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Tuesday 11 October 2016
Department of Justice Awards over $500,000 to Oregon Law Enforcement Agencies for Body-Worn Camera ProgramsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Monday, September 26, 2016, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced awards to establish and enhance law enforcement body-worn camera programs across the United States. Four Oregon law enforcement agencies are among 106 state, city, tribal, and municipal law enforcement organizations to receive funding from the grant program.
Washington County, Marion County, the City of Hillsboro, and Portland State University will receive a combined $511,864 dollars from the Body-Worn Camera Program. The program was launched in 2015 in response to a recommendation by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Research conducted by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has shown that law enforcement use of body-worn camera programs improve interactions with the public. Over a two-year period, BJA has provided over $41 million to body-worn camera pilot implementation programs.
Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, commended the local recipients of program funding and other Oregon law enforcement agencies committed to leveraging technology to strengthen relationships with their communities. “The principles of community-oriented policing,” Williams said, “require those of us in law enforcement to seek out new and innovative ways to build accountability with those we serve. Body-worn cameras and the local policies and procedures supporting them are an important tool to increase transparency and improve evidence collection both in Oregon and across the country.”
“The body-worn camera federal grant program,” said Patrick Garrett, Washington County Sheriff, “will greatly help our organization test, develop, and implement body camera technology to enhance a deputy’s ability to gather evidence, increase transparency, and bolster public confidence. I am very grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice,” Garrett continued, “for helping us implement this important program.”
“By outfitting our officers with body-worn cameras,” said Lee Dobrowolski, City of Hillsboro Police Chief, “we can demonstrate our commitment to transparency, build trust within the community, and document the good work our officers do every day.”
The Body-Worn Camera Program is funded under the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP). OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Department of Justice Awards over $4.2 Million to Improve Public Safety and Victim Services for American Indians in OregonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Monday, September 26, 2016, the Department of Justice announced the recipients of grants aimed at improving public safety, supporting victims, and strengthening legal institutions for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Five Oregon tribes and one tribal consortia are among the 131 grantees receiving funding under the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS).
The Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Klamath Tribes, and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission will receive a combined $4,220,070 across six different Justice Department grant programs. Each of the six grant programs target a unique aspect of public safety and the administration of justice in tribal communities, including community-oriented policing, alcohol and substance abuse, violence against women, corrections and correctional alternatives, and juvenile justice.
“Research shows that tribal communities live with disproportionate rates of violence and victimization,” said Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. “These awards are a positive step toward ensuring that all Oregonians have access to community justice programs that are adequately funded, effective, and culturally relevant.”
The Justice Department’s CTAS program provides a single application for tribal-specific grant programs and aims to streamline support provided by its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Office of Justice Programs, and Office on Violence Against Women. Since 2010, under CTAS, more than 1,600 grants totaling more than $726 million have been awarded to tribal communities across the country. To learn more about CTAS, please visit www.justice.gov/tribal/grants.
Denise M. Barton, Amy R. Romero Appointed Assistant U.S. AttorneysRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha today announced the appointment of Denise M. Barton and Amy Retsinas Romero as Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Rhode Island.
Ms. Barton, a criminal prosecutor for more than fourteen years, including five years as a county and state prosecutor in Massachusetts, and nine years as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office in San Francisco, graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1991, and earned her Juris Doctor at Tulane Law School, graduating magna cum laude in 1996. Ms. Barton is a native of Medfield, MA. Ms. Barton has been assigned to the Criminal Division.
Prior to her appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Romero clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third District and was a former staff attorney for Rhode Island Legal Services and Community Legal Aid in Worcester, MA. Ms. Romero, a Providence, RI native, graduated from Swathmore College in 2001 and earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2009. Ms. Romero has been assigned to the Civil Division.
In making the announcement, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha said, “I am enormously pleased to welcome AUSAs Barton and Romero to the Office. Ms. Barton is a talented and experienced federal prosecutor who can ably handle any type of case, and will add great strength to our Criminal Division. Ms. Romero has spent her career using her considerable talents as a civil litigator to help others, particularly those who, due to limited resources, would otherwise have difficulty exercising their legal rights. That is difficult, important, and often unheralded work, and I look forward to relying on her experience in strengthening our civil rights program.”
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Crossett Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
El Dorado, Arkansas – Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Samuel Calvin Richardson, Jr., age 33 of Crossett, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing in the United States District Court in El Dorado.
According to court records, on April 6, 2015, Crossett Police responded to a call of shots fired near a school in Crossett. Multiple officers responded and found Richardson and another individual in the parking lot and noted a strong smell of alcohol. One of the officers advised Richardson that he was going to pat him down for weapons. Richardson responded negatively and began to backup and ran off on foot. Officers caught up to him and took him to the ground when Richardson began reaching for his waist band and would not bring his hands behind his back. Officers were able to get him under control and found a 9 mm pistol in a holster under his jacket when they patted him down. Officers also found Richardson in possession of a badge at the time of his arrest. The weapon had a live round in the chamber with four rounds in the magazine. Richardson was mirandized and interviewed the next day and stated that he knew he was a felon and shouldn’t have the weapon and that he found it in a house he recently moved into. At the time he possessed the firearm, Richardson had a felony conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm in January of 2014 which was punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
Richardson was indicted by a federal grand jury in July, 2015 and pleaded guilty to the charge in November, 2015.
This case was investigated by the Crossett Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wulff prosecuted the case for the United States.
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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov
Coweta Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that JESSE KENT COX, age 34, of Coweta, Oklahoma, pled guilty to WIRE FRAUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, punishable by not more than 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine or both.
The Indictment alleged that on or about January 1, 2016, and continuing until on or about March 28, 2016, the defendant, JESSE KENT COX, devised and intended to devise a scheme to defraud persons to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.
Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following its completion.
Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Castle Cheese Company Executive Michelle Myrter Sentenced in Adulterated Cheese CaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – A cheese company executive has been sentenced in federal court to three years’ probation, a $5,000 fine and 200 hours of community service on her conviction of one misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting the introduction of adulterated and misbranded cheese products into interstate commerce, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Michelle Myrter, 44, of Harmony, Pennsylvania.
According to information presented to the court, Myrter was a responsible corporate officer of International Packing, LLC and Universal Cheese & Drying, Inc. While she was the responsible corporate officer for both companies, Myrter aided and abetted the companies’ introduction of adulterated and misbranded cheese products into interstate commerce, in violation of provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Universal Cheese & Drying, Inc. and International Packing, LLC each pled guilty to one count of conspiring to introduce misbranded and adulterated cheese products into interstate commerce and to commit money laundering. Sentencing hearings for the two companies will be scheduled by further order of the Court.
Prior to imposing sentence on Michelle Myrter, Judge Hornak stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to fulfill the purposes of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Myrter.
Cahokia Man Sentenced for Heroin, Methamphetamine and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
On Wednesday, October 5, 2016, Jovon C. Dolly, age 37, of Cahokia was sentenced to a term of 12 months and one day in federal prison for Distribution of Heroin, Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearms by a Felon.
Dolly pled guilty to the federal charges on May 19, 2016. At his change of plea hearing, Dolly admitted that he had sold heroin to a police confidential informant in East St. Louis on two occasions in March 2016, and that he had sold methamphetamine on a third occasion. When Dolly was arrested on March 13, 2016, police seized a loaded revolver and a shotgun from his residence in East St. Louis. Dolly admitted that these firearms belonged to him, and that he had been convicted of a felony prior to his arrest on the federal charges.
Dolly has been continuously confined in federal custody since his arrest. The investigation which resulted in Dolly’s arrest and conviction was conducted by officers assigned to the Illinois State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois (MEGSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.
Buisnessman Indicted on Embezzlement and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - An indictment was returned today charging David T. Shulick, 46, of Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, with embezzling funds from the School District of Philadelphia. Shulick was also charged in a scheme to defraud PNC Bank, and with filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.
The indictment charges that between 2010 and 2012, defendant Shulick, and co-conspirator Chaka Fattah, Jr., embezzled funds from the School District of Philadelphia, in part by misrepresenting the educational services that would be provided to students pursuant to a contract between the School District and Shulick’s company, Unique Educational Experiences, Inc. (“UEE”). According to the indictment, Shulick and Fattah Jr. hid the true costs of services provided by UEE by submitting false budgets to the School District of Philadelphia. The indictment alleges that the budgets contained false entries for benefit costs, inflated staff salaries, and salaries for staff positions that were never filled at the school operated by UEE. The indictment alleges that as a result of this scheme, defendant Shulick fraudulently obtained funds from the School District of Philadelphia that were supposed to be used to educate students. According to the indictment, defendant Shulick used those funds to enrich himself, including by paying for contractors who performed work at Shulick’s personal residence and vacation homes.
The indictment also alleges that Shulick and Fattah Jr. devised a scheme to defraud PNC Bank. According to the indictment, Fattah Jr. had defaulted on a loan made by PNC. As part of the scheme, Shulick acted as Fattah Jr.’s lawyer and threatened PNC Bank with the possibility that Fattah Jr. might file bankruptcy if he were unable to resolve his outstanding debts, which would result in the bank receiving little or no repayment on the loan. According to the indictment, defendant Shulick sent a letter to PNC Bank, offering to settle PNC Bank’s claim for $2,500. The letter included a form which represented that Fattah Jr.’s monthly income was $2,500. According to the indictment, Shulick’s companies were paying Fattah, Jr. a salary of $75,000 per year, and Shulick and Fattah Jr. had entered into an agreement to increase Fattah Jr.’s compensation.
Finally, the indictment charges that Shulick filed false federal income tax returns for tax years 2009, 2010, and 2011. According to the indictment, Shulick failed to report all of his taxable income in these years, and improperly claimed itemized deductions.
