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5 October 2017
Jackson Woman Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Alsher Williams 39, of Jackson, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the United States by aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jerome McDuffie. Williams was also ordered to pay $128,112.22 in restitution.
Williams and other co-conspirators caused the presentation of false claims to the IRS by preparing and submitting false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, for tax years 2009 through 2012, using stolen identities. Approximately 90 refunds totaling $128,112.22 were deposited into a bank account controlled by Williams. The conspiracy included 865 false claims totaling over $1 million in fraud. Co-conspirators Tiffany Brown, Shonda Williams, and Larry Crawford were convicted and sentenced earlier this year.
Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie of IRS Criminal Investigation stated: "Today, Alsher Williams suffered the consequences of being a willing co-conspirator in the identity theft and tax crimes committed by Tiffany Brown, Shonda Williams, and Larry Crawford. Identity Theft is a continuing investigative priority for the Special Agents of IRS-CI. No matter what role an individual plays in a tax-related identity theft scheme, know that we will pursue their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, and will seek to hold them accountable for the violations they have committed against the taxpayers we are sworn to protect."
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Helen Wall.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Domestic Violence for 2011 Murder of His WifeRead the Press Release
James Clay Waller, II, age 45, pled guilty today to one felony count of Interstate Domestic Violence. He appeared before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig.
At the plea, Waller admitted he had on numerous occasions threatened his wife, Jacque Sue Waller, that if she divorced him, she would be signing her death warrant. On May 31, 2011, the day before he and Jacque were to meet with her divorce attorney, Waller dug a grave on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River near Devil’s Island in which to bury his wife. He then spent the night with his girlfriend in Illinois. The next day, June 1, 2011, he traveled from Illinois to Cape Girardeau to attend the meeting with her attorney. When Waller traveled in interstate commerce from Illinois to Missouri that day, he admitted that did so with the intent to kill his wife.
Following their meeting with the divorce attorney, Jacque Waller went to the defendant’s residence located in Jackson, Missouri. Inside the residence, Waller strangled and beat Jacque to death. Waller then transported her body across the Mississippi River by boat and buried her in the grave he had dug the day before.
As part of the plea agreement, if accepted by the court, Waller will receive a sentence of 420 months imprisonment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sentencing has been set for January 16, 2018.
In the plea agreement, Waller agreed to forfeit any proceeds received or to ever be received from any contract relating to a depiction of his crime in a movie, book, newspaper, magazine, radio or television production, including a manuscript authored by the defendant entitled “If You Take My Kids, I’ll Kill You?’: The Public Confession of Missouri’s Most Notorious Wife Killers”.
This case has been investigated by a host of law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cape Girardeau County Major Case Squad, the Jackson City Police Department, the Cape Girardeau City Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department.
The federal prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Larry H. Ferrell.
Insurance Broker Employee from Bergen County, New Jersey, Charged with Stealing $900,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former accounting specialist in the Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, office of an insurance broker was arrested today and charged with allegedly defrauding her employer of approximately $900,000, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Violeta McGough, 55, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. U.S. Postal Inspectors and criminal investigators with the U.S. Attorney’s Office arrested McGough at her home this morning. She is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2008 through October 2015, McGough allegedly made numerous fraudulent accounting entries to steal funds that her employer – identified as “Victim-Company 1” in the complaint – collected as insurance premiums. The premiums were for policies underwritten and issued by Victim-Company 1 on behalf of a United Kingdom-based insurance syndicate that actually held the risk. As part of her employment duties, McGough tracked premiums collected by Victim-Company 1 and its monthly payments to the syndicate.
McGough repeatedly used her access to Victim-Company 1’s books to divert a portion of those payments to her personal use. McGough disguised the stolen funds as reimbursed premiums for cancelled policies. She caused Victim-Company 1 to generate checks payable to a person identified in the complaint as “Individual 1,” who suppossedly worked for a premium financing company, but did not actually work there. McGough personally deposited the checks into Individual 1’s bank account and the bulk of the funds were transmitted back to McGough’s bank account.
The single wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James V. Buthorn, and criminal investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Feder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Indiana, Pa., Bank Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from EmployerRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of embezzling from a federally insured bank, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Madeline Isenberg, 37, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in or around February 2012 until in or around August 2015, Isenberg, while employed as an Assistant Manager for First Commonwealth Bank, embezzled approximately $88,000.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Thursday, February 22, 2018. The law provides for a total sentence of thirty years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Madeline Isenberg.
Hazleton Realtor Sentenced to over Four Years’ Imprisonment for Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ignacio Beato, age 46, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge James M. Munley to 51 months’ imprisonment, followed by three months supervised release for conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions through a financial institution, with funds that were the proceeds of wire fraud.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Beato, who was a licensed realtor, falsely represented to potential purchasers that he was authorized to sell vacant conventional and Federal Housing Administration insured mortgaged properties in Hazleton, when in fact, he did not have such authority. Between December 2013 and March 2015, Beato accepted $751,082 from individuals who believed they were purchasing properties. Beato then fraudulently converted that money to his own personal use.
Judge Munley ordered Beato to pay restitution in the amount of $65,000. The reduced restitution amount was due to a number of factors including the fact that some victims were not able to be located and others have filed civil lawsuits attempting to regain their funds. The Internal Revenue Service also previously forfeited $35,000 from Beato’s bank accounts.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
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Hartford Crack Dealer Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DEMEECO SAMPSON, also known as “Meeco,” 32, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine. Judge Thompson also ordered SAMPSON to perform 100 hours of community service.
This matter stems from a joint investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit into gang-related narcotics trafficking in Hartford’s North End. SAMPSON and others targeted during the investigation were affiliated with groups and gangs who have been involved in acts of violence. The investigation revealed that SAMPSON and others sold crack cocaine in the area of Edgewood Street and Albany Avenue. In June and July 2015, law enforcement made controlled purchases of crack from SAMPSON and his associates.
SAMPSON has been detained since his arrest on December 2, 2015. On January 25, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
SAMPSON’s criminal history includes multiple state felony convictions.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Harrison County man admits to firearm chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia man has admitted to a firearm charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.
Jason Garcia Cano, age 42, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Cano, having been previously convicted of a felony in the 426th District Court in Bell County, Texas, admitted to possessing a .22 caliber revolver in Harrison County in October 2016.
Cano 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 Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Receives Grant to Combat Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4885
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
As part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention has received a $478,013 grant to implement a gun crime reduction plan in Prince George’s County. The County’s Project Safe Neighborhood program strategically develops a plan of action to provide clear direction for apprehension, prosecution, and intervention of gun offenders as well as the prevention and suppression of gun crime.
Prince George’s County Project Safe Neighborhood program involves partners from the State Attorney’s Office for Prince George’s County, Maryland Parole and Probation, Prince George’s County Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research to effectively address gun crime at every level of the criminal and judicial system. The County’s Project Safe Neighborhood approach works with established strategies of crime control and prevention such as Project EXILE, Violent Repeat Offenders list, Maryland Gun Center initiative and the Gun Offender Registry to name a few.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action. Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work. Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy. Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for 2011 MurderRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TREVOR MURPHY, also known as “Snookie,” 29, of West Haven, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 360 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for murdering Joseph Zargo on December 23, 2011.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2014, ATF and the New Haven Police Department began “Operation Red Side” through a series of controlled narcotics purchases and firearms seizures. The investigation revealed that members and associates of the Red Side Guerilla Brims (“RSGB”), a sect of the Bloods street gang based in New Haven, were engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies. In addition to distributing crack cocaine and other narcotics in and around New Haven, the investigation indicated that members and associates of the RSGB, under the direction of Jeffrey Benton and others, transported the drugs to Bangor, Maine, and sold them in Bangor and its surrounding communities. The RSGB also traded narcotics for firearms, brought the firearms back to New Haven and distributed them to gang members.
