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Tuesday 3 January 2017
Bank Robber Sentenced to 46 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero (619) 546-7118
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 3, 2017
SAN DIEGO – Alvin Lee Neal was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to 46-months in prison for robbing a Wells Fargo Bank branch in downtown San Diego. Judge Battaglia also ordered Neal to pay $565 in restitution to Wells Fargo Bank.
In his plea agreement, Neal, 56, admitted that on May 13, 2016, he entered the Wells Fargo bank located on 610 First Avenue, San Diego, and approached a teller. At first, Neal swiped his Wells Fargo debit card through the Wells Fargo customer card reader located at the counter. Neal’s bank profile appeared on the teller’s computer screen. When the teller asked Mr. Neil what he wanted to do at the branch, the defendant responded, “You’re being robbed. Don’t make a mistake.” Neal also handed a note to the teller that read, “You’re being robbed no mistake [sic]” and further told the teller “You don’t want anyone to get hurt, don’t make a mistake.” Neal took $565 and fled from the bank.
Based on the information from Neal’s customer profile, FBI agents and San Diego Police Department detectives established surveillance around Neal’s residential address and ultimately arrested Neal.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 16CR1188-AJB
Alvin Lee Neal Age: 56
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Bank Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a)
Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
Alleged Confidence Man Charged with Luring Victims Through Matchmaking and Networking Sites to Commit Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Timothy Gallagher, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Newark Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, a/k/a “Jay Taylor,” a/k/a “Josie Reeser,” was charged in a five-count indictment today. TAYLOR had previously been charged by complaint, and first appeared in this district on December 21, 2016. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. TAYLOR is expected to be arraigned later this week before Judge Swain.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “John Edward Taylor allegedly trolled dating websites to find unsuspecting women for his ‘romance’ scam, designed to steal their money. While masquerading as a millionaire businessman with romantic and professional interest in his victims, Taylor was in reality an alleged con artist. When confronted by some of his victims for looting their bank accounts, Taylor took his insidious crime another step further, allegedly threatening to release sexually explicit photos of them.”
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy Gallagher said: “Today’s charges illustrate the FBI’s commitment to combating the growing threat of online dating scams and financial fraud. Our job is to protect victims and ensure those who commit these egregious crimes are held accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint and Indictment filed in federal court:[1]
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, a/k/a “Jay Taylor,” a/k/a “Josie Reeser,” stole, or attempted to steal, money, credit, and personal information from more than a dozen women (the “Victims”) in cities across the country, including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.
TAYLOR contacted Victims using online matchmaking and networking websites, such as Match.com, eHarmony, Craigslist, and Seeking Arrangement. TAYLOR typically introduced himself as “Jay” and often falsely described himself as a wealthy businessman with oil and land interests in North Dakota. To some Victims, TAYLOR feigned interest in hiring the Victims to work on a new business TAYLOR purported to be creating. To other Victims, TAYLOR expressed an interest in a romantic and personal relationship. To most Victims, TAYLOR purported to be interested in both a personal and a professional relationship.
Using a variety of false pretenses, TAYLOR obtained the Victims’ personal identifying information, often including birthdates, addresses, and bank and credit account numbers. TAYLOR used the Victims’ personal identifying information to purchase goods, transfer funds, and open new accounts – all without authorization. In certain circumstances, TAYLOR opened accounts without the Victims’ knowledge. In other circumstances, TAYLOR opened accounts that he assured Victims were business accounts, but were, in fact, personal accounts in the Victims’ names, over which TAYLOR maintained exclusive control.
Often within a matter of months, Victims would discover thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges and transfers in their existing accounts, receive bills for accounts they had never created, or learn their existing accounts had been closed due to delinquency.
Independent of each other, multiple Victims confronted TAYLOR about his activities. To some, TAYLOR responded with insults. To others, TAYLOR responded with promises to repay the losses – and on at least one occasion attempted to repay one Victim with funds unlawfully obtained from another Victim. On multiple occasions, TAYLOR threatened to transmit sexually explicit images of the Victims – which he had obtained as part of his purported romantic relationships with them – to the Victims’ employers if the Victims tried to collect their debts.
TAYLOR’s fraud and attempted fraud totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
* * *
TAYLOR, 47, has been charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense; one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison; and two counts of threatening communications, each of which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentences for the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding work of the FBI for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.
The prosecution of this case is being overseen by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Rebold and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the case.
The charges contained in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and Indictment and the descriptions of the Complaint and Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Agreement Ensures Effective Communication with Hearing Impaired Individuals at John Dempsey HospitalRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the John Dempsey Hospital, which is a part of the University of Connecticut Health Center, has entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), to ensure effective communication with, and enhance the quality of services for, persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) by Connecticut’s Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities alleging violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, the complaint alleges that an individual who is deaf and communicates using American Sign Language (ASL) was discriminated against and denied an interpreter when John Dempsey Hospital failed to timely provide auxiliary aids and services during an Emergency Department visit for medical treatment. According to the complainant, she was forced to rely on her boyfriend’s limited ability to interpret her symptoms during the medical examination because her request for an ASL interpreter was denied by hospital staff. Within two days after discharge, the complainant’s symptoms had escalated, and she ultimately had an emergency appendectomy at another hospital because her appendix had burst.
Title II of the ADA prohibits public entities, including hospitals, from discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities by excluding such individuals from participation in or denying them the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or subjecting them to discrimination by any public entity. A public entity is required to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford individuals with disabilities, including applicants, participants, companions, and members of the public, an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity of a public entity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigates allegations of violations of the ADA and commences enforcement action as and when appropriate.
In coordination with DOJ, HHS-OCR initiated a compliance review of John Dempsey Hospital with regard to the Hospital’s policies and procedures for ensuring effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to determine the Hospital’s compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of the Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The investigation raised concerns about the Hospital’s policies and procedures to ensure effective communication with deaf or hard of hearing individuals.
Under the agreement, which resolves both the DOJ complaint investigation and the HHS-OCR compliance review, John Dempsey Hospital is obligated to take critical steps toward improving access to ensure communication with deaf and hard of hearing individuals is as effective as communication with those without disabilities, including revising its policies and procedures, revising its training, and performing initial and ongoing assessments of the need for auxiliary aids and services for patients and their companions who are deaf or hard of hearing.
John Dempsey Hospital also has agreed to pay the complainant $20,000 to resolve the matter.
The agreement is effective for two years, during which time both HHS-OCR and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the Hospital’s compliance.
“An important component of our federal law enforcement responsibilities is the protection of vulnerable communities, especially people struggling with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Daly. “Enforcement of the ADA is one of many tools we use to help achieve that goal. We are gratified with the number of ADA settlements that we have reached with public and private entities in Connecticut, and applaud the level of cooperation that these entities have demonstrated. UConn Heath Center, in particular, has already implemented a number of changes at John Dempsey Hospital that will benefit not only individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, but others with a broad range of disabilities, and ultimately all hospital patrons and companions.”
A copy of the voluntary resolution agreement may be found at: www.ada.gov/jdh_sa.html.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.
To learn more about the ADA and its application to public entities, places of public accommodation and commercial facilities, call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
Saturday 31 December 2016
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $3.1 million in Fiscal Year 2016Read the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The United States Attorney’s Office collected $3,149,500 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2016, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
According to Ihlenfeld, $1,001,768 was collected in criminal actions and $2,147,731 was collected in civil actions, and his office worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $155,650.00 in cases pursued jointly with those offices.
