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Wednesday 8 June 2016
Federal Jury Convicts Man of Smuggling nearly Two Tons of Marijuana from Ensenada to Santa Barbara County on Panga BoatRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A resident of Tecate, Mexico has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking charges for piloting a “panga” boat stuffed with nearly two tons of marijuana from Ensenada to the United States.
Following a three-day trial, the man, 24-year-old Jose Guadalupe Zepeda-Ramirez, was found guilty on June 2 of two felony counts – conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
Zepeda and another man – Miguel Rodriguez-Doranme, 39, of La Paz, Mexico – were found on March 27 near a panga that had landed on a private beach near Hollister Ranch, which is just west of Gaviota. A panga is an open-bowed fishing vessel that is often used by smugglers bringing marijuana north from Mexico.
According to the evidence presented at Zepeda’s trial, the two men brought the marijuana from Ensenada during a six-day journey. The men had planned to meet a second crew that would off-load the marijuana for further distribution.
The plan was thwarted when Zepeda and Rodriquez were spotted while landing on Alegria Beach. They were detained by a Hollister Ranch security guard until law enforcement arrived.
The investigation revealed that the panga was carrying 1,656 kilograms – or more than 3,650 pounds – or marijuana.
United States District Judge Manuel Real, who presided over Zepeda’s trial, is scheduled to sentence the defendant on September 19. As a result of his conviction on the two charges, Zepeda faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and he could be sentenced to a maximum term of life.
Rodriguez, who previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, at which time he will face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“Law enforcement is working hard at curtailing the smuggling of drugs on panga boats,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “We will continue to enforcement efforts by prosecuting those who engage in this dangerous method of smuggling.”
The investigation was conducted by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, the United States Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Border Patrol, the California Highway Patrol and the California National Guard.
“This case and the subsequent conviction are a direct result of the ongoing collaborative efforts by HSI, together with its federal and local partners, to detect and deter maritime smuggling,” said Edward Owens, deputy special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “Maritime smuggling poses both a security and a public safety concern and we’re continuing to use all of the resources and tools at our disposal to address this threat.”
Federal Grand Jury Criminal Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla.— The results of the June 2016 Federal Grand Jury were announced today by Danny C. Williams Sr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged federal crimes which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Ryan Matthew Beck. Illegal Making of Destructive Devices and Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices. Beck, 28, of Bartlesville, is charged with one count of making five destructive devices and one count of possession of destructive devices which had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. If convicted, Beck faces the statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad, and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigating agencies.
Kevin Dewayne Burris. Failure to Surrender for Service of Sentence. Burris, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with failing to self-surrender at the designated federal correctional institute for service of his sentence following a conviction in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. If convicted, Burris faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshal Service are the investigating agencies.
Eric Daniel Cox. Theft of Mail. Cox, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with unlawfully removing a pill bottle and its contents from a package in the United States mails. If convicted, Cox faces the statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General is the investigating agency.
Michael Joseph Gray. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Gray, 29, of Tulsa, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Gray faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigating agency.
Kasey Dale Jackson. Theft From Indian Country in Excess of $1,000. Jackson, 29, of Pryor, a non-Indian, is charged with stealing personal property in excess of $1,000 from an Indian. If convicted, Jackson faces the statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Cherokee Nation Marshals Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation are the investigating agencies.
Kenyon James Miller. Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Miller, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Miller faces the statutory minimum penalty of five years and maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the distribution of child pornography charge; and a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the possession of child pornography charge. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the investigating agency.
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Employee of a Silver Spring Non-Profit Admits to Stealing over $270,000Read the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Monica Kendrick, age 47, of Walkersville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud arising from a scheme in which she embezzled money from her employer.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Brian Ebert of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office; and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to her plea agreement, In May 2014, Kendrick was hired as the office and finance administrator for a non-profit organization located in Silver Spring, Maryland, which acted as a trade association for the herbal products industry. Almost immediately after being hired, Kendrick began stealing money from the company. From May 2014 to November 2015, Kendrick wrote over 80 unauthorized checks from the company and deposited the fraudulent checks into a bank account. She then withdrew the illicit proceeds from the account.
Kendrick has agreed to pay restitution of $271,921.06, the total amount of loss resulting from the scheme.
Kendrick faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2016, at 10:30 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 U.S. Secret Service and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Jo Bressack, who is prosecuting the case.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
An East St. Louis man, Deondre Jones, 45, convicted of bank robbery, was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison on June 7, 2016, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter, announced today. Following release from imprisonment, Jones will serve three years of supervised release. Jones was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment, and was ordered to pay $510.63 in restitution to Scott Credit Union. Jones pled guilty to the charge on February 11, 2016. Jones has been in custody since his arrest on October 1, 2015.
Documents filed with the court indicate that Jones told a teller at Scott Credit Union in Belleville that he had a gun and wanted ten $10 bills; although the teller counted out ten such bills, Jones left with only eight. He used the money to obtain cocaine and the services of a prostitute.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and members of the Belleville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen B. Clark.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on June 6, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Christofer Sand, age 18, was sentenced to 33 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sand was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2015. He pled guilty on January 20, 2016.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on August 10, 2015, when Sand, who was at his residence with other people, drinking, socializing, and playing video games, got angry at the victim and stabbed him three times in the chest, and one time on his side under his left arm. The victim had difficulty breathing, but was able to walk to a friend’s house where he collapsed.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Sand was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
District Man Found Guilty of Charges in Sexual Attack of Woman During Home InvasionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Antwon Pitt, 22, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of charges stemming from a sexual assault against a woman he attacked while she was working from her Southeast Washington home, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.
Pitt was found guilty of charges of first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, robbery, threats, and felony assault. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Pitt will be sentenced on Aug. 19, 2016 by the Honorable Florence Pan. He remains in custody pending further court proceedings.
According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 13, 2015, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was alone and working at home on her computer. Suddenly she saw Pitt standing in her apartment. He had entered through an unlocked door. After learning that the woman was alone, he grabbed her and slammed her onto the floor. He proceeded to violently press his hand over the victim's mouth and nose as he forced her down the hall with his other hand around her throat. Once in the victim's bedroom, he raped the victim on her own bed. After the rape, he took the victim's phone, demanded her passcode, and left. The victim was taken to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries, which included fractured facial bones requiring surgery.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) obtained surveillance footage from the alley by the victim's building showing a suspect walking through the alley after the rape wearing a backpack and bright orange shoelaces. MPD was then able to track the victim's phone to a gas station in Mitchellville, Md., where Pitt, who matched the description of the person in the surveillance footage and the description provided by the victim, was stopped. At the time of his stop, Pitt had the victim's phone and checks made out to the victim's husband, as well as a pair of gloves. Pitt’s DNA and the victim's DNA were found on gloves. At the time of the crime, Pitt was on release in a pending drug case.
Pitt is awaiting trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges related to another burglary that took place on Oct. 6, 2015 in Northeast Washington. The victim in that case awakened to discover a man in her home. The man robbed her of her cellphone, wallet, and other personal belongings and fled. Pitt has pled not guilty to charges in that case.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Metro Transit Police Department, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, Sorenson Forensics, and Signature Science, LLC. He acknowledged the efforts of a team that worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Donhue Troy Griffith and D’Yvonne Key, Victim/Witness Advocates Tracey Hawkins and Veronica Vaughan, and Criminal Investigator John Marsh. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McClellan and Luke Jones, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Dauphin County Man Arrested for Drug Trafficking and Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Khalid Fahide Carter, age 22, of Harrisburg was arrested yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Capital City Safe Streets Task Force and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.
Carter had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab on June 7, 2016 and was ordered detained.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Carter was indicted in May 2016 for distribution of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on January 12, 2016. During the drug deal, Carter allegedly possessed a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Capital City Safe Streets Task Force and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1,250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Couple Arrested for CarjackingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against two individuals for carjacking, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment alleges that on or about June 2, 2016, in the District of Puerto Rico, Bernard Díaz-Pérez and Jessenia Salgado-Ortiz, aiding and abetting each other, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a red 2008 Scion, model XD, that had been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of F.N.R., by force, violence and intimidation, resulting in serious bodily injury, that is, sexually assaulting a female passenger, all while using a replica gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(2).
