste.
IPC pled guilty to similar charges and was sentenced by Judge Sleet, on February 2, 1017, to a $1,300,000 fine and $2,200,000 in restitution to the City of Wilmington.
“Industrial wastewater can pose serious threats to public health and the environment, so it’s imperative that managers of companies, especially ones providing environmental services, honestly treat and dispose of it properly and sample and report pollutant concentrations honestly," said Acting U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Likewise, company managers must handle hazardous waste properly to ensure its proper treatment and disposal. The Department of Justice and EPA are committed to protecting human health and the environment for all Americans through strong enforcement of environmental laws. This conviction and sentence ensures that the defendant, the facility’s highest on-site manager, is held accountable.
“By falsifying sampling results and hiding the fact that he was shipping ignitable and hazardous waste, the defendant put public safety and the health of the environment at risk,” said Jennifer Lynn, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Delaware. “This case demonstrates that EPA and its law enforcement partners are serious about protecting the health of our communities.”
This case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. The City of Wilmington Department of Public Works and the DNREC Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section assisted in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin Harrell, EPA Region 3, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond Falgowski from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Nunda Man and Elmira Woman Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Bryan Matacale, 42, of Nunda, NY, and Ashley Warren, 26, of Elmira, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. In addition, Matacale is also charged with receipt of child pornography, while Warren is also charged with distribution of child pornography. Matacale faces a minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years because of prior convictions for sexual offenses. Warren faces at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison.Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the prosecution of the case, stated that according to the complaint, in March 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) received information from the Belgian Federal Police that a Belgian citizen identified individuals in the United States as being involved the possession and distribution of child pornography. The Belgian citizen told police that an individual he knew as "Bob" paid him money in exchange for images and videos of child pornography on several occasions. Subsequent investigation determined that “Bob” was defendant Maracle.
On August 28, 2017, a federal search warrant was executed at Matacale’s residence during which various computers and electronic media were seized by law enforcement officers. During an examination of the defendant’s cellular telephone, officers observed the contact name "Ashley Warren." In June 2017, defendant Warren reported to law enforcement officers that she believed Matacale might have inappropriately touched two underage female relatives. A review of text messages between Matacale and Warren revealed that Warren, at Matacale’s request, used her cellular telephone to take and send photos containing images of child pornography to Matacale.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and are being held.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Non-Indian Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Navajo WomanRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Mark Silva, 48, of Sundance, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a sexual abuse charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Silva will be sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Silva will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Silva was arrested on April 4, 2017, on an indictment charging him with sexual abuse on May 1, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Silva pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on May 1, 2016, he sexually abused a Navajo woman. Silva further admitted that he engaged in the sexual act while knowing that the victim was incapable of declining participation in or communicating unwillingness to engage in the sexual act. Silva remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle pursuant to the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Nigerian Citizen Sentenced for Defrauding More than $1.3 million Dollars from U.S. VictimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Nigerian man who resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for perpetuating a wire fraud scheme involving various Internet scams, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Wiseman Oputa pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud April 20, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Oputa the 36-month sentence. He was further ordered to pay a $1,319,103.72 in restitution to the numerous victims he defrauded. Not a U.S. citizen, Oputa is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, until Jan. 25, 2017, Oputa used counterfeit passports to open bank accounts in the greater Houston area. The passports contained photographs of Oputa but had different names and identification information. He then worked with others to lure victims into sending money into these bank accounts. These funds were obtained through a variety of Internet scams, including business email compromises, romance schemes and unauthorized intrusions into company email accounts. Checks or wire transfers were then sent from the company’s accounts payable to accounts Oputa or others he controlled. Oputa would then use the counterfeit passports to retrieve the fraudulently obtained funds.
Oputa was part of a scheme that defrauded numerous victims nationwide. In one instance in December 2016, Oputa opened an account at Regions Bank with a counterfeit Ghanaian passport as identification. Shortly thereafter, the account received a wire transfer of $40,000 from a victim who had been told to send money for taxes on money he had won in Spain. USAA Bank identified the fraudulent transfer and was able to recall this specific wire. Two additional wires were also recalled; however, the remaining victims’ wire transfers were not. The total amount of money the victims lost nationwide exceeded $1.3 million.
Oputa will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation along with Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service and the Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting the case.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Robert Senices, 26, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 14, 2016, Senices cashed a fraudulent $7,270 check at a Citizens Bank in Concord, New Hampshire. The check was purportedly drawn on a Citizens Bank account owned by a Massachusetts business. Approximately one hour later, Senices cashed a fraudulent $7,325 check that was purportedly drawn on the same account at a Citizens Bank in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. On both occasions, Senices presented a New Jersey driver’s license and was photographed by bank surveillance cameras.
Senices will be sentenced on January 22, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
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Navajo Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting a Federally Commissioned Tribal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Abner Joe, 55, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 33 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer. Joe will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety (NNDPS) arrested Joe on Aug. 10, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a federal officer. According to the complaint, Joe assaulted a NNDPS officer on Aug. 4, 2016, by spitting on her and threatening her with a hammer and a wooden board. At the time, the officer was commissioned as a Special Federal Officer by the BIA’s Office of Justice Services.
Joe was indicted on Aug. 23, 2016, and was charged with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and assault involving physical contact. The indictment alleged that Joe committed the crimes on Aug. 4, 2016, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.