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
Friday 30 December 2016
“Bmb” Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Bronx Murder in Connection with Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARTIN MITCHELL, a/k/a “Tyliek,” pled guilty today to involvement in a racketeering conspiracy in connection with his membership in the “Big Money Bosses” (“BMB”), a violent street gang that operated primarily on White Plains Road from 215th Street to 233rd Street in the Bronx. As part of his guilty plea, MITCHELL admitted that he committed the murder of Keshon Potterfield, on or about June 22, 2014, in the vicinity of East 232nd Street in the Bronx. MITCHELL’s guilty plea was presided over by Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Martin Mitchell, as a member of the violent Bronx street gang Big Money Bosses, admitted to shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy at a birthday party. This type of senseless gang violence threatens the safety and security of all New Yorkers, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to confront it aggressively.”
According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceedings:
BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. Between 2007 and 2016, members and associates of BMB committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members in the Bronx – including murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies – and sold crack cocaine and marijuana.
MITCHELL was a member of BMB. On June 22, 2014, MITCHELL and other members of BMB attended a birthday party in the backyard of a residence in the vicinity of 232nd Street in the Bronx. Potterfield was one of the guests at the party and was shot by MITCHELL in connection with BMB’s rivalry with another street gang. Potterfield was 17 years old.
MITCHELL was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang Squad (the “Bronx Gang Squad”), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang Unit (“HSI”), the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx. The Indictment, which was unsealed on April 27, 2016, charged 63 members and associates of BMB with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms charges. To date, 30 of these defendants have pled guilty.
* * *
MITCHELL, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on April 27, 2016, in the Bronx, New York, and has been in federal custody since. MITCHELL pled guilty today to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the judge. MITCHELL is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Alison J. Nathan on April 6, 2017, at 3:30 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding work of the NYPD’s Bronx Homicide Task Force, the NYPD’s 47th Precinct Detective Squad, the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Maimin, Micah W.J. Smith, Hagan Scotten, Jessica Feinstein, and Drew Johnson-Skinner are in charge of the prosecution.
Waterloo Heroin Dealer Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A Waterloo woman who possessed heroin with intent to distribute near Morris Park in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in federal prison.
Michelle Hanson, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 3, 2016, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl near Morris Park in Waterloo, Iowa on March 2, 2016.
At the guilty plea, Hanson admitted she sold heroin and fentanyl out of her Waterloo home, which was located near Morris Park. A search of her home by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force resulted in the seizure of over 12 grams of heroin and six patches containing fentanyl.
Hanson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Hanson was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and a special assessment of $100 was imposed. She must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hanson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated as part of the National Heroin Initiative of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Tri-County Drug Task Force, which is comprised of the Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Falls Police Department, LaPorte City Police Department, Hudson Police Department, Evansdale Police Department, University of Northern Iowa Police Department, Waverly Police Department and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 16-CR-2036. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
U.S. Attorney's Office Collects More Than $15 Million for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2016Read the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey announced today that his office collected more than $15,765,000 in Fiscal Year 2016. Of this amount, more than $8,214,000 was collected in criminal actions and more than $7,551,000 was collected in civil actions.
In addition to funds collected solely by the United States attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Harvey’s office worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect $3,353,000 in cases pursued jointly with those offices. Of this amount, $2,370,500 was collected in criminal actions and more than $982,000 was collected in civil actions. Federal FY 2016 ran from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016.
“Federal law enforcement in the Eastern District of Kentucky is a wise investment for the taxpayers,” said Harvey. “Our top priority will always be to enforce the laws which keep Americans safe. We are pleased, however, that our efforts also enhance and protect the public treasury, while securing restitution for crime victims. Last year, we recovered an amount representing more than twice our office’s annual budget in fines, forfeitures, and restitution. We will continue to work hard every day to be good stewards of the resources allocated for our use.”
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Justice collected nearly $15.4 billion in civil and criminal actions in FY 2016. This amount represents more than five times the 2016 appropriated $2.93 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the litigating divisions of the Justice Department, combined.
“Every day, the men and women of the Department of Justice work tirelessly to enforce our laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the American people are protected from exploitation and abuse,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Today’s announcement is a testament to that work, and it makes clear that our actions deliver a significant return on public investment. I want to thank the prosecutors and trial attorneys who made this year’s collections possible, and I want to emphasize that the department remains committed to the well-being of our people and our nation.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
In addition to these collections, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected more than $12,356,000 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2016. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Tulsa Metro Area Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla.— TULSA, Okla.—Chief United States District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jesse Bud Leaverton, 58, to life imprisonment under the three-strikes sentencing statute for robbing three banks in the Tulsa metro area, announced Danny C. Williams Sr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Leaverton went on a bank robbery spree that begun on June 18, 2016, with the robbery of the Arvest Bank at 218 South Memorial Drive in Tulsa. On June 23, 2016, Leaverton robbed Bank of America at 5950 East Admiral in Tulsa and on June 24, 2016, Leaverton robbed Security State Bank in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Leaverton threatened the bank tellers with the use of a firearm and, in addition, threatened the Security State Bank teller with death.
Leaverton was located by the United States Marshals Violent Crimes Task Force in Missouri on June 30, 2016. On September 20, 2016, a jury found Leaverton guilty of all three bank robberies. Leaverton has an extensive criminal history. He has been convicted of numerous felonies, including: burglary, manslaughter, and armed bank robbery. Before he committed the instant robberies, Leaverton was convicted of robbing a bank in Missouri and received a sentence of 271 months. He was on federal supervised release when he committed the robberies in the Tulsa metro area.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, the Osage County Sherriff’s Office, the Talala Police Department, and the United States Marshals Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Neal C. Hong prosecuted the case.
Sole Remaining Defendant in Local 17 Prosecution SentencedRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Gerald H. Franz, Jr., 54, of Eden, New York, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to time served by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. He was further ordered to pay, jointly and severally with his codefendants, restitution in the amount of over $890,000.00.
Franz was the eighth and final defendant, of the twelve members of International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 17, AFL-CIO (Local 17) charged in a 2008 Superseding Indictment, to be convicted and sentenced. Four Local 17 members charged in the Superseding Indictment were found not guilty following a jury trial.
The Local 17 members charged were alleged to have acted, between January 1997 and December 2007, as a criminal enterprise by extorting and attempting to extort construction contractors doing business in Western New York. Among those Franz and others extorted or attempted to extort were Zoldaz Construction, in connection with that company’s efforts to demolish certain homes in Buffalo and to perform work at the Dunkirk Landfill in Pomfret, New York, and the Wadsworth Golf Construction Company, in connection with that company’s golf course construction efforts in Orchard Park and Cheektowaga, New York. The acts of extortion and attempted extortion committed by Franz and Local 17 members included damaging the heavy equipment of one of the companies by pouring sand into the oil box of such equipment, and making various threats to employees and representatives of such companies.
