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8 May 2017
Federal Jury Convicts Albuquerque Man and Woman on “Spice” Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., returned a verdict on Friday night finding Albuquerque residents Fidal Abdeljawad, 49, and Ashley Watson, 31, guilty on synthetic cannabinoids trafficking charges after a five-day trial. Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division announced the guilty verdict.
Abdeljawad and Watson were charged with trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, more commonly known as “spice,” in an indictment that was filed in Sept. 22, 2015, and superseded in Dec. 2015. The four-count superseding indictment charged Abdeljawad and Watson with participating in a “spice” trafficking conspiracy from March 2014 through Feb. 2015. It also charged the defendants with possessing “spice” with intent to distribute on May 8, 2014, and Feb. 19, 2015, and Abdeljawad alone with possessing “spice” with intent to distribute on May 7, 2014. According to the superseding indictment, Abdeljawad and Watson committed the crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M.
The trial of Abdeljawad and Watson began on May 1, 2017, and concluded at approximately 8:00 p.m. on May 5, 2017, when the jury returned a guilty verdict against Abdeljawad and Watson on all four counts of the superseding indictment.
Testimony at trial established that the DEA initiated an investigation into “spice” trafficking in Albuquerque in 2014, after receiving information that Abdeljawad, the owner of “Sean’s Smoke Shop” on Central Avenue SE in Albuquerque, and others were distributing “spice.” Law enforcement officers testified that on May 7, 2014, they executed a search at “Sean’s Smoke Shop” and Abdeljawad’s van, and seized more than 100 packets of “spice” and bundles of cash totaling more than $10,000. Abdeljawad was arrested that day on state charges and later was released on bond. The next day, the DEA learned that Abdeljawad had a storage unit near “Sean’s Smoke Shop,” which was leased out in Watson’s name. During a search of the storage unit, the DEA seized more than 500 additional packets of “spice.”
Other evidence at trial, including the testimony of witnesses and telephone conversations and text messages captured through court-authorized wire-taps, established that despite his arrest on state charges, Abdeljawad continued to distribute “spice” in collaboration with Watson. Abdeljawad would order shipments of “spice” from suppliers, who delivered the “spice” to Watson and she coordinated the distribution of “spice” to others in exchange for money. On Feb. 19, 2015, the DEA intercepted a package that was in the process of being shipped to Watson. The DEA opened the package after obtaining a search warrant for it, and found that it contained 100 packets of “spice.” Abdeljawad and Watson were arrested in Sept. 2015, after they were indicted.
The jury deliberated approximately four hours before returning its guilty verdict.
Abdeljawad and Watson were remanded into custody after the verdict was returned and will remain detained pending their sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Abdeljawad and Watson each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
This case, which was investigated by the Albuquerque office of DEA, was designated as part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy S. Vasquez and Kristopher N. Houghton are prosecuting the case.
The controlled substance analogues charged in the indictment are commonly referred to as synthetic cannabinoids or “spice.” According to the DEA, over the past several years, there has been a growing use of synthetic cannabinoids. Smoke-able herbal blends marketed as being “legal” and providing a marijuana-like high have become increasingly popular because they are easily available and, in many cases, more potent and dangerous than marijuana. These products consist of plant material that has been coated with dangerous psychoactive compounds that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. These substances, however, have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process. Synthetic cannabinoids often are labeled as incense to mask their intended purpose.
Executive Office for Immigration Review Swears in Seven Immigration JudgesRead the Press Release
FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of seven new immigration judges. Chief Immigration Judge MaryBeth Keller presided over the investiture during a ceremony held May 5, 2017, at EOIR headquarters in Falls Church, Va.
After a thorough application process, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Nina M. Carbone, Jennifer I. Gaz, Charlotte S. Marquez, Jose L. Peñalosa Jr., Donald W. Thompson, David C. Whipple, and Ryan R. Wood to their new positions.
Biographical information follows.
Nina M. Carbone, Immigration Judge, Aurora Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Nina M. Carbone to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Carbone earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005 from the University of Kansas and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the John Marshall Law School. From 2015 to 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Denver, Colo. From 2012 to 2015, she was an associate general counsel at the Employee Labor Relations Unit, Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2010 to 2012, she served as an attorney advisor in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, EOIR, DOJ. From 2008 to 2010, she served as a judicial law clerk at the Miami Immigration Court, EOIR, DOJ, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge Carbone is a member of the Illinois State Bar.
Jennifer I. Gaz, Immigration Judge, Eloy Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Jennifer I. Gaz to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Gaz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994 from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the DePaul University College of Law. From May 2007 through April 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Eloy and Phoenix, Ariz. From November 2003 to April 2007, she was an associate attorney with Wolin, Kelter & Rosen Ltd. From October 2000 to October 2003, she served as staff counsel with the Office of the General Counsel, Chicago Housing Authority. From 1999 to 2000, she was an associate attorney with Fraterrigo, Beranek, Feiereisel & Kasbohm in Chicago. From 1997 to 1999, she was an associate attorney with Eannace, Meade & Associates. Judge Gaz is a member of the Illinois State Bar.
Charlotte S. Marquez, Immigration Judge, New Orleans Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Charlotte S. Marquez to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Marquez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1995 from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from Tulane Law School. From March 2006 to April 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in New Orleans, La. From June 2000 through March 2006, she was an associate attorney with Jones Walker LLP. From August 1998 to June 2000 she was an associate attorney with McCalla, Thompson, Pyburn, Hymowitz & Shapiro LLP. Judge Marquez is a member of the Louisiana State Bar.
José Luis Peñalosa Jr., Immigration Judge, Adelanto Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed José Luis Peñalosa Jr. to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Peñalosa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Juris Doctor in 1989 from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. From May 1993 to April 2017, he was a solo practitioner at Peñalosa & Associates P.C. From May 1991 to May 1993, he was an attorney with Friendly House Inc. in Phoenix. Judge Peñalosa is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the Colorado Bar.
Donald W. Thompson, Immigration Judge, New York City Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Donald W. Thompson to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003 from the College of New Jersey and a Juris Doctor in 2006 from the Seton Hall University School of Law. From September 2007 to April 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in San Francisco and New York, N.Y. From 2006 to 2007, he clerked for the Honorable Estela De La Cruz of the New Jersey Superior Court. Judge Thompson is a member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars.
David C. Whipple, Immigration Judge, Cleveland Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed David C. Whipple to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Whipple earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 and a Master of Arts in 1995 from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from the University of Idaho College of Law. From March 2016 to April 2017, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Department of Justice. From October 2009 through April 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Eloy and Florence, Ariz. From May 2007 to October 2009, he served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Office of the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney in Idaho. Judge Whipple is a member of the Idaho State Bar.
Ryan R. Wood, Immigration Judge, Bloomington Immigration Court
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Ryan R. Wood to begin hearing cases in April 2017. Judge Wood earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 from Hamline University, a Juris Doctor in 2004 from the Hamline University School of Law, and a Master of Business Administration in 2015 from the Hamline University School of Business. From November 2014 to April 2017, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, Department of Justice. From October 2009 through November 2014, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Fort Snelling, Minn. From January 2005 to October 2009, he was a judge advocate with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, serving in the 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions. Judge Wood is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.
Executive Director of Ocean City, New Jersey, Housing Authority Admits Embezzling Federal FundsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – The executive director of the Ocean City, New Jersey, Housing Authority (OCHA) today admitted embezzling federal funds received by authority from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Alesia Watson, 54, of Galloway Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court to an information charging her with one count of embezzling federal funds received from HUD and administered by OCHA to which she was not entitled.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
As executive director, Watson had access to two credit cards maintained by OCHA. From December 2013 through March 2015, Watson purchased 69 MasterCard gift cards using these two OCHA credit cards. She used the gift cards for personal expenses not associated with OCHA or provided them to friends and family members. Watson then used federal funds received from HUD and administered by OCHA to pay the credit card bills associated with the purchase of the gift cards. According to the plea agreement, the loss associated with the embezzlement was more than $6,500 but less than $15,000.
The embezzlement charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, and special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Deputy Attorney-in-Charge Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney=s Office in Camden.
District Woman Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges for Injuring Pedestrians and Ramming into CarsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donnie Bean, 48, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to charges stemming from incidents over a 90-minute period in which she struck numerous cars and pedestrians, including a police vehicle, while driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabinoids in downtown Washington, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.
Under what is known as the Alford doctrine, Bean pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of felony assault on a police officer. Under an Alford plea, the defendant does not admit the allegations but agrees that the government has enough evidence to secure a conviction. The plea, which is subject to the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of five to seven years in prison. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2017.
The plea involved a series of incidents that took place on Saturday, May 7, 2016, from approximately 5:45 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. According to the government’s evidence, Bean was under the influence of alcohol and cannabinoids, as well as suffering from unmedicated mental health conditions, that day when she drove a black Honda Civic in downtown Washington.