“Unfortunately, this carjacking resulted in more than the material loss of a car; a victim was sexually assaulted. This type of behavior is unconscionable and unacceptable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute these defendants to the full extent of the law,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
“This arrest was the result of a five-day manhunt, during which time numerous dedicated agents of the FBI and our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to identify, locate, and apprehend the subject of these serious allegations. Violent crime, including carjacking, has skyrocketed in Puerto Rico. In recognition of this epidemic, FBI Headquarters will deploy additional resources to the San Juan Division. In the coming weeks, federal law enforcement will announce increased activity which is being undertaken to enable the citizens of Puerto Rico to be able to go about their lives without fear of violent robberies and attacks. As always, the public's help is essential to apprehending these violent criminals, and citizens with information are asked to call the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-754-6000, or to use the tip line available at our website, https://www.fbi.gov/,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Pérez Bouret. If convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Clayton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced jason william wheelEr, 37, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 180 months imprisonment, followed by a five years of supervised release.
WHEELER was named in a Criminal Information filed on December 15, 2015. On January 25, 2016, WHEELER pled guilty to one count of Receipt of Child Pornography.
In July 2014, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at a residence in Florida, for distribution and possession of child pornography. The investigation revealed that the owner sent numerous emails containing sexually explicit photographs and videos to WHEELER, in Clayton.
On October 2, 2014, agents executed a federal search warrant at WHEELER’S residence in Clayton. Based on the investigation, WHEELER used multiple computers to send and receive a collection of Child Pornography (CP) comprised of at least 82 images and 61 videos. The defendant’s collection contained material that depicted children involved in sexual bondage or sexual sadomasochistic acts. On April 4, 2015, WHEELER provided a written statement accepting responsibility for his actions in regards to this offense.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes represented the government.
This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Brookfield Man, Woman Indicted for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Brookfield, Mo., couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Charleston B. Leach, 31, and Cecilia Lynn Spath, 31, both of Brookfield, were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.
The federal indictment alleges that Leach and Spath conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine from March 1, 2014, to May 1, 2015. They are also charged with aiding and abetting each other to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana on May 1, 2015.
Leach is also charged with one count of using the mail to facilitate the distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the North Missouri Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Northeast Missouri Drug Task Force.
Brockport Investment Advisor Sentenced for Defrauding Investors in A Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Eduardo Galan, 65, of Brockport, NY, who was convicted of mail fraud and money laundering, was sentenced to three years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. The defendant was also ordered to pay $1,100,000 in restitution to the victims of the fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who handled the case, stated that Galan owned and controlled a financial services business, S&G Unlimited Services, in Brockport. The defendant was a registered securities broker until October 2008, at which time he was barred from the industry. From January 2008 to March 2013, Galan engaged in a Ponzi scheme. The defendant promised investors that he would use their money to broker private mortgage transactions, but instead used it to repay earlier investors and cover personal and business expenses.In total, Galan defrauded 18 investors out of $821,912 before the fraud was discovered. Further investigation disclosed that Galan owed other clients money as well, for a total of $1,098,567.26.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen.Additional Defendants Sentenced for Roles in Sex Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Additional defendants were sentenced today for their respective roles in a sex trafficking scheme operated out of the Riviera Motel in New Orleans, which compelled multiple women to engage in prostitution in New Orleans and elsewhere, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Duane Phillips, 31, was sentenced to 251 months in prison; Anthony Ellis, 27, was sentenced to 15 years in prison; and Zacchaeus Taylor, 23, was sentenced to 99 months in prison. Phillips, Ellis and Taylor are all from Memphis, Tennessee. Restitution for the victims will be determined at a separate hearing on July 13, 2016.
On April 20, 2015, Phillips and Ellis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. Ellis also pleaded guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution. On June 25, 2014, Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and to interstate transportation for prostitution.
“People who engage in human trafficking violate the most basic standards of human decency,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gupta. “The Civil Rights Division is unwavering in our commitment to seeking justice on behalf of vulnerable individuals and to holding human traffickers accountable.”
“Ending human trafficking is a critical priority in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Polite. “The lengthy sentences imposed today should stand as a warning to would-be traffickers that we are investing considerable federal resources into combating this criminality.”
“Today’s sentencing of these four defendants brings an end to their mistreatment and abuse of women,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s New Orleans Division. “The FBI Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, HSI and our other state and local partners, will continue to investigate and bring justice for all victims of human trafficking throughout Louisiana.”
“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that ICE Homeland Security Investigations fights as one of its highest priorities via a coordinated global effort with the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr. of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) New Orleans. “The results speak for themselves: over the past two years HSI has doubled its number of human trafficking arrests. HSI will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of these criminals while also ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.”
During their respective plea hearings and in their respective court filings, Phillips and Ellis admitted that they, along with their co-defendants Granville Robinson, Christopher Williams and Laquentin Brown, conspired to recruit, groom, force, compel and coerce adult women to engage in prostitution, enforcing rules and means of control that included requiring the women to earn a certain amount of money each day, requiring them to turn over the proceeds and prohibiting them from speaking to or looking at other pimps. To enforce the rules, Phillips, Ellis and another defendant each admitted that they and their co-conspirators used a variety of punishments, including withholding food and forcing the victims to engage in additional commercial sex acts, as well as physical assaults. Phillips and Ellis each admitted that they and their co-conspirators consulted one another on means of furthering their pimping activities and would monitor each other’s victims when a co-conspirator was incarcerated. The defendants also admitted that they brought women to other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, for coerced prostitution
According to his plea agreement, Taylor, who was charged separately, admitted that he met Phillips in 2012 and agreed to become Phillips’ protégé. After learning the strict rules that Phillips, Ellis and others used to force and coerce women to engage in prostitution, Taylor began applying the rules himself. Like his co-conspirators, he kept the identification cards of the women in order to keep them from leaving. On several occasions, Taylor physically assaulted a woman because she did not earn enough money by engaging in commercial sex acts. He also kept the money that the women earned, and if a woman did not earn enough money, he would order her to continue until she had. Taylor also admitted that he brought an adult woman from Memphis to New Orleans and elsewhere for the purpose of forcing and coercing her to engage in prostitution. The co-conspirators operated out of certain motels, including the Riviera, which generally did not report their activities to the police. The defendants rented multiple rooms at the Riviera where the women would meet prostitution clients and paid higher rates for the rooms because of the increased traffic.
Former Riviera Motel owner, Kanubhai Patel, 75, of Kenner, Louisiana, was also sentenced today to five years probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. On July 1, 2015, Patel pleaded guilty to benefitting financially from human trafficking. Robinson was sentenced to 294 months in prison on May 4, 2016. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking.
Williams and Brown have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and are awaiting sentencing.
On Oct. 3, 2014, a grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana returned a second superseding indictment charging Phillips and Ellis, along with Robinson, Brown and Williams, with sex trafficking conspiracy and varying counts of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution. The second superseding indictment also charged Patel. Taylor was charged separately on March 28, 2014.
This case was investigated jointly by the FBI’s New Orleans Division and HSI’s New Orleans Field Office, with assistance from the FBI’s Memphis Division. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Additional Defendants Sentenced for Roles in Sex Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Sex Trafficking Scheme Used Threats, Violence and Coercion to Compel Women into Prostitution in New Orleans and Elsewhere
Additional defendants were sentenced today for their respective roles in a sex trafficking scheme operated out of the Riviera Motel in New Orleans, which compelled multiple women to engage in prostitution in New Orleans and elsewhere, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Duane Phillips, 31, was sentenced to 251 months in prison; Anthony Ellis, 27, was sentenced to 15 years in prison; and Zacchaeus Taylor, 23, was sentenced to 99 months in prison. Phillips, Ellis and Taylor are all from Memphis, Tennessee. Restitution for the victims will be determined at a separate hearing on July 13, 2016.
On April 20, 2015, Phillips and Ellis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. Ellis also pleaded guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution. On June 25, 2014, Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and to interstate transportation for prostitution.
“People who engage in human trafficking violate the most basic standards of human decency,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gupta. “The Civil Rights Division is unwavering in our commitment to seeking justice on behalf of vulnerable individuals and to holding human traffickers accountable.”