On July 12, 2017, Joe pled guilty to assaulting a federal officer. In entering the guilty plea, Joe admitted that on Aug. 4, 2016, he threatened two uniformed tribal officers as he approached them while holding a raised 2” x 4” board. He also admitted throwing a hammer at a federally commissioned tribal officer.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Shiprock office of NNDPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Murphy prosecuted the case.
NYC Pair Sentenced for Their Role in Mortgage Scheme Against Flaherty FundingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Angelo Louissaint, 42, and Jennifer Johnson, 42, both of West Babylon, NY, who were convicted of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, were sentenced by U.S. District Elizabeth A. Wolford for their role in a mortgage fraud scheme that victimized Flaherty Funding, a mortgage company located in Rochester, NY. Louissaint was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Johnson was sentenced to five years probation to include six months home detention.Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who handled the case, stated that the defendants worked together to prepare false mortgage applications in the names of straw buyers and used fraudulent supporting documents. Louissaint and Johnson worked together with another individual, against whom charges remain pending, to concoct the scheme to obtain mortgage loans from Flaherty Funding using fraudulent information. As a result of the scam, the defendants successfully obtained approximately $1,200,000 in loans, and sought an additional $900,000 for loans that ultimately did not close.
The sentencings are the culmination of efforts by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski; the United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-in-Charge.
Munster Man Charged with Possession of an Destructive Device and Transporting Explosive MaterialsRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Eric P. Krieg, age 45, of Munster, Indiana was charged with knowing possession of a destructive device and transporting explosive materials.
The complaint alleges that, on or about September 6, 2017, Krieg mailed a package at an US Postal Facility in East Chicago, Indiana that exploded. On or about September 29, 2017, Krieg mailed a suspicious package to another individual. On October 12, 2017, search warrants were executed on Krieg’s residence, place of employment and vehicle. After executing the search warrants, Krieg was arrested on the above charges.
The United States Attorney’s office emphasizes that a Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This complaint results from an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; United States Marshal’s Service; East Chicago Police; Hammond Police; Indiana State Police; Munster Police; Porter County Sheriff’s Department. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua P. Kolar and Jennifer Chang.
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Monongalia County man admits to drug distribution chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Pursglove, West Virginia man has admitted to a drug distribution charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.
Floyd Pancoast, age 24, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.” Pancoast admitted to using a telephone to help distribute oxycodone in Monongalia County in February 2017.
Pancoast 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 prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Mexican Man Admits Illegal Re-entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juan Carlos Cruz Figueroa, 30, of Mexico, pled guilty today to illegal re-entry into the United States.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Field Office Director Thomas E. Feeley, Buffalo, New York Field Office.
Cruz Figueroa was removed from the United States to Mexico on September 22, 2007 and again on November 7, 2007. On September 11, 2017, he encountered and arrested by an ICE officer in Saratoga, New York. A fingerprint check of Cruz Figueroa resulted in the discovery of the prior removals. Cruz Figueroa admitted that he returned to the United States without permission following the 2007 removals.
As a result of his conviction, Cruz Figueroa faces up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn on February 1, 2018. 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 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Albany, NY, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Methamphetamine Conspirators SentencedRead the Press Release
HELENA – Barbara Jean Satrom, 33, of Missoula was sentenced today to serve 27 months in prison and five years on supervised release for her participation in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribution and distribution of methamphetamine. The charge stemmed from a one-count superseding information filed in May of this year. Satrom entered a guilty plea to the single count in June. U.S. District Court Judge Charles C. Lovell issued the sentence.
Judge Lovell previously sentenced Satrom’s codefendants on similar charges this summer. Tillian Jay Gonzalez, 33, of Yakima, Washington was sentenced to 130 months in prison and five years’ supervised release on June 15, 2017. Rebecca Jean Belling Frankforter, 33, of Helena was sentenced on June 20, 2017, to 40 months in prison and five years supervised release.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the United States was prepared to prove that during the month of May 2016, controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from Tillian Jay Gonzalez, Barbara Satrom, and Rebecca Frankforter in Missoula and Helena, Montana. Gonzalez brought methamphetamine from Washington to Montana where Satrom and Frankfurter sold the methamphetamine for Gonzalez. Gonzalez also sold methamphetamine himself. The investigation ended with a pursuit of Gonzalez from Mineral County, Montana, to Shoshone County, Idaho.
On May 3, 2016, Barbara Satrom sold four ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Missoula, Montana. It was later determined through the course of the investigation that Gonzalez was Satrom’s supplier of the methamphetamine.
On May 6, 2016, Gonzalez sold four ounces of methamphetamine to the undercover officer in Missoula, Montana. On May 7, 2016, Gonzalez sold another four ounces to the undercover officer in Missoula, Montana.
On May 10, 2016, an undercover officer purchased eight ounces of methamphetamine from Gonzalez and Frankforter in Helena, Montana. Arrangements were made between the undercover officer and Gonzalez, for Gonzalez to deliver one pound of methamphetamine to the undercover officer on May 15, 2016.
On May 15, 2016, law enforcement attempted to stop Gonzalez as he entered Montana. A vehicle pursuit took place. After Gonzalez stopped his vehicle in Shoshone County, Idaho, he fled on foot. He was apprehended after he threw approximately four pounds of methamphetamine into the woods. Law enforcement seized the methamphetamine.
