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Thursday 16 February 2017
Taney County Restaurant Owner Indicted for Tax Evasion, Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that the owner of a Taney County, Mo., restaurant has been indicted by a federal grand jury for tax evasion and Social Security fraud.
Tony E. Cowden, 62, of Protem, Mo., was charged in a six-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Cowden’s arrest and initial court appearance.
Cowden operated Tony’s Pizza House in Protem since April 2008. The federal indictment alleges that Cowden engaged in a scheme to conceal taxable income from the IRS from April 2008 to January 2015 by not depositing all of the proceeds of his restaurant’s cash sales into the restaurant’s checking account, and not reporting that cash income to the IRS.
Cowden encouraged his customers to pay in cash by offering discounts for cash payments. Cowden allegedly concealed the cash he skimmed from the restaurant from his accountant and so evaded paying federal income taxes on that revenue.
The federal indictment charges Cowden with five counts of tax evasion for taxes filed from 2010 to 2014, for a total tax loss of $80,689.
The federal indictment also alleges that Cowden received Social Security disability benefits while he continued to work and earn income from Tony’s Pizza House. Cowden allegedly concealed his work activity from the Social Security Administration by falsely claiming that he was not working, by transferring ownership of his business into his wife’s name, and by reporting all income from the business as self-employment income under his wife’s name and Social Security number.
Cowden also had three minor children who were eligible to receive Social Security auxiliary benefits contingent on his eligibility to receive disability benefits. Cowden served as the representative payee for his three minor children and as such, received their auxiliary Social Security payments. Because Cowden was not eligible to receive disability benefits, the indictment says, his minor children were also ineligible to receive the auxiliary payments.
As a result of Cowden’s scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security disability payments from January 2014 through December 2015, the indictment says, the government incurred a loss of $70,176.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and Missouri Department of Revenue.
Suquamish Tribal Member Sentenced to Prison for Domestic Violence Attack on Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
An enrolled member of the Suquamish Indian Tribe was sentenced this week to five months in prison and three years of supervised release, including three months of home detention and 100 hours of community service for assault, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. HA-KWA CHIQUITI, 38, assaulted his girlfriend on December 22 and 23, 2015. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle noted CHIQUITI’s conduct constituted a serious, violent crime causing substantial injury and suffering.
According to records filed in the case, Suquamish Police were called to a home on tribal land where they found the victim covered in blood and seriously injured. She was transported to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton. She reported that CHIQUITI had hit her, forcibly restrained her, slammed her face into the edge of the bath tub and stepped on her back while she was lying on the floor. She had multiple cuts and bruises, a damaged eye socket and vision problems because of the assault.
As part of his sentence, CHIQUITI is required to participate in a domestic violence/anger management program. CHIQUITI is also prohibited from having any contact with the victim.
The case was investigated by the Suquamish Police Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Ye-Ting Woo.
St. Thomas Man Indicted for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine within 1,000 Feet of a SchoolRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – A Federal Grand Jury has returned an indictment today charging Tomolah Foy, 23, of St. Thomas with four counts of possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe. On December 12, 2016, Foy made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and is on pretrial release.
According to the indictment, in November and December of 2016, the defendant sold and attempted to sell quantities of crack cocaine in the area of Red Hook within 1,000 feet of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
If convicted, Foy faces a maximum sentence of not more than 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $2,000,000, and at least six years of supervised release.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
Southeastern Connecticut Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SYDNEY JACKSON, also known as “Fatz,” 34, of New London, Conn. and Queens, N.Y., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.
This matter stems from a long-term investigation headed by the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force East and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into the large-scale distribution of narcotics in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation revealed that, between 2013 and 2015, JACKSON and others regularly acquired kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin from sources in New York and transported the drugs to southeastern Connecticut. Much of the cocaine was converted to crack cocaine by JACKSON in Connecticut, and the drugs were distributed through a network of dealers in Groton, Norwich, New London, Stonington, Westerly, R.I. and the surrounding area.
On November 24, 2015, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 35-count superseding indictment charging JACKSON and 12 other defendants with various narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. In addition, approximately 20 individuals were prosecuted on related state charges.
During the course of the investigation, which included numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, extensive surveillance and the execution of 11 state search warrants, investigators seized approximately 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of crack cocaine, 416 grams of heroin, five firearms and $53,500 in cash.
JACKSON was arrested on June 23, 2015. On October 27, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
This matter has been investigated by the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force East, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut Department of Correction and Groton City, Groton Town, New London, Norwich and Waterford Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Vatti and Joseph Vizcarrondo, with the assistance of Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Narducci and David Smith of the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New London.
Six Indicted in Hampton Roads Heroin and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Six Hampton Roads residents were indicted yesterday for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl over a four-year period in Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
According to allegations in the indictment, Terry Glenn Williams, 33, of Newport News, was an armed drug dealer who distributed heroin and cocaine from various hotels in Hampton Roads and used female drug addicts to engage in prostitution to further the conspiracy. Williams is charged with the heroin overdose death of Michelle Gonyer on April 8, 2013, and another overdose involving serious bodily injury. Williams and Kristen Paiva, 26, of Hampton, are also charged with the heroin overdose death of Caroline Eaton on April 10, 2013. Williams is also charged with carrying firearms while engaged in selling and supplying heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base.
Name
Age, Hometown
Charges
Terry Glenn Williams
33, Newport News
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Fentanyl; Maintaining Drug Involved Premises; Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Trafficking; Distribution of Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Heroin; Distribution of Heroin resulting Death and Serious Bodily Injury; Money laundering.
Longene Durae Alexander
34, Newport News
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Fentanyl; Maintaining Drug Involved Premises; Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Trafficking; Distribution of Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Heroin; Distribution of Heroin resulting Death and Serious Bodily Injury; Money laundering
Tymane Raymond Springs
32, Newport News
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Fentanyl; Maintaining Drug Involved Premises; Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate Drug Trafficking; Distribution of Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Heroin; Distribution of Heroin resulting Death and Serious Bodily Injury
Tiffany Renee Taylor
29, Newport News
Distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury
Ashley Lorraine Kearney
32, Yorktown
Distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury
Kristen Rose Paiva
26, Hampton
Distribution of heroin resulting in death
Williams, Alexander, Springs, Taylor, and Pava each face a maximum penalty of 20 years to life in prison, if convicted. Kearney faces a maximum penalty of 20 years. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Filed Division, made the announcement after the indictment was returned by the grand jury. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa R. McKeel and Howard J. Zlotnick are prosecuting the case.
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. 4:17-cr-16.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Sentencings for February 13 - February 16, 2017Read the Press Release
John Patrick Nordmann, 59, of Laramie, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, on February 16, 2017, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nordmann was arrested in Laramie, Wyoming. He received 36 months of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $250.00 fine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
James Herman Bell, 44, of Evanston, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on February 15, 2017, for possession of an unregistered firearm, destructive device. Bell was arrested in Rawlins, Wyoming. He received 18 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $250.00 fine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Cheryl Ann McGill, 53, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on February 13, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. McGill was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. She received 108 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $400.00 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Andrew Leon VanSteenbergen, 24, of Bellflower, California, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on February 13, 2017, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. VanSteenbergen was arrested in Sundance, Wyoming. He received 87 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $400.00 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Sayre Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that BRANDON J. GRIMLAND, age 42, of Sayre, Oklahoma, pled guilty to POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), punishable by no more than 30 years imprisonment, and up to a $2,000,000.00 fine or both.
The Indictment alleged that on or about October 15, 2016, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. The defendant will remain in custody pending a sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
San Antonio I.S.D. Trustee Arrested in Connection with a Bribery and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
In San Antonio this morning, FBI agents arrested 66–year-old San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Trustee Olga Hernandez for her alleged role in a bribery scheme depriving taxpayers of honest services announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.