At approximately 6 p.m., according to the government’s evidence, she ran a red light at the intersection of Seventh Street and Florida Avenue NW. She struck a bicyclist and continued through the intersection, then striking and knocking to the ground a 9-year-old girl who was crossing the street with her family. The child was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
At about 6:10 p.m., Bean nearly hit two other people who were in a crosswalk at Fifth and H Streets NW. After one of the pedestrians yelled at her, Bean replied with words to the effect of “You wanna make it real?” and made a U-turn and then drove back at them. They escaped harm by dodging behind a traffic signal pole.
Shortly thereafter, according to the government’s evidence, Bean rear-ended a car at Fifth Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. The driver of that car got out of his vehicle, tapped on Bean’s window, and told her not to leave. Bean backed up and accelerated toward him, hitting him and flipping him over her car into the middle of Massachusetts Avenue NW. The man was treated on the scene by paramedics and later went to the hospital with minor injuries.
Bean continued to flee. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) saw Bean driving erratically and attempted to stop her. An officer, who was in full uniform and driving a marked police car, saw her in the 1200 block of V Street NW and attempted to stop her. She tried to leave the scene, rammed her vehicle into the police car, and fled westbound into the 1300 block of V Street NW. The officer pulled alongside Bean’s car, trying to stop her, and she rammed her car into the side of his police vehicle several times. He eventually was able to stop Bean. Several officers removed her from the vehicle and placed her in handcuffs.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Jennifer Clark and Diana Lim, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Smalky, C.B. Buente, and Vanessa Goodwin, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced today that Benedict T. Palen, Jr., age 63, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced for his conviction on one count of mail fraud. United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter sentenced Palen on May 5, 2017 to a term of probation of five years. Palen was further ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay the remaining unpaid restitution in the amount of $2,500.
In September of 2012, Palen, acting through his company, Great Plains Farms, sold a John Deere tractor to an individual in Holdrege, Nebraska for $45,000 representing it to be free and clear of liens. A $20,000 check was mailed to Palen as a down payment. On the same date, Palen sold the same tractor to an individual in North Dakota. Further investigation revealed that not only was there a lien against the tractor by a bank in Kansas, but the same tractor had actually been sold in 2011 by the defendant, as vice-president of Pull Pans, Inc., to a company in Florida. When Palen had not delivered the tractor to the Holdrege buyer by April of 2013, Palen claimed there was a discrepancy in the number of hours on the tractor and modified the agreement to provide for delivery of a different John Deere tractor thereby causing the buyer to mail a $25,000 check to Palen for the remaining amount due. However, this alternate tractor had also been sold in 2011 by Palen, as vice-president of Pull Pans, Inc., to the Florida company.
In November of 2013, Palen acting through his company, Great Plains Farms, sold a different John Deere tractor to an individual in Bertrand, Nebraska, but did not deliver it after receiving a down payment of the purchase price. This tractor also had been previously sold by Palen, as vice-president of Pull Pans, Inc. to the Florida company.
This case was investigated by the Postal Inspection Service.
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to protect the integrity of the US Mail and aggressively investigate individuals such as Benedict Palen who use the mail to defraud individuals or businesses of money and property," said Craig Goldberg, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, which covers Nebraska. "We want the public to know that Postal Inspectors will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to use the Postal Service to facilitate such frauds and we will not allow the US Mail to be used to commit crimes."
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After DeportationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Colombian man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to a federal immigration crime.
Hernan Lopez Castaneda, aka Carlos Velasquez, aka Gustavo Velandia, 60, a Colombian national who was residing in Queens, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of illegal re-entry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2017.
Lopez has illegally entered the United States on multiple occasions. He was first deported in 2006. In 2013, Lopez was convicted in federal court of illegal re-entry of a deported alien and was deported. Lopez re-entered the United States and was again removed in September 2015. Sometime after his removal in September 2015, Lopez again illegally re-entered the United States.
On Dec. 28, 2016, law enforcement officers in Auburn, Mass., stopped Lopez for two traffic violations as he exited the Auburn Mall. When asked for his license and registration, Lopez was unable to produce a license, but provided the officers with a passport with a false name. The officers arrested Lopez for operating a motor vehicle without a license, and his vehicle was towed. Prior to the tow, officers inventoried the vehicle and found thousands of dollars’ worth of retail merchandise that was deemed stolen. Police learned Lopez’s legal name and immigration status when he was fingerprinted during booking.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Lopez will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. 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 Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a California man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine that was shipped from California to Springfield, Mo.
Romulo Frank Delatorre, 36, of Downey, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charge contained in a Dec. 9, 2015, federal indictment.
Co-defendants Michael E. Ford, 37, Lisa Renae Thompson, 39, and John R. Waits, 46, all of Springfield, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Thompson was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. Waits and Ford, who also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy, have not been sentenced.
By pleading guilty today, Delatorre admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from June 1 through Sept. 11, 2015. Delatorre shipped methamphetamine from California to Springfield in two- to two-and-a-half-pound increments to Thompson. Thompson picked up the packages at various hotels in the Springfield area then contacted Ford. Ford picked up the methamphetamine from Thompson and distributed it to others.
After a few days, Ford would then meet with Thompson and give her $10,800. Thompson kept $800 and sent $10,000 to Delatorre.
Thompson admitted that she received approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine, which she gave to Ford. Thompson also kept some of the methamphetamine and sold it directly to others with the assistance of Waits. Waits sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent on several occasions in June and July 2015. He participated in the conspiracy for six weeks and is responsible for the distribution of 12 pounds of methamphetamine.
After Thompson was arrested on Sept. 11, 2015, Ford began receiving methamphetamine shipments from Delatorre. On Sept. 30, 2015, the Springfield Police Department received a phone call from a FedEx employee about a suspicious package. Police officers delivered the 2.2-pound package of methamphetamine to Ford at a Springfield residence, where he was arrested. Ford had a Ruger .22-caliber handgun in his possession.
Under federal statutes, Delatorre is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Bumble Bee Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price FixingRead the Press Release
Bumble Bee Foods LLC has agreed to plead guilty for its role in a conspiracy to fix the prices of shelf-stable tuna fish, such as canned and pouch tuna, sold in the United States, the Department of Justice announced.
According to a one-count felony charge filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, Bumble Bee and its co-conspirators agreed to fix the prices of shelf-stable tuna fish from as early as the first quarter of 2011 through at least as late as the fourth quarter of 2013. In addition to agreeing to plead guilty, Bumble Bee has agreed to pay a $25 million criminal fine, which will increase to a maximum criminal fine of $81.5 million, payable by a related entity, in the event of a sale of Bumble Bee subject to certain terms and conditions. Bumble Bee has also agreed to cooperate with the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
“Today’s charge is the third to be filed – and the first to be filed against a corporate defendant – in the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into price fixing among some of the largest suppliers of packaged seafood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Andrew Finch of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The division, along with our law enforcement colleagues, will continue to hold these companies and their executives accountable for conduct that targeted a staple in American households.”
“We echo the Department of Justice Antitrust Division's sentiment,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett of the FBI’s San Francisco Division. “Companies small and large hold a great deal of the American peoples’ trust and this type of unfair, greedy behavior will not be tolerated.”
Today’s charge is the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into the packaged seafood industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office. Anyone with information on price fixing, bid rigging or other anticompetitive conduct related to the packaged seafood industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at (888) 647-3258, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html, or call the FBI tip line at (415) 553-7400.
Bumble Bee InformationBirmingham Man Receives 15 Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Acting United States Attorney Robert O. Posey of the Northern District of Alabama, and David Hyche, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announce that LUSION YOSHUA RICE, 31, of Birmingham, Alabama was sentenced to fifteen years in prison today for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor imposed the sentence.
In April 2016, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Alabama charged RICE in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm after having been convicted of violent felony offenses, including three such crimes that qualified him for an enhanced sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). On May 21, 2015, Birmingham police officers were dispatched to a home on a complaint of a male with a gun causing a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers found RICE with a beer in one hand and a shotgun in the other. He was immediately placed under arrest.
“The sentencing illustrates the positive effect of the resources provided by ATF and our law enforcement partners to combat the violent crime. ATF’s priority is to provide the safe environment for the public," stated Steven Gerido, Special Agent in Charge, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The joint investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Birmingham Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory R. Dimler prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Berkeley County woman sentenced for heroin distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Danielle Ey, 29, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced today in federal court to 24 months incarceration for assisting in heroin distribution, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.
Ey pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin” in January 2017. The crime occurred in March 2016 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Bangor Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
Bangor, Maine: Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Shirley Reynolds, 60, of Bangor, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to stealing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly.