Earlier this year in August, Local 17’s former president and business manager, Mark Kirsch, was sentenced principally to three years in prison by Judge Skretny. At that time, Skretny noted how the Local 17’s activities had far-reaching consequences on the region. “I think it set back the development of the Western New York business community for decades,” Skretny said. “It slowed good job opportunities instead of creating good job opportunities.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Labor, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Cheryl Garcia; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam Cohen; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Steven Nigrelli.Rochester Man Convcted of Armed Cocaine Trafficking Sentenced to 20 Years and 8 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Kenya Brown, 41, of Rochester, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine), and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to 20 years and 8 months in prison and 5 years supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. He was further required to forfeit any interest in $303,355.00 in drug trafficking proceeds, along with 12 shotguns, 8 rifles, and 472 rounds of ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between 2006 and March 2012, Kenya along with his brother, Shawnta Brown, obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine, manufactured cocaine base from cocaine, broke down and packaged smaller quantities of cocaine and cocaine base for resale, distributed cocaine and cocaine base directly to others, operated drug houses where they directed and supervised lower-level members of the conspiracy who sold cocaine and cocaine base to others. The Brown brothers were arrested March 9, 2012, when officers raided 2294 Clifford Avenue, 138 Strong Street, 29 Aberdeen Street and other locations in Rochester utilized by the brothers in their drug trafficking operation. At these locations, officers seized more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, a quantity of cocaine base, firearms with ammunition, paraphernalia for the packaging, processing and weighing of narcotics, and receipts for gold and silver bars. A few days later, officers raided a residence in the Town of Red Creek, Cayuga County, seizing more firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, $303,355 in U.S. currency, and over $23,000 in gold and silver bars and coins. The investigation continued, and resulted in the arrest of Eric Contreras, 29, the California kilogram supplier on May 15, 2012, in Whittier, California. On April 9, 2013, Contreras was sentenced upon his conviction in the Western District of New York for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine to 188 months imprisonment. Shawnta Brown, who was also convicted on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and “crack” cocaine was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli and Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of Acting Resident Agent-in-Charge, William Reichard, with assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge, James Burroughs, and the United States Marshal Service, under the direction of United States Marshal Charles Salina.Rochester Man Convcted of Armed Cocaine Trafficking Sentenced to 20 Years and 8 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Kenya Brown, 41, of Rochester, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine), and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to 20 years and 8 months in prison and 5 years supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. He was further required to forfeit any interest in $303,355.00 in drug trafficking proceeds, along with 12 shotguns, 8 rifles, and 472 rounds of ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between 2006 and March 2012, Kenya along with his brother, Shawnta Brown, obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine, manufactured cocaine base from cocaine, broke down and packaged smaller quantities of cocaine and cocaine base for resale, distributed cocaine and cocaine base directly to others, operated drug houses where they directed and supervised lower-level members of the conspiracy who sold cocaine and cocaine base to others. The Brown brothers were arrested March 9, 2012, when officers raided 2294 Clifford Avenue, 138 Strong Street, 29 Aberdeen Street and other locations in Rochester utilized by the brothers in their drug trafficking operation. At these locations, officers seized more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, a quantity of cocaine base, firearms with ammunition, paraphernalia for the packaging, processing and weighing of narcotics, and receipts for gold and silver bars. A few days later, officers raided a residence in the Town of Red Creek, Cayuga County, seizing more firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, $303,355 in U.S. currency, and over $23,000 in gold and silver bars and coins. The investigation continued, and resulted in the arrest of Eric Contreras, 29, the California kilogram supplier on May 15, 2012, in Whittier, California. On April 9, 2013, Contreras was sentenced upon his conviction in the Western District of New York for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine to 188 months imprisonment. Shawnta Brown, who was also convicted on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and “crack” cocaine was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli and Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of Acting Resident Agent-in-Charge, William Reichard, with assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge, James Burroughs, and the United States Marshal Service, under the direction of United States Marshal Charles Salina.Rapid City Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Darrell Chase In Winter, age 24, was indicted on December 20, 2016. Chase In Winter appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 23, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Chase In Winter failing to register and update his registration as a convicted sex offender between May 14, 2016, and September 29, 2016.
The charge is merely an accusation and Chase In Winter is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.
Chase In Winter was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for February 28, 2017.
Pine Ridge Man Charged with MurderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder and Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence.
Thomas Joseph Brewer, 26, was indicted on December 20, 2016, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 28, 2016. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Brewer shooting a man in the stomach after an argument, killing him. The charges are merely an accusation and Brewer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Brewer was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Picayune Resident Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi. – Elza Eugene Harter, 52, of Picayune, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to serve 97 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Harter was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
On June 5, 2014, Harter was found to be in possession of a laptop and hard drive containing 111 images and 206 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct as defined in the federal laws for violations of the sexual exploitation of children. He pled guilty to the charge on September 21, 2016.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Okreek Man Charged with Sexual Abuse and Child AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Okreek, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and Child Abuse.
Marcos Lorenzo Bear Shield, age 21, was indicted on December 13, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 21, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for Aggravated Sexual Abuse is life in custody and a lifetime of supervised release. The maximum penalty upon conviction for both Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Child Abuse is up to 15 years in custody and 3 years of supervised release. Each offense carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on August 4, 2015, Bear Shield knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a sexual act with a minor. The Indictment also alleges that on the same date Bear Shield abused, exposed, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished the minor victim. The victim had attained the age of twelve years, but had not attained the age of sixteen years, and was at least four years younger than Bear Shield. The charges are merely accusations and Bear Shield is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Sanderson is prosecuting the case.
Bear Shield was temporarily remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mission Woman Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Yolanda Prue, age 31, was indicted on December 14, 2016. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 21, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, at least 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 3, 2016, Prue knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation and Prue is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Prue was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Georgia Man for Kidnapping, Heroin Trafficking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division (“DEA”), George P. Beach II, Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrest of EDWIN CABRAL MORA, a/k/a “Sosa.” CABRAL MORA was arrested yesterday in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and was presented today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Georgia and detained on consent.
CABRAL MORA is charged in four counts with conspiring to possess and distribute one kilogram and more of heroin, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and brandishing a firearm in connection with these offenses. In relation to the kidnapping counts, CABRAL MORA is charged with luring an individual (“Victim-1”) from New York to Georgia, where Victim-1 was transported by car to an apartment in which CABRAL MORA and others blindfolded, bound, beat, and tortured Victim-1 by burning Victim-1’s skin.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Edwin Cabral Mora not only trafficked in large quantities of heroin, but turned to violence, including participating in a vicious kidnapping. In April of this year, Mora allegedly lured a victim from the Bronx to Georgia, ultimately blindfolding, beating, and torturing the victim. Thanks to the remarkable efforts of the DEA, this allegedly dangerous man is now off the streets and will face criminal charges in New York federal court.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “DEA’s REDRUM Group specializes in tracking down drug traffickers that cross the line into kidnapping, torture and at times, murder. This investigation took the team on the road to Atlanta to arrest Edwin Cabral Mora for his alleged crimes.”
State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “Thanks to the hard work and partnership of law enforcement at the federal, state and local level, we are taking out a violent drug operation. This arrest should send the message that we will continue to aggressively pursue criminals who profit from illegal drugs at the expense of the safety and security of our neighborhoods.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The defendant in this case is an alleged drug trafficker who blindfolded, burned, beat and finally tortured a kidnapping victim in a particularly heinous crime. I am thankful to the NYPD detectives, DEA agents, and others whose work resulted in these charges in the Southern District.”
As alleged in the Indictment[1]:
Heroin Trafficking
CABRAL MORA conspired with others to distribute substantial quantities of heroin from at least January 2016 through May 2016, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere.
Kidnapping and Kidnapping Conspiracy
CABRAL MORA conspired with others to kidnap Victim-1, and did kidnap Victim-1 in April 2016. CABRAL MORA called Victim-1 by phone, when Victim-1 was in the Bronx, New York, to lure Victim-1 to Georgia. Once in Georgia, Victim-1 was transported by car to an apartment in which CABRAL MORA and others blindfolded, bound, beat, and tortured Victim-1 by burning Victim-1’s skin.
Firearms Possession
CABRAL MORA used, possessed, carried, and brandished firearms in relation to his heroin trafficking and kidnapping offenses.
* * *
CABRAL MORA, 38, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and distribute one kilogram and more of heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and brandishing a firearm in connection with the foregoing offenses, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, and also thanked the Georgia State Police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Atlanta HIDTA Groups 1 and 2 for their assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sagar K. Ravi and Amanda L. Houle are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit Arrest Spearfish Man for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PIERRE, S.D - Attorney General Marty Jackley and United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced today that the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Spearfish Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations have arrested Nicholaus Tripp, 28, Spearfish, South Dakota, on one count of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b).