A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this afternoon, alleges that from March 2008 to May 2015, Hernandez conspired with Samuel Mullen, Chief Financial Officer of the Mullen Pension & Benefits Group, LLC; Joshua Cerna, Vice President of Strategic Markets for the Mullen Group; and, William Haff, a paid independent insurance consultant, to defraud SAISD and taxpayers in securing health insurance services contracts for school district employees by corrupt practices.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that Hernandez accepted bribes in the form of cash, jewelry, and travel from co-conspirators for her influence on the SAISD Board of Trustees and her vote on numerous insurance services contracts awarded to companies with whom the Mullen Group had a financial interest.
Upon conviction, Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Joseph Blackwell are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sacramento Gun Manufacturer Sentenced to Prison for Manufacturing and Assisting Others to Manufacture AR-15 RiflesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daniel Albert Crowninshield, 54, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for unlawfully manufacturing and dealing in firearms and possession of an unregistered machinegun, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
In sentencing Crowninshield, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley referred to his actions as a “brazen attempt to circumvent the law.” He was ordered to self-surrender on April 13, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: “The unregulated manufacture and sale of high-capacity firearms is a serious threat to public safety. We will continue to investigate and prosecute unlicensed gun dealers who circumvent the law.”
“If individuals neglect to follow federal firearms laws, ATF has the responsibility to investigate these activities because it is ATF's highest priority to safeguard the public it serves,” said Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder. “ATF enforces the federal laws and rules governing the manufacturing of firearms. When ATF receives information on the illegal manufacture of firearms, it investigates and has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to implement those laws. Daniel Crowninshield, aka Dr. Death, owned and operated a machine shop where he allowed customers with unknown backgrounds to use his machinery to unlawfully manufacture firearms for profit. That activity posed a very dangerous threat to the safety of our communities.”
According to court documents, Crowninshield, who was also known by his online moniker “Dr-Death,” operated an unlicensed firearms manufacturing business out of C&G Tool, a metal shop in North Sacramento. Using sophisticated computer-controlled machines, Crowninshield manufactured parts for AR-15s and other firearms.
Many individual firearm components are not subject to regulation by ATF and can be bought and sold without reporting the sales and without requiring a background check. One such part is a metal casting of an incomplete “lower receiver” called a “blank.” The blank can be converted into a lower receiver, which is the part of an AR‑15 that contains a trigger, firing pin, and other parts, to form a functioning firearm. Once the blank is milled into a completed lower receiver using a drill press or automated machine, it is considered a firearm and it is subject to federal regulation.
Generally, the manufacturing at C&G Tool would proceed as follows: prospective gun buyers would purchase an AR-15 blank and take it to C&G Tool where a skilled machinist would mill the blank into an AR-15 lower receiver. According to federal law, a person may manufacture a firearm for personal use without including a serial number on the firearm, provided that the firearm is not sold or transferred to another person. Otherwise, to manufacture a firearm requires a license from ATF, and a firearm that is transferred to another person must bear a serial number.
According to court documents, in order to create the pretext that C&G customers were building their own firearms, the skilled machinist would have the customer press a button or put his or her hands on a piece of machinery so that the customer could claim that the customer, rather than the machinist, made the firearm.
Crowninshield advertised his services on at least one online firearm enthusiast forum. This website mainly consists of forums where people ask and answer questions related to firearms. Using the moniker “Dr-Death,” he was a prolific poster on the website. Additionally, other members frequently posted about Dr-Death, including review of service provided and recommending that other users visit his shop.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Firearms with the assistance of the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Lee and Matthew Yelovich prosecuted the case.
Crowninshield was one of several Sacramento-area individuals involved in manufacturing AR-15 style firearms. On December 9, 2016, in a related case, Emiliano Cortez-Garcia (2:13-cr-353-GEB) was sentenced to five years in prison for manufacturing AR-15 firearms and a concurrent six-year prison term for possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a machinegun.
Roofing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Harboring Illegal Aliens Who Worked for HimRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. B A Shawnee man who was co-owner of a roofing company pleaded guilty today to providing employment, transportation and housing for undocumented workers from Mexico who he knew were in the United States illegally, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Tommy Frank Keaton, 71, Shawnee, Kan., co-owner of Canadian West, Inc., and RAM Metal Products, doing business as Century Roofing, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly harboring illegal aliens. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred while he operated Century Roofing at 6 South 59th St. Lane in Kansas City, Kan. Keaton provided vehicles to some Mexican citizens who worked for his company, as well as housing at a residence he owned in the 1500 block of South 18th Street in Kansas City, Kan. He admitted that about $1.4 million the government seized from him are the proceeds of the offense and are subject to forfeiture.
Beall commended Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Department of Revenue, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Lenexa Police Department, the Shawnee Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson for their work on the case.
Riverside County Man Arrested on Federal Charges of Advertising, Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – Federal authorities this morning arrested a Perris man who was indicted last week by a grand jury on child pornography offenses stemming from a large collection of illicit images found on his home computer and evidence that he was engaged in online trading of child pornography with others, including an undercover law enforcement officer.
Jerry Glen Moran Jr., 63, was taken into custody without incident by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Moran is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court.
A federal grand jury on February 8th named Moran in a four-count indictment that charges the defendant with one count of advertising child pornography, two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
During the investigation, authorities recovered tens of thousands of images and videos on Moran’s home computer and in emails that he had sent and received. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reviewed many of the computer files and identified thousands of them as being known images and videos of child pornography.
The investigation into Moran began after he was found to be a user of a foreign photo-sharing website identified by law enforcement as a platform used by child pornographers to meet and trade child pornography.
“The online child pornography market presents an ongoing threat to children who are abused to produce material,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “A child is victimized every time an image is generated and every time it is distributed. This defendant’s conduct is more serious because he advertised his collection to others.”
“Every time a sexually explicit image of a child is downloaded and viewed, that victim is violated yet again,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “It is our duty as law enforcement officers, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. HSI will continue to pursue child predators and make them accountable for their unconscionable actions.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charge of advertising child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years. The charge of distributing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Teresa K.B. Beecham of the Riverside Branch Office.
Retired Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that GERALD URSIN, JR., age 63, of New Orleans and a retired Chief Deputy of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (“OPSO”), was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced URSIN to three years probation, a $10,000 fine, $25,178 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, beginning in 2009 and continuing until January 2014, URSIN and others participated in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. URSIN admitted that in his role as a Chief Deputy in the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, he engaged in a scheme to defraud local entities and events, including Mardi Gras Krewes, music and food festivals, and sporting events, by padding the billing documents with names of individuals who did not in fact provide any security services (“Ghost Employees”).
Additionally, URSIN admitted that after the fraudulently inflated invoices were submitted via interstate wires, a portion of the overbilled amount was given to him in the form of checks made payable to family members under the fraudulent guise of payments for detail work that in fact did not take place.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office in investigating this matter and acknowledged the assistance provided by the Louisiana Legislative Auditors. Assistant Attorney Sean Toomey was in charge of the prosecution.
Published Historian of Spain Indicted by A Federal Grand Jury for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury indicted Henry Kamen for possession of child pornography. Kamen, a British citizen currently residing in Barcelona, Spain, is a well-known historian and Professor of Spanish History, who resided within the Athens Division of the Middle District of Georgia. The grand jury alleged in the Indictment that Kamen possessed child pornography in September of 2014. If convicted of this charge, Kamen faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, and up to lifetime supervised release after being released from custody.
The charges in the Indictment are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. Defendant Kamen is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty and the Government has the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Erin N. Spritzer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Inquiries regarding this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.
Prince George’s County Felon Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Robbery and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Derrick Rondell Battle, age 43, of Bladensburg, Maryland, today to 198 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for armed commercial robbery, using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm, related to three robberies he committed in September 2015.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, Battle committed three armed robberies between September 21 and September 25, 2015. In each robbery Battle wore a mask and was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, which he brandished at store employees.