MURPHY was a member of RSGB. According to court documents and statements made in court, MURPHY ordered a quantity of ecstasy from Joseph Zargo as part of a plan to rob him of drugs and cash. Just after midnight on December 23, 2011, MURPHY met Zargo on Houston Street in New Haven. After MURPHY took ecstasy pills from Zargo, MURPHY pulled out a firearm. When Zargo reached into his pocket, MURPHY shot Zargo once in the chest. Zargo died later that morning.
MURPHY has been detained since his arrest on September 30, 2015. On February 8, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As a result of this investigation, 21 members and associates of the RSGB were convicted of federal charges in Connecticut and Maine. The investigation has resolved seven murder cases, four attempted murders and four armed robberies that occurred in 2011 and 2012.
On October 4, 2017, Benton was sentenced to 480 months of imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Daly noted that federal prisoners are required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentenced term of imprisonment and are not eligible for parole.
This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut State Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hamden Police Department. The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office also provided critical assistance in the investigation.
An instrumental component of the investigation has been the work of the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory in utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to analyze ballistics evidence.
This matter is being prosecuted in the District of Connecticut by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Spector, Peter Markle and Jocelyn Kaoutzanis. A related case in the District of Maine is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey.
Fugitive Arrested in Large Molly Distribution and Money Laundering CaseRead the Press Release
A fugitive, wanted on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges for over two years, was arrested and is scheduled to have his initial appearance tomorrow in U.S. Magistrate Court in Miami, Florida.
Benjamin Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Rodolfo Llanes, Chief, Miami Police Department (MPD), and Amos Rojas, Jr., United States Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), made the announcement.
According to the Superseding Indictment, from about November 2011 through September 25, 2015, Josue Morales Figueroa, 35, of Miami, was involved in conspiracies to import and to distribute ethylone and methylone, which are among numerous chemicals used to make the drug commonly referred to as “molly,” as well as a conspiracy involving the unlawful transmission of monetary instruments to China.
A total of eleven defendants were charged in the Superseding Indictment, and all but Morales had been arrested, pled guilty, and been sentenced.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigation efforts of the ICE-HSI, DEA, MPD and USMS. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marton Gyires and Andy Camacho.
An indictment is merely an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Fraudster Involved in International Bribery Scheme Relating to Korean Company’s Attempted Sale of $800 Million Skyscraper in Vietnam Sentenced to 42 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Kenneth A. Blanco, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, announced that MALCOLM HARRIS was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos to 42 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges arising from his role as a middleman in a corrupt scheme to pay millions of dollars in bribes to a foreign official (“Foreign Official-1”) of a country in the Middle East (“Country-1”). The bribes were intended to facilitate the sale by South Korean construction company Keangnam Enterprises Co., Ltd. (“Keangnam”) of a 72-story commercial building known as Landmark 72 in Hanoi, Vietnam, to Country-1’s sovereign wealth fund (the “Fund”) for $800 million. Instead of paying an initial $500,000 bribe to Foreign Official-1 as he had promised, HARRIS simply pocketed the money and spent it on himself.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Malcolm Harris schemed to bribe a foreign official, then double-crossed his alleged co-conspirators by pocketing the half-million dollars intended to be bribes. Harris’s international bribery and fraud scheme centered around a Korean construction company’s attempt to sell a 72-story skyscraper in Vietnam through corruption. This sentence and the prosecution of Harris and his co-conspirators, Joo Hyun Bahn, and Ban Ki Sang should send a message that if you bring international corruption to New York, you may very well find yourself in a Manhattan federal court being sentenced to significant time in a federal prison.”
According to the Indictment to which HARRIS pled guilty, statements made during the plea and sentencing proceedings, and statements made at other court proceedings:
From in or about March 2013 through in or about May 2015, HARRIS’s co-defendants Joo Hyun Bahn, a/k/a “Dennis Bahn” (“Bahn”), and his father Ban Ki Sang (“Ban”) engaged in an international conspiracy to bribe Foreign Official-1 in connection with the attempted $800 million sale of a building complex in Hanoi, Vietnam, known as Landmark 72. During this time, Ban was a senior executive at Keangnam, a South Korean construction company that built and owned Landmark 72. Ban convinced Keangnam to hire his son Bahn, who worked as a broker at a commercial real estate firm in Manhattan, to secure an investor for Landmark 72.
Instead of obtaining financing through legitimate channels, Bahn and Ban engaged in a corrupt scheme to pay $2.5 million in bribes to Foreign Official-1, through HARRIS, who held himself out as an agent of Foreign Official-1, to induce Foreign Official-1 to use his influence to convince the Fund to acquire Landmark 72 for approximately $800 million. In furtherance of the scheme, HARRIS sent Bahn numerous emails purportedly sent by Foreign Official-1 and bearing Foreign Official-1’s name. In or about April 2014, following communications with HARRIS, Bahn and Ban agreed to pay, through HARRIS, a $500,000 upfront bribe and a $2 million bribe upon the close of the sale of Landmark 72 to Foreign Official-1 on behalf of Keangnam.
Unbeknownst to Bahn or Ban, however, HARRIS did not have the claimed relationship with Foreign Official-1 and did not intend to pay the bribe money to Foreign Official-1. Instead, HARRIS simply stole the $500,000 upfront bribe arranged by Bahn and Ban, which HARRIS then spent on lavish personal expenses, including rent for a luxury penthouse apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
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In addition to the prison sentence, HARRIS, 53, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $500,000 and restitution of $760,148.57 to victims.
Trial in Bahn’s case is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2018, before Judge Ramos. Ban is a fugitive believed to be residing in South Korea. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the International Corruption Squad of the FBI’s New York Field Office. Mr. Kim also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its ongoing assistance in this case.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. Noble and Trial Attorney Dennis R. Kihm of the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division are in charge of the prosecution.
Four Men Charged in DOD Bribery and Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two companion indictments were unsealed today charging four men with participating in a bribery and kickback conspiracy involving a contract for the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General (DOD OIG).
According to allegations in the indictments, William S. Wilson, 52, of Florida, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Timothy R. Donelson, 56, of Georgia, and Ronald A. Capallia, Jr., 37, of Alabama, in return for Donelson and Capallia providing favorable treatment to Wilson’s companies in connection with prime government contracts. At the time of the kickbacks, Donelson and Capallia were employed by a telecommunications company that had been awarded a prime contract to provide an array of voice and data services to the DOD OIG and other federal agencies. In return for the kickbacks, Donelson and Capallia provided favorable treatment to Wilson’s companies, including Donelson’s award of a subcontract to one of Wilson’s companies to provide information-technology related support services to the DOD OIG, notwithstanding that Wilson’s company focused on construction and construction management, and had no relevant expertise in information technology. Capallia similarly caused his employer repeatedly to order items such as computer software and hardware and routine office moving services from Wilson’s construction company despite the lack of any legitimate business or economic reason to do so.
The indictment further alleges that Wilson paid tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to Matthew Kekoa LumHo, 42, of Fairfax Station, then employed at the DOD OIG, in return for LumHo taking official acts that benefitted Wilson’s companies. According to the indictment, these actions included LumHo placing numerous fraudulent orders through the prime contract awarded to the telecommunications company employing Donelson and Capallia, thereby causing a continued flow of revenue from that telecommunications company to Wilson’s company as its subcontractor.
As set forth in the indictment, LumHo, along with Wilson and Capallia, repeatedly caused the DOD IG to issue fraudulent service orders that were used to conceal that the co-conspirators were arranging for Wilson’s company to buy standard, commercially available items such as computer software, hardware, and accessories, and routine office moving services, significantly inflating the price, and then falsely billing the government as through it had been supplied with various professional services. As the indictment alleges, by doing so, the co-conspirators enabled Wilson’s company to reap substantial profits from transactions where there was no legitimate business or economic reason to involve Wilson’s company, and where Wilson’s company provided virtually no value to the United States.