“Ending human trafficking is a critical priority in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Polite. “The lengthy sentences imposed today should stand as a warning to would-be traffickers that we are investing considerable federal resources into combating this criminality.”
“Today’s sentencing of these four defendants brings an end to their mistreatment and abuse of women,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s New Orleans Division. “The FBI Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, HSI and our other state and local partners, will continue to investigate and bring justice for all victims of human trafficking throughout Louisiana.”
“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that ICE Homeland Security Investigations fights as one of its highest priorities via a coordinated global effort with the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr. of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) New Orleans. “The results speak for themselves: over the past two years HSI has doubled its number of human trafficking arrests. HSI will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of these criminals while also ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.”
During their respective plea hearings and in their respective court filings, Phillips and Ellis admitted that they, along with their co-defendants Granville Robinson, Christopher Williams and Laquentin Brown, conspired to recruit, groom, force, compel and coerce adult women to engage in prostitution, enforcing rules and means of control that included requiring the women to earn a certain amount of money each day, requiring them to turn over the proceeds and prohibiting them from speaking to or looking at other pimps. To enforce the rules, Phillips, Ellis and another defendant each admitted that they and their co-conspirators used a variety of punishments, including withholding food and forcing the victims to engage in additional commercial sex acts, as well as physical assaults. Phillips and Ellis each admitted that they and their co-conspirators consulted one another on means of furthering their pimping activities and would monitor each other’s victims when a co-conspirator was incarcerated. The defendants also admitted that they brought women to other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, for coerced prostitution.
According to his plea agreement, Taylor, who was charged separately, admitted that he met Phillips in 2012 and agreed to become Phillips’ protégé. After learning the strict rules that Phillips, Ellis and others used to force and coerce women to engage in prostitution, Taylor began applying the rules himself. Like his co-conspirators, he kept the identification cards of the women in order to keep them from leaving. On several occasions, Taylor physically assaulted a woman because she did not earn enough money by engaging in commercial sex acts. He also kept the money that the women earned, and if a woman did not earn enough money, he would order her to continue until she had. Taylor also admitted that he brought an adult woman from Memphis to New Orleans and elsewhere for the purpose of forcing and coercing her to engage in prostitution. The co-conspirators operated out of certain motels, including the Riviera, which generally did not report their activities to the police. The defendants rented multiple rooms at the Riviera where the women would meet prostitution clients and paid higher rates for the rooms because of the increased traffic.
Former Riviera Motel owner, Kanubhai Patel, 75, of Kenner, Louisiana, was also sentenced today to five years probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. On July 1, 2015, Patel pleaded guilty to benefitting financially from human trafficking. Robinson was sentenced to 294 months in prison on May 4, 2016. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking.
Williams and Brown have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and are awaiting sentencing.
On Oct. 3, 2014, a grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana returned a second superseding indictment charging Phillips and Ellis, along with Robinson, Brown and Williams, with sex trafficking conspiracy and varying counts of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution. The second superseding indictment also charged Patel. Taylor was charged separately on March 28, 2014.
This case was investigated jointly by the FBI’s New Orleans Division and HSI’s New Orleans Field Office, with assistance from the FBI’s Memphis Division. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Tuesday 7 June 2016
‘Rapper’ Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Produce Child Pornography in His Music VideosRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eric D. Chavis, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography.
Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and members of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, including Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
According to the indictment in this case, Chavis recruited minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct in his rap music videos. Chavis then posted those videos via the Internet on websites including Facebook.com, Pornhub.com, Youtube.com and Instagram.com.
He conspired with co-defendants Lamont D. Abbington, 30, of Kissimmee, Fla., Carlton S. Jackson, 30, of Toledo, and Mareekus E. Davis, 22, of Columbus, to record sexually explicit videos of at least three minor females. Chavis took an active role in directing the videos and actively distributed them on the various social media websites and sold DVDs of the videos from various pornography websites.
Chavis faces a sentencing range of 15 years up to 30 years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release of at least five years up to a lifetime of supervision.
Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force – which was formed in 2012 and is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and which also includes authorities from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Columbus Division of Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Powell Police Department and the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office – as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and Jessica H. Kim, who are representing the United States in this case.
Wilmington Man Convicted of Possession of Child Pornography for Second TimeRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Donald Ray Boles, 59, of Wilmington, Vermont, was convicted on June 3, 2016, in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, following a four-day trial by jury. U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered Boles remanded into custody after the jury returned its verdict. According to court records and proceedings, on September 6, 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a warrant to search Boles’ residence for evidence of child pornography. During the search, numerous computers and other digital media were seized. During a forensic examination conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, approximately 140 images of child pornography were found on various computers and hard drives from the residence. Boles’ computers also contained thousands of images of child erotica, as well as sexually explicit cartoons, anime, and graphic stories. The computers also revealed that Boles communicated over the Internet with other offenders about their shared interest in preschool and toddler girls. Boles has previously been convicted of possession of child pornography. In 1999, then-U.S. Customs Service agents executed a search warrant of Boles’ residence for child pornography. Boles was charged and eventually pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in United States District Court in Vermont. In June 2001, Judge Sessions ordered Boles to serve 15 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. United States Attorney Eric S. Miller commended the efforts of the FBI, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the New York State Police, in the investigation and prosecution of Boles. The prosecution of Boles was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara A. Masterson and Abagail E. Averbach. Boles was represented by Assistant Federal Defenders Steven L. Barth and Elizabeth K. Quinn. U.S. Attorney Miller noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.Wheeling man pleads guilty to heroin, cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Mark Louis Flint, II, 30, of Wheeling, pled guilty today to heroin and cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Flint conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute heroin and cocaine in October 2015 in Ohio County, West Virginia.
Flint pled guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and Schedule II Controlled Substances.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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 Randy Bernard prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
West Warwick Resident Indicted in Coventry Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A federal grand jury in Providence today returned an indictment charging John Ryder, 28, of West Warwick, with bank robbery. It is alleged in the indictment that on May 2, 2016, Ryder robbed a BankRI branch office in Coventry by force, violence and intimidation. It is alleged that Ryder, while wielding a machete, threatened bank tellers and robbed the bank of nearly $6,000 in cash.
Ryder’s indictment is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Coventry Police Chief John S. MacDonald, and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI.
According to information presented to the court at the time of Ryder’s initial appearance in federal court on May 13, 2016, an investigation by Coventry Police and the FBI determined that beginning on April 29, 2016, and on the days leading up to the robbery, Ryder allegedly spent a considerable amount of time in and around a shopping plaza where the bank is located and in a wooded area directly behind the plaza.
It is alleged that on May 2, Ryder entered the bank carrying a machete and wearing a mask, dark blue pants, hooded sweatshirt and red jacket. It is alleged that he threatened bank tellers with the machete while demanding cash. It is alleged that after robbing the bank of $5,937, he fled into a wooded area behind the shopping plaza. Later that evening, it is alleged, Ryder is seen on video surveillance running from the area and getting into a vehicle.
On May 6, 2016, law enforcement interviewed Ryder. Four days later law enforcement obtained a court authorized search warrant to search Ryder’s cell phone, on which they discovered pictures of an individual wearing the same clothing and mask as the alleged bank robber. The photograph was taken in a wooded area behind the shopping plaza where the bank is located.
Ryder was arrested by Coventry Police and FBI agents on May 13, 2016.
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ryder, who is detained in federal custody, will be arraigned in U.S. District Court at a later date.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.
Coventry Police and the FBI were assisted in their investigation by the West Warwick, Warwick, West Greenwich and Cranston Police Departments and the Rhode Island State Police.
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Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357
email: [email protected]
on Twitter @USAO_RI
Weslaco Man Convicted of Possessing Child Pornography VideosRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Daniel Miguel Salinas, 33, of Weslaco, has entered a guilty plea to possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
In October 2010, law enforcement began an investigation into a movie production company that operated a website offering child pornography and child erotica DVDs and streaming videos for sale. Authorities executed a search warrant in May 2011 on the business premises of that company and discovered customer order histories along with other evidence. During the review of the order histories, agents were able to identify Salinas as a customer who had purchased 11 downloads from the company’s website.