Specifically, Battle robbed: a pharmacy in the 6400 block of Landover Road in Landover, Maryland on September 21, 2015; a discount store in the 6500 block of Annapolis Road in Landover Hills, Maryland on September 24, 201; and a gas station in the 5800 block of Annapolis Road in Cheverly, Maryland.
As Battle fled the gas station, a strong wind blew the stolen money out of the bag and Battle stopped to collect the money. Responding police officers saw Battle in a nearby ravine and he was apprehended after a brief chase. Police officers recovered cash from Battle and, within feet of where he was apprehended, the gun used in the robbery, additional cash, and the jacket Battle wore during the robbery.
The gun was a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with six .45 caliber rounds of ammunition. Battle was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as a result of previous felony convictions. Of the approximately $1,600 stolen, a total of $1,200 was recovered.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Menaka Kalaskar and Bryan E. Foreman, who prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Tony Chancellor, 24, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 84 months in prison for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who are all members of the Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence (CIRGV), announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.
According to court documents, on November 9, 2015 during routine patrol, Dayton Police attempted to make contact with Chancellor, who was standing in the middle of the street. As they approached, Chancellor fled police and dropped a 9mm firearm he was carrying. At the time he possessed the firearm, he had previously been convicted of felony offenses, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in 2010 and robbery with use of force in 2014.
He pleaded guilty on January 25, 2016 to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by those involved in the Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Hunt, who is representing the United States in this case.
Paroled Second-Degree Murderer Gets 46 Months for Possessing Sawed-Off Shotgun and RifleRead the Press Release
An Ellis Grove, Illinois, man was sentenced to 46 months in prison today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun, announced U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois.
Jeffrey Robert Pautler, 49, was arrested on May 15, 2016, by Randolph County Sheriff’s deputies following a report of a domestic incident at Pautler’s residence. When deputies arrived, they found Pautler in an agitated state, with bloodied hands and jeans. Pautler threatened the deputies with a shovel and said he wanted to commit suicide. The deputies eventually calmed Pautler down and had him taken to a hospital. Pautler’s live-in girlfriend consented to a search of the residence, and deputies found a sawed-off shotgun and rifle inside the home.
Pautler was later interviewed and admitted that he possessed the firearms, which he had obtained from a neighbor. He claimed that he used the rifle to shoot coyotes, and he said that he had not fired the shotgun. He also admitted that he was a daily user of marijuana, which he claimed relieved pain.
At the time he possessed the firearms, Pautler was on parole for a 1991 second-degree murder conviction from Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, for which he was paroled on October 22, 2014.
The prison sentence was imposed at the U.S. District Court in Benton, Illinois, where Pautler had pleaded guilty to the charges on October 6, 2016. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Pautler was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after the term of imprisonment, and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and a $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen B. Clark.
Panama City Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Federal Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – David Michael Hobby Rossner, 36, of Panama City, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In May 2016, law enforcement officers received information regarding the online sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl. An investigation determined that Rossner and the victim were chatting on the social media platform Facebook. Following sexually detailed chats on Facebook, Rossner successfully solicited the 15-year-old girl to take nude images of herself and then directed her to send them to him. Rossner also previously solicited photos from other underage girls online. The investigation also uncovered that Rossner received and distributed child pornography using the social media platform Kik. A forensic review of Rossner’s cellular telephone and online chats revealed dozens of images and videos of child pornography, including very young females under the age of 10. Rossner pled guilty on November 30, 2016.
United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova stated “We will continue to utilize the resources of our office to prosecute anyone that attempts to steal the innocence of a child while hiding in the shadows of the internet.”
"HSI special agents will continue to work tirelessly, with partners like the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, to bring child sexual predators to face justice and ensure those victims who are identified are rescued from this plight," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent I charge of HSI Tampa. "This sentencing is a reminder to those who exploit our most innocent citizens, children: We will identify, investigate and arrest you for committing these horrendous crimes."
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Thielemann.
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]
Orlando Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Daryl C. Ali, a/k/a Daryl C. Smith, ( 34) to 57 months in federal prison for theft of government property. He was also ordered to pay $135,494.05 in restitution to the IRS.
Ali pleaded guilty on November 21, 2016.
According to court documents, Ali orchestrated a scheme by which he sent the IRS more than 200 personal and business checks between February 2010 and January 2012, totaling over $3 million. Ali claimed that the checks were payment for back taxes owed by him personally and through his business. Shortly after writing the checks Ali would either close the account or there would be insufficient funds to cover the checks. After the IRS received the checks and realized that no taxes were due, the IRS inadvertently issued 12 United States Treasury checks to Ali to settle the credit balance on his account with IRS. These checks totaled over $69,000. Once the IRS became aware of Ali’s scheme in April 2011, they did not issue him any additional fraudulent refunds.
However, after receiving the 12 checks, Ali altered 2 of the checks on 8 separate occasions by changing the check number and amount payable so that he could cash the checks again. This scheme resulted in an additional loss of over $66,000 to the IRS.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.
Oregon Woman Sentenced to Prison for Filing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Portland, Oregon woman was sentenced to 72 months in prison today for conspiring to file tax returns that claimed more than $1.2 million in fraudulent refunds, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams for the District of Oregon.
According to documents filed with the court, Danyelle Calcagno conspired to file at least 224 individual income tax returns using names and socials security numbers of individuals that she directly obtained or acquired with the assistance of Latisha L. Simmons of Phoenix, Arizona. To fraudulently claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, Calcagno included in the returns fictitious business income appearing to meet eligibility requirements for those credits. Calcagno filed the fraudulent returns using Internet access from Portland-area hotels to disguise the true source of the filing.Calcagno directed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to deposit the claimed refunds into different bank accounts and prepaid debit cards that she could access in order to divide the proceeds of the fraud and make it more difficult for law enforcement to identify her as the filer of the returns. In total, Calcagno and her co-conspirators filed returns seeking at least $1,220,246 in refunds.
In addition to the term of prison imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones, Calcagno was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $742,754 to the IRS. Calcagno previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. In October 2015, Simmons was sentenced to serve 39 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Williams thanked special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Leslie A. Goemaat of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Quinn Harrington, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Oregon Woman Receives Federal Prison Sentence for Filing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – On Thursday, February 16, 2017, Danyelle Calcagno, 41, of Portland, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for conspiring to file tax returns that claimed more than $1.2 million in fraudulent refunds. The sentence was announced jointly by Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents, Calcagno conspired to file at least 224 individual income tax returns using names and social security numbers of individuals she obtained directly or acquired with the assistance of Latisha L. Simmons of Phoenix, Arizona. To fraudulently claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, Calcagno cited fictitious business income to meet eligibility requirements for the credits. Calcagno filed the fraudulent returns using Internet access from Portland-area hotels to disguise the true source of the filing.
Calcagno directed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to deposit the fraudulent refunds into different bank accounts and prepaid debit cards in order to divide the proceeds of the fraud and make it more difficult for law enforcement to identify her as the filer of the returns. In total, Calcagno and her co-conspirator filed returns totaling at least $1,220,246.
In addition to the prison sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernández, Calcagno was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release. Calcagno was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $742,754 to the IRS, reflecting the total amount received as a result of the fraudulent returns filed. Calcagno previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. In October 2015, Simmons was sentenced to serve 39 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
The case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Quinn Harrington, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Leslie A. Goemaat, Trial Attorney for the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Oncology Practice, Doctor and Practice Manager Pay $1.7 Million to Resolve Allegations They Billed Medicare for Illegally Imported DrugsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County doctor, his oncology practice, and his wife, who managed the practice, have agreed to pay the United States $1.7 million to resolve allegations that they illegally imported and used unapproved chemotherapy drugs from foreign distributors and illegally billed Medicare, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.
“Illegally imported drugs avoid the FDA’s rigorous oversight and manufacturing standards,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “Health care providers who import those drugs are exposing their patients to serious risks of harm from contaminated or counterfeit products.”
“Patients receiving cancer treatment drugs should be assured that the medications meet FDA’s standards for safety and quality,” Jeffrey J. Ebersole, special agent in charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office, said. “OCI will continue its vigilance over the prescription drug supply chain to ensure that the drugs reaching patients comply with federal law, and that those who attempt to circumvent the agency’s oversight will be brought to justice.”
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that The Oncology Practice of Dr. Kenneth D. Nahum, Nahum himself, and his wife, Ann Walsh, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, ordered cancer drugs from a foreign distributor. From April 1, 2010, until January 31, 2011, Walsh allegedly ordered chemotherapy drugs from the foreign distributor for use at the practice, which was owned by Nahum and operated in Howell, New Jersey, and Wall, New Jersey. These drugs had not been approved by FDA for sale in the United States.
Doctors at the practice allegedly injected the drugs into their patients, and the practice then submitted claims to Medicare for reimbursement for the drugs and infusion services. Since Medicare will only reimburse for drugs that have been approved for use in the United States, the practice allegedly violated the federal False Claims Act.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ebersole, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, with the investigation leading to today’s settlement.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Wolfe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton, and Andrew A. Caffrey III and Charles Graybow of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman reorganized the health care fraud practice shortly after taking office, including creating a stand-alone Health Care and Government Fraud Unit to handle both criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud offenses. Since 2010, the office has recovered more than $1.32 billion in health care fraud and government fraud settlements, judgments, fines, restitution and forfeiture under the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other statutes.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Defense counsel:
The Oncology Practice and Nahum: Michael B. Himmel Esq. and Matthew M. Oliver Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
Walsh: Salvatore T. Alfano Esq., Bloomfield, New Jersey
Ohio man pleads guilty to interstate transfer of a firearmRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Pyle, 44, of Bridgeport, Ohio, was convicted for illegally selling a gun across state lines, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.Pyle admitted to transferring, selling and delivering a .22 caliber revolver to an individual in Ohio County, West Virginia on May 23, 2016.
Pyle pled guilty to one count of “Interstate Transfer of a Firearm.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
Norwegian Citizen Sentenced to 15 months for Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationsRead the Press Release
Contact: Michael J. Conley
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Espen Brungodt, 29, of Norway, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby to 15 months in prison for making threatening interstate communications. He pled guilty on September 26, 2016.
According to court records, on August 3, 2016, Brungodt sent an email to the Portland Police Department in which he threatened to kill police officers. The email read
Time for more police to die. We are getting our Sig Sauer MCX .223-caliber rifles ready, and very soon, my partners will head down to Portland Police Department on 109 Middle St. There they will shoot and kill as many police officers as they can. Meanwhile, I will get into position at the top of Cumberland County Parking Garage on 188 Newbury St. I have booby trapped the garage with explosives, so don't go there. Time to take action. More dead cops.
Brungodt sent the threatening email from his Portland hotel room, where he was located and arrested a few hours later.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Hornby praised the response of the Portland Police Department to Brungodt’s threat and noted that the email constituted a “brutal threat of violence and death that resulted in complete disruption of public services and instilled public fear.” Judge Hornby also noted that the offense was a consequence of Brungodt’s well-documented mental health history and took into consideration his lack of criminal history.
As part of a plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has agreed to support any request by the defendant to transfer his sentence under to the International Prisoner Transfer Agreement that exists between the United States and the Kingdom of Norway.
Upon completion of his sentence, Brungodt will be removed from the United States and will be denied re-entry in the future.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portland Police Department.Navy Commander Charged as Part of Corrupt “Brotherhood” that Accepted Luxury Travel and Prostitutes from Foreign Defense ContractorRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714 and Patrick Hovakimian (619) 546-9718
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 16, 2017
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Commander Mario Herrera was charged in a complaint unsealed today with accepting prostitutes, luxury travel, elaborate dinners and $1,800 steaks from foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis in exchange for classified and internal U.S. Navy information.
Herrera, the 12th U.S. Navy official to be charged so far, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas this morning and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in the Western District of Texas. The United States will seek removal of Herrera to San Diego to face charges.
According to the complaint, Herrera received bribes in return for sending U.S. Navy ship schedules and other proprietary information to Francis, sometimes through U.S. Navy Commander Jose Luis Sanchez, who was among the first officers charged in the massive bribery and fraud case in 2013. Sanchez pleaded guilty to bribery charges in January 2015 and awaits sentencing.
Hererra, Sanchez and other U.S. Navy 7th Fleet officers who were committed to doing the bidding of Francis in exchange for prostitutes and other perks called themselves the “Band of Brothers” and the “Wolf Pack,” the complaint said. In one email, Sanchez asked Francis to send pictures of prostitutes, saying “the brothers are ready to indulge.” A few days later in another email, Sanchez thanked Francis for the prostitutes and hotel accommodations during a port stop in Manila, Philippines: “A warm thank you from the brotherhood…we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a great time.”
The complaint also alleges that Herrera made recommendations within the Navy to benefit Francis’ company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, including on several occasions manipulating the movement of U.S. Navy ships and diverting them to ports financially lucrative to Francis. GDMA is a multinational corporation and longtime government contractor based in Singapore, which provides hundreds of millions of dollars of “husbanding” services for the U.S. Navy in at least a dozen countries throughout the Pacific. Husbanding involves supplying food, water, fuel, tugboats and fenders, security, transportation, trash and liquid waste removal, and other goods and services to ships and submarines in foreign ports.
So far, a total of 17 named individual defendants have been charged in connection with the GDMA corruption and fraud investigation. Of those, 12 are current or former U.S. Navy officials, including Herrera, Sanchez, Admiral Robert Gilbeau, believed to be the first active-duty U.S. Navy flag officer charged in a federal criminal case; Captain (ret.) Michael Brooks; Captain Daniel Dusek; Commander Michael Misiewicz; Commander Bobby Pitts; Lt. Commander Gentry Debord; Lt. Commander Todd Malaki; Petty Officer First Class Daniel Layug; Naval Criminal Investigative Service Supervisory Special Agent John Beliveau; and Paul Simpkins, a former DoD civilian employee, who oversaw contracting in Singapore.
Gilbeau, Brooks, Dusek, Misiewicz, Sanchez, Debord, Malaki, Layug, Beliveau, and Simpkins have pleaded guilty. On Jan. 21, 2016, Layug was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $15,000 fine; on Jan. 29, 2016, Malaki was sentenced to 40 months in prison and to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $15,000 fine. On March 25, 2016, Dusek was sentenced to 46 months in prison and to pay $30,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $70,000 fine; and on April 29, 2016, Misiewicz was sentenced to 78 months in prison and to pay a fine of $100,000 and to pay $95,000 in restitution to the Navy. Beliveau was sentenced on October 14, 2016 to 12 years in prison and to pay $20 million in restitution; Simpkins was sentenced on December 2, 2016 to 72 months in prison; Gilbeau, Brooks, and Sanchez await sentencing.
Pitts was charged in May 2016 and his case is pending.
Also charged are five GDMA executives – Francis, Alex Wisidagama, Ed Aruffo, Neil Peterson and Linda Raja. Three have pleaded guilty; Wisidagama was sentenced on March 18, 2016 to 63 months and $34.8 million in restitution to the Navy. Francis and Aruffo await sentencing; Peterson and Raja were extradited from Singapore in September 2016 and their cases are pending.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Patrick Hovakimian of the Southern District of California and Assistant Chief Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information relating to fraud or corruption should contact the NCIS anonymous tip line at www.ncis.navy.mil or the DOD Hotline at www.dodig.mil/hotline, or call (800) 424-9098.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 17mj0424
Lieutenant Commander Mario Herrera Age 48 Helotes, Texas
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371
Maximum Penalty: 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine,
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Navajo Man from Kirtland Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Gary Begay, 23, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Kirtland, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an assault charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Begay will be sentenced to nine years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Begay was arrested in June 2016, on an indictment charging him with sexual assault and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to the indictment, Begay committed the crimes on March 14, 2015, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Begay pled guilty to Count 2 of the indictment charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. In entering the guilty plea, Begay admitted assaulting the victim by striking the victim with his fists and a bottle, breaking the victim’s teeth and causing serious bodily injury to the victim. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle is prosecuting the case.
