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Tuesday 21 February 2017
Cary Man Charged with Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce to Injure Another PersonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announces that a Criminal Complaint was filed against GARRETT GRIMSLEY, age 27, of Cary, charging him with Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce to Injure the Person of Another. GRIMSLEY appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II today for his initial appearance.
According to the affidavit filed with the Criminal Complaint, on February 19, 2017, GRIMSLEY posted an online public message stating “don’t go to Cary tomorrow.” In a subsequent private message conversation, GRIMSLEY told a cooperating witness: “For too long the kuffar [non-Muslims] have spit in our faces and trampled our rights. This cannot continue. I cannot speak of anything. Say your dua [prayers], sleep, and watch the news tomorrow. It will only be the beginning . . .”
According to the affidavit, law enforcement officers identified GRIMSLEY’s apartment in Cary as the location from which the messages were sent. A search warrant executed at the apartment resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 assault rifle, four 30-round magazines, and approximately 340 rounds of 7.62 millimeter ammunition.
If convicted, the maximum penalty for this offense is 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The charge and allegations contained in the Criminal Complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cary Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Boerne Couple Sentenced in Federal Court for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced 54–year-old Kathy Suzanne DeBerry to five years of federal probation and on Thursday of last week sentenced 56-year-old Curtis Harold DeBerry to 24 months in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered Curtis DeBerry to pay $800,000 in restitution and to be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
On August 16, 2016, Curtis and Kathy DeBerry, residents of Boerne, TX, pled guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. By pleading guilty, the DeBerrys admitted that on or about February 10, 2014, Curtis DeBerry filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in the Western District of Texas. They also admitted that between April 16, 2013, and continuing through August 18, 2014, the DeBerrys knowingly and fraudulently concealed 100,000 shares of stock valued at $200,000 from creditors and trustees charged with custody of such property.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Benites Giese and Christina Playton prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
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Berlin Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –David Edward Weatherholtz, age 57, of Berlin, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to two counts of producing child pornography.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Worcester County Sheriff Reggie T. Mason, Sr.; Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to his plea agreement, from at least August 1990 through his arrest in 2015, Weatherholtz had sexual contact and/or sexual intercourse with at least four minors, including family members and a child whom he mentored and taught as owner of the theater business named “OC Jamboree” in Ocean City, Maryland.
On December 3, 2014, an undercover detective corporal with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to a sexually explicit ad placed on an internet website. Records obtained from the website identified Weatherholtz as the person who posted the advertisement and further indicated that the ad was one of many posted by Weatherholtz from 2009 to December 2014 for the purpose of meeting young males interested in sex.
Weatherholtz and the undercover detective exchanged emails and text messages, in which the detective identified himself as a thirteen-year-old deaf white male who lived with his aunt in Snow Hill. Weatherholtz sent the detective two video files by text messages. In the first video file Weatherholtz depicted himself greeting the purported thirteen-year-old deaf male, and in the second video file he pretended to be the 13-year-old deaf male greeting Weatherholtz.
Weatherholtz arranged to meet the purported 13-year-old male at a restaurant in Snow Hill on December 16, 2014, and indicated that he would bring the boy back to his residence. When Weatherholtz arrived at the meeting location, he was taken into custody. A search warrant was also executed at his home and law enforcement seized numerous computers, hard drives, and other media storage devices. Subsequent forensic analysis of those items recovered numerous still photographs and a video of Weatherholtz engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor male victim. The images and video indicate that the sexual abuse began when the victim was 12 years old and that Weatherholtz met the victim through his work as a musician, music teacher and owner of OC Jamboree.
At some point between January and August 2016, the commercial building formerly occupied by OC Jamboree was sold to a new owner. On August 17, 2016, an employee of the new owner found a box on the property that was address to “Aaron Weatherholtz” – the defendant’s dog – and that listed the sender as one of Weatherholtz’s relatives. Inside the box were photos of minor males engaged in sex acts; sheets of paper called “official progress charts” that depicted dated, hand-traced outlines of erect male penises; CDs and DVDs; and two VHS-compatible camcorder cassette tapes. A review of that material revealed three other minor male victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including video of Weatherholtz engaged in sexually explicit conduct with two minor family members.
Weatherholtz faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for each of the two counts of producing child pornography. According to his plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 50 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander scheduled sentencing for Weatherholtz on May 19, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. Weatherholtz has been detained since his arrest in December 2014.
The 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.United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the HSI Baltimore, Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ayn B. Ducao and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case.
Attorney Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme That Targeted Distressed HomeownersRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRADFORD BARNEYS, 51, of Odenton, Maryland, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to conspiring with Timothy W. Burke in a long-running fraud scheme that targeted distressed homeowners throughout Connecticut. BARNEYS is an attorney licensed to practice in Connecticut and has an office in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2010 and November 2015, Timothy W. Burke, formerly of Easton, engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals, mortgage lenders and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by falsely representing to homeowners who were in, or facing, foreclosure on their homes that he would purchase their homes and pay off their mortgages. The distressed homeowners agreed to sign various documents that Burke presented to them on the understanding that, by signing the documents, they would be able to walk away from their homes without the burdens of their mortgage or other costs associated with home ownership. Burke also told homeowners that the process of negotiating with the lenders can take time and that, in the meantime, to ignore any notices regarding foreclosure. After he gained control of these houses, Burke rented out the properties to tenants by advertising the properties on craigslist.com and other means and falsely representing to tenants that Burke owned the property.
Burke or one of his agents then collected rent from tenants, and Burke used the funds for his own benefit. He also failed to negotiate with the homeowners’ mortgage lender or pay expenses associated with the home, including the homeowner’s mortgages and property taxes, and he failed to pay any rental income he was collecting to the homeowners. Many of the properties Burke purportedly purchased were ultimately foreclosed upon by the mortgage lender.
Burke undertook extensive efforts to disguise his true identity, and hide his criminal past, from his victims through the use of multiple aliases and business entities, and to conceal the sources of and expenditures from his criminal proceeds.
Between approximately 2011 to at least 2014, BARNEYS participated in dozens of meetings with Burke and with homeowners at BARNEYS’ law offices in Bridgeport. At the meetings, Burke represented to homeowners that he would purchase their properties and presented to the homeowners quitclaim deeds, management agreements, indemnification agreements, and third party authorizations.
At some point after BARNEYS began representing Burke in these meetings with homeowners, BARNEYS knew that Burke had no intention of buying the properties and paying the outstanding mortgages on the properties. Nevertheless, BARNEYS continued to participate in these meetings and represented that these transactions were legitimate. When questioned by homeowners about the status of their sales, BARNEYS would assure them that their sales to Burke or one of his companies were progressing as Burke promised. BARNEYS also knew that, once Burke obtained the properties from the homeowners, he would rent them out to tenants.
BARNEYS also represented Burke and his companies in eviction proceedings against tenants.
BARNEYS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire a fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2017.
On January 24, 2017, Burke pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion. He also awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with the critical assistance of the Middletown, Plainville, Easton and Coventry Police Departments, the Connecticut State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Sarah P. Karwan.
Alna Man Sentenced to Two Years for Conspiring to Distribute Crack and HeroinRead the Press Release
Contact: Jody Mullis
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Bradford Christopher, 36, of Alna, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” and heroin. He pleaded guilty on October 13, 2016.
According to court records, between May 2015 and August 2016, Christopher conspired to distribute crack and heroin in central Maine. He supplied drugs to co-conspirators and drove them to “trap houses” where the drugs were sold.
In imposing sentence, Judge John Woodcock said that by engaging in this activity, the defendant was a “traitor” to his community and “affect[ed] how young people grow up” in central Maine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office and investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Brandishing Firearm During Attempted Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Darrel Salazar, 48, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for brandishing a firearm during an attempted armed bank robbery. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).
Salazar was arrested on Jan. 12, 2016, by the FBI on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted bank robbery. According to the complaint, on Jan. 11, 2016, Salazar attempted unsuccessfully to rob the Bank of America branch located at 3101 Carlisle Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. Salazar entered the bank where he passed a note demanding cash to a bank teller and brandished a firearm at the teller.
Salazar subsequently was indicted on Feb. 9, 2016, and charged with robbing the Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 5555 Montgomery Blvd., on Jan. 11, 2016; attempting to rob the Bank of America branch located at 3101 Carlisle Blvd. on Jan. 11, 2016; and brandishing a firearm during the attempted bank robbery of the Bank of America on Jan. 11, 2016. According to the indictment, Salazar committed the crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M.