In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip in August 2012 from the Microsoft Corporation concerning the uploading of possible child pornography into a file hosting service. Federal agents discovered that the email address associated with that activity belonged to Salinas.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Salinas’ Weslaco residence, during which time they seized several computers and various external storage media devices. A forensic examination on the devices revealed more than 130 images and 20 videos of child pornography movies involving clearly young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the movies are of known victims as identified through NCMEC.
During his plea today, Salinas admitted to knowingly possessing the devices which contained child pornography. Further, Salinas admitted he knew such devices contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa accepted the guilty plea and set sentencing for Sept. 7, 2016. At that time, Salinas faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The U.S. Postal inspection Service investigated.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Benavides and Kimberly Ann Leo, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Warwick Man Indicted for Allegedly Producing, Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A federal grand jury in Providence today returned a four-count indictment charging Jordan Monroe, 50, of Warwick, R.I., with producing, receiving and possessing child pornography. Monroe was arrested on May 13, 2016, after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents allegedly discovered tens of thousands of file folders containing images and videos of child pornography on computers seized from Monroe’s residence.
The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of HSI for New England, and Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, charges Monroe with one count of coercing and using a minor to produce child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
As part of an ongoing investigation, HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center Child Exploitations Unit and the Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, High Technology Investigative Unit has identified numerous IP addresses that are allegedly sharing and viewing child pornography on message boards. It is alleged that one such IP address was identified as belonging to a person who resides at Monroe’s residence.
According to court records, during the execution of a court authorized search warrant at Monroe’s residence on May 13, 2016, HSI agents, assisted by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Warwick Police Department, seized six computers, three which acted as servers. A forensic review of the contents of the computers has, to date, revealed tens of thousands of files which allegedly contain images and videos of child pornography. It is alleged that some of the images and videos were produced by Monroe.
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Monroe has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on May 13, 2016.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The FBI is assisting HSI in the investigation of this matter.
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Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357
email: [email protected]
on Twitter @USAO_RI
Virginia man pleads guilty to unlawful possession of firearmRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Willie Vishone Joyner, 31, of Sterling, Virginia, pled guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Joyner, who has a previous felony conviction in state court in Virginia, was discovered in unlawful possession of a .32 caliber revolver in September 2015 in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Joyner was previously convicted of the felony offense of “Strangle Another to Cause Wounding or Injury” in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia in May 2013.
Joyner pled guilty today to one count of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” He faces up to 10 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 Krasinski prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Vero Beach Bank Robber Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Tyler Scott Topolski, 20, of Vero Beach, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra, in Ft. Pierce, to 33 months’ incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Topolski previously pled guilty to bank robbery.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, and David E. Currey, Chief, Vero Beach Police Department, made the announcement.
According to Court records, on November 6, 2015, at approximately 2:28 p.m., Topolski entered the Florida Community Bank, located at 4000 20th Street, Vero Beach, with a demand note, which read, “NO dye Paacs, I need All the 50’s & 100’s In the Bag! Fan the bills out first. Any restiance I will kill you & myself.” Topolski left with approximately $973.00 in cash. The note was later recovered in a nearby parking lot.
After Vero Beach Police Department detectives received information from the community, identifying Topolski from bank surveillance photographs, they obtained a South Carolina driver’s license in order to confirm his identity. Several bank witnesses positively identified Toploski from photographic lineups. As a result, the detectives obtained a State of Florida Arrest Warrant for Topolski and notified the Horry County Police Department in South Carolina. On November 7, 2015, Topolski was successfully captured, after he was located, hiding in his mother’s closet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Topolski gave detectives a full confession, admitting that he had cut his facial hair, in order to conceal his identity.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Vero Beach Police Department, and Horry County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina for their work on this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
United states attorney’s office partners with IPS school on after-school art projectRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh Minkler today announced an unprecedented art project partnering young girls from Daniel Webster Elementary School #46 (DWES) with lawyers, administrative professionals and paralegals of the United States Attorney’s Office. The two-month after-school mentoring art project featured self-portraits of 6th and 7th grade students and was intended to address issues of self-worth, confidence and self-esteem.
“Building positive relationships with Daniel Webster’s students can only increase the community trust between those of us in law enforcement and the citizens of this city that we serve and protect,” said Minkler. “Daniel Webster’s students have so much to offer this community. They just needed some mentorship and an opportunity to create a remarkable piece of art that benefits their school and their community. Creating such a legacy improves us all.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office partnered with Holly and David Combs, co-founders of The Department of Public Words in partnership with Art With a Heart to facilitate the program. The eight week after-school class included a confidence building self-portrait drawing workshop with 23 6th and 7th grade girls at DWES. Minkler and members of his staff at the U.S. Attorney's Office participated by mentoring and encouraging the students throughout the process.
The self-portraits created by the students will be featured in a large mural that will permanently adorn the main entryway to the school. The after-school workshops encouraged the girls to reject inappropriate labels, increase their self-respect and their respect for others. The mural, entitled, “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL” will serve as a legacy to remind participants and everyone entering the school of the important lessons learned during the eight-week project.
According to administrators at DWES, many female students at the school between the ages of 11 and 14 struggle with issues of self-worth, confidence and self-esteem. Within this group, the administration is starting to see a higher number of teenage pregnancies, cyber bullying incidents and poor educational outcomes. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this behavioral trend is a pipeline to an increased likelihood of low attachment to and performance in school, a life-cycle of poverty and homelessness, a diminished self-worth and an increased likelihood of criminal behavior.
"It's an honor to work with these young ladies, “said Holly Combs. “During these experiences, my goal is always to grow the students but I am profoundly surprised by how much the experience grows me."
“This partnership has truly been a gift,” said Daniel Webster Principal Karen Linn. “What makes it so powerful is that our girls are forming relationships with successful professionals who in sharing their own experiences are planting seeds of success. The wonderful DOJ volunteers and artists have helped our girls see that they too can become successful and are truly valuable and capable of doing great things with their lives.”
Uniontown man sentenced to nearly five years in prison for defrauding investors out of $5.6 millionRead the Press Release
A Uniontown man was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for operating a scheme in which 19 investors lost approximately $5.6 million, law enforcement officials said.
Geoffrey W. Nehrenz, 37, previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Boyko sentenced Nehrenz to 55 months in prison and ordered him to pay $5.6 million in restitution.
Nehrenz promoted and sold investment contracts to clients through Keystone Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”) an investment adviser company located in Uniontown, which is an Ohio limited liability company registered as an investment adviser firm, but not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This took place between 2009 and 2013. Nehrenz was the managing member, president, and chief executive officer of KCM, according to court documents.
Nehrenz induced 19 clients to invest in Keystone by promoting KCM’s ability to generate positive investment returns in equity markets while mitigating risk. He falsely represented to potential clients that their funds would be pooled, invested during the day in large- and mid-capitalization, publicly traded U.S. securities exclusively, and converted to cash overnight. Rather than investing the funds, Nehrenz used client money to pay his personal expenses, to pay business expenses to promote and prolong his investment scheme, and to make speculative, high-risk trades with domestic and overseas private placement vehicles without his clients’ authority, transactions known as “side pocket investments,” according to court documents.
Nehrenz induced at least 19 clients to invest approximately $7 million into his hedge fund, resulting in losses to his clients in the amount of approximately $5.6 million.
The indictment was presented by AUSA Christos N. Georgalis after an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service.
Two New York Residents Indicted in Pittsburgh on Counterfeiting ChargeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - Two residents of Jamaica, NY, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment named Ronald Heggs, 25, and Amelia J. Costa, 22, as the defendants.
According to the indictment, in April, 2015, Heggs and Costa produced counterfeit credit cards which they used to purchase gift cards at K-Mart stores in Western Pennsylvania.
The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Heggs and Costa.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Topeka Woman Pleads Guilty to Participating in Interstate Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in an interstate sex trafficking business, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Rachel Flenniken, 34, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of using an interstate facility in furtherance of prostitution. In her plea, she admitted working for a male co-defendant who was running a prostitution business in Topeka. At times, as many as 20 females were working as prostitutes in the organization. Flenniken’s employer rented houses where some of the prostitutes were allowed to live. He used Web sites, social media and cell phones to advertise sexual services and to keep track of the prostitutes.
