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27 April 2016
120 Members and Associates of Two Rival Street Gangs in the Bronx Charged in Federal Court with Racketeering, Narcotics, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William J. Bratton, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), James J. Hunt, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Delano Reid, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), announced charges today against 120 members and associates of two rival street gangs operating in the Bronx: the 2Fly YGz (“2Fly”) and the Big Money Bosses (“BMB”). The gangs are charged in two separate Indictments – United States v. Laquan Parrish et al., S1 16 Cr. 212 (LAK) (the “Parrish Indictment”), and United States v. Nico Burrell et al., S2 15 Cr. 95 (AJN) (the “Burrell Indictment”) – with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Today, we seek to eviscerate two violent street gangs – 2Fly and BMB – that have allegedly wreaked havoc on the streets of the Northern Bronx for years, by committing countless acts of violence against rival gang members and innocents alike. The gangs’ alleged victims include not only a 15 year-old child stabbed and left to die in the street, as well as a 92 year-old woman shot by a stray bullet in her own home, but also extend to the thousands of residents of Eastchester Gardens and its surrounding neighborhoods terrorized for years by the gangs’ open-air drug dealing and senseless violence. We bring these charges today so that all New Yorkers, including those in or near NYCHA public housing, can live their lives as they deserve: free of drugs, free of guns, and free of gang violence. I thank and recognize the bravery and tireless investigative work of the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI’s Violent Gang Unit, the New York Field Division of the DEA, and the ATF’s Joint Firearms Task Force, as well as all the other law enforcement partners that assisted in the operations today.”
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said: “As alleged, these individuals engaged in open-air drug sales near homes and schools in the Bronx, pushing poison onto our streets. Allegedly, they also committed numerous acts of violence and at least eight murders in the course of their illicit operations. This includes the murder of a 92 year-old innocent bystander who was killed by a stray bullet inside her home. I want to thank the members of the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad and our law enforcement partners for dismantling these gangs. I commend them for their dedication and precision throughout this long-term investigation.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “Those arrested today allegedly used violence and fear to intimidate people who live within and around the Eastchester Gardens Public Housing. These ruthless gang members are allegedly responsible for more than 1,800 shots fired, resulting in eight alleged homicides. Public safety is important to us, and today our city streets are safer because of the work of HSI agents in our Violent Gang Unit and the work of our federal and local law enforcement partners.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt said: “The gangs of New York have returned to open air drug markets; brazenly selling marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and prescription pain medication to drug users in neighborhood parks, abandoned houses, and playgrounds. A decade long rivalry between two of the Bronx's most violent gangs has resulted in drug related violence, fatal stray bullets and daily intimidation felt by the law abiding residents living in their crosshairs. Law enforcement has come together again to identify and dismantle these gangs that have plagued our community for too long.”
ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Delano Reid said: “This investigation demonstrates ATF’s commitment to our communities by partnering with our federal and local counterparts in order to dismantle armed criminal organizations. These two violent groups, allegedly responsible for multiple shootings, homicides, and other acts of violence, will now have to face the consequences of terrorizing the communities that they lived in. This should be a lesson to others who are engaged in these types of illegal activities. Our cooperative law enforcement efforts will continue.”
According to the Indictments[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other publicly filed documents:
The Indictments arise from a joint investigation by the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI’s Violent Gang Unit, the New York Field Division of the DEA, and the ATF’s Joint Firearms Task Force into the years-long gang war between 2Fly and BMB, which has led to an enormous amount of fatal and non-fatal violence between 2007 and the present in the Northern Bronx, including shootings, stabbings, slashings, beatings, and robberies.
2Fly is a subset of the “Young Gunnaz,” or “YG” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. 2Fly is based in the Bronx, within and around the Eastchester Gardens housing development (“ECG”) and in an area called the “Valley” or the “V,” which is in the vicinity of Gun Hill Road. ECG is a rectangular complex of residential buildings bordered by Burke, Adee, Yates, and Bouck Avenues, in the middle of which is a playground. Members and associates of 2Fly control the narcotics trade at ECG, which takes place in the open air at the playground and in apartments at ECG. 2Fly primarily sells marijuana and crack cocaine, but also sells powder cocaine and prescription pills, such as oxycodone. 2Fly members and associates store guns at the playground or in nearby apartments or cars in order to protect the narcotics business and for protection against rival gangs. The case of United States v. Laquan Parrish et al. charges 57 members and associates of 2Fly, including its “Big Guns,” or leaders: LAQUAN PARRISH, a/k/a “MadDog,” a/k/a “Quanzaa,” ANDRE BENT, a/k/a “Dula,” and AARON RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Gunz,” a/k/a “Cito.” 2Fly coexists at ECG with a faction of the Bloods street gang called “Sex Money Murder” (“SMM”), which controlled ECG before 2Fly and has allied with 2Fly to prevent others from selling drugs at ECG. Two of the leaders of SMM at ECG – brothers PRESTON PASLEY, a/k/a “Fresh,” and TERRENCE PASLEY, a/k/a “Smoove” – and several of its members are also charged in the Parrish Indictment.
BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. BMB – whose members also sometimes refer to themselves as the “Money Making Mafia” or “Triple M” – operates primarily on White Plains Road from 215th Street to 233rd Street in the Bronx. This area is a long stretch of road under a subway train overpass, bordered on each side by single-family homes and local commercial establishments, and in the vicinity of several playgrounds and schools. BMB’s narcotics trafficking activity is based principally in the vicinity of White Plains Road and 224th Street, an open-air drug spot that is referred to by gang members as the “Forts.” BMB members also operate a drug spot on Boston Road and Eastchester Road in the Bronx, which they refer to as “B Road.” BMB members who work principally at the B Road spot typically refer to themselves as “Blamma.” BMB primarily sells marijuana and crack cocaine, but also sells prescription pills, such as oxycodone. BMB members and associates store guns in abandoned homes and other places near their drug spots in order to protect their narcotics business and for protection against rivals. The case of United States v. Nico Burrell et al. charges 63 members and associates of BMB, including its “Big Suits,” or leaders: NICO BURRELL, a/k/a “Nico Zico,” and DOUGLAS MCLARTY, a/k/a “Q-Don,” a/k/a “Q-Dizzy.”
In addition to numerous non-fatal acts of violence against both rival gang members and innocents, the rivalry between 2Fly and BMB – as well as with other gangs, such as the “Slut Gang,” which is based at the Boston Secor housing development, and the “YSGz,” who are based at the Edenwald housing development – has led to the following murders, among others:
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The murder of Sadie Mitchell, who was killed in her own home by a stray bullet, at the age of 92, by an associate of BMB in the vicinity of White Plains Road and 224th Street and White Plains Road, on or about October 20, 2009;
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The murder of Jeffrey Delmore, a/k/a “Famous,” a/k/a “Junior,” who was stabbed to death, at the age of 15, by members of BMB in the vicinity of East Gun Hill Road, on or about May 15, 2010;
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The murder of Alexander “A.J.” Walters, who was stabbed to death at age 17 by members of 2Fly in the vicinity of 1824 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, on or about March 8, 2012;
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The murder of Donville Simpson, a/k/a “Donny,” who was shot to death at ECG at age 17 by members of 2Fly, on or about October 5, 2013
-
The murder of Keshon Potterfield, a/k/a “Keke,” who was shot to death, at the age of 18, by a member of BMB in the vicinity of 232nd Street between White Plains Road and Barnes Avenue, on or about June 22, 2014;
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The murder of Fabian Pennant, an associate of 2Fly, who was shot to death by a member of BMB at the age of 24 in the vicinity of Eastchester Road on October 22, 2014;
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The murder of Jordan Jackwett, who was shot and killed at the age of 23 in the vicinity of Ely Avenue during a shooting between members of 2Fly and BMB on July 26, 2015; and
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The murder of Darren Epps, age 47, who was shot to death by a member of 2Fly in the vicinity of 215th and White Plains Road during a botched robbery on March 13, 2016.