All of the methamphetamine purchased and recovered was sent to the DEA laboratory for testing. It was all 97 to 99 percent pure.
The case was investigated by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 91 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, NH – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that a man who has used multiple names and previously resided in Andover, Massachusetts was sentenced to serve 91 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements in court, from approximately October 2015 through July 2016, the defendant conspired to distribute fentanyl on multiple occasions in and around Lawrence, Massachusetts. In addition to delivering the drugs himself several times while under police surveillance, the defendant also sent a runner on other occasions to make the deliveries after New Hampshire-based customers called the defendant's telephone. The defendant was known by some of his customers as "Sample Dude" because he frequently provided customers with free samples of fentanyl to entice them to purchase larger quantities. After the defendant's arrest, law enforcement searched the defendant's apartment in Andover, Massachusetts and found an additional quantity of fentanyl.
Although the defendant has used the names Rolando Sierra-Oyola and William Santiago, his true identity is not clear.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the significant presence of fentanyl in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “This defendant distributed substantial quantities of a very deadly substance. I commend the law enforcement officers who worked together to put this drug dealer out of business. We will continue to work each day to target drug trafficking organizations that are responsible for distributing fentanyl and other opioids in our community.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Unit, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the New Hampshire State Police, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, the Exeter, New Hampshire Police Department, the Andover, Massachusetts Police Department, the Wilmington, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Lawrence, Massachusetts Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Aframe prosecuted the case.
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Man from Nicaragua pleads guilty to illegally returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Nicaraguan man pleaded guilty Wednesday to reentering the United States illegally after having been previously removed.
Manuel Vargas-Perez, 46, of Nicaragua, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of reentry by an alien without permission after removal. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement officers conducted a roadside stop on the vehicle Vargas-Perez was driving on July 3, 2017 in Calcasieu Parish. He had no identification and told officers he was from Nicaragua. It was later discovered that he had been deported before and had not obtained permission to return to the United States.
Vargas-Perez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Customs and Border Protection and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.
Man from Mexico pleads guilty to illegally returning to the United States for third timeRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican national pleaded guilty Wednesday to reentering the United States illegally after having been previously removed twice.
Lucas Rosales-Arcos, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of reentry by an alien without permission after removal. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to the guilty plea, Jennings police arrested Rosales-Arcos on May 27, 2017 for domestic battery. Border Patrol agents interviewed the defendant who admitted to being in the United States illegally. He was removed in September of 2013 and April of 2014, and had not obtained permission to return.
Rosales-Arcos faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for February 20, 2018.
United States Customs and Border Protection and the Jennings Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting the case.
Man from Mexico pleads guilty to illegally returning to the United States for fifth timeRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican national pleaded guilty Wednesday to reentering the United States illegally after having been previously removed four times.
Marco Antonio Reyes-Escutia, 42, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of reentry by an alien without permission after removal. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Sulphur police arrested Reyes-Escutia on July 10, 2017 for stealing from a local retail store. Border Patrol agents interviewed the defendant who admitted to being in the United States illegally. He was arrested and removed once in 2010, twice in 2012 and once in 2013.
Reyes-Escutia faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 12, 2018.
United States Border Patrol and the Sulphur Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
Man Indicted for Threatening to Murder U.S. OfficialsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Herndon man with threatening to murder officials, officers, and employees of the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. State Department, as well as Virginia law enforcement officers.
William Lewis Weaver II, 36, is charged with two counts of threatening to assault and murder federal officials, officers, and employees and three counts of transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing threats to injure the person of another. The indictment alleges that between August 23 and September 16, Weaver used a Twitter account to post tweets that threatened to murder a number of government officials, including specific threats involving bombs and a shotgun.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the indictment was returned. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-235.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
MS-13 Leader Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking and Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The leader of MS-13’s East Boston Loco Salvatrucha clique was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for RICO conspiracy involving an aggravated assault, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Santos Portillo Andrade, a/k/a “Flaco,” 33, a Salvadoran national residing in Revere, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. He will also be subject to deportation hearings upon completion of his sentence. In June 2017, Portillo agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and admitted responsibility for an aggravated assault on an individual he believed was a rival gang member in Malden in December 2008. Portillo also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
After a three-year investigation, Portillo was one of 61 defendants named in a January 2016 superseding indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts. He is the 19th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
Portillo was the leader of the East Boston Loco Salvatrucha clique of MS-13. According to court documents, MS-13 is a violent transnational criminal organization whose branches or “cliques” operate throughout the United States, including Massachusetts. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence against rival gang members to gain promotions and maintain membership and discipline within the group. Specifically, MS-13 members are required to attack and murder rival gang members whenever possible.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Logansport man sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling methamphetamine, kidnapping conspiracyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Logansport man was sentenced Wednesday to 420 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine in Many, La., and kidnapping a victim in east Texas.
Christopher L. Douglas, 36, of Logansport, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release. According to the April 6, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents recorded Douglas selling 2 ounces of methamphetamine on April 26, 2016 for $2,000 in Many. In addition, he previously pleaded guilty to the kidnapping conspiracy charge from the Eastern District of Texas, in which he participated with others to kidnap the victim, demand ransom, and ultimately attempted to kill the victim, all arising out of related drug trafficking.