Flenniken admitted she began working for the male co-defendant as a prostitute in 2008. By 2010, he put her in charge of other prostitutes. She was responsible for keeping track of their meetings with clients and collecting the money they received. She arranged interstate travel for the purpose of prostitution, posted on-line advertisements for workers, and maintained communication with prostitutes while they were working.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 17. She faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Co-defendant Frank Boswell, 42, Topeka, Kan., is awaiting trial.
Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Tallahassee Man Convicted of Receiving Illegal Drugs from OverseasRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Yesterday afternoon, a federal jury convicted Robert E. Youman, 32, of Tallahassee, of possession with intent to distribute the controlled substance alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (“alpha-PVP”). The verdict was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, on July 9, 2015, an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent posing as a delivery man delivered a package to Youman containing five kilograms of alpha-PVP that had been mailed from China to a “Jeffrey Davenport” at Youman’s address in Tallahassee. Youman told the undercover agent that he was “Jeffrey” and signed “Jeffrey Davenport” to receive the package. A short time later, Youman left his residence with the package. Law enforcement officers stopped Youman’s vehicle and arrested him. A search of Youman’s home revealed scales, additional alpha-PVP, and drug packaging materials.
Youman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Tallahassee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Harwin.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, [email protected]South Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than Twelve Years for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Vanshawn A. Haggins (28, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2016.
According to court documents, law enforcement identified Haggins and his associates as convicted felons who were in possession of firearms. Many of the firearms Haggins and his roommate, Christopher Balfrey, possessed had been stolen from residences in the South Tampa area. On multiple occasions, law enforcement officers met with Haggins and Balfrey, where they purchased drugs and stolen firearms from them. While executing a federal search warrant at their residence, law enforcement seized three firearms, ammunition, powder cocaine, marijuana, and $2,636 in cash.
As a previously convicted felon, Haggins is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
Balfrey previously pleaded guilty to narcotics and firearms offenses. He was sentenced on May 27, 2016, to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department as part of a Violent Crime Initiative. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Sleeping Drug Dealer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Kevin L. Burris, 42, Belleville, Illinois, pled guilty on June 6, 2016, to an indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury in February charging him with Distribution of Cocaine Base (Counts 1 and 2), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon (Count 3). The offenses occurred in St. Clair County, Illinois. Counts 1 and 2 carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine, and not less than 3 years’ supervised release. Count 3 carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years’ supervised release. Both counts require an assessment of $100. Sentencing is scheduled for August 30, 2016. Burris was allowed to remain on bond.
According to court documents, on May 28th and June 2nd, 2015, Burris distributed cocaine base in the form commonly known as "crack" cocaine to another individual for profit. Burris acknowledged selling crack cocaine for the last several years. On October 29, 2016, Burris was found by a St. Clair County Deputy Sheriff asleep behind the wheel of a running car in the middle of a Belleville street. Following his arrest, a Rossi, .357 revolver was found in Burris’s possession. Burris is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.
Information leading to the charges against Burris was obtained in an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.
Seven Bridgeport Men Charged with Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bridgeport Police Chief Armando J. Perez announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment yesterday charging seven Bridgeport residents with heroin trafficking offenses. All of the defendants were arrested this morning.
Charged in the eight-count indictment are:
KAREEM ROSEBORO, a.k.a. “Swiss,” 41
HARRY BLAKE, a.k.a. “Harry-O” and “O,” 33
MICHAEL BENNETT, 28
JONATHAN ZAYAS, 22
MARCUS MILTON, 50
GLEN PORTER, a.k.a. “Kuran,” 30
ROY TROTTER, a.k.a. “Nez,” 33The indictment stems from a joint investigation conducted by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force into the distribution of heroin in and around Bridgeport. The investigation has included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of heroin.
During the course of the investigation and in association with today’s arrests investigators have seized multiple “bricks” of heroin, items used in the processing and packaging of heroin, and five firearms. A brick of heroin contains 100 individual dose bags.
The indictment charges each defendant with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. If convicted of this offense, based on the quantity of heroin charged, ROSEBORO, BLAKE, BENNETT, ZAYAS and MILTON face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. PORTER and TROTTER face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
In addition, the indictment charges BLAKE, BENNETT, ZAYAS, MILTON, PORTER and TROTTER with one or more counts of possessing with intent to distribute heroin.
The defendants appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and are currently detained.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police, Stratford Police Department, Stamford Police Department and the Trumbull Police Department K-9 Unit.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alina P. Reynolds and H. Gordon Hall.
Sarasota County Residents Charged with Possession of Grenades, Pipe Bombs, Drugs, Firearms, and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of indictments against Venice residents Steven M. Pace (24) and Katie Smith (24) for possessing destructive devices. Pace also was charged with possessing with the intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance (AB-fubinaca, a.k.a “Spice”) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the destructive device charge. Pace also faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charge and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years on the firearm offense. The indictments also notify Pace and Smith that the United States intends to forfeit any firearms and ammunition that are traceable to proceeds of the offenses.
According to court documents, in February 2016, Pace and Smith each possessed four destructive devices, specifically, two improvised pipe bombs and two improvised grenades that had not been registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law. Pace is also charged with possessing with intent to distribute approximately 280 grams or more of “Spice” and possessing a Glock and ammunition in furtherance of that crime.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.
San Joaquin County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempting to Join ISILRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nicholas Michael Teausant, 22, of Acampo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
According to court documents, on March 17, 2014, Teausant was arrested near the Canadian border en route to Canada with the intent of continuing to travel to Syria to join ISIL. On March 26, 2014, Teausant was indicted on one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. He pleaded guilty on December 1, 2015, to the single count in the indictment without a plea agreement.
In sentencing, Judge Mendez stated: “Terrorism has to become a zero-tolerance crime. There is no margin for error. It is the court’s responsibility to fashion a sentence to reduce any risk you might pose in the future.”
“With this sentence, Nicholas Michael Teausant will be held accountable for attempting to travel overseas to join ISIL and to provide material support to the designated terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: “Mr. Teausant was fixated on violence as documented by his social media posts, his pre-arrest statements, and the nature of the group he attempted to join. His conduct was misguided and unacceptable. We appreciate the court’s thoughtful consideration of this case and its recognition of the seriousness of this offense. With the assistance of our investigative partners, we will continue to vigorously prosecute those who seek to provide material support to terrorist organizations.”
“The FBI actively investigates individuals intent on joining terrorist organizations or otherwise aiding violent extremist organizations with their plots to harm U.S. citizens. Violent extremists of all kinds—foreign and domestic—actively recruit disillusioned youth who can be radicalized and motivated to harm others,” said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Sacramento field office. “Everyone should increase their awareness of this issue and consider how they can lead from where they stand by reaching out to individuals before their fascination evolves into recruitment by a violent extremist group. ‘Don’t be a Puppet: Pull Back the Curtain on Violent Extremism,’ for example, is an FBI-produced educational resource designed to help youth navigate the host of propaganda they may be exposed to online and aid misguided peers long before misinformation leads them to commit an unlawful act.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Modesto Police Department, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, who are members of the Modesto/Stockton Joint Terrorism Task Force, with significant assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant United States Attorneys Jean M. Hobler and Jason Hitt and Trial Attorney Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Removed Alien Found Again by Homeland Security in Western PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An individual found by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Illegal Reentry After Deportation, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment named Benjamin Juarez-Luna, 36, a citizen of Mexico.
According to the indictment, Juarez-Luna, an alien, who was previously removed from the United States by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sept. 18, 2014, Jan. 31, 2015, Feb. 22, 2015, and July 1, 2015, was taken into custody on May 11, 2016, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Racketeering Kingpin Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today a plea of guilty by MANUEL GEOVANNY RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ, a/k/a “Shorty,” to his role as a leader of a massive and violent racketeering organization (the “Rodriguez Enterprise”) whose members sold large quantities of marijuana, murdered and attempted to murder nearly 20 people, transported and laundered millions of dollars, obstructed justice and committed perjury, and engaged in firearms offenses. RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ was previously charged in connection with “Operation Green Venom,” a coordinated multi-agency investigation that was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“ICE HSI”) and first announced in October 2010. In a proceeding today before U.S. District Judge Laura T. Swain, RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ entered a plea of guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, and accepted responsibility for dozens of illegal acts associated with that conspiracy, including nine murders and 10 attempted murders in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As he admitted in court today, Manuel Geovanny Rodriguez-Perez was responsible for the murders of nine people, the attempted murders of 10 more, and numerous other criminal acts. Rodriguez-Perez’s years-long reign of terror ended with his arrest nearly six years ago. His public admissions to his crimes and his ultimate sentence hopefully will provide some closure to the victims of Rodgriguez-Perez’s brutal violence.”