In connection with these arrests, federal and local law enforcement officers also executed court-authorized search warrants at four locations tied to the defendants. During the arrests and searches, agents and officers seized, among other evidence, seven guns, ammunition, crack, marijuana, counterfeit currency, and drug paraphernalia. To date, in this case, agents and officers have seized, among other evidence, quantities of marijuana, crack, cocaine, and oxycodone, as well as firearms, ammunition, scalpels, and knives. During the investigation, agents and officers also intercepted thousands of wiretap calls, during many of which various members and associates of the gangs discussed their racketeering and narcotics activities.
* * *
In a coordinated operation, 78 defendants were arrested in New York yesterday and early this morning. They will be presented later this afternoon in Manhattan federal court. Defendants ANDRE BENT, ROBERT POPE, JAMES PILGRIM, JAMAL BLAIR, STEPHAN CLARKE, LAQUAN PARRISH, JAFAR BORDEN, ANDERSON ROSS, BARFFOUR ABEBERSE, ROBERT HAUGHTON, SHAQUILLE DEWAR, MARTIN MITCHELL, DONQUE TYRELL, DEVANTE JOSEPH, DAQUAN ANDERSON, JAQUAN MCINTOSH, and SEAN MCINTOSH were in custody on state charges and were transferred to federal custody today. Charts identifying each defendant, the charges, and the maximum penalties are below.
U.S. v. Parrish et al. is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. U.S. v. Burrell et al. is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI’s Violent Gang Unit, the New York Field Division of the DEA, and the ATF’s Joint Firearms Task Force, as well as the United States Marshals’ Service, the New York State Office of Special Investigation--Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York State Police for their assistance in today’s arrests. He also thanked the Department of Investigation and the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this ongoing investigation.
The Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit is overseeing the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Maimin, Micah W.J. Smith, Robert Allen, Hagan Scotten, Jessica Feinstein, and Drew Johnson-Skinner are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. Burrell et al.
Count
Charge
Defendant
Maximum Penalty
1
Racketeering Conspiracy
NICO BURRELL,
a/k/a “Zico Nico,”
DOUGLAS MCLARTY,
a/k/a “Q-Don,”
a/k/a “Q-Dizzy,”
MARTIN MITCHELL,
a/k/a “Tyliek,”
DONQUE TYRELL,
a/k/a “Polo Rell,”
GERARD BASS,
a/k/a “Roddo,”
DOMINICK SHERLAND,
a/k/a “D-Nick,”
BARFFOUR ABEBERSE,
a/k/a “BB,”
a/k/a “Duce Bigga,”
MASHUD YODA,
a/k/a “Papa Ola,”
ANDERSON ROSS,
a/k/a “Boogy,”
a/k/a “Boogy Boo,”
a/k/a “Ray Allen Jr.,”
ANTHONY KING,
a/k/a “Ant-Dog,”
MARK WILLIAMS,
a/k/a “Spangler,”
a/k/a “Markie Bossin,”
QUAYSEAN CANNONIER,
a/k/a “Tic-Tic,”
TAYQUAN TUCKER,
a/k/a “Chicken,”
a/k/a “Chickenita,”
WILLIAM REID,
a/k/a “Uptown Will,”
MARLON ROBERTS,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
ABDULLAH YODA,
a/k/a “Dellah,”
KENNETH RUGGS,
a/k/a “Money Making Kenny,”
CALVIN RUGGS,
a/k/a “GQ,”
FABIAN MORRISON,
a/k/a “Fabo,”
SHAQUILLE DEWAR,
a/k/a “Shaq Doe,”
DESEAN BENNETT,
a/k/a “Doola,”
JAFAR BORDEN,
a/k/a “Jaffy,”
JOSE RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Hov,”
SHAVON WRIGHT,
a/k/a “Bhippy,”
a/k/a “Yung Bhippy,”
RASHEID BUTLER,
a/k/a “Rah,”
BRIAN RICHARDS,
a/k/a “B-Rich,”
DEVANTE JOSEPH,
a/k/a “Wiz,”
STEPHAN CLARKE,
JAMES PILGRIM,
a/k/a “Jizzle,”
MICHELLE JEMISON,
a/k/a “Pebbles,”
IVANJOEL ARYEETEY,
a/k/a “Ijoe,”
a/k/a “Ivan,”
ROBERT HAUGHTON,
a/k/a “Duke,”
JAMAL BLAIR,
a/k/a “Fish,”
ONEIL DASILVA,
a/k/a “Soxx,”
a/k/a “Bobby Soxx,”
DURELL GUY,
HAKEEM CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Ocky,”
a/k/a “Ackee,”
RICHARD PHILLIPS,
a/k/a “G-Mack,”
RUSHAUN BROWN,
a/k/a “Boobie,”
a/k/a “Gambino,”
MICHAEL FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Mikey Bandz,”
TYRONE GRAY,
a/k/a “Ty,”
LAMAR FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Lammy,”
a/k/a “Andrew Blacks,”
SHANE BENNETT,
a/k/a “Fattah,”
DAVID JONES,
RICARDO STEWART,
a/k/a “Cardo,”
DANTE PLUMMER,
a/k/a “Tae,”
JOEL HARGROVE,
a/k/a “Flow,”
SHAWN REID,
a/k/a “Sama,”
a/k/a “Sama Lama,”
BRADLEY WILSON,
a/k/a “Broadway,”
ROBERT FELICIANO,
a/k/a “RJ,”
DANTE STEPHENS,
a/k/a “Jibba,”
CARLETTO ALLEN,
a/k/a “Joker,”
20 years’ imprisonment
2
Narcotics Conspiracy
NICO BURRELL,
a/k/a “Zico Nico,”
DOUGLAS MCLARTY,
a/k/a “Q-Don,”
a/k/a “Q-Dizzy,”
MARTIN MITCHELL,
a/k/a “Tyliek,”
DONQUE TYRELL,
a/k/a “Polo Rell,”
GERARD BASS,
a/k/a “Roddo,”
DOMINICK SHERLAND,
a/k/a “D-Nick,”
BARFFOUR ABEBERSE,
a/k/a “BB,”
a/k/a “Duce Bigga,”
MASHUD YODA,
a/k/a “Papa Ola,”
ANDERSON ROSS,
a/k/a “Boogy,”
a/k/a “Boogy Boo,”
a/k/a “Ray Allen Jr.,”
ANTHONY KING,
a/k/a “Ant-Dog,”
MARK WILLIAMS,
a/k/a “Spangler,”
a/k/a “Markie Bossin,”
TAYQUAN TUCKER,
a/k/a “Chicken,”
a/k/a “Chickenita,”
WILLIAM REID,
a/k/a “Uptown Will,”
MARLON ROBERTS,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
ABDULLAH YODA,
a/k/a “Dellah,”
KENNETH RUGGS,
a/k/a “Money Making Kenny,”
CALVIN RUGGS,
a/k/a “GQ,”
FABIAN MORRISON,
a/k/a “Fabo,”
SHAQUILLE DEWAR,
a/k/a “Shaq Doe,”
DESEAN BENNETT,
a/k/a “Doola,”
JOSE RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Hov,”
SHAVON WRIGHT,
a/k/a “Bhippy,”
a/k/a “Yung Bhippy,”
RASHEID BUTLER,
a/k/a “Rah,”
BRIAN RICHARDS,
a/k/a “B-Rich,”
MICHELLE JEMISON,
a/k/a “Pebbles,”
IVANJOEL ARYEETEY,
a/k/a “Ijoe,”
a/k/a “Ivan,”
ROBERT HAUGHTON,
a/k/a “Duke,”
JAMAL BLAIR,
a/k/a “Fish,”
ONEIL DASILVA,
a/k/a “Soxx,”
a/k/a “Bobby Soxx,”
DURELL GUY,
HAKEEM CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Ocky,”