The FBI, ATF-Tyler Texas, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department and Longview Police Department conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case for the Western District of Louisiana, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hable prosecuted the case for the Eastern District of Texas.
Levittown Man Charged with Illegal Reentry and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
Hakan Yildiz, of Levittown, PA, was charged today by Indictment with illegal reentry after deportation, and Social Security fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. The indictment alleges that on or about September 7, 2017, Yildiz, an alien, and native and citizen of Turkey, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about August 15, 2000. He is also alleged to have obtained a Social Security Number after falsely representing to the Commissioner of Social Security that he had work status. According to the indictment, Yildiz then utilized this Social Security Number to obtain a Pennsylvania Identification Card.
If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of seven years.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”), the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Lead Defendant Sentenced to 288 Months in Steubenville Heroin Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Frederick A. McShan, 37, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. Distirct Court to 288 months in prison for his role in running a Steubenville-area heroin-trafficking ring.
McShan and his brother, David McShan, 39, were each convicted following a weeklong jury trial in March.
Specifically, Frederick McShan was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, 12 counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. David McShan was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
David McShan was sentenced on August 31 to 74 months in prison and eight years of supervised release.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane M. Hanlin and members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force announced the sentence handed down today by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
According to court documents and testimony, the McShan brothers helped lead a drug organization that was responsible for street-level heroin sales in Steubenville, Ohio, including in the Market Street apartment public housing area, Weirton, W.Va., Wheeling, W.Va. and Bellaire, Ohio.
A yearlong investigation in this case by local, state and federal law enforcement culminated in the seizure of eight firearms, three vehicles and approximately $110,000 of narcotics proceeds.
Seven co-defendants in this case have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. They include:
Donae F. Grier, 38, of Irving, Texas, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison;
Christopher J. Bishop, 32, of Weirton, W.Va., who was sentenced to 120 months in prison;
Kerris D. Moncrease, 32, of Weirton, W.Va., who was sentenced to 42 months in prison;
Perrier D. Coleman, 21, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison;
Terrence L. Smith, 27, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 87 months in prison;
Michael K. Greathouse, 25, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to 100 months in prison and
Erica L. Jury, 37, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was sentenced to time served.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, as well as Deputy Criminal Chief Michael Hunter, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jane M. Hanlin who are prosecuting the case.
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Justice Department Provides Last Chance for Cities to Show 1373 ComplianceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today responded to seven jurisdictions following a preliminary assessment of the jurisdictions’ compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373. These jurisdictions were identified in a May 2016 report by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General as having laws that potentially violate 8 U.S.C. 1373.
The following jurisdictions have preliminarily been found to have laws, policies, or practices that may violate 8 U.S.C. 1373:
- Cook County, Illinois;
- Chicago, Illinois;
- New Orleans, Louisiana;
- New York, New York; and
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The department found no evidence that the following jurisdictions are currently out of compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373:
- Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; and
- the State of Connecticut.
The department also previously sent letters to the following jurisdictions notifying them that the department found no evidence that they are currently out of compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373:
- Clark County, Nevada; and
- Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Jurisdictions that were found to have possible violations of 8 U.S.C 1373 will have until Oct. 27, 2017 to provide additional evidence that the interpretation and application of their laws, policies, or practices comply with the statute.
“Jurisdictions that adopt so-called ‘sanctuary policies’ also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “I commend the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the State of Connecticut on their commitment to complying with Section 1373, and I urge all jurisdictions found to be out of compliance in this preliminary review to reconsider their policies that undermine the safety of their residents. We urge jurisdictions to not only comply with Section 1373 but to establish sensible and effective partnerships to properly process criminal aliens.”
Johnson City Resident Sentenced to Serve 150 Months in Prison for Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On October 11, 2017, Christopher Horton, a.k.a. “Slim,” 30, of Johnson City, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 150 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base “crack,” possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Upon his release from prison, he will be supervised by U.S. Probation for five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
In June 2017, a jury convicted Horton of these charges, which arose from his early morning arrest by Johnson City Police Officers, on January 4, 2015, near the WJHL office on State of Franklin Street. Horton brandished a firearm outside the Old South bar, which resulted in a brief pursuit by officers. During the pursuit, an officer saw him duck down beside a car in a parking lot. After his arrest, a firearm and quantity of crack cocaine were found under the vehicle where he was earlier seen. Officers recognized that fibers on the firearm appeared similar to that of a torn pocket on Horton’s jacket. Forensics experts from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found that the fibers on the firearm did match the type of fibers in Horton’s jacket. Additionally, DNA matching Horton was also found on the firearm.
Agencies involved in this investigation included the Johnson City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. J. Gregory Bowman, Assistant U.S. Attorney represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.
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Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, along with Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Division, announced today that Cameron Dee Neal, 34, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to 240 months or 20 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.
United States District Court Judge D. Price Marshall, Jr. sentenced Neal on Thursday following an investigation that revealed Neal had sexually exploited and produced child pornography of a six year-old girl. Judge Marshall also ordered Neal complete 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $18,776 in restitution to the victim.
The investigation began on December 14, 2015, when HSI agents in Boston discovered 75 images of a minor child, some of which were child pornography, being shared on the internet through a photo-sharing website. These images were uploaded to the website on December 12, 2015.