The charges were announced by United States Attorney Zane David Memeger, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Harpster, IRS Special Agent-in-Charge Akeia Conner, and Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent-in-Charge Geoffrey D. Wood.
If convicted of all charges, Shulick, faces a substantial term of imprisonment, restitution to the School District of Philadelphia and PNC Bank, and a fine of up to $3,800,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Education, with the cooperation of the Philadelphia School District’s Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Donovan.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Armed Robbery of Guilderland Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aristedes Duartez III, age 37, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his violent, armed robbery of a Guilderland, New York, jewelry store.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Guilderland Police Chief Carol J. Lawlor, and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
U.S. Attorney Hartunian stated, “During a robbery of $99,000 worth of Rolex watches from a jewelry store, Duartez jabbed a saleswoman in the back and ribs with his handgun and one of his accomplices pepper-sprayed a 77-year-old saleswoman. Thanks to the outstanding, painstaking investigation of federal and local agencies in New York and Pennsylvania, Duartez will now spend many years in prison for this horrible crime. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make sure that his accomplices are also held accountable.”
Guilderland Police Chief Carol J. Lawlor stated, “On March 15, 2012, an armed robbery at Frank Adams Jewelers in the Town of Guilderland was committed that was so violent it terrorized not only those involved, but residents throughout the town. Only through the diligence of our investigators, one of whom worked untold hours in his off-duty time, and the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Aristades Duartez III was arrested and sentenced today for his part in this horrific incident. The Guilderland Police Department is pleased to make this announcement along with our colleagues, and offers sincere thanks to the FBI, the York Area Regional Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in bringing this individual to justice.”
Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the FBI, stated, “Today’s sentencing is the result of many long hours of dedicated work by the FBI, the Guilderland Police Department and our law enforcement partners. Thanks to the joint efforts of law enforcement, Duartez will see just punishment for his criminal deeds.”
Around 8 p.m. on March 15, 2012, Duartez and three others robbed Frank Adams Jewelers on Western Avenue in Guilderland. Duratez and one of the other men entered the store and asked two saleswomen about some of the jewelry on display. A third man then entered the store, went to the Rolex watch display, smashed the glass display case with a hammer, and then stole 20 watches worth approximately $99,000. A fourth robber waited outside in a getaway car.
As the watches were stolen, Duartez pulled out a handgun, jammed it into the back and ribs of one of the saleswomen, and then shoved her toward a back room. At the same time, another robber shoved the 77-year-old saleswoman to the same back room, pulled her to the floor by her hair and shot pepper spray into her face as she cried and complied with their directions. Duartez and another robber then tied the wrists of the saleswomen with zip-ties and left.
Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also ordered Duartez to serve 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release; restitution will be assessed at a later date.
This case was investigated by the Town of Guilderland Police Department and the FBI, with assistance from the York Area Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Sharpe.
Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that James Long (44, Brevard County) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, between 2010 and June 2013, Long and others used the Professional Pain Center located at 860 East State Road 434 in Longwood to conspire and to cause the distribution and dispensation of controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.
Long, as president and owner of the clinic, employed approximately 10 physicians who were willing to write unlawful and invalid prescriptions for Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances. Long admitted that doctors working for his clinic engaged in a repeated pattern of issuing prescriptions for controlled substances without a legitimate medical reason, outside the usual course of professional practice. According to the plea agreement, any reasonably prudent physician would not issue such prescriptions for controlled substances in the quantity and combinations prescribed because of the danger of overdose and death coupled with the likelihood of diversion.
Long and his conspirators conducted financial transactions involving the drug proceeds. As a result, Long has agreed to forfeit numerous assets that he obtained directly from or are traceable to the unlawful operation of the clinic.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
Berkeley County man pleads guilty to failing to register as a sex offenderRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Saul Hicks Williams, 36, of Inwood, West Virginia pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender in federal court today, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.From September 2015 through November 2015, Williams failed to register and update his registration as a sex offender in Berkeley County, WV. Williams is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by reason of a conviction under state law, to wit: Sexual Assault in the Third Degree, in the Circuit Court of Berkeley County, West Virginia. He pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.”
He faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Belleville Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Domino'sRead the Press Release
Sterling D. Gould, 38, of Belleville, Illinois, was sentenced in federal district court, in East St. Louis on September 26 for armed robbery.
Gould was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment, as well as 5 years’ supervised release after his prison term, and was ordered to pay $368 restitution and a $300 special assessment. Gould previously pled guilty to charges stemming from a July 12, 2015, armed robbery of the Belleville, Illinois, Domino’s Pizza.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Belleville Police Department as part of the Metro East Armed Robbery Initiative and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Three Stores and Three BanksRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced Gregory George Branch age 42, of Essex, Maryland, today to 130 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for three armed commercial robberies and three bank robberies.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
According to his plea agreement, on June 23 and July 3, 2015, Branch robbed a grocery store in Baltimore and convenience store in Essex, respectively. In each robbery, Branch approached the cashier, pretending to make a purchase, before raising his shirt to display what appeared to be the handle of a black handgun. Branch then demanded money from the cashier, who gave him money from the register and Branch left the store. On July 4, 2015, Branch robbed a discount store in Brooklyn Park, Maryland, displaying what appeared to be a black handgun. Branch ordered the security guard to place guard’s weapon in a trash can, then ordered the security guard and the store manager to open the safe. The manager gave Branch approximately $300 from the safe and Branch ran away.
Branch also admitted that on July 1, July 14 and July 17, 2015, he robbed three banks, stealing a total of approximately $4,402. In each robbery, Branch presented the teller with a note demanding money. In the note presented in the July 14, 2015, robbery Branch claimed to have a gun and in the robbery on July 17, 2015, Branch pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the teller.
When Branch was arrested, he was in possession of a black pellet gun that was used in all three of the store robberies and the bank robbery on July 17, 2015.
Branch also admitted that he committed nine other robberies or attempted robberies of businesses in Baltimore City and Baltimore County during June and July of 2015.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Sullivan, who prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Armed Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Greg Miera, 50, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court to an armed bank robbery charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Miera was arrested in March 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him and four co-defendants, Martin Huerta, 43, Christian Herrera, 20, Isaiah Gallegos, 20, and Christopher Gallegos, 31, all of Albuquerque, with bank robbery. According to the complaint, a source identified the co-defendants as the individuals involved in robbing the US Bank branch located at 5620 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, on March 30, 2016. The complaint alleged that Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers conducted surveillance as a vehicle with four men pulled up to the US Bank on the afternoon of March 30, 2016. The complaint further alleged that three of the men remained outside in the vehicle while the fourth entered the US Bank, threatened to shoot the bank employees, and demanded that two bank tellers place cash into a plastic bag.
Miera, Huerta, Herrera, Isaiah Gallegos and Christopher Gallegos were subsequently indicted on an armed bank robbery charge on April 27, 2016.
During today’s proceedings, Miera entered a guilty plea to the indictment and admitted participating in the armed robbery of the U.S. Bank branch in Albuquerque on March 30, 2016.
Co-defendant Huerta previously entered a guilty plea to the indictment on Sept. 9, 2016. Huerta entered his guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
At sentencing, Miera and Huerta each face a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison. Both remain in custody pending sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.
The three remaining co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to the indictment. Charges in complaints and indictments are merely accusations. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.
Monday 10 October 2016
Statement from the US AttorneyRead the Press Release
Last week law enforcement within the Central District of California suffered multiple tragedies as peace officers were victimized by senseless violence. The murders of Sergeant Steve Owen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny of the Palm Springs Police Department serve as a dark reminder of the dangers that police officers face every minute of every day that they are on duty. These three brave officers made the ultimate sacrifice while making the community safer for all of us. Our community is diminished by their absence, but their examples should inspire all of us to work harder to achieve a better society, one worthy of their memories.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the Department of Justice offer our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families and loved ones of the slain officers. They will not be forgotten.
Statement by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on the Passing of Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth ThompsonRead the Press Release
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today released the following statement on the passing of Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson:
“With the passing of Kenneth Thompson, the United States has lost a tireless defender of equal rights and a steadfast champion of equal justice. Through our work together as federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York, I came to know Ken as a devoted public servant. That determination was at the center of all his cases, including the prosecution of police officers for the assault upon Abner Louima, a case I had the privilege of working on alongside him. Ken leaves behind a proud legacy of integrity, selflessness and excellence. Our nation is a stronger and safer place because of his dedicated service. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. He will be truly missed.”
Joint Statement from Department of Justice, Department of the Army and Department of the Interior Regarding D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, the Department of the Army and the Department of the Interior today issued the following statement regarding the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
“We appreciate the D.C. Circuit’s opinion.
“We continue to respect the right to peaceful protest and expect people to obey the law.
“The Army continues to review issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Tribal nations and their members and hopes to conclude its ongoing review soon. In the interim, the Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access Pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe. We repeat our request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.
“We also look forward to a serious discussion during a series of consultations, starting with a listening session in Phoenix on Tuesday, on whether there should be nationwide reform on the Tribal consultation process for these types of infrastructure projects.”
Sunday 9 October 2016
Statement by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on Fatal Shooting of Police Officers in Palm Springs, CaliforniaRead the Press Release
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today released the following statement regarding yesterday’s shooting in Palm Springs, California:
“Our nation’s heart is broken yet again by the appalling act of violence that claimed two brave law enforcement officers on Saturday. Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny were at opposite ends of their careers, but they shared a steadfast devotion to the people they had sworn to serve. In a moment of unimaginable crisis, they stayed true to their oaths, laying down their lives to keep their community safe. My thoughts and prayers – and the thoughts and prayers of the entire U.S. Department of Justice –go out to the family, loved ones and colleagues of these two fallen heroes. Let their sacrifice remind each of us of the dangers that brave men and women in law enforcement confront each and every day on our behalf. And let their example inspire each of us to ask what we can do to create a more peaceful, a more united, and a more just society – one worthy of the memory of Officers Vega and Zerebny.”