Tripp was arrested on a criminal complaint on December 23, 2016, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 27, 2016. He pled not guilty to the charge.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years’ mandatory minimum imprisonment up to life.
The charge relates to Tripp utilizing the internet to attempt to engage in unlawful sexual acts with a minor.
The investigation is being conducted by the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Spearfish Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.
Tripp has been detained pending trial. A trial date has been set for February 28, 2017. The charge is merely an accusation and Tripp is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
INTERPOL Washington Highlights of 2016Read the Press Release
INTERPOL Washington had an exciting year in 2016!
[[{"fid":"921786","view_mode":"default","attributes":{"data-delta":"1"},"fields":{"format":"default","og_group_ref[und][0][default]":"1686"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","og_group_ref[und][0][default]":"1686"}}}]]Former Vice President of Maryland Bank Charged with Bank Embezzlement and Wire Fraud for Alleged Six-Year Scheme to Steal over $1.8 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Melissa Strohman, age 54, of Nottingham, Maryland, is facing federal charges of wire fraud and bank embezzlement, arising from a six-year scheme to steal over $1.8 million from bank customers at the bank where she worked, and use the money for her own benefit.
The criminal information was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Patti Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the criminal information, from April 2010 through July 2016, Strohman was Senior Vice President at a federal savings bank in Maryland, which had branches in Pikesville and Highlandtown. Strohman was responsible for managing the bank’s savings department, including overseeing deposits and Individual Retirement Accounts for every customer. In addition, as the bank’s Bank Secrecy Officer, Strohman was responsible for filing Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports for any transactions that were deemed to be suspicious or potentially illegal.
The criminal information alleges that, using her position at the bank, Strohman caused unauthorized transfers and withdrawals of funds from six customers’ bank accounts to pay for mortgages, credit card bills and property tax bills associated with Strohman and her family members. Three of the six victim customers were at least 80 years old, and for two of the accounts the customers were deceased.
Strohman allegedly used her supervisory override function on the bank’s electronic banking system to facilitate unauthorized transfers between Person One and Person Two’s accounts to accounts associated with Strohman; forged the signature of Person Two in order to complete an unauthorized transaction between Person Two’s bank account to an American Express account associated with Strohman; and caused unauthorized transfers of funds from Person One and Person Two’s accounts into Person Three through Person Five’s accounts to replace the monies Strohman stole from Person Three through Person Five and to conceal those thefts.
Strohman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, and a maximum of 30 years in prison for bank embezzlement. No court appearance has been scheduled yet for Strohman in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
A criminal information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FDIC Office of Inspector General and FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Selden and Evan T. Shea, who are prosecuting the case.
Former Opa Locka City Commissioner Charged in Corruption SchemeRead the Press Release
Former City of Opa Locka Commissioner Luis Santiago has been charged for his participation in a two-year long bribery and extortion under color of official right conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 666(a)(1)(B), and 1951(a).
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Santiago is charged by Information with conspiring with former Opa Locka City Manager David Chiverton, former Opa Locka Assistant Public Works Director Gregory Harris, and others to use their official positions and authority with the City of Opa Locka to solicit, demand, and obtain thousands of dollars in illegal cash payments from businesses and individuals in exchange for taking official actions to assist and benefit those businesses and individuals in their dealings with the City of Opa Locka. The case against Santiago is assigned to United States District Judge Kathleen M. Williams (Case No. 16-20971-CR). Santiago had his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Alicia Otazo-Reyes.
As alleged in the Information, in exchange for the illegal payments, Santiago would direct Chiverton, Harris, and other City of Opa Locka employees to assist the paying businesses and individuals by issuing occupational licenses; waiving, removing, and settling code enforcement matters and liens; initiating, restoring and continuing water service; and assisting with zoning issues. Santiago would pay Chiverton, and also would tell the businesses and individuals to pay Chiverton directly in exchange for these official actions.
Chiverton and Harris previously pled guilty. Chiverton was sentenced to 38 months in prison by United States District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, while Harris is awaiting sentencing before United States District Judge Beth Bloom.
If convicted, Santiago faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Edward Stamm.
An Information is merely an allegation and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Clients of More Than $824KRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOHN O’BRIEN, 53, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to one count of wire fraud related to his stealing more than $824,000 from clients of his law practice.
According to court documents and statements made in court, O’BRIEN was an attorney with an office located in Fairfield. Between approximately April 2011 and June 2014, O’BRIEN defrauded four clients by using funds from one client to pay off debts owed in connection with his representation of other clients, and also to pay for personal expenses, including the tuition for one of his children at a private high school.
In approximately May 2012, O’BRIEN accepted $458,343.06 into his Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (“IOLTA”) as proceeds of a reverse mortgage taken by a client (“Client 1”) and his client’s wife, both of whom are now deceased. The funds from the reverse mortgage were intended to pay debts that would keep the client’s family business sustainable. Between June 2012 and February 2014, O’BRIEN disbursed only $204,000 to the family business. In approximately July 2013, O’BRIEN received an additional $194,636.89 from bank accounts held in the name of his client and one of his client’s children. The funds were supposed to be distributed to the client’s children. Only $104,008 was distributed. In approximately April 2014, O’BRIEN accepted $837,250 into his IOLTA as proceeds of a sale of his client’s real property. Only $470,000 of that amount was disbursed to his client’s heirs. The first check written from O’BRIEN’s IOLTA account upon receipt of the $837,250 was to a prior unrelated client for a debt owed to that client. In total, O’BRIEN defrauded Client 1 of $712,221.95.
In May 2011, O’BRIEN deposited $74,250 from a second client (“Client 2”) into his IOLTA. The money was never disbursed to the client.
In approximately September 2011, O’BRIEN agreed to represent a terminally ill woman (“Client 3”) for estate planning. Upon this client’s death in January 2013, O’BRIEN received $137,000 from the estate into his IOLTA. After the deposit, O’BRIEN paid personal expenses from the IOLTA, including his son’s private school tuition and thousands of dollars to his ex-wife. Only $112,283.20 was distributed to the heirs of O’ BRIEN’s client. Upon a review of this matter by the Connecticut Bar Statewide Grievance Committee, O’BRIEN produced fraudulent memos allegedly written to the daughter of his client requesting “release” of various amounts. One of the memos included payment to the family business of Client 1 for a $15,000 lawnmower, which was paid for from Client 3’s estate. Client 3 did not purchase a lawnmower from the family business of Client 1.
O’BRIEN represented a client (“Client 4”) in the purchase of the client’s deceased mother’s home in Westport. In two payments in August 2013 and February 2014, the client transferred to O’BRIEN approximately $199,332 for purchase of the home, which O’BRIEN was supposed to pay to the fiduciary of the estate to complete the sale. In approximately April 2014, O’BRIEN finally paid the fiduciary of the estate to complete the sale. The check to the fiduciary of Client 4’s mother’s estate was the first check written from the defendant’s IOLTA upon receipt of the $837,250 in Client 1’s real estate sale proceeds. Because of the delay in the defendant’s transfer of payment to the fiduciary of the estate, Client 4 incurred approximately $13,558.38 in storage fees for belongings while the property was unavailable for occupancy by Client 4.
While O’BRIEN was engaged in the above conduct, he made withdrawals of thousands of dollars in cash from his IOLTA. On several occasions, deposits of the same or similar amounts were made into his personal bank account on the same day that the funds were withdrawn from his IOLTA.
O’BRIEN is scheduled to sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on March 23, 2017, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to approximately $1.6 million, and restitution in the amount of $824,747.13.
O’BRIEN resigned from the Connecticut bar in June 2015.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, with assistance from investigators of the Connecticut Statewide Bar Grievance Committee. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.