The images contained a prepubescent female, approximately six years old, in various stages of undress and nudity. The images were taken at various times of the day and night and some of the images appear to have been taken when the victim was sleeping. In some images the victim is wearing adult underwear and the focus of these images is the victim’s buttocks and vagina. There are also images of the victim in the shower and on the toilet, as well as images of the victim (dressed) at venues outside a home.
On December 18, 2015, agents were able to identify the six-year old minor. Agents interviewed her at her school where she stated that Neal took pictures of her in her bedroom, but told her the pictures were a “secret” because “no one wants to see pictures of my naked bottom and private.” The minor stated that Neal would give her old, stretchy panties to wear for the pictures.
That same day agents arrested Neal, who provided a statement. Neal admitted that he took nude photographs of the minor and uploaded them to Imgsrc.com. Neal stated that he had been taking photographs of the minor for approximately 6 months. Neal admitted that he told the minor how to pose in some of the pictures, including bending over and wearing her mother’s thong underwear. Neal also stated that he told the minor not to tell anyone about the pictures and that he was aroused when he took them.
“Taking advantage of innocent children in this way is a heinous crime,” Hiland said. “This young child’s photos were shared to the world, and she will have to live with that forever. Today’s sentence sends a strong message that this behavior, in addition to being morally reprehensible, has significant consequences.”
Neal admitted that he looked for child pornography on the internet and that in the previous six months he had uploaded approximately 50 images of child pornography. HSI agents showed Neal 11 pornographic photographs of the minor, and he admitted that he took each of them and uploaded them to the internet.
“Child pornography steals the innocence of children and destroys lives,” Parmer said. “The production of child pornography is the most heinous aspect of this illegal activity. Sexual abuse scars children for life, and HSI will continue to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify the perpetrators of these horrendous acts and seek justice on behalf of their victims.”
Neal was indicted on January 5, 2016, in a two-count indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography. On May 19, 2017, Neal pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor.
There is no parole in the federal system. When Neal is released upon completion of his 20-year sentence, he will serve 10 years of supervised release. Conditions of his supervised release include registering as a sex offender and no contact with minors under the age of 18.
The case was investigated by HSI and the Arkansas State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
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Indictment: Mother Took Children and Fled to RussiaRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Russian-born woman was indicted here today on charges of international parental kidnapping, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Bogdana Alexandrovna Mobley, 37, is charged with one count of international parental kidnapping. Mobley was arrested Sept. 29 in Wichita after spending more than three years in Russia. Investigators believe her children are still in Russia.
According to court records, Mobley emigrated from Russia to the United States in 2003 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In March 2014, her second husband filed for divorce in Sedgwick County District Court. While the case was pending and Mobley was pregnant with her third child, she fled to Russia with her two children – one born in 2004 when she was married for the first time and the other born in 2013 while she was married to her second husband. Her third child was born about two months after she returned to Russia.
In December 2014, a Sedgwick County judge granted full custody of the two younger children to Mobley’s ex-husband and ordered her to return them to him.
While she was in Russia with the children, she allowed her ex-husband to communicate with his children only by cell phone or Skype. In January 2015, he flew to meet her on the border of Poland and Russia but she did not allow him to see the children and she told him to give her money if he wanted to talk to them.
If convicted, she faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the kidnapping charge. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jose Hernandez-Alejos, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Sept. 27, 2017, in McPherson County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Roberto Garcia-Zaragosa, 58, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with lawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Sept. 20, 2017, in Seward County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Holliston Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holliston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for unlawful possession of ammunition after a substantial weapons trove was uncovered during a search of his home.
Joseph Gargiulo, 41, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to time served (approximately 14 months), pending acceptance by and entrance into an intensive mental health inpatient treatment facility. Once placed in a treatment facility, Gargiulo will be on supervised release for three years. In July 2017, Gargiulo pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. Gargiulo was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to an active restraining order issued against him in Wrentham District Court.
On July 27, 2016, agents received information that Gargiulo had acquired parts to make an AR-15 rifle and that he was stockpiling other weapons, including tasers, mace guns, hunting knives and incendiary chemicals. Around the same time, Gargiulo stated that he “will plant bombs in police stations…and kill as many homeland security officers as he can before they kill him.” Further investigation revealed that Gargiulo had stated that he wanted to attack a mosque and/or kill President Obama. Gargiulo said he wanted to “chain a mosque closed and burn it down,” but he never mentioned a specific mosque or time for such an attack.
A search of Gargiulo’s residence resulted in the seizure of parts needed to assemble an AR-15 rifle, over 250 rounds of ammunition for an AR-15 rifle, over 100 rounds of nine millimeter ammunition, chemicals that could be combined to create incendiary or explosive compounds, and hand written notes threatening violence against members of the Islamic faith.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Holliston Police Chief Matthew Stone; and Medway Police Chief Allen M. Tingley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Weinreb’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Henderson Man Sentenced for Possession of Ammunition by a FelonRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court on October 10, 2017, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced QUINCEY TYRONE CHAMPION, 38, of Henderson, NC to 85 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
CHAMPION was named in an Indictment filed on April 24, 2017. On July 14, 2017, CHAMPION pled guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Felon.