According to the terms of his plea, RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ acknowledged his leadership role in a wide range of criminal activity, including his responsibility for the murders of the following victims:
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Francisco Perez, a/k/a “Francie,” on October 26, 1997
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Antonio Kasse, a/k/a “Toasty,” on December 13, 1998
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FNU LNU, a/k/a “Carlos Valentin,” a/k/a “Campi,” in or about 2000
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Noel Herrera, on December 29, 2001
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Kelly Perez, a/k/a “Red,” on September 16, 2002
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Marino Molina, on January 11, 2003
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Wilfredo Molina, a/k/a “Willie,” on May 3, 2004
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Manuel Rivas, a/k/a “Tony el Mono,” on October 29, 2005
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Richard Cabrera, a/k/a “Bori,” on January 16, 2006
Noel Herrera, Marino Molina, and Manuel Rivas were each murdered by or at the command of RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ in the Dominican Republic. Wilfredo Molina was murdered at the command of RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ in New Jersey, and the remaining victims were murdered in New York City.
The maximum potential sentence for Count One of the Superseding Indictment, to which RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ pled guilty today, is life in prison.The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Additionally, RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ agreed to pay $25 million as a forfeiture penalty, which is the approximate amount of gross proceeds received by RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ derived from racketeering activities, properties in New York, Florida, and the Dominican Republic, and cash and jewelry seized by law enforcement officers.
RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ, 43, has been in federal custody since October 15, 2010, when he was arrested during a takedown of more than 50 members of a massive marijuana trafficking ring that transported ton-quantities of marijuana from Florida and California for distribution in the greater New York area from the early 1990s to 2010. RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Swain on October 25, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of ICE HSI, the New York City Police Department, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bergen County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office, the Englewood, New Jersey, Police Department, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance, and added that the investigation is continuing.
The investigation and prosecution of the cases arising from “Operation Green Venom” has been overseen by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Adams and Micah W.J. Smith are responsible for the prosecution.
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Pill Mill Operator Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Oxycodone and Other Drugs in Maryland and New YorkRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Gerald Wiseberg, a/k/a Gerry Wiseberg and Jerry Wiseberg, age 83, of Boca Raton, Florida today to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and other drugs. Chief Judge Blake also entered an order that Wiseberg forfeit $273,000.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
“State and federal authorities are continuing to look at ways to shut down ‘pain clinics’ that are really just fronts for criminals who divert pharmaceutical drugs and hook a new generation of addicts,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Gerald Wiseberg traveled from state to state setting up clinics that prescribed opioid drugs to people who had no medical need for the drugs.”
“This pill mill operator case shows the complexity of the drug abuse cycle and how law enforcement must take a multi-tiered approach in dealing with prescription drug abuse and the connected abuse of heroin”, stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert. “When users of prescription medications, especially opiate derivatives like oxycodone, become abusers of the medication, they often find themselves switching from oxycodone to a cheaper drug such as heroin. In doing so, a new generation of heroin addicts are created, which leads to an increase in cases of heroin overdoses we see every day in this nation.”
According to his plea agreement, from March 2010 through February 2011, Wiseberg owned and operated Total Care Medical Center, a pain management clinic located in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Although Wiseberg was not a medical doctor, he established the standard operating procedures for the clinic, including which drugs the prescribing physician could prescribe and the maximum dosage amounts of these drugs. As a result, Total Care accepted cash payments in exchange for providing prescriptions for large amounts of controlled substances, including oxycodone and alprazolam, to customers who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs.
In late 2010 and early 2011, two co-conspirators, Michael Resnick and his wife Alina Margulis, traveled to Florida to learn how to operate a pain clinic like Total Care. By early 2011, Wiseberg, Resnick and Margulis agreed to open a similar pain management clinic in Maryland. They opened Healthy Life, with Wiseberg as an investor, consultant and operator of the business. Wiseberg interviewed and hired medical directors at Healthy Life, specifically because he believed they would write prescriptions for narcotics to customers without a legitimate medical need.
Healthy Life first opened in Owings Mills, Maryland, and in October 2011, moved to a larger office in Timonium, Maryland. Both Healthy Life locations attracted large and unruly crowds. While outside the locations, customers caused disturbances, used narcotics, and engaged in narcotics transactions. Over 80% of the customers who received a prescription from Healthy Life were from out of state. Approximately 97% of the customers who received prescriptions from Healthy Life received at least one prescription for oxycodone.
From June 2011 through April 2012, Resnick and Margulis paid Wiseberg $12,000 a month for his role at Healthy Life. Wiseberg also received cash payments for his 30% share of the net profits from Healthy Life. In 2011 alone, those cash payments totaled $165,000.
Wiseberg also pleaded guilty to a charge filed in the Southern District of New York for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and other drugs. In that case, Wiseberg conspired with others to recruit patients from pain clinics to fill their prescriptions at specific pharmacies owned and controlled by Wiseberg’s co-conspirators. Wiseberg admitted that he knew the prescriptions were not for a legitimate medical purpose, but that the pharmacies would honor the prescriptions because his co-conspirators had staffed the pharmacies with pharmacists who would fill such prescriptions. Wiseberg and his co-conspirators required that patients filling prescriptions for oxycodone and other narcotics submit another prescription for a non-controlled substance at the same time. Wiseberg knew that these patients would pay substantially marked-up prices for oxycodone, and purchase additional non-controlled substances they did not need, in order to receive the painkillers.
Michael Resnick, a/k/a Michael Reznikov, age 55, and his wife, Alina Margulis, age 49, both of Brooklyn, New York, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam. Margulis also pleaded guilty to money laundering, and Resnick also pleaded guilty to structuring currency deposits. Resnick and Margulis have agreed to the entry of an order to forfeit $280,000. Resnick and Margulis await sentencing.
Physician William Crittenden III, age 52, of Kensington, Maryland, who served as a medical director at Healthy Life, was convicted at trial of conspiring to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam, and eight separate counts of unlawfully distributing oxycodone. Crittenden also awaits sentencing.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA Baltimore District Office and New Jersey Field Division, IRS, Baltimore County Police Department, and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, for their work in these investigations. Mr. Rosenstein expressed his appreciation to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Diskant, Daniel Tehrani, and Shawn Crowley, who handled the New York prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger and Peter J. Martinez, who prosecuted the Maryland case.
Photo taken during Attorney General Lynch’s visit to Fayetteville on May 24, 2016Read the Press Release
Photo taken during Attorney General Lynch’s visit to Fayetteville on May 24, 2016
Philadelphia Woman Charged with Stealing Dead Friend's PensionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Melba Wilson, 76, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by Information, filed May 25, 2016, with one count of theft of government funds and one count of theft from an employee pension plan, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the Information, the defendant received Social Security and pension benefits intended for a deceased friend, after the friend’s death in March 2007 until her fraud was discovered in the spring of 2015. The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the Social Security Administration in the amount of $134,389, and to the Department of Labor in the amount of $39,750, for a total loss to the government of approximately $174,139.
If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a three‑year period of supervised release, restitution to the government of $174,139, a possible fine, and a $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.
An Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Charged in Trio of Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Reuben Jackson, 52, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by Indictment with three counts of bank robbery, for three bank robberies that occurred in Center City Philadelphia in April and May 2016, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge William F. Sweeney.
According to the indictment, on April 29, 2016, Jackson robbed the Citizens Bank at 1515 Market Street in Philadelphia; on May 3, 2016, he robbed the Polonia Bank at 2133 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia; and on May 9, 2016, he robbed the PNC Bank at 400 Market Street in Philadelphia.