Eagle Butte Woman Indicted for Distribution of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Distribution of a Controlled Substance.
Ebony Hope Justyne Cook, age 20, was indicted on October 12, 2016. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on December 13, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on three occasions, July 19, 20, and 22, 2016, in Eagle Butte, Cook knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges are merely an accusation and Cook is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.
Cook was released on bond pending trial. Trial is set for February 21, 2017.
Eagle Butte Man and Woman Charged with IncestRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Incest.
Daniel Mexican, age 43, and Santana Mexican, age 25, were indicted on December 14, 2016. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 16, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on November 20, 2016, Daniel Mexican and Santana Mexican knowingly engaged in consensual sex with each other, when they are within the degrees of consanguinity which would render a marriage void.
The charge is merely an accusation and Daniel Mexican and Santana Mexican are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Both Defendants were released on bond pending trial, which has been set for February 21, 2017.
Eagle Butte Man Charged with BurglaryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Third Degree Burglary.
Joseph Marshall, age 37, was indicted on December 14, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 20, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 18, 2016, Marshall unlawfully broke into the Ranch House Café with the intent to commit the crime of larceny.
The charge is merely an accusation and Marshall is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Marshall was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
California Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
An El Cajon, California tax return preparer pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, to three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy for the Southern District of California.
According to documents filed with the court, Marla Cunningham, 50, of San Diego, California, owned and operated Cunningham’s Tax Service, a tax preparation business in El Cajon, California. Cunningham admitted that she prepared false individual income tax returns for her clients for tax years 2008 through 2010 that included false charitable deductions, unreimbursed employee expenses, education credits, medical and dental expenses and business expenses. Cunningham agreed that she caused a loss of more than $1.2 million.
Cunningham faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false return, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties at her sentencing scheduled for March 10, 2017.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney Duffy thanked special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Matthew Hoffman and Benjamin Weir of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Blunt Man Charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Blunt, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
Robert Dwayne Spaid, age 60, was indicted on December 13, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 21, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about October 27, 2016, Spaid, having previously been convicted of a felony, did knowingly possess a firearm. The Indictment further alleges that on or about November 23, 2016, Spaid knowingly possessed ammunition.
The charges are merely accusations and Spaid is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Spaid was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Thursday 29 December 2016
Virginia Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Econo Lodge in ScrantonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kelvin Robinson, age 25, of Newport News, Virginia was sentenced by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to serve 7 years in prison for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge in Scranton on February 13, 2016.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Robinson, previously pleaded guilty to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Robinson was one of four individuals, including Tracy Whiting, age 24, of Newport News, Virginia, Kwa’shon Roane, age 24, of Gloucester, Virginia, and Rodney Whiting, age 23, of Scranton, who were indicted by a grand jury in March 2016 for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge. Tracy Whiting, Rodney Whiting and Kwa’shon Roane also entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor Borough and Moosic Borough Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.
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Valentine, Nebraska Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Valentine, Nebraska, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 12, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Chelsey Sherri Little, a/k/a Chelsey Long Crow, age 22, was sentenced to 51 months in custody, 3 years of supervised release, a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Little was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2016. She pled guilty on September 27, 2016.
Between January of 2015 and March of 2016, Little and others conspired and agreed to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Little received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from individuals who knew that she intended to engage in further distribution of the drug. Little also provided methamphetamine to others knowing that they intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine within the District of South Dakota. It was reasonably foreseeable to Little that at least 350 grams of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Little was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collected Nearly $60 Million in Civil, Criminal and Asset Forfeiture Actions in Fiscal Year 2016Read the Press Release
CHICAGO — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois collected nearly $60 million in criminal, civil and asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2016, Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today.
The 2016 collections included $16,872,634 in criminal actions, $11,240,052 in civil actions, and $31,823,808 in asset forfeiture actions. The total of $59,936,494 is more than double the Office’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget of approximately $28.6 million. The total includes more than $3.6 million in criminally forfeited drug proceeds from convicted members of the Sinaloa Cartel, and more than $200,000 in administrative and criminal forfeitures arising from the prosecution of Steven M. Brazile, a corporate executive who used fraud proceeds to operate a classic car business.
The Office this year was able to restore $15.4 million to victims of federal crimes. It also collected $3,584,521 in criminal and civil cases pursued jointly with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Our attorneys and staff place a high priority on recovering funds for the federal treasury and for victims of federal crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Fardon. “The Office continues to deliver a valuable return to the taxpayers of our district.”
Nationally, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch recently announced that the Justice Department collected more than $15.3 billion in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2016, which ended Sept. 30, 2016. This figure represents more than five times the approximately $3 billion budget appropriated to the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department in that period.
“Every day, the men and women of the Department of Justice work tirelessly to enforce our laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the American people are protected from exploitation and abuse,” said Attorney General Lynch. “I want to thank the prosecutors and trial attorneys who made this year’s collections possible, and I want to emphasize that the department remains committed to the well-being of our people and our nation.”
The largest collections nationally were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct, or collected fines imposed on individuals or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, mortgage, financial, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
Overdose Investigations Lead to Heroin and Cocaine Distribution Charges against Bethel ManRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that PAUL MIGNANI, 51, of Bethel, was arrested last night on cocaine and heroin distribution offenses. The charges stem from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
MIGNANI is charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and cocaine. The charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was ordered detained.
According the complaint, on July 31, 2016, Bethel Police responded to a residence in Bethel on report of a possible heroin overdose and found an unresponsive 54-year-old female. The victim was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. It is alleged that MIGNANI distributed heroin that was consumed by the victim shortly before her death. In addition, on December 11, 2016, members of the Bethel Police and medical personnel responded to the report of an unresponsive 25-year old female at MIGNANI’s residence. It is alleged that MIGNANI distributed the controlled substances that were consumed by this victim shortly before her death.
On December 12, 2016, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of MIGNANI’s residence and seized approximately three grams of cocaine. MIGNANI was arrested on related state charges on that date.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Bethel Police Department, with assistance from the States Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury. The DEA Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, Greenwich, Shelton, Bristol, Vernon, Wilton, Milford, Monroe, Fairfield and Manchester Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.
New Haven, Connecticut Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison for Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that D’Hati Coleman, 38, of New Haven, Connecticut was sentenced today by United States District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. in Federal Court in Bangor to a 32-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine.
Court records and evidence introduced at the hearing demonstrated that on September 3, 2014, Coleman sold crack cocaine to an MDEA confidential informant. At the time of the transaction, Coleman was a fugitive from Connecticut, having escaped from a half-way house in that state. Evidence presented at the hearing also showed that during the time when Coleman was trafficking in drugs, he was also engaged in commercial sex trafficking by causing women to engage in prostitution for which Coleman received money. In sentencing the defendant, U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. told Coleman “it is bad enough to be selling drugs, but it is a different magnitude of evil to be involved in selling human beings.”
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the New Haven, Connecticut Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Department of Police Services.
Muskogee Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that TIMOTHY RAY CANNON, age 39, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release for FAILURE TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250(a)(1), 2250(a)(2)(B) and 2250(a)(3).
The Indictment alleged that from in or about September, 2014, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, until on or about April 13, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant, an individual required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, after having received felony convictions from the State of California, in Kerns County, on or about July 20, 2000, for Sex with a Minor, and on or about December 10, 2010, for the offense of Sexual Battery: Touch for Sexual Arousal, traveled in interstate commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
The Honorable Judge Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which, the nonparoleable sentence will be served.
Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.
Mission Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 19, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Sarah Jean Roblez, age 27, was sentenced to 46 months in custody, 3 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Roblez was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2016. She pled guilty on September 27, 2016.