a/k/a “Ackee,”
RICHARD PHILLIPS,
a/k/a “G-Mack,”
RUSHAUN BROWN,
a/k/a “Boobie,”
a/k/a “Gambino,”
MICHAEL FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Mikey Bandz,”
TYRONE GRAY,
a/k/a “Ty,”
LAMAR FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Lammy,”
a/k/a “Andrew Blacks,”
SHANE BENNETT,
a/k/a “Fattah,”
DAVID JONES,
RICARDO STEWART,
a/k/a “Cardo,”
DANTE PLUMMER,
a/k/a “Tae,”
JOEL HARGROVE,
a/k/a “Flow,”
SHAWN REID,
a/k/a “Sama,”
a/k/a “Sama Lama,”
BRADLEY WILSON,
a/k/a “Broadway,”
ROBERT FELICIANO,
a/k/a “RJ,”
DANTE STEPHENS,
a/k/a “Jibba,”
CARLETTO ALLEN,
a/k/a “Joker,”
SHAQUILLE JOHN,
a/k/a “Poppy,”
OKEIFA JOHN,
a/k/a “Ratty,”
DAQUAN REID,
a/k/a “DQ,”
MICHAEL REDLEY,
a/k/a “Mikey,”
a/k/a “Jones,”
ALBERT AMPONSAH,
a/k/a “Jungle,”
RICHARD MONTAGUE,
a/k/a “Spanks,”
ANTHONY LETTERIO,
a/k/a “Yay,”
RAI THOMAS,
a/k/a “Ritch,”
JAVONE PEARCE,
a/k/a “Jevy,”
SHANICE JOHN,
DOMINIQUE BASS,
a/k/a “Domo,”
RICARDO BURGESS,
a/k/a “Zilla,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
3
Narcotics Distribution
DOUGLAS MCLARTY,
a/k/a “Q-Don,”
a/k/a “Q-Dizzy,”
DONQUE TYRELL,
a/k/a “Polo Rell,”
GERARD BASS,
a/k/a “Roddo,”
DOMINICK SHERLAND,
a/k/a “D-Nick,”
BARFFOUR ABEBERSE,
a/k/a “BB,”
a/k/a “Duce Bigga,”
MARK WILLIAMS,
a/k/a “Spangler,”
a/k/a “Markie Bossin,”
TAYQUAN TUCKER,
a/k/a “Chicken,”
a/k/a “Chickenita,”
MARLON ROBERTS,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
FABIAN MORRISON,
a/k/a “Fabo,”
SHAQUILLE DEWAR,
a/k/a “Shaq Doe,”
DESEAN BENNETT, a/k/a “Doola,”
JOSE RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Hov,”
SHAVON WRIGHT,
a/k/a “Bhippy,”
a/k/a “Yung Bhippy,”
MICHELLE JEMISON,
a/k/a “Pebbles,”
IVANJOEL ARYEETEY,
a/k/a “Ijoe,”
a/k/a “Ivan,”
ROBERT HAUGHTON,
a/k/a “Duke,”
JAMAL BLAIR,
a/k/a “Fish,”
ONEIL DASILVA,
a/k/a “Soxx,”
a/k/a “Bobby Soxx,”
DURELL GUY,
HAKEEM CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Ocky,”
a/k/a “Ackee,”
RICHARD PHILLIPS,
a/k/a “G-Mack,”
RUSHAUN BROWN,
a/k/a “Boobie,”
a/k/a “Gambino,”
MICHAEL FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Mikey Bandz,”
TYRONE GRAY,
a/k/a “Ty,”
LAMAR FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Lammy,”
a/k/a “Andrew Blacks,”
SHANE BENNETT,
a/k/a “Fattah,”
DAVID JONES,
RICARDO STEWART,
a/k/a “Cardo,”
JOEL HARGROVE,
a/k/a “Flow,”
SHAWN REID,
a/k/a “Sama,”
a/k/a “Sama Lama,”
BRADLEY WILSON,
a/k/a “Broadway,”
ROBERT FELICIANO,
a/k/a “RJ,”
DANTE STEPHENS,
a/k/a “Jibba,”
CARLETTO ALLEN,
a/k/a “Joker,”
SHAQUILLE JOHN,
a/k/a “Poppy,”
OKEIFA JOHN,
a/k/a “Ratty,”
DAQUAN REID,
a/k/a “DQ,”
MICHAEL REDLEY,
a/k/a “Mikey,”
a/k/a “Jones,”
ALBERT AMPONSAH,
a/k/a “Jungle,”
RICHARD MONTAGUE,
a/k/a “Spanks,”
JAVONE PEARCE,
a/k/a “Jevy,”
SHANICE JOHN,
DOMINIQUE BASS,
a/k/a “Domo,”
RICARDO BURGESS,
a/k/a “Zilla,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of one year’s imprisonment
4
Firearms Offense
NICO BURRELL,
a/k/a “Zico Nico,”
DOUGLAS MCLARTY,
a/k/a “Q-Don,”
a/k/a “Q-Dizzy,”
MARTIN MITCHELL,
a/k/a “Tyliek,”
DONQUE TYRELL,
a/k/a “Polo Rell,”
GERARD BASS,
a/k/a “Roddo,”
DOMINICK SHERLAND,
a/k/a “D-Nick,”
BARFFOUR ABEBERSE,
a/k/a “BB,”
a/k/a “Duce Bigga,”
MASHUD YODA,
a/k/a “Papa Ola,”
ANDERSON ROSS,
a/k/a “Boogy,”
a/k/a “Boogy Boo,”
a/k/a “Ray Allen Jr.,”
ANTHONY KING,
a/k/a “Ant-Dog,”
QUAYSEAN CANNONIER,
a/k/a “Tic-Tic,”
TAYQUAN TUCKER,
a/k/a “Chicken,”
a/k/a “Chickenita,”
WILLIAM REID,
a/k/a “Uptown Will,”
MARLON ROBERTS,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
ABDULLAH YODA,
a/k/a “Dellah,”
KENNETH RUGGS,
a/k/a “Money Making Kenny,”
CALVIN RUGGS,
a/k/a “GQ,”
FABIAN MORRISON,
a/k/a “Fabo,”
SHAQUILLE DEWAR,
a/k/a “Shaq Doe,”
DESEAN BENNETT,
a/k/a “Doola,”
JAFAR BORDEN,
a/k/a “Jaffy,”
JOSE RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Hov,”
RASHEID BUTLER,
a/k/a “Rah,”
BRIAN RICHARDS,
a/k/a “B-Rich,”
DEVANTE JOSEPH,
a/k/a “Wiz,”
STEPHAN CLARKE,
JAMES PILGRIM,
a/k/a “Jizzle,”
IVANJOEL ARYEETEY,
a/k/a “Ijoe,”
a/k/a “Ivan,”
JAMAL BLAIR,
a/k/a “Fish,”
ONEIL DASILVA,
a/k/a “Soxx,”
a/k/a “Bobby Soxx,”
DURELL GUY,
HAKEEM CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Ocky,”
a/k/a “Ackee,”
RUSHAUN BROWN,
a/k/a “Boobie,”
a/k/a “Gambino,”
TYRONE GRAY,
a/k/a “Ty,”
LAMAR FRANCIS,
a/k/a “Lammy,”
a/k/a “Andrew Blacks,”
SHANE BENNETT,
a/k/a “Fattah,”
DAVID JONES,
RICARDO STEWART,
a/k/a “Cardo,”
DANTE PLUMMER,
a/k/a “Tae,”
ROBERT FELICIANO,
a/k/a “RJ,”
CARLETTO ALLEN,
a/k/a “Joker,”
OKEIFA JOHN,
a/k/a “Ratty,”
RICARDO BURGESS,
a/k/a “Zilla,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
“BMB” Defendants
Age
Barffour Abeberse
23
Carleto Allen
21
Albert Amponsah
29
IvanJoel Aryeetey
20
Dominique Bass
26
Gerard Bass
23
Desean Bennet
22
Shayne Bennet
24
Vashon Bennett
22
Jamal Blair
24
Jaffar Borden
19
Rushaun Brown
24
Ricado Burgess
38
Nico Burrell
23
Rasheid Butler
19
Hakeem Campbell
22
Quaysean Cannonier
20
Stephan Clarke
21
Oneil Dasilva
22
Shaquille Dewar
21
Robert Feliciano
25
Lamar Francis
25
Michael Francis
25
Tyrone Gray
22
Durell Guy
24
Joel Hargrove
25
Robert Haughton
21
Michelle Jemison
22
Okeifa John
20
Shanice John
23
Shaquille John,
21
Howard Johnson
39
David Jones
23
Anthony King
26
Anthony Letterio
35
Douglas McLarty
22
Robert Miles
55
Martin Mitchell
21
Richard Montague
21
Fabian Morrison
26
Javone Pearce
24
Richard Phillips
23
James Pilgrim
21
Michael Redley
27
Daquan Reid
21
Shawn Reid
21
William Reid
22
Brian Richards
22
Marlon Roberts
26
Jose Rodriguez
23
Anderson Ross
21
Calvin Ruggs
21
Kenneth Ruggs
19
Dominick Sherland
23
Dante Stephens
23
Ricardo Stewart
23
Rai Thomas
21
Tayquan Tucker
20
Donque Tyrell
20
Mark Williams
24
Bradley Wilson
24
Shavon Wright
24
Abdullah Yoda