If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 60 years in prison, a possible fine, a period of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanine Linehan.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that STEVEN LONG, age 30, of Pearl River, Louisiana, pled guilty today to illegally possessing five firearms in his home on March 10, 2016, after having previously been convicted of three narcotics felonies in St. Tammany Parish.
If convicted, LONG faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for September 7, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier is in charge of the prosecution.
Press AdvisoryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian is scheduled to testify tomorrow at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on synthetic controlled substances.
The title of the hearing is “Deadly Synthetic Drugs: The Need to Stay Ahead of Poison Peddlers.” Other witnesses include Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg and Michael P. Botticelli, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Start of Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: 10 a.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building 226
Washington, D.C.More information about the hearing is available here.
Anyone who wants a copy of U.S. Attorney Hartunian’s prepared testimony, following his testimony, should contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett at (518) 431-0247.
Owner of Saul Farms Sentenced Bernard Saul to Serve 36 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE -- Bernard Saul, 58, of Bliss, Idaho, the owner of Saul Farms, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the crimes of wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Saul to forfeit $1,903,727 and pay a fine of $7,500. Saul pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering on March 29, 2016.
Saul’s conviction and sentence arose out of his misbranding conventional, non-organic alfalfa seed as “organic” alfalfa seed, which he then sold for $1,903,727 more than the seed was worth. He did not tell his customers that they were actually purchasing conventional, non-organic alfalfa seed. Saul’s wife, Roza Saul, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2016, to a one-count information charging her with delivery of a misbranded food product. Roza Saul will be sentenced on June 20, 2016.
“Bernard Saul committed a basic fraud,” said Olson. “Business people who misrepresent their product in order to make more money than their product is worth cheat both their customers and honest, fair businesses. This sentence sends the clear message that owners of businesses who cut corners in this way will be punished, and will not be able to keep the proceeds of their crime.”
“The USDA OIG has the responsibility for protecting the integrity of the National Organic Program (NOP),” said Lori Chan, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Western Region. “OIG conducts investigations in each region of the U.S. to deter and uncover criminal activity that undermines the organic program. Producers who engage in NOP fraud exploit the public’s trust by certifying agricultural products are organic when in fact they are not. The OIG at USDA works to ensure the public agricultural products certified as organic are truly organic.”
According to the plea agreement, Saul was the co-owner of Saul Farms, marketing as Bliss Seeds LLC. Saul Farms was located in Bliss, Idaho, and produced, handled, and sold alfalfa seeds labeled as “organic,” among other crops.
Under applicable federal regulations, to be sold or labeled as “organic,” an agricultural product generally (i) must have been produced and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals, (ii) must not have been produced on land to which any prohibited substances, including synthetic chemicals, have been applied during the preceding three years, and (iii) must have been produced and handled in compliance with an appropriate organic plan. Also, an entity that intended to sell or label agricultural products as organic first had to be certified as an organic producer or handler according to applicable regulations.
According to the plea agreement, from 2010 through 2015, Saul annually applied to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Nature’s International Certification Services for United States Department of Agriculture organic certifications to produce and handle organic alfalfa seeds on Saul Farms. In the applications, and during site inspections, Saul represented that Saul Farms grew organic alfalfa seed on between 42 and 81 acres, and produced between 35,000 and 50,000 pounds of organic alfalfa seed per year. During 2010 through 2015, organic alfalfa seed sold for more than one dollar more per pound than conventional, non-organic alfalfa seed.
According to the plea agreement, from 2010 through 2015, Saul purchased conventional, non-organic alfalfa seed from Andrews Seed, Quarter J Circle Farms, McClintick Farms, and United Seed Services in the following approximate amounts: 66,403 pounds for 2010; 304,891 pounds in 2011; 438,288 pounds in 2012; 545,182 pounds in 2013; 447,218 pounds in 2014; and 334,371 pound for the first nine months of 2015. Saul knowingly and intentionally misbranded these seeds as “organic” alfalfa seeds, and sold them to customers Albert Lea, Kings Agriseeds, Blue River Hybrid, Byron Seeds, and Foundation Organic at the higher organic price and received the following payments: $182,000 for 2010; $891,661 for 2011; $1,910,583 for 2012; $1,538,763 for 2013; $1,645,910 for 2014; and $921,520 for the first nine months of 2015.
According to the plea agreement, for the years 2010 through 2015, Saul knowingly and intentionally did not disclose to the United States Department of Agriculture, Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Nature’s International Certification Services Saul Farms’ purchases of conventional, non-organic alfalfa seeds from Andrews Seed, Quarter Circle J Farms, McClintick Farms, and United Seed Services, and Saul Farms’ sales of alfalfa seed – represented as “organic” – to customers Albert Lea, Kings Agriseeds, Blue River Hybrid, Byron Seeds, and Foundation Organic. As a result, Saul obtained $1,903,727 more from the customers than they should have paid.
Also, according to the plea agreement, Saul engaged in monetary transactions with the proceeds of the fraudulent sales. From 2012 through 2015, Saul made the following purchases with the proceeds of the fraudulent sales: a 438-acre parcel of real property in Buhl, Idaho for $1,000,000; a 2012 Coachman Freelander recreational vehicle for $20,000 (partial payment); a 2014 Polar Kraft boat, engine, and trailer for $41,553; 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck for $36,505; and a $90,000 cashier’s check.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 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. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants.
Ohio man pleads guilty to Federal sex crime involving minorsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to a federal sex crime involving minors, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Robert N. Bray, III, 38, of Logan, Ohio, entered his guilty plea to enticing minors to engage in sexual activity.
Bray admitted that in July 2015, he used a computer and cell phone to communicate with an individual he believed to be the mother of a 10-year-old female and a 5-year-old male in Parkersburg. In reality, Bray was communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. Bray continued communicating with the undercover officer, thinking he was arranging to engage in sexual activity with the minors. Bray arranged a meeting on July 22, 2015, and when he arrived in West Virginia, he was arrested. That same day, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Bray’s Ohio residence and seized a computer containing almost 300 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Bray faces a federal prison sentence of 10 years, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Bray will also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for September 7, 2016.
This prosecution is the culmination of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, the Hocking County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case is being brought as part of an ongoing initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the Southern District of West Virginia.
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Ohio man charged with unlawful possession of firearmRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Donaven J. White, 20, of Coshocton, Ohio, with unlawful possession of a firearm, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
White, who has a previous felony conviction in state court in Ohio, was allegedly discovered in unlawful possession of a .22 caliber revolver in April 2016 in Ohio County, West Virginia. White was previously convicted of the felony offense of “Robbery” in the Court of Common Pleas of Belmont County, Ohio in August 2014.
White is charged with one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm,” He faces up to 10 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 Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Wheeling, West Virginia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New York Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking HeroinRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS GABRIEL ESTEVEZ, 24, formerly of Ozone Park, N.Y., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 126 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2013, the DEA New Haven Task Force began investigating a heroin trafficking organization headed by members of the Estevez family who lived in New York and the Dominican Republic. The Estevez organization, including CARLOS GABRIEL ESTEVEZ, distributed wholesale quantities of heroin to customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
On December 31, 2013, in response to court-authorized intercepts of calls and texts, investigators surveilled a co-defendant as he drove from Connecticut to a parking lot in New Rochelle, N.Y., where ESTEVEZ met him and provided him with two brick-like packages. A Connecticut State Police trooper subsequently conducted a motor vehicle stop of the co-defendant as he was driving on I-95 in Milford and seized two bricks of heroin, each weighing approximately 500 grams, from a natural cavity in the vehicle’s wall.
ESTEVEZ has been detained since his arrest on September 11, 2014. On December 8, 2015, a jury found him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, one kilogram or more of heroin.
Judge Shea found that ESTEVEZ was responsible for the distribution of at least 30 kilograms of heroin.
This matter was investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, with the assistance of the DEA Hartford Task Force and the DEA in New York. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Brian P. Leaming.
Muskegon Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Drug, Firearm, and Witness Tampering OffensesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Larry Dwayne Diggs, age 24, also known as "Montana" and "Montie," of Muskegon, Michigan was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for drug, firearm, and witness tampering offenses, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell imposed a 3-year term of supervised release that will commence once Diggs is released from imprisonment.