According to the indictment, Wilson paid the bribes and kickbacks in several forms, including hundreds of thousands of dollars paid from Wilson’s companies to a side business owned by Donelson that were masked through fake invoices for non-existent work, hundreds of thousands of dollars in supposed payroll payments to Capallia’s spouse, who was nominally placed on the payroll at Wilson’s company despite doing virtually no work, and tens of thousands of dollars of supposed payroll payments to a relative of LumHo, for a job that LumHo’s relative never actually held. Wilson further paid bribes and kickbacks by paying for part of the purchase price of two vehicles bought by Donelson, by buying two vehicles outright for Capallia, paying for more than $60,000 worth of Caribbean cruises, hotel accommodations, and flights for Capallia, his family members, friends, friends’ children, and on at least one occasion, babysitters to watch Capallia’s children on one of the cruises, and paid bribes to LumHo by supplying him with electronics and high-end photography equipment.
Each defendant has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The companion indictments further charge Wilson, Capallia, and LumHo with False Claims Act violations, charge Wilson and LumHo respectively with bribery and acceptance of bribes, and charge LumHo and Donelson with false statements. The conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 20 years; the False Claims Act violations each carry a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 5 years; the bribery charges each carry a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 15 years; and the false statement charges each carry a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 5 years. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert E. Craig, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke and Samantha Bateman are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:17-cr-222 and 1:17-cr-223.
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.
Former State Judge Pleads Guilty to Dismissing Cases in Exchange for Personal Benefits and Tampering with a WitnessRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A former Arkansas state judge pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and witness tampering for perpetrating a seven year-long fraud and bribery scheme in which he dismissed cases on his docket in exchange for personal benefits, and then bribed a witness in an attempt to obstruct an official investigation into the scheme. Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
O. Joseph Boeckmann, 71, of Wynne, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of witness tampering. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker of the Eastern District of Arkansas. Boeckmann has been on home detention since his arrest in October 2016 and will remain on home detention until he is sentenced at a later date.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from 2009 to 2015, Boeckmann served as a district judge for the First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. Boeckmann admitted to corruptly using his official position to dismiss traffic citations and misdemeanor criminal charges for young men in exchange for acts that he claimed were “community service,” but which actually benefited Boeckmann himself. Among other things, Boeckmann admitted that on some occasions he took official action to order these individuals to perform “community service” and used his access to these individuals during their purported “community service” to take photographs of them in compromising positions. In other cases, Boeckmann dismissed pending charges against defendants in exchange for sexually related conduct.
Boeckmann admitted that the corrupt use of his office defrauded the State of Arkansas and its citizens of their right to Boeckmann’s honest services and also defrauded various cities and counties in Arkansas, as well as the State of Arkansas and the Arkansas courts, of money and property that they should have received as fines or fees from the individuals whose cases were fraudulently dismissed.
In addition, Boeckmann admitted that during his scheme he instructed various individuals not to tell anyone about their “community service” sentences. After Boeckmann learned he was under investigation, Boeckmann also arranged to pay a witness to change his testimony. Specifically, Boeckmann admitted that in the fall of 2015, he learned of a witness who had provided information to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) regarding Boeckmann’s practice of imposing personally beneficial “community service” sentences. Boeckmann admitted that he directed another individual to pay the witness to write a letter recanting the information the witness gave to the JDDC. According to his admissions, Boeckmann did this in order to prevent that witness from providing truthful information about Boeckmann to law enforcement and to influence, delay, and prevent that witness’s testimony in an official proceeding.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance of the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission. Trial Attorneys Peter Halpern, Jonathan Kravis, and Simon Cataldo of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from Special Prosecutor Jack McQuary of the State of Arkansas Office of the Prosecutor Coordinator
To assist the media and the public, a glossary of federal judicial terms and procedures is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101.
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Former Irondequoit Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Cyber Stalking His Ex-GirlfriendRead 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 William Robert Rosica, 51, of Irondequoit NY, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and computer intrusion before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that February 2016, and March 2017, the defendant, a former Irondequoit Police Officer, subjected the victim to a relentless campaign directed toward threatening and psychologically torturing his victim and injuring, harassing, and intimidating her. Rosica used direct, indirect, and digital surveillance in a focused campaign of online abuse, physical stalking, and harassment aimed at destroying the victim’s life.The defendant created multiple fictitious email accounts and sent hundreds of harassing emails and text messages to the victim, her family, and her employer. During this time, Rosica also directed and used other people to conduct physical surveillance of the victim and her family, which included people driving by the victim’s home and place of employment and reporting their observations back to Rosica who then used the information to harass the victim. The defendant improperly used his position as a police officer to access law enforcement databases and other restricted online systems in order to obtain information on the victim and her family. Other harassing behaviors included:
• anonymous emails and text messages directing and instructing the victim to commit suicide; • unlawfully accessing and attempting to access the victim’s cellular phone online account and attempting to reset the victim’s password; • unlawfully accessing and attempting to access the victim’s work email and voicemail accounts on several hundred occasions; • unlawfully accessing and attempting to access the victims’s Walgreens Pharmacy and University of Rochester MyChart health care account on multiple occasions; and
• unlawfully accessing and attempting to access the victim’s Time Warner Cable online account on multiple occasions. Rosica also unlawfully accessed the Time Warner Cable account of the victim’s family.Following his arrest, the defendant made materially false statements to FBI Agents. In addition, the investigation identified several other victims who were subjected to similar physical and digital harassment over several years before he started stalking the victim. As part of the investigation, the FBI conducted extensive electronic and physical surveillance during which they identified Rosica driving by the victim’s home on multiple occasions in various vehicles while attempting to disguise himself from detection. They also obtained footage of the defendant buying some of the items he used to harass the victim, including pay-as-you-go credit cards. Rosica was also captured on audio recordings and digital chats trying to access the victim’s online accounts. The defendant commenced his nearly year-long campaign to harass and torment the victim after she ended their three-year relationship in February 2016.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, and New York State Police under the direction of Major Richard Allen.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
Former FCI Butner Correctional Officer Sentenced for Criminal Sexual Abuse of a WardRead the Press Release
NEW BERN – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, John Stuart Bruce, announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced CALVIN TERRANCE DAVIS, 46, of Spring Lake, N.C., to 13 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
DAVIS was named in a one-count Criminal Information on May 18, 2017. On June 15, 2017, he pled guilty to one count of Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Ward.
On May 19, 2016, a Bureau of Prison (BOP) inmate, housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina (FCI Butner), informed staff that she had been sexually assaulted by Correctional Officer CALVIN TERRANCE DAVIS on May 18, 2016. According to the victim, DAVIS forced the victim to perform oral sex on him.
Investigators collected clothing that belonged to the victim and sent it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lab for processing. A lab test confirmed that semen was present on the clothing, and a subsequent DNA test resulted in a positive match for DAVIS’s DNA.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Lemmon prosecuted the case for the government.
Former Charity President Sentenced for Embezzling MoneyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Thomas Burch, 75, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today to five months of incarceration, to be followed by five months of home detention, for embezzling at least $149,317 while he was the president of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Andrew Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Burch pled guilty in June 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to wire fraud. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson. Following his jail term, Burch will be placed on two years of supervised release, with the first five months of that on home detention. He also was ordered to pay $75,000 in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to a statement of offense submitted at the time of the plea, Burch was the president of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, Inc. (“NVVF”), a nonprofit organization incorporated in Washington, D.C., until 2016 when it was disbanded. NVVF solicited donations from the public, representing that their mission was “to provide help and support for American Veterans and their families through the generosity of the American people.” While the NVVF utilized some of its donated revenues to support the NVVF’s purported mission, Burch misappropriated portions of the donations to pay for food and lodging with no business purpose, and made repeated payments to women, who were personal acquaintances of Burch.
Burch had unilateral control over the NVVF’s “Emergency Assistance Program,” which accounted for tens of thousands of dollars of the NVVF’s operating expenses annually during the years 2012 to 2016. Burch represented to the NVVF’s Board of Directors the Emergency Assistance Program was a discretionary program that he ran as President of the NVVF, and that in fact, there was no oversight of Burch’s spending from the program in the distribution of smaller grants, generally between $100 to $300. In spite of Burch’s representation to NVVF employees and the Board of Directors that individual grants generally ran from $100 to $250 with the intent of providing only a one-time payment to recipients who were “usually Veteran family members with small children who are in chronic destitute circumstances,” Burch used the Emergency Assistance Program to give money to women who often were engaged in personal relationships with him. Burch also submitted expense reports claiming reimbursements for business lodging, travel, and meals, when in reality he spent the money on personal visits to clubs, restaurants, and hotels in Baltimore.
According to the government’s evidence, Burch spent at least $149,317 of the charity’s money on non-business related travel, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and women between the years 2012 and 2016.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Assistant Director in Charge Vale expressed appreciation for the work performed by those who investigated the case from the Washington Field Office of the FBI. They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Christopher Toms and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman, who is assisting with forfeiture issues. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, who prosecuted the case.
Former Bookkeeper Indicted for Embezzling Nearly $1.6 Million from New Jersey Cellular Solutions CompanyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen today announced an indictment charging Peter Goodchild, 54, of Philadelphia, PA, former bookkeeper for QwikSource LLC of Florham Park, NJ, with embezzling almost $1.6 million from QwikSource from at least 2005 through 2015. Goodchild is also charged with money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and filing false income tax returns during this period.
According to the indictment, the embezzlement scheme involved a variety of frauds. Goodchild opened a PayPal account using his employer’s name, transferred funds from QwikSource’s bank account to that PayPal account, from that PayPal account to another PayPal account belonging to his girlfriend, and from his girlfriend’s PayPal account to one or more of his personal bank accounts. Goodchild further concealed the embezzlement by making financial entries on files he maintained for QwikSource that increased the cost of goods sold by the same amount of the money he wired from QwikSource’s account to the PayPal accounts and his personal bank accounts.
Goodchild failed to pay taxes on his wealth. Between 2010 and 2015, he embezzled at least $854,800 and had unreported income of $231,100 in 2010, $215,100 in 2011, $83,600 in 2012, $125,000 in 2013, $152,000 in 2014, and $48,000 in 2015. His actions created a tax loss of approximately $240,648.
The indictment charges 48 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, six counts of filing a false income tax return, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory two years of prison that must follow any term imposed on the other counts. Additionally, Goodchild will be subject to restitution and/or forfeiture of money and substitute assets totaling $1,589,315.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
Former Arkansas State Judge Pleads Guilty to Dismissing Cases in Exchange for Personal Benefits and Tampering with a WitnessRead the Press Release
A former Arkansas State Judge pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and witness tampering for perpetrating a seven year-long fraud and bribery scheme in which he dismissed cases on his docket in exchange for personal benefits, and then bribed a witness in an attempt to obstruct an official investigation into the scheme. Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
O. Joseph Boeckmann, 71, of Wynne, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of witness tampering. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker of the Eastern District of Arkansas. Boeckmann has been on home detention since his arrest in October 2016 and will remain on home detention until he is sentenced at a later date.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from 2009 to 2015, Boeckmann served as a district judge for the First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. Boeckmann admitted to corruptly using his official position to dismiss traffic citations and misdemeanor criminal charges for young men in exchange for acts that he claimed were “community service,” but which actually benefited Boeckmann himself. Among other things, Boeckmann admitted that on some occasions he took official action to order these individuals to perform “community service” and used his access to these individuals during their purported “community service” to take photographs of them in compromising positions. In other cases, Boeckmann dismissed pending charges against defendants in exchange for sexually related conduct.
Boeckmann admitted that the corrupt use of his office defrauded the State of Arkansas and its citizens of their right to Boeckmann’s honest services and also defrauded various cities and counties in Arkansas, as well as the State of Arkansas and the Arkansas courts, of money and property that they should have received as fines or fees from the individuals whose cases were fraudulently dismissed.
In addition, Boeckmann admitted that during his scheme he instructed various individuals not to tell anyone about their “community service” sentences. After Boeckmann learned he was under investigation, Boeckmann also arranged to pay a witness to change his testimony. Specifically, Boeckmann admitted that in the fall of 2015, he learned of a witness who had provided information to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) regarding Boeckmann’s practice of imposing personally beneficial “community service” sentences. Boeckmann admitted that he directed another individual to pay the witness to write a letter recanting the information the witness gave to the JDDC. According to his admissions, Boeckmann did this in order to prevent that witness from providing truthful information about Boeckmann to law enforcement and to influence, delay, and prevent that witness’s testimony in an official proceeding.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance of the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission. Trial Attorneys Peter Halpern, Jonathan Kravis, and Simon Cataldo of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from Special Prosecutor Jack McQuary of the State of Arkansas Office of the Prosecutor Coordinator.
Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft of Federal Student Aid Funds and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ROMAN WILLIAMS, age 36, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty today to a two-count Bill of Information charging him with theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, WILLIAMS falsified federal student loan applications using stolen identities and then used the stolen student aid monies for his own personal use.
For theft of government funds WILLIAMS faces a maximum 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to 3 years supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person, and a $100 special assessment.
For aggravated identity theft WILLIAMS faces a two-year consecutive term of imprisonment, followed by up to one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to defendant or twice the gross loss to any person, and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon set the sentencing hearing for December 21, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.
Drug Trafficking Defendant Sentenced to 360 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Mark Randall Jones, 52, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on October 3, 2017, by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette, III, to serve a term of 360 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and to pay a $25,000 fine for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain and Inspector in Charge Nichole Cooper of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Los Angeles Division.
Jones was charged in a two-count federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Jones went to trial and was found guilty on both counts on March 29, 2017.
"This sentencing highlights the outstanding, hard work of Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners. While we may feel satisfaction from its outcome, the true satisfaction in this case comes from knowing we were able to stand up for so many unsuspecting victims." said Nichole Cooper, Los Angeles Division Inspector in Charge. "The United States Postal Service will not be used by Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) to facilitate the illegal transportation of narcotics and other dangerous substances."
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Chalk and Keesha Middleton.
Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to an immigration crime.
Manolo Sosa-Nieves, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry after deportation. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 16, 2018. Sosa-Nieves was previously deported on Aug. 21, 2002. On April 14, 2017, Sosa-Nieves was arrested in Lawrence on unrelated state charges and determined to be unlawfully present in the United States.
Sosa-Nieves faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.
Director of Community Development of Non-Profit Corporation and Six Others Indicted for Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The former Director of Community Development for the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), a non-profit Nevada corporation created in 2008 in response to the national mortgage-housing foreclosure crisis, and four of six co-defendants made their initial appearances in federal court Wednesday on charges related to a bribery scheme involving NCST homes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge James Todak of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG).
The 14-count indictment, filed under seal on Sept. 26, was unsealed Wednesday in federal court. The indictment charges Sergio Barajas, 50, of Chino, Calif.; Alan Cassell, 47, of Chula Vista, Calif.; Elena Millner, 40, of Boerne, Texas; Benjamin Stuelke, 35, of Anaheim, Calif.; Michelle Acosta, aka Michelle Mullens, 33, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; Art Acosta, 55, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; and Ernesto Garcia, 45, of Upland, Calif., with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Stuelke and Garcia are also charged with bank fraud. Defendants Barajas, Cassell, Michelle and Art Acosta, and Garcia made their initial appearances in court before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach.
According to the indictment, from October 2010 to September 2015, Barajas, in his role as Director of Community Development, was involved in the approval of non-profits to participate in the NCST First Look Program and in the determination of which non-profit was ultimately awarded NCST homes, as well as provided oversight of the resale of NCST homes to ensure compliance with NCST and Neighborhood Stabilization Program guidelines. The NCST received more than $10,000 of federal grants during each 12 month fiscal year that Barajas served as the Director of Community Development.
The indictment alleges that Cassell, Millner, Stuelke, Michelle and Art Acosta, and Garcia bribed Barajas with monetary payment in exchange for his influence at the NCST in the First Look approval process, access to NCST homes, and oversight over the resale of NCST homes. As alleged in the indictment, Cassell, d/b/a Heartland Coalition and Ignition Ventures, paid Barajas approximately $185,025 in exchange for receiving approximately 626 NCST foreclosures and made approximately $2.8 million from the resale of those homes. Millner and Art Acosta, d/b/a Positive Housing Equations and Alliance for Revitalized Communities, allegedly paid Barajas approximately $149,828 in exchange for receiving approximately 167 NCST homes and made approximately $1.3 million from the resale of those homes. Stuelke, the C.F.O. of HomeStrong USA, wrote checks in the total amount of $34,800 to Barajas. Stuelke also wrote three checks totaling $193,763.13 to Garcia, d/b/a Fine Line Investments, as the purported realtor of three NCST home sale transactions. Garcia then wrote checks to Art and Michelle Acosta, d/b/a 33 LLC, who ultimately wrote checks to Barajas all in an effort to conceal payment to Barajas for three NCST properties awarded to HomeStrong USA.
The indictment further alleges that Stuelke and Garcia provided false information to lenders who funded the purchase of NCST homes resold by HomeStrong USA.
The maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds and 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for bank fraud. In addition, each defendant faces a criminal forfeiture money judgment: Barajas in the amount of $422,969; Cassell in the amount of $1.2 million; Millner in the amount of $3 million; Stuelke in the amount of $6 million; Michelle Acosta in the amount of $250,000; Art Acosta in the amount of $1.15 million; and Garcia in the amount of $193,000.
The investigation is being conducted by HUD-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Patrick Burns.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Department of Justice Awards over $18 Million to Oklahoma TribesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice has awarded more than $18 million in grants to Oklahoma tribal governments to enhance public health and safety, announced Mark A. Yancey, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma; R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma; and Brian J. Kuester, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
These grants are part of more than $100 million in grants to 125 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia, and tribal designees, announced today by Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. Many of these awards were made through the Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a single application for tribal-specific grant programs. The Department developed CTAS through its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women, and administered the first round of consolidated grants in September 2010.
CTAS grants are designed to enhance law enforcement practices, expand victim services, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. Awards cover nine areas: public safety and community policing, justice systems planning, alcohol and substance abuse, corrections and correctional alternatives, children’s justice act partnerships, services for victims of crime, violence against women, juvenile justice, and tribal youth programs.
“Reducing violent gang and gun crimes in Indian Country is crucial to protecting citizens who live in and around tribal communities. The justice community must also look to help those with mental health and substance abuse issues to re-enter society as productive citizens. These Federal grant allocations will help to further those goals,” said U.S. Attorney Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma. U.S. Attorney Kuester of the Eastern District of Oklahoma said, “I am pleased and excited about DOJ’s awards to the tribal governments in Oklahoma. These grants will fund programs that will assist victims of crimes, reduce crime against women, and enhance the resources available for tribal governments to combat violent crime, increase public awareness, and provide prevention programs for youth. The U.S. Attorney’s Office looks forward to assisting in any way possible as these programs are implemented.” U.S. Attorney Yancey of the Western District of Oklahoma said, “I join my fellow United States Attorneys in welcoming the federal law enforcement assistance to our Oklahoma tribes. I look forward to working with all tribes in the Western District to reduce crime and aid victims.”
The Oklahoma CTAS recipients are:
Cherokee Nation (total: $3,087,900)
Public Safety and Community Policing: $565,241
Comprehensive Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning: $74,995
Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse: $749,993
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $898,100
Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program: $449,925
Tribal Youth Program: $349,646Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (total: $1,994,588)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $897,851
Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program: $449,999
Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts: $350,000
Tribal Youth Program: $296,738Citizen Potawatomi Nation (total: $1,098,106)
Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse: $749,593
Tribal Youth Program: $348,513Comanche Nation (total: $749,348)
Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse: $749,348
Delaware Tribe of Indians (total: $424,845)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $424,845
Muscogee Creek Nation (total: $803,912)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $803,912
Pawnee Nation (total: $700,000)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $700,000
Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma (total: $1,800,000)
Corrections and Correctional Alternatives: $1,000,000
Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program: $450,000
Tribal Youth Program: $350,000Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma (total: $4,590,422)
Public Safety and Community Policing: $232,929
Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse: $446,714
Corrections and Correctional Alternatives: $3,910,779Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (total: $900,000)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $900,000
Seneca Cayuga Nation (total: $825,000)
Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program: $825,000
Wyandotte Nation (total: $200,189)
Public Safety and Community Policing: $200,189
In addition to CTAS grants, the Department awarded $889,975 to four Oklahoma tribes under the Adam Walsh Act Implementation grant program, part of the Office of Justice Program’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. These grant awards enable states, the District of Columbia, territories, and tribal jurisdictions to develop and enhance programs that implement the requirements of the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Funding supports staff, information-sharing technology, infrastructure development, law enforcement training, and stakeholder collaboration.
The Oklahoma recipients of Adam Walsh Act Implementation grants are:
Caddo Nation: $200,000
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: $400,000
Seneca Cayuga Nation: $198,181
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians: $91,794Finally, through the Office of Justice Programs, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will receive $1.5 million under the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Fiscal Year 2017 Tribal Youth Program Training and Technical Assistance grant. This program provides culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed and developmentally-appropriate training, support, resources, information, and related technical assistance to help tribes meet the needs of their youth.
The Department of Justice’s national press releases on these and related grants are available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-awards-more-130-million-improve-public-safety-address-violence-against.
Department of Justice Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
"Our Office has adopted and implemented the PSN strategy since its inception,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow. “We have also established specialized sections, programs, and initiatives within the offices throughout our five divisions to focus on violent gangs and gun-related crimes. We will continue to utilize the integrated components of the PSN strategy to reduce violent crime in communities across our district by collaborating with our many local, state, and federal law enforcement and community partners.”
In addition, the Middle District of Florida fully utilizes the multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program to combat not only international drug trafficking and money laundering cartels, but also local gangs and drug organizations that threaten our communities. We are grateful for the ongoing support from the Justice Department in providing resources to our office and our law enforcement partners to help make our neighborhoods safer.
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims’ groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Dallas Man Who Maintained GHB Lab and Methamphetamine Near Elementary School Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison on Firearm and Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
DALLAS —Bryce Edward Hansen, 44, of Dallas, Texas, who pleaded guilty in February 2017 to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 300 months in federal prison. U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement today.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made on the record at his sentencing hearing today, on June 3, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a storage unit located near an elementary school in Dallas, Texas. A search of the unit resulted in the discovery of approximately 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, three firearms, and evidence of a laboratory used in the production of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Numerous drug scales and unused small zip lock baggies were also discovered in the storage unit. Law enforcement discovered that Hansen, who has been previously convicted of several drug offenses, leased the storage unit.
Following the search of the storage unit, law enforcement searched Hansen’s residence and found more methamphetamine and GHB along with U.S. currency and another firearm.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie L. Hoxie prosecuted.
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Corrections Officer, Inmates Among Those Charged in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAYTON – The government unsealed an indictment today in which a federal grand jury has charged seven defendants, including a corrections officer, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Col. Paul A. Pride, Superintendent, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Gary Mohr, Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and members of the Warren County Drug Task Force announced the indictment returned last week.
The indictment charges James Barlage, Jr., 31, of Chillicothe, Mario Evans, 40, formerly of Dayton, Edward E. Bellman, 45, formerly of Miamisburg, Moses M. Stevens, 53, formerly of Xenia, Jon Christopher Birt, 50, of Dayton, Jamie L. Naegele, 47, of Brookville and Anthony Scott Blankenship, 32, of Columbus, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Barlage and Blankenship are also charged with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that Barlage was employed as a corrections officer at Chillicothe Correctional Institute (CCI) in June and July 2017. At the same time, Evans, Bellman and Stevens were inmates at the prison.
According to the indictment, it was the object of the conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine to CCI for distribution within the prison.
Birt, an alleged methamphetamine distributor for the Dayton area, would obtain the drugs from his suppliers and he and Naegele would arrange for the delivery of the methamphetamine to the prison.
On at least one occasion, Barlage received the drugs from Birt for the purpose of redistributing within CCI.
“The defendants allegedly used at least one unauthorized cell phone within the prison to coordinate payment for the drugs and exchange of the drugs for transportation to CCI,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “They also allegedly used Western Union to transfer funds for the drugs.”
The indictment was returned September 28. Birt, Barlage, and Naegle have been arrested and have made their initial appearances. Arrest warrants have been issued for the remaining defendants.
Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine are each crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Warren County Drug Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Dominick S. Gerace and Amy M. Smith, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Corpus Christi Man Pleads Guilty to Online Solicitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 52-year-old resident of Corpus Christi has admitted he attempted to meet two underage girls for the purpose of sex, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
Jesse Hernandez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby and entered a guilty plea to one count of online solicitation of a minor.
Hernandez was communicating with a person he believed was the mother of two minor children — ages 14 and 11. He made arrangements to meet and engage in sexual contact with the minors, but was apprehended as he arrived at the designated meeting place. Hernandez admitted to authorities that he had sent messages indicating his intention to engage in sexual acts with the children. He was also in possession of a cellular telephone, on which a forensic examination resulted in the discovery of 26 images of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Jan. 31, 2018. At that time, Hernandez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. He will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
Hernandez was arrested as part of Operation Hidden Predator. The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Corpus Christi Police Department—Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm & Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Brian Anthony Adams, 28, of Euless, Texas, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Adams faces up to 10 years imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and at least 5 years and up to life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Adams has been in custody since the time of his arrest in July 2016. Sentencing is set for January 10, 2018.
According to documents filed in the case, on April 7, 2016, officers with the Irving Police Department executed a search warrant at an apartment in Euless, Texas. Adams was at the apartment when the officers executed the search warrant and Adams was arrested. During the search of the apartment, officers found digital scales, drug distribution paraphernalia and a bag containing approximately 51 grams of cocaine. Officers also found two loaded firearms strategically placed on top of the cabinets in the kitchen and another firearm in a bedroom.
Prior to April 7, 2016, Adams had been convicted on March 31, 2009 of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in Tarrant County, Texas, an offense he committed on June 3, 2008.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Irving Police Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Hoxie are in charge of the prosecution.
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Cincinnati Physician Convicted of Illegally Distributing OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Case involved illegal prescribing practices at a Georgetown, Ky. pain clinic
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Yesterday, Alan Arnold Godofsky, 61, of Cincinnati, was found guilty by a federal jury, on five counts of distributing oxycodone outside the scope of professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The jury returned its guilty verdict after seven days of trial.
The evidence at trial established that, from March 2011 through January 2012, Godofsky worked as a physician at Central Kentucky Bariatric and Pain Management, in Georgetown. The evidence further established that, during this period, Godofsky prescribed significant quantities of oxycodone pills to patients, outside the scope of professional medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, the evidence established that he prescribed these drugs without conducting examinations, without obtaining informed consent, and to patients who had no legitimate medical need.
“Sadly, this case represents yet another example of a physician abdicating his professional responsibility to his patients, placing his own profit over sound medical judgment, and fueling the opioid epidemic,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Prescription opioid abuse has decimated our community and the prosecution of medical professionals who betray the trust of patients and illegally dispense these highly addictive medications has been, and will continue to be, a priority for our office. We appreciate the great work of our law enforcement partners in this case; without them, this important prosecution would not have been possible.”
Acting United States Attorney Shier; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration; Andy Beshear, Attorney General of Kentucky; Richard Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Steven Davis, Acting Inspector General, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, jointly announced the verdict.
Godofsky is scheduled to be formally sentenced on January 24, 2018. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the KSP, and the CHFS Office of the Inspector General. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Ron L. Walker, Jr.
Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 235 Months for Dealing Deadly Fentanyl Heroin MixRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Omar Israel-Griffin, 27, of Cincinnati, also known as Deuce, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 235 months in prison for dealing fentanyl and heroin that resulted in at least one death.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and members of the Hamilton County Heroin Drug Task Force announced the sentence handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.
According to the Statement of Facts in this case, law enforcement agents began the investigation into a drug overdose death on November 19, 2015, after a man was found dead in his Anderson Township home.
The investigation revealed that Israel-Griffin had been the supplier of a fentanyl and heroin mix and an autopsy confirmed that the drugs sold by Israel-Griffin caused the death.
Israel-Griffin pleaded guilty in April 2017 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance. The defendant then moved to withdraw the plea, which was summarily denied by Judge Barrett. Israel-Griffin was also sentenced to eight years of supervised release.
“Dealers must recognize that they perpetuate tragedy when they distribute narcotics like fentanyl and heroin,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “They are playing a direct role in the deaths of others.”
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA and Hamilton County Heroin Drug Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Oakley, who is representing the United States in this case.
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Chinese National Sentenced in Connection with College Admissions Exam ScamRead the Press Release
BOSTON - A Chinese national charged with defrauding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its administration of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Boston.
Shikun Zhang, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs sentenced Zhang to time-served and ordered her to be immediately removed from the United States to the People’s Republic of China.
In December 2015, Zhang registered to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, which is required by American universities that participate in DHS’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program. On prior occasions, Zhang failed to achieve a high enough score on the TOEFL exam to be admitted to a participating American university. When Zhang registered to take the exam again in December 2015, she provided her passport and exam registration information to a co-conspirator who used the materials to take the exam for Zhang. The co-conspirator scored high on the exam, and Zhang fraudulently submitted the co-conspirator’s test results as her own and was subsequently admitted into an American university. Once admitted, Zhang was issued DHS’s Form I-20, which made her eligible to receive an F-1 non-immigrant student visa to enter and remain in the United States for the duration of her studies.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Carbon County Man Charged with Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kevin Mattson, age 40, of Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with receipt and distribution of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Mattson allegedly shared visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct using his computer between January 2016 and April 2017.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Philadelphia Division. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Information was filed pursuant to a plea agreement with the defendant. The plea agreement, which is subject to approval by the court, includes sexual offender registration requirements.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
There is a minimum mandatory five-year penalty and the maximum penalty under federal law is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Canadian Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Cocaine Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Canadian man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic 100 kilograms of cocaine from Chicago to New Jersey and then on to Canada, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Sezayir Bulaman, 49, of Hemmingford, Canada, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Kugler to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between October 2012 and Nov. 29, 2012, Bulaman conspired with others to pick up 100 kilograms of cocaine in Chicago, Illinois, transport it to a warehouse in New Jersey and then transport it to Canada. He was indicted in 2012, but fought extradition to the United States. The FBI seized the cocaine as part of the operation.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Bulaman to five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara F. Merin of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit and Andrew J. Bruck of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Defense counsel: Richard Sparaco Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Camano Island Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Paying for the Molestation of Children Viewed via the InternetRead the Press Release
A 69-year-old resident of Camano Island, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. JOSEPH VERNON GRUBBS pleaded guilty in June 2017, admitting he paid people in the Philippines to sexually abuse children, and send the images and videos of that abuse to him over email. He paid to watch live webcasts of minors performing sex acts with other minors and adults. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly told GRUBBS “this is outrageous conduct.”