19
Mashud Yoda
23
United States v. Parrish et al.
1
Racketeering Conspiracy
LAQUAN PARRISH,
a/k/a “MadDog,” a/k/a “Quanzaa,”
ANDRE BENT, a/k/a “Dula,”
AARON RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Gunz,” a/k/a “Cito,”
SEAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Slimmy,”
JAQUAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “BJ,”
MARK CLARKE,
a/k/a “Gritty,” a/k/a “Mark the Gritty Shark,”
BOWLIN WALLINGFORD,
a/k/a “BK,”a/k/a “Bay Kay,”
RODRIGO GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Frenchy,”
ELIJAH BROWN, a/k/a “Lil Eli,”
JOSHUA BROWN, a/k/a “Josh,”
KAYSHAWN CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
ROBERT POPE,
a/k/a “Big Bert,”
DAVID MATTISON,
a/k/a “Dave,” a/k/a “Daddy,”
KEVIN MATTISON,
a/k/a “Kev,”
JAYVON CARTER,
a/k/a “Jay,” a/k/a “Jigga,”
MARCEL BENT,
a/k/a “Marcellus,” a/k/a “Cellie,”
PRESTON PASLEY,
a/k/a “Smoove,”
TERRENCE PASLEY, a/k/a “Fresh,”
DAQUAN ANDERSON,
a/k/a “BD,”
DANTE GREGORY,
a/k/a “Smiley,”
CINTRON POWELL,
a/k/a “C-Live,”
WALTER JERNIGAN,
a/k/a “Lil G,” a/k/a “G-Boo,”
MOUHAHAMET CHERRY,
a/k/a “Momo,”
HASANI FITTS,
a/k/a “Has,”
EMMANUEL MCKENZIE,
a/k/a “Manny Fresh,”
LLOYD RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “T-Boy,”
NICHOLAS BAILEY,
a/k/a “Nicholas Dale,”
a/k/a “Nick,”
SHAWN WALKER,
a/k/a “Styles,”
PETER LEWIS,
a/k/a “Pebbs,”
KRAIG LEWIS
a/k/a “K-Murda,”
RONALD MATTHEWS,
a/k/a “Ronnie,”
TRAVIS THOMPSON,
KAREEM SANDERS,
a/k/a “Reem,”
JONATHON CUMMINGS,
a/k/a “J-Starz,”
WAYNE LEON,
a/k/a “Wayne Brady,”
PATRICK LITTLEJOHN,
a/k/a “Pat,”
EMILE ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
a/k/a “Kev,”
KAVONE HORTON,
a/k/a “Styles,”
DEVIN WALKER,
a/k/a “Dev,”
20 years’ imprisonment
2
Narcotics Conspiracy
LAQUAN PARRISH,
a/k/a “MadDog,”
a/k/a “Quanzaa,”
ANDRE BENT,
a/k/a “Dula,”
AARON RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Gunz,”
a/k/a “Cito,”
SEAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Slimmy,”
JAQUAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “BJ,”
MARK CLARKE,
a/k/a “Gritty,” a/k/a “Mark the Gritty Shark,”
BOWLIN WALLINGFORD,
a/k/a “BK,”
a/k/a “Bay Kay,”
RODRIGO GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Frenchy,”
ELIJAH BROWN,
a/k/a “Lil Eli,”
JOSHUA BROWN,
a/k/a “Josh,”
KAYSHAWN CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
ROBERT POPE,
a/k/a “Big Bert,”
DAVID MATTISON,
a/k/a “Dave,”
a/k/a “Daddy,”
KEVIN MATTISON,
a/k/a “Kev,”
JAYVON CARTER,
a/k/a “Jay,”
a/k/a “Jigga,”
MARCEL BENT,
a/k/a “Marcellus,”
a/k/a “Cellie,”
PRESTON PASLEY,
a/k/a “Smoove,”
TERRENCE PASLEY,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
DAQUAN ANDERSON,
a/k/a “BD,”
DANTE GREGORY,
a/k/a “Smiley,”
CINTRON POWELL,
a/k/a “C-Live,”
WALTER JERNIGAN,
a/k/a “Lil G,”
a/k/a “G-Boo,”
MOUHAHAMET CHERRY,
a/k/a “Momo,”
HASANI FITTS,
a/k/a “Has,”
LLOYD RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “T-Boy,”
NICHOLAS BAILEY,
a/k/a “Nicholas Dale,”
a/k/a “Nick,”
SHAWN WALKER,
a/k/a “Styles,”
PETER LEWIS,
a/k/a “Pebbs,”
KRAIG LEWIS
a/k/a “K-Murda,”
RONALD MATTHEWS,
a/k/a “Ronnie,”
TRAVIS THOMPSON,
KAREEM SANDERS,
a/k/a “Reem,”
JONATHON CUMMINGS,
a/k/a “J-Starz,”
WAYNE LEON,
a/k/a “Wayne Brady,”
DANNY JONES,
a/k/a “Red,”
a/k/a “Casper,”
LAMOR MILES,
a/k/a “Ls,”
ROBERT MILES,
PATRICK LITTLEJOHN,
a/k/a “Pat,”
ANDREW MONCRIEFFE,
a/k/a “Drew,”
GARY ARRINGTON,
a/k/a “G,”
WILLIAMS RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Will,”
MELVIN RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “YB,”
BRANDON ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Big BD,”
EMILE ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
a/k/a “Kev,”
KAVONE HORTON,
a/k/a “Styles,”
JOHN ALVAREZ,
a/k/a “Gotti,”
COURTNEY GREEN,
a/k/a “C-Rock,”
ERICK CANALES,
a/k/a “EC,”
GREGORY CAMERON,
a/k/a “Biggs, a/k/a “Bigga,”
a/k/a “GG,”
JABRIEL LEWIS,
a/k/a “Breeze,” a/k/a “Breezy,”
VAUGHN WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “Murder,”
BRUCE WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “BJ,”
DAMON PARRISH,
ROBERTO MUNOZ,
a/k/a “Jr,”
ALONZO MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Manuke,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
3
Narcotics Distribution
LAQUAN PARRISH,
a/k/a “MadDog,”
a/k/a “Quanzaa,”
ANDRE BENT,
a/k/a “Dula,”
AARON RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Gunz,”
a/k/a “Cito,”
SEAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Slimmy,”
JAQUAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “BJ,”
MARK CLARKE,
a/k/a “Gritty,” a/k/a “Mark the Gritty Shark,”
BOWLIN WALLINGFORD,
a/k/a “BK,”
a/k/a “Bay Kay,”
RODRIGO GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Frenchy,”
ELIJAH BROWN,
a/k/a “Lil Eli,”
JOSHUA BROWN,
a/k/a “Josh,”
KAYSHAWN CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
ROBERT POPE,
a/k/a “Big Bert,”
DAVID MATTISON,
a/k/a “Dave,”
a/k/a “Daddy,”
KEVIN MATTISON,
a/k/a “Kev,”
JAYVON CARTER,
a/k/a “Jay,”
a/k/a “Jigga,”
MARCEL BENT,
a/k/a “Marcellus,”
a/k/a “Cellie,”
PRESTON PASLEY,
a/k/a “Smoove,”
TERRENCE PASLEY,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
DAQUAN ANDERSON,
a/k/a “BD,”
DANTE GREGORY,
a/k/a “Smiley,”
CINTRON POWELL,
a/k/a “C-Live,”
WALTER JERNIGAN,
a/k/a “Lil G,”
a/k/a “G-Boo,”
MOUHAHAMET CHERRY,
a/k/a “Momo,”
HASANI FITTS,
a/k/a “Has,”
LLOYD RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “T-Boy,”
NICHOLAS BAILEY,
a/k/a “Nicholas Dale,”
a/k/a “Nick,”
SHAWN WALKER,
a/k/a “Styles,”
PETER LEWIS,
a/k/a “Pebbs,”
KRAIG LEWIS
a/k/a “K-Murda,”
RONALD MATTHEWS,
a/k/a “Ronnie,”
TRAVIS THOMPSON,
KAREEM SANDERS,
a/k/a “Reem,”
JONATHON CUMMINGS,
a/k/a “J-Starz,”
WAYNE LEON,
a/k/a “Wayne Brady,”