Saturday 8 October 2016
Jury Convicts Man for Role in Transporting Heroin Hidden in Frame of CarRead the Press Release
DAYTON – A U.S. District Court jury convicted Carlos Pavon, 42, an illegal alien from Honduras, of conspiring with others to bring more than 2.5 kilograms of heroin hidden in the frame of a car into the Miami Valley.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and law enforcement agencies in the Homeland Security Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force, announced the verdict returned late Friday, October 7 following a trial that began October 4 before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
The jury convicted Pavon of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a crime punishable by at least ten years and up to life in prison.
According to court testimony, task force officers investigating a lead provided by law enforcement officials in California questioned Pavon and two other men at a Dayton hotel in November 2014. After talking with the men, agents searched a car connected to them at the hotel. Officers found two loaded semi-automatic handguns and items often involved in weighing and repackaging heroin. A drug dog sniffed the car and indicated the presence of illegal drugs. Task force officers took the car to the Fairborn Police Department and found five bricks of heroin, a total of more than 2.5 kilograms, hidden in the frame of the car. Officers arrested the three men on a federal complaint. They have been in custody since their arrest.
“We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to reduce the supply of heroin in our region,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Hidden compartments or ‘traps’ are a common method used by drug traffickers and officers receive constant training on detecting these traps.”
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force led by Homeland Security Investigations include Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office, the Butler Township Police Department and the Miami Township Police Department.
"The number one way to target and dismantle a criminal group is to hit them where it hurts the most - in their wallets," said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge for HSI Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. "This conviction and the guilty pleas of the other defendants are a testament to the immeasurable value of the Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force and the unique expertise and authorities each member agency brings to bear in these complex investigations."
A grand jury indicted Pavon along with Amilcar Antonio Cortez Grande, 32, an illegal alien from El Salvador, and Mario Felix, 45, Spring Valley, California in December 2014. Grande and Felix pleaded guilty before Judge Rice in May 2015 to conspiracy and firearms charges. Grande was sentenced in November 2015 to 90 months in prison. Sentencing is pending for Felix. Evidence showed that Felix had driven the car from California to Ohio to deliver the heroin to Pavon and Grande.
Judge Rice will schedule a sentencing hearing for Pavon. As an illegal alien, Pavon faces deportation after he serves time in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the federal, state and local agencies involved, and Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Healey and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Vipal Patel, who are representing the United States in this case.
Friday 7 October 2016
“Honest Relieable” Tax Service Provider Found Guilty of Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Donna Demps guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 3, 2017.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Demps formed the Florida corporation “D&D Honest Relieable [sic] Tax Services LLC.” She then used the corporation to open bank accounts into which she electronically transferred tax refunds obtained by stealing the identities of real people, many of whom were veterans, disabled, elderly, or otherwise unable to care for themselves. Demps never registered her tax preparation service with the Internal Revenue Service since she would have had to reveal that she was an eight-time convicted felon. Through her bank accounts, Demps stole more than $120,000 over a one-year period.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo and Kristen A. Fiore.
Worcester Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in U.S. District Court in Worcester on child pornography charges.
Christopher Rondeau, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 68 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In July 2016, Rondeau pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.
On Sept. 21, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Rondeau’s residence in Worcester. In the home, agents recovered several computers and other storage devices with over 1,700 images and videos containing child pornography. While Rondeau was not home at the time of the warrant, he was located and arrested soon after.
Following his arrest, Rondeau confessed to downloading child pornography and also explained that agents would find sexualized communications with a 14-year-old girl on his cellphone. A search of the phone thereafter confirmed the presence of those messages.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Woodside Resident Sentenced to 31 Months in Prison for StructuringRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Per Alftin was sentenced today to 31 months in prison, and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000, for structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf.
Alftin, 52, of Woodside, was charged in an Information with a single count of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324(a)(3). Alftin pleaded guilty to the charge on June 24, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, Alftin admitted skimming at least $1,493,500 in cash from the gross receipts of his business, Alftin Construction, and structuring his bank transactions to conceal his activities, between 2009 and 2012. Alftin admitted knowing that banks have obligations to report certain cash transactions, and that he structured his banking in an effort to prevent such reports.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, United States District Court Judge, in San Francisco. In addition to the 31 month sentence and $10,000 fine, Alftin was sentenced to a one-year period of supervised release. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on February 2, 2017.
Assistant US Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Woodbridge Man who Bought Guns for Drug Dealer Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – McGary Dean Williams, 24, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for his role in the illegal purchase of two guns for cocaine traffickers.
“Prosecuting straw purchasers is essential because of the critical role these purchasers play in enabling the unlawful possession and use of guns,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Prohibited individuals who cannot buy guns, including convicted felons, rely on straw purchasers to buy the guns for them. Often times the guns then end up in the hands of dangerous individuals, as in this case.”
Williams pleaded guilty on April 25. According to court documents, on Nov. 12, 2015, Williams, at the urging of co-conspirator Francis Joseph Douglas, purchased two guns from a federal firearms dealer located in Woodbridge. At the time of the purchase, Williams completed a firearms transaction form that asked, “Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s)?” Williams knowingly lied when he answered “Yes” on the form, because he was unlawfully acquiring the guns for others, not for himself. Law enforcement recovered the firearms less than 24 hours later, when the Prince William County Police Department arrested Douglas at a local storage facility.
Douglas pleaded guilty on September 7, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Douglas is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-97.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that David Whitworth, 44, of Madison, Wisconsin, who was convicted of production of child pornography and receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny.
“This case demonstrates how unscrupulous predators are willing to take advantage of the innocent dreams of children,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “As a result of this sentence, this defendant will no longer have the opportunity to do so.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that in July 2011, a 16 year old contacted the Lancaster Police Department and reported that she had been contacted by several modeling agencies. All of the agencies offered the 16 year old girl the promise of a modeling career and money if she sent photographs of herself in various stages of undress. Lancaster Police then contacted the FBI.
In a subsequent interview, the victim told police that she met a male identified as “Logan” in an AOL chat room. “Logan” offered to take her to New York City and help her become a model. The victim sent photographs to “Logan.” After sending the photos, the victims said she was contacted by 10 other people who indicated they were modeling agents or associates or “Logan.” The victim then sent multiple graphic images to these agents and associates via the internet. Further investigation determined that the defendant was “Logan” as well as the other modeling agents and associates.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Cheektowaga Police Department under the direction of Chief David Zack, and Lancaster Police Department under the direction of Chief Gerald Gill.Winnebago Men Convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney, Deborah Gilg, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the following information for the attention of the media:
A federal jury has found Anthony Whitewater, 24, and Marcus Blackhawk, 27, guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Whitewater was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In the early morning hours of May 2, 2016, Whitewater and Blackhawk, both enrolled members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, attended a party at the residence of another enrolled member in Winnebago, Nebraska. While at the party, Whitewater became involved in a conflict with an enrolled member of the Omaha Nation Indian Tribe. The conflict resulted in Whitewater being punched in the face and receiving a bloody nose. Whitewater was kicked out of the party and vowed to return. Believing that the person with whom he had had the conflict was traveling in the vehicle of other Omaha Nation Tribe members, Whitewater, while being driven in a vehicle operated by his brother, Marcus Blackhawk, began a high speed chase of the other vehicle while shooting at that other vehicle. The fleeing vehicle was hit by Whitewater seven times. Fortunately, neither of the occupants of the fleeing vehicle were hit.
Whitewater was prohibited from possessing firearms as a consequence of prior felony convictions. Judge Laurie Smith Camp set sentencing for January 23, 2017.
Whitewater and Blackhawk are both subject to sentencing of up to 10 years on the assault charge to be followed by not less than 10 years consecutive on the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Whitewater is also subject to 10 years on his felon in possession conviction.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Williamsville Man Sentenced on Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Nicholas Mussolini, 30, Williamsville, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Musssolini was also ordered to pay $ 1,028,782 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who handled the case, stated that the defendant defrauded investment companies in an advance fee scheme, which resulted in financial losses. The victims included a film production company, Applecreek Productions, located in England which lost more than $400,000. Mussolini, and his co-conspirators, represented to the victim film production company that he could obtain a standby letter of credit from banks outside the United States. The defendant assured representatives of the company that he could monetize the stand by letter of credit which would provide the film production company with $100 million dollars in loans. As part of the scheme, Mussolini required the company to provide him with $500,000 which would purportedly cover the costs associated with the financial transaction. The film production company provided the funds but instead of using the money to obtain financing, the defendant, and his co-conspirators, used the funds for their own purposes. Mussolini committed similar acts with several other companies seeking financial backing.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen.
United States Attorney’s Office Participating in Events to Mark National Community Policing Week Including ‘Coffee with a Cop’ TodayRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – President Obama has designated this week as National Community Policing Week to “reaffirm our commitment to supporting and advancing the practice of community policing and to fortifying the bonds between police officers and communities.”
The United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles is marking National Community Policing Week by participating in numerous programs across the Southland that strengthened the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it serves. This morning federal prosecutors across the Southland participated in “Coffee with a Cop” day, where police officers shared coffee with community members, and United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker participated in a “virtual ride along” with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Community Relations Team.
Throughout the week federal prosecutors were out in the community, building relationships and continuing to open dialogues at community fairs, read-alongs at elementary schools, and a screening and discussion of the FBI film “Chasing the Dragon,” which chronicles the horror of prescription drug abuse.
The United States Attorney and Assistant United States Attorneys are partnering with law enforcement agencies around the region, including the South Pasadena Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Redondo Beach Police Department, the LAPD, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the San Marino Police Department.
Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect. At the center of community policing is the idea that all members of the community – both sworn officers and civilians – have a stake in the safety of their neighborhoods where they live and work.
The Department of Justice has invested heavily in the concept of community policing. Earlier this week, United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced $119 million in grant money to 184 law enforcement agencies for the hiring of Community Policing Officers. The grant recipients included the City of Los Angeles ($3.125 million), the City of Santa Ana ($1.25 million), and the San Bernardino Police Department ($2.85 million).
Monday’s announcement follows several grants made in the last two months by the Department of Justice to local governments to improve police community relations:
Recipient
Grant Amount
Purpose of Grant
City of Compton
$95,747
Hire and Train Neighborhood Leaders
City of Covina
$10,645
Community Services Officer
City of Covina
$186,635
Body Worn Cameras
City of Downey
$26,358
Neighborhood Preservation Program, Neighborhood Watch Program, Crime Impact Team
City of El Monte
$28,492
Community Policing Programs
City of Lancaster
$68,883
Good Citizenship Program for At-Risk Youth
City of Long Beach
$259,000
Safe Schools Strategy
City of Los Angeles
$1.87 Million
Community and Law Enforcement Recovery (CLEAR) Program
City of Los Angeles
$331,041
Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program
City of Norwalk
$30,840
Equipment to Increase Safety in City Parks and Other Areas
City of Riverside
$150,000
Body Worn Cameras
City of Rosemead
$11,712
School Resources Officer
City of San Luis Obispo
$74,060
Body Worn Cameras
City of Simi Valley
$187,500
Body Worn Cameras
City of South Gate
$41,484
Overtime for Officers Dealing with Mentally Ill and Homeless Population
City of West Hollywood
$21,903
Overtime for Law Enforcement Presence in Parks
Los Angeles County
$999,600
Body Worn Cameras
County of Riverside
$577,900
Body Worn Cameras
National Community Policing Week builds on President Obama’s efforts to engage with law enforcement and other members of the community to implement key recommendations from the 21st Century Policing Task Force report. Yesterday the Attorney General recognized the LAPD, which was represented by Deputy Chief William Scott and Captain Ruby Flores, for its community policing efforts at the inaugural Attorney General’s Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing in Washington, D.C. These awards were given to those “who exemplify remarkable achievements in innovative community policing strategies, criminal investigations, and field operations.”
“National Community Policing Week is an important opportunity to highlight the Department of Justice’s outreach to the communities we serve,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Developing and maintaining relationships between law enforcement and the communities that it serves are vital to improving transparency and community confidence. Such dialog is critical to addressing both the needs of law enforcement and the concerns of the community."
For more information on National Community Policing Week or the Community Policing Tour, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/community-policing-tour.
U.S. Marshal, U.S. Attorney Recognize Local Law Enforcement for Excellence in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
BOISE – The United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshal Service for the District of Idaho on Wednesday night presented 14 local law enforcement officers with its “Excellence in Community Policing Awards,” as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Community Policing Week. The awards recognize commitment and excelling in community policing, helping community members live lives of safety, opportunity and purpose.
“These fourteen law enforcement officers represent the best of policing and the commitment that their agencies have to working together to develop positive and lasting relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities we serve,” said Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho. “We are pleased to be able to highlight for the entire Treasure Valley the great work these officers do.”
“Strengthening the relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities we serve and protect is one of the top priorities of the Department of Justice and for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Idaho,” said Olson, “The purpose of National Community Policing Week and of our forum at the College of Western Idaho is to foster dialogue, promote cooperation, and help citizens and law enforcement officers get to know one another as partners in our shared efforts to build stronger, safer, and more just communities for every American.”
Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect and serve. At the center of community policing is the idea that all members of the community, both officer and civilian, have a stake in the safety of their neighborhoods where they live and work.
The fourteen officers recognized are:
Boise Police Officer Dan Lister, liaison officer for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Officer Lister is recognized for his work breaking barriers, improving communication and developing a partnership so that law enforcement can better serve the LGBT community, and, in turn, the entire community.
Boise Police Corporal Brek Orton. Corporal Orton is recognized for his significant community outreach to students, staff and visitors at Boise State University. Among his community outreach programs is the “Red Shirt Ride-along” program, which teaches first-year athletes at Boise State about the real-life realities of policing in Boise.
The eleven officers of the Meridian Police Department School Resource Officer program:
Sergeant Shawn Harper, supervisor
Officer Ray Ellis
Officer Bobby Allison
Officer Leroy Sunada
Officer Dave Gomez
Officer Ryan Rhodes
Officer Mark Payne
Officer Arnel Catic
Officer Courtney Dozier
Officer Greg Kortan
Officer Kirk York
These officers are recognized for their work in Meridian middle schools and high schools. In addition to their daily duties of problem-solving at schools, these SROs donate their time to other community activities such as Shop with a Cop.
ATF Special Agent Ralph Lambright. Special Agent Lambright, an expert in firearms and explosives, is recognized for his outreach at schools and community events where he educates members of the public on the dangers of explosive devices.
“We are fortunate in Idaho to have outstanding community policing efforts at every level of law enforcement,” said U.S. Marshal for the District of Idaho Brian T. Underwood. “These outstanding officers have demonstrated a commitment to working with community members and making their neighborhoods and their schools safer and stronger. The U.S. Department of Justice and its law enforcement agencies are proud to recognize these officers’ excellence in community policing.”
U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners for Second Chance Job FairRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Florence, South Carolina----On Tuesday, September 27, 2016, the South Carolina U.S. Attorney’s office joined with S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation, S.C. Probation, Pardon and Parole and the U.S. Probation office, as well as other state and federal partners, to sponsor a Re-Entry Job and Resource Fair for individuals with criminal records. This is the first in a slate of four planned re-entry fairs intended to support South Carolinians with criminal records in their efforts to gain employment.
The Re-entry Job and Resource Fair was held at the Florence South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Center. The fair featured a variety of employers from various industries, including hospitality, construction, food service, manufacturing, and staffing agencies. The job fair also featured two workshops: Interviewing Skills/ Resumes and the Expungement/ Pardons Process. In addition to the job fair, multiple resource providers and local colleges presented information on their respective organizations, including continuing education and the GED program. More than 300 job-seekers from the community attended the fair.
In addition to the job seekers making application for jobs, employers were also informed about the federal bonding program and the tax benefits associated with hiring a person with a criminal record. The Federal Bonding program provides Fidelity Bonds for “at risk” employees, at no cost to the employer for the first six months of employment. Additionally, employers may be eligible for the “Work Opportunity Tax Credit” of up to $2,400 for each individual they hire with a criminal record.
Acting United States Attorney Beth Drake addressed the importance of the re-entry initiative as a way to build safer communities. “It is vital in reducing recidivism for communities to support formerly incarcerated individuals in their effort to become productive and a positive member of our communities - employment is a major step in that process. Individuals who have a criminal record have a hard time finding employment, which in turn makes it difficult to support themselves and their families. Employment helps ex-offenders reintegrate back into society, decreases the likelihood that an individual will commit further crime, increases community safety, and of course saves tax dollars by decreasing the prison population.”
Critical to the success of these job fairs is the vision and support of Neal Getsinger, Commissioner SC Vocational Rehabilitation; Jerry Adger- Director SCPPP, Chief Dickie Brunson- US Probation, and Director Cheryl Stanton of S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake added, “We work best when we work together. The goal here is stronger, safer communities. The state and federal agencies that put these job fairs together did some great work which has the potential to change lives.”
Job seekers with and without a record can sign up and search for opportunities via www.scworks.org.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Joins Law Enforcement Partners to Support National Community Policing WeekRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that as part of “National Community Policing Week” a “neighborhood walk” in the Midtown area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, took place last night. One of the top priorities of the Department of Justice is strengthening relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities we serve and protect. Community policing – public safety efforts built on resilient bonds of mutual trust and respect between law enforcement officers and neighborhood residents – is an essential component of law enforcement work. One way to build trust and legitimacy is for law enforcement officers to engage and collaborate with local residents and community organizations to identify areas of concern and coordinate solutions to community problems.
Participants in the “neighborhood walk” in Midtown Harrisburg were representatives from various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, along with members of the “Friends of Midtown Community Organization.” Included were representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, the Harrisburg Mayor’s Office, the Harrisburg Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, and the United States Marshals Service.
“As the newly appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, one of my key priorities is supporting and promoting strong relationships between law enforcement and the communities we serve and protect. The “neighborhood walk” in midtown Harrisburg is a demonstration of my commitment to that goal.”
“Events such as last night’s neighborhood walk demonstrate that all levels of law enforcement and community members can come together to address crime in our neighborhoods,” said Gary Tuggle, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Strengthening bonds with the community is an important part of the DEA’s mission to raise awareness about the current prescription opioid and heroin epidemic that is ravishing our communities.”
“United with the community we serve, through trust and confidence, we can work as one to root out those who oppose peaceful and safe neighborhoods. The community should know that ATF’s highest priority is reducing and preventing gun violence on our streets. Together, with open dialogue and citizen contributions, we can have stronger bonds with a shared purpose of fighting violent crime and to make certain that where we live and work is a safe place.” Said ATF Special Agent in Charge Sam Rabadi.
“To keep our communities safe, we need everyone on board,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster. “The FBI is committed to our productive partnerships with law enforcement at every level, and to promoting strong relationships with the citizens we all serve. Events like this support our common cause.”