Between January of 2015 and March of 2016, Roblez and others conspired and agreed to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Roblez received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from other individuals who knew that she intended to engage in further distribution of the drug in South Dakota. Further, Roblez provided methamphetamine to others knowing that they intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine within South Dakota. It was reasonably foreseeable to Roblez that at least 350 grams of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Roblez was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 20, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Norman Lee Ritter, age 49, was sentenced to 108 months in custody, 4 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, a mandatory special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100, and the forfeiture of firearms, ammunition, and $1,203 in U.S. currency seized by law enforcement on September 17, 2015.
Ritter was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2016. He pled guilty on October 4, 2016.
Between February of 2015, and March of 2016, Ritter conspired and agreed with other individuals to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. The conspiracy involved the distribution of between 1.5 and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Ritter received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from individuals who knew that he intended to engage in further distribution. Ritter then distributed that methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Ritter was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Memphis Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Sex Trafficking MinorRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A man who trafficked a female minor for sex has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Harold Davis, 28, of Memphis, Tennessee, trafficked a female minor runaway between May and June 2014. Davis met the minor on the street and took her to his house. After purchasing a cellphone and wig for the teen, Davis posted an image of her on Backpage.com to advertise her for commercial sexual encounters.
The defendant’s criminal activity was discovered when a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped Davis’ vehicle for a traffic violation. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy noticed a female minor in Davis’ backseat. The deputy also observed an unusually large amount of condoms and female hygiene products. The minor was identified and placed into foster care. However, within days, Davis communicated with the minor via Facebook, provided her with his contact information and helped her run away from her foster home.
During an investigation into the matter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Human Trafficking Task Force was able to link the Backpage.com ads to Davis through his phone number and email accounts.
In April 2016, a federal jury convicted Davis on one count of sex trafficking a minor and one count of using the internet to conduct an unlawful activity.
On Thursday, December 29, 2016, U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. sentenced Davis to 151 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Debra Ireland and Kasey Weiland prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Assault by Striking, Beating, and WoundingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding was sentenced on December 20, 2016, by U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes.
Sinjin Cameron, age 23, was sentenced to 180 days in custody, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cameron was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2016. He pled guilty to a Superseding Information on September 19, 2016.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on May 27, 2016, when Cameron had an altercation with the victim. Though the altercation was mutual, Cameron gained the upper-hand and rendered the victim unconscious, and as the victim laid on the road, Cameron struck the victim on or about the head, causing minor injury to the victim.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Cameron was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kyle Shooting Under InvestigationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an investigation is underway after an officer-involved shooting on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
On Tuesday evening, December 27, 2016, an officer with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety was on patrol in Kyle, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation when he had contact with a male individual. The officer had a brief conversation with the man when, at some point during the encounter, the man drew a firearm on the officer. In turn, the officer drew his own firearm and fired at least three rounds, hitting the individual and resulting in his death.
Other officers arrived on scene to find the first officer rendering aid to the male individual. It was subsequently determined the male was in possession of two 9-millimeter caliber firearms, a quantity of methamphetamine, and 200-300 rounds of ammunition.
Following Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety protocol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was immediately notified. FBI agents responded and began an investigation into the facts and circumstances of the shooting. That investigation is ongoing and an autopsy of the victim is scheduled to occur soon.
This matter remains under investigation by the FBI. Pending the results of the investigation, the officer has been placed on paid administrative departmental leave.
Justice Department Reaches Final Resolutions Under Swiss Bank ProgramRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached final resolutions with banks that have met the requirements of the Swiss Bank Program. The Program provided a path for Swiss banks to resolve potential criminal liabilities in the United States, and to cooperate in the Department’s ongoing investigations of the use of foreign bank accounts to commit tax evasion. The Program also provided a path for those Swiss banks that were not engaged in wrongful acts but nonetheless wanted a resolution of their status. Banks already under criminal investigation related to their Swiss-banking activities and all individuals were expressly excluded from the Program.
“The Swiss Bank Program has been and continues to be a vital part of the Justice Department's efforts to aggressively pursue tax evasion,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “This groundbreaking initiative has uncovered those who help facilitate evasion schemes and those who hide funds in secret offshore accounts; improved our ability to return tax dollars to the United States; and allowed us to pursue investigations into banks and individuals. I want to thank the Swiss government for their cooperation in this effort, and I look forward to continuing our work together to eradicate fraud and corruption.”
“Working with the Swiss government, we have made financial institutions reform the way they do business,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Bill Baer. “We are moving toward an era of global financial transparency, and those seeking to violate our nation’s tax laws, or the laws of our treaty partners, will find that the days of hiding funds abroad are over."
“The completion of the resolutions with the banks that participated in the Swiss Bank Program is a landmark achievement in the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat offshore tax evasion,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo. “We are now in the legacy phase of the Program, in which the participating banks are cooperating, and will continue to cooperate, in all related civil and criminal proceedings and investigations. The Tax Division, working closely with its colleagues throughout the Department and its partners within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), will continue to hold financial institutions, professionals, and individual U.S. taxpayers accountable for their respective roles in concealing foreign accounts and assets, and evading U.S. tax obligations.”
“The completion of the examination of Category 3 and 4 banks in the Swiss Bank Program marks another milestone in the continued success of this valuable criminal compliance effort,” said Chief Richard Weber of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). “IRS–CI will continue to partner with DOJ in pursuing those who facilitate or engage in international income tax evasion.”
The Program established four categories of Swiss financial institutions. Category 1 included Swiss banks already under investigation when the Program was announced, and therefore, not eligible to participate. Category 2 was reserved for those banks that advised the department by Dec. 31, 2013, that they had reason to believe that they had committed tax-related criminal offenses in connection with undeclared U.S. related accounts. In exchange for a non-prosecution agreement, the Category 2 banks made a complete disclosure of their cross-border activities, provided detailed information on accounts in which U.S. taxpayers have a direct or indirect interest, are cooperating in treaty requests for account information, are providing detailed information as to other banks that transferred funds into hidden accounts or that accepted funds when those secret accounts were closed, and must cooperate in any related criminal and civil proceedings for the life of those proceedings. The banks were also required to pay appropriate penalties.
Banks eligible for Category 3 of the Program were those that established, with the assistance of an independent internal investigation of their cross-border business, that they did not commit tax or monetary transaction-related offenses and have an effective compliance program in place. The Category 3 banks were required to provide the Department with an independent written report that identified witnesses interviewed and a summary of each witness’s statements, files reviewed, factual findings, and conclusions. In addition, the Category 3 banks were required to appear before the Department and respond to any questions related to the report or their cross-border business, and to close accounts of accountholders who fail to come into compliance with U.S. reporting obligations. Upon satisfying these requirements, Category 3 banks received a non-target letter pursuant to the terms of the Program.
Category 4 of the Program was reserved for Swiss banks that were able to demonstrate that they met certain criteria for deemed-compliance under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Category 4 banks also were eligible for a non-target letter.
Between March 2015 and January 2016, the Department executed non-prosecution agreements with 80 Category 2 banks and collected more than $1.36 billion in penalties. The Department also signed a non-prosecution agreement with Finacor, a Swiss asset management firm, reflecting the Department’s willingness to reach fair and appropriate resolutions with entities that come forward in a timely manner, disclose all relevant information regarding their illegal activities and cooperate fully and completely, including naming the individuals engaged in criminal conduct.
Between July and December 2016, four banks and one bank cooperative satisfied the requirements of Category 3, making them eligible for Non-Target Letters. No banks qualified under Category 4 of the Program.
“Offshore compliance remains an important area of tax administration,” said IRS Large Business & International Division (LB&I) Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell. “We are evaluating incoming information to detect accountholders who have evaded reporting overseas assets and income, and we are using this information to further untangle the web of financial institutions and intermediaries helping with this evasion. We have expanded our investigations to other regions of the world, and we will continue to apply these techniques to help protect honest taxpayers.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo thanked the IRS and in particular, IRS-CI and the LB&I for their substantial assistance. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo also thanked Tax Division Trial Attorneys Kimberle Dodd, Paul Galindo, Mark Kotila, Kathleen Lyon, and Thomas Voracek, who served as counsel on the Category 3 and 4 bank matters, as well as Senior Counsel for International Tax Matters and Coordinator of the Swiss Bank Program Thomas J. Sawyer and Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette L. Davis of the Tax Division.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Videos over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Richard Daniel Lord (58, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse videos over the Internet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5, up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervision. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Lord has been in federal custody since his arrest on September 30, 2016.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2016, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Lord’s Jacksonville residence, while he was at home. During an interview with agents, Lord admitted to using his cellular telephones to search for, download, and view child pornography, that he was most interested in images and videos of children between the ages of 10-12 years old, and that he searched for child pornography “constantly” and could not control himself. A forensic examination of one of Lord’s cell phones revealed a video that had been downloaded by him on September 16, 2016, depicting a prepubescent minor child being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Haskell Man Sentenced to 20 Months for Firearms TheftRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that LUIS CRUIZ RODRIGUEZ, age 18, of Haskell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 months, and 3 years supervised release for STEALING FIREARMS FROM A FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSED DEALER, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(m) and 2.
The Indictment alleged that on or about May 12, 2016, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly steal firearms from Richy’s Gun & Pawn, located in Checotah, Oklahoma, a federal licensed firearms dealer.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee Police Department, the Checotah Police Department, the Okmulgee Sherriff’s Office, the Okmulgee District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Judge Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which, the nonparoleable sentence will be served.
Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
General Cable Corporation Agrees to Pay $20 Million Penalty for Foreign Bribery Schemes in Asia and AfricaRead the Press Release
General Cable Corporation, a Kentucky-based manufacturer and distributor of cable and wire, entered into a non-prosecution agreement and agreed to pay a $20 million penalty, reflecting a 50 percent reduction off the bottom of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range, to resolve the government’s investigation into improper payments to government officials in Angola, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Thailand to corruptly gain business in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Criminal Division and Assistant Director Stephen Richardson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
“General Cable paid bribes to officials in multiple countries in a scheme that involved a high-level executive of the company and resulted in profits of more than $50 million worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “But General Cable also voluntarily self-disclosed this misconduct to the government, fully cooperated and remediated. This resolution demonstrates the very real upside to coming in and cooperating with federal prosecutors and investigators. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency.”
“In 2015, International Corruption Squads across the country were formed to address the national and international implications of foreign corruption,” said Assistant Director Richardson. “This settlement is an example of the exceptional efforts of those dedicated squads and investigators. The FBI looks forward to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to address corruption, no matter how big or small.”
According to General Cable’s admissions, some parent-level and subsidiary-level employees, including executives, knew that some of its foreign subsidiaries used third-party agents and distributors to make corrupt payments to foreign officials in order to obtain and retain business. In one case the foreign subsidiary made corrupt payments directly to foreign officials. The corrupt conduct began in 2002. In 2011, when employees from a General Cable subsidiary expressed concerns to regional and parent-level executives that commission payments were being used for improper purposes, including potentially bribery, General Cable nevertheless failed to implement and maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to detect and prevent such corruption and otherwise illegal payments.
According to admissions by General Cable made in connection with the resolution, these payments were discussed openly in email messages. For example, in June 2012, a sales agent in Bangladesh emailed an executive and other employees of General Cable’s subsidiary in Thailand and said that a portion of the money that the Thailand subsidiary paid the sales agent would “be shared by decision makers in [the] customer, concerned higher ups in [the] Ministry[,] and some top executives at [the] bidder.” In May 2013, the executive, who had become an executive at General Cable in December 2012, approved a payment to the Bangladeshi sales agent. In addition, in 2011, the same executive, who was at that time working at General Cable’s Thailand subsidiary, informed a General Cable executive that payments to a distributor in Thailand were being used for corrupt purposes. General Cable did not investigate those payments, which continued to be made.
Between 2002 and 2013, General Cable subsidiaries paid approximately $13 million to third-party agents and distributors, a portion of which was used to make unlawful payments to obtain business, ultimately netting the company approximately $51 million in profits.
General Cable entered into a non-prosecution agreement and agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $20,469,694.80 to resolve the matter. As part of the agreement, General Cable has agreed to continue to cooperate with the department in any ongoing investigations and prosecutions relating to the conduct, including of individuals, to enhance its compliance program and to report to the department on the implementation of its enhanced compliance program.
The department reached this resolution based on a number of factors, including that General Cable voluntarily and timely disclosed the conduct at issue, fully cooperated in the investigation and fully remediated. General Cable’s cooperation included conducting a thorough internal investigation; making regular factual presentations and proactively providing updates to the Fraud Section; voluntarily making foreign-based employees available for interviews in the United States; producing documents, including translations, to the Fraud Section from foreign countries in ways that did not implicate foreign data privacy laws; collecting, analyzing and organizing voluminous evidence and information for the Fraud Section; identifying, investigating and disclosing conduct to the Fraud Section that was outside the scope of its initial voluntary self-disclosure; and, by the conclusion of the investigation, providing to the Fraud Section all relevant facts known to it, including information about individuals and third parties involved in the misconduct. General Cable also took extensive remedial measures, including taking employment action against 13 employees who participated in the misconduct, resulting in their departure from the company, and terminating its relationships with 47 third-party agents and distributors who participated in the misconduct. Based on these actions and other considerations, the company received a non-prosecution agreement and an aggregate discount of 50 percent off of the bottom of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range.
In related proceedings, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a cease and desist order against General Cable, whereby General Cable agreed to pay approximately $55 million in disgorgement to the SEC, including prejudgment interest. Thus, the combined penalties and disgorgement paid by General Cable is approximately $75.75 million. The Fraud Section appreciates the cooperation and assistance provided by the SEC in this matter.
The FBI’s International Corruption Squad in Washington, D.C., investigated the case. The department appreciates the cooperation and assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Kentucky in this matter. Trial Attorneys Christopher Cestaro and Lorinda Laryea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in this matter.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Former President of St. Charles Company Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Income Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — The former President of Baytree Investors Inc., a defunct St. Charles company, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala.
CHRISTOPHER A. JANSEN, 64, of St. Charles, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $269,978 in restitution. Jansen pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2008, to charges of wire fraud and evading income taxes.
According to the written plea agreement, Jansen was President of Baytree Investors Inc., an Illinois corporation engaged in acquiring trucking companies. In 2001 Jansen learned DFC Transportation, a trucking company headquartered in Huntley, was for sale. Jansen admitted in his plea agreement that he created a Delaware corporation, DFCTC Holding Inc., and arranged for DFCTC to purchase DFC with money Jansen would borrow using DFC receivables as collateral. Jansen further admitted that he arranged for other individuals to be the owners of DFCTC, some of whom were previous investors in Baytree business acquisitions that had failed. Jansen also admitted that he represented to others that he was the corporate secretary and controlled both DFCTC and DFC, without appointment or authority, and avoided having shareholder or director meetings.
After its purchase, Jansen arranged for DFC to use its receivables to borrow more money from a bank, and without authorization ordered employees to transfer money from DFC to DFCTC. Jansen admitted he then distributed the money to himself and others for their personal use and benefit without disclosing it to the shareholders and directors. Specifically, on March 22, 2002, Jansen ordered the transfer of $250,000 by wire from a DFC account in Utah to a DFCTC account in St. Charles, for his own personal benefit and the benefit of others, without disclosing it to the shareholders or directors of either corporation.