DANNY JONES,
a/k/a “Red,”
a/k/a “Casper,”
LAMOR MILES,
a/k/a “Ls,”
ROBERT MILES,
PATRICK LITTLEJOHN,
a/k/a “Pat,”
ANDREW MONCRIEFFE,
a/k/a “Drew,”
GARY ARRINGTON,
a/k/a “G,”
WILLIAMS RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Will,”
MELVIN RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “YB,”
BRANDON ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Big BD,”
EMILE ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
a/k/a “Kev,”
KAVONE HORTON,
a/k/a “Styles,”
JOHN ALVAREZ,
a/k/a “Gotti,”
COURTNEY GREEN,
a/k/a “C-Rock,”
ERICK CANALES,
a/k/a “EC,”
GREGORY CAMERON,
a/k/a “Biggs, a/k/a “Bigga,”
a/k/a “GG,”
JABRIEL LEWIS,
a/k/a “Breeze,” a/k/a “Breezy,”
VAUGHN WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “Murder,”
BRUCE WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “BJ,”
DAMON PARRISH,
ROBERTO MUNOZ, a/k/a “Jr,”
ALONZO MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Manuke,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 1 year’s imprisonment
4
Firearms Offense
LAQUAN PARRISH,
a/k/a “MadDog,”
a/k/a “Quanzaa,”
ANDRE BENT,
a/k/a “Dula,”
AARON RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Gunz,”
a/k/a “Cito,”
SEAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Slimmy,”
JAQUAN MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “BJ,”
MARK CLARKE,
a/k/a “Gritty,” a/k/a “Mark the Gritty Shark,”
BOWLIN
WALLINGFORD,
a/k/a “BK,”
a/k/a “Bay Kay,”
RODRIGO GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Frenchy,”
ELIJAH BROWN,
a/k/a “Lil Eli,”
JOSHUA BROWN,
a/k/a “Josh,”
KAYSHAWN CAMPBELL,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
ROBERT POPE,
a/k/a “Big Bert,”
DAVID MATTISON,
a/k/a “Dave,”
a/k/a “Daddy,”
KEVIN MATTISON,
a/k/a “Kev,”
JAYVON CARTER,
a/k/a “Jay,”
a/k/a “Jigga,”
MARCEL BENT,
a/k/a “Marcellus,”
a/k/a “Cellie,”
PRESTON PASLEY,
a/k/a “Smoove,”
TERRENCE PASLEY,
a/k/a “Fresh,”
DAQUAN ANDERSON,
a/k/a “BD,”
DANTE GREGORY,
a/k/a “Smiley,”
CINTRON POWELL,
a/k/a “C-Live,”
WALTER JERNIGAN,
a/k/a “Lil G,”
a/k/a “G-Boo,”
MOUHAHAMET CHERRY,
a/k/a “Momo,”
HASANI FITTS,
a/k/a “Has,”
EMMANUEL MCKENZIE,
a/k/a “Manny Fresh,”
LLOYD RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “T-Boy,”
NICHOLAS BAILEY,
a/k/a “Nicholas Dale,”
a/k/a “Nick,”
SHAWN WALKER,
a/k/a “Styles,”
PETER LEWIS,
a/k/a “Pebbs,”
KRAIG LEWIS
a/k/a “K-Murda,”
RONALD MATTHEWS,
a/k/a “Ronnie,”
TRAVIS THOMPSON,
KAREEM SANDERS,
a/k/a “Reem,”
JONATHON CUMMINGS,
a/k/a “J-Starz,”
WAYNE LEON,
a/k/a “Wayne Brady,”
DANNY JONES,
a/k/a “Red,”
a/k/a “Casper,”
ROBERT MILES,
PATRICK LITTLEJOHN,
a/k/a “Pat,”
MELVIN RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “YB,”
EMILE ANDERSON,
a/k/a “Fetti,”
a/k/a “Kev,”
KAVONE HORTON,
a/k/a “Styles,”
DEVIN WALKER,
a/k/a “Dev,”
JOHN ALVAREZ,
a/k/a “Gotti,”
COURTNEY GREEN,
a/k/a “C-Rock,”
ERICK CANALES,
a/k/a “EC,”
GREGORY CAMERON,
a/k/a “Biggs, a/k/a “Bigga,”
a/k/a “GG,”
JABRIEL LEWIS,
a/k/a “Breeze,”
a/k/a “Breezy,”
VAUGHN WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “Murder,”
BRUCE WASHINGTON,
a/k/a “BJ,”
DAMON PARRISH,
ROBERTO MUNOZ,
a/k/a “Jr,”
ALONZO MCINTOSH,
a/k/a “Manuke,”
Life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
Defendants
Age
John Alvarez
29
Brandon Anderson
31
Daquan Anderson
22
Emile Anderson
22
Gary Arrington
32
Nicholas Bailey
23
Andre Bent
23
Marcel Bent
25
Elijah Brown
18
Joshua Brown
20
Kayshawn Campbell
23
Erick Canales
22
Jayvon Carter
21
Mouhahmet Cherry
23
Mark Clarke
21
Hasani Fitts
23
Rodrigo Gonzalez
19
Courtney Green
29
Dante Gregory
19
Kavone Horton
18
Walter Jernigan
21
Danny Jones
27
Kraig Lewis
24
Peter Lewis
24
Patrick Littlejohn
23
Ronald Matthews
25
David Mattison
24
Kevin Mattison
21
Jacquon McIntosh
21
Sean McIntosh
24
Emmanuel McKenzie
25
Lamor Miles
26
Andrew Moncrieffe
40
Laquan Parrish
24
Preston Pasley
26
Terrence Pasley
27
Robert Pope
23
Cintron Powell
21
Aaron Rodriguez
23
Lloyd Rodriguez
20
Melvin Rodriguez
23
Williams Rodriguez
34
Kareem Sanders
25
Travis Thompson
20
Davon Walker
19
Shawn Walker
24
Bowlin Wallingford
26
Bruce Washington
28
Vaughn Washington
26
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments, and the description of the Indictments set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
-
26 April 2016
Virginia Beach Crack Dealer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Quinn Ausidi Goffigan, 35, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty today to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Goffigan was caught selling crack cocaine at a Virginia Beach hotel on Feb. 19, 2014. Virginia Beach Police were conducting surveillance at the hotel and observed Goffigan engaging in a hand-to-hand transaction with another man. After Goffigan’s transaction concluded, police approached Goffigan and saw that he had a bag containing a number of off-white rocks in plain view in the car. Suspecting the off-white rocks were crack cocaine, police went to arrest Goffigan and he fled. Police were unable to catch Goffigan that night, but arrested him on state drug trafficking charges in connection with this incident two months later. The off-white rocks were sent to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science and tested positive for crack cocaine.
Goffigan was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2016. Due to the fact that he has seven prior felony drug trafficking convictions through the Virginia state courts, Goffigan faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on September 6, 2016. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-34.
United States Attorney’s Office Supports National Reentry WeekRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to our communities 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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, under the leadership of United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr., strongly supports reentry programs throughout the Western District of Virginia and beyond.
“Our office is committed to assisting non-violent offenders to become productive, law-abiding citizens,” United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said today. “We are proud to support community groups, and other agencies, who work every day to do this very important work.”
As part of National Reentry Week, U.S. Attorney Fishwick, along with members of the United States Attorney’s Office staff, will be meeting with community groups who work with reentry programs to discuss future partnership opportunities to help individuals return to communities in the Western District of Virginia.
In addition, the U.S. Attorney will continue a series of on-going meetings with Court and Probation officials regarding reentry programs aimed at helping former federal inmates returning to their communities.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to support the Veterans Treatment Court, a court designed to help veterans get back on their feet.
“Oftentimes, our veterans end up in the criminal justice system simply because they are coping with stress in the wrong way,” United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “Veterans Treatment Court provides an alternative to this downward spiral by promoting recovery and sobriety in a supportive environment. Our office is proud to support veterans by actively participating in Veterans Treatment Court.”
As part of National Reentry Week, leadership from across the Administration will be traveling around the country to make policy announcements in support of National Reentry Week. They will also be encouraging federal partners and grantees to work closely with stakeholders like federal defenders, legal aid providers and other partners across the country to increase the impact of these efforts. National Reentry Week events are being planned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S. Attorney’s Offices alone are hosting over 200 events and Bureau of Prisons facilities are holding over 370 events.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Denies Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Anthony J. Munchak’s AppealRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit denied former Lackawanna County Commissioner Anthony J. Munchak’s latest appeal regarding his 2011 conviction on multiple public corruption charges. Specifically, the Court of Appeals affirmed U.S District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo’s July 17, 2014, denial of Munchak’s motion for a new trial based on a claim of newly discovered evidence.
Munchak was convicted in 2011, along with former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro, on multiple public corruption offenses relating to the Commissioners’ demands for payments and other benefits from individuals and entities doing business with Lackawanna County. Munchak was sentenced in 2012, to serve 84 months’ imprisonment and the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence on May 31, 2013.
After the conviction and sentence were affirmed, Munchak filed a motion for a new trial alleging that witnesses associated with Highland Associates, an architectural and engineering firm that did work for the County, perjured themselves at his trial. The Appellate Court rejected Munchak’s claims and stated that “[t]he District Court correctly concluded that Munchak’s motion does not expose false testimony.” The Appellate Court further stated that since Munchak’s “new evidence” did not discredit the witnesses’ testimony, “it is impossible to conclude that it creates a reasonable likelihood (or, indeed, any rational chance) of a different outcome by the jury.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. At trial, the government was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Lorna N. Graham, William S. Houser and Bruce Brandler, with Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Cerutti on the Appellate brief.
# # #
U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in Reentry Simulation at FCI Fort WorthRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — As part of events sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas during National Reentry Week, staff members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff at Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Fort Worth today to participate in a Reentry Simulation that provided FCI inmates an opportunity to experience, first-hand, one month in the life of a newly-released offender, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
The Department of Justice has taken major steps toward reducing recidivism and helping formerly-incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities. An important part of that commitment is preparing those who have paid their debt to society for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, and addressing obstacles to successful reentry that too many returning citizens encounter.
“Regardless of how motivated they may be, formerly incarcerated individuals face serious and complex obstacles to successful reentry,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “This reentry simulation was invaluable in highlighting and addressing those obstacles and offering real-life ways to overcome them.”
In addition to participating in the simulation, U.S. Attorney Office staff members provided a training session to the reentering population regarding firearm laws and potential criminal liabilities so they may make wise choices after their release from prison.
Inmates participating in the simulation were given a packet containing mock information about an imaginary individual who was just released from incarceration, whose identity they would assume for the exercise. The packet contained information about that imaginary individual’s criminal background, education level as well as their financial, housing and employment situation. Then, during four 15-minute sessions, with each session representing one week of the month, participants engaged in various scenarios with staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and BOP who role-played representatives from community organizations, such as financial institutions, health clinics, social services, court services and law enforcement.
The Department of Justice designated the week of April 24-30, 2016, as National Reentry Week. During this week, U.S. Attorney Offices are coordinating reentry events designed to raise awareness about the importance of reentry work. With more than 600,000 individuals each year returning to neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons, and another 11.4 million individuals cycling through local jails, addressing the challenges they face is a fundamental and vital task.
Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced new reforms to strengthen the Bureau of Prisons, including the “Roadmap to Reentry,” the Department’s comprehensive vision to reduce recidivism through reentry reforms at the BOP.
The principles outlined in the “Roadmap to Reentry” are aligned with the work of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, which has been to reduce policy barriers to successful reentry, opening up opportunities in education, job placement, housing, healthcare, and a host of other areas critical to successful reintegration. The Department is also raising awareness of the importance of reentry strategies that both increase public safety and fulfill our nation’s commitment to the promise of individual redemption.
More information on Reentry efforts in the Northern District of Texas may be found here. Additional resources regarding the Department’s Reentry efforts may be found here.
# # #
U.S. Attorney’s Office Obtains ADA Settlement with Saginaw HospitalRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has reached a settlement with a Saginaw hospital to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. The agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleging that HealthSource Saginaw failed to provide a sign language interpreter to a deaf patient at one of its outpatient clinics. HealthSource Saginaw fully cooperated with the investigation into this matter.
The settlement stemmed from a complaint submitted by a mother in Flint who alleged that HealthSource Saginaw violated the ADA by failing to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreter services, to her teenage son, who is deaf, while he received outpatient treatment at the Saginaw hospital. According to the complaint, the minor was provided with an interpreter while receiving inpatient services at the hospital, but HealthSource Saginaw refused to provide him with an interpreter for follow-up outpatient treatment.
The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by health care providers. To ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to health care services, medical providers are obligated to provide effective communication for patients and companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. This assistance may include providing sign language interpreters to ensure that patients who are deaf are able to communicate with their health care providers or providing other auxiliary aids or services that are appropriate under the circumstances at no cost to the patient. The appropriate aid or service depends on a variety of factors, including the nature, length, and importance of the communication; the context of the communication; the communication skills and knowledge of the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and the individual’s stated need for a particular type of auxiliary aid or service.
The settlement agreement requires HealthSource Saginaw to adopt specific policies and procedures to ensure that auxiliary aids and services are promptly provided to patients or companions who are deaf or hard of hearing, to provide training to hospital staff on the new policies and procedures and the overall requirements of the ADA; and to appoint an ADA coordinator at the hospital to ensure access to appropriate auxiliary aids and services.
“While this settlement demonstrates HealthSource Saginaw’s commitment to provide effective communication to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, this issue is much bigger than one hospital or one medical provider. More than 25 years after the enactment of the ADA, too many medical providers still fail to fulfill their obligations to provide effective communication to patients and their companions who are deaf. We will continue our enforcement efforts to raise awareness and to ensure that the promise of the ADA is a reality for all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has resolved several cases involving equal access to health care for individuals with disabilities. These cases include doctors and medical offices that have failed to provide sign language interpreters to patients who are deaf and medical offices that have failed to make their procedures accessible for patients who use wheelchairs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate a number of other hospitals and medical offices to ensure that they are providing physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities, and effective communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as part of the Department of Justice’s Barrier Free Healthcare Initiative.
For more information on the ADA and the DOJ’s Barrier Free Healthcare Initiative, please visit http://www.ada.gov/usao-agreements.html. Those interested in finding out more about these settlements, the obligations of health care providers and other places of public accommodation under the ADA, or filing a complaint, may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office via email at [email protected], or by calling 313-226-9151. Individuals may also contact the Justice Department through its toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), access its ADA website at www.ada.gov, or file a complaint by email at [email protected].
U.S. Attorney's Office to Host Town Hall and Other Events as Part of National Reentry WeekRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will highlight the issues facing citizens returning to the community after periods of incarceration in a series of events as part of National Reentry Week, including a town hall scheduled for tonight at the Central Union Mission, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.
U.S. Attorney Phillips will be joined at this evening’s program by Acting Associate Attorney General Bill Baer and Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason. They will speak about efforts by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to support those returning to the nation’s communities after serving time in federal and state prisons.
The Obama Administration has taken major steps to make the criminal justice system fairer, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities. Removing barriers to successful reentry helps formerly incarcerated individuals compete for jobs, attain stable housing, and support their families. An important part of that commitment is preparing those who have paid their debt to society for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, and addressing collateral consequences to successful reentry that too many returning citizens encounter.
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and other top officials are making appearances throughout the nation to promote the “Roadmap to Reentry,” the Justice Department’s comprehensive vision to reduce recidivism through reentry reforms at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Each year, more than 600,000 citizens return to communities after serving time in federal and state prisons. Another 11.4 million people cycle through local jails.
“We have to do more to stop the cycle of crime and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Phillips. “One critical factor in stopping this cycle is to address the serious issues and hurdles that former offenders face when they reenter our communities. We as a community must do all we can to enhance the prospects of our returning citizens to live productive and healthy lives.”
“Too often, justice-involved individuals who have paid their debt to society confront daunting obstacles to good jobs, decent housing, adequate health care, quality education, and even the right to vote,” said Attorney General Lynch. “National Reentry Week highlights the many ways that the Department of Justice – and the entire Obama Administration – is working to tear down the barriers that stand between returning citizens and a meaningful second chance – leading to brighter futures, stronger communities, and a more just and equal nation for all.”
In addition to the town hall this evening, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will highlight reentry issues this afternoon in a discussion with a girls’ mentoring group. Assistant Attorney General Mason, of the Office of Justice Programs, is scheduled to attend the program.
The town hall is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. today at the Central Union Mission, 65 Massachusetts Avenue NW. In addition to U.S. Attorney Phillips and the Justice Department officials, representatives from the Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens will be on hand to speak about their efforts to support returning citizens. Participants will have an opportunity to express concerns and ask the speakers questions.
Finally, a roundtable discussion is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mickey Leland Transitional Housing Facility in Northwest Washington. U.S. Attorney Phillips is expected to be joined by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division and other officials in a presentation that will cover the barriers returning citizens face in obtaining employment and ways to overcome these obstacles.
NOTE: The event tonight at the Central Union Mission is open to the press. It will take place at 65 Massachusetts Avenue NW. All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials. Media check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. EDT. Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Bill Miller at 202-252-6643.