On November 2015, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with federal, state and local partners announced a renewed strategy for reducing and preventing violent crime and drug activity in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, focusing on the Harrisburg, York, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport areas. The program, known as “Violent Crime Reduction Partnership,” identifies communities which are most in need of anti-violence and anti-drug solutions and targets high-priority offenders in those communities for aggressive prosecution. The event last night in midtown Harrisburg was meant to demonstrate to the community our awareness of the problems they face, to demonstrate that law enforcement is working together to fight crime in these areas, and most important, to solicit and encourage input from local residents and community organizations for solutions to these problems.
As part of the promoting the dialogue between law enforcement and the community, each federal, state and local law enforcement agency has a “tipline” where local residents can report suspicious activity to the police:
U.S. Marshal Service - tips for fugitives call 1-800-336-0102 or [email protected]
FBI – call 215-418-4000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/
ATF - call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477) or anonymous tips can be reported to ATF via the Reportit® App (download at Google Play or the Apple App Store)
DEA - “Submit A Tip” at https://www.dea.gov/ops/submit.php
Pennsylvania State Police - PA Crime Stoppers - 1-800-4PA-TIPS; Drug Trafficking Tip Line - 1-877-PA-NODRUGS; Terrorism/Fugitive Tip Line - 1-888-292-1919
Harrisburg Police Bureau - https://dauphin.crimewatchpa.com/hbgpd/3271/submit-tip
In addition, prosecutors and police officers are available to meet with the public in schools, township meetings and other appropriate venues to discuss topics of mutual concern. For example, on September 19, 2016, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs held a well-attended symposium on heroin and prescription drug abuse at Central Penn College in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. Events such as this serve not only to educate the public on public health and safety matters but also to promote a strong relationship between law enforcement and the community.
On October 7, 2016, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with our federal, state and local partners, will hold a similar “neighborhood walk” in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Our offices are committed to continuing the process of building strong bonds of trust and respect between law enforcement and the public they serve.
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U.S. Attorney, Birmingham Police Officials Attend National Community Policing AwardsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Birmingham Police Department were in the nation’s capital Thursday to take part in the Justice Department’s first Community Policing Awards Ceremony.
As representatives of one of the 12 cities that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch visited on her Community Policing Tour over the past 15 months, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Coordination Manager Lyndon J. Laster, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper and Birmingham Police Deputy Chief Henry Irby III attended the afternoon ceremony in the Great Hall of the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice Building in Washington, D.C. The awards ceremony took place during National Community Policing Week.
The attorney general presented awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing to recognize individual state, local or tribal sworn police officers and deputies who exemplify remarkable achievements in innovative community policing strategies, criminal investigations and field operations.
Birmingham was the second city on Lynch’s Community Policing Tour when she visited in June 2015. Birmingham was among the first six cities named in March 2015 as a pilot site for DOJ's National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. The attorney general undertook her tour of cities to highlight important and innovative work in police-community relations, and to examine ways in which those programs can be applied to other jurisdictions.
On her visit to Birmingham, Lynch met with some recent graduates of Birmingham's Youth Citizen's Police Academy, a program of the Birmingham Police Department and the Mayor's Office of Community Policing and Revitalization, in association with the Woodlawn Foundation. She addressed cadets at the Birmingham Police Academy and held a roundtable discussion with community leaders at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
U.S. Attorney and Distinguished Guests Attend Inaugural Community Policing Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, October 6, 2016, Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, Captain Kevin Modica from the Portland Police Bureau, and Reverend Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr. from the Albina Ministerial Alliance attended the inaugural Distinguished Service in Community Policing Awards Ceremony at the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Attorney Williams praised his guests’ hard work and commitment to community policing throughout the Portland area. “Community policing is founded in the commitment of both law enforcement and citizens working together to build trust and safer neighborhoods. I admire Captain Modica and Rev. Dr. Haynes’s leadership in building bridges between our law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. True community-oriented policing,” Williams continued, “is not a goal that can be achieved overnight, but with the hard work of these two men and others in our community, I am confident that our work will be a success.”
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates delivered remarks at the inaugural event, along with Ronald Davis, Director of the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local or tribal sworn police officers and deputies who exemplify remarkable achievements in innovative community policing strategies, criminal investigations, and field operations.
The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with National Community Policing Week. During the week of October 2-8, 2016, the Justice Department will host nearly 400 events to support community policing efforts around the country. To learn more, please visit go.usa.gov/xkxEU.
U.S. Attorney Announces Video Campaign to Educate Parents, Kids and Community Leaders on Growing Opiate EpidemicRead the Press Release
Video links will be sent to hundreds of school administrators,
in more than 60 counties in Kentucky Videos have potential to reach 1.7 million people on Facebook Videos include perspectives from parents, a federal prison inmate,
a recovering addict, medical and health professionals, and more.LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is announcing the launch of a video campaign to better educate communities on the opioid and heroin epidemic and address misperceptions about the problem. The office has created four videos that are now available on its website: justice.gov/usao-edky/heat. The videos will be promoted using social media, and links to the videos will be sent to over a thousand school and community leaders, including mayors, county judge executives, and school resource officers, across the 67 counties comprising the eastern half of the state.
The videos include a wide variety of perspectives on the opiate issue – including that of a federal prison inmate, an addict in recovery, parents who have lost a child to an overdose, a nurse-manager of a hospital Emergency Department, one of the nation’s top physician addiction specialists, a public health official, a federal prosecutor, the head of the DEA in Kentucky, and U.S. Attorney Harvey.
The videos will address topics such as the origin and escalation of the opiate epidemic; why a person turns to opiates; the nature of opiate addiction; what parents need to know to educate their children concerning the danger of opiate abuse, and law enforcement efforts to combat the problem.
"To win this fight, we must clearly understand what we’re up against," said U.S. Attorney Harvey. "We must acknowledge that the opioid epidemic threatens every segment of our community and we must eliminate the false stereotypes and misperceptions that hamper our efforts. These videos provide important insights from those who, in one way or another, have been deeply affected by this epidemic. These videos will compliment what our families from the USA HEAT program are already doing in their presentations to community."
The campaign includes a social media strategy that has the potential to reach 1.7 million people in the eastern half of Kentucky using Facebook.
Below is a list and description of the videos:
Heroin’s Hold (22:30): A history and current state of the opioid epidemic. Medical, public health, and law enforcement professionals explore the relationship between widespread use of prescription opioids and the heroin epidemic. Addicts tell their stories of the power of addiction. Families share their stories and advice after overdose deaths.
Heroin is Here (4:09): Federal prosecutor and DEA Special Agent explore the history and current state of the opioid epidemic, including the prevalence of heroin and fentanyl, and the federal government’s drug enforcement response.
Heroin is Hell (4:09): Recovering addicts and their families share their stories of the path and power of opioid addiction and the struggle to overcome addiction.
Heroin Hurts (4:19): Families tell about the struggle of opioid addiction and tragedy of heroin and fentanyl overdose deaths.
To learn more about the United States Attorney’s fight against Kentucky’s heroin epidemic, please visit USA HEAT at justice.gov/usao-edky/heat, or Google "U.S. Attorney’s HEAT."
Two men charged with distribution of controlled substances in Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned indictments this week charging two men from the Eastern Panhandle with distributing various controlled substances, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Michael Ernest Marshall, 33, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, allegedly distributed oxycodone, methadone, and carisoprodol and Clark Corbin, 40, of Ranson, West Virginia, allegedly distributed cocaine hydrochloride and heroin. Marshall and Corbin both allegedly distributed the substances earlier this year in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Marshall has been charged with two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methadone,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Carisoprodol,” and one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone.” He faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000 for each of the oxycodone and methadone possession charges; up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the carisoprodol possession charge; and up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000 for the oxycodone distribution charge.
Corbin has been charged with one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” He faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000 for each charge.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Camilletti and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher, also of the West Virginia Assistant Attorney General’s Office, are handling the cases on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cases.Two Sentenced for Stealing Identities to Obtain Fraudulent Student LoansRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Ernest Xavier Taylor, Jr., 31, and Tracie Laverne Mixon, 34, both of Hammond, Louisiana, were sentenced today to 51 and 45 months in prison, respectively, for charges relating to stealing the identities of four people to fraudulently obtain federal student loans from Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and other schools.
Taylor Jr. and Mixon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and financial aid fraud in addition to aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Taylor Jr. and Mixon engaged in a conspiracy to use the identity of four different people to fraudulently obtain federal student aid from NVCC and other schools. The four different people included three who were in prison at the time their identities were used, and the fourth person was recovering in a military hospital after suffering injuries while deployed as a member of the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
Taylor Jr. and Mixon would use the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of these four different people on various submissions, but Taylor Jr. and Mixon would supply their own addresses, emails, and telephone numbers to ensure that communications from the Department of Education, NVCC, and the other schools would be directed to Taylor Jr. and Mixon. The indictment also alleges that recorded telephone calls captured Taylor Jr. pretending to be the four different identities when calling to check on the status of financial aid from NVCC. Taylor Jr. and Mixon’s fraudulent actions allegedly caused NVCC and other schools to offer approximately $67,000 in federal student aid to the various identities used by Taylor Jr. and Mixon.
In addition to NVCC, the other schools targeted by Taylor Jr. and Mixon are: Front Range Community College; Community College of Denver; Portland Community College; and Black Hills State University.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian D. Harrison and Edward P. Sullivan prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The investigation received assistance from the Northern Virginia Community College Police Department.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-CR-118.
Two Members of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Convicted on Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Las Cruces, N.M., returned a verdict yesterday finding Amado Acevedo-Gonzalez, 36, a Mexican national, and Yolanda Rodriguez, 50, a U.S. citizen who formerly resided in Mexico, guilty on drug trafficking offenses and money laundering charges after a four-day trial. The jury’s guilty verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, Ismael Nevarez Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation, and Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Self of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector.
Acevedo-Gonzalez and Rodriguez were convicted on multiple charges contained in a 45-count indictment that was filed in Oct. 2015. The indictment charged Acevedo-Gonzalez, Rodriguez and 18 others with participating in a major drug trafficking organization (DTO) that imported large amounts of cocaine, marijuana and heroin from Mexico into the United States. The indictment alleged that members of the DTO distributed the cocaine, marijuana and heroin in Albuquerque and other places in the United States, and smuggled drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico. According to the indictment, the conspiracy operated in Doña Ana, Luna and Bernalillo Counties from Oct. 2014 through Oct. 2015.
The indictment was the result of an investigation by the DEA, FBI, IRS and U.S. Border Patrol that was designated as part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies and their local counterparts in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. During the investigation, federal agents seized and purchased 6.2 kilograms of cocaine, 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1039.9 kilograms of marijuana, and 351 grams of heroin. They also seized $267,030.00 in drug proceeds and other assets valued at approximately $153,000.00.
Of the 20 defendants charged in the indictment, 12 have been arrested, including ten who entered guilty pleas, and the remaining eight are fugitives. Acevedo-Gonzalez, who was charged with participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and using a communication device to facilitate drug trafficking crimes, and Rodriguez, who was charged with participating in the drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies and international money laundering, entered not guilty pleas, and elected to proceed to trial.
The trial of Acevedo-Gonzalez and Rodriguez began on Oct. 3, 2016. The trial concluded yesterday when the jury returned verdicts finding Acevedo–Gonzalez and Rodriguez guilty on all of the charges against them. The evidence at trial established that Acevedo-Gonzalez and Rodriguez were part of a Mexican DTO that imported cocaine and marijuana into the United States, and exported the drug proceeds back to Mexico. More specifically, the evidence established that Acevedo-Gonzalez, distributed marijuana for the DTO, and that Rodriguez was a courier who transported drugs and drug proceeds from Albuquerque to Mexico for the DTO.
During the trial, the jury learned about the ten-month investigation into the DTO during which court-authorized wiretaps were used to gather evidence that permitted federal agents to learn about shipments of cocaine and marijuana that were transported in tractor-trailers from Mexico to an auto body shop in Albuquerque. From the auto body shop, a member of the DTO coordinated with bosses in Mexico to distribute the drugs, and to collect drug proceeds and transport them back to Mexico. Federal agents testified about this pattern – drugs going north in tractor-trailers and drug proceeds going south – occurred numerous times. Based on their knowledge of this pattern, federal agents were able to seize more than $250,000 in drug proceeds from couriers and a tractor-trailer containing marijuana.
The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning their guilty verdicts against Acevedo-Gonzalez and Rodriguez. Both remain in federal custody pending sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Acevedo-Gonzalez faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, and Rodriguez faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The following defendants have entered guilty pleas in this case and, except as noted, are awaiting sentencing:
- Rene Amaya-Rivas, 27, a Mexican national who was residing in Odessa, Texas, pled guilty on April 27, 2016, to conspiracy, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and money laundering charges.
- Pablo Alberto Arana-Delgado, 35, a Mexican national who was residing in El Paso, Texas, pled guilty on June 8, 2016, to conspiracy and possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute charges.
- Elier Gabriel Jaime-Castillo, 35, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, pled guilty on Aug. 30, 2016, to conspiracy, money laundering, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and use of a communication device to facilitate a drug trafficking crime charges.
- Mauricio Ledezma, 23, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty on Dec. 8, 2015, to misprision of a felony, and was sentenced on April 6, 2016, to 24 months of probation.
- Cerbando Carbajal, 20, of Columbus, N.M., pled guilty on March 29, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges.
- Emilia Quezada, 31, a U.S. citizen who was residing in Chihuahua, Mexico, pled guilty on April 1, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges.
- George A. Taylor, 55, of Deming, N.M., pled guilty on April 20, 2016, to conspiracy, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and money laundering charges.
- Grisel H. Majalca, 32 of Columbus, N.M., pled guilty on Aug. 3, 2016, to conspiracy, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug trafficking crime and money laundering charges.
- Leonardo Martinez-Olivas, 49, a Mexican national, pled guilty on May 11, 2016, to conspiracy and money laundering charges.
- Neftali Garcia-Torres, 20, a Mexican national, pled guilty on Sept. 14, 2016, to misprision of a felony.
The following defendants, all Mexican nationals, have yet to be arrested and are considered fugitives: Edgar Estopellan-Torres, Ignacio Villalobos-Salinas, 30, Angel Daniel Silva-Silva, 31, Rigoberto Estopellan-Torres, 35, Jesus Muñoz-Lechuga, 36, Emilio Delgado-Olivas, 43, Jesus Gilberto Varela-Sanchez, 28, and Carlos Adrian Ortega-Acevedes, 25. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Las Cruces offices of the DEA, FBI, IRS and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Selesia L. Winston and Renee L. Camacho of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Turkish National Sentenced for Arms Export Control Act OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Hamza Kolsuz, 43, a Turkish national, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his attempted exportation of weapons parts to the Republic of Turkey in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.
Kolsuz was found guilty after a bench trial by the Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III on March 2. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kolsuz has on at least three occasions since 2012 attempted to smuggle various weapons parts to Turkey. Kolsuz, who engaged in this unlawful conduct for profit along with other individuals, purchased weapons and weapons parts in the United States and then traveled with them to Turkey, where they would be reassembled and sold. In an attempt to circumvent U.S. weapons exportation laws, Kolsuz would either pack the weapons parts in luggage and check the bags in connection with flights to the Republic of Turkey, or he would send weapons parts through the mail.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 2, 2012, Kolsuz checked in for a flight at JFK International Airport in New York with a final destination of Istanbul, Republic of Turkey. His checked luggage included: 40 upper receivers for semi-automatic pistols; 20 grip modules for Sig Sauer pistols; 16 barrels for semi-automatic pistols; 26 firearms magazines for firearms; and one pistol grip.
On Jan. 8, 2013, Kolsuz checked in for a flight at JFK International Airport with a final destination of Istanbul. Despite having been specifically informed on Dec. 2, 2012, that it was illegal to export weapons parts without an export license, his checked luggage contained one Beretta slide, one firearm barrel, one Beretta recoil spring, and one Beretta guide rod.
On Feb. 2, 2016, Kolsuz began his return trip to Istanbul by checking in at Miami International Airport for a flight that took him to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. He then checked in for a flight that was to take him and his checked luggage from Cleveland through Washington Dulles International Airport before embarking for Istanbul. In Cleveland, Kolsuz checked luggage containing four 9mm Glock 31-round magazines; four 9mm Glock 17-round magazines; four 9mm Glock 15-round magazines; eight 9mm Glock 10-round magazines; one 9mm Smith & Wesson 32-round magazine; four 9mm Sig Sauer handgun barrels; and five 9mm threaded Glock 19 barrels, in addition to various other weapons parts.
All of the weapons parts found in Kolsuz’s checked luggage on Dec. 2, 2012; Jan 8, 2013; and Feb 2, 2016, are and were defense articles controlled on the United States Munitions List and therefore required a license or other written authorization from the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) in order to be lawfully exported from the United States. Kolsuz has never applied for and has never received any licenses or other written authorization from the DDTC to export defense articles from the United States. Accordingly, on each occasion when weapons parts were found in Kolsuz’s checked luggage, all of the parts were seized by law enforcement and were never returned to Kolsuz.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, made the announcement after the sentence was announced. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather N. Alpino and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Fitzpatrick.
HSI Washington, D.C., received assistance with this investigation from HSI New York and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-53.
Tohono O’odham Police Detective Receives Award from U.S. Attorney General for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jessie Gonzales, a detective with the Tohono O’odham Police Department in Arizona, has received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for criminal investigations.
“I am proud of Detective Gonzales and very pleased that he was recognized by the Attorney General for his efforts and accomplishments in combatting crime and enhancing public safety in the Tohono O’odham community,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This is a very prestigious national award and Detective Gonzales is a deserving recipient.”
Detective Gonzales was recognized for his work in criminal investigations. Assigned to crimes against children and sex crimes, Detective Gonzales was sometimes the only detective investigating these cases on the Tohono O’odham reservation, which covers three counties. He consistently went above and beyond the call of duty when conducting investigations. He solved two rape cases during his time in the Criminal Investigations Division, one involving a 10-year-old victim and the other involving a domestic violence-related stabbing.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-087_AG_Award-Gonzales
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Three Charged in Cape Cod Drug and Gun Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three Cape Cod men were charged in a second superseding indictment in connection with the “Nauti-Block” drug trafficking ring. This brings the total number of defendants charged in federal court in this, and related cases, to 19.
The second superseding indictment charges three additional defendants and adds new charges to existing defendants. Christian Chapman, 26, of Yarmouth, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin. Browning Mejia, 26, of Yarmouth, was charged with use of a telephone to facilitate a felony drug trafficking offense, namely, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Suboxone, a Schedule III controlled substance. Aaron Mott-Frye, 27, of Wareham, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
The second superseding indictment stems from the April 2016 takedown of the “Nauti-Block” drug trafficking organization that charged Denzel Chisholm, Christopher Wilkins, and others in connection with the sale of significant amounts of heroin on Cape Cod.
The second superseding indictment also added the following charges against existing defendants:
- Denzel Chisholm and Christopher Wilkins were charged with conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin;
- Tyrone Gomes was charged with conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin;
- Shaun Miller was charged with possession of two firearms by a convicted felon;
- Denzel Chisholm and Browning Mejia were charged with use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense;
- Christopher Wilkins and Mott-Frye were charged with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; and
- Bethanne Hutchings was charged with maintaining a place for drug purposes.
Aaron Mott-Frye was arrested this morning and appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston. Chapman is currently awaiting trial in Barnstable County for charges related to a recent shooting at Pufferbelly’s nightclub. Mejia is currently serving a state prison sentence for his role in a 2009 Cape Cod shooting. Mejia and Chapman will appear in federal court after they are transferred from state custody.
This case was brought as part of the federal response to the growing opioid abuse epidemic in Massachusetts and other New England states. Barnstable County, which includes Cape Cod and associated islands, has been particularly hard hit. With a population of just over 200,000 people, it saw 66 fatal overdoses in 2015 – a 65% increase from 2013 – according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of conspiracy involving greater than 100 grams of heroin provides for a sentence of five years to life in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of conspiracy involving one kilogram of heroin provides for a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Barnstable County District Attorney Michael O’Keefe; Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings; Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson; Chief Paul MacDonald of the Barnstable Police Department; and Chief Frank Frederickson of the Yarmouth Police Department, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Ortiz’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Stash House Guard Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jesus A. Barrera Guerrero (18, La Porte, Texas) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, in August 2016, at the direction of members of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO), Barrera Guerrero delivered approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent at a gas station in Gibsonton. Barrera Guerrero was arrested following the transaction, and he later led law enforcement investigators to a nearby drug stash house where he had been staying. Inside the house, DEA agents found nearly 13 additional kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 11 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was the result of a comprehensive and dedicated effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bradenton Police Department, as part of an on-going Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation's drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.
St. George Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Federal Prison After Convictions for Fraud, Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Edmund Edward Wilson, age 72, of St. George, Utah, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a real estate fraud scheme, will serve 108 months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Dee Benson imposed the sentence Thursday afternoon in federal court. Wilson also must pay $12,227,920 in restitution to victims of the fraud scheme.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by federal prosecutors, Wilson ran a real estate investment scheme from approximately 2005 until 2012. His fraud accelerated in 2009 when businesses were in desperate need for financing, and the economic collapse made such loans more difficult to obtain through traditional means. Wilson sought out individuals all over the country who were developing real estate projects, such as shopping malls or resorts.
Wilson represented to investors that his company could provide financing for real estate development projects for an advance fee of either $80,000 or $150,000 through a “substitution of collateral program.” Through this program, individuals would provide the fee, obtain financing for their projects within 30-60 days (in some cases hundreds of millions of dollars), and not have to repay the loan. In return, these individuals Wilson called “investors” would give Mr. Wilson a 30 percent stake in the development project.
When investors called Wilson to ask why they had not received funding for their projects within the time promised, Wilson falsely represented to investors that he needed additional money to cover various unforeseen fees and expenses, and that once these costs were paid, funds would be released for the development projects. Wilson failed to disclose to investors that he never provided any funding for any development project through his substitution of collateral program and that he used a significant portion of the advanced fees for his personal benefit.
Later in the scheme, Wilson falsely represented to investors who had already invested in his program and to new potential investors that he could arrange financing of their development projects through his wealthy partner in Asia known as “the General.” In exchange for an investment of $80,000 to $150,000, investors would receive a forgivable loan for their real estate development project. The loan would come from “the General” who had access to millions of dollars in U.S. currency set aside for investment projects in the United States.
Again, Wilson failed to disclose to investors that he had never provided any funding for any development project through his foreign investment program and that he used a significant portion of the advanced fees for his personal benefit.
For example, in the wire fraud count he pleaded guilty to, Wilson admitted that around September 2008, he told an investor identified as M.B.K. that if M.B.K. paid $150,000 into his foreign investment program, Wilson could obtain and provide $96,080,000 in financing within 30 days for M.B.K.’s real estate development project of a hotel and spa in Greenville, N.C. As a result of Wilson’s representations, M.B.K. wired $150,000 to Wilson. Wilson admitted he used a portion of the advanced fees M.B.K. paid for his own personal benefit, transferring $100,000 to another account that had nothing to do with his substitution of collateral program or foreign investment program.
“Mr. Wilson never funded a single real estate project. Every iteration of the story Mr. Wilson told was pure fabrication. The majority of funds received by Mr. Wilson were used to cover his personal expenses and expenses of his other businesses which operated at a significant loss. No funds were ever put in escrow as the loan agreements specified,” federal prosecutors wrote in the sentencing memorandum. Wilson declared bankruptcy in August 2012.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah and investigated by special agents of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Springfield Man Charged with Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Luis Cirilo, 45, of Springfield was charged in U.S. District Court in Springfield yesterday with failing to register as a sex offender.
As alleged in court documents, Cirilo as convicted in 1997 of sodomy in the first degree. In violation of court orders, he traveled from Pennsylvania to Springfield, Mass. and failed to register as a sex offender from June 2014 to Nov. 12, 2015, when he was arrested on state charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Drugs and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Shawn Russell Sorensen, age 54, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty of drugs and weapons charges as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Sorensen was charged by indictment with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine), and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
Because Sorensen has two prior felony drug convictions, his methamphetamine charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in custody and/or a $20 million fine. The gun charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. Each offense also has a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The investigation of Sorensen began when a package containing a half-pound of cocaine and 10 pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted by the United States Postal Service. The package was subsequently linked to Sorensen. The evidence established Sorensen had received multiple packages in this manner. When Sorensen’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, he had in his possession three firearms and ammunition.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rock County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer D. Mammenga and John E. Haak prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, but a sentencing date has not yet been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
San Francisco Police Officer Receives U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, JoAnn Walker with the San Francisco Police Department received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for field operations.
Officer Walker was recognized for her work in field operations. She has volunteered for extensive training on hostage negotiation, crisis counseling, and suicide prevention, dedicating her own time and resources to advance her expertise and educate her colleagues in crisis service support. Thanks to her initiative and advocacy, crisis counselors are better equipped to respond to people in need, and the relationship between law enforcement and the local community has improved.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing. U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch attended the ceremony in Washington D.C. with Officer Walker.
Earlier this week, United States Attorney Stretch launched National Community Policing Week in the Northern District of California by visiting the training academies of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Francisco Police Department. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch marked the occasion on Monday by traveling to Dallas, Texas, to hold a 21st Century Community Policing Youth Forum with students, officer cadets, and some athletes from the Dallas Cowboys known for their work to bring communities and law enforcement together.
As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the Department of Justice led nearly 400 events in support of community policing efforts around the country. To further that effort, President Obama designated the week of Oct. 2-8, 2016, as Community Policing Week. The week is also an extension of the Attorney General’s 12-city Community Policing Tour that highlighted collaborative programs and policing practices designed to advance public safety, strengthen police-community relations, and foster mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and citizens. National Community Policing Week builds on President Obama’s efforts to engage with law enforcement and other members of the community to implement key recommendations from the 21st Century Policing Task Force report.
“The Department of Justice recognizes the critical importance of the relationship between local law enforcement officers and the communities they serve,” said US Attorney Stretch. “During Community Policing Week and beyond, we are committed to strengthening and promoting the collaborative programs and policing practices that are designed to strengthen such relationships. We are very proud of Officer Walker for all that she continues to do, and applaud all officers and organizations that have created and used innovative methods to promote collaborative reforms.”
Riverside County Man Indicted on Federal Charges of Producing Child Pornography by Filming Sexual Molestation of Young BoyRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A federal grand jury has indicted a San Jacinto man on charges of producing child pornography for allegedly making videos while he sexually molested a 5-year-old boy.
Steve Alonso Marquez, 31, of San Jacinto, was named in a four-count indictment returned by the grand jury Wednesday. The indictment alleges two counts of producing child pornography videos that were distributed to other people.
In addition to the production of child pornography, Marquez is charged with possessing child pornography at his residence and using the Internet in an attempt to have illegal sexual conduct with a young girl.
Marquez was arrested in the Southern District of California on August 12 after he arrived at a hotel in Fallbrook, allegedly for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the girl. Marquez was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in San Diego, where he is currently being held without bond.
The child pornography charges contained in this week’s indictment stem from a search warrant executed at Marquez’s residence on August 23. At that time, FBI agents recovered digital devices that contained the alleged child pornography, which included videos Marquez is charged with making while molesting a young boy at a location investigators believe is in Hemet.
“This defendant is charged with filming and sharing heinous acts against a child,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “This type of behavior has unimaginable impacts on young victims, and the distribution of images documenting child abuse only seeks to inspire additional abuse of children. This criminal behavior cannot be tolerated and will be subject to the most aggressive prosecution available.”
“The disturbing allegations against Mr. Marquez remind us of the predatory threat targeting the most vulnerable members of our society and the need to remain vigilant,” said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The federal government takes the production of child pornography very seriously. In addition to the horrific abuse suffered by the minor victim, the further distribution of images leads to the continued suffering of that victim and supplies the global demand for such images.”
The indictment charges Marquez with two counts of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. Each count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years. The charge of possessing child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison because the images allegedly depict children under the age of 12. The charge of attempted enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum possible penalty of life without parole. Therefore, if he is convicted of all four counts in the indictment, Marquez would face a sentence of at least 40 years in federal prison and could be sentence to as much as life in federal prison.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.
The case against Marquez is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Teresa K.B. Beecham.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year old Spring man has been ordered to federal prison for his conviction of possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Gregg Carl Baird had been convicted of state charges in March 2010 of possession of child pornography and ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release in 2014. He pleaded guilty to the new federal charge on Jan. 8, 2016.
Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed Baird a sentence of 121 months in prison. He was further ordered to serve the remainder of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. Baird will also again be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Baird was identified as part of a nationwide investigation known as Operation Pacifier. The FBI obtained a search warrant based on information that led investigators to believe Baird was accessing files from a website known to contain child pornography. Forensic analysis on the items seized during the search resulted in the discovery of child pornography images/videos, to include more than 450 videos and 2300 images of child pornography. Several of the videos depicted the penetration of a minor under the age of five and bondage of a child.
Baird will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Prosecutors Secure Guilty Pleas and File Asset Forfeiture Actions in International Money Laundering and Identity Theft Scheme involving Fraudulent Tax Returns that Sought $38 Million in RefundsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Federal prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from seven defendants who participated in a large-scale international identity theft scheme that laundered more than $14 million in fraudulently obtained tax refunds by using bogus Republic of Armenia passports.
This week, special agents with IRS Criminal Investigation posted a forfeiture notice on a Woodland Hills residence that prosecutors are seeking to forfeit based on allegations that it was purchased with illegally obtained money. Last month, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil asset forfeiture lawsuit against three Van Nuys properties and alleged criminal forfeiture against the Woodland Hills property, which cumulatively have more than $1 million in equity. According to the civil complaint, some of those properties were purchased with cash with fraudulent Armenian passports used as identification.
And, in a third development stemming from the investigation, a federal grand jury in Santa Ana last month returned an indictment charging an eleventh defendant with mortgage fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. While not directly related to the stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) case, Aramais Airapetian, 24, of Woodland Hills, was charged as a result of the same investigation with using fraudulent documents, including fake pay stubs and altered bank statements, to obtain a mortgage from loanDepot.com. Criminal forfeiture is also alleged against the Woodland Hills house that Airapetian allegedly purchased using the mortgage proceeds he fraudulently obtained. If he is convicted, Airapetian could face decades in federal prison.
With the indictment of Airapetian, 11 defendants now have been charged as a result of the investigation. Seven defendants have pleaded guilty, one is a fugitive, and three (including Airapetian) are pending trial.
“Stolen identity refund fraud schemes have become a significant, nationwide problem that victimize the United States government, individuals who are identity theft victims and all taxpayers who end up paying for these fraudulent schemes,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “These defendants created a complex, international scheme in an effort to conceal their fraud, but it was not sufficient to shield them from discovery and prosecution.”
Authorities initially announced this case in April when nine of the 10 defendants accused of being part of a money laundering ring were arrested. According to court documents, those defendants used hundreds of bank accounts that had been opened with stolen identities to launder millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained tax refunds. The IRS has identified approximately 7,000 fraudulent tax returns related to this scheme that cumulatively sought about $38 million in refunds. The IRS issued about $14 million in refunds, which were deposited into and laundered through bank accounts used in this scheme. The fraudulent tax returns were filed and the bank accounts were opened with personal identifying information (PII) that had been stolen from thousands of victims.
“Identity theft and tax refund fraud were the lifeblood that these defendants used to further their massive money laundering fraud scheme,” stated Acting Anthony J. Orlando, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation will not rest until this investigation has been fully adjudicated and those responsible for these felonious crimes are held accountable.”
The 10 defendants initially charged, each of whom was named in a separate criminal complaint, allegedly used fraudulent foreign passports to commit identity theft by opening numerous bank accounts and mailbox addresses with the stolen identities. According to the criminal complaints, they used fraudulent passports from the Republic of Armenia, Georgia, and the Czech Republic that had the names of identity theft victims but the defendants’ photographs. The mailboxes and bank accounts were opened across Los Angeles and Orange counties.
“The complexity and audacity of this scheme were truly astounding and illustrate the lengths to which fraudsters will go to game the system for financial gain,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge of HSI Los Angeles. “Identity theft and tax fraud result in billions of dollars in losses every year in this country and cause tremendous heartache and financial harm to law-abiding consumers. We owe it to them to pursue these cases aggressively, making it clear that those who brazenly enrich themselves on the back of the American taxpayer, as these defendants allegedly did, will be held accountable for their crimes.”
The seven defendants who have pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Andrew J. Guilford are:
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Konstantin Galstyan, 23, of Lake View Terrace, who pleaded guilty on September 30 to bank fraud and identity theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5;
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Artash Stepanyan, 31, of Glendale, who pleaded guilty in June to identity theft, admitted causing losses of more than $1 million and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27;
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Sargis “Sergio” Tabadzhyan, 54, of West Hollywood, who pleaded guilty in June to identity theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7;
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Arman Galstyan, aka “Mkhitar Mkrtchyan,” 43, of Sylmar, who pleaded guilty in June to identity theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14;
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Armen Khachkalyan, 48, of Glendale, who pleaded guilty in July to identity theft and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24;
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Eduard Astvatsatryan, 34, of Glendale, who pleaded guilty to identity theft in August and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12; and
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Hripsime Avagyan, 24, of Burbank, who pleaded guilty to identity theft in June and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30.
The identity theft charges to which the seven defendants have pleaded guilty carry a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The civil asset forfeiture action filed last month seeks forfeiture of three Van Nuys condominiums and alleges that the purchases of those real properties facilitated the concealment of the proceeds from the SIRF scheme in a process that included purchases and sales of gold.
The ongoing investigation into money laundering involving fraudulently obtained tax refunds and related frauds is being conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Kortum represents the United States in the civil forfeiture action.
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President of Maryland Tax and Financial Management Companies Pleads Guilty to Defrauding a Client of at Least $526,000Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Paul Randolph Beeks, Jr., age 58, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud one of his clients of at least $526,000.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, from January 2008 to the present, Beeks was the President of various Maryland tax and financial management companies including PRB Tax & Accounting Services, Inc. (hereafter “PRB”) and Elite Financial Services, LLC (hereafter “Elite Financial”). In 2008, at the request of the physician who owned and operated Mid Atlantic Radiology Services, LLC (MARS), Beeks incorporated MARS in Maryland, and was entrusted with all of MARS’ accounting, tax, and financial responsibilities. Beeks also conducted payroll on behalf of MARS, paid MARS’ vendors and paid malpractice insurance for MARS’ physicians.
Starting in November 2009 and continuing to August 2015, Beeks, in his capacity as MARS’ accountant and financial planner, caused approximately 24 wire transfers from MARS accounts to bank accounts associated with Beeks’ various companies. In order to disguise the theft of funds, Beeks falsely claimed that some of these wire transfers were for management fees and bonuses. However, no management fees or bonuses were authorized by any MARS representative and the remaining wire transfers were not for legitimate purposes.
As part of his plea agreement, Beeks will be required to forfeit all property involved in the offense, including, but not limited to a money judgment of at least $336,077.
Beeks faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled Beeks’ sentencing for January 19, 2017, at 9:30 a.m.
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Selden, who is prosecuting the case.
Postal Union Stewards Steal Bargaining Agreement MoneyRead the Press Release
Defendants worked at Traverse City Postal Facility
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Jeffrey D. Velfling, the former Union Steward for Local #307 of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and John L. Crosby, the former deputy Union Steward, were sentenced today for their role in stealing approximately $14,500 in overtime payments which should have been given to their co-workers at the Traverse City Mail Facility. Theft of union funds by union officers is a federal felony offense. Each defendant was sentenced to two years of probation, a $1,000 fine, full restitution and a Special Assessment penalty of $100.
"The United States will continue to pursue financial crimes, great or small, that involve a federal interest and negatively impact the quality of life in Western Michigan. We cannot allow persons who hold positions of trust to line their pockets with payments owed to coworkers," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles
The stolen money in this case came from two postal grievances in which mail handlers were not given the opportunity to perform "craft work" as defined under a collective bargaining agreement. Velfling and Crosby, on behalf of the union had filed successful grievances, which resulted in payment of approximately $7,000 to their custody and control. An internal review by the Union uncovered the theft of the funds. Velfling and Crosby destroyed the grievance file when they learned of the investigation. The matter was then referred to federal law enforcement.
"The actions of these two union stewards directly violated the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act and the commitment they made to their co-workers to handle the funds of the union solely for the benefit of the union and its members," said Ian Burg, district director for the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. "OLMS is committed to ensuring financial integrity in labor organizations and protecting the rights of union members to fair representation and treatment by their union leadership."
"As union stewards, Jeffrey Velfling and John Crosby violated the trust placed in them when they stole settlement money intended for their fellow union members. The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold corrupt union officials accountable for defrauding the members they are entrusted to serve", stated James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
"Mr. Crosby and Mr. Velfling used their union positions to take financial advantage of the very colleagues they were charged with representing. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General together with the U.S Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners will pursue those individuals who would use their positions of public trust within the Postal Service to victimize or steal from others for personal gain," said Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Caspall. Great Lakes Area Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service.
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Postal Employee Arrested, Charged with Stealing MailRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Richard D’Arcy, Jr., 37, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with theft of mail. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 2, 2016, a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier discovered 52 pieces of mail, in delivery order, in a blue collection box McKinley Parkway in Buffalo. It was determined that each of these pieces of mail were never delivered to Fisher Road (Route 53) in West Seneca, NY. Some of the mail was postmarked July 30, 2016 and was supposed to be delivered on August 1, 2016. The complaint further states that the defendant delivered Route 53 on August 1, 2016 and that he also lives approximately a half of a mile from the blue mailbox where the undelivered mail was discovered.
A review of the Global Positioning System (GPS) used to track the delivery of mail parcels showed that on August 1, 2016, D’Arcy drove through the portion of Route 53 on Fisher Road where the mail was supposed to be delivered. A comparison of the GPS data from the day before and the day after showed the postal carrier made many more stops and took much longer to deliver the same portion of Fisher Road.
A subsequent of the defendant’s car uncovered multiple bundles of undelivered advertisements, placards, and undelivered First Class mail. According to the complaint, D’Arcy opened some of the mail and took the contents which included solicitations from various veterans groups, children's cancer foundations, and animal protection groups, which contained a $1 bill or other coin currency, seeking additional contributions from patrons.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Monica Weyler, Eastern Area Field Office, Philadelphia, PA.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.