On Oct. 17, 2016, Salazar pled guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In entering the guilty plea, Salazar admitted that on Jan. 11, 2016, he entered the Bank of America branch at 3101 Carlisle Blvd. in Albuquerque, armed with a firearm. Salazar further admitted approaching a bank teller, passing a handwritten note demanding money to the teller, and brandishing the firearm at the teller when the teller failed to comply with his demand.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh prosecuted the case.
Friday 17 February 2017
Yankton Man Appears in Federal Court on Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Yankton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Bank Robbery.
David William Giese, age 26, was indicted on February 14, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on February 17, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 25 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The indictment alleges that, Giese entered the Wells Fargo Bank in Yankton, on July 26, 2016, and demanded money from the teller.
The charge is merely an accusation and Giese is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
“The charges today are the result of close collaboration by the FBI and our law enforcement partners.” said Special Agent in Charge Richard T. Thornton of the Minneapolis FBI office. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure those who commit crimes such as this will be brought to justice.”
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yankton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Giese was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
Joshua Van Haften, 36, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison and lifetime supervised release for attempting to provide material support, namely himself as personnel, to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil of the Western District of Wisconsin and Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo of the FBI’s Milwaukee Division made the announcement. U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson handed down the sentence.
“With this sentence, Joshua Van Haften will be held accountable for attempting to travel overseas to join ISIL and to provide material support to the designated terrorist organization,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General McCord. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”
“Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s plan to betray the United States and to join terrorists dedicated to the murder of innocent individuals, both in the U.S. and abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Vaudreuil. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, working with our state and local partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, will continue to work to investigate, arrest, and vigorously prosecute all extremists who choose to aid ISIL, or any other terrorist organization, and to stop them before they harm the United States or our allies. We also remain committed to working with dedicated community members to bring this cycle to an end.”
“I commend the efforts of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force which includes our local and state law enforcement partners who brought the defendant to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Tolomeo. “Protecting Americans from terrorism remains our top priority.”
Van Haften admitted that in 2014, he attempted to provide material support to ISIL, knowing that the organization was a designated terrorist organization that has engaged and engages in terrorism.
According to the government’s evidence, Van Haften traveled to Turkey in 2014 and attempted to cross into Syria. He posted online that he had taken an oath of allegiance to the leader of ISIL, and that “The only thing that matters to me is joining my brothers for the war against America [sic] liars.”
In addition to traveling to Turkey in an attempt to fight with ISIL, Van Haften tried to assist another American, Leon Davis, in joining ISIL. He attempted to meet Davis in Istanbul upon Davis’s arrival – actually waiting for Davis at a bus stop in Istanbul – and planned to travel with Davis to Syria to join and fight with ISIL.
Leon Davis, of Augusta, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in July 2015, following his conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely ISIL.
Van Haften was arrested at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois in April 2015, after his arrival in custody on an international flight from Turkey. He has been held in federal custody since his arrest.
The charge against Van Haften is the result of an investigation by members of the FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force which include the FBI; the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; the Dane County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin; and the University of Wisconsin Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the Department of Homeland Security.
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Anderson for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Lolita Lukose of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Virginia Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
Haris Qamar, 26, of Burke, Virginia, was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Qamar was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release to be completed after his released from prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew W. Vale of the FBI’s Washington Field Division made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Qamar pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2016. According to court documents, in May 2016, Qamar and an FBI Confidential Witness (CW) discussed ISIL’s need for photographs of possible targets in and around Washington, D.C., for use in a video that ISIL purportedly was making to encourage lone-wolf attacks in the Washington, D.C., area. Qamar offered the CW ideas of what to photograph, including the Pentagon and numerous landmarks in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., which could be targeted for terrorist attacks. On June 3, 2016, a conversation was audio and video recorded when the CW picked up Qamar in a vehicle and drove to area landmarks on the list Qamar previously developed. Qamar said “bye bye DC, stupid ass kufar, kill’em all.” Qamar and the CW met again on June 10, 2016, and drove to a location in Arlington to take additional photographs for the purported ISIL video.
According to the statement of facts, during numerous conversations with the CW, Qamar expressed his interest and excitement in the extreme violence associated with ISIL. Qamar said he loved the bodies, blood, and beheadings. He recalled watching a video of a Kurdish individual being slaughtered and he liked the cracking sound made when the individual’s spinal cord was torn. On several occasions, Qamar said he could slaughter someone and described how he would do it. Qamar also stated he admired lone-wolf attackers because they love Islam so much that they are willing to die as martyrs for Islam. In the same conversation, Qamar and the CW also discussed suicide bombings. The CW said the CW did not believe in suicide bombings, but Qamar responded, “I believe in it 100 percent.”
According to the statement of facts, on Sept. 11, 2015, terrorists connected with ISIL posted a “kill list” to the internet containing the names and addresses of U.S. military members. A few days later, Qamar told CW that the residences of several service members who appeared on the “kill list” were near Qamar’s home, and Qamar observed undercover police cars near those residences. On Sept. 16, 2015, Qamar tweeted his prayer that Allah “give strength to the mujahideen to slaughter every single US military officer.”
Moreover, according to the statement of facts, on Sept. 25, 2015, Qamar told the CW that he tried to join ISIL in 2014, and purchased a plane ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Istanbul, Turkey. Qamar, however, did not show up for the flight because his parents prevented him from doing so; Qamar’s parents took his passport. Qamar said his parents threatened to notify law enforcement and said he fought with his father and called his father a traitor to Islam. On Nov. 18, 2015, the CW asked Qamar if his father gave him back his passport, would Qamar travel overseas and join ISIL. In response, Qamar said if that happened, “I’m done, I leave.”
In a related matter, Soufian Amri, 32, of Falls Church, Virginia, and Michael Queen, 28, of Woodbridge, Virginia, acquaintances of Qamar, were arrested on Wednesday and charged with obstructing justice and conspiring to provide material false statements to law-enforcement officers who were investigating Qamar.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Two Rapid City Men Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that two Rapid City men convicted of illegally possessing and selling a firearm were sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Daniel Joseph Newingham, 42, was sentenced on February 10, 2017, to 30 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Joseph Huddleston, 43, was sentenced on February 13, 2017, to 16 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Huddleston and Newingham were charged on June 21, 2016. The charges relate to Newingham, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm, stealing and possessing a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and Huddleston possessing and selling a stolen Glock 9mm pistol.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson prosecuted the case.
Both defendants were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Two Chicago People Plead Guilty in Connection with Plaza Frontenac RobberyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Two individuals charged with the November 26, 2016, robbery at Plaza Frontenac have entered guilty pleas to interstate transportation of stolen property. They appeared in federal court today in St. Louis.
According to court documents, the eight named defendants and others entered the Saks Fifth Avenue department store soon after it opened on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and ran to the Chanel counter, grabbing thirty handbags and smashing fixtures in the process. The group then left the store and entered two waiting vehicles, which left the shopping center and traveled east on Highway 64/40. The Frontenac, Missouri, police department pursued the vehicles, but disengaged due to safety concerns as the defendants’ vehicle was exceeding 100 miles per hour on the highway.
Later that morning, the Illinois State Police and other local departments from southern Illinois were able to stop the defendants’ car, which contained sixteen of the stolen handbags. The defendants were taken into custody.
Darius Bowdry, and Keyshyala Thomas, both of Chicago, IL, pled guilty to one felony count each of interstate transportation of stolen property before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. Sentencing has been set for May 30, 2017.
Co-defendants Dejuan Wingard, Mario Washington, Jacob Lee, Derrick Crowder, Terrence Bell, and Julian Campbell, all of Chicago, Illinois, were each indicted by a federal grand jury last December on the same charge and are facing trial.
Interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or fines up $250,000. Restitution is mandatory and the government is seeking the criminal forfeiture of all the stolen merchandise. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Frontenac Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Montgomery (IL) County Sheriff’s Department, the Montgomery (IL) County Prosecutor’s Office and the St. Louis County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Troy Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Crack Cocaine ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alikubar Shaw, age 34, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possessing more than 28 grams of crack cocaine with the intent to sell it.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian; James Jewell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Shaw to serve 8 years of post-imprisonment supervised release.
As part of his August 11, 2016 guilty plea, Shaw admitted that on January 7, 2014, he was the passenger in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation in Albany County. The driver of the car had a suspended license, and New York State Police Troopers smelled burnt marijuana coming from the car. As Shaw exited the car to speak with one Trooper, the Trooper noticed Shaw touch his rear waist area, and the Trooper then found 263 grams of crack cocaine there. As part of his plea, Shaw admitted that he intended to sell the crack.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
Tonawanda Man Indicted on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael Elder, 36, of Tonawanda, NY, with possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine and fentanyl, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on November 3, 2016, the United States Probation Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at 143 Edgewood Avenue in Tonawanda, NY. Officers recovered crack cocaine and fentanyl. The defendant was on parole for a previous federal conviction.