“The depravity of this defendant’s conduct is beyond words,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “He took advantage of poverty in a country half a world away to facilitate the sexual abuse of children. The result was the perpetuation of a vicious cycle of abuse and victimization that harmed the most vulnerable among us.”
According to records filed in the case, GRUBBS came to the attention of law enforcement when Yahoo notified the FBI that it was investigating a number of users of its email and messaging service who were sexually exploiting children in the Philippines. The FBI served a search warrant on GRUBBS’s home, and arrested him in July 2016. GRUBBS had traveled frequently to the Philippines. He told investigators he lived there in a second home six months of the year.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.
California Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that on Thursday, October 5, 2017, Robert L. Mayfield, originally of Sacramento, California, was sentenced to 20 years, (240 months), in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Mayfield was convicted by a federal jury in June of 2017. Mayfield faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years due to a prior felony drug conviction from the State of Nevada. Following the prison term, he will serve 10 years on supervised release.
Evidence presented at trial showed that in 2014 and early 2015, Mayfield and other persons, including his brother Anthony Harris, were involved in selling methamphetamine in the Lincoln area which was transported from California on Amtrak trains. In February of 2015, Lincoln Police Department officers served a search warrant at an apartment where Harris was staying. They found over 160 grams of methamphetamine, cash, two firearms, and items commonly used in drug distribution in the apartment.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Business Owner and Former D.C. Schools Employee Accused of Carrying Out Fraudulent Billing SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The owner of a tutoring and mentoring business and a former employee of the District of Columbia Public Schools have been indicted on federal charges alleging that they conspired to fraudulently bill the school system more than $200,000 for services that they falsely claimed had been provided to students with special needs.
The indictment was announced today by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Andrew Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
John A. Faulkner, Jr., 39, the business owner, and Isaiah Johnson, 37, the former D.C. Public Schools employee, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft; nine counts of mail fraud; five counts of wire fraud; seven counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of first-degree fraud. Faulkner also was indicted on two counts of money laundering, and Johnson also was indicted on one count alleging that he engaged in official acts affecting a personal financial interest. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the alleged crimes.
The indictment was returned on Sept. 14, 2017, and unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Faulkner and Johnson, both of Baltimore, Md., pled not guilty today at their first appearances in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. They remain free on personal recognizance pending a status hearing set for Oct. 30, 2017.
The indictment alleges that the men carried out a scheme from at least July of 2012 through at least July of 2014 involving fraudulent invoices submitted to the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) for services performed under the Compensatory Education Program.
The Compensatory Education Program awards services to eligible students to assist with their educational needs and development. Students awarded compensatory education services have learning, mental, and/or behavioral disabilities that create an educational barrier that prevents them from reaping the full benefits of education. Services consist of tutoring, individualized education, monitoring, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral and psychological analysis. Once DCPS approves specific services, parents or guardians receive letters specifying the services that can be provided. They also receive a list of independent providers, or vendors.
According to the indictment, Faulkner owned a company that in 2011 became eligible to be paid by DCPS as a vendor for tutoring and mentoring services. Johnson was a DCPS compliance case manager who was responsible for notifying parents or guardians, via letters, that their children were entitled to obtain the services of the independent providers. In that role, according to the indictment, Johnson had access to students’ names as well as compensatory education letters and the forms used to create those letters.
The indictment alleges that Faulkner and Johnson created or caused to be created false and fraudulent timesheets purporting to reflect compensatory education services provided to students that had, in fact, not been performed. These documents allegedly included the names and, in some instances, the signatures of individuals who purportedly provided services, the DCPS students and the students’ parents or guardians. Faulkner, Johnson and others used these means of identification without the knowledge or permission of the individuals, the indictment alleges. According to the indictment, Faulkner attached these timesheets to invoices to DCPS. He received payments and distributed a portion of the proceeds to Johnson, the indictment alleges.
According to the indictment, DCPS sent at least $217,366 in payments for services that never were performed.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrienne Dedjinou and Peter C. Lallas, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who is handling forfeiture issues, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris, and Paralegal Specialists Joshua Fein, Aisha Keys, and Jessica Mundi.
Bridgewater Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Bridgewater man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to heroin trafficking charges.
Kevin Viveiros, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4, 2018.
On Jan. 19, 2017, Viveiros possessed and intended to distribute heroin in Bridgewater. At the time of his arrest, Viveiros was found in possession of approximately 420 grams of heroin, narcotics packaging materials and over $4,000.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William 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; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily O. Cannon of Weinreb’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Boston Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Orchard Park Trailblazers pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to selling crack cocaine in and around Roxbury’s Orchard Gardens Housing Development.
Jeremiah Mines, a/k/a “Germ Gee,” a/k/a “Jerm,” 24, of Boston, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 9, 2017.
On Nov. 12, 2015 and March 8, 2016, Mines sold cocaine base to a cooperating witness near the Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School in Roxbury. Mines is one of 12 defendants arrested and charged in June 2017 following a nearly two-year investigation into the high concentration of crime in and around the Orchard Gardens Development, the largest publically funded development in Roxbury, which is also adjacent to Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School and Dudley Square. According to court documents, the crime stems, in part, from the illegal activities of the members and associates of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, who allegedly have active feuds with rival gangs throughout the city that have produced numerous crimes of violence.
The charge of distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans made the announcement today.
Billings Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – Steven Neil Hopper, 29, of Billings was sentenced today to 70 months in prison and three years on supervised release for being a felon in possession of firearms. The charge stemmed from a one-count indictment in April of this year. Hopper entered a guilty plea to the single count in June. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Watters issued the sentence.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the United States was prepared to prove that on June 5, 2016, staff at a motel in Laurel, Montana, cleaned out Hopper’s room and found two rifles, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Hopper was interviewed and admitted that he found the two firearms in his motel room. He handled them and wrapped them up. He had the only key to the motel room and everything in the room was his – except the firearms and drug paraphernalia. He could not explain how the firearms got into the motel room.
According to witnesses in the case, Hopper possessed two firearms when Hopper stayed at the Days Inn in Billings, days before he moved into the Laurel motel, and he possessed the same two firearms in his Laurel motel room. The firearms and ammunition taken into law enforcement custody in this case are: a Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, a Remington .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and 135 rounds of assorted .40 caliber, .38 caliber, and 12 gauge ammunition.
Hopper was previously convicted of felony Impersonating a Public Servant and felony Robbery in violation of Montana law in February 2016 in Yellowstone County.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Laurel Police Department, along with the Montana Probation and Parole Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart.
Bergen County, New Jersey, Man Admits Purchasing Live Webcam Shows of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Wallington, New Jersey, man today admitted purchasing live child sex shows from individuals overseas, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Stephen Hallett, 66, made his initial appearance and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with receipt of child pornography. Hallett was released on $125,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.
Hallett purchased live child sex shows from individuals located in the Philippines. He admitted that on Feb. 4, 2015, he received a webcam transmission of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hallett also admitted purchasing live webcam shows of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct on dozens of occasions between 2013 and 2015.
The receipt of child pornography charge to which Hallett pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hallett will be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2018.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Debra Parker in Newark, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Michael A. Robbins Esq., West Orange, New Jersey
Avondale Man Pleads Guilty to Crack and Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TIMOTHY JOHNSON, age 35, pled guilty yesterday to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents, a search warrant executed at JOHNSON’s residence in 2013 discovered approximately 150 grams of cocaine, other controlled substances, and paraphernalia associated with the distribution of narcotics. A subsequent investigation in 2015 led to the interception of a package containing heroin intended for JOHNSON’s distribution.