Diggs pled guilty on February 3, 2016, to one count of possessing "crack" cocaine with the intent to distribute, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and one count of witness tampering. Diggs admitted at the plea hearing that on July 2, 2015, he possessed a quantity of "crack" cocaine and a Glock pistol while at a gas station in Muskegon, Michigan. He admitted that he was on his way to sell the "crack" cocaine to a customer, and he possessed the loaded handgun for his protection. Investigation revealed that the handgun was stolen, and Diggs was a convicted felon.
Diggs’ criminal conduct was not limited to selling drugs while armed with a stolen handgun, which itself posed a significant risk to the community. In the sentencing memorandum Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Lewis advised the judge that Diggs engaged in "a campaign of witness tampering in an effort to avoid responsibility for his crimes" and argued that such conduct "strikes at the heart of the judicial system and is affront to the Court and the community." Moreover, Diggs "has a number of prior convictions, to include a conviction for shooting at people near a crowded beach in the Muskegon area." Diggs’ conduct and history warranted "a significant custodial sentence to reflect the seriousness of his conduct, promote respect for the law, deter future criminal conduct by the defendant, deter others from engaging in similar conduct, and provide just punishment for his criminal conduct."
The charges in this case are the result of a joint investigation by the Muskegon Township Police Department and the Muskegon Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Michigan State Police (MSP), and the Muskegon City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office, and federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to combat violent crime and witness tampering in the Muskegon area.
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Mexican National Arraigned on Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Charges in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Moises Jimenez-Salas, 37, a Mexican national illegally in the United States who previously has been deported to Mexico three times, was arraigned this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on an indictment charging him with violating the federal firearms and narcotics trafficking laws. During this morning’s proceedings, Jimenez-Salas entered a not guilty plea to the indictment. He remains in federal custody pending trial.
Jimenez-Salas was arrested on May 12, 2016, and charged in a criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine and heroin and using and carrying a firearm and ammunition in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Court records reflect that on May 11, 2016, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) detectives responded to a motel located at Coors Blvd. NW and Interstate 40 in Albuquerque after receiving information regarding drug activity at the motel. At the motel, the detectives allegedly observed Jimenez-Salas carrying a cardboard box allegedly containing 463 grams of methamphetamine and 16 grams of heroin. During a search incident to arrest, the detectives allegedly found another bag in Jimenez-Salas’ pocket which allegedly contained 21 grams of methamphetamine. They also allegedly found a firearm and ammunition on Jimenez-Salas’ waistband.
Jimenez-Salas was subsequently charged in a four-count indictment on May 25, 2016. The indictment charges Jimenez-Salas with being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that Jimenez-Salas committed the crimes on May 11, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
If convicted of the illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge, Jimenez-Salas faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. If convicted of the methamphetamine trafficking charge, Jimenez-Salas faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. If convicted of the heroin trafficking charge, Jimenez-Salas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted of the possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime charge, Jimenez faces mandatory sentence of five years in prison that must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Charges in complaints and indictments are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and BCSO and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo.
This case is being prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible. Because New Mexico’s violent crime rate, on a per capita basis, is one of the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, N.M., under this initiative.
Meridian Man Indicted for Dealing Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
BOISE – Steven W. Clyne, 69, of Meridian, made an initial appearance today for dealing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. A federal grand jury in Boise indicted Clyne on May 11, 2016. The indictment alleges that from January 2013 until November 2015, Clyne willfully engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
Clyne appeared in court for the first time today. He appeared on a summons and was released on his own recognizance. Trial is scheduled for August 8, 2016, at the federal courthouse in Boise before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
The charge of dealing firearms without a license is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to one year of supervised release. The government is seeking forfeiture of the multiple firearms involved in the offense.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Robbing Bank in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dhyru Jamaal Gillis, 21, of Hyattsville, Md., has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for robbing a bank in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Gillis pled guilty in March 2016 to a charge of bank robbery. He was sentenced on June 6, 2016, by the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Following his prison term, Gillis will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 19, 2015, at approximately 9:55 a.m., Gillis entered a SunTrust Bank branch in the 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue NW. He passed a demand note to the teller stating that, “[t]his is a robbery give all your $100 $50, $20 you got 30 seconds.” Fearing for her safety and the safety of others, the teller turned over $2,344.
In addition to admitting to that robbery, in his guilty plea Gillis admitted attempting to rob a Citibank branch in the 5700 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, just three days earlier, on Oct. 16, 2015. He wound up leaving the bank without getting any money.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Assistant Director in Charge Abbate, and Chief Lanier commended the actions of the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department officers who worked to solve this case. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialists Jeannette Litz and Teesha Tobias of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Finally, they commended efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Martins Ferry, Ohio man charged with interstate cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Shawndale Saunders, 54, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, with cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Throughout April and May 2016, Saunders allegedly conspired with other individuals to transport cocaine across state lines from Ohio into West Virginia in order to possess and sell the drug in Ohio County, West Virginia. Specifically, Saunders is alleged to have utilized a telephone to facilitate the sale of cocaine in Ohio County, West Virginia.
Saunders is charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute 280 Grams or More of Cocaine Base,” for which he faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000. He is further charged with one count of “Use of a Telephone to Facilitate Distribution of Cocaine Base,” for which he faces up to four 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 Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Martins Ferry, Ohio Police Department are investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Manchester Woman Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for March 2015 Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H.—Emily Gray Rice, United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, announced that Marjorie Hendrie, 42, previously of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced for the robbery of a TD Bank branch location in March 2015. United States District Judge Paul Barbadoro imposed a sentence of 37 months’ imprisonment, three years supervised release, restitution to the Bank, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
According to the indictment, statements made in court, and other public records in the case, on March 16, 2015, Hendrie robbed a TD Bank branch location at 1255 South Willow Street, Manchester, New Hampshire. Although not actually armed, Hendrie approached the teller with a demand note stating, “I have a gun – give me the money and no one will be shot.” The teller complied, providing Hendrie approximately $6,048 in bank funds. Hendrie briefly fled on foot before retrieving her parked vehicle from an adjacent hotel parking lot. Bank personnel observed her getting into the vehicle and provided a description to Manchester Police. Responding officers located the vehicle almost immediately and stopped Hendrie in a nearby parking lot, recovering all of the stolen funds.
A federal indictment charging Hendrie with bank robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), was returned on July 1, 2015, and Hendrie pleaded guilty on February 29, 2016.
The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
###Man Sentenced to Life in Kidnapping CaseRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that yesterday, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced GEORGE LINCOLN STANLEY IV, 47, of Durham, North Carolina, to life imprisonment for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
GEORGE LINCOLN STANLEY IV was convicted on December 8, 2015 by a jury following a trial in federal court before Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt.
The investigation showed that the victim had been kidnapped from his home after returning from attending a boxing match in Las Vegas. The kidnappers lay in wait at the victim’s house and, after beating him badly, took him to a storage unit where he was held and tortured. Crime scene technicians recovered the kidnappers’ fingerprints, as well as the victim’s blood, within the storage unit. Zip ties were still attached to a chair within the storage unit and the victim’s personal identification was located on a nearby table. The victim, who was severely injured with a swollen eye, broken leg, ligature marks on his wrists and ankles, and duct tape still on his face and neck, was located by law enforcement on a rural dirt road in neighboring Nash County, North Carolina.
At trial, the evidence showed an elaborate scheme to target and kidnap the victim in order to steal money from him. The defendant, along with his co-defendants, broke into the victim’s house when they knew the victim would be out of town. The defendants waited in the victim’s home and attacked the victim when he returned. The defendants ransacked the victim’s home looking for money. The defendants demanded money of the victim, kidnapped him, and took him to the storage unit where they assaulted him and demanded more money. A large sum of cash was taken from the victim. At the time of his arrest, STANLEY had over $21,000.00 cash in his pocket.
The investigation was handled by the Raleigh Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification, State Bureau of Investigation, Wake County Sheriff’s Office and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dena King and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Holbrook represented the government. Mr. Holbrook is a prosecutor with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has assigned Mr. Holbrook to the United States Attorney’s Office through a grant program which allows him to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters.