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2 May 2016
Clarksburg, WV man sentenced to 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornographyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Anthony Castillo, 32, of Clarksburg, was sentenced today to 240 months in prison after he admitted to receiving and distributing child pornography, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Castillo repeatedly received and distributed a variety of sexually explicit images depicting minor victims. He pled guilty in November 2015 to one count of “Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Clarksburg, West Virginia Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.Clarksburg domestic violence offender pleads guilty to unlawful possession of firearmRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Convicted domestic violence offender John Patrick Blair, 64, of Clarksburg, pled guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Blair, who has a previous domestic violence conviction in state court in West Virginia, was discovered in unlawful possession of a .357 magnum caliber rifle in August 2014 in Harrison County, West Virginia. Blair was convicted in April 2010 in the Magistrate Court of Harrison County, West Virginia of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Blair pled guilty today to one count of “Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.” 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 Shawn Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Clarksburg, West Virginia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Butler County Woman Sentenced for Stealing $1.2 Million from Presbyterian ManorsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Butler county woman was sentenced Monday to five years on federal probation for stealing more than $1.2 million from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. The Wichita-based company owns assisted living centers in Kansas and Missouri.
Lori A. Shryock, 51, Augusta, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Shryock’s husband and co-defendant, Brent A. Shryock, 45, Augusta, Kan., was sentenced to 36 months.
In their pleas, they admitted the crime occurred while Brent Shryock was employed as information systems director for PMMA. He was in charge of all computers, telephones, video information and electronic equipment, including the purchase of new or replacement equipment for PMMA, Presbyterian Manor, Aberdeen and Ashfield facilities.
Brent Shryock created four fictitious companies, two of which were called Innovative Software Solutions and LGR Technologies. He directed payment to be mailed to those companies at post office boxes. Lori Shryock opened the two post office boxes where the checks were mailed. Either Brent or Lori Shryock would retrieve the payments and deposit them into the Shryocks’ personal accounts. The resulting loss to PMMA totaled $1.2 million.
Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Loan DocumentsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Tamara Ward, 39, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of an unlawful authentication feature of the United States, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $200,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Ward applied for two separate automobile loans and in each instance provided false information. The defendant falsely represented on each of the applications that she was employed by the Internal Revenue Service, earning an annual salary of $50,000. Ward has never been employed by the IRS.
In a related civil forfeiture proceeding, the defendant agreed to forfeit any interest she had in the proceeds of the sale of one of the automobiles Ward fraudulently purchased. The defendant also agreed to make restitution in the amount of $1,460.15 for the second automobile.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Office of Investigations, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge, Robert E. O’Malley.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2016 before Judge McCarthy.
Buffalo Man Sentenced on Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Derek McQuiller, 42, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted following a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by Lawrence J. Vilardo. The defendant faced, and the Government advocated for, a sentence of 262 to 327 months in prison, a sentence which was recommended under federal sentencing guidelines.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward H. White and Stephanie O. Lamarque, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that during a traffic stop on April 22, 2015, the defendant threw a plastic bag out of the passenger window. The bag was recovered and found to contain 10 individually wrapped baggies of cocaine. McQuiller threw another plastic bag out of the driver’s side window. That bag was recovered and found to contain marijuana. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, another baggie of cocaine was discovered under the passenger floor mat.
The defendant was transported to the Town of Tonawanda Police Station and three additional baggies of cocaine were found later that night under the bench where McQuiller had been booked. The defendant also was alleged to have given a baggie of cocaine to a female acquaintance earlier that night in a motel room.
In addition, a witness for the Government testified at trial that the defendant sold her drugs for three years prior.
McQuiller has five prior state and federal convictions, all for drug trafficking offenses.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III, and the Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Breitnauer.Buffalo Man Sentenced on Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Derek McQuiller, 42, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted following a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by Lawrence J. Vilardo. The defendant faced, and the Government advocated for, a sentence of 262 to 327 months in prison, a sentence which was recommended under federal sentencing guidelines.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward H. White and Stephanie O. Lamarque, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that during a traffic stop on April 22, 2015, the defendant threw a plastic bag out of the passenger window. The bag was recovered and found to contain 10 individually wrapped baggies of cocaine. McQuiller threw another plastic bag out of the driver’s side window. That bag was recovered and found to contain marijuana. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, another baggie of cocaine was discovered under the passenger floor mat.
The defendant was transported to the Town of Tonawanda Police Station and three additional baggies of cocaine were found later that night under the bench where McQuiller had been booked. The defendant also was alleged to have given a baggie of cocaine to a female acquaintance earlier that night in a motel room.
In addition, a witness for the Government testified at trial that the defendant sold her drugs for three years prior.
McQuiller has five prior state and federal convictions, all for drug trafficking offenses.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III, and the Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Breitnauer.Berkeley County, WV man pleads guilty to stalking former co-workerRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Former Internal Revenue Service employee Victor Anderson, 65, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty today to stalking a female coworker, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
While Anderson was employed at the Internal Revenue Service Computing Center in Martinsburg, he repeatedly used the Internet and traditional mail to distribute letters, photographs, essays, and poems containing sexually explicit information about a female co-worker. The items were distributed to the female co-worker’s supervisor, coworkers, relatives, neighbors, and other individuals within the United States government.
Anderson pled guilty today to one count of “Stalking.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Camilletti prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Baltimore Man Admits to Setting Fire to Liquor Store During the Baltimore RiotsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Darius Raymond Stewart, age 22, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to malicious destruction of property by fire, arising from the arson of a liquor store on April 27, 2015, during the riots following the death of Freddie Gray. One victim was seriously injured inside the store, and another escaped with minor injuries.
“Surveillance cameras recorded while Darius Stewart maliciously set fire to a store with people inside, and other rioters viciously attacked the store owner,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Citizens deserve to know that the rule of law will be upheld, and criminals who destroy property and jeopardize lives will be held accountable.”
The plea agreement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on April 27, 2015, during civil unrest in the wake of the funeral for Freddie Gray, there was widespread looting, and multiple structure and vehicle fires were set in Baltimore. The two owners of a liquor store located on West North Avenue were inside their store when the first wave of approximately 20 to 30 people entered the business and began banging on the bulletproof plexiglass window with pipes and crow bars. The group was chased off by a community member.
Shortly thereafter, a second wave of approximately 150 people entered the business and began ransacking and looting the store. One of the business owners was assaulted, resulting in a head injury requiring stitches, and was eventually rescued by police. Baltimore CitiWatch surveillance footage captured individuals robbing and repeatedly assaulting the owner as he was outside his store while it was being looted.
The second owner fled upstairs and was able to hide on an enclosed balcony as the looters broke down the door and looted the second floor.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. that night, Stewart set three fires inside the store. Surveillance footage clearly captured Stewart starting the fires and then going out to the street to get paper and cardboard to feed the fires he had set.
Smoke from the fires spread upstairs where the second owner was hiding. He was able to escape the burning building by using the gutter in an effort to slow his fall as he jumped to the ground. He suffered head trauma and injured his ankle. He was able to escape in his vehicle.
Baltimore City Fire Department responded to the scene. While extinguishing the fire, fire department personnel discovered an unconscious victim in the basement of the building. The victim suffered smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, and was hospitalized for five days.
The damage caused by the fire was extensive and it is estimated that it will cost approximately $350,000 to repair and restore the building. Stewart has agreed to the entry of an order to pay restitution of at least $350,000.
Stewart and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Stewart will be sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for July 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended ATF and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the case.
Another Ordered to Prison in Large Drug and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A third defendant convicted in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering scheme has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal jury convicted Baltazar Ibarra Cardona, 55, of Nuevo Laredo, Nov. 3, 2015, following three days of trial.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered he serve a total of 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Erasmo Trejo-Nava was the head of a drug trafficking organization that received marijuana loads from Mexico and arranged to transport the marijuana to the Dallas area. The organization used various stash houses and business fronts in the Laredo area to receive and prepare the marijuana for transportation via personal vehicles to a local warehouse where it was unloaded and reloaded onto tractor trailers.
Cardona was one of several truck drivers used by the organization to transport marijuana from Laredo to Dallas. He was a commercial truck driver willing to transport drug loads for $15,000. Cardona would pick up trailers loaded with the marijuana left at a warehouse provided by co-defendant Rafael Ortega. On a weekend in October 2011, the organization loaded four large crates with marijuana and placed them onto a trailer at a local warehouse. On Oct. 10, 2011, Cardona drove a tractor to the warehouse and picked up the marijuana-loaded trailer to transport to Dallas, taking a longer route via Highway 83 to circumvent the IH-35 checkpoint in the hopes of evading law enforcement. However, a Zavala County deputy stopped him between Carrizo Springs and Uvalde with an expired driver’s license as well as expired insurance on the tractor. He also had a false bill of Lading showing that his cargo was destined to a hardware store in Abeline. A search of the tractor trailer revealed he was transporting 1,858 kilograms of marijuana. Evidence established that this had been Cardona’s third trip for the organization.
Ortega aka Tio, 57, of Laredo, was also convicted at trial and ordered to serve 120 months in federal prison. Erika Alavarez, Trejo-Nava’s niece, pleaded guilty for being a money courier and received 48 months in prison.
The remaining 17 defendants had previously pleaded guilty and are also awaiting sentencing. Erasmo Abdon Trejo Nava, 44, Jose Angel Trejo, 43, Ovidio Rodriguez, 42, Victor Hugo Trejo Nava, 42, Francisco Colin, 42, and Salvador Saldaña-Medrano, 37, all of Laredo; Jaime Enrique Montalvo-Ruiz, 45, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; and Leocadio Ruiz, 48, of Dallas, entered pleas of guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. Five others - Juan Manuel Vargas Aguilar, 46, Mario Albert Rodriguez, 30, and Ricardo Ramirez, 34, all of Laredo; Arturo Lozano, 48, of Dallas; and Joshua Sanchez, 33, of Nuevo Laredo – pleaded guilty to the conspiracy. Gerardo Moreno Recio, 49, of Nuevo Laredo, was convicted of two separate counts of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, while Laura Heredia Garcia, 51, of Nuevo Laredo; and Raquel Margarita Ramos Jimenez, 45, and Leslie Bernice Trejo, 23, both of Laredo, entered pleas of guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.
The charges were the result of a long term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation dubbed Operation Trena Sin Trono spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and IRS - Criminal Investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Police Department, Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo is prosecuting the case.
Another Former El Paso Independent School District Employee Surrenders – Charged in Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
In El Paso this morning, 40–year-old James Anderson, former El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) Assistant Superintendent-Secondary Schools Division, surrendered to federal agents after being indicted in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) by artificially inflating state and federal student accountability scores announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division; and, U.S. Department of Education Inspector General Kathleen S. Tighe.
The federal grand jury indictment, unsealed today as to Anderson and last week as to his five co-defendants, charges him with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to commit mail fraud; mail fraud; and, making a false statement to a federal investigator.
Anderson’s co-defendants include: 50–year-old former El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) Associate Superintendent Damon Murphy; 52-year-old former Austin High School (AHS) Principal John Tanner; 51-year-old former AHS Assistant Principal Mark Phillip Tegmeyer; 53-year-old former AHS Assistant Principal Diane Thomas; and, 48-year-old former AHS Assistant Principal Nancy Love. All five surrendered to FBI agents last Wednesday.
The indictment alleges a scheme on the part of the defendants between February 2006 to September 2013 to violate the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) portion of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in order to keep EPISD compliant with program requirements.
According to the indictment, fraudulent misrepresentations regarding EPISD's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) were submitted to the Texas Education Agency and the DOE in order to make it appear as though EPISD was meeting and exceeding AYP standards.
In the 2008/2009 school year, Murphy allegedly gave high school principals “marching orders” to “put up barriers” to prevent 9th grade Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students and others who they perceived would perform poorly on the TAKS test from going on to the 10th grade. Later, Murphy and others implemented a plan using partial course credits for the 10th grade to reclassify and promote those held-back students to the 11th grade thereby circumventing all mandated testing/accountability procedures including the 10th grade TAKS test.
The indictment further alleges that Anderson and others encouraged EPISD employees to lie about implementation of this scheme while intimidating and threatening those EPISD employees who did not follow their directions.
The indictment also alleges that from July 2006 to June 2013, Anderson, along with others, created a plan to reduce or eliminate the African–American subgroup at certain schools to make it appear to the DOE that no African-American subgroup existed on any EPISD Priority School Division campus.
The indictment also alleges that in August 2012, Anderson knowingly made a false statement to federal authorities in an attempt to mislead them and impede the government from learning of his role and others’ role in the above mentioned scheme.
Anderson faces up to five years in federal prison upon conviction of conspiracy to defraud the Government; up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction of conspiracy to commit mail fraud; up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction of mail fraud; and, up to five years in federal prison for making a false statement to a federal agent. Anderson is expected to have his initial appearance in federal court tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. He remains in federal custody at this time.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Debra Kanof and Robert Almonte are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
ACPD Sergeant Admits Structuring and Making False Statements to FBIRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A sergeant with the Atlantic City Police Department (ACPD) today admitted structuring financial transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements and lying to federal agents, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Kiyia M. Harris, 39, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle in Camden federal court to an information charging her with one count of structuring and one count of making false statements to FBI agents during two interviews in December 2014.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The charges concern Harris’ concealment of financial transactions conducted on behalf of her then-paramour, Donell Williams, who pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2016, before Judge Rodriguez to conspiracy to distribute cocaine from March 2012 to June 12, 2013. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of violating the terms of his supervised release from a 2010 federal drug conviction.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
While working as an ACPD officer, Harris was engaged in a personal relationship with Williams, who was on federal probation. In June 2012, Harris purchased a 1969 Camaro for Williams in her name and structured the payments for the car in such a manner as to avoid the filing of a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) by the car dealership and also to obscure Williams’ involvement in the purchase.
Harris caused $17,825 to be deposited in amounts less than $10,000. On June 8, 2012, Harris paid $9,999 to the dealership. Harris paid the balance due for the Camaro by check dated June 11, 2012, which was drawn on one of her personal accounts at TD Bank. Some of the monies Harris used to pay for the car were deposited into that same TD bank account on two separate dates at two different TD Bank branches.
CTR forms require disclosure of the identity of the individual who conducted the transaction and the individual or organization for whom the transaction was completed. Many individuals involved in illegal activities are aware of these reporting requirements and take active steps to cause financial institutions, including car dealerships, not to file CTRs in order to avoid detection of the movement of large amounts of U.S. currency or currency obtained from illegal activities, including drug trafficking, a practice referred to as “structuring.” This typically involves making multiple cash payments, deposits or withdrawals in amounts of $10,000 or less on the same day or consecutive days in order to avoid CTR filings.
During two interviews with special agents from the FBI, Harris made false statements to agents: she falsely told FBI agents that she had never deposited cash into her bank accounts when, in actuality, from Jan. 8, 2007, through Nov. 26, 2014, Harris deposited more than $120,000 into her accounts. Harris repeatedly denied having engaged in financial transactions with Williams, when she in fact had helped him with the purchase of the 1969 Camaro, as well as paying a $6,500 deposit on a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The counts to which Harris pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2016. According to the Atlantic City Police Department, Harris has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the prosecution. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher; the DEA’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor James P. McClain; and the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Henry White, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
He also thanked the N.J. State Police; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Homeland Security Investigation (HSI); Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventnor, Northfield and Millville police departments for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana V. Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: James J. Leonard Jr. Esq. of Atlantic City, New Jersey
1 May 2016
Halliburton and Baker Hughes Abandon Merger After Department of Justice Sued to Block DealRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today that Halliburton and Baker Hughes have abandoned their planned merger, originally valued at $34 billion. The department filed suit on April 6, 2016, to block the merger, alleging that the transaction would unlawfully eliminate significant head-to-head competition between the companies in at least 23 markets crucial to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States.
“The companies’ decision to abandon this transaction – which would have left many oilfield service markets in the hands of a duopoly – is a victory for the U.S. economy and for all Americans,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “This case serves as a stark reminder that no merger is too big or too complex to be challenged, and that the hardworking men and women of the department’s Antitrust Division stand ready, willing and able to vigorously enforce the nation’s antitrust laws when companies propose deals that would enhance shareholder value at the expense of consumer interests. I am proud of the lawyers, economists, and others at the Justice Department whose work on this multi-year investigation and litigation made this result possible.”
“Very few things are as important to our economy as oil and gas,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General David I. Gelfand of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “But the merger of Halliburton and Baker Hughes would have raised prices, decreased output and lessened innovation in at least 23 oilfield products and services critical to the nation’s energy supply. We achieved the only result that could adequately protect American consumers – an abandonment of this unlawful merger. We thank our enforcement partners around the world, especially from the European Commission, Australia, Brazil and Mexico, for their close and constructive collaboration on this matter.”
Before the lawsuit was filed, Halliburton had offered to divest certain assets in an effort to address the department’s competitive concerns. According to the complaint, however, the proposal was inadequate because it did not include full business units, withheld many critical assets and personnel, involved numerous ongoing entanglements between the merged company and the divestiture buyer and generally failed to replicate the robust competition between the parties that exists today.
Halliburton is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston. Founded in 1919, Halliburton is the largest provider of services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States. It has operations in approximately 80 countries and earned revenue of $23.6 billion in 2015.
Baker Hughes is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston. It was formed in 1987 with the merger of Baker International and Hughes Tool Company, both founded over 100 years ago. The third-largest provider of oilfield services in the world, Baker Hughes operates in more than 80 countries and earned revenue of $15.7 billion in 2015.
Delaware Woman Sentenced to A Year in Prison for $600,000+ Embezzlement from Credit Card Payment ProcessorRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. - Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Lisa Mose, age 43, of Bear, Delaware, was sentenced last week by the Honorable Leonard P. Stark, Chief Judge of the United States District Judge for the District of Delaware, to 12 months and one day in prison, and full restitution. The defendant pleaded guilty to a wire fraud violation in January 2016.
According to statements on the record and documents filed in court, Mose was employed by a credit card transaction processor, in New Castle, Delaware. Mose was a supervisor within the reconciliation and settlements department. She had access to initiate manual wire transfers from her employer’s operating accounts. From January 2009 through June 2014, Mose made false entries into the company’s computerized system and initiated at least 325 wire transfers, totaling at least $618,075, to her personal bank accounts and bank accounts of known associates. Mose used a significant portion of the proceeds to purchase vacations and high-end consumer goods.
U.S. Attorney Oberly commented, “Ms. Mose was a trusted supervisor at her place of employment and she systematically, over a period of years, proceeded to steal over $600,000 from her employer. Such a breach of trust cannot go unpunished and a sentence of incarceration is necessary to deter others who might consider stealing from their employers.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Paxton.
30 April 2016
Prescription Drug Take Back Day Nets More Than 5,000 Pounds of Unwanted and Unused PillsRead the Press Release
(MINNEAPOLIS) – Federal and local officials today in Minneapolis hosted a prescription drug take back event as part of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Minnesotans disposed of more than 5,000 pounds of unwanted medication at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Downtown Minneapolis. On hand to participate in the take back event were federal and local officials and local advocates.
Today in Minneapolis, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House was joined by DEA Special Agent in Charge Dennis A. Wichern, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, elected officials and a representative of the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy.
“Take back events, along with year-round safe disposal programs, are an important part of our efforts to decrease prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths because we know the majority of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from family or friends,” said Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy.
“April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” said Dennis A. Wichern, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division. “This year will be the eleventh DEA sponsored event to join with the community to empty our medicine cabinets of unwanted, unneeded, expired medications. Misused medications can cause great harm. Safely disposing of these prescription drugs will save lives. Preventing one pill from being used for the wrong reasons is the starting point for a safer, healthier Minnesota.”
“Opioid abuse is a public health and law enforcement problem in Minnesota,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “Events like today’s DEA drug take back help to prevent abuse and addiction by providing a free opportunity for the disposal of unused and unwanted medicines.”
“The tragic consequences of opioid addiction have been devastating across Minnesota and nationwide,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. “I urge all residents to help the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office raise awareness about reducing the risk of painkiller abuse. Clean out your medicine cabinet and routinely dispose of unwanted painkillers and medications by bringing them to a disposal box at a Sheriff’s Office facility.”
“These efforts to remove unused prescriptions from our medicine cabinets will save lives,” said Senator Chris Eaton. “If you have a prescription of any kind, keep it locked up where guests and family can't access it. We have had too many deaths from opioids in Minnesota and in the country. This simple step can make a huge difference.”
“National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and similar events throughout the year, are very important to help get dangerous drugs out of our homes and workplaces and to shine a spotlight on the huge problems we are seeing around prescription drug addiction and overdoses,” said Nick Motu, Vice President of the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy.
Last September, Americans turned in 350 tons (over 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 10 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 tons—of pills.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms. The removal from homes of unwanted prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold is an easy way to help fight the epidemic of substance abuse and addiction. That is why local communities are also establishing ongoing drug take back programs.
29 April 2016
White Oak Man Pleads Guilty in Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
David Irwin, 43, of White Oak, Pa., pleaded guilty yesterday to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The interception of wire and electronic communications began in December 2013 and continued through the end of August 2014. During that timeframe, David Irwin was intercepted over the wire conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, which was shipped from California to the Western District of Pennsylvania through the United States Postal Service or commercial carrier.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for Aug. 17, 2016, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of David Irwin.
Weslaco Woman Indicted for Making False Allegations Against a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Weslaco woman has been arrested for falsely accusing a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent of taking bribes, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Candida Marroquin-Mobley, 41, of Weslaco, was taken into custody today. She is expected to make her initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in McAllen on Monday, May 2.
The indictment, returned April 27, 2016, alleges she made materially false statements to a federal agent. She allegedly stated that she was aware of a DEA agent who was “on the take” and receiving bribes. Marroquin-Mobley knew both that the statements were false and that the special agent in question had not received bribes, according to the allegations.
If convicted, she faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
The Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ted Imperato and Sam Brown IV are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Veterans Services Organization Bookkeeper Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Fraud, Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CYNTHIA TANNER, 54, formerly of Darien, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling approximately $800,000 from a Connecticut-based veterans services organization, and for failing to pay taxes on that income.
According to court documents and statements made in court, TANNER was employed as a bookkeeper for the National Veterans Service Fund (“NVSF”) located in Darien. The stated mission of the NVSF was to provide case managed social services and limited medical assistance to Vietnam and Persian Gulf War veterans and their families, with a focus on families with disabled children. From approximately January 2009 through June 2014, TANNER used nearly $800,000 in NVSF funds to pay various personal expenses for her and her family members. She also altered records to conceal her scheme and by falsely claiming that the stolen monies were being paid to veterans in need.
In addition, TANNER failed to report $794,768.47 in embezzled income on her 2009 through 2013 federal tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of $270,026.
TANNER was ordered to pay full restitution to the NVSF, and back taxes, interest and penalties in an amount that exceeds $500,000.
TANNER was arrested on related state charges on June 2, 2014. On December 15, 2015, she pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion.
TANNER, who is released on bond, was ordered to report to prison on August 30, 2016.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and Darien Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
Utica Woman to Serve Prison Term in Marriage Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Zubeda Kalume, 42, of Utica was sentenced yesterday to serve 14 months imprisonment and a 3 year term of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment, following her conviction after trial for entering into a fraudulent marriage for the purpose of allowing a Gambian man to unlawfully remain in the United States, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Brian Devine, Resident Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Syracuse Office. Kalume is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the Congo who was found guilty after a 4-day jury trial in December 2015.
In sentencing Kalume, Chief United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby noted that while fraudulently holding herself out to federal immigration officials as lawfully married, she was simultaneously representing to other agencies that she was a single mother in her applications for food stamp benefits, Section 8 housing benefits, and day care benefits.
"As this sentence makes clear, America’s legal immigration system is not for sale. We are committed to fighting fraud and deceit for profit so immigration benefits are not drained away from those who deserve them," said United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
"Marriage fraud is a federal crime and unfortunately one that is all too common," said Brian Devine, resident agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Syracuse. "Schemes like this not only damage the integrity of America’s legal immigration system, but they could also be exploited by individuals who pose a significant risk to our nation's security. We applaud the U.S. Attorney's office for pursuing these violations vigorously and thank our federal partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their instrumental efforts throughout the course of this investigation."
The evidence at trial established that Kalume and Alieu Jaiteh, 32, a citizen of The Gambia, were married in Dewitt, New York in October 2009. Jaiteh, who had entered the country on an F-1 student visa, violated its terms and was in the United States illegally at the time of the marriage. Zubeda Kalume agreed to marry Jaiteh for $10,000 and later assisted him in getting temporary legal immigration status. Alieu Jaiteh, of Syracuse, New York, was himself convicted for conspiring from 2009 to 2012 to commit more than $1.7 million in federal food stamp fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in April 2015.
These convictions are the culmination of a joint investigation conducted by Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General. Assistance was also provided throughout the investigation by the Onondaga County Department of Social Services’ Welfare Fraud Unit, Oneida County Social Services, and the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown.
U.S. Navy Captain Select Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Accepting Cash and Prostitutes in International Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A U.S. Navy Captain Select was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for bribery charges, admitting that he accepted cash, gifts, travel expenses, entertainment and the services of prostitutes from foreign defense contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) in exchange for classified U.S. Navy information, including ship schedules that contained information related to the U.S. Navy’s ballistic missile defense operations in the Pacific. In addition, he was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $100,000 and to forfeit $95,000 in proceeds for the scheme.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy of the Southern District of California, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations James B. Burch of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and Director Andrew Traver of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) made the announcement.
Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, 49, of San Diego, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino of the Southern District of California for one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery.
According to admissions in his plea agreement, from January 2011 until September 2013, Misiewicz provided classified U.S. Navy ship schedules and other sensitive U.S. Navy information to the defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, CEO and owner of Singapore-based GDMA. GDMA provided port services to U.S. Navy ships and submarines when they arrived at ports throughout the Pacific.
Misiewicz admitted that when he was stationed in Japan, on the USS Mustin and in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he used his position and influence within the U.S. Navy to advance the interests of GDMA, including by providing Francis with classified ship schedules and other proprietary U.S. Navy information. In return, Misiewicz admitted that Francis gave him cash, paid for luxury travel on at least eight occasions for Misiewicz and his family, provided his wife with a designer handbag and provided Misiewicz with the services of prostitutes on multiple occasions. Throughout the conspiracy, Misiewicz admitted that he and his conspirators took steps to avoid detection by law enforcement by, among other means, using clandestine email accounts, which they periodically deleted.
To date, 10 individuals have been charged in connection with this scheme; of those, nine have pleaded guilty, including Misiewicz, U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Dusek, Lieutenant Commander Todd Malaki, NCIS Special Agent John Beliveau, Commander Jose Luis Sanchez and U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Dan Layug. Former Department of Defense civilian employee Paul Simpkins awaits trial. On Jan. 21, 2016, Layug was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $15,000 fine; on Jan. 29, 2016, Malaki was sentenced to 40 months in prison and to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $15,000 fine; on March 18, 2016, Alex Wisidagama, a former GDMA employee, was sentenced to 63 months and $34.8 million in restitution to the Navy; and on March 25, 2016, Dusek was sentenced to 46 months in prison and to pay $30,000 in restitution to the Navy and a $70,000 fine; the others await sentencing.
NCIS, DCIS and the Defense Contract Audit Agency are conducting the ongoing investigation. Assistant Chief Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark W. Pletcher of the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
Those with information relating to fraud, corruption or waste in government contracting should contact the NCIS anonymous tip line at www.ncis.navy.mil or the DoD Hotline at www.dodig.mil/hotline, or call (800) 424-9098.
U.S. Attorney’s Office urges public to participate in drug take-back driveRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley urges the public to get out this weekend and throw out unused prescription drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and more than 3,800 national, tribal and community law enforcement partners nationwide will be promoting National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with events across the nation this weekend. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. It also educates the public about the potential for abuse of medications. Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, theft, misuse and abuse. More than 46,000 Americans die each year from drug-related deaths, and more than half of those are from heroin and prescription opioids. The DEA reports that almost twice as many Americans (6.5 million) abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined, according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. More Americans died in 2010 from overdoses of prescription medications (22,134, including 16,651 from narcotic painkillers) than from motor vehicle accidents, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA will have collection sites across the country on Saturday, April 30th, for those who are interested in bringing their unused or expired prescription drugs for proper disposal. Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be brought to the collection sites – liquids and needles or other sharp objects will not be accepted. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Prescription drugs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at the following sites:
Shreveport
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Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Safety Town in the Parking Lot of Summer Grove Baptist Church, 8910 Jewella Ave.
Bossier City
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Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Viking Drive Substation, 2510 Viking Drive
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Louisiana State Police Troop G office, 5300 Industrial Drive, Extended
Barskdale Air Force Base
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455 Curtis Road
Monroe
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Louisiana State Police Troop F office, 1240 Highway 594
Alexandria
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Louisiana State Police Troop E office, 1710 Odom St.
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Alexandria Police Department, 1000 Bolton Ave.
Lafayette
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Louisiana State Police Troop I office, 121 E. Pont Des Mouton Road
Broussard
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Broussard Police Department at Walgreen’s Parking Lot, 105 St. Nazaire
Lake Charles
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Lake Charles Police Department at the Lake Charles Civic Center Parking Lot, 900 Lakeshore Drive
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Louisiana State Police Troop D office, 805 Main St.
The public can also find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database where they enter their zip code or call 800-882-9539.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is Committed to Reducing Recidivism through Reentry ProgramsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is committed to reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities.
During National Reentry Week, Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, recognizes the collective efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. District Court, U.S. Probation, the Federal Public Defenders Office, law enforcement and community stakeholders, to implement local reentry initiatives and support returning citizens.
“By coming together to help returning citizens reintegrate into society we are making our criminal justice system smarter, less expensive, and more effective,” stated U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer. “Successful reentry initiatives that provide returning citizens with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to succeed when they return to their communities will have tremendous implications for the safety of our neighborhoods, the health of our economy, and the strength of our neighborhoods. If we can reduce recidivism by helping motivated individuals successfully reenter society and become productive members of our communities, we can reduce crime in our streets.”
Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to our neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons, and another 11.4 million individuals cycle through local jails. The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many returning citizens from obtaining employment, housing, a quality education, adequate health care, personal identification and even financial credit. These often-crippling barriers can contribute to a cycle of incarceration that makes it difficult for even the most well intentioned individuals to continue on the right path and avoid reentering the criminal justice system. Within the Southern District of Florida comprehensive reentry reforms have been implemented to promote the successful reintegration of returning citizens and reduce recidivism. These efforts will help those who have paid their debt to society prepare for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, promote family unity, contribute to the health of our economy, advance public safety and sustain the strength of our communities.
This month, the Southern District of Florida launched its first ever Reentry Court, known as the Court-Assisted Re-Entry (CARE) Initiative. The CARE Initiative is a problem-solving, collaborative effort between U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Public Defender representatives, and a Department of Justice Re-Entry Specialist. The CARE Team’s mission is to: help those returning from prison to become productive members of society by providing coordination for job training and placement, housing assistance, educational support, and the medical, substance abuse and mental health referrals; promote community safety by reducing recidivism and victimization; and reduce taxpayer spending on incarceration. Through bi-monthly court sessions, the CARE Team assess each participants’ progress, address any issues with his or her reentry, decides whether wrap-around services can be provided, and determines appropriate rewards and/or sanctions.
In 2011, The United States Attorney’s Office established the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) to address violent crime, gang activity and firearms offenses that plague communities in the Southern District. The VRP employs a holistic, three-pronged approach to violence reduction – one focused not only on enforcement, but also on prevention and reentry. Utilizing this multi-faceted approach, the VRP aims to reduce crime and promote safer and more resilient communities.
As part of the reentry prong of the VRP, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Probation and non-profit service providers have conducted Reentry and Resource (“in-reach”) Meetings at the Federal Detention Center and Federal Correctional Institution in the Southern District. The meetings provide inmates preparing to be released from incarceration with the tools and information they need to navigate their successful reentry into society and reduce their risk of recidivism. Since 2013, more than 535 individuals have attended the meetings and received a Reentry Resource Guide. The most recent in-reach meeting was held this past Monday at the Federal Detention Center. Additionally, since 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been actively involved with Reentry Fairs at state correctional institutions and has connected with more than 3,261 inmates before their release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our community partners also support the South Florida Reentry Center Hub, a traveling one-stop service center for returning citizens and their families. The Reentry Center Hub provides returning citizens with easy, centralized access to a variety of reentry services within their local communities. Since 2014, Reentry Center Hub events, held in Fort Pierce, Miami Gardens, Liberty City and Goulds, Florida, have reached more than 630 returning citizens and their families. On April 27, 2016, the Reentry Center Hub provided information and services to 120 individuals.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections continue to host Job Preparedness Workshops for returning citizens. The workshops provide individuals with the information they need to seek, gain and maintain lawful employment. The curriculum focuses on a variety of areas, including the development of resume writing, application and interview skills. A workshop was held yesterday afternoon and since 2013 the workshops have offered services to 58 returning citizens.
The goal of the reentry initiatives is to build a safer, more equal and more inclusive America.
Additional information regarding the CARE and VRP initiatives is available at [email protected] or by calling (305) 961-9134.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Focuses on Reducing Barriers to Reentry and Employment During Employment SummitRead the Press Release
DALLAS — This afternoon, as part of its efforts during National Reentry Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas hosted an Employer Summit, entitled “Employers Investing in Community Prosperity,” in Arlington, Texas, to highlight the benefits of hiring the formerly incarcerated, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
“Finding a job even without a conviction can be challenging, but for those being released from prison, it can be almost impossible,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “Regardless of the severity of their crime, recently released individuals often find that their past criminal record can be tantamount to a life sentence of low wages, underemployment, and poverty. We all have a vested interest in ensuring that those who are genuinely motivated to rebuild their lives after release have the tools and legitimate opportunities to do so.”
As part of National Reentry Week, the Administration has taken a series of steps to reform the federal approach to reentry by addressing barriers to reentry, supporting state and local efforts to do the same, and engaging the private sector to provide individuals who have earned a second chance the opportunity to participate in the American economy.
At this afternoon’s Employer Summit, representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Labor, the Texas Offender Reentry Initiative, and the Texas Workforce Investment Council provided information to employers to assist them in navigating the hiring process for the formerly incarcerated. Information was also furnished about the steps that federal, state, and local governments are taking to reduce barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as information concerning the benefits, such as available tax incentives, of hiring the formerly incarcerated.
Just today, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the Federal Interagency Reentry Council to lead the Government’s work on the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals returning to their communities from prisons and jails. For five years, the Attorney General has successfully led the Cabinet-level working group; this memorandum will build on that success and ensure the federal government will continue this important work.
The Administration is taking specific steps to reduce barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individual. As brief examples:
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is publishing a proposed rule that would prohibit federal agencies from asking questions about criminal and credit history to applicants for jobs in the competitive service and the career senior executive service, until a conditional offer of employment has been made.
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The Presidential Memorandum directs all agencies to review their procedures for conducting a suitability determination for a job applicant with a criminal record.
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The Presidential Memorandum directs all agencies with discretion to grant or deny occupational licenses to ensure that a criminal record is not an automatic disqualifier.
Today’s Employer Summit concluded a busy National Reentry Week in north Texas in which the U.S. Attorney’s Office sponsored and coordinated several events to raise awareness of the importance of reentry work. On Monday, U.S. Attorney Parker welcomed approximately 300 attendees at the 2016 Reentry Symposium in Dallas, and on Tuesday, staff members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff at Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Fort Worth to participate in a Reentry Simulation that offered FCI inmates an opportunity to experience, first-hand, what it is like to be a newly-released offender. On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in a Reentry Information Fair at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell in Fort Worth, where representatives from area service providers and community groups provided information and resources to assist inmates in overcoming reentry barriers they may encounter in employment, medical care, public assistance, identification and housing. On Wednesday evening in Dallas, and on Thursday evening in Fort Worth, hundreds of recently-released state parolees/probationers attended the U.S. Attorney’s Office Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Probation/Parole Reentry Sessions. At each of these monthly sessions, staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and others from local, state and federal law enforcement, emphasize federal firearms laws and ensure attendees are aware of available social services.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced new reforms to strengthen the BOP, including the “Roadmap to Reentry,” the Department’s comprehensive vision to reduce recidivism through reentry reforms at the BOP.
More information about Reentry efforts in the Northern District of Texas may be found here. Additional resources regarding the Department’s Reentry efforts may be found here.
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- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is publishing a proposed rule that would prohibit federal agencies from asking questions about criminal and credit history to applicants for jobs in the competitive service and the career senior executive service, until a conditional offer of employment has been made.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Award RecipientsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - Sixteen employees of the United States Attorney’s Office and five law enforcement officers were honored today with the Office’s most prestigious awards. At a ceremony held to announce the awards this morning at the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore, the United States Attorney also welcomed eight new Assistant U.S. Attorney and other employees who have joined the Office since last year.
Maryland U.S. District Judge George Jarrod Hazel served as the keynote speaker for the event. Judge Hazel was a Maryland Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2008 to 2010.
“These award recipients accomplished superb results while respecting our high ethical and professional standards,” commented U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “As the U.S. Attorney’s Office works with our partners to promote the rule of law, punish criminals, deter crime and protect government property, it is essential to maintain our commitment to excellence, integrity and achievement.”
During the annual ceremony, the U.S. Attorney encourages prosecutors to heed the advice of Robert H. Jackson, while serving as Attorney General in 1940: “’A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power, and the citizen’s safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.’”
Annual Awards
The following awards were announced for accomplishments over the past year:
Gary Jordan Award
Recipient: Evelyn Germani
Gary P. Jordan served with distinction for many years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, as First Assistant from March 29, 1987 until his death on October 25, 1996, and as interim U.S. Attorney in 1993. This is an honorary award presented annually to an employee for exemplary performance that demonstrates the highest traditions of the office: integrity, ingenuity, dedication to public service and fairness.
Barnet D. Skolnik Award
Recipients: Harry M. Gruber
Joyce K. McDonaldBarnet D. (Barney) Skolnik was an Assistant U.S. Attorney who led teams that prosecuted numerous white collar criminals and corrupt public officials in the 1970s, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. This is an honorary award presented annually to one or more Assistant U.S. Attorneys who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, determination and creativity in a case of unusual public significance.
Employee of the Year Award
Recipient: Jeremy M. Warga
The Employee of the Year Award recognizes sustained superior performance and outstanding achievements by a non-attorney employee. The award also recognizes the recipient's professionalism, dedication and comprehensive knowledge in their area of expertise.
Pete Twardowicz Award
Recipients: Jason Bender
Cam Costello
Jennifer Perry
Kalliopi Tserkis-Mullins
Michael ShaoThe Pete Twardowicz Award was established in honor of Eugene P. (Pete) Twardowicz, who rendered many years of outstanding service to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an IRS criminal investigator and a Special Investigator for this Office. This award recognizes law enforcement agents or officers for outstanding cooperation and achievement while working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on a significant case.
Excellence in Civil Advocacy
Recipient: Thomas H. Barnard
Roann NicholsThe U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Civil Advocacy, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding advocacy in civil litigation.
Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud
Recipients: Martin J. Clarke
Leo J. WiseThe U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting fraud.
Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime
Recipient: Patricia C. McLane
Seema Mittal
Andrea L. SmithThe U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting violent crime.
Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime
Recipient: Paul E. Budlow
John W. Sippel, Jr.
Aaron S.J. ZelinskyThe U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting organized criminal activity.
Excellence in Legal Support
Recipient: Damaris Weeks
The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more non-attorney employees for outstanding work in support of the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative
Recipient: Vincent DeVivo
The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more employees for outstanding work in support of an initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Carl S. Lackl Award
Recipient: Minor who testified at trial.
The Carl S. Lackl Award for Exemplary Perseverance and Fortitude in Pursuit of Justice was established in 2008 in honor of Carl Stanley Lackl, Jr. Mr. Lackl witnessed a murder in Baltimore in 2006 and agreed to testify against the suspect he identified. After the suspect was arrested by police and charged in state court with the murder, he used a contraband cellular telephone to contact co-conspirators and arranged to murder Mr. Lackl, who was shot to death outside his house in front of his daughter. All of the conspirators were convicted on federal charges.
New Employees
In addition, the U.S. Attorney welcomed new employees who joined the office last year. Assistant U.S. Attorneys: Dana Brusca, Derek Hines, Christina Hoffman, Menaka Kalaskar, Matthew Maddox, David Metcalf, Philip Selden and Jennifer Sykes. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys: Keri Borzilleri, John Hanley, Amanda Harris, Francesca Liquori, Mara Senn, Angela Tang, and Rachel Timm. Non-Attorney Staff: Stephanie Alley, Amna Aslam, Chikiera Cephas, Jordan Cook, Bailey Drumm, Hasina Griffiths, Joshua Ingles, Shantal Kelly and Schneyder Mettelus.
U.S. Attorney, Caddo Parish Sheriff partner to observe Reentry Week with discussions, tourRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley and Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator partnered to hold roundtable discussions, a tour and other events for National Reentry Week.
The program, called Project A.C.E. (Addressing, Connecting and Educating), featured U.S. Attorney’s Office staff, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office staff and others discussing ways to reduce recidivism in our communities. The event started Wednesday with a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Courthouse on Fannin Street where U.S. Attorney Office staff, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office staff, public officials, law enforcement, attorneys, prison staff and others joined to talk about how to better assist those who reenter society after completing their prison terms. There were more than 15 agencies with 40-plus representatives present. They shared their successes as well as hardships with reentry. The hope is that offering more and improved tailor-made training, counseling, medical and mental treatment, and other assistance to those incarcerated will reduce the chances that prosecuted individuals will end up back in prison. The event also featured a tour of the Caddo Parish Work Release-Reentry Facility Thursday on Forum Drive so that visitors could see work already being conducted.
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthening the criminal justice system, the Department of Justice designated April 24 to 30, 2016, as National Reentry Week. Each year more than 600,000 citizens return to neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons. Another 11.4 million individuals cycle through local jails. Nearly one in three Americans of working age have had some sort of encounter with the criminal justice system — mostly for relatively minor, non-violent offenses and sometimes from decades in the past. The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many people from obtaining employment, housing, higher education and credit — and these barriers affect returning individuals even if they have turned their lives around and are unlikely to reoffend.
The Department of Justice outlined principles in the “Roadmap to Reentry” through work with the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, which has been working since its creation five years ago to reduce recidivism and improve employment, education, housing, health and child welfare outcomes.
National Reentry Week events were planned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. United States Attorney’s Offices alone are hosting more than 200 events, and U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities are holding more than 370 events.
For more information see the additional resources below:
President’s Weekly Address: REENTRY
National Reentry Week Webpage
REPORT: Roadmap to Reentry
INFOGRAPHIC: Roadmap to Reentry
FACT SHEET: BOP Reentry
FACT SHEET: Federal Interagency Reentry Council
FACT SHEET: Fair Chance Business Pledge
REPORT: CEA Report
U.S. Attorney's Office announces collection sites for DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back DayRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia announced today the location of collection sites for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event provides safe venues for West Virginians to responsibly dispose of prescription drugs. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. West Virginians will have the option of visiting several conveniently located sites that are equipped to properly dispose of prescription medication.
Collection site locations can be found at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. This website can locate a nearby collection site and is searchable by zip code, county, city, and state. West Virginians have the option of visiting over 100 sites throughout the state to dispose of prescription drugs.
“We all know that drug abuse is one of the most significant issues facing our state,” said Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. “One way that we can do our part is to properly dispose of potentially dangerous prescription medication. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an ideal time for West Virginians to get rid of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription drugs.”
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U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker to Deliver Remarks at Newark Prisoner Re-Entry Court GraduationRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker will deliver remarks this afternoon at the third graduation hosted by the “ReNew” court, a partnership among the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and the U.S. Probation Office designed to help ex-offenders recently released from federal custody successfully reintegrate into society.
The event being held in Newark at the Frank R. Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse, Courtroom 1 at 3:00 p.m.
ReNew, which stands for “re-entry into Newark,” is New Jersey’s first federal re-entry court in New Jersey. It provides participants with close supervision and tangible support services including job placement and training, education, treatment, and counseling. It also gives participants access to a network of support services for housing, identification, driving privileges, child support, and other domestic, health or legal issues that affect successful re-entry into society.
ReNew holds annual graduations for program participants who have successfully completed 52 weeks of rigorous requirements. Since 2013, ReNew has hosted two graduations and will hold its third today. As of today, there are approximately 60 federal re-entry courts around the country.
“Equipping reentrants with the right tools and support during and after their incarceration can help break the cycle of recidivism that traps so many of their peers,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “Today, we celebrate the hard work and commitment of the graduates. We also recognize the tireless efforts of our federal partners whose passion and dedication continue to give those returning from federal prison a second chance. It’s inspiring work and I’m proud that my office is leading it.”
Today’s event comes at the end of National Reentry Week, a nationwide undertaking started by the Obama Administration and the Justice Department to raise awareness about the urgency of re-entry issues and highlight efforts to reduce recidivism and help formerly incarcerated individuals compete for jobs, attain stable housing, and support their families. As part of National Reentry Week, the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey (USAO NJ), has hosted a number of events, including:
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April 21, 2016 – In collaboration with the U.S. District Court and U.S. Probation Office, USAO NJ hosted a resource and employment fair in Camden, New Jersey, that connected employers with ex-offenders who are looking for jobs.
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April 25, 2016 – U.S. Attorney Fishman, U.S. Chief of Probation Willie Torres, ReNew Graduate Amare Terrell, and U.S. Federal Judges Noel Hillman and Karen Williams participated in a stakeholder’s panel at FCI Fairton to discuss what to expect upon release from incarceration, available resources for ex-offenders, common missteps, best practices to ensure successful re-entry, and how families can provide support.
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April 26, 2016 – USAO NJ and housing specialists with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gave a presentation at the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials to reinforce HUD and White House guidance on how arrests and convictions should be used when screening individuals for public housing eligibility.
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April 27, 2016 – In collaboration with the U.S. District Court, U.S. Probation, and Essex County College, USAO NJ hosted a re-entry technology seminar, for individuals whose terms of incarceration prevented them from developing computer and internet skills.
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April 29, 2016 – Earlier today, USAO NJ, in collaboration with New Ark Farms (an urban farm in Newark that primarily hires ex-offenders) the U.S. District Court, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and the U.S. Probation Office hosted an employer breakfast to discuss available jobs for ex-offenders and ways that the ReNew team can alleviate any concerns about hiring them.
Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to their neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons. Nationally, two out of every three people released from state prisons are rearrested for a new offense and about half are re-incarcerated within three years. The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many of these individuals from obtaining employment, housing, higher education, and credit – and these barriers affect returning individuals even if they are unlikely to reoffend.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Bureau of Prisons are hosting hundreds of events in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including job fairs and resource fairs, mock interview sessions, resume workshops, family engagement events. In addition, the Justice Department announced its “Roadmap to Reentry,” outlining five evidence-based principles of reform to be implemented by the Bureau of Prisons to ensure DOJ’s commitment to re-entry is incorporated throughout incarceration – from intake to release.
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Two Rosebud Men Charged with Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that two Rosebud, South Dakota, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Sexual Abuse.
Arvin Brave Bird, age 47, and Michael Yellow Eyes, age 33, were indicted on April 13, 2016. Both men have appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term of years or life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of at least 5 years up to life of supervised release, $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and a mandatory $5,000 to the Domestic Trafficking Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
It is alleged that on December 7, 2015, in Rosebud, Brave Bird and Yellow Eyes engaged in a sexual act with a victim by use of force, that the victim was physically incapable of declining participation, and that the two men did aid and abet each other in the commission of the crime.
The charge is merely an accusation and Brave Bird and Yellow Eyes are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Brave Bird and Yellow Eyes were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been scheduled for June 21, 2016.
Two Head to Prison for Committing Murder on Federal LandRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for 35 years after admitting they murdered a teenager in the Sam Houston National Forest in 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Cristian Alexander Zamora aka Christian Zamora, Alexander, Alex or Pollo and Ricardo Leonel Campos Lara aka La Muerte entered pleas of guilty April 17, 2015, to aiding and abetting each other and others with the murder of a 16-year-old male victim on Sept. 22, 2013.
Today, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein handed both Zamora and Lara 420-month sentences, each followed by five years of supervised release. They were further ordered to pay $13,092.42 in restitution. In handing down the sentence, Judge Werlein noted the “willful and deliberate crime.” He commented that the murder was particularly brutal and noted its the heinous, gruesome and savage nature.
Zamora, 24 and Lara, 20, both of El Salvador and resided in Huntsville and Houston, respectively, admitted they took part in the murder by striking the male victim with a baseball bat and a machete multiple times. Zamora and Lara admitted they had received an order from MS-13 members to kill the teenager. After receiving the order, they assisted in taking him to the forest where they then struck him with a bat and machete to the point of near decapitation.
They will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI, Houston Police Department, Texas Rangers and the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Chief Mark E. Donnelly and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey MacDonald are prosecuting the case.
Two Florida Residents Charged in Jamaican Lottery SchemeRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of a criminal complaint and arrests of Yanique Chantel Coach (25, Orlando) and Dwayne Breary (31, Ft. Lauderdale) for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, in October and November 2014, an 89-year-old woman in Virginia received phone calls from two individuals who claimed that she had won $3.5 million from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes. One of the callers said he was associated with the Mega Millions Sweepstakes and the other purported to be an attorney. The callers told the victim that her name had been entered into the lottery through a magazine subscription, but that she needed to pay fees and taxes before she could receive her winnings. From October 31, 2014, through November 25, 2014, the victim complied with the directions from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes callers and mailed $282,600 in cash to various locations in Florida and Georgia. She concealed the money in magazines and cereal boxes.
After the learning about the large withdrawals of money, the victim’s family contacted the FBI. On March 6, 2015, the victim was instructed by the callers to send $150,000 to an apartment in Orlando. On March 19, 2015, FBI agents conducted a controlled delivery of a UPS package, appearing to be from the victim, to the apartment. Agents had determined the apartment belonged to Coach. During surveillance, Breary signed for the package, using an alias, and accepted it. Agents then executed a search warrant and recovered the package from Coach’s bedroom.
Further investigation revealed that Coach and Breary had accepted the previously sent packages by signing a fake name. An individual from Jamaica then travelled to Florida to retrieve the cash. Coach and Breary were paid for their part in the scheme by that individual, who then returned to Jamaica with the victim’s money.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.
Two Elkins men plead guilty to participating in counterfeit money schemeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert R. Teter, 30, and Jonathan J. Ross, 30, both of Elkins, West Virginia, pled guilty in federal court in Clarksburg today to fraudulently using counterfeit money to obtain authentic currency and other goods, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Teter and Ross repeatedly exchanged counterfeit money in order to obtain authentic United States currency, debit cards, and merchandise in Harrison County, West Virginia in late 2014.
Both men pled guilty today to one count of “Uttering Counterfeit Obligations or Securities – Aiding and Abetting.” They each face up to 20 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 Sarah Montoro prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service, the Clarksburg, West Virginia Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi.
Two Arrested on Federal Charges of Stealing Mail from Hundreds of Mailboxes at Corona Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – Two Corona residents were arrested this morning by Postal Inspectors on federal conspiracy and mail theft-related offenses for a scheme that resulted in them using a counterfeit Postal Service key to access 300 mailboxes at a Corona apartment complex and steal mail. A third defendant is currently a fugitive being sought by federal authorities.
Today’s arrests are the result of federal grand jury indictment filed on Wednesday. The two taken into custody today are Bernie Martinez, 23, and Kammi Leigh Vestesen, 24. These defendants are expected to be arraigned on the three-count indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.
The third defendant named in the indictment – Hector Mendez, 29, of Corona – is being sought by authorities.
According to the indictment, Martinez and Vestesen entered the mail room of the Sierra Del Oro apartment complex on April 10 and used a counterfeit Postal Service key to open resident mailboxes. All three defendants allegedly went to the same mailroom on April 12, used the counterfeit key to open mailboxes and left the premises with a trash bag full of mail.
The indictment specifically charges all three defendants will conspiracy, mail theft and possession of a counterfeit United States Postal Service key.
“Mail theft is becoming an increasing problem in our community,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “This crime is frequently a precursor to identity theft, fraud, and drug crimes. Protecting the integrity of the postal system from this type of theft is therefore important to preventing an escalation of criminal activity.”
Postal Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss said, “The United States Postal Inspection Service will continue to bring violators to justice to secure the integrity of the U.S. Mail. Protecting the ability to use the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service's mission.”
“Mail theft and other property crimes are a rising problem and trend in this region,” said Corona Police Department Chief of Police Michael Abel. “We take these matters seriously and truly appreciate the joint cooperation in this prosecution. It’s important that we hold suspects such as these accountable for their actions.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charges of conspiracy and mail theft each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The charge of unlawful possession of counterfeit postal key carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Corona Police Department.
Three Connecticut Residents Charged with Cashing More Than $300K in Stolen Postal Money OrdersRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 15-count indictment charging MARC ALEXANDER, 35, of Stratford and Oxford, RACHAEL ALEXANDER, also known as Rachael Vierling, 38, of Stratford and Oxford, and BERNARD HARRIS, 42, of Bridgeport, with participating in a stolen postal money order scheme. The indictment was returned on April 19, 2016, and was unsealed after the defendants were arrested on April 26.
As alleged in the indictment, after blank postal money orders were stolen from the U.S. Post Office in Old Greenwich, MARC ALEXANDER, RACHAEL ALEXANDER and others would imprint the postal money orders with various denominations using a computer font designed to make them appear to be authentic. MARC ALEXANDER, RACHAEL ALEXANDER, HARRIS and others then deposited the fraudulently imprinted postal money orders into numerous bank accounts, either at an ATM or at a teller window. Members of the conspiracy then withdrew and used the funds. At times, members of the conspiracy also used the fraudulently imprinted postal money orders to make payments to other individuals.
The loss in the case exceeds $300,000.
The indictment charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
MARC and RACHAEL ALEXANDER are detained and HARRIS is released on a $125,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force¸ U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Westport Police Department and Greenwich Police Department.
Individuals with information about this matter are encouraged to call the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force (203) 782-7333.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Saint Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing Firearms Without a LicenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the guilty plea of EITAN BENJAMIN FELDMAN, 28, for illegally dealing in firearms without a license. The defendant pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in United States District Court in Minneapolis, Minn. A sentencing date has been set for August 30, 2016.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, between January 2014 and January 2016, FELDMAN engaged in a regular pattern and practice of unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license by repeatedly purchasing firearms and offering them for resale within days of getting them. FELDMAN routinely purchased firearms offered by out-of-state Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) through websites such as gunbroker.com, an online firearms auction site. FELDMAN arranged to have the firearms transferred to L.E. Gun Sales, a FFL in Minnesota, where he received and took possession of the guns after completing and signing the appropriate documentation and submitting to a National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) check.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, during the same time period, FELDMAN regularly listed and offered the same firearms for sale – often at a higher price than what he paid – on armslist.com, a website that allows individuals to list firearms for sale. On average, FELDMAN made a potential $90 profit on each firearm he resold. Of the 41 guns FELDMAN purchased and re-sold during this time, the average time he actually possessed a gun before offering it for resale was only nine days.
In July 2015, an ATF Special Agent told FELDMAN that some of the firearms he had received at L.E. Gun Sales, and subsequently sold, had been linked to crime scenes within days of FELDMAN taking possession of and selling the guns.
On October 2, 2015, ATF Special Agents served FELDMAN with a written Warning Notice of Unlicensed Firearms Dealing in Violation of Federal Law, warning him that his continuous and repetitive firearm-related activity appears to make him an unlicensed “dealer in firearms” and that he should stop immediately or risk criminal prosecution. Despite the warning, FELDMAN continued his unlawful dealing in firearms on at least eight more occasions, including two sales of firearms to undercover federal agents. During those two sales, FELDMAN did not ask for any identification nor make an effort to determine whether the putative purchasers were prohibited by law from purchasing the firearms.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, the Saint Paul Police Department and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:EITAN BENJAMIN FELDMAN, 29
Saint Paul, Minn.Convicted:
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Willfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, 1 count
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Ringleader of Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Dae Hyuck Ko, aka James Ko, aka Minghua Hong, 59, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Ko was also ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of approximately $3 million.
Ko was convicted at trial on Jan. 13. According to court documents, Ko was the leader and organizer of a sophisticated bank fraud and identity theft scheme that targeted banks and individual victims throughout the nation. The victims, like Ko and the co-conspirators he recruited, were of Korean ethnicity. Ko directed his co-conspirators to open numerous checking accounts, credit accounts, and personal lines of credit using the stolen identities of these victims. Ko then directed the complicated movement of money between these accounts to build up a banking history, which ultimately enabled him to deposit bad checks and cash out those accounts before the checks failed to clear. Ko enforced his control of the conspiracy through violence when necessary, including by having one co-conspirator beaten and sent to the emergency room with a broken nose and fractured eye socket. Three of Ko’s co-conspirators—Jaejoon Song, Jungtaek Kim, and Minho Yang—have previously pleaded guilty in the case and have been sentenced to 66, 40, and 33 months, respectively.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Maria L. Kelokates, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace L. Hill and Kosta S. Stojilkovic prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-109.
Reno Doctor and Eight Others Charged in Illegal Prescription Drug Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
RENO, Nev. – A local doctor and eight other Reno-area residents, including a number of employees of an automobile dealership, have been arrested and charged with being part of a conspiracy to unlawfully distribute highly addictive prescription drugs, including oxycodone, to persons who did not have a medical necessity for them, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill, and Nevada FBI Special Agent in Charge Laura A. Bucheit.
“Our U.S. Attorney’s Office is working aggressively with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to attack the growing problem of prescription drug abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “We have prioritized unlawful prescription drug distribution cases, and plan to shut down dangerous ‘pill mill’ operations that are contributing to what amounts to, in many instances, a deadly problem.”
Robert Gene Rand, 53, Richard Winston West II, aka Richie West, 40, Omar Ahsan Ahmad, 31, Joshua Ross Green, 34, Clint Mitchell Bloodworth, 40, Kathleen Griffin, 43, Alan Russel Martinez, 59, and Braden Kyle Riley, 40, all of Reno, and Ryan Daniel Smith, 40, of Carson City, are each charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, such as oxycodone and illegal use of a communication facility. Rand and West are also charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise with at least five other persons in which Rand and West occupied positions of management. Rand is also charged with distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, and West is also charged with three separate counts of distribution of oxycodone.
Dr. Rand was arrested this morning in San Francisco, and the eight other defendants were arrested in the Reno area yesterday. Rand will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the immediate future. The other defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Reno.
“This investigation targeted a major distribution source of deadly and addictive prescription opioids being diverted to street sales across the region,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill. “These arrests clearly demonstrate that DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to stemming the tide of drugs being diverted to the black market, as well as stopping medical professionals who disregard their ethical obligations and abuse the public’s trust.”
“This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to aggressively pursue those who engage in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs within our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bucheit. “As a result of our alliance with law enforcement partners in Reno, a significant impact has been made on the illegal drug supply network in the area.”
Defendant Rand is a Nevada-licensed physician who operates Rand Family Care in Reno. Defendant West is the manager of the Jones-West Ford dealership. Defendants Ahmad, Griffin, Martinez, Bloodworth, and Riley are also employees of the dealership, and defendants Green and Smith are former employees of the dealership. According to the criminal complaint, Rand allegedly prescribes narcotics, such as oxycodone, without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of his professional practice. Beginning on about September 30, 2015, and continuing to about April 28, 2016, Rand allegedly issued prescriptions for substantial amounts of oxycodone to his co-defendants, who filled the prescriptions at local pharmacies and then illicitly distributed them. On September 30, 2015, the complaint alleges that Rand issued an unlawful prescription for oxycodone, resulting in the death of an individual.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement agents executed federal search warrants at six locations, including two residences, two offices, and two vehicles connected to the defendants, and seized evidence related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, such as oxycodone.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2014. Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription opioids and heroin, have nearly quadrupled since 1999. Overdoses involving opioids killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, more than any year on record, and over one-half of those deaths were from prescription opioids. For information on opioid overdose and how you can manage pain without prescription drugs, go to http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html.
This case is being investigated by the Safe Streets Task Force in Reno, which includes the DEA, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Reno Police Department, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Rapid City Business Owner Sentenced for Failing to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Willful Failure to Withhold and Pay Over Tax was sentenced on April 25, 2016, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Scott Sogge, age 62, was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $270,085.17 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Sogge was charged on November 16, 2015, and pleaded guilty on December 4, 2015. The conviction stems from Sogge, a local business owner, willfully failing to pay over taxes related to the employment of individuals receiving wages from his business between April 1 and June 20, 2011.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Peterman prosecuted the case.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 95 Months in Prison for Robbing the Same Two Banks in 2015 That He Robbed in 2010Read the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Pennsylvania man who was previously incarcerated for robbing a Citizens Bank in Philadelphia and a Cape Bank in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for robbing the same two banks after his release in April 2015; he was sentenced to an additional 24 months – to be served consecutively – for violation of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Keith Ney, 54, formerly of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Reneé Marie Bumb to an information charging him with two counts of bank robbery and violating the conditions of his federal supervised release. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In September 2011, Ney was convicted of robbing the Cape Bank at 1501 Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City and the Citizens Bank at 1234 Market Street in Philadelphia in 2010. He was later sentenced to 57 months in prison and a period of supervised release.
On April 22, 2015, Ney, who had recently finished his prison term and was on supervised release, entered the same Citizens Bank that he robbed in 2010 and approached the teller with a demand note stating that he had a gun. Ney took some cash and fled the bank.
Ney then took the bus to Atlantic City, where he entered the same Cape Bank that he robbed in 2010. Again, Ney approached the teller with a note stating that he had a gun and fled the bank with a small amount of cash. Afterwards, a bank employee exited the bank, approached an Atlantic City police officer who was working a traffic detail and told the officer that the bank had just been robbed. Ney was immediately spotted and taken into custody.
In addition to the prison time, Judge Bumb sentenced Ney to serve three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $1,397.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the Atlantic City Police Department under the direction of Chief Henry White; and the Philadelphia Police Department under with the direction of Commissioner Richard Ross Jr. with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the U.S. Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Wilfredo Torres, for its assistance with this case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden.
Defense counsel: Edward F. Borden Jr. Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Pennsylvania Lobbyist Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a lobbyist has been charged with wire fraud.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, John H. Estey, age 53, of Ardmore, was charged with wire fraud in a Criminal Information filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.
The Information charges that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an undercover investigation of lobbying in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In that investigation, the FBI created an undercover business and hired Estey as a lobbyist to influence passage of certain legislation beneficial to the undercover business. In 2011, as a part of that investigation, Estey agreed to secretly pay $20,000 in campaign contributions to members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in connection with this legislation. When he was paid funds, Estey only passed through $7,000 in campaign contributions while secretly keeping $13,000.
The government also filed a plea agreement with Mr. Estey which is subject to approval of the court. A date for his initial appearance has not been set.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt was designated United States Attorney for this case because United States Attorney Peter J. Smith recused himself.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio, Christy Fawcett, and William S. Houser.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $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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Owners of Boston-Area Fried Chicken Restaurant Charged in Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Three men who operated two Boston-area fried chicken restaurants have been charged with conspiring to file false tax returns as part of a long-running scheme to avoid paying payroll and income taxes.
Hazrat Khan, 56, of Middletown, NY, and Khurshed Iqbal, 56, whose whereabouts are unknown, were charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 13 counts of willful failure to account for and pay taxes. Adalat Khan, 46, of Chelsea, Mass., was charged in an Information with one count of conspiracy and two counts of making and subscribing false tax returns.
According to court documents, the defendants used a variety of means to avoid paying payroll and income taxes owed by their restaurant, Crown Fried Chicken, which has locations on Warren Street in Boston and Broadway in Chelsea. As part of the conspiracy, Adalat Khan managed both restaurants and Hazrat Khan and Iqbal took steps to conceal their ownership interests. Adalat Khan, at the direction of Hazrat Khan and Iqbal, allegedly provided tax preparers with false information about the restaurants’ payroll and income. Federal law requires that employers withhold payroll taxes and pay it to the IRS. As part of the scheme, the defendants falsely reported the number of employees, some of whom were undocumented workers, and wages paid to the IRS. They also allegedly paid employees under the table and filed income tax returns that falsely described their sales, total income, compensation of officers, salaries and wages, and taxable income.
The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. The charge of failure to account for a pay taxes provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution. The charge of subscribing a false tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement today. The case was investigated with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John A. Capin and Eric P. Christofferson of Ortiz’s Criminal Division.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Misprision of a FelonyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that BRIDGET MARIE MILES, age 47, of New Orleans, was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Superseding Bill of Information for Misprision of a Felony, Hobbs Act robbery.
U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced MILES to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release.
According to court documents, MILES conspired with and gave information to members of a local New Orleans gang led by GREGORY DENSON. DENSON used the information provided by MILES to commit home invasion robberies of drug dealers in an effort to make money and/or obtain illegal drugs for later retail sale. Members of this gang also conspired to use, possess and discharge firearms to further their drug trafficking activity, and commit acts of violence against other drug dealers to obtain drugs and drug proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department led Multi-Agency Gang Unit in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael M. Simpson and Michael E. McMahon were in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Metro Drug Dealers, Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CLARENCE R. SINGLETON, age 30, of New Orleans, pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to Hobbs Act Robbery is 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes is 20 years imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier set sentencing for August 4, 2016.
According to court documents, SINGLETON participated in home invasion robberies of drug dealers in an effort to make money and/or obtain illegal drugs for later retail sale. They also conspired to use, possess and discharge firearms to further their drug trafficking activity, and crimes of violence during the robberies of these drug dealers to obtain drugs and drug proceeds.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department led Multi-Agency Gang Unit in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael M. Simpson and Michael E. McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Businessman Charged with Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JOHN F. KELLY III, age 57, of Metairie, was charged today in a one-count Bill of Information with wire fraud.
According to court documents, from 2011 through 2014, KELLY operated a tax sale investment business with investor monies. During this time period, KELLY defrauded his investors by diverting their investment funds for his personal use and benefit. As part of the scheme to defraud, KELLY used investor monies to pay off personal loans and to purchase real estate properties in New Orleans that he titled in separate corporate entities he controlled.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is twenty years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim. The maximum penalty for failing to pay over taxes is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys, Richard R. Pickens, II, Andre J. Lagarde, and Hayden M. Brockett are in charge of the prosecution.
Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in Federal Prison Events as Part of National Reentry WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On April 28, 2016, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami, visited the Federal Correctional Institution in Herlong, Calif. (FCI Herlong) as part of the Department of Justice’s first-ever National Reentry Week, which included events nationwide to assist incarcerated Americans who are preparing to leave prison. National events included job fairs, reentry court graduations, legal service clinics, family events and community resource open houses.
U.S. Attorney Bogden and Assistant U.S. Attorney Fahami were part of a coalition of representatives from two federal judicial districts who presented information to the inmates on various reentry programs that are being offered to inmates who are returning to the community. The team included U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke of the District of Nevada, as well as U.S. Probation Officers, Assistant Federal Defenders, and residential reentry center representatives. The team was assisted by FCI Herlong management and staff, including Warden Felicia Ponce, and Associate Wardens Ganson McManus and Israel Jacquez.
During this visit to FCI Herlong, as well as another visit that occurred on March 15, the reentry team conducted panel discussions with Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) participants and general population inmates who were sentenced in U.S. District Courts in Nevada and Eastern California. Approximately 10 staff and 130 inmates attended the panel discussions where the reentry team lectured and responded to inmate questions. The main topic of discussion was the criteria for and expectations of participants in the Court Led Efforts at Recovery (CLEAR Court) programs. The District of Nevada has had a CLEAR Court program for approximately five years. These programs are voluntary and are monitored by a federal judge, federal probation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office and a residential reentry center (RRC) clinician.
During their discussion they informed the inmates of the intensive oversight while participating in the CLEAR Court program and that it also offered the returning offenders access to additional resources, a new view of authority figures, and an opportunity to earn up to one year off of their supervised release. After the panel discussions with the inmates concluded, a tour of the institution program areas was provided to allow the reentry team members an opportunity to meet institutional staff, learn about the various departments’ roles and programs that are offered to inmates to assist them with the skills necessary to have a successful reintegration back to the community.
Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to our neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons. Another 11.4 million individuals cycle through local jails. And nearly one in three Americans of working age have had some sort of encounter with the criminal justice system — mostly for relatively minor, non-violent offenses, and sometimes from decades in the past. The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many people from obtaining employment, housing, higher education, and credit — and these barriers affect returning individuals even if they have turned their lives around and are unlikely to reoffend.
Visit the following link for additional information on National Reentry Week and reentry programs, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fact-sheet-during-national-reentry-week-reducing-barriers-reentry-and-employment-formerly.
National Prescription Take-Back Day Safely Removes Unused Medications from Local HomesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Tomorrow, Northern Florida residents can join citizens across the nation in safely and anonymously disposing of their unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medications, announced United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova.
In partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the United States Attorney’s Office invites Northern Floridians to bring their potentially dangerous, unwanted medicines to one of more than 5,000 collection sites around the country. This service is free of charge, with no questions asked.
Approximately 22 drop-off locations are available from Pensacola to Jacksonville. To find a nearby collection site, visit www.dea.gov, click on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and enter a nearby zip code into the search window. Residents can also call 800-882-9539. Only pills and other solids, such as patches, will be accepted. Do not bring liquids, needles, or other sharp objects to take-back sites.
America is currently experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose, and death due to prescription drug abuse, particularly opioid painkillers. Consumers may be uncertain of the proper disposal method and may flush drugs down the toilet or throw them away, causing safety or environmental hazards. Many people are unaware that medicines left in storage are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, abuse, and theft. Take-Back Day is also a great opportunity to educate children on the dangers of obtaining pharmaceuticals for illicit use.
For more information about properly disposing of unused medicines, visit the United States Food and Drug Administration website.
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 available 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]Money Courier Sentenced for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – The second of 20 defendants convicted in a marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracy has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Erika Alvarez, 39, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty for her role in the money laundering.
Today, U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen ordered she serve a term of 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court further issued a final order of forfeiture in the amount of $171,240.
Erasmo Trejo-Nava was the head of a drug trafficking organization that received marijuana loads from Mexico and arranged to transport the marijuana to the Dallas area. The organization used various stash houses and business fronts in the Laredo area to receive and prepare the marijuana for transportation via personal vehicles to a local warehouse where it was unloaded and reloaded onto tractor trailers.
Alvarez was identified as Trejo-Nava’s niece. Her role was that of a money courier who travelled periodically to the Dallas area to pick up drug proceeds and transport them in bulk to Laredo. She then delivered the drug proceeds to Trejo Nava who then had the proceeds transported to Mexico.
Between Oct. 6-7, 2011, Trejo-Nava arranged for the transportation of $48,000 in drug proceeds from the Dallas area to Nuevo Laredo. Alvarez drove to the Dallas area in a personal vehicle and picked up the currency from a co-conspirator. She then transported the drug proceeds to Laredo and delivered the bulk cash to Trejo-Nava who arranged for another co-conspirator to transport it to Mexico. On May 28, 2012, Trejo-Nava again sent Alvarez to Dallas for the purpose of receiving drug money. The next day, she received $73,240 in drug proceeds from a Dallas area co-conspirator for transportation to Laredo. En route south, law enforcement performed a traffic stop of Alvarez and recovered four bundles of bulk cash drug proceeds totaling $73,240. She was also stopped on a third trip, during which time she was found to be in possession of several bundles of money hidden in her pants totaling $50,000 in drug proceeds.
A total of 20 defendants have been convicted for their respective roles in the overall conspiracy. A federal jury convicted Rafael Ortega aka Tio, 57, of Laredo, and Baltazar Ibarra Cardona, 55, of Nuevo Laredo in the case. Ortega was ordered to serve 120 months in federal prison, while Cardona is awaiting sentencing.
The remaining 17 defendants had previously pleaded guilty and are also awaiting sentencing. Erasmo Trejo Nava, 44, Jose Angel Trejo, 43, Ovidio Rodriguez, 42, Victor Hugo Trejo Nava, 42, Francisco Colin, 42, and Salvador Saldaña-Medrano, 37, all of Laredo; Jaime Enrique Montalvo-Ruiz, 45, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; and Leocadio Ruiz, 48, of Dallas, entered pleas of guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. Five others - Juan Manuel Vargas Aguilar, 46, Mario Albert Rodriguez, 30, and Ricardo Ramirez, 34, all of Laredo; Arturo Lozano, 48, of Dallas; and Joshua Sanchez, 33, of Nuevo Laredo – pleaded guilty to the conspiracy. Gerardo Moreno Recio, 49, of Nuevo Laredo, was convicted of two separate counts of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, while Laura Heredia Garcia, 51, of Nuevo Laredo; and Raquel Margarita Ramos Jimenez, 45, and Leslie Bernice Trejo, 23, both of Laredo, entered pleas of guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.
The charges were the result of a long term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation dubbed Operation Trena Sin Trono spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and IRS - Criminal Investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Police Department, Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo is prosecuting the case.
Michigan man pleads guilty to selling prescription painkillersRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Colby Vickerson, 27, of Canton, Michigan, pled guilty in federal court in Clarksburg today to oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Vickerson sold oxycodone in July 2015 near a video arcade facility in Harrison County, West Virginia. He pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone within 100 feet of a Video Arcade Facility.” He faces between one and forty years in prison and a fine of up to $4,000,000. 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 Shawn Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department Street Crimes and Drug Unit and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Member of Large-Scale ATM Skimming Scheme Admits Role in Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A native of Romania who was arrested in Spain and extradited to the United States admitted today to participating in a large-scale, long-running scheme to steal bank customer account information, commonly referred to as “ATM skimming,” by installing secret card-reading devices and pinhole cameras on ATMs throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida, and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Robert Mate, a/k/a “Chioru,” a/k/a “Marcel Varga,” 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to Count One of a six-count indictment, which charged him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Of the other two individuals charged on the indictment, Alin Dumitru Carabus was apprehended in Spain and extradited to the United States, and his case is pending, and Ionut Vasile Ciurba-Stana remains at large.
According to documents filed in this case and other cases and statements made in court:
Mate participated as a high-level member of an extensive scheme to steal bank customer account information, commonly referred to as “ATM skimming,” by installing secret card-reading devices on ATMs throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida, and elsewhere. The scheme was organized by Marius Vintila, 33, who previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges. The scheme defrauded Citibank, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, and multiple other financial institutions out of at least $5 million and affected thousands of bank customers. Vintila and Bogdan Radu designed and constructed sophisticated card-reader devices and pinhole camera panels capable of reading and storing customers’ bank account information and personal identification numbers. Mate and others then secretly installed the card-reader devices and the pinhole camera panels onto bank ATMs, and removed them a few days later after they had recorded customer bank account information as customers performed routine bank transactions at ATMs. After the account information was stolen, the stolen data was used to create thousands of false and fraudulent ATM cards, which Mate and others used to withdraw millions of dollars from customers’ bank accounts.
The ATM skimming operation in which Mate participated is one of the largest ever uncovered by law enforcement. To date, 16 individuals have been charged in connection with this scheme; 13 have pleaded guilty, and one – Dinu Horvat – was convicted after a week-long trial.
The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud to which Mate pleaded guilty is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Pleasant, along with special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola, with the investigation leading to the above-referenced charges and pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Agarwal and David M. Eskew of the office’s Criminal Division.
Defense Counsel: Angelo Servidio Esq., Nutley, New Jersey
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Black Market Distributor of Diverted HIV Medications Worth Approximately $4 MillionRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Russell Hermann, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office (“FDA-OCI”), announced that ROBIN DELEONROSA, a/k/a “Magic,” a/k/a “Robin Deleon Rosa,” a/k/a “Robin Rosa,” was arrested today for his role in a nationwide black market that distributed millions of dollars’ worth of fraudulently obtained HIV prescription drugs to unsuspecting consumers. DELEONROSA personally obtained and sold more than $1.9 million worth of second-hand HIV prescription drugs. In addition, a search earlier today of DELEONROSA’s residence in the Bronx resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 bottles of second-hand HIV prescription pills, with an estimated value of $1.8 million, as well as lighter fluid that was used to remove labels from the pill bottles, and over $70,000 in United States currency. DELEONROSA will be presented later today in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Robin Deleonrosa served as a middle-man in a black market scheme to illegally re-sell potentially dangerous or ineffective second-hand HIV medications to unsuspecting patients and pharmacies. As a result of his alleged participation in this scheme, Deleonrosa endangered the health of unsuspecting patients needing these drugs, and defrauded Medicaid of more than an estimated $1.9 million.”
FDA-OCI Acting Special Agent in Charge Russell Hermann said: “When prescription medications are diverted from the legal supply chain, there is no longer any assurance that the medicines are safe and effective. Our office will pursue and bring to justice individuals who endanger the public’s health in this manner.”
According to the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
From at least in or about September 2013 until April 2016, DELEONROSA was part of a black market distribution network that distributed bulk quantities of second-hand HIV prescription drugs to unsuspecting consumers. In particular, the members of the black market distribution ring would initially obtain the HIV prescription drugs by purchasing these drugs from patients to whom these medications were originally prescribed. The prescription HIV bottles were then collected and the labels (containing the patients’ names) were removed using dangerous substances, including lighter fluid and other potentially hazardous chemicals. Through this process, the members of the black market distribution network made the bottles appear new in order to conceal the fact that the bottles had previously been dispensed to patients. This process allowed the bottles eventually to be re-sold to pharmacies and unsuspecting consumers. Consumers who eventually received these second-hand prescription HIV medications were not aware that the prescription bottles had been previously sold, treated with potentially hazardous chemicals, and possibly not stored under conditions sufficient to maintain their medical efficacy.
In addition to placing consumers at significant risk, Medicaid and other health insurers were defrauded in multiple ways by DELEONROSA’s scheme. On the front end, health care benefit enrollees, including Medicaid recipients who participated in this scheme, filled their prescriptions for little or no cost with the intention of selling the drugs into the underground black market rather than taking the drugs as prescribed to treat their illnesses. Because health benefits, such as HIV prescription drugs, are for the sole use of the insured, Medicaid and other health care benefit plans would not have paid for such drugs if the beneficiaries had disclosed their intent to sell the medications rather than take them as prescribed. On the back end, Medicaid was further defrauded by reimbursing pharmacies for the cost of prescription HIV drugs as if the drugs were new and obtained from a legitimate stream of commerce, when, in truth and in fact, the drugs were second-hand and came from the black market. Accordingly, as result of this scheme, health care benefit plans, including Medicaid, were defrauded multiple times by paying for the same drugs twice.
As is detailed in the Complaint, DELEONROSA served as a middleman in this scheme – selling hundreds of second-hand prescription HIV medication bottles to a cooperating source (“CS”) on multiple occasions, with a total estimated Medicaid reimbursement value of more than $1.9 million. DELEONROSA stored these second-hand prescription HIV medication bottles in his residence in the Bronx, and provided the bottles to the CS in suitcases and a duffel bag. Many of the HIV prescription bottles that DELEONROSA sold still bore the labels of the patients to whom the drugs were originally dispensed. In 2014, DELEONROSA also provided the CS with second-hand HIV prescription medication bottles that were to be delivered to addresses in California, but which were intercepted by Federal Express due to the suspicious nature of the packages.
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DELEONROSA, 48, of the Bronx, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara praised the outstanding work of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Solowiejczyk and Patrick Egan are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Manderson Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact by Force of a ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact by Force of a Child was sentenced on April 25, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Leonard Rondeau, age 40, was sentenced to 15 years in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondeau was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 11, 2015. He pled guilty on February 2, 2016.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between April 11, 2003, and October 31, 2004, when Rondeau, who was babysitting a child between the ages of 4 and 5 and whose mother was at work, knowingly engaged in multiple sexual contacts by force with the child.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Rondeau was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Pleads Guilty to Lying and Concealment in Connection with the Mother Emanuel AME Church ShootingRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Joseph Carlton Meek, 21, of Lexington, South Carolina, plead guilty to an Indictment charging him with Misprision of a Felony (in violation of 18 U.S.C. §4) and Making a False Statement (in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1001). Meek entered the guilty plea as a result of his actions following the June 17, 2015, attack on parishioners of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Meek faces a maximum of three years on the Misprision count and five years on the False-Statement count. United States District Judge Richard Gergel presided over the hearing and will sentence Meek at a later date.
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This guilty plea is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, City of Charleston Police Department, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Jay N. Richardson and Nathan Williams are prosecuting the case.