JOHNSON faces a minimum term of five years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney James S. C. Baehr is in charge of the prosecution.
Attorney General announces reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods to reduce rising tide of violent crimeRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said: “This is another welcome tool that allows us to help our local partners work with federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime.”
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams said: “The City of Cleveland, Division of Police is grateful to hear of the possibility of funding through federal grants from our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office. These federal funds could go a long way in terms of allowing the Division of Police to expand not only in terms of staffing, but also in the purchase of new technology and equipment.”
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Attorney General Sessions Announces Robert Patterson as Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement AdministrationRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff B. Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein announced the designation of Robert W. Patterson as the Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Patterson took charge upon the departure of former Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg.
“The DEA plays a vital role in combatting the drug crisis facing this country. Robert Patterson is currently the highest ranking career special agent at DEA, where he has ably served for almost 30 years,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “I have the highest confidence that Acting Administrator Patterson will continue the important mission of the DEA in stemming the tide of the opioid crisis.”
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein added, “Ending the unprecedented rise in deaths from drug overdoses is one of the Department of Justice’s highest priorities. I thank Acting Administrator Patterson for taking the helm of the DEA at this critical time.”
Patterson joined the DEA in 1988, starting in the DEA’s New York Division. In that role, he was part of a special program established to combat the growing opioid epidemic and associated violence in the greater New York area.
Since joining the agency, Patterson has served in a number of high-ranking leadership positions within the DEA. Patterson was an acting special agent in charge of the DEA Special Operations Division, where he oversaw classified programs and communication exploitation tools. In November 2015, Patterson was named as DEA’s chief inspector, where he had oversight over the agency’s Office of Inspections, Office of Security Programs, and Office of Professional Responsibility. In November 2016, Patterson was appointed the DEA’s principal deputy administrator. In that role, he served as DEA’s chief operating officer, overseeing all of the agency’s enforcement, intelligence, administrative, and regulatory activities worldwide.
Attorney General Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative – The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners – The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of five to six business days.
Note: For more information, please see the attached memo from the Attorney General.Attorney General Jeff Sessions announces reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and other actions to reduce rising tide of violent crimeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
“According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action,” said United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.”
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.”
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer,” Sessions said.
“The Northern District of Georgia has actively participated in Project Safe Neighborhoods since its inception,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “PSN produced a marked reduction in violent crime in communities in metro Atlanta, where it has been implemented. Just last year, the PSN program awarded a $499,899 grant to the Brookhaven Police Department, Chamblee Police Department, and the DeKalb County Police Department to reduce gang violence in those jurisdictions. The strategy is data-driven and our research partner, Applied Research Services, has a long history of involvement with this program. Finally, the grant includes funds for Rehoboth Baptist Church to provide services to youth to try to prevent them from becoming involved with gangs and crime.”
“The PSN strategy has proven to be effective in reducing gun crime and gang violence.,” said Chief Gary Yandura, Brookhaven Police Department. “The Brookhaven Police Department has used the PSN grant funds received last year to strengthen our anti-gang strategy. Joining forces with Chamblee Police Department and the DeKalb County Police Department, as well as our federal partners and our research and prevention partners, has resulted in significant and strategic investigations that will ultimately reduce gang violence in our communities.”
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
- Additional Assistant U.S. Attorney positions to focus on violent crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
- More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
- Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
- Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
- Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
- Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods; City of Chicago Awarded Nearly $500,000 to Combat Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce violent crime in America. Foremost of these actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memorandum directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods was first launched in 2001.
The reinvigoration includes a federal award of $499,443 to the City of Chicago to implement various crime-reduction strategies.
Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, commented, “As part of a revitalized PSN, our office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of cases involving illegal firearms and violence. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our state and local partners to address the unacceptable level of violent crime in Chicago.”
“The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work,” the Attorney General said. “Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many; this is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy. Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer.”
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime: The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices nationwide to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants): As part of our continuing commitment to crime-prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in Fiscal Year 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative: The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners: The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, the Office of Justice Programs will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC): The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot-detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, Ariz., and Kansas City, Mo.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program: The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN - Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice (DOJ) actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. To help combat the rise in violent crime, the DOJ is reinvigorating Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program first started in 2001 that successfully reduced violent crime.
In announcing this recommitment, the Attorney General directed that United States Attorneys implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched. The violent crime reduction program includes an emphasis on enhancing partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce gun violence.
The PSN program uses the full range of data and technologies to identify the most violent locations in the district and the individuals who drive the violence in our cities. PSN partners then use all potential investigative tools and resources to develop and bring cases against those who commit violent crimes. Ultimately, the coordinate effort ensures that the most violent offenders in our district are prosecuted in the legal venue that provides the most certain and appropriate penalty.
The Attorney General said: "Taking what we have learned since the program began, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnerships with local communities. With these changes, I believe this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
U.S. Attorney Mike Dunavant said "This office remains committed to implementing policies to enhance Project Safe Neighborhoods framework. Since PSN’s inception, the program has been instrumental in reducing violent crime throughout the Western District of Tennessee. We look forward to continuing this important work with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to proactively target criminal organizations and aggressively remove violent offenders from the streets."
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – the Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative – The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides "seed money" to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners – The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victim’s groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a "hot line" to connect people to these resources.
Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, Arizona and Kansas City, Missouri.
Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program– The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN "hit" (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an "urgent" trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce violent crime in the United States. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of "Project Safe Neighborhoods," a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. According to the FBI, violent crime rates, including homicides, have risen the past two years. "As a former Project Safe Neighborhoods and Violent Crime Coordinator, I am pleased by the Attorney General’s commitment to reducing violent crime, an endeavor all Oklahomans can embrace," said Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said, in part:
***
"We cannot be complacent or hope that [a rising violent crime rate] is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action."
"Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
"Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
"Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
Additional information and the Attorney General’s full remarks are available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-announces-reinvigoration-project-safe-neighborhoods-and-other.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Washington- Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to
help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Note: For more information, please see memo from the Attorney General here.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the attorney general issued a memo directing the nation’s U.S. attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the attorney general said:
"According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a president who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
"Recently the FBI released data confirming what we already knew … violent crime continues to rise,” said U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town. “In fact, Alabama has the nation’s third-highest murder rate, per capita, and Birmingham remains one of the nation's most violent major cities.”
“In response to this spike in violence,” Town said, “the Department of Justice has revised the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program and developed a holistic approach to drive down violent crime. We have learned that targeted enforcement efforts yield the greatest reductions in violent crime,” he said. “For that reason, my office, in collaboration with our state and local partners, have begun to identify the most violent locations in the Northern District. We will focus our enforcement efforts on the offenders driving violent crime in those areas and ensure that those offenders are prosecuted in the jurisdiction that will provide the most immediate and appropriate sanction.”
Town said the enhanced PSN program also addresses prevention and includes not just the deterrence messaging, but also support for programs to help keep youth on track and to help reduce recidivism.
“This is a critical time for all members and levels of law enforcement to stride swiftly towards forging positive partnerships,” he said. “We must find ways to collaborate in investigations and prosecutions without worry or claim to credit. To underscore our commitment to that end, and as a part of PSN, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama and the Department of Justice will continue to make available training and technical assistance to our state and local partners to ensure they have the information and the tools they need to succeed.
“Reserving prison bed space for our worst offenders can no longer be a unique approach to law enforcement,” Town said. “For the sake of our children and public safety, it must be standard practice.
“We can no longer just take a bite out of crime. We need to sit for all five courses."
“Reducing violent crime is our number one priority,” said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. “We are pleased to see the reinvigoration of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which will allow us to expand the tools within our tool box as we partner with our local, state and federal partners to combat violent crime in the City of Birmingham.”
The attorney general also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
-Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
-More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
-Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
-Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, AZ, and Kansas City, MO.
-Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.