Court records reveal that between 2009 and October 2016, Reynolds falsely represented to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she was living alone. In fact, she was living with her husband. When confronted by investigators, Reynolds said that she lied because she knew that her SSI benefits would be reduced or eliminated if she disclosed her true living situation.
defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the SSA, Office of the Inspector General.
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On May 5, 2017, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Michael John Bickel, age 26, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania to 35 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of child pornography.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
Bickel is currently incarcerated in the Pennsylvania State Department of Corrections institution SCI Dallas in Dallas, Pennsylvania. According to his plea agreement, between September 24, 2013 through January 1, 2015, in the District of Maryland, Bickel, sexually abused and produced images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In March 2015, after being arrest by law enforcement authorities in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Bickel disclosed that in addition to at least three local children he had sexually abused in Pennsylvania, he also sexually abused two minors during visits he made to Howard County, Maryland.
Bickel was prosecuted by authorities in Washington County, Pennsylvania, for child sex offenses he committed in that jurisdiction with children other than the two victims in Howard County, Maryland. He is currently serving a state sentence in Pennsylvania of between 59 and 118 years, for which he is expected to serve a minimum term of 59 years.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Joseph Sena, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty Friday, May 5, 2017, in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sena and co-defendants Felix Ulibarri, 39, Leo Lopez, 27, and Jennifer Padilla, 39, were arrested during an ATF-led investigation that resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. The investigation began in mid-April 2016, when ATF personnel from throughout the country joined forces with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to combat the high rate of violent crime in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The investigators utilized a number of investigative techniques, including undercover operations, historical investigation and targeting of multi-convicted felons in possession of firearms.
The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.
Ulibarri was indicted on July 28, 2016, and was charged with distributing methamphetamine on July 11, 2016. The indictment subsequently was superseded on Aug. 9, 2016, to add Lopez, Sena and Padilla. The superseding indictment charged Ulibarri and Padilla with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in July 2016; Lopez, Sena and Padilla with participating in a different conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in July 2016; Ulibarri with distributing methamphetamine on July 11, 2016; and Sena with distributing methamphetamine on July 26, 2016. According to the indictment, the defendants committed the crimes in Bernalillo County.
On May 5, 2017, Sena pled guilty to Count 4 of the superseding indictment charging him with distribution of methamphetamine. In entering the guilty plea, Sena admitted that on July 26, 2016, he sold approximately 58 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for money. At sentencing, Sena faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
To date, 47 of the 104 defendants including Lopez have entered guilty pleas, and 18 have been sentenced. The remaining defendants, including Ulibarri and Padilla, have entered not guilty pleas. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
These cases were investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han.
Albany Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Possessing and Intending to Distribute Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shukri Abdullah, age 44, of Albany, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and fined $5,000 for possessing and intending to distribute synthetic cannabinoids.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In August 2015, authorities located two garbage bags, filled with synthetic cannabinoids that were packaged for resale, hidden behind the counter of a deli in Albany. Abdullah is a co-owner of the business and was working behind the counter at the time of the seizure.
In October 2016, as part of his guilty plea, Abdullah admitted that he routinely obtained shipments of synthetic cannabinoids from suppliers in New York City, and paid between $7,000 and $9,000 in cash for each delivery.
Synthetic cannabinoids – often marketed as “Spice” and “K2” – are substances designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, and are often applied to herbal materials and then sold as a drug that can be smoked.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne A. Myers.
6 May 2017
Two Individuals Arrested and Indicted for CarjackingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On May 4, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Nestor Morales-Cortijo, A.K.A. “Papum,” and José Vázquez-Millán for carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment alleges that on or about April 27, 2017, in the District of Puerto Rico, Morales-Cortijo and Vázquez-Millán, while carrying and brandishing a firearm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a green, 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, that had been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of an adult female, by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1) and 2.
Defendant José Vázquez-Millán is facing one count for being felon in possession of ammunitions, having been convicted in court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Vázquez Millán did knowingly and unlawfully possess thirty-two (32) rounds of 9mm ammunition, said ammunition having been shipped and transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
In a separate criminal complaint authorized by US Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin, Jonathan Fuentes-Millán was charged for possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and carjacking. On or about April 27, 2017, a female victim arrived to her residence, located at Loiza, Puerto Rico and parked her blue Toyota Prius in the driveway. Also at the residence was her husband, and two children. Shortly after, the victims heard gunshots outside. They attempted to close the front door when a male individual, accompanied by two others, demanded the car keys to the Prius, which they turned over. The males used the keys to start the vehicle, but then fled the area on foot.
Officers arrived at the scene and noticed bullet casings on the ground and blood stains along the exterior wall of the residence. Officers followed the blood stains and walked toward the adjacent property which is under construction and has open access. Inside the property they found Fuentes-Millán holding a black rifle loaded with a magazine, and two additional magazines in his waist band.
“These defendants planned and carjacked defenseless victims,” said US Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “These defendants will be brought to justice through the hard work of federal and state law enforcement agents and our prosecutors.”
“As always, the public’s help is essential to apprehending these violent criminals, and citizens with information are asked to call the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-754-6000, or to use the tip line available at our website, http://www.fbi.gov,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Field Office.
The cases are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ana M. Santiago-Ramírez. If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years of imprisonment for the carjacking charge (Count One), and up to life imprisonment for the firearms charge (Count Two). Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
5 May 2017
Two Defendants Sentenced in Opioid Pill Mill CaseRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Lee Robertson, 33, and Tasmin Stewart, a/k/a “Taz,” 30, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater stemming from their involvement in a “pill mill” operation, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Judge Fitzwater sentenced Robertson to 84 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, Oxycodone in October 2016. Stewart was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of a communication device in April 2016. Both defendants have been in custody since their arrests.
In March 2015, a federal grand jury in Dallas indicted 23 individuals, including Stewart, on offenses related to his participation in a prescription drug distribution conspiracy. Robertson was charged in January 2016 by a superseding indictment. The indictment alleged that from at least May 2013 through July 2014, the defendants participated in a scheme to illicitly obtain prescriptions for pain medications, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and then distribute those controlled substances for profit. As part of the conspiracy, individuals, often homeless or of limited means, were recruited and paid to pose as patients at medical clinics, including the McAllen Medical Clinic in Dallas, to obtain prescriptions and to fill those prescriptions at designated pharmacies.
The prescription medications were then distributed like street drugs in Texas and Louisiana.
According to plea documents filed for Stewart, on October 21, 2013, Stewart made a telephone call to confirm that he wanted 30mg oxycodone pills and would be ready to meet a courier arriving from Dallas with the pills. Stewart intended to distribute these pills to his own customers.
According to documents filed for Robertson, on February 27, 2014, Robertson contacted co-conspirator and supplier Cornelius Robinson seeking 30mg oxycodone pills. Robertson offered to buy all the pills Robinson had for $16.00 per pill. Robinson responded by telling Robertson that he was waiting on an individual to arrive from Dallas with approximately 700 pills. On March 3, 2014, Robertson agreed to buy 500 30mg oxycodone pills from Robinson.
This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Louisiana State Police, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Houston Police Department, the Arlington Police Department, the Greenville Police Department, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Walters prosecuted.
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Three Individuals Indicted for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. - On April 28, 2017, the Grand Jury returned a 23-count indictment charging Sheila Judith Quiñones-Santos, Edgardo “Gary” Luis Nazario-Montijo and Felipe Soto-González with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, substantive counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The Indictment also includes charges against Nazario-Montijo for theft of government funds, and fraud against the Social Security Disability Insurance Program by making false representations and concealing material information from the program.
The indictment alleges that the operations manager for Magritte, Inc., Sheila Judith Quiñones-Santos, created and printed checks against the subsidiaries’ bank accounts for services never rendered. Quiñones-Santos also created fraudulent invoices using the identity of legitimate Magritte suppliers and made fraudulent entries in the electronic accounting system of Magritte, Inc., and its subsidiaries to justify the fraudulent expenditures in the corporate books and records.
These fraudulent checks are alleged to have been cashed between May 2, 2012 and September 16, 2014, by either “Gary” Nazario-Montijo, Quiñones-Santos’ consensual partner, or Felipe Soto-González. The allegations are based on evidence recovered in the investigation that indicates that Nazario-Montijo cashed the checks at several locations in the metropolitan area, including a check cashing service in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, while Soto-González cashed checks at a local bank. The 244 checks fraudulently cashed account for a total misappropriation of approximately $731,827.62 from Magritte, Inc. or its subsidiaries “Ponte Fresco,” “Passion,” “Que Pasta,” and “Under the Trees.”
Nazario-Montijo is charged with defrauding the Social Security Disability Insurance Program. The indictment alleges that he provided false information on his application for benefits under the program claiming that he could not work despite the fact that he continued to work without reporting his earnings.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of incarceration of 30 years for bank fraud, and a two-year mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Nazario-Montijo faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years for the social security fraud.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by AUSA Dennise N. Longo-Quiñones and SAUSA Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez.
Three Former Arkansas Juvenile Detention Officers Indicted for Conspiracy to Assault Juvenile DetaineesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that three former White River Juvenile Detention Center officers: Will Ray, 26, Thomas Farris, 47, and Jason Benton, 42, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to assault juvenile inmates.
The seven-count indictment charges that Ray, Farris, and Benton conspired to assault juvenile detainees, assaulted the detainees, and then tried to cover up their misconduct. The indictment charges that, in some instances, the defendants used pepper spray on juveniles and then, rather than decontaminating them, shut them in their cells to “let them cook.”
In addition to the conspiracy, Ray is charged in Count Two with participating in the Nov. 6, 2013, assault of a fourteen-year-old boy who had been lying asleep on his bunk. According to the indictment, Ray grabbed the boy from his bunk and held him so that another officer could spray the boy in the face with pepper spray.
Farris, in addition to the conspiracy, is charged in Count Three with assaulting a seventeen-year-old juvenile on Nov. 21, 2013, by pepper spraying him in the face.
Counts Four through Seven of the Indictment charged Benton with two assaults and with falsifying incident reports related to those assaults. According to the Indictment, on June 6, 2012, Benton assaulted a sixteen-year-old juvenile by grabbing, shoving, and choking him. The indictment also charges that, on May 19, 2013, Benton deployed pepper spray in the face of a fifteen-year-old juvenile. According to the indictment, none of the juveniles posed a physical threat to anyone nor physically resisted in any way at the time they were assaulted by the officers.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters of the Eastern District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
Three Former Arkansas Juvenile Detention Officers Indicted for Conspiracy to Assault Juvenile DetaineesRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Patrick C. Harris, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that three former White River Juvenile Detention Center officers, Will Ray, 26, Thomas Farris, 47, and Jason Benton, 42, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to assault juvenile inmates.
The White River Juvenile Detention Center is located in Batesville, Arkansas. The seven-count Indictment charges that Ray, Farris, and Benton conspired to and did assault juvenile detainees. The indictment charges that, in some instances the defendants used pepper spray on the juveniles and then, rather than decontaminating them, shut them in their cells to “let them cook.”
“As I have stated before, there is no excuse for correction officers to violate the law,” Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Harris said. “Correction officers who violate the civil rights of others can expect to, and will be, prosecuted.”
“We at the FBI continue to be appalled at what occurred to these minors,” stated Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch with the Little Rock FBI Field Office. “Along with our partners at the Justice Department, we are steadfast in our commitment to investigate and punish those responsible for these reprehensible actions.”
In addition to the conspiracy, Ray is charged in Count Two with participating in the November 6, 2013, assault of a fourteen-year-old boy who had been lying asleep on his bunk. According to the indictment, Ray grabbed the boy from his bunk and held him so that another officer could spray the boy in the face with pepper spray.
Farris, in addition to the conspiracy, is charged in Count Three with assaulting a seventeen-year-old juvenile on November 21, 2013, by pepper spraying him in the face.
Counts Four through Seven of the Indictment charge Benton with two assaults and with falsifying incident reports related to those assaults. According to the Indictment, on June 6, 2012, Benton assaulted a sixteen-year-old juvenile by grabbing, shoving, and choking him. The indictment also charges that, on May 19, 2013, Benton assaulted a fifteen-year-old juvenile by pepper spraying him in the face. According to the indictment, none of the juveniles posed a physical threat to anyone nor physically resisted in any way at the times they were assaulted by the officers.
Two former White River Juvenile Detention Center supervisors, Captain Peggy Kendrick, 43, and Lieutenant Dennis Fuller, 40, pleaded guilty on April 26, 2016, in federal court before U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr. to conspiring to assault juvenile inmates. Kendrick also pleaded guilty to assaulting a sixteen-year-old girl using pepper spray and to obstructing justice by falsifying an incident report about that assault. The court will set a sentencing hearing date for Kendrick and Fuller after Presentence Investigation Reports are completed.
The maximum potential penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights) is up to ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) is up to ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1519 (Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) is up to twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. Accordingly, Kendrick faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and Fuller faces a statutory maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Field Division and the investigation is ongoing. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters of the Eastern District of Arkansas and Trial Attorney Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division.
An indictment contains only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Texas man sentenced to 160 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine in Louisiana, TexasRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Texas man was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison for possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Calcasieu Parish.
United States District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Adam Micah Baltutis, 31, of Beaumont, Texas, on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. The judge also sentenced him to four years of supervised release. According to the January 24, 2017 guilty plea, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop January 5, 2016 on a rental car Baltutis was a passenger in on Interstate 10 that was traveling continually in the passing lane. While looking for registration and insurance papers, the officer found a lockbox containing approximately 418 grams of methamphetamine and two cell phones belonging to the defendant. The defendant told law enforcement agents that since December of 2015 he had been obtaining methamphetamine in Houston and selling it in the areas of Orange, Texas, and Lake Charles.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Team conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.
Stark County man indicted on methamphetamine and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charting a Stark County man with firearms and narcotics violations, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Michael Lombardi, 39, of Waynesburg, Ohio, distributed methamphetamine on at least five occasions in January and February 2017, according to the indictment.
The indictment also alleges that Lombardi maintained a premises on Elson Street in Waynesburg for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine.
Lombardi possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking in methamphetamine, according to the indictment.
Lombardi was prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction for domestic violence. On Feb. 10, he possessed ammunition and the following seven firearms: a Mossberg, model 432, .22 caliber rifle, serial number C27265; a Mossberg, model 640KS, .22 caliber rifle, unknown serial number; a Ruger, model LCR, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 54045017; a Western Field, model 47C, .22 caliber rifle, serial number N339; a Winchester, model 37A, .410 caliber shotgun, serial number C058084; a Glenfield, model 60, .22 caliber rifle, serial number 27155266 and an Armalite, model M15, 5.56 caliber rifle, serial number M006554, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, the Carroll and Stark Counties Sheriff’s Offices and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Spokane Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Spokane – Joseph H. Harrington, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Dan Wayne Streetman, age 46, of Spokane, Washington, to a 60-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court supervision and required sex offender registration, for three charges of production of child pornography. Streetman had pled guilty to the offenses on December 13, 2016.
According to court records, Streetman relocated to Spokane from Missouri in 2006. While residing in Spokane, Streetman sexually abused three children in his care, and documented that abuse through photographs, which he maintained on his computer.
Streetman admitted that in total there were probably “hundreds” of sexual encounters between himself and the children. Additionally, Streetman admitted to photographing the children in other situations when they were undressed. Two of the children abused by Streetman were under age ten, the other was fourteen, but had the mental functioning of a nine year old.
The photography documenting the abuse was found by a relative when she was looking at Streetman’s phone. Streetman admitted the misconduct, and the relative called the police. A review of Streetman’s digital devices, pursuant to a court-authorized warrant, showed over a thousand child pornography images and videos saved and edited by Streetman. Streetman had explained he had found additional child pornography on the internet.
During the sentencing hearing, Streetman detailed the abuse he suffered as a child and explained how that abuse “haunts” him. Streetman indicated he had “been through hell.” Nevertheless, Streetman went on to abuse children and create new victims. Streetman acknowledged that he “made bad choices.”
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson told Streetman: “The nature of your offenses is horrific. The impact on these children is just mind-boggling.” The judge went on to say, “The most important factor in my mind is to make sure no other children are subject to your acting out from your past.”
Acting United States Attorney Harrington said, “Streetman exploited young and vulnerable children. This office prosecutes crimes against children with great fervour, because of the extreme vulnerability of the young victims.” Harrington went on to add, “This case is a superb example of the great work that can be done when state and federal law enforcement work together, even across state lines.”
This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May, 2006 by the United States 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. The Project Safe Childhood Initiative (“PSC”) has five major components:
• Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue children;
• Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
• Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
• Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and
• Community awareness and educational programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Cole County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri, Callaway County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri, and Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri. The case was prosecuted by Stephanie J. Lister, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
San Angelo Man Sentenced to 148 Months in Federal Prison on Child Pornography and Cyberstalking ConvictionsRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas —Rodrigo Ramiro Menchaca, 27, of San Angelo, Texas, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 148 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in January 2017 to one count of stalking and one count of possession of prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
“Victimizing someone, particularly a child, from one’s computer may seem easy and low-risk,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “But my office will do everything in our power to raise the cost to those who engage in such despicable behavior.”
According to documents filed in the case, between October 30, 2015 and November 7, 2015, Menchaca engaged in a series of communications with a minor female who resided in Virginia. Menchaca used a mobile application called Kik to communicate with the girl. During these Kik communications, Menchaca sent the girl various photographs that she had posted on other social networking accounts. The photographs were not sexual in nature, but were sent by Menchaca to the girl with the false representation that they had been shared with Menchaca by the girl’s father. Menchaca’s messages to the girl were sexually explicit.
In addition, between August 4, 2012 and October 28, 2016, Menchaca placed material on a thumb drive which he knew constituted images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and he kept that thumb drive in his possession.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the San Angelo Police Department and the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office in Fluvanna, Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy was in charge of the prosecution.
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Robins Employee Sentenced to Twelve Years for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and to Send Obscene Matter to A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III announces that Steven Craig Deason, Jr., age 40 of Gray, Georgia, was sentenced today to serve 144 months in Federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervision, for attempted online enticement of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor. Mr. Deason will also be required to register as a sex offender. U.S. District Court Judge Marc Thomas Treadwell handed down the sentence.
A jury found Mr. Deason guilty on December 9, 2016, following a trial that lasted a week. The evidence presented at trial showed that between January 6, 2016, and February 4, 2016, Mr. Deason, using the alias “Cameron,” chatted online with a person who identified itself as a 14-year-old girl named Amber. In actuality, Amber was an undercover agent. During the course of the chats, Mr. Deason discussed meeting with Amber to engage in sexual activity, to include oral sex and sexual intercourse. Mr. Deason also sent Amber pornographic pictures and videos to get her used to the things they had been talking about and comfortable with sex. Mr. Deason told Amber that he chose pictures where the men appeared older and the females appeared younger to match their age difference. Mr. Deason also instructed Amber how to masturbate, telling her it would make their sexual encounter better.
This case was investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, with coordination from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Howard and Michael Solis prosecuted the case for the Government.
”The seduction of children is a vile crime and one that is growing in frequency throughout the country and in the Middle District of Georgia,” said United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III. “The predators who attempt to defile our youth in this fashion should take note that law enforcement officers and prosecutors are hunting them just as they are hunting their victims.”
David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Those who target and sexually exploit children will always be a priority for the FBI and its law enforcement partners. During this investigation, Mr. Deason revealed himself and his intentions to an undercover law enforcement officer and today’s sentencing to a lengthy stay in federal prison reflects the serious predatory nature of his crime.”
"By working with our law enforcement counterparts and prosecutors around the country, the men and women of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are committed to ensuring safe environments in our communities while bringing justice to young victims by quickly identifying online criminals who attempt to sexually exploit children," said Brig. Gen. Keith M. Givens, AFOSI Commander.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office at 478-621-2603.
Philadelphia Felon Charged with Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Omar Meares, 28, of Philadelphia was charged today by Indictment[1] with being a felon in possession of a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. The indictment charges that Meares possessed a Colt, Police Positive MK V, .38 Special caliber revolver, bearing serial number RD1155, which was loaded with six (6) live rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, on January 23, 2017, in Philadelphia, after having been convicted of a felony.
If convicted, Meares faces a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
This case has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.
[1]An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography while Registered as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm sentenced Jordan D. Salem, 25, of Peoria, Ill., to serve 35 years in prison for producing child pornography while registered as a sex offender. Judge Mihm ordered that Salem remain on supervised release for a period of 15 years following the completion of his prison term. Salem pled guilty to the charges on June 28, 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna prosecuted the case. The charges were the result of a joint investigation by the United States Secret Service, the Peoria Police Department, and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court documents, Salem pleaded guilty to the offense of statutory rape in Tennessee in 2012 which required him to register as a sex offender under Illinois law. Beginning in 2013, Salem created several false identities on Facebook using another male’s picture and solicited naked photographs and sexual acts from female victims, including minors. Acting under his false personas, Salem represented that he was employed as a performer by an internet pornography website that was seeking females to produce short pornographic videos. Salem promised that the girls would be paid thousands of dollars by the website and that their identities would not be revealed. When a girl inquired with Salem’s false persona on Facebook, he would provide additional details about the job and would direct them to send several naked images of themselves if they were interested. If a girl complied with his request for naked photographs, Salem would then direct her to his residence for the purpose of producing the pornographic film with him. In the course of his Facebook chats with females he knew to be minors, Salem would reassure them that he had produced pornography with minors in the past and he could either blur their face or keep their face out of the video to protect them from being discovered.
The investigation, including the results of search warrants executed on Salem’s Facebook accounts and e-mail accounts, revealed that Salem used the fictitious Facebook profiles to solicit sex and sexually explicit images from at least 28 females, including 10 minors. Salem utilized the scheme to persuade six of the minor females, including an 11 year-old, to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and send them to him on the internet. Over the course of the scheme, at least 22 females, 7seven of whom were minors, engaged in sexual intercourse with Salem with the expectation that they were going to be paid large sums of money by a pornographic film production company. Salem did not pay any of his victims the money they were promised for taking part in the production of sexually explicit images.
Salem has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since he was arrested on Oct. 30, 2015.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart announced that Po Kwe, 31, formerly of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 3, 2017, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to 15 months in prison by United States Senior District Judge Richard G. Kopf, for receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm. In addition to serving his prison sentence, Kwe will also serve 3 years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment.
On May 6, 2016, Nebraska Conversation Officers made contact with Kwe at a campsite on a Water Management Area in Pawnee County and observed various fishing violations. Officers made contact with Kwe at the campsite and the two conservation officers were given verbal consent to search a tent. Officers found a rifle and a silencer in the tent. The silencer had been removed from the rifle barrel. Kwe stated the tent and the rifle were his.
The rifle and the silencer were given to the DEA and sent to ATF for a determination that this was in fact a silencer and firearm under federal law. Kwe was not registered to have a silencer.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska Conservation Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives.
Oklahoma City Daughter and Mother Plead Guilty to Stolen Identity, Tax Fraud and Framing of Family Member for CrimeRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – KASHARA STEWART, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and her mother, WONICA STEWART POPE, also of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty today to federal crimes related to stolen identity tax refund fraud before the Honorable Joe Heaton, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
On February 22, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment charging Kashara Stewart with seven counts of tax fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft. It alleges that from January 2012 through December 2012, Kashara Stewart filed false federal income tax returns in the names of individuals, without their knowledge or permission, attaching false W-2s for employers that did not employ the purported tax filers in the relevant tax years. Those false tax returns directed the IRS to deposit the claimed tax refunds into Kashara Stewart’s bank account.
The Superseding Indictment also charged Kashara Stewart’s mother, Pope, with one count of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer. On August 29, 2013, during the investigation of Kashara Stewart’s stolen identity refund fraud, Pope left a voicemail for an IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in which she falsely confessed to the crime. Pope falsely stated she was her sister, Wenoca Stewart, to shift blame away from her daughter.
On November 1, 2016, based in part on Pope’s phone call to IRS Criminal Investigations, a federal grand jury charged Wenoca Stewart, along with Kashara Stewart, with conspiracy and tax fraud. After learning that Pope had framed Wenoca Stewart, the United States moved to dismiss the charges against Wenoca Stewart on February 28, 2017. Wenoca Stewart is no longer charged with any federal crime.
At the plea hearing today before Judge Heaton, Kashara Stewart admitted she filed a false tax return in October 2012, claiming a tax refund based on a false W-2, for someone who did not give her permission to file a false tax return in his name. She admitted that the false tax return directed the IRS to deposit a tax refund in her account, which it did, and that she kept that refund. Pope also entered a guilty plea. She admitted to leaving a voicemail message for an IRS Special Agent who she knew was investigating false tax returns filed by Kashara Stewart. Pope admitted she had claimed to be her sister, Wenoca Stewart, and had told the agent she was responsible for the conduct he was investigating. She admitted she said in the voicemail she had lost her husband and didn’t have anything else to lose, when in fact her sister Wenoca had recently lost her husband. Pope further admitted she left that voicemail because she was trying to protect her daughter, who she knew at that time was responsible for the stolen identity refund fraud.
At sentencing, Kashara Stewart faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution to the IRS for all related fraudulent tax filings. Pope faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing for both will be set by the Court on a future date.
This case is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney K. McKenzie Anderson.
Ocean County, New Jersey, Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Point Pleasant, New Jersey, man will appear in federal court today to face allegations that he planned to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick and Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente announced.
Gregory Lepsky, 20, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically ISIS. Lepsky is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
On Feb. 21, 2017, Lepsky was arrested by the Point Pleasant Police Department in connection with an incident that occurred that day in his family’s home. Following the arrest, law enforcement officers searched the residence and found a new pressure cooker stored behind a roll of bubble wrap in Lepsky’s bedroom closet.
During searches of computers and other digital evidence linked to Lepsky, law enforcement found evidence of Lepsky’s plan to build and detonate a bomb as part of his support for ISIS. During several social media communications, Lepsky told others that he intended to fight on behalf of ISIS, and that he would, if necessary, become a martyr by driving a “bunch of explosives” to where the “enemies” could be found and blowing himself up.
Law enforcement also located a series of instructions that had been published online by another terrorist group that gave specific, step-by-step instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb, which coincided with the delivery of the pressure cooker to Lepsky a short time before his arrest. In addition, law enforcement recovered a message forwarded by Lepsky from another ISIS supporter stating that if a westerner could not travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, he could conduct a terrorist attack in his home country using improvised explosive devices.
The material support charge carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the N.J. State Attorney General’s Office under the direction of Attorney General Christopher Porrino; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph Coronato; the Point Pleasant Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard P. Larsen; and the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness under the direction of Director Chris Rodriguez, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Donnelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark and Justin Sher and B. Celeste Corlett, Trial Attorneys of the Department of Justice, National Security Division-Counterterrorism Section.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
O'Fallon Missouri Man Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Running Large Stolen Property Fraud Ring and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that yesterday, in federal court in Benton, Illinois, Jason J. Parmeley, 43, formerly of O’Fallon, MO, was sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison for crimes arising from a large stolen property fraud ring and a separate bank fraud. The stolen property ring operated in the Metro East and numerous other locations.
At his plea hearing on December 6, 2016, Parmeley admitted that he was the leader and organizer of a stolen property ring that victimized numerous retailers and equipment rental stores throughout the United States. Specifically, Parmeley admitted that he used the internet to obtain credit account numbers that individuals and businesses had with retail stores, such as Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, and rental stores, such as SunBelt Rentals. Using this information, Parmeley placed orders with the stores in the names, and under the credit accounts, of the individuals and businesses. The items Parmeley ordered frequently consisted of appliances, computers, expensive tools, and construction equipment. Parmeley further admitted that, after he placed the orders, he dispatched drivers to go to the stores and pick up the items. The items were then sold at prices
substantially below retail. The profits were wire transferred to Parmeley in Mexico. The losses caused by this stolen property ring exceeded $4,000,000.
Parmeley lived in Mexico and controlled the fraud ring from that country. In late August of 2015, Mexican Immigration Authorities deported Parmeley from Mexico. Parmeley has been held in federal custody since that time.
Parmeley also pled guilty to a second federal criminal indictment on December 6, 2016. The charges in that case were brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. In that case, Parmeley was charged with defrauding Regions Bank by electronically re-depositing checks that he had previously deposited, and then withdrawing funds from those re-deposited checks. Parmeley engaged in this fraudulent scheme from November 20, 2009, through September 20, 2010. As a result of this fraud, Regions Bank sustained a loss of $174,451.80. Although the charges in the second indictment originated in Alabama, Parmeley’s guilty plea was made to the Court here in the Southern District of Illinois.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle sentenced Parmeley to serve 140 months in prison on the convictions arising from the stolen property ring. Judge Yandle then ordered that Parmeley will serve a consecutive sentence of 28 months on his bank fraud conviction. The judge also ordered Parmeley to pay restitution of $456,882.37 to the victims of the stolen property ring for the specific losses that could be identified. She further directed Parmeley to pay $174,451.80 in restitution to Regions Bank.
To date, six defendants have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the stolen property conspiracy. On June 7, 2016, James D. Litchfield, 59, owner of Big Jim’s Autorama in Madison, IL, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, and his brother, Ryan P. Litchfield, 37, of O’Fallon, MO, was sentenced to 1 year in prison. Both of the brothers admitted to receiving large quantities of
the stolen property. On October 4, 2016, Shannan M. Flora, 42, of O’Fallon, MO, and Rigoberto Gutierrez, 28, of Compton, CA, were both sentenced to 15 months in prison. Flora performed a wide variety of tasks for the conspiracy, including arranging sales of stolen goods. Gutierrez coordinated shipments of stolen goods in California. On October 12, 2016, Russell J. Witt, 34, of Mount Clemens, MI, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Witt worked as a driver for the conspiracy for over a year. On December 13, 2016, Sean A. Shields, 48, of Ozark, MO, was also sentenced to 12 months in prison. Shields owned a store in Ozark, MO, and purchased large quantities of the stolen merchandise.
Six other defendants in the stolen property case were sentenced to terms of probation. They are: Nicholas A. Brockman, 20, of Wentzville, MO; Benedict G. Pellerito, 56, of Troy, MO; Bryce E. Atkinson, 22, of Lake Saint Louis, MO; Alice J. Hembree, 44, of Moscow Mills, MO; Tony G. Robertson, 45, of O’Fallon, MO; and Jessie S. Urias, 38, of Compton, CA. Brockman, Pellerito, Atkinson, Robertson, and Urias all worked as drivers for the conspiracy. Hembree performed administrative and bookkeeping functions for the fraud ring.
The two remaining defendants will be sentenced on the following dates: (1) June 6, 2017 – Steven J. Belcher, 45, of St. Charles, MO; and (2) June 22, 2017 – Angel Speed, 26.
The investigation of the stolen property ring is being conducted by agents from the St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). The FBI has received substantial assistance from many state and local police departments in numerous jurisdictions, including the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force and the California Highway Patrol. The investigation of the bank fraud scheme involving Regions Bank was conducted by the FBI in Alabama. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
New York Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Filing Thousands of Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Bronx, New York attorney, who ran a tax preparation business, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison today for filing thousands of fraudulent tax returns that claimed more than $6 million in bogus deductions, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim for the Southern District of New York.
“William Doonan used his status as an attorney to attract clients to his tax preparation business,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg. “But instead of performing honest and professional work, he routinely falsified their returns, adding more than $6 million in phony deductions and causing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to incur more than $1.8 million in lost taxes. Doonan’s prison sentence today makes clear that those who prepare and file fraudulent returns face significant penalties.”
William Doonan’s so-called ‘business’ didn’t prepare taxes, it manufactured lies and false tax returns that resulted in more than $1.8 million in lost revenue for the IRS,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kim. “In filing thousands of federal tax returns, Doonan used his legal knowledge to circumvent the law. Thanks to the dedicated investigators of the IRS, he will be held to account for his criminal misdeeds.”
“Doonan wreaked havoc on the taxpayers whose returns he prepared,” said Chief Richard Weber of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). “Return preparer fraud is a priority for IRS CI and we are committed to investigating and putting a stop to unscrupulous criminals who take advantage of their clients. But, taxpayers must be diligent too and be careful when choosing a return preparer. It is important to know that even if someone else prepares your return, you are ultimately responsible for all the information on the tax return.”
According to documents and allegations in the Information to which William Doonan, pleaded guilty, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in court proceedings:
Doonan, 69, a New York licensed attorney since 1982, ran a tax preparation business in the Bronx using the firm name, “William Doonan, Esq.” Every year from 2010 through 2013, Doonan prepared and filed between 3,000 and 5,000 federal tax returns with the IRS for taxpayer-clients in exchange for a fee. Several thousand of these returns were fraudulent and reported bogus “consulting” businesses and business losses, while others claimed fake deductions based on false medical and dental expenses, state and local taxes, home mortgage interest, charitable donations and job expenses. In total, Doonan included more than $6 milion in fabricated and inflated items on his clients’ federal tax returns and caused a tax loss of more than $1.8 million.
In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick also ordered Doonan to serve one year of supervised release, to pay $65,820 in restitution to the IRS and to pay a fine of $10,000. Doonan previously pleaded guilty in November 2016 to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and obstructing and impeding the due administration of internal revenue laws.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Kim praised special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
New Jersey Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, will appear in federal court today to face allegations that he planned to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Lepsky is charged by criminal complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente and Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick for the District of New Jersey. Lepsky is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark, New Jersey federal court.
According to the complaint:
On February 21, Lepsky was arrested by the Point Pleasant Police Department in connection with an incident that occurred that day in his family’s home. Following the arrest, law enforcement officers searched the residence and found a new pressure cooker stored behind a roll of bubble wrap in Lepsky’s bedroom closet.
During searches of computers and other digital evidence linked to Lepsky, law enforcement found evidence of Lepsky’s plan to build and detonate a bomb as part of his support for ISIS. During several social media communications, Lepsky told others that he intended to fight on behalf of ISIS, and that he would, if necessary, become a martyr by driving a “bunch of explosives” to where the “enemies” could be found and blowing himself up.
Law enforcement also located a series of instructions that had been published online by another terrorist group that gave specific, step-by-step instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb, which coincided with the delivery to Lepsky of the pressure cooker a short time before his arrest. In addition, law enforcement recovered a message forwarded by Lepsky from another ISIS supporter stating that if a westerner could not travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, he could conduct a terrorist attack in his home country using improvised explosive devices.