The defendant was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being detained.
The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the United States Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Anthony SanGiacomo, and Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of Two GirlsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Anthony Ray Shirley, 29, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 360 months in prison. Shirley, a member of the Tohono O’Odham Nation, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 28, 2016 of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact. Shirley’s imprisonment will be followed by lifetime federal supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
The evidence at trial was that Shirley had molested two young victims, who are members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by both the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit and Carolyn Nedder, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-0622-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-015_Shirley
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Three People Found Guilty of Taking Part in Scheme That Used Stolen Identifying Information to Fraudulently Seek Millions in Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
Three people were found guilty today by a jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of federal charges for participating in a scheme to file false federal income tax returns in order to fraudulently obtain tax refunds to which they were not entitled, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips for the District of Columbia, Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Holloman of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington D.C. Field Office; Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division; and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations John L. Phillips of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Approximately two dozen other participants in this scheme have pleaded guilty to charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. According to court documents, the overall case involves the filing of at least 12,000 fraudulent federal income tax returns that sought refunds of at least $20 million.
The jury’s verdicts were returned against Tony Bryant, 55, of Clinton, Maryland; his son, Brian Bryant, 29, also of Clinton, and Tarkara Cooper, 34, of Washington, D.C.
All three defendants were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds and to defraud the United States. Tony Bryant was found guilty of five counts each of theft of public money and aggravated identity theft. Brian Bryant also was found guilty of three counts of theft of public money and two counts of aggravated identify theft. Tarkara Cooper also was found guilty of five counts of theft of public money. Judge Rosemary M. Collyer scheduled sentencing for Tony Bryant and Brian Bryant for April 28. She set a sentencing date of May 26 for Tarkara Cooper.
According to the government’s evidence, members of the conspiracy participated in a massive and sophisticated stolen identity refund fraud scheme that involved an extensive network of more than 130 people, many of whom were receiving public assistance. The conspirators fraudulently claimed refunds for tax years 2005 through 2012, often in the names of people whose identities had been stolen, including the elderly, people in assisted living facilities, drug addicts and incarcerated prisoners. Returns were also filed in the names of, and refunds were issued to, willing participants in the scheme. The returns filed listed more than 400 “taxpayer” addresses located in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The participants played various roles in the scheme: stealing identifying information; allowing their personal identifying information to be used; creating and mailing fraudulent federal tax returns; allowing their addresses to be used for receipt of the refund checks; cashing the refund checks; providing bank accounts into which the refund checks were deposited and forging endorsements of identity theft victims on the refund checks. The false returns typically reported inflated or fictitious income from a sole proprietorship and claimed phony dependents to generate an Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal income tax credit for working families with low to moderate incomes.
According to the government’s evidence, the Bryants and Cooper took part in the conspiracy from approximately April 2010 through June 2012. Cooper agreed to have her residence used for the delivery of tax refund checks, and received payment from a co-conspirator when she provided the tax refund checks to him. The Bryants used bank accounts under their control for the deposit of tax refund checks, which were fraudulently obtained by others. According to the evidence at trial, the Bryants and Cooper had roles in refund claims fraudulently seeking $4,959,310; these claims led to the negotiation of refund checks totaling $2,285,717, representing the actual losses to the U.S. Treasury.
In announcing the verdicts, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Acting Special Agent in Charge Holloman, Inspector in Charge Cronin and Assistant Inspector General Phillips commended special agents, who conducted the investigation and acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein and Paralegal Specialists Aisha Keys, Donna Galindo, Julie Dailey, and Jessica Mundi. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Trial Attorneys Jeffrey B. Bender, Thomas F. Koelbl, and Jessica Moran of the Tax Division, who also worked on the case.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Chubin Epstein and Michelle Bradford of the District of Columbia’s Fraud and Public Corruption Section and Trial Attorney Kimberly G. Ang 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.
Three People Found Guilty of Taking Part in Scheme That Used Stolen Identifying Information to Fraudulently Seek Millions in Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three people were found guilty by a jury today of federal charges for participating in a scheme to file false federal income tax returns in order to fraudulently obtain tax refunds to which they were not entitled.
The verdicts, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, were announced by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips for the District of Columbia; Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Holloman of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington D.C. Field Office; Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division, and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations John L. Phillips of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Approximately two dozen other participants in this scheme have pleaded guilty to charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. According to court documents, the overall case involves the filing of at least 12,000 fraudulent federal income tax returns that sought refunds of at least $20 million.
The jury’s verdicts were returned against Tony Bryant, 55, of Clinton, Md.; his son, Brian Bryant, 29, also of Clinton, Md., and Tarkara Cooper, 34, of Washington, D.C.
All three defendants were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds and to defraud the United States. Tony Bryant also was found guilty of five counts each of theft of public money and aggravated identity theft. Brian Bryant also was found guilty of three counts of theft of public money and two of aggravated identify theft. Tarkara Cooper also was found guilty of five counts of theft of public money. Judge Rosemary M. Collyer scheduled sentencing for Tony Bryant and Brian Bryant for April 28, 2017. She set a sentencing date of May 26, 2017 for Tarkara Cooper.
According to the government’s evidence, members of the conspiracy participated in a massive and sophisticated stolen identity refund fraud scheme that involved an extensive network of more than 130 people, many of whom were receiving public assistance. The conspirators fraudulently claimed refunds for tax years 2005 through 2012, often in the names of people whose identities had been stolen, including the elderly, people in assisted living facilities, drug addicts and incarcerated prisoners. Returns were also filed in the names of, and refunds were issued to, willing participants in the scheme. The returns filed listed more than 400 “taxpayer” addresses located in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The participants played various roles in the scheme: stealing identifying information; allowing their personal identifying information to be used; creating and mailing fraudulent federal tax returns; allowing their addresses to be used for receipt of the refund checks; cashing the refund checks; providing bank accounts into which the refund checks were deposited; and forging endorsements of identity theft victims on the refund checks. The false returns typically reported inflated or fictitious income from a sole proprietorship and claimed phony dependents to generate an Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal income tax credit for working families with low to moderate incomes.
According to the government’s evidence, the Bryants and Cooper took part in the conspiracy from approximately April 2010 through June 2012. Cooper agreed to have her residence used for the delivery of tax refund checks, and received payment from a co-conspirator when she provided the tax refund checks to him. The Bryants used bank accounts under their control for the deposit of tax refund checks which were fraudulently obtained by others. According to the evidence at trial, the Bryants and Cooper participated along with others in claiming fraudulent refunds of $4,959,310; these claims led to the negotiation of refund checks totaling $2,285,717, representing the actual losses to the United States treasury.
In announcing the verdicts, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Acting Special Agent in Charge Holloman, Inspector in Charge Cronin and Assistant Inspector General Phillips commended the special agents who conducted the investigation and acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein; Assistant U.S. Attorney Chrisellen Kolb; Paralegal Specialists Aisha Keys, Donna Galindo, and Jessica Mundi; former Paralegal Specialist Julie Dailey; Litigation Technology Specialist Ron Royal; Investigative Analysts William Hamann and Zachary McMenamin, and Victim/Witness Advocate Tonya Jones. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Trial Attorneys Jeffrey B. Bender, Thomas F. Koelbl, and Jessica Moran of the Tax Division, who worked on the case.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Chubin Epstein and Michelle Bradford of the District of Columbia’s Fraud and Public Corruption Section and Trial Attorney Kimberly G. Ang of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who assisted with forfeiture issues.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Thibodaux Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft of Social Security Disability BenefitsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CLINT A. SCHWAB, age 42, of Thibodaux, pled guilty yesterday to theft of Social Security benefits.
According to court documents, SCHWAB began receiving Social Security disability benefits in 1998. In or around 2008, SCHWAB returned to work, but did not inform the Social Security Administration (SSA) as required by law. In January 2016, SCHWAB was interviewed by the SSA and falsely informed the agency that he had never worked as a disabled claimant. However, SCHWAB failed to inform the SSA that he was working while also receiving monthly disability payments. SCHWAB collected Social Security disability payments to which he was not entitled from 2008 until early 2016.
The maximum penalty for theft of government funds is ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon set sentencing for May 25, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.
Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Houston man was sentenced to 220 months in prison today for sex trafficking of a minor, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.
Deangelo Tate, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children on Dec. 16, 2016. Today, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller of the Southern District of Texas in Houston sentenced Tate and also ordered him to serve 10 years of supervised release and to pay $20,000 in restitution.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, between Jan. 13, 2015, and March 16, 2015, Tate posted classified advertisements on backpage.com promoting the prostitution of a 17-year-old minor female. Tate admitted that he also rented hotel rooms in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Houston to serve as the location for commercial sex acts between the minor female and male customers. Tate transported the minor female to the hotels, collected all of the money from the completed sex acts and became physically violent with the minor female if she did not follow Tate’s orders, he admitted. Tate was aware that the victim was a minor and stated in a conversation recorded by law enforcement that the girl had no credibility because of her age.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Houston Police Department and the Corpus Christi Police Department. Trial Attorney Lauren Britsch of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Texas Man Sentenced for Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston man was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison today for sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Deangelo Tate, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children on Dec. 16, 2016. Today, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller of the Southern District of Texas in Houston sentenced Tate to 220 months in prison and also ordered him to serve 10 years of supervised release and pay $20,000 in restitution.
According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, between Jan. 13, 2015, and March 16, 2015, Tate posted classified advertisements on backpage.com promoting the prostitution of a 17-year-old minor female. Tate admitted he also rented hotel rooms in Corpus Christi and Houston to serve as the location for commercial sex acts between the minor female and male customers. Tate transported the minor female to the hotels, collected all of the money from the completed sex acts and became physically violent with the minor female if she did not follow Tate’s orders. He was aware that the victim was a minor and stated in a conversation recorded by law enforcement that the girl had no credibility because of her age.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance of police departments in Houston and Corpus Christi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack and Trial Attorney Lauren Britsch of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Tampa Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Nejah Prince (31, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to access device (credit card) fraud and making a false claim against the United States. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on the access device fraud count and 5 years’ imprisonment on the false claims charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, in February 2013, officers from the Tampa Police Department conducted a search at the home where Prince resided. During the search, they found copies of confidential Veterans Affairs (VA) medical records, notebooks with the personal identification information of more than 200 persons, printed tax returns, and several computers. Further investigation revealed that Prince had used the identity of one person whose name was on a VA medical record to open a credit account at Montgomery Ward. She then made more than $1,300 in purchases using that account.
In addition, IRS agents discovered that Prince had been involved in the use of the identification information relating to another person in one of the VA medical forms to file a fraudulent income tax return seeking a refund of over $8,200. The IRS subsequently identified numerous fraudulent federal income tax returns that had been filed on behalf of many of the individuals whose identification information had been found at Prince’s residence. The total loss to the IRS from this scheme exceeds $173,000.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the United States Secret service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay L. Hoffer and Sara Sweeney.
Tampa Man Sentenced in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Walter Fambro to 3 years and 10 months’ imprisonment for his role in committing stolen identity refund fraud. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered him to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $326,133. Fambro pleaded guilty on November 28, 2016.
According to court documents, Fambro filed false and fraudulent income tax returns in the names of living and deceased individuals. In these fraudulent returns, he and others represented that they were entitled to the refunds for those persons and requested that the IRS deposit the refunds into accounts that had been established in the names of the victims. As a result of their scheme, Fambro received $326,133 in fraudulent income tax refund payments.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Stuart Resident Sentenced to 794 Months in Prison for His Involvement in Armed Robberies in Florida and KentuckyRead the Press Release
Todd Erling Becker, 46, of Stuart, Florida, was sentenced today to 794 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham, after having been convicted at trial for committing and conspiring to commit fives robberies with a firearm at business located in Stuart, Vero Beach, and Orlando, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Ken Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, William Snyder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Jerry Demings, Sheriff, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Mark Barnard, Police Chief, Lexington Police Department, Kentucky, made the announcement.
On November 21, 2016, a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Becker of one count of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate and foreign commerce, three counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, and three counts of using a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to the court record, including evidence presented at trial, between August 13, 2013 and August 21, 2014, Becker and various accomplices robbed four convenience stores catering to Latin communities in Stuart and Vero Beach, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky. Additionally, Becker and an accomplice robbed a cash exchange business in Orlando, Florida. On all five occasions, a disguised gunman entered the stores with a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from the store clerks. For four of the five robberies, Becker served as the lookout and the driver of the vehicle used to flee from the crime scenes. During the robbery in Vero Beach, Florida Becker entered the store with the gunman and bound the store clerk before fleeing.
During the robbery in Lexington, Kentucky, during business hours, the gunman entered the Latin market and demanded money while pointing his semi-automatic handgun at multiple customers, including young children. The gunman fired two shots at employees. Shortly after the shots were fired, Becker drove to the location, picked up the gunman, and fled back to Florida.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Lexington Police Department in Kentucky. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Funk and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Butler.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Friday, February 17, 2017, Ray Harris, Jr., 23, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty in District Court to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Harris’ sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2017.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on May 4, 2016, Harris, who was employed by Worldwide Flight Services at the Rohlsen Airport, entered the Transportation Security Administration screening area before his scheduled shift. As Harris attempted to pass through the screening area, the metal detector was triggered. A search of Harris revealed a brick-like package wrapped with gray duct tape and strapped to one of his legs. The package field-tested positive for cocaine. Harris admitted he knew the package contained cocaine and was planning to put the package in a checked bag headed to Puerto Rico. Laboratory tests confirmed the substance was cocaine. The net weight of the cocaine that Harris possessed was 473.4 grams.
Harris faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a $1 million fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
Springfield Man Sentenced for Hobbs Act RobberiesRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – A Springfield, Ill., man, Javon A. Young, 18, of Rosaria Road, has been ordered to serve a total of 51 months (4 years, 3 months) in federal prison for robberies at the Casey’s General Store and Taco Gringo in Springfield that occurred in June 2016.
Young appeared today before U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, in Springfield. Judge Myerscough ordered that Young serve 51 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, for the robbery of the Casey’s General Store, 1133 West Jefferson St., on June 8, 2016, and of Taco Gringo, 975 Clock Tower Drive, on June 11, 2016.
In October 2016, Young pled guilty to the robberies under the federal statute known as the Hobbs Act, for interference with interstate commerce by threats or violence. Young was charged with using a black air rifle handgun to commit the robberies of the two businesses.
Young was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment and to pay restitution in the total amount of $605 to Casey’s General Store.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore prosecuted the case in the Central District of Illinois, Springfield Division. The charges were investigated by the FBI and the Springfield Police Department.
Young has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on Sept. 21, 2016.
Springdale Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Thanousorn Kongmanivong, age 45, of Springdale, was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in the spring and summer of 2016, Kongmanivong was being investigated by the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force for trafficking methamphetamines in the Northwest Arkansas area. Detectives received information in July of 2016 that Kongmanivong had a large quantity of methamphetamine in a locked tool box in his garage. After obtaining a federal search warrant, a search was made on his residence, where officers located approximately 268 grams of methamphetamines in 12 separate packages inside the toolbox. The substance was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where it was confirmed to contain at least 150 grams of actual methamphetamines. Kongmanivong was indicted by a federal grand jury in August, 2016 and pleaded guilty in October, 2016.
This case was investigated by the 4th Judicial Drug Task Force and the Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
South Dartmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Dartmouth man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Boston to child pornography offenses.
Jack L. Bean, Jr., 29, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Bean was charged in a criminal complaint and arrested in April 2016. U.S. District Court Judge Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2017.
In September 2015, a law enforcement investigation identified an internet-based bulletin board dedicated to the advertisement, distribution and production of child pornography with over 1,500 users who actively post new content and engage in online discussions involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Bean was identified as a user on the bulletin board. During a search executed by law enforcement, Bean admitted that he downloaded and saved child pornography from the internet, and that he had a sexual preference for girls approximately 14 years old. Agents identified 40 images and 29 videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on Bean’s laptop and forensic analysis later revealed that the majority of the children depicted in the sexually explicit images and videos were between the ages of one and eight years old.
The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. 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; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Dartmouth Police Chief Robert W. Szala, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Schuele Boys Associate Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Andre Jackson, 29, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2013 and July 2014, Jackson conspired with other Schuele Boys associates and gang members, including Michael Robertson, to distribute cocaine in the City of Buffalo.
The Schuele Boys refers to a gang that operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo and is believed to be responsible for multiple acts of violence and the distribution of illegal narcotics including cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana.
Jackson is one of 28 individuals arrested as part of the Schuele Boys investigation. To date, 21 of those 28 defendants have been convicted. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Today’s plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen,
Jackson will be sentenced on May 25, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Saratoga Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Testifying Falsely in Arson-Homicide InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Richard Ramsey, age 48, of Saratoga Springs, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of providing false testimony to a federal grand jury investigating a fire that killed four people in Schenectady and seriously injured another.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division.
As part of his guilty plea, Ramsey admitted that he made irreconcilably contradictory statements under oath before a grand jury conducting an investigation into the May 2, 2013 arson at 438 Hulett Street in Schenectady, New York, which caused the deaths of David Terry and three young children, seriously injured another child, and destroyed the building and the personal property inside. Ramsey admitted that, on October 11, 2013 and January 10, 2014, he testified regarding specific events that occurred on May 1-2, 2013. On May 5, 2016, Ramsey gave irreconcilably contradictory testimony about those events. The events included declarations that Ramsey had allowed another man, Robert Butler, to use Ramsey’s car to drive from Saratoga Springs to Schenectady in the early morning hours of May 2, 2013.
United States Richard S. Hartunian said: “Perjury cannot, and will not, be tolerated. Ramsey’s decision to lie to a federal grand jury reflects a shocking disregard for the law and the victims of this horrific crime. My office and our law enforcement partners remain fully committed to securing justice for the victims and their families. And let there be no doubt: this remains an active investigation.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict said: "Richard Ramsey’s repeated lies to ATF Special Agents and the grand jury served only to hinder the investigation of the Hulett Street fire, and to further victimize those who have already suffered so much because of that heinous crime."
In pleading guilty, Ramsey admitted that:
- On October 11, 2013, Ramsey’s testimony about the events of May 2, 2013 included the following:
On May 1, 2013, at approximately noon, Butler and Ramsey met in person in Saratoga Springs. At that time, Butler asked to borrow Ramsey’s car, and Ramsey agreed. Ramsey was awakened on May 2, 2013 at approximately 3 a.m. to the sound of his car starting, looked outside his window, and saw that it was gone from its parking space. Ramsey assumed Robert Butler had taken the car, as they had discussed on May 1, 2013, and went back to bed. At 7 a.m., Ramsey woke and the car was back in its parking spot. Ramsey inspected the car and discovered that the spare key, which he normally kept in the glove compartment, was still in the ignition. Ramsey had, on an earlier occasion, told Robert Butler he kept a spare key in the glove compartment of the car.
- On January 10, 2014, Ramsey’s testimony about the events of May 2, 2013 included the following:
On May 1, 2013, between 11:30 a.m. and noon, Butler called Ramsey and asked to borrow Ramsey’s car. Ramsey agreed and told Butler that he would drive the car to Jefferson Terrace in Saratoga Springs, park it there, and leave the keys on the floorboard. On May 1, 2013, Ramsey drove the car to Jefferson Terrace, parked it, and left the keys on the floorboard. A third party who lived at Jefferson Terrace drove Ramsey back to work. The following morning, May 2, 2013, Ramsey returned to pick up the car and saw that it was not parked in the same spot and had only a half tank of gas instead of a full tank of gas.
- On May 5, 2016, Ramsey’s testimony about the events of May 2, 2013 included the following:
Ramsey’s testimony on October 11, 2013, about the events of May 1-2, 2013, was untrue. Butler did not ask to borrow Ramsey’s car on May 1, 2013. Ramsey did not wake up at 3 a.m. on May 2, 2013 and hear his car being driven off. Ramsey did not find his spare key in the ignition of his car on the morning of May 2, 2013.
Ramsey’s testimony on January 10, 2014, about the events of May 1-2, 2013, was untrue. Ramsey did not drive his car and park it at Jefferson Terrace on May 1, 2013. Ramsey did not pick up his car at Jefferson Terrace on May 2, 2013 and did not discover that it had a half tank of gas instead of a full tank of gas.
Ramsey faces up to 5 years in prison, and a maximum $250,000 fine, on each count of conviction, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2017 at 10 a.m. before Senior United States District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe.
The charges resulted from an ongoing investigation being conducted by the ATF, the Schenectady Police Department, and the Schenectady Fire Department. The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U. S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Assistant United States Attorney Wayne A. Myers.
The ATF notes that there is a reward of up to a total of $40,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the arson that occurred on May 2, 2013 at 438 Hulett Street in Schenectady, resulting in personal injury and death. All information will be treated confidentially and the callers will remain anonymous if requested. Anyone having information is encouraged to call ATF at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473), or email [email protected], or contact ATF through its web site at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF through the “report it” app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.
Santa Fe Cardiologist Pleads Guilty to Federal Health Care Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Roy G. Heilbron, 53, a cardiologist practicing in Santa Fe, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a health care fraud charge, announced U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Heilbron will be sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Heilbron was charged with health care fraud and wire fraud charges in a 24-count indictment that was filed in June 2015. The indictment alleged that Heilbron, a physician licensed to practice medicine in New Mexico who specializes in cardiology, executed a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care benefit programs between Jan. 2010 and May 2011 by submitting false and fraudulent claims. According to the indictment, Heilbron executed his fraudulent scheme by:
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Performing and billing for a wide array of unnecessary tests on every new patient and submitting false diagnoses with the billing claims to justify the tests to the insurance plans;
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Inserting false symptoms, observations, and diagnoses into patients’ medical charts to provide written support for the tests he ordered or performed;
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Inserting photocopied clinical notes, diagnostic test results, and ultrasound images in patients’ medical charts to create a written record of procedures that were either not performed or that had not been sufficiently documented to support the billing;
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Submitting the photocopied notes, results, and images to the insurance plans when the plans requested documentation to support the claims submitted;
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Submitting claims to health plans for procedures that were never performed;
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Submitting claims for procedures performed on two consecutive dates to increase the amount paid for services that were actually rendered together on one single date; and
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Misusing billing codes and modifiers in order to increase his rate of reimbursement.
Counts 1 through 9 of the indictment charged Heilbron with committing health care fraud by submitting false claims for medical services rendered to health care benefit programs on nine dates between July 13, 2010 and Feb. 10, 2011. 10-21 charged Heilbron with committing health care fraud by submitting falsified medical records for medical services to health care benefit programs on twelve occasions between Jan. 20, 2010 and May 5, 2011. 22 through 24 charged Heilbron with committing wire fraud by using wire communications to obtain payments from health care benefit programs.
During a change of plea hearing today, Heilbron pled guilty to Count 4 of the Indictment, a health care fraud charge. In his plea agreement, Heilbron acknowledged that at all times relevant to the crimes charged in the indictment, he was a doctor involved in the private practice of medicine. Heilbron further admitted from Dec. 2009 through Dec. 2011, he provided medical services as A Well for Health Church, Inc., a medical clinic in Santa Fe, where he contracted with several health care benefit programs including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico and Medicare. Under the terms of those contracts, Heilbron would bill the programs for medical services he provided to patients covered by those programs and included his medical diagnosis or other justifications for the services for which he requested compensation. In his plea agreement, Heilbron admitted devising and executing a scheme to deceive and obtain money from health care programs that covered his patients by misrepresenting his patients’ diagnoses.
Although Heilbron pled guilty to only one count of the indictment, in his plea agreement, Heilbron agreed to pay restitution based on all of the criminal conduct charged in the indictment. The amount of restitution will be determined by the court after the presentation of evidence and argument by the parties.
This case was investigated by the Santa Fe and Albuquerque offices of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Pena, George C. Kraehe and C. Paige Messec.
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Roseville Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Soliciting Minors for Sex Using Phone Chat ApplicationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jacob Anthony Mora, 33, of Roseville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to 21 years and 10 months in prison and lifetime supervision upon release, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Mora used the online application, Kik Messenger, to encourage girls between the ages of 14 and 17 to send him sexually explicit photographs, engage in sexually explicit conversations, and to meet him to have sex. Mora would also send obscene images of himself to underage girls he met online. In some cases, Mora represented that he was younger than his actual age, claiming to be 19 years old, when exchanging messages with his victims. When arrested, Mora admitted that he had met four underage girls for sex, and that he liked chatting with minor girls since they were easy to get and naive.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rocklin and Roseville Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Rapid City Man Charged with Tax FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court for Wire Fraud and Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return.
Mike Lundy, a/k/a Barkley J.W. Lundy, was charged on February 7, 2017. Lundy appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on February 14, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Lundy soliciting money from individuals for investments purposes and then using a portion of the solicited funds for his own personal expenses and failing to report the investment income for tax purposes. The charges are merely an accusation and Lundy is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Lundy was released for the pendency of the proceedings.
President of Maryland Tax and Financial Management Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding a Client of over $526,000Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III sentenced Paul Randolph Beeks, Jr., age 59, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, on February 16, 2017, to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud one of his clients of at least $526,000. Judge Russell also entered an order requiring Beeks to pay a money judgment of $180,515, the amount of the loss that Beeks has not yet repaid.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, from January 2008 to the present, Beeks was the President of various Maryland tax and financial management companies including PRB Tax & Accounting Services, Inc. (hereafter “PRB”) and Elite Financial Services, LLC (hereafter “Elite Financial”). In 2008, at the request of the physician who owned and operated Mid Atlantic Radiology Services, LLC (MARS), Beeks incorporated MARS in Maryland, and was entrusted with all of MARS’ accounting, tax, and financial responsibilities. Beeks also conducted payroll on behalf of MARS, paid MARS’ vendors and paid malpractice insurance for MARS’ physicians. MARS was the exclusive radiology service provider to a hospital in Clinton, Maryland.
Starting in November 2009 and continuing to August 2015, Beeks, in his capacity as MARS’ accountant and financial planner, caused approximately 24 wire transfers from MARS accounts to bank accounts associated with Beeks’ various companies. In order to disguise the theft of funds, Beeks falsely claimed that some of these wire transfers were for management fees and bonuses. However, no management fees or bonuses were authorized by any MARS representative and the remaining wire transfers were not for legitimate purposes.
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, who is prosecuting the case.
Polish Man Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Grzegorz Baczewski, age 31, of Ridgewood, New York, was sentenced today to time served (20 days in jail) for illegally re-entering the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Officer Director of the Buffalo Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
As part of his guilty plea, Baczewski admitted that he returned to the United States after he was removed to Poland on September 18, 2013.
Following his sentencing, Baczewski was remanded to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, which will place Baczewski into removal proceedings.
This case was investigated by ICE-ERO and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward P. Grogan.
Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Philip Vincent, 39, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. Jr. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Cullinane and George C. Burgasser, who are handling the case, stated that on December 2, 2014, the U.S. Marshals Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force encountered the defendant at his residence in Niagara Falls while looking for a fugitive. Officers searched Vincent’s 20th Street residence and discovered a .38 caliber revolver along with marijuana plants and crack cocaine.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci.
New Orleans Man Charged with Possession of Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that TREVOIR JACKSON, age 36, of New Orleans, was charged on February 9, 2017, in a two-count Indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j).
According to the indictment, JACKSON possessed a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun that had previously been reported stolen. If convicted, JACKSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Ryan McLaren and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nolan D. Paige are in charge of the prosecution.
Navajo Man from Arizona Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault Conviction in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Brandon Lee Walker, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Sanders, Ariz., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 30 months in prison for his assault conviction. Walker will be on supervised release for two years after completing his prison sentence.
Walker was arrested on July 22, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with committing an assault, which resulted in serious bodily injury, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M. Court documents indicate that on June 7, 2015, Walker was involved in a high speed car chase that resulted in a crash which seriously injured a passenger in his vehicle. The victim was airlifted from the scene of the collision to University of New Mexico Hospital for injuries to her sternum and arm, which required surgical treatment.
Walker subsequently was indicted on Aug. 11, 2015, and charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. During a change of plea hearing on Dec. 22, 2015, Walker pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the Zuni Tribal Police Department, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Ramirez prosecuted the case.
Nashville Man Faces Federal Charges for Sending Threats Targeting Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
Robert Ellis Waddey, 22, of Nashville, Tenn., was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury and charged with communicating a threat by interstate commerce and with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms, announced Jack Smith, Acting U.S. Attorney for the administration of this case.
According to the indictment, in September 2015, Waddey posted a photograph on Instagram which depicted a handgun pointed at a Tennessee State Trooper vehicle. The posting was captioned, “F*** them non attentive hoes” and a comment read, “Gona die lookin at his computer.”
The indictment alleges that photographs found on Waddey’s phone depicted a uniformed police officer bleeding heavily from the head and captioned “only a dead cop is a good cop.” Another photograph depicts a uniformed police officer who appears to have been shot multiple times in the back and laying in the street, while yet another photograph depicts a screen shot of a video showing another uniformed police officer who appears to have been shot and laying on the ground bleeding. This photo is captioned, “ON TAPE: OFFICER SHOT IN THE HEAD D….”
The indictment further alleges that Waddey sent a video of himself to another individual, which shows him shooting a high-capacity assault rifle in varying positions, as if he were training for combat and a subsequent text that read, “Police won’t even know what to think lolololololololol.” Another photograph shows Waddey sitting in his vehicle at a traffic light in South Nashville with a Glock pistol in his hand, positioned in such a way where the pistol would be viewed in the same frame as a police car on a traffic stop in the distance with the blue lights activated. A comment posted with the photograph contained a slang threat to law enforcement.
The indictment also alleges that various text messages sent by Waddey conveyed threats toward law enforcement and indicate the pleasure he took in the number of targeted cop killings. In one text message, Waddey discusses getting high on “coke” or “molly” and his desire to go “mutder” cops.
Count two of the indictment alleges that Waddey is an unlawful user of a controlled substance and illegally in possession of 18 firearms, including 13 handguns, four assault rifles and a shotgun.
If convicted, Waddey faces up to 5 years in prison for sending threatening communications and up to 10 years in prison for illegally possessing firearms and up to a $250,000 fine on each charge.
This case was investigated by the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U. S. Attorney Courtney Coker is prosecuting the case.
Muscatine Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Davenport, IA - On February 16, 2017, Gregory Wayne Wieskampheather Jean Reekr, age 43, of Muscatine, Iowa, was sentenced by Senior United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner to 130 months in prison for felon in possession of ammunition, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Wieskamp was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release.
On February 23, 2015, officers were notified of a burglary in Bennett, Iowa, Cedar County; a large gun safe containing approximately 15 firearms and ammunition were reported stolen, among other items. It was discovered that Wieskamp and a co-defendant drove a vehicle with the stolen gun safe to a residence in Moscow, Iowa, where the gun safe was cut open and the guns were divided among the participants, including Wieskamp. On March 3, 2015, officers conducted a search warrant at Wieskamp’s residence and seized a gun clip containing ammunition and a large television that were taken from the Bennett burglary. Wieskamp has a prior felony conviction for burglary third degree in 1995.
This matter was investigated by the Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department, Muscatine Drug Task Force, Wilton Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.
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Learn more about this release by contacting Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at [email protected]
Missouri Brothers Sentenced to Combined 16 Years in Prison for Burlary of Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jeremy Rusher, age 39 of Seligman, Missouri and Cory Rusher, age 29 of Jane, Missouri, were sentenced on one count each of Aiding and Abetting the Theft of Firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee. Jeremy Rusher was sentenced to120 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,650 fine. Cory Rusher was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,650 fine. The defendants were ordered to pay $1,250 restitution jointly and severally. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, on July 11, 2016, officers with the Pea Ridge Police Department responded to a reported burglary of a business that is a registered Federal Firearms Licensee. The manager of the business was able to provide surveillance of the break-in to officers who were able to get a clear description of Cory Rusher taking five firearms from the business. The surveillance footage from earlier in the day showed Cory Rusher, Jeremy Rusher and a female walking around and looking in the store for an extended period of time. They pawned an item while in the store, and Cory was seen wearing the same shirt he was wearing during the burglary. On July 13, investigators located Jeremy Rusher inside of a trailer and made contact with him. Officers observed two firearms inside the trailer that matched the description of and were later confirmed to be two of the firearms stolen in the burglary. After being advised of and waiving his Miranda rights, Jeremy Rusher admitted to knowing about the stolen guns. Multiple witnesses, including Cory Rusher confirmed his assistance during the burglary. Cory was also located, and after being advised of and waiving his Miranda rights, admitted to being involved in the burglary and assisted officers in locating the remainder of the stolen guns.
Jeremy and Cory Rusher were each named in a federal indictment in August, 2016, and each pleaded guilty in October, 2016.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of firearms and improving the safety of residents in the Western District of Arkansas. Participants in the initiative include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pea Ridge Police Department, United States Marshal Service, and the Joplin, Missouri SWAT Team. Assistant United States Attorney’s David Harris and Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
Mexican Man Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Armando Navarrete-Dominguez, 29, of Mexico, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after a conviction for an aggravated felony. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 15, 2017, the defendant was taken into custody after a vehicle and traffic stop on Grand Island, NY. The complaint further states that when questioned by a Border Patrol Agent, Dominguez admitted that he is a citizen of Mexico and is illegally present in the United States.
Record checks revealed that the defendant was previously convicted in North Carolina of sexual exploitation of a minor and breaking and entering. Further, Dominguez was deported and removed from the United States to Mexico in 2009 after his convictions in North Carolina.
Dominguez made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 22, 2017.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Steven Oldman.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Member of the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Club Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Prescription Pill MillRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Today, a federal judge sentenced Patrick Treacy, a/k/a “Redneck” to 20 years in prison for his role in a prescription pill mill that trafficked oxycodone and other dangerous and addictive opioids. Treacy was also ordered to serve a concurrent sentence of 10 years in prions for illegally possessing a firearm charged separately. In addition, the Honorable Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro, United States District Judge, ordered the defendant to serve three years of supervised release upon release from prison, and pay a special assessment of $200, as well as entering a judgment of forfeiture.
On July 14, 2015, a grand jury in Philadelphia charged Treacy, along William O’Brien, a former doctor of osteopathic medicine, and eight codefendants with conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Treacy was a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club (“Pagans”), an outlaw biker gang known for violence and drug dealing. O’Brien worked together with the Pagans and their associates, to operate a “pill mill” out of his medical offices. O’Brien wrote fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and other drugs, while the Pagans and their associates recruited “pseudo-patients” to buy the fraudulent prescriptions. O’Brien charged $250 cash for the first appointment to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances and $200 cash for each subsequent visit. Oxycodone (30 mg) was in high demand by drug dealers who could sell each pill on the street for $25 to $30. O’Brien sold prescriptions for these dangerous and addictive drugs to hundreds of “pseudo-patients.” After filling the prescriptions, the Pagans and their associates resold the pills on the street. The investigation showed that from March 2012 to January 2015, more than 700,000 pills containing oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances were distributed by members of the conspiracy.
On October 5, 2016, O’Brien, who was convicted by a jury in summer 2016, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. On October 16, 2016, codefendant Joseph Mitchell, another Pagans’ member, was sentenced to 9 nine years’ imprisonment. Other codefendants await sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Beth Leahy and David E. Troyer.
Managing Director of Investment Bank Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SEAN STEWART, a former managing director at an investment advisory firm headquartered in Manhattan, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain for tipping his father and co-defendant Robert Stewart with inside information about five health care company mergers and acquisitions before they were publicly announced. SEAN STEWART was convicted after a jury trial that ended on August 17, 2016.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As proven at trial, Sean Stewart used his position as an investment banker to feed confidential inside information about clients to his father so that he could profit illegally from well-timed trades. Despite his various efforts to cover-up his scheme, including claiming he did not recognize his own father’s name on a FINRA list of those who had traded in advance of an acquisition, Stewart has been held to account by a jury and sentenced to three years in federal prison. This case and today’s sentence is a victory for all who believe in a fair securities market.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment as well as the evidence presented during trial:
In early 2011, SEAN STEWART, who at the time held the position of Vice President in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group of a global bank headquartered in Manhattan (“Investment Bank A”), began tipping his father, Robert Stewart, with material nonpublic information about upcoming mergers and acquisitions, including with the names of the companies that were acquisition targets, both when the target was an Investment Bank A client and when the bank represented the acquirer, as well as with information that indicated the likely timing of an upcoming deal.
The first of these deals involved the acquisition of Kendle International Inc. by INC Research, LLC, which was announced publicly on May 4, 2011. SEAN STEWART worked on the deal, representing Kendle. Robert Stewart made about $7,900 in profits on purchases of Kendle stock executed in February and March of 2011. When questioned by the Securities and Exchange Commission about his Kendle trades in May 2013, Robert Stewart reported that he used the proceeds of those trades to pay expenses related to SEAN STEWART’s June 2011 wedding.
The second deal about which SEAN STEWART tipped Robert Stewart was the acquisition of Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (“KCI”) by Apax Partners, announced on July 13, 2011. Although Robert Stewart purchased some stock in KCI based on SEAN STEWART’s tip, he sold that stock before the acquisition was announced, around the same time that SEAN STEWART learned the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) was conducting an inquiry into Robert Stewart’s Kendle trading.
Also around this time, in the spring of 2011, Robert Stewart expressed a concern to co-conspirator Richard Cunniffe that Robert Stewart was “too close to the source” to be trading in KCI stock his own account, and asked Cunniffe to make purchases of KCI call options for Robert Stewart in Cunniffe’s brokerage account. Cunniffe agreed to do so, and also mirrored for his own benefit the KCI trades that Robert Stewart was directing.
In connection with the FINRA inquiry, FINRA prepared a list of persons and entities that had traded in advance of the Kendle deal. The list included Robert Stewart’s name. When Investment Bank A asked SEAN STEWART whether he knew anyone on the list, he initially denied recognizing the name of his father; later, when confronted by lawyers from Investment Bank A, SEAN STEWART acknowledged that his father was on the list but told a series of lies designed to make it seem as if Robert Stewart had independently decided to invest in Kendle. SEAN STEWART told these lies one day after meeting with his father to apprise his father of the FINRA inquiry and to get their stories straight.
When the KCI/Apax Partners deal was announced, Robert Stewart and Cunniffe reaped profits totaling approximately $107,790. At around this time, Robert Stewart told Cunniffe that the source of the KCI tip and the earlier Kendle tip had been Robert’s son. Later, around the spring of 2012, Robert Stewart clarified for Cunniffe that the son in question was SEAN STEWART, who worked on the “sell side” on Wall Street.
In October 2011, SEAN STEWART left Investment Bank A. A few months later, he joined an investment banking advisory firm headquartered in Manhattan (“Investment Bank B”) as a managing director.
During SEAN STEWART’s tenure with Investment Bank B, based on tips concerning nonpublic acquisition-related information supplied by SEAN STEWART, Robert Stewart had Cunniffe conduct options trading in advance of the public announcements of three more deals: (1) the acquisition of Gen-Probe Inc. by Hologic, Inc., announced on April 30, 2012; (2) the acquisition, by tender offer, of Lincare Holdings Inc. by Linde AG, announced on July 1, 2012; and (3) the acquisition of CareFusion Corp. by Becton, Dickinson & Co. (“Becton”), announced on October 5, 2014. Investment Bank B represented Hologic in connection with its acquisition of Gen-Probe; Linde in connection with its acquisition of Lincare; and CareFusion in connection with its acquisition by Becton. The profits that Robert Stewart and Cunniffe reaped from illegal insider trading in advance of the announcements of these three deals totaled over $1 million.
During the course of the scheme, SEAN STEWART became aware that his father was having financial problems. Rather than loan his father money, SEAN STEWART gave his father stock tips, the proceeds of which Robert Stewart used to benefit himself and his son.
In March and April of 2015, Cunniffe, who was then cooperating with the Government, recorded meetings he had with Robert Stewart. During one such meeting, Robert Stewart accepted a payment of $2,500 cash from Cunniffe, which was the balance of the proceeds owed to Robert Stewart for profitable trading executed in Cunniffe’s account in advance of the CareFusion acquisition announcement. Also during this meeting, Robert Stewart admitted that SEAN STEWART once chastised him for failing to make use of a tip, saying, “I can’t believe I handed you this on a silver platter and you didn’t invest in it.”
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In addition to his prison sentence, SEAN STEWART, 35, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, which includes one year of home detention. Judge Swain will set a restitution amount at a future proceeding.
Robert Stewart pled guilty on August 12, 2015, to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and fraud in connection with a tender offer and was sentenced to four years’ probation, with the first year to be served in home detention, and $150,000 in forfeiture.
Richard Cunniffe pled guilty on May 12, 2015, to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and fraud in connection with a tender offer, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of securities fraud, and one count of fraud in connection with a tender offer.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah K. Eddy and Brooke E. Cucinella are in charge of the prosecution.
Man Who Had Pipe Bombs in Downtown Denver Hotel Charged Federally in Colorado and ArrestedRead the Press Release
DENVER – Adam Nauveed Hayat, age 35, Denver, Colorado, was arrested without incident yesterday in a Los Angeles, California hotel, after being charged in U.S. District Court in Denver for possession of pipe bombs not registered with the ATF, Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers, ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston and Denver Police Department Chief Robert White announced.
Hayat made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California this afternoon where he was read his rights and advised of the charge pending against him. He was ordered held without bond and ordered removed to Colorado. He will eventually be transferred by the U.S. Marshals Service for further court proceedings.
According to the affidavit in support of the Criminal Complaint, on February 15, 2017, personnel from the Sheraton Hotel located at 1550 Court Place contacted the Denver Police Department to report a suspicious incident. Upon arriving, the Denver Police Department (DPD) went to room 1902 -- and found the word “explosives” written on the closet door mirror. The officer then opened the closet, opened the safe, and found a closed ammunition case. Also found in the hotel room were several metal pipes and empty rifle shell casings. The DPD officer immediately contacted their bomb squad. The DPD Bomb Squad carefully examined the ammunition case – and found pipe bombs. They safely removed the ammunition case from the hotel room and transported it to their bomb range, where they rendered it safe.
It was determined during the course of the investigation that Adam Nauveed Hayat rented room 1902 at the downtown Denver Sheraton Hotel. An arrest warrant was issued first by the Denver Police Department and then later by federal authorities. He was located and arrested at a hotel near the Los Angeles International Airport.
The defendant is charged with one count of possession of firearms not registered with the National Firearms and Registration Transfer Record. The penalty on that charge is not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, and the Denver Police Department. The Los Angeles Police Department, as well as the Los Angeles FBI and ATF were involved in the arrest. His court appearance was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“Cases like this demonstrate the reason that law enforcement advises citizens, ‘if you see something, say something,’” said Denver Police Chief Robert White.
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Smith, Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Martinez both with the Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A Criminal Complaint is a preliminary probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing a felony violation of federal law has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a grand jury. The charges in the Complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Sentenced for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Haris Qamar, 26, of Burke, was sentenced today to 8 1/2 years in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Qamar was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release to be completed after he is released from prison.
Qamar pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2016. According to court documents, in May 2016, Qamar and an FBI confidential witness (CW) discussed ISIL’s need for photographs of possible targets in and around Washington, D.C., for use in a video that ISIL purportedly was making to encourage lone-wolf attacks in the Washington, D.C., area. Qamar offered the CW ideas of what to photograph, including the Pentagon and numerous landmarks in Arlington and Washington, D.C., which could be targeted for terrorist attacks. On June 3, a conversation was audio and video recorded when the CW picked up Qamar in a vehicle and drove to area landmarks on the list Qamar previously developed. Qamar said “bye bye DC, stupid ass kufar, kill’em all.” Qamar and the CW met again on June 10 and drove to a location in Arlington to take additional photographs for the purported ISIL video.
According to the statement of facts, during numerous conversations with the CW, Qamar expressed his interest and excitement in the extreme violence associated with ISIL. Qamar said he loved the bodies, blood, and beheadings. Qamar said he recalled watching a video of a Kurdish individual being slaughtered, and he liked the cracking sound made when the individual’s spinal cord was torn. On several occasions, Qamar said he could slaughter someone and described how he would do it. Qamar also stated he admired lone-wolf attackers because they love Islam so much that they are willing to die as martyrs for Islam and, in the same conversation, Qamar and the CW discussed suicide bombings. The CW said the CW did not believe in suicide bombings, but Qamar responded, “I believe in it 100 percent.”
According to the statement of facts, on Sept. 11, 2015, terrorists connected with ISIL posted a “kill list” to the internet containing the names and addresses of U.S. military members. A few days later, Qamar told the CW that the residences of several service members who appeared on the “kill list” were near Qamar’s home, and Qamar observed undercover police cars near those residences. On Sept. 16, 2015, Qamar tweeted his prayer that Allah “give strength to the mujahideen to slaughter every single US military officer.”
Moreover, according to the statement of facts, on Sept. 25, 2015, Qamar told the CW that he tried to join ISIL in 2014, and he purchased a plane ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Istanbul, Turkey. Qamar, however, did not show up for the flight because his parents prevented him from doing so by taking his passport. Qamar said his parents threatened to notify law enforcement and said he fought with his father and called his father a traitor to Islam. On Nov. 18, 2015, the CW asked Qamar if his father gave him back his passport, would Qamar travel overseas and join ISIL, and, in response, Qamar said if that happened, “I’m done, I leave.”
In a related matter, Soufian Amri, 32, of Falls Church, and Michael Queen, 28, of Woodbridge, acquaintances of Qamar, were arrested on Wednesday and charged with obstructing justice and conspiring to provide material false statements to law enforcement officers who were investigating Qamar.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-227 (Qamar) and 1:17-mj-62 (Amri/Queen).
Madison County Man Sentenced to 132 Months for Sex and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Joseph-Michael Elias McFarland, 22, of Madison, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 132 months for sex trafficking of a minor and distribution of the controlled substance α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone or "Alpha-PVP." The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In September 2015, a confidential source met McFarland to purchase drugs. During this meeting, McFarland told the confidential source that he was prostituting a girl. After the confidential source told McFarland about potential clients, McFarland said the victim was either 17 or 18 years old. However, McFarland knew that the victim was only sixteen years old. The narcotics the confidential source bought, as well as additional drugs bought the next day, tested positive for Alpha-PVP. McFarland later contacted the confidential source to discuss prostituting the victim and also sent pictures of the victim.
When law enforcement officers searched the residence where McFarland sold the drugs, the victim was located hiding in a closet. Firearms, ammunition, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia were also discovered. McFarland’s cellular telephone contained messages discussing prostituting the victim and selling narcotics. McFarland pled guilty on May 9, 2016.
"Our role in these investigations is to help parents and caregivers keep children safe in their homes and in the community," said United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova. "These despicable acts ruin lives at an early age and this sentence sends a strong message to child predators that my office and our law enforcement partners are vigilant in our efforts to identify and prosecute them."
"Let this sentencing send a message that HSI special agents, and our law enforcement partners, will expend every resource to investigate and prosecute these heinous crimes," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "A young victim was rescued and this predator is being held accountable for his crimes."
This case resulted from investigations by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the
Madison County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Harwin.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]Lafayette man sentenced to 21 months in prison for felony possession of firearm, ammunitionRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Lafayette man was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition after having previously been convicted of two felonies.
Shawn D’Anthony Brown, 21, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Brown was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the November 8, 2016 guilty plea, Lafayette police stopped a black four-door vehicle not using headlights on September 27, 2015 on Celeste Street. Brown was searched, and a loaded .32 caliber revolver spray-painted gold was found in his front right pocket. After further investigation, law enforcement discovered that he had previously been convicted of two felonies.
This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.
The ATF and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Jonesboro man sentenced to 24 months in prison for FEMA fraudRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Jonesboro man was sentenced Monday to 24 months in prison for obtaining FEMA grants for a fire department so that he could then sell his company’s products to it.
Curtis Roller, 60, of Jonesboro, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of wire fraud after illegally obtaining Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and making false statements on worker compensation forms. He also was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $403,355 restitution. According the guilty plea, Roller submitted false information on a grant application on May 9, 2009 to FEMA so that the Jackson Parish Ward 3 Fire Protection District was eligible to receive federal funds, which could be used to purchase equipment from his company, Louisiana Firefighting Services. It is against FEMA rules and policies for a grant writer to financially benefit from money awarded.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.
Johnson City Man Arrested for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Jared Flanders, 34, of Johnson City, New York, was arrested today on charges contained in a twelve count federal indictment alleging he distributed child pornography via the internet.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Special Agent in Charge James Spero, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Flanders was arraigned today in Binghamton, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles, and held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for next week.
The charges in the indictment carry sentences that require a minimum of five (5) years and up to twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miroslav Lovric.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
JetBlue Employee Arrested on Cocaine Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mattapan man was arrested last evening and charged in U.S. District Court in Boston today in connection with cocaine distribution.
Francisco Torres, 36, was charged in a criminal complaint with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine. According to the complaint affidavit, authorities were concerned about the fact that Torres had ready access to secure locations at Logan International Airport, access to aircraft and loading ramps at the airport through his employment at JetBlue Airways. Last evening, Torres was arrested in the South End of Boston following a sting operation, where he was caught allegedly exchanging 850 grams of cocaine for more than $33,000 in cash which was in a paper bag. Immediately after the exchange, officers approached Torres who threw the bag of money over a fence. Officers arrested Torres and recovered the money. Torres was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Page Kelley.
The charging statute provides for a minimum of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. 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; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and William Ferrara, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, made the announcement today. The New Hampshire State Police also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. McNeil and Christine Wichers of Weinreb’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Iowa Man Sentenced for Attempted Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lester, Iowa, man convicted of Attempted Trafficking in Involuntary Servitude and Forced Labor was sentenced on February 9, 2017, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Aaron Vandekamp, age 23, was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Vandekamp was one of four men who were arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2015 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting persons willing to pay to have sex with underage girls obtained through the Internet. The conviction stemmed from Vandekamp responding to an online advertisement posted by Division of Criminal Investigation undercover agents, which purported to offer young girls for sex. Following several messages with a person Vandekamp believed to be associated with a 15 year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place they would meet, along with the price he would pay, which was $150.
The undercover operation and arrests were a joint effort between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted the case.
Vandekamp was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service.