In pleading guilty, Jansen further admitted that he attempted to evade income tax for the year 2002 that he owed to the United States. Specifically, Jansen admitted he failed to file a federal income tax return for that year, knowing federal income taxes would be calculated and due. Jansen also admitted he used a bank account in the name of a dissolved corporation, Talcott Financial Corporation, to receive his income and disburse his expenditures and intentionally failed to have Talcott file informational forms with the IRS for taxable income distributed to him from the account. Jansen also admitted in the plea agreement that he controlled Baytree and DFCTC and intentionally failed to have those corporations file informational forms with the IRS, such as Form 1099, regarding distributions of taxable income to him. Further, Jansen admitted he did not have a bank account in his name in order to avoid easy tracing of his income and avoid reporting to the IRS.
The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; James D. Robnett, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Jeffrey A. Monhart, Regional Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
Federal Prosecutions Remove over 100 Firearms from Central Florida over the Last Six MonthsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces today that federal prosecutions over the past six months in Orlando have removed more than 100 firearms from Central Florida communities. Since 2001, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida has participated in the national strategy to reduce gun-violence in communities – “Project Safe Neighborhoods.” The strategy involves the coordination and cooperation with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. To increase the prosecutorial resources necessary to address firearms and violent crime cases, the United States Attorney’s Office, Orlando Division, established a “Gun Unit” earlier this year. The purpose of the Gun Unit is to collaborate regularly with local, state, and federal partners to review and identify firearms and violent crime cases for federal prosecution.
Since June 1, 2016, the Orlando Division has charged over 40 individuals with firearms or violent crime offenses, reflecting an increase of more than 125% for the same period last year. The charges in those cases vary by defendant, but include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking or crime of violence, possession of a stolen firearm, bank robbery, and Hobbs Act robbery. More than 100 firearms have been seized or recovered from those charged (see attachment).
U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III stated, "Over the past six months, we have dedicated additional resources to the Orlando Division to prosecute violent crime and firearms cases. I would like to commend our local, state, and federal partners who have investigated those cases and we pledge to continue working with them to aggressively prosecute those individuals who illegally possess and use firearms in our communities.” In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked closely with its community partners to develop youth prevention, intervention, and outreach strategies to address the various issues associated with gun violence.
The cases summarized in the attachment were investigated by the Apopka Police Department, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, the Casselberry Police Department, the Cocoa Police Department, the Daytona Beach Police Department, the Lake Mary Police Department, the Melbourne Police Department, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, the Palm Bay Police Department, the Sanford Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, the St. Cloud Police Department, the Titusville Police Department, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. State cases are being coordinated and prosecuted by the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Brevard County), the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola Counties), and the Seventh Judicial Circuit (Volusia County).
The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Jackson Boggs, Jr., Chauncey Bratt, Emily C. L. Chang, Vincent S. Chiu, Tiffany L. Cummins, Christina R. Downes, Nathan Hill, Embry Kidd, Andrew C. Searle, Ilianys Rivera Miranda, Shawn P. Napier, Alejandro Salicrup, Sean Shecter, and Kara Wick.
An indictment or criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
For more information about the cases profiled in this release and other Project Safe Neighborhood cases throughout the Middle District of Florida, please visit our website. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.psn.gov.
Federal Jury Convicts Titusville Man of Theft of Government Money and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Ricardo Miguel Mayo (49, Titusville) guilty of theft of government money and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the money theft, to be followed by 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2017.
Mayo was indicted on September 21, 2016.
According to the evidence presented at trial, a fraudulent 2011 federal tax return in the name of an 84-year-old woman from Georgia was filed in January 2012. The fraudulent return requested that a federal tax refund in the amount of $9,874 be issued via a prepaid debit card, and that the debit card be sent to Mayo’s address. After the return was processed, Mayo received the debit card that was issued in the victim’s name. In February 2012, when the $9,874 tax refund was loaded onto the debit card, Mayo used the card to steal and convert government money in a series of large cash withdrawals and purchases.
This case was investigated by the St. Cloud Internal Revenue Service-Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, a task force comprised of the following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies: Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the United States Secret Service; the St. Cloud Police Department; the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office; the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office; the Palm Bay Police Department; the Casselberry Police Department; the Kissimmee Police Department; the Winter Park Police Department; and the Maitland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
Easton Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact: Chris Ruge
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Zane Wetzel, 31, of Easton, Maine, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to possessing child pornography.
According to court records, on about May 14, 2015, Wetzel possessed image and video files depicting child pornography. Some of these files, which he had purposely sought out and downloaded from the internet, depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children under the age of 12.
Wetzel faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and between five years and a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 19, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Robert Earlwin Lofton, Jr., a/k/a Robert Erwin Lofton, Jr., a/k/a Blue Lofton, age 35, was sentenced to 78 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeiture of $250 in United States currency, two firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement.
Lofton was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016. He pled guilty on September 27, 2016.
Between March of 2014 and April of 2016, Lofton and others conspired and agreed to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Lofton received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from individuals who knew that he intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine. Lofton also provided methamphetamine to others knowing that they intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine within the District of South Dakota. Lofton agreed that at least 350 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
On October 20, 2014, Lofton was arrested at the Cheyenne River Motel in Eagle Butte, with marijuana, drug paraphernalia, $250, and a pistol firearm and ammunition in his possession. On April 21, 2016, Lofton was arrested on the federal charges, at his residence in Eagle Butte. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement found methamphetamine in the residence, as well as a pistol firearm and ammunition in a vehicle parked in the driveway. All of the above items were seized by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Lofton was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dupree Man Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Dupree, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 19, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Ptan Clown, a/k/a P’tan Hoksila Clown, age 36, was sentenced to 8 months in custody, 3 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Clown was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2016. He pled guilty on October 4, 2016.
Between May 29, 2016 and June 8, 2016, Clown knowingly and intentionally distributed various amounts of methamphetamine for varying amounts of cash on three separate occasions. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Clown was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Charter School Principal Charged with Federal Program TheftRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that an Indictment has been handed down by the Grand Jury, charging Noel Rodriguez, 55, formerly of Dover, Del., with four counts of federal program theft. On each count, Rodriguez faces up to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release, in addition to possible fines and restitution.
According to the Indictment, during each of the years 2011 to 2014, while employed as the Principal of the Academy of Dover Charter School in Dover, Del., Rodriguez embezzled at least $5,000 of money or property belonging to the school. During that time period, the Indictment alleges, the charter school received yearly federal funding in excess of $10,000 from the United States Department of Education. This funding provides the basis for the federal program theft charges.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Education – Office of the Inspector General, and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Delaware Officer of Auditor of Accounts. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. Van Pelt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Indictments are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Betsy Jividen named Acting United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Betsy Steinfeld Jividen will serve as Acting United States Attorney beginning on January 1, 2017, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
“The U.S. Attorney's Office will be in good hands in the new year under the leadership of Betsy Jividen," said Ihlenfeld. "She has a tremendous amount of experience with the office, both inside and outside of the courtroom, and the public will be well-served with her at the helm.”Jividen was selected to serve as Acting U.S. Attorney by the Executive Office of United States Attorneys in Washington, D.C. after Ihlenfeld announced his resignation last week. She has held multiple leadership positions with the office over the past three decades, including serving as First Assistant United States Attorney since 2010. She also is in charge of the reentry efforts in the Northern District and represents the U.S. Attorney's Office in the federal drug court program.
Jividen is a 1972 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a 1980 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law. Jividen previously served as Acting U.S. Attorney from September 2009 until April 2010. She is a Wheeling native, and she and her husband have raised four children together.