The material support charge carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office under the direction of Attorney General Christopher Porrino; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph Coronato; the Point Pleasant Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard P. Larsen; and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness under the direction of Director Chris Rodriguez, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Donnelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and B. Celeste Corlett of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
17 05 05 Lepsky ComplaintNew Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JUSTIN PARKER, also known as “Tre,” 30, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to a heroin distribution offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, PARKER was identified as a large-scale distributor of heroin in the greater New Haven area. On multiple occasions between January and March 2016, PARKER sold heroin to an ATF agent working in an undercover capacity. When investigators first attempted to arrest him on March 30, 2016, PARKER fled the scene and was observed discarding what appeared to be packets of heroin out of the window of his vehicle. He was apprehended the next day.
PARKER pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for July 27, 2017.
PARKER has been detained since his arrest on March 31, 2016.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Peter D. Markle.
New Hampshire Human Trafficking Task Force and Give Way to Freedom End Their PartnershipRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - The New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force and Give Way to Freedom have ended their partnership. Give Way to Freedom had served as the Project Director for the Task Force. Going forward, the Task Force will adopt a new management structure and will seek to install a new Project Director.
The Task Force is funded by a $1.3 million grant from the United States Department of Justice. Its goals are to ensure that comprehensive and specialized services are made available to victims of human trafficking through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach and that perpetrators of sex trafficking and forced labor are investigated and prosecuted.
The Task Force appreciates the efforts of Give Way to Freedom in helping to secure the federal grant and its dedication to helping human trafficking victims.
The core team members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Task Force are the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
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Nashville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Anthony Laquesa Coleman a/k/a Scrappy, 30, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, followed by six years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District Judge Marvin E. Aspen of the Northern District of Illinois (sitting by designation in the Middle District of Tennessee), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith of the Middle District of Tennessee.
Coleman was indicted in July 2015 and pleaded guilty in November 2016 to possessing drugs with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Coleman had previously been convicted on state charges including, two drug felony convictions, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and reckless aggravated assault.
According to the facts presented at his plea hearing, Coleman regularly sold cocaine and crack cocaine in the area of 16th Avenue North and Buchanan Street in North Nashville. Area residents had previously asked him not to sell drugs in that area.
On March 23, 2015, Coleman was again selling drugs in that area when a woman and her children returned to their home, along with another woman. They again asked Coleman not to sell drugs near their home. Coleman refused to leave, obtained a loaded pistol from a friend, and threatened the women in the presence of the young children. As police were called, Coleman fled to a nearby rooming house, where officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department arrested him.
“All of our citizens, in every neighborhood, deserve to live without fear and without the invasive nature of drug dealers permeating their neighborhoods,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith. “Community involvement is a vital part of keeping our neighborhoods safe, and we encourage residents to continue to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Ahmed Safeeullah.
Nashville Man Facing Federal Charges for Falsifying Aircraft Maintenance LogsRead the Press Release
James Leonard Brumit, 71, of Nashville, Tenn., was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury and charged with two counts of fraud involving aircraft; two counts of making false statements; and two counts of aggravated identity theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Jack Smith of the Middle District of Tennessee.
The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) regulates air travel and requires all U.S.-registered general aviation aircraft to undergo an annual inspection. The annual inspections are required to be performed by mechanics who are certified by the FAA as Inspection Authorization (“IA”) holders.
After an annual inspection is performed, the FAA requires the IA certificate holder to make an entry on the aircraft log book certifying that the annual inspection was made in accordance with FAA regulations, and that the information furnished therein is true and correct. An IA certificate holder receives a unique license number from the FAA to utilize when certifying annual inspections.
The indictment alleges that on July 3, 2014, and again on August 19, 2014, Brumit falsified the logbooks of two aircraft by forging the signature of an individual who held FAA inspection authority and falsely certified that the inspection was performed and reviewed by that person.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to ten years in prison for each aircraft inspection fraud count, as well as a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for each false statement count. Both offenses also carry a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The aggravated identity theft charges carry mandatory two-year sentences.
Aircraft owners, who believe Brumit serviced their aircraft, are encouraged to contact the FAA’s local Flight District Standards Office. Local contact information can be found at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Toussaint is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Motor Home Thief & Career Fraudster Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Savannah, GA – Timothy Bryce, 40, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by Senior United States District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr., after pleading guilty to transporting a stolen motor vehicle across multiple state lines, from North Carolina, to South Carolina, to Georgia.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Bryce stole a luxury motor home worth nearly $600,000 from a dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then fled with the vehicle to Guyton, Georgia. Bryce pretended to be interested in purchasing the motor home; swapped the real key with a fake one; then later returned to the dealership after closing time in order to steal it. In imposing the 70 month sentence, Judge Moore emphasized Bryce’s long criminal history. Bryce has three prior convictions for stealing motor vehicles as well as multiple convictions for impersonating law enforcement officers. After prison, Bryce will be on federal supervised release for three years. He was also ordered to pay $153,047.73 in restitution.
Acting United States James D. Durham stated, “No number of felony convictions has apparently kept this defendant from continuing a career in crime. With eight years under the watchful eyes of federal prison officials and United States Probation Officers, maybe he’ll finally learn the lesson that crime doesn’t pay.”
“Bryce made his biggest mistake when he crossed state lines during the commission of the crime,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley. “Now, thanks to the efforts of FBI agents and the U. S. Attorney’s Office, he must face the impact of federal penalties that will keep him from continuing to prey on innocent victims for a very long time.”
This case was investigated by Special Agents with the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Scarlett S. Nokes and former Assistant United States Attorney Fred Kramer prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact the U. S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 201-2522.
Michigan man indicted on heroin trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Detroit, Michigan man had his initial appearance today following an indictment by a grand jury on May 2, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.
Julian Michael-Thomas “Cain” Johnson, age 22, was indicted on two counts of “Distribution of Heroin” and one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location.”
The crimes are alleged to have occurred between October and December 2016 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 51 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Clifford D. Johnson, announced that Booker T. Sanders, Jr, 25, of Michigan City, Indiana was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Sanders was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment and 1 year supervised release.
According to documents filed in this case, on July 11, 2016, Sanders possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Police discovered him with a handgun when responding to a reported domestic altercation in Michigan City.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Michigan City Police Department. This case was being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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McKeesport Drug Felon Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – On Thursday, May 4, 2017, a resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Edward Hicks, age 31, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around October 2012, and continuing thereafter to in and around November 2012, Hicks and others conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. In addition, on November 6, 2012, and again on November 15, 2012, Hicks sold multiple ounces of crack cocaine to a confidential informant who was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Hicks has a prior state court felony drug-trafficking conviction.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for August 21, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and not more than forty (40) years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Homestead Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hicks.
Man Sentenced for Smuggling Artifacts from Pakistan into United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A man who smuggled ancient artifacts out of Pakistan and into the United States was sentenced today to three years in prison, ordered to forfeit over 1,300 artifacts, and pay a money judgment of over $115,000. The Court also entered an order revoking the man’s U.S. citizenship, which he obtained through fraud.
Ijaz Khan, 42, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was convicted by a federal jury on February 9. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Khan was part of a conspiracy that smuggled ancient artifacts including pottery and bronze weapons, which were stolen from burial sites, and ancient coins from a cave temple in Pakistan called the Kashmir Smast. Khan and Vera Lautt, 57, also of Santa Fe, New Mexico, used their business, Indus Valley, to sell the artifacts. One shipment of artifacts was seized at Dulles International Airport in October 2013. Ijaz and others then attempted to obtain the shipment by submitting various false and fraudulent documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, some of which purported to be from the Government of Pakistan.
Khan was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States, procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully, conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, smuggling goods into the United States, mail fraud, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and obstruction of an official proceeding. Lautt was convicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Khan and Lautt submitted fraudulent documents to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which enabled Khan to immigrate to the United States in 2003 and later become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2009. In order to further the conspiracy, Ijaz and Vera concealed Ijaz Khan’s wife and children in Pakistan. The conspiracy included eleven separate attempts to obtain immigration benefits by fraud, five of which were successful and another five of which were still pending as of the date of indictment. According to court records, Ijaz Khan used his fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship to cause the fraudulent immigration and naturalization of his four oldest children. Khan also filed petitions on behalf of his brother, mother, other wife in Pakistan, and two youngest children.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Steve A. Linick, Inspector General for the Department of State; and Patrick J. Lechleitner, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine L. Wong and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Harrison prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-130.
Man Indicted for Stealing Rifles from Chesapeake Sporting Goods StoreRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal grand jury in Norfolk returned an indictment yesterday charging a Chesapeake man with theft of firearms and possessing stolen firearms.
According to the allegations in the indictment, Sean Robert Elliott, 27, stole the firearms on Nov. 25, 2016, and on January 27. Elliott is also charged with two counts of possessing stolen firearms, stemming from a series of burglaries and burglary attempts at a Chesapeake sporting goods store that took place last winter.
Elliott faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison if convicted. 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; Michael B. Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Col. K.L. Wright, Chesapeake Chief of Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-75.