On December 17, 2016, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the Auto Brite Car Wash in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival and while securing the crime scene, officers were approached by the victim’s cousin, who advised that he had taken the victim to the hospital. The men were washing their vehicles when he heard three shots. The victim ran toward another vehicle and then reported that he needed to go to the hospital. They saw a tall male wearing a hoodie running towards the back of the car wash and jumping the fence. One of the officers found two shell casings and one live bullet in the parking lot near the crime scene. Meanwhile, another officer responded to Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson to interview the victim, who had been admitted to the emergency room. The victim stated that he was washing his vehicle at the car wash when he heard a gunshot and then felt a sharp pain in his left ankle. The victim identified CHAMPION as the shooter.
CHAMPION, a convicted felon, was in possession of ammunition on December 17, 2016. Additionally, the defendant used or possessed a firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense, Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
Head of Amtrak Transportation at Union Station in Chicago Guilty of Corruption for Steering Work to Wife’s CompanyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The head of Amtrak transportation at Union Station in Chicago admitted in federal court today that he steered work to his wife’s company to photograph Amtrak’s “Polar Express” train event last holiday season.
BENJAMIN SHEETS, an Amtrak employee and superintendent of transportation at Union Station, admitted in a plea agreement that he steered work to his wife’s suburban photography company to photograph train riders and families at Amtrak’s “Polar Express” event. Sheets also worked for his wife’s company as the business manager – a fact he failed to disclose to Amtrak. When Sheets learned that Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General was investigating the contract, he created false records and made false statements to the Inspector General’s investigators.
Sheets, 50, of Downers Grove, pleaded guilty to making false statements to Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General. U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras set sentencing for Feb. 27, 2018, at 9:45 a.m.
The guilty plea was announced by Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Thomas Howard, Inspector General of Amtrak.
“The American people deserve fair and honest services from those entrusted to manage aspects of our nation’s passenger rail service,” said Inspector General Howard. “Amtrak personnel who make false statements in an effort to achieve personal gain will be held accountable. Our office will vigorously investigate and help bring to justice those who engage in such criminal activity as we work to protect Amtrak funds, American taxpayers, and the traveling public.”
Amtrak’s “Polar Express” event is a family-oriented holiday celebration that includes festively decorated trains departing Union Station on a daily basis in December, with actors re-enacting the train ride from the 2004 “Polar Express” film starring Tom Hanks.
On Nov. 2, 2016, Sheets received an email from his wife that listed debts in excess of $25,000, prompting Sheets to respond, “We need to write an agreement for Polar Express,” according to a criminal information previously filed in the case. Soon thereafter, Sheets steered the work for Polar Express photography to his wife’s Downers Grove-based company, without following Amtrak procurement procedures. During the “Polar Express” event in December 2016, the wife’s company set up a photo booth in Union Station’s Great Hall and sold 3,679 photos for $10 each.
When Sheets learned in early 2017 that Amtrak Inspector General investigators were looking into the award of work, Sheets had the promotions company that staged the event prepare a back-dated, phony contract to make it appear that the wife’s photography business had been hired by the promotions company prior to the commencement of the Polar Express event. Sheets tendered the contract to Inspector General investigators in March 2017, even though he knew it was phony.
Making false statements is punishable by up to five years in prison. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry M. Kinney.
Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PEDRO VELEZ, also known as “Petey,” 25, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force learned that VELEZ was receiving kilogram quantities of heroin from a supplier, packaging the drug and then distributing it to street-level dealers in the Hartford area. On September 8, 2016, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of 44 “stacks” (approximately 4,400 bags) of heroin from VELEZ. Subsequent laboratory testing showed that the heroin had a net weight of 114 grams.
On October 21, 2016, investigators arrested VELEZ. On that date, a court-authorized search of an apartment in Vernon where VELEZ had been staying revealed an additional 5.3 grams of heroin.
VELEZ has been detained since his arrest. On April 5, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin.
VELEZ’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for possession of narcotics and criminal possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle. The firearm conviction stemmed from an incident in November 2011 during which VELEZ engaged in a drive-by shooting of a group on individuals on Orange Street in Hartford.
At the time VELEZ committed this federal offense, he was on state probation arising from a state narcotics conviction, and was on pretrial release on a $900,000 bond with respect to pending assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a firearm charges, stemming from an alleged drive-by shooting in Hartford in September 2015. He also was on release on a $225,000 bond with respect to a pending violation of probation charge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.
Harrison County man admits to illegal firearm chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Salem, West Virginia man has admitted to an unlawful possession of a firearm charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.
Justin Paul Crofford, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Crofford, having previously been convicted of a felony in Smith County, Texas Circuit Court, admitted to possessing a 12-gauge shotgun in January 2017 in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Crofford faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anmoore Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was indicted today in federal court in Boston on a federal immigration charge.
Cecilio Castro-Zacarias, 38, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
According to court documents, on Sept. 26, 2017, law enforcement officers in New Bedford encountered Castro-Zacarias and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Castro-Zacarias was previously deported on Aug. 12, 2005.
Castro-Zacarias faces a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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 Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. 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.
Guatemalan Man Admits Illegal Re-entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gerardo Froilan Lopez Velazquez, 51, of Guatemala, pled guilty today to illegal re-entry into the United States.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Field Office Director Thomas E. Feeley, Buffalo, New York Field Office.