Morris County, New Jersey, Plastic Surgeon Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Evading Taxes on More Than $5 Million in IncomeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A plastic surgeon with a practice in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for fraudulently diverting millions in corporate earnings for his personal use, costing the United States nearly $3 million in tax revenue between 2006 and 2010, U.S Attorney Paul Fishman announced.
David Evdokimow, 56, of Harding Township, New Jersey, was previously convicted of all eight counts of a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States, four counts of personal income tax evasion and three counts of corporate tax evasion. He was convicted following three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman, who imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to the superseding indictment and evidence at trial:
Evdokimow ran his medical practice through a corporation called De’Omilia Plastic Surgery P.C. (De’Omilia). He conspired with others to conceal millions of dollars of taxable income from the IRS by forming shell corporations and then having trusted associates open bank accounts for those corporations. Evdokimow then convinced these associates to give him their signatures or signature stamps so that he had full access to the shell company bank accounts while at the same time being able to conceal his connection to those accounts. He and the other conspirators then funneled millions of dollars in De’Omilia income into the bank accounts of the shell corporations and falsely claimed that these transfers were legitimate business expenses. Evdokimow also used bank accounts in the name of De’Omilia to pay his personal expenses, and falsely claimed those were business expenses too.
Evdokimow used the shell corporation and De’Omilia bank accounts to pay for more than $5.8 million in personal expenses, including designer apparel, jewelry, vacations, artwork, and multiple residences, all of which he falsely claimed as business expenses.
Evdokimow also opened accounts at several banks in order to cash checks received directly from patients for professional medical services. Between 2009 and 2011, Evdokimow cashed more than $360,000 in checks from patients, which he failed to report on his federal income tax returns.
Evdokimow was convicted of concealing more than $5.8 million in income from tax years 2006 to 2010. By concealing this income, Evdokimow evaded paying almost $3 million in taxes during that period.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman sentenced Evdokimow to one year of supervised release and fined $96,000. He previously paid the taxes owed.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Murphy and Justin Herring of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: James Kridel Esq., Clifton, New JerseyMichigan Art Dealer Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Prison for Defrauding Collectors of $1.45 Million Through Sale of Forged ArtworksRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ERIC IAN HORNAK SPOUTZ, a/k/a “Robert Chad Smith,” a/k/a “John Goodman,” a/k/a “James Sinclair,” was sentenced today to 41 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan for wire fraud charges arising out of his sale of dozens of forged artworks purportedly by renowned American artists such as Willem De Kooning, Franz Kline, and Joan Mitchell.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Eric Spoutz made a lucrative ‘career’ selling forged art as originals from American masters like De Kooning, Kline and Mitchell. From creating fake documents to assuming new identities, Spoutz used the full palette of deception to complete his decade-long work of fraud, swindling art collectors out of more than a million dollars. Now, thanks to the dedicated work of the FBI and the prosecutors in my Office, Spoutz will spend time in a federal prison.”
According to the allegations contained in the criminal complaint and information and other documents in the public record, and statements made in court:
Since at least 2006, SPOUTZ engaged in a fraudulent scheme to sell works of art he falsely claimed were by well-known artists, using forged documents to convince buyers of the authenticity of those works. During the course of the scheme, SPOUTZ sold dozens of fraudulent works of art – which he attributed to, among others, Willem De Kooning, Franz Kline, and Joan Mitchell – through various channels, including auction houses and on EBay.
SPOUTZ was publicly accused of selling forged works of art as early as 2005, after which he began selling them under various aliases, particularly “Robert Chad Smith” and “John Goodman.” To deceive his victims into believing the works of art were authentic, SPOUTZ created and provided forged receipts, bills of sale, and letters from deceased attorneys and other individuals.
These documents falsely indicated that SPOUTZ, in the guise of one of his false identities, had inherited or purchased dozens of works by these artists. Despite his efforts to create false histories for the artwork, investigators identified multiple inconsistencies and errors in SPOUTZ’s forged provenance documents. Many of the purported transactions took place before SPOUTZ was born, and the forged letters included nonexistent addresses both for the purported sender and various parties referenced as sources of the artworks. SPOUTZ also consistently used a single distinctive typesetting when forging documents purportedly authored by entirely different art galleries in different decades regarding unrelated transactions. In one instance, investigators located the original letter used by SPOUTZ as a model for one of his forgeries in a collection at a private university, which holds letters from the individual whose identity SPOUTZ used to create a false story of inheritance.
In total, SPOUTZ stole at least $1,450,000 from his victims over the course of a decade of fraudulent art sales.
* * *
In addition to the prison sentence, SPOUTZ, 33, of Mount Clemens, Michigan, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Judge Kaplan also ordered SPOUTZ to forfeit $1,450,000 in ill-gotten gains and to pay restitution in the amount of $154,100.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Art Crime Team.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Adams is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican National Sentenced for Conviction on Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Juan Merino-Guerrero, 29, was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 40 months in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges. Merino-Guerrero is a Mexican national who was residing in Santa Fe, N.M., when he was arrested in this case. He will be deported after completing his prison sentence.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, and Chief Patrick Gallagher of the Santa Fe Police Department.
Merino-Guerrero was arrested on June 10, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with a methamphetamine trafficking offense. According to the criminal complaint, when the Santa Fe Police Department (SFPD) executed a search warrant on Merino-Guerrero’s vehicle on April 30, 2015, they found 226.5 grams of methamphetamine. Merino-Guerrero subsequently was indicted on June 24, 2015, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being an alien unlawfully in possession of a firearm.
On Sept. 30, 2015, Merino-Guerrero pled guilty to the indictment and admitted possessing methamphetamine on April 30, 2015, which he intended to distribute to others. Merino-Guerrero also admitted possessing a firearm even though he was in the United States in a non-immigrant status and was not permitted to possess firearms.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Santa Fe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec prosecuted the case.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to over 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Nicholas Anthony Rodriguez was sentenced to 188 months (15.7 years) in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence follows a guilty plea entered July 25, 2016, in which Rodriguez admitted he conspired to and did in fact possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to records filed in connection with his plea agreement, Rodriguez, 40, of San Jose, acknowledged that between April and June of 2014, he conspired with others to possess and did possess with intent to distribute 451 grams of actual methamphetamine. In his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that, on June 25, 2014, he and another individual were found in possession of 42 grams of actual methamphetamine and $9,215 in cash, as well as a machete, while driving in the San Jose area. Rodriguez further admitted that he and another individual also possessed an additional 409 grams of actual methamphetamine located at the other individual’s home that same day. Rodriguez also acknowledged that, while out of custody on pretrial release on July 28, 2014, he was found in possession of an additional 145 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 2 grams of cocaine.
Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 2, 2014. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(C), and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Pursuant to his plea agreement, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to both counts in the Indictment.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge. In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila sentenced Rodriguez to a 3-year period of supervised release. The defendant has been in federal custody since August 7, 2014, and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maia Perez is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Marion County Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the signing of a criminal complaint charging Mark Charles Barnett (48, Ocala) with possession of a firearm (destructive device) affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Barnett is currently in custody at the Marion County Jail on state charges for violating his terms of probation.
According to the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, Barnett offered a confidential source (CS) $10,000 to place improvised explosive bombs in Target retail stores along the east coast of the United States. Barnett created at least 10 of the explosive devices, disguised in food-item packaging, which Barnett delivered to the CS on February 9, 2017. Barnett then asked the CS to place the explosive devices on store shelves from New York to Florida. He also provided the CS with a bag of gloves, a mask, and a license plate cover to disguise the CS’s identity from law enforcement.
Barnett theorized that the company’s stock value would plunge after the explosions, allowing him to cheaply acquire shares of Target stock before an eventual rebound in prices. Rather than placing the devices on store shelves, however, the CS surrendered them to authorities. An explosives expert determined that they were capable of causing property damage, serious injury, or death to nearby persons upon detonation. A subsequent search of Barnett’s house by federal agents revealed components consistent with those used to create the explosive devices.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
“The swift work of ATF Special Agents, Explosives Enforcement Officers, and other specialized violent crime resources foiled this individual’s plot that could have caused great harm to the public. Our Federal and State law enforcement partners played a vital role in supporting this investigation, and ATF will continue to work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to a successful resolution,” said Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, ATF Tampa Field Division.
“Once FDLE received the information we initiated an investigation. Upon determining the nature of the threat we notified and began working jointly with our local, state and federal partners. The arrest in this case demonstrates the importance of collaboration in keeping our communities safe,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen.
“The cooperation between the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies involved in this case was instrumental to quickly identifying this individual and resolving any potential threat to the public,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI remains dedicated to working with our partners to make our communities safer.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Corrections – Probation and Parole Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Ocala Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
Man Pleads Guilty to Crime Involving the Renovation of the Former Kossuth County Home and AsbestosRead the Press Release
A North Central Iowa man pled guilty yesterday to failing to make proper report and notification during the renovation of the former Kossuth County Home, which contained asbestos. Gary Christianson, 57, from Algona, Iowa, was convicted of one count of failing to notify and report that he was renovating a building containing asbestos to the Environmental Protection Agency or Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
At the plea hearing, Christianson admitted he was the operator of a renovation of the former Kossuth County Home in Algona, Iowa. The building contained asbestos both on pipes and in floor tiles. Christianson admitted that, from about November 2014 through about January 2015, he failed to notify the EPA and IDNR of his intention to renovate the building as he was required to do.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Christianson remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Christianson faces a possible maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and a year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Vavricek and Matt Cole and was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 16-CR-3055-LTS.
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Man Charged with Drug Dealing Causing DeathRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. - Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Theophil Hollis, age 27, of Newark, Delaware, was indicted today for distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of another person.
Hollis faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum sentence of a lifetime in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release following a prison sentence. Hollis was also indicted for two additional counts of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and heroin respectively, for which he faces additional maximum penalties of twenty years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, and three years of supervised release on each.
According to the Indictment, Hollis distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Fentanyl that resulted in the fentanyl-related death of another person on September 7, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Oberly stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware remains committed to prosecuting drug dealers responsible for overdose deaths. The number of deaths related to fentanyl overdose has reached epidemic-like numbers, accounting for more than one-third of all Delaware’s overdoses in 2016. Those responsible for providing this poison to those addicted to controlled substances, where the evidence exists, should expect to face serious punishment.”
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the DEA Wilmington Resident Office – HIDTA Group 41, the New Castle County Police Department, the Delaware Department of Justice, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Logan is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Man Admits Assaulting Sleeping Woman on Flight from Los Angeles to NewarkRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. - An airline passenger today admitted assaulting a female passenger who did not know him aboard a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport on July 30, 2016, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Veerabhadrarao Kunam, 58, of Visakhapatnam, India, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court to an information charging him with assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Kunam was seated next to a woman who occupied a middle seat on a Virgin America redeye flight from Los Angeles to Newark on July 29 and 30, 2016. While the plane was in the air, the woman fell asleep. Kunam admitted that while the victim was asleep, he touched her vagina and buttocks without her consent.
Kunam was arrested on July 30, 2016 – the day his flight arrived in Newark – and was taken into federal custody by the FBI.
The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur on aircraft in flight in the United States.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Kunam will be sentenced to between 30 and 60 days in prison and up to 90 days in an inpatient alcohol treatment center. Sentencing is scheduled for March 22, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, and the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Alexander Spiro, New York, New York
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Bath SaltsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Benussi, III, age 26, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley to participating in a conspiracy to distribute alpha-pvp, commonly known as “bath salts.”
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Benussi admitted to agreeing with others to distribute the drug to customers in the Luzerne County area during 2014 and 2015. The members of the conspiracy obtained the alpha-pvp from suppliers in China.
Benussi also admitted that he and others used force, threats, and intimidation in connection with the drug conspiracy.
Benussi was one of seven people charged by a grand jury in August 2016. That indictment was the fourth wave of arrests connected to alpha-pvp distribution in Luzerne County. In all, 18 people have been charged in the case since July 2013, including a Texas-based supplier of the bath salts. Benussi is the fourteenth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Judge Munley ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed and scheduled sentencing in the case for May 19, 2017. Benussi is detained in prison pending sentencing.
“Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners will continue to use all resources at our disposal to detect and prevent the importation and distribution of dangerous chemicals and narcotics that continue to ravage our communities. The excellent investigative work in this case conducted by HSI Special Agents, our Task Force Officers from the Pennsylvania State Police, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspectors directly resulted in the today’s guilty plea,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia, “These seizures and related arrests are another victory in ridding our communities of these poisons."
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspectors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, members of the Pennsylvania State Police, and local police from Luzerne County. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Lee County Man Indicted in Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – A federal grand jury sitting in Ft. Myers, Florida returned an indictment on Feb. 15, which was unsealed today, charging a Lee County, Florida resident with mail fraud, money laundering, and corruptly endeavoring to impede the administration of the internal revenue laws, announced U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III for the Middle District of Florida and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the indictment, Attila Kalmar filed 2007 through 2009 trust returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the name of First AK-Open Sec Trust, a nominee entity, seeking more than $480,000 in fraudulent refunds. Kalmar deposited a refund check he received as a result of these filings into a bank account, and then used the proceeds to purchase real property, acquire thousands of dollars in gold coins, and wire money overseas. The indictment further alleges that Kalmar attempted to impede the internal revenue laws by transferring funds between nominee bank accounts and falsely representing to the IRS that an IRS revenue officer was the trustee for First AK-Open Sec Trust.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Kalmar faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count, 10 years in prison for each money laundering count, and three years in prison for corruptly endeavoring to impede the administration of the internal revenue laws. Kalmar also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture, and monetary penalties.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Bentley commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Kathryn A. Kimball and William M. Montague of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Baggé-Hernández of the Middle District of Florida, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Kewanee Felon Sentenced to Prison for Gun, Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid today sentenced Dimitri Miles Lopez, 29, of the 600 block of Cole St., Kewanee, Ill., to serve 200 months (16 years, 8 months) in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Lopez has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since he was arrested in December 2015.
On Oct. 19, 2016, Lopez pled guilty to the offenses. According to court documents, when agents with the Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force executed a search warrant on Dec. 2, 2015, at Lopez’s home, officers found a loaded short-barreled 12-gauge shotgun under the living room couch, a .38 revolver, two baggies that contained methamphetamine and $2,000 in Lopez’s pants pocket. At the time, Lopez was a convicted felon, with a 2011 conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a 2010 conviction for criminal damage to property.
Lopez was sentenced to 80 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of a short-barreled shotgun, and felon in possession of a firearm. In addition, Lopez was ordered to serve 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, to be served consecutive to the 80-month sentence.
The charges were investigated by the Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force, the Kewanee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney John K Mehochko prosecuted the case in the Rock Island Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.
Kansas Agricultural Scientist Convicted in Theft of Engineered RiceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts today in the case of a Chinese scientist, who was charged with conspiring to steal samples of a variety of rice seeds from a Kansas biopharmaceutical research facility.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary B. McCord of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas made the announcement.
Weiqiang Zhang, 50, a Chinese national residing in Manhattan, Kansas, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to steal trade secrets, one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
Evidence at trial established that Zhang worked as a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience in Junction City, Kansas. Ventria develops genetically programmed rice to express recombinant human proteins, which are then extracted for use in the therapeutic and medical fields. Zhang has a master’s degree in agriculture from Shengyang Agricultural University in China and a doctorate degree from Louisiana State University.
According to trial evidence, Zhang acquired without authorization hundreds of rice seeds produced by Ventria and stored them at his residence in Manhattan. The rice seeds have a wide variety of health research applications and were developed to express either human serum albumin, contained in blood, or lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found, for example, in human milk. Ventria used locked doors with magnetic card readers to restrict access to the temperature-controlled environment where the seeds were stored and processed.
Trial evidence demonstrated that in the summer of 2013, personnel from a crop research institute in China visited Zhang at his home in Manhattan. Zhang drove the visitors to tour facilities in Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. On Aug. 7, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found seeds belonging to Ventria in the luggage of Zhang’s visitors as they prepared to leave the United States for China.
The FBI’s Little Rock, Arkansas, Field Office and Kansas City, Missouri, Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matt Walczewski of the National Security Division, Trial Attorneys Brian Resler and Evan Williams of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask of the District of Kansas prosecuted the case.
Kansas Agricultural Scientist Convicted in Theft of Engineered RiceRead the Press Release
A federal jury returned guilty verdicts today in the case of a Chinese scientist, who was charged with conspiring to steal samples of a variety of rice seeds from a Kansas biopharmaceutical research facility.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary B. McCord of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas made the announcement.
Weiqiang Zhang, 50, a Chinese national residing in Manhattan, Kansas, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to steal trade secrets, one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.Evidence at trial established that Zhang worked as a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience in Junction City, Kansas. Ventria develops genetically programmed rice to express recombinant human proteins, which are then extracted for use in the therapeutic and medical fields. Zhang has a master’s degree in agriculture from Shengyang Agricultural University in China and a doctorate degree from Louisiana State University.
According to trial evidence, Zhang acquired without authorization hundreds of rice seeds produced by Ventria and stored them at his residence in Manhattan. The rice seeds have a wide variety of health research applications and were developed to express either human serum albumin, contained in blood, or lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found, for example, in human milk. Ventria used locked doors with magnetic card readers to restrict access to the temperature-controlled environment where the seeds were stored and processed.
Trial evidence demonstrated that in the summer of 2013, personnel from a crop research institute in China visited Zhang at his home in Manhattan. Zhang drove the visitors to tour facilities in Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. On Aug. 7, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found seeds belonging to Ventria in the luggage of Zhang’s visitors as they prepared to leave the United States for China.
The FBI’s Little Rock, Arkansas, Field Office and Kansas City, Missouri, Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matt Walczewski of the National Security Division, Trial Attorneys Brian Resler and Evan Williams of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask of the District of Kansas prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Woman of Freddie Mac and Veterans Affairs ID TheftRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Allise Jones, 29, of Lanham, Maryland, was convicted today by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to commit identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, two counts of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jones conspired with others to use personally identifiable information (PII) about current and former employees of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and others. From October 2012 to April 2014, Jones and her co-conspirators had access to PII from over 100 VA employees and more than 2,000 Freddie Mac employees and affiliates. Jones and her co-conspirators used that information to obtain fraudulent identification documents and credit accounts used to defraud financial institutions, retailers, and others. Jones used the information to obtain credit cards she used to purchase goods and services such as plastic surgery, expensive jewelry, and travel.
Jones faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of access device fraud, 5 years in prison for both conspiracy to commit identity theft and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft when sentenced on May 19, 2017. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Laura S. Wertheimer, Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA); and Michael J. Missal, Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsay Castanien and Charlie Divine and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Fahey are prosecuting the case.
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-282.
Jefferson County woman found guilty of fraudRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Koesoema Wardhani-Foley, 40, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was convicted by a jury today of defrauding the United States, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.
From January 2005 to April 2015, Wardhani-Foley, knowingly conspired to defraud The United States of Title II disability benefits that totaled more than $100,000. She was found guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Defraud the United States.”
She faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Camilletti prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Israeli National Indicted and Extradited to Boston on Cocaine Conspiracy and International Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Israeli national and a co-conspirator were indicted in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to transfer $2.5 million of cocaine from Colombia to Israel via Boston as well as money laundering.
Jalal Altarabeen, a/k/a Glal El Tarbin, a/k/a Jalal Salamah, a/k/a Abu Rasheed, 33, and a co-conspirator were indicted on one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and six counts of international money laundering. Altarabeen, who was extradited from Poland and arrived at Boston’s Logan Airport this afternoon, was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. Altarabeen and his co-conspirator were previously charged in a federal criminal complaint which was partially unsealed today.
“This case exemplifies the importance of disrupting large-scale, international drug trafficking before the drugs can be distributed. I cannot overstate how important it is that we interdict these large drug shipments, where and when we can,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. “Working with some of the finest undercover agents in the country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to attack the growing menace of transnational drug organizations.”
“DEA is addressing the threat, both internationally and domestically. We prioritize our resources by identifying and targeting the world’s biggest and most powerful drug traffickers and their organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Michael J. Ferguson. “We are relentlessly pursuing these criminal groups responsible for international money laundering and violations of the Controlled Substance Act and their facilitators at every level and we value and appreciate the work of our Polish counterparts. This investigation demonstrates the fortitude and continued commitment of our federal, state and international law enforcement partners and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling complex international financial transactions and money laundering schemes. IRS Criminal Investigation is also committed to following the money, wherever it leads,” stated Special Agent in Charge Joel P. Garland of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office.
According to court documents, from October 2015 to April 20, 2016, Altarabeen and his co-conspirator conspired in Boston, Colombia, Poland, and elsewhere to distribute 50 kilograms of cocaine and launder money internationally. Altarabeen and his co-conspirator allegedly negotiated to buy 50 kilograms of cocaine from an undercover officer posing as a drug trafficker. Altarabeen and his co-conspirator agreed to pay $50,000 per kilogram for a total purchase price of $2.5 million to have the cocaine delivered in Israel. The undercover officer told the defendants that the cocaine would be transported from Colombia to Boston and from Boston to Beersheba, Israel, where the defendants expected to take delivery of the cocaine. Altarabeen agreed to make an advance payment of nearly $1 million to cover transportation costs and sent wire transfers from Turkey totaling $999,972 to an undercover bank account in Boston. The undercover officer and Altarabeen agreed that Altarabeen would pay the balance of $1.5 million after the receipt and sale of the 50 kilograms of cocaine.
The undercover officer’s relationship with the co-conspirator began in 2008 and included a meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus. In October 2015, the co-conspirator told the undercover officer about an associate who was interested in purchasing large quantities of cocaine. Eventually, the co-conspirator facilitated an introduction of the undercover officer to Altarabeen.
Over several months, the undercover officer and the defendants spoke to one another by telephone, WhatsApp, video Skype call and in person. The defendants contacted the undercover officer using telephone numbers from Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Colombia. The defendants also discussed the drug transaction with the undercover officer while in Bogota, Colombia, on October 14, 2015 and February 9, 2016.
Altarabeen allegedly arranged six wire transfer deposits in February 2016 into a Boston-based undercover bank account totaling $999,972. The co-conspirator sent the undercover officer a copy of the deposit receipt for each wire transfer via WhatsApp. All of the wire transfers originated from a Turkish bank.
The drug trafficking statute provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million on the drug counts. The money laundering statute provides for up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the offense. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Weinreb, DEA SAC Ferguson and IRS-CI SAC Garland made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda M. Ricci of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Inmate Charged with Mailing Threats, Powder to Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Rodney D. Cydrus, 47, formerly of Chillicothe, with charges related to threatening United States judges and federal law enforcement officials in an indictment returned in Cincinnati. Cydrus is currently an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Mark Porter, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced the indictment returned yesterday afternoon.
The indictment alleges that on five separate occasions, from January 17 through January 31, 2017, Cydrus mailed letters threatening to injure numerous government officials, including the President of the United States, federal judges, the FBI and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. Four of the letters were addressed to the FBI and one letter was addressed to the Federal Public Defender’s Office. In addition, two of the letters included a powdered substance as part of the threat, although the powder was determined to be non-toxic.
Mailing threatening communications is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Indictment: Running Store Employee Stole Merchandise Worth $200,000+Read the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging an Olathe man who worked at a store catering to runners with stealing more than $250,000 in merchandise, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Craig W. Sullivan, 41, Olathe, Kan., is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. The indictment alleges the crimes occurred while Sullivan worked for Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, which has five locations in the Kansas City area. Sullivan oversaw merchandise arriving at the main store in Overland Park. He was responsible for distributing merchandise to the other locations.
The indictment alleges Sullivan stole merchandise -- mainly Garmin GPS running watches – and sold them to an individual in California who operated an online business on eBay. Sullivan shipped the stolen merchandise to California via the U.S. Postal Service and received payment via PayPal. The indictment alleges he received 51 payments totaling about $275,780.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Other Indictments
Andre U. Randle, 36, who is in custody, is charged with one count of bank robbery. The indictment alleges that on Feb. 1, 2017, he robbed the U.S. Bank at 10959 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. According to court documents, he gave a clerk a note saying, “I have 2 guns. Don’t make me use them,” before leaving the bank with stolen cash in a purple pillow case. Officers of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department stopped his car in the 6900 block of Troop and arrested him.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Brandon V. Wells, 22, Wichita, Kan., is charged with executing a series of commercial robberies in Wichita. The charges include:
Count one: Robbing Circle K at 1250 S. Rock on Jan. 27, 2017.
Count two: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln on Jan. 28, 2017.
Count three: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4635 S. Broadway on Jan. 30, 2017.
Count four: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4130 W. Central on Feb. 4, 2017.
Count five: Robbing Auto Zone at 3320 N. Rock on Feb. 5, 2017.
Count six: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 3109 E. Pawnee on Feb. 6, 2017.
Count seven: Brandishing a firearm during the Feb. 6, 2017, robber at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 3109 E. Pawnee.
Count eight: Robbing O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln on Feb. 6, 2017.
Count nine: Brandishing a firearm during the Feb. 6, 2017, robbery at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 4818 E. Lincoln.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each robbery count, and not less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of brandishing a firearm. The Wichita Police Department, the FBI and the Safe Streets Task Force investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Luis A. Mendez-Aguirre, 35, San Elizareo, Texas, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Feb. 3, 2017, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Idaho Man Charged in Church Arson CaseRead the Press Release
Shane Rucker, 33, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was arrested today in Bonners Ferry on a two-count federal indictment in the District of Idaho charging him with destruction of religious property and using a fire to damage or destroy religious property. A federal grand jury sitting in Boise returned the indictment on Feb. 15, 2017. Rucker will make his initial appearance on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
According to allegations in the indictment, on April 21, 2016, Rucker set fire to St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, because of the religious character of the property, in violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act. The Church was completely destroyed as a result of the fire.
An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of destroying the church because of its religious character Rucker faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Using a fire to destroy the church carries a mandatory 10-year sentence that must run consecutive to any other sentence.
The case is being investigated by the Bonners Ferry Police Department, the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation Team; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Whelan of the District of Idaho and Trial Attorney Angie Cha of the Civil Rights Division.
Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jacorian Rashawn Brown (24) and Jessica Duenas Nicholas (45), both of Brandon, today pleaded guilty to conspiracy and armed robbery. Brown also pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during an armed robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, and Nicholas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreements, on July 9, 2016, Brown and Nicholas robbed the Murphy USA gas station in Wimauma of more than $10,000. On July 19, 2016, the couple attempted to rob the Murphy USA gas station in Gibsonton but were unsuccessful. On July 23, 2016, Brown and Nicholas returned to the Wimauma gas station to attempt another robbery. However, they were arrested before the robbery could take place. Investigators recovered two semi-automatic pistols and nearly 100 rounds of ammunition from inside their vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Houston Man Guilty in Beaumont IH-10 Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 27-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Hugo Alejandro Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin.
According to information presented in court, on Oct. 27, 2016, law enforcement officers pulled over Garcia on Interstate 10 eastbound in Beaumont for a traffic violation. Garcia was extremely nervous and during questioning he provided officers with inconsistencies as to his travel plans. Garcia gave consent to search the vehicle which resulted in officers discovering four bundles wrapped in black electrical tape and concealed under the carpet in the trunk. Garcia admitted to transporting narcotics and stated he was on his way to Louisiana with the drugs. The bundles contained four kilograms of cocaine. Garcia was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 2, 2016.
Under federal statutes, Garcia faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Rapp.
Hershey Man Indicted on Bankruptcy Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Michael J. Jackson, age 57, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 15, 2017, by a federal grand jury on wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, false bankruptcy oaths and claims, and aggravated identity theft charges.
The indictment was unsealed today following Jackson’s initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab. Jackson was ordered detained pending his detention hearing scheduled for February 17, 2017.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Jackson perpetrated a scheme to defraud his creditors, the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and his wife between 2009 and 2017, by filing seven Chapter 13 and 11 bankruptcy petitions, five of which were filed under Jackson’s name and two of which were filed under his wife’s name without her knowledge, information or consent. The indictment also alleges the petitions contained false information regarding Jackson’s income, his assets, and his employment, and were merely filed in order to postpone a Sheriff’s Sale of his Hershey residence.
The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Offices of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel is prosecuting the case.
Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Bankruptcy Fraud and False Statements in Bankruptcy matters both carry a five-year statutory maximum.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Guilford Man Sentenced to Three Years for Distributing 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 Joshua Bickmore, 30, of Guilford, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin. He pleaded guilty to this charge on July 12, 2016.
According to court records, on August 13, 2015, Bickmore met with an undercover law enforcement officer and a confidential informant at the Cambridge, Maine General Store to sell heroin. Bickmore sold thirteen wax baggies of heroin in exchange for $390.
At sentencing, when describing Bickmore’s involvement with heroin, Judge Woodcock said that, “it doesn’t have to be this way” and that it was time for Bickmore “to man-up” and pursue legitimate employment.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Greenville Police Department.
Guilford Man Sentenced to Three Years for Distributing 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 Joshua Bickmore, 30, of Guilford, Maine was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin. He pleaded guilty to this charge on July 12, 2016.
According to court records, on August 13, 2015, Bickmore met with an undercover law enforcement officer and a confidential informant at the Cambridge, Maine General Store to sell heroin. Bickmore sold thirteen wax baggies of heroin in exchange for $390.
At sentencing, when describing Bickmore’s involvement with heroin, Judge Woodcock said that, “it doesn’t have to be this way” and that it was time for Bickmore “to man-up” and pursue legitimate employment.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Greenville Police Department.
Gang Associate Sentenced to 25 Years for 2010 MurderRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Chadrick Lard, 26, of Newport News was sentenced today to 25 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a 2010 Newport News robbery that ended with a murder.
Lard pleaded guilty on Dec. 30, 2015. According to court documents, Lard was an associate of the Black P-Stones gang in Newport News. As part of a gang initiation, Lard and three others went to a home in Newport News intending to rob its occupant of drugs and money. During the course of the robbery, one of Lard’s associates forced the occupant of the home to the ground and shot him in the head, killing him. Following the murder, Lard and his associates fled the scene and divided the proceeds of the robbery. The leader of the Black P-Stones, Michael Hopson, was convicted of racketeering charges including two murders and four attempted murders, on Dec. 5, 2016. Hopson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt and Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the case.
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. 4:13-cr-96.