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.
Madisonville Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Madisonville man has been taken into custody as a result of a joint effort in ensuring the safety of local communities, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
A grand jury returned an indictment against Reginald Scott, 42, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was taken into custody today and is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge at 10:00 a.m. in Houston.
Scott was previously convicted of a felony and is, therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm per federal law. The indictment alleges that on March 30, 2017, he was in possession of a Springfield XD, .45 caliber pistol.
He faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine, upon conviction.
The arrest is the result of an effort among local, state and federal agencies who are partnering together to combat violent crime and to ensure the safety of Madison County. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Madison County District Attorney’s Office and the Madisonville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Lubbock Man Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison on Firearm ConvictionRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK — Jose Augustine Hernandez, 32, of Lubbock, was sentenced this morning by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 71 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in January 2017, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Hernandez has been in custody since the time of his arrest in April 2016.
According to documents filed in the case, on April 5, 2016, an officer with the Lubbock County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle obstructing a roadway just outside the City of Lubbock. The driver and sole occupant was identified as Hernandez. Hernandez told officers he had run out of gas. While speaking with Hernandez, the officer noticed the butt of a shotgun between the console and front passenger seat of the vehicle. The officer asked Hernandez, who had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, to step out of the vehicle and the officer noticed the smell of marihuana coming from inside the car. Hernandez admitted to smoking marihuana inside the vehicle. Hernandez was found to have outstanding warrants and was placed under arrest. The officer then searched Hernandez and located several baggies containing methamphetamine in Hernandez’s pocket. Hernandez was also in possession of a cell phone that contained several text messages related to the purchase and sale of narcotics. The officer also located approximately twenty-two 20-gauge shotgun shells inside the vehicle.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, and Lubbock Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long prosecuted.
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Los Angeles Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Supplying Pittsburgh-Area with CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 11 years’ imprisonment on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak took the guilty plea and imposed the sentence on 42-year-old Jason Hunter.
According to information presented to the court, in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. Jason Hunter was the California-based source of supply for kilogram quantities of cocaine, which were shipped via the United States Postal Service from California to Pittsburgh. During the FBI’s wiretap investigation, Hunter was also being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles. In that investigation, the DEA seized a substantial quantity of cocaine, heroin, cash, and jewelry from Hunter’s car and residence.
Hunter was the final defendant in this multi-defendant case to plead guilty. In total, 38 defendants were indicted and pleaded guilty in this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Caitlin Loughran prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting U.S. Attorney Song commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Police Department and the Long Beach Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hunter.
Local Man Guilty in $5 Million Investment ScamRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 76-year-old Montgomery man has been convicted on two counts related to an investment fraud scheme involving more than 50 victims and more than $5 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
Allan George Cooper was president of Effective Energy Alternatives dba A.G. Cooper Associates, managing member of AG Cooper LLC and registered agent for Effective Funding Network LLC. Cooper created AG Cooper & Associates and presented himself as an investment advisor, meeting investors through a church group and through referrals from other investors. He solicited and received more than $5 million from investors, many of whom believed he was making short-term loans to small companies who could not get bank financing. He used investor funds to pay earlier investors, pay himself and his employees, and fund his lifestyle.
Cooper presented investment programs that projected more than 12% returns in a short period of time and lulled investors with misleading statements he mailed to their homes on a quarterly basis. On occasion, he would make monthly payments to investors with funds provided by new investors. Deceived by these monthly payments and fraudulent quarterly statements, investors believed their money was being properly invested, and on some occasions, would re-invest more money with Cooper.
Cooper received investor funds via wire transfers or checks handed to him in person. An analysis of his bank accounts revealed the majority of the monies were used to pay back other investors, pay his credit cards, fund his other companies and to enrich his own lifestyle.
Cooper pleaded guilty to one count each of mail and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon accepted the plea and set sentencing for Sept. 2, 2017. At that time, Cooper faces up to 20 years in prison on each count as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He will remain on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas State Securities Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting the case.
Lafayette man sentenced to 12 months in prison for defrauding illegal aliens in federal custodyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Lafayette man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for operating a scheme to take money from the families of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees on the false promise that he would provide the ICE detainees assistance in their immigration proceedings.
Edwin Zavala Jr., 24, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on one count of wire fraud. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $23,050 restitution. According to the May 25, 2016 guilty plea, from November 2014 to February 2016, Zavala owned and operated a company headquartered in Lafayette that claimed to assist individuals being held in ICE detention centers. Through this company, United Immigration Consulting, later known as National Immigration Services, Zavala would make mass mailings to ICE detention centers around the country advertising his services in representing illegal aliens and assisting them with their immigration problems. Those detainees would then contact family members who would pay Zavala in exchange for promises that Zavala would represent the ICE detainees at deportation hearings, assist them in obtaining work permits, assist them in “bonding out” of detention facilities, and otherwise provide services in immigration-related matters. However, after receiving payments, Zavala would cease communication with the ICE detainees and their family members and fail to render the promised immigration services. The ICE detainees would then generally be deported.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.
Kittery Man Sentenced to over Three Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Portland, Maine: Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Zachary Spinney, 36, of Kittery, Maine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm while being subject to a protection from abuse order. Spinney pleaded guilty to the charge on November 28, 2016.
According to court records and proceedings, in July 2016, Spinney and his girlfriend purchased a Ruger, model AR556, 5.56mm semi-automatic rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition from a licensed firearms dealer. Security footage captured Spinney carrying the ammunition out of the store. Later that day, Spinney fired the rifle at a sand pit in Eliot. Spinney was prohibited from possessing the firearm because of a March 2016 protection from abuse order issued in Maine.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Torresen heard testimony describing the defendant’s significant history of domestic violence and varied his sentence up five months from the top of the guideline range in order to protect the public.
The investigation was conducted by the Kittery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Justice Department Reaches Settlement Agreement with El Paso Business over Allegations of Violating the Employment Rights of a Texas Army National Guard MemberRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a Settlement Agreement with Superior Asphalt Enterprises, Inc., DBA Frontier Roofing Supply (“Frontier”), a business with its principal location in El Paso, Texas. The Settlement Agreement resolves allegations that Frontier violated the employment rights of Texas Army National Guard Member Alejandro S. Booth (“Booth”) under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA safeguards the rights of uniformed servicemembers to retain their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations. USERRA also protects servicemembers from discrimination on the basis of their military obligations. Booth is currently a Sergeant with the Texas Army National Guard where he has served since 2005.
According to the complaint Booth filed with the Department of Labor, Frontier fired Booth from his position as a Purchasing/Inventory Clerk due to his military service and subsequently denied Booth’s request for reemployment following his active military duty in August of 2015. Booth’s employment was terminated while he was attending his annual training requirements for the Texas Army National Guard. When Booth requested to return to work upon completion of his training, his request was denied based on his previous absence related to his military service. In exchange for a release of his claims under USERRA, Frontier has agreed to provide Mr. Booth with relief to include backpay, lost benefits and liquidated damages
“The United States has a solemn obligation to ensure that those selfless Americans who serve in the nation’s Armed Forces enjoy every opportunity to advance their civilian careers,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Department of Justice will be unwavering in protecting the rights of our nation’s service members and we will continue to hold accountable employers who violate those rights.”
“Mr. Booth was called away from his job in order to serve the country in the National Guard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our nation’s security is dependent on the brave men and women of our National Guard, and the Department of Justice is here to ensure that all service members can complete their military obligations without fear that by doing so, they will lose their civilian jobs.”
“Members of our National Guard make many sacrifices, including spending months or years away from their jobs and families,” said U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., of the Western District of Texas. “When our service members are deployed in the service of our country, they are entitled to retain their civilian employment and to the protections of federal law that prevent them from being subject to discrimination based upon their military obligations. We sought this Settlement Agreement, on behalf of Sergeant Booth, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, to ensure that he does not lose his rights while he was protecting ours.”
Booth initially filed a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), which investigated this matter and attempted to reach a resolution between the parties. After resolution efforts failed, VETS referred the complaint to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section. This Settlement Agreement, which is not an admission of liability by Frontier, followed as a collaborative initiative between the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The Department of Justice gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp and www.servicemembers.gov, as well as on the Labor Department’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.
Information: Federal Court ArraignmentsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on May 4, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
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THYANNA FAITH LITTLESUN, a 23-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared on charges of involuntary manslaughter, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, LITTLESUN faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference. 17-45
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LENRAY JESS TWO TWO, a 51-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, TWO TWO faces life in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference. 17-51
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on May 2, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
- ANDREW RUNNING CRANE, a 32-year-old resident of Heart Butte, appeared on charges of theft of federally provided welfare benefits by fraud, and federal welfare assistance fraud. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, RUNNING CRANE faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. PACER Case Reference. 17-19
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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