Lopez Velazquez was removed from the United States to Guatemala on January 30, 2014 and again on April 9, 2014. On September 7, 2017, he was encountered and arrested by an ICE officer in Middleburgh, New York. A fingerprint check of Lopez Velazquez resulted in the discovery of the prior removals. Lopez Velazquez admitted that he returned to the United States without permission following the 2014 removals.
As a result of his conviction, Lopez Velazquez faces up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn on February 1, 2018. 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 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Albany, NY, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Gregg Paul Smith Sentenced to Serve 151 Months in Prison for Receiving Child Pornography and Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On October 11, 2017, Gregg Paul Smith, 48, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 151 months in federal prison as a result of his July 2017 guilty plea to receipt of child pornography and possession of stolen firearms. Upon his release from prison, he will be supervised by U.S. Probation for 15 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation of Smith was initiated when investigators with the Knoxville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) obtained child pornography images and videos uploaded through an internet file sharing service from an IP address associated with his address. A search warrant was executed at the residence and officers from the Kingsport Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office seized computer equipment, which was found to contain thousands of images and videos containing child pornography. During the search, officers also found multiple firearms that were stolen from a firearms dealership where Smith was employed.
Agencies involved in this investigation included the Sullivan County Sheriff Department, Kingsport Police Department, Knoxville Police Department ICAC Task Force, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. J. Gregory Bowman, Assistant U.S. Attorney represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a Department initiative launched in 2006 that aims to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC Marshals federal, state, tribal 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 visit ProjectSafeChildhood.gov.
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Fresno Gamecock Breeder Indicted on Animal Cruelty ChargesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Thomas Lee Crow, 48, of Fresno, charging him with aiding and abetting an unlawful animal fighting venture, attending an animal fighting venture, and unlawfully possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The offenses all involve cockfighting.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers searched Crow’s rural Fresno residential property last summer after he was allegedly found on April 21, 2017, at a large cockfighting enterprise in Kerman. At the cockfight, Fresno County deputies and detectives recovered 129 fighting roosters, including 28 dead and 9 injured roosters. Three spectators were also arrested. Detectives also seized cockfighting equipment, such as gaffs, blades, sheaths, gamecock leather boots, and scales.
This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General – Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice also provided assistance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has partnered with the Rural Crimes and Animal Cruelty Unit of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office in coordinating the filing of charges against Crow and three spectators at the cockfight in Kerman. The District Attorney’s Office has charged Job Hernandez, 35, of Visalia, Javier Flores-Arreola, 48, of Los Banos, and Javier Cerda, 65, of Reedley with animal cruelty charges. Assistant United States Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case against Crow. Deputy District Attorney Lynette Gonzales is prosecuting the state charges against the three spectators arrested at the event.
If convicted of the most serious offenses, Crow faces a maximum statutory penalty of 5 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Frankfort Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort man has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison, for producing sexually explicit images of a minor and then sending them to another man.
Yesterday, United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove formally sentenced Matthew Craig Fosson, 41, on his conviction. Under federal law, Fosson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Following the completion of his prison term, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for life.
In his guilty plea earlier this year, Fosson admitted that, in August 2016, he produced sexually explicit images of a minor female, who was in his custody and care. He sent those images to a Pennsylvania man, who in turn sent sexually explicit images of another minor female to Fosson.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Amy S. Hess, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
Fourth Baltimore City Police Detective Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – Detective Momodu Bondeva Kenton Gondo, age 34, of Owings Mills, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin.
The guilty plea 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, Baltimore Field Office.
Gondo joined the Baltimore Police Department on November 29, 2005 and was later assigned to the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), a division of the Baltimore Police Department. According to the plea agreement, Gondo schemed to steal money, property, and narcotics by detaining victims, entering residences, conducting traffic stops, and swearing out false search warrant affidavits. In addition, Gondo prepared and submitted false official incident and arrest reports, reports of property seized from arrestees, and charging documents. The false reports concealed the fact that Gondo and his co-conspirators had stolen money, property, and narcotics from individuals.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2015, Gondo robbed civilians he detained and in some cases arrested and stole money and drugs from them. Gondo shared the proceeds with co-defendants Jemell Rayam, Wayne Jenkins, Daniel Hersl, Marcus Taylor, and others, and on other occasions, he kept all of the proceeds for himself.
Gondo participated in eight robberies from March 2015 through July 2016. Gondo admitted that he was armed with his BPD service firearm during the robberies, that individual victims of the robberies were physically restrained to facilitate the commission of the offense, and that he authored false and fraudulent incident reports and other official documents in some cases in order to conceal his criminal conduct and otherwise obstruct justice.
On October 5, 2015, Gondo and his co-conspirators robbed a drug dealer after Gondo and Rayam placed a tracking device on the victim’s car without court authorization so that they could rob his apartment when he was not home. Gondo acted as a look out while Rayam and Glen Kyle Wells entered the victim’s apartment. Rayam and Wells stole a Rolex watch, a firearm, $12,000 to $14,000 in cash, and at least 800 grams of heroin. After the robbery, Gondo and his co-conspirators split the money they had stolen. Wells took the Rolex, the gun, and the drugs and sold some of the drugs. Rayam also sold some of the drugs and shared proceeds with Gondo.
Gondo admitted to committing multiple robberies with Sergeant Thomas Allers. For example, on March 11, 2015, Gondo, Rayam, and Allers searched a residence and discovered a large quantity of cash. Rayam, Gondo and Allers each took some of the cash. Gondo took between $8,000 and $10,000.
Gondo admitted that he sold a seized gun and marijuana to a drug dealer. In June 2016, Gondo, Rayam and Jenkins conducted a car stop and then went to the driver’s residence, without a warrant, and seized a 9mm handgun and a pound of marijuana. After Jenkins directed the sale of the gun and marijuana in order to repay a debt Rayam owed Jenkins for drugs, Gondo arranged for an associate of his, a drug dealer, to buy the marijuana and handgun.
On July 8, 2016, Gondo and his co-defendants Hersl and Rayam detained two victims after a car stop. Gondo stole money from one of the victims. At Jenkins’s direction, Hersl, Rayam, and Gondo transported the two victims to a BPD office to interrogate them. Jenkins told his co-conspirators to treat him like he was the U.S. Attorney. After speaking with one of the individuals, Jenkins, Hersl, Gondo, and Rayam then transported both of the victims to their home and robbed them of $20,000. Jenkins, Hersl, Rayam, and Gondo divided the $20,000.
In a separate seven-count indictment, Gondo and five co-defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin as part of the Shropshire drug trafficking organization (DTO). According to the indictment, the conspirators primarily distributed heroin near the Alameda Shopping Center in Baltimore. A jury trial against the five co-defendants, Antonio Shropshire, Antoine Washington, Glen Wells, Alexander Campbell, and Omari Thomas, is scheduled to begin October 16, 2017 in courtroom 1A.
Gondo provided sensitive law enforcement information to other conspirators in order to help the DTO and protect his co-conspirators. According to his plea agreement, Gondo admitted to providing protection, information and tips to his co-conspirator and co-defendant Antonio Shropshire about how to avoid being arrested. For example, on March 31, 2016, Gondo alerted Shropshire, an alleged drug dealer, that the Drug Enforcement Administration had installed a GPS tracking device on his vehicle. Shropshire, under Gondo’s instruction, then removed the GPS device and placed it on another vehicle.
According to the plea agreement, Gondo also admitted that he routinely submitted false and fraudulent individual overtime reports defrauding the Baltimore Police Department and the citizens of the State of Maryland. On these reports, Gondo falsely certified that he worked his entire regularly assigned shifts, when he did not, and that he worked additional hours for which he received overtime pay, when he had not worked all and in some cases any of those overtime hours. Gondo also admitted that he submitted false and fraudulent overtime reports on behalf of his co-defendants.
Lastly, Gondo admitted to obstructing law enforcement by alerting his co-defendants about potential investigations of their criminal conduct, coaching each other to give false testimony to investigators from the Internal Investigations Division of the BPD, and turning off his body cameras to avoid recording encounters with civilians.
Gondo faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for the narcotics conspiracy conviction, with a minimum mandatory of 5 years in prison.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Former Employee of Commercial Supply Company Gets A Year in Prison for Fraud, False Testimony Before Grand JuryRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A former salesman at Bayway Lumber, a Linden, New Jersey, company that sold commercial and industrial products to numerous public and private entities, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for conspiring to defraud customers and lying to a federal grand jury, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Adam Martignetti, 44, of South River, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to Counts 1 and 6 of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false declarations before a grand jury. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Martignetti admitted that from 2011 through 2013, he conspired with others to defraud certain Bayway Lumber customers by providing free items to the customers’ employees and then recouping the cost of the items – plus additional revenue for Bayway Lumber – by overbilling the customers. Martignetti also admitted supplying lower-quality, less expensive plywood to a customer while still charging it for the more expensive, higher-quality plywood that it had ordered.
Martignetti gave a variety of personal items to employees of Bayway Lumber’s customers, including Amtrak, the City of Elizabeth, and the Plainfield Board of Education. These items included a laptop, several iPads, a camera and sound system, patio furniture, and other merchandise. Under the supervision of Robert Dattilo, president and partial owner of Bayway Lumber, Martignetti then overbilled those customers. Dattilo kept a running tally of how much Martignetti and others fraudulently billed customers, which many at Bayway Lumber referred to as the “Bank,” to ensure that Bayway Lumber recovered the full cost of the free items.
Martignetti also conspired to provide one Bayway Lumber customer, Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc. (Con Edison), with lower-quality wood than it ordered and paid for. When Con Edison ordered plywood that had been graded to meet a certain set of specifications, Martignetti, at Dattilo’s instruction, routinely sent plywood that was of a lower grade or not graded at all, including “reject” plywood, all while still charging Con Edison for the higher-quality plywood.
Martignetti also admitted giving false testimony before a federal grand jury while appearing as a witness under oath in March 2013, including stating that he had never given Bayway Lumber items to City of Elizabeth employees for free, and that Elizabeth was never charged for items that were for Elizabeth employees’ personal use.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Martignetti to three years of supervised release.
Dattilo previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and was sentenced in July 2016 to 48 months in prison and ordered to pay $708,386 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi; the Office of Inspector General, Amtrak, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Waters; and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Fais of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara R. Llanes, Chief of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense Counsel: Michael Armstrong Esq., Willingboro, New Jersey