U.S. Attorney's Office Partners with the Western North Carolina Crime Victims' Coalition to Recognize 12 Individuals for Their Significant Contributions in Assisting Victims of CrimeRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – United States Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose announced that 12 individuals were recognized yesterday at an event commemorating National Victims’ Rights week, sponsored by the Western North Carolina Victims’ Coalition in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The event was held at the Asheville Campus of the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. As reflected in this year’s theme, “Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope,” the award honorees were selected for their significant efforts and contributions in assisting victims of crime.
Speaking at yesterday’s event, U.S. Attorney Rose said, “We have gathered to remember, rebuild and restore. To remember loved ones lost to crime, to assist survivors rebuild their lives, and to restore the hope and trust of crime victims in their journey to healing and recovery.”
The 12 recipients selected received awards in five categories:
Victim Advocacy Professional:
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Christine Gibson – Disability and Elder Safe Coordinator with the 30th Judicial Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.
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Meredith Hooks – Court Advocate and Family Justice Center Coordinator with Safelight in Henderson County.
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Melissa Knight – Court Advocate with Helpmate.
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Susie Presley – Victim Advocate with Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.
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Angelica Wind – Executive Director of Our Voice.
Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional:
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Sargent Benjamin McKay – Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
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Detective Joshua Meindl– Asheville Police Department.
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Detective Matthew Orr – Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal Justice Professional:
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Rachael Groffsky – Assistant District Attorney with the 28th Prosecutorial District, Buncombe County.
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The Honorable James Calvin Hill – Chief Court Judge with the 28th Prosecutorial District, Buncombe County.
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Reid Taylor – Assistant District Attorney with the 30th Prosecutorial District.
Compassionate Community Volunteer:
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Carolyn Lescallitt– Volunteer with the 30th Judicial Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.
U.S. Attorney Rose thanked the honorees for their outstanding dedication, service and support in working with crime victims and noted the important role each honoree has played in raising awareness and providing victims of crime with the support and resources they need in the aftermath of crime.
Along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Western North Carolina Crime Victims’ Coalition is made up of victim advocates from the following agencies: Buncombe County Sheriff's Office; Asheville Police Department; Buncombe County District Attorney's Office in Prosecutorial District 28; Pisgah Legal Services; Caring for Children - Trinity Place; Helpmate; Our Voice; and the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week honors and celebrates the achievements of the past thirty years in securing rights, protections, and services for victims. The bipartisan Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), passed by Congress in 1984, created a national fund to ease victims’ suffering. Financed by fines and penalties paid by offenders, the Crime Victims Fund supports services for victims of all types of crime, including assistance for homicide survivors, survivors of child sexual abuse, and victims of human trafficking, as well as rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs among others. VOCA also funds victim compensation programs that pay victims’ out-of-pocket expenses - such as counseling, funeral expenses, and lost wages.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Million Dollar Recovery for Unpaid PostageRead the Press Release
ImageStore US Inc. and Mambate USA Inc., doing business as AGPTEK (collectively “AGPTEK”), an Internet-based vendor of a wide variety of merchandise, including consumer electronics, and their shareholder and principal, Charlie Wang, have entered into a settlement agreement with the United States in which they have agreed to pay $1,049,635.82 to resolve civil allegations that they failed to pay postage on large amounts of mail sent through the United States Postal Service.
The settlement was announced today by Robert L. Capers, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, the Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The settlement resolved a multi-year investigation into AGPTEK’s mailings to consumers. AGPTEK sells consumer electronic accessories and replacement parts such as cell phone cases, digital camera batteries, and laptop AC adapters through multiple websites. The United States alleged that from June 2005 to May 2010, AGPTEK mailed over two hundred thousand items to customers either without postage or without sufficient postage. AGPTEK would stamp the packages with an unauthorized postal permit number that was not associated with any credit card or billing account.
In reaching this settlement, AGPTEK and Mr. Wang accepted responsibility for failing to pay sufficient postage during the five year period.
“By failing to pay proper postage, AGPTEK short-changed the Postal Service of funds it depends on from customers to fulfill its mission,” stated U.S. Attorney Capers. “This settlement reflects the commitment of this Office to root out wrongdoing against the Postal Service and ensure it is able to continue providing valuable services to all of its customers.”
“The Postal Inspection Service will vigorously pursue individuals who underpay the Postal Service, and we appreciate U.S. Attorney Capers’ strong stance against those who seek to take advantage of the Postal Service,” said Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel G. Balaban.
Three More Defendants Guilty of Participating in Multi-State Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – Angel Mascorro, 52, of Aurora, Illinois pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven counts of money laundering. The guilty plea follows the trial of two of his co-defendants – Alejandro Sotelo, 43, of Chicago, IL, and Francisco Gonzalez Jose, 44, of Philadelphia, PA, who were found guilty late last Friday night by a federal jury, of taking part in a continuing criminal enterprise and other charges. The jury also found Sotelo and Gonzalez Jose guilty of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, conspiracy to import heroin, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and, as to Gonzalez Jose, possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin; and as to Sotelo distribution of 14 kilograms of heroin. All three were members of the Laredo Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO). Sentencing hearings are scheduled for August of 2016. Sotelo and Gonzalez Jose each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison; Mascorro faces a significant term of imprisonment. To date, 18 defendants (including Mascorro) have pleaded guilty; four defendants, including alleged kingpins Antonio Laredo and Ismael Laredo and their wives, are in Mexico. Another five defendants are awaiting trial.
Brothers Antonio and Ismael Laredo, the alleged leaders of the Laredo DTO, supervised 21 defendants in an operation that imported multiple kilos of heroin from Mexico into the United States and distributed it to other drug traffickers in Philadelphia, Camden, NJ, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, and New York, NY. According to court documents, the Laredo DTO smuggled-in approximately 1,000 kilograms of heroin using various concealment techniques such as placing kilogram quantities of heroin in car batteries, car bumpers, concealed vehicle traps, and sealed fruit and vegetable cans. Alejandro Sotelo served as a DTO cell head in Chicago where he oversaw the stash house operation and the movement of multi kilogram quantities of heroin from Mexico into Chicago. Sotelo also arranged the trans-shipment of multi-kilogram quantities of heroin to Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York.
Members of the DTO used violence, such as assaults and kidnapping, threats of violence, including murder and arson, and firearms, to protect their product and proceeds and to prevent members from withdrawing from the organization. The DTO supplied multi-kilogram quantities of heroin to drug traffickers in the Philadelphia area, including the (Christian) Serrano DTO, the (Darbin and Gabriel) Vargas DTO, and the Camden, New Jersey based (Confesor) Montalvo organization, among others.
According to the indictment, members of the Laredo DTO would transport heroin shipments by various means, including car and train. The Laredo brothers had special car batteries manufactured for the purpose of concealing the loads of heroin and, in 2012, a courier used that method to deliver three kilograms of heroin to Philadelphia. A shipment of four kilograms was concealed inside a car speaker box. A shipment of 7.6 kilograms of heroin was concealed in sealed fruit and vegetable cans in Texas, and the couriers were directed to deliver the heroin to defendants Darbin Vargas and Gabriel Vargas, of the Vargas DTO in Philadelphia.
The DTO consisted of numerous relatives and associates who set up “funnel accounts” that were used for the purpose of laundering the proceeds of the drug operation back to Mexico. The Laredo brothers, it is alleged, used a variety of money laundering techniques, including the use of the funnel accounts, wire transfers of funds, and Western Union money grams, to launder at least $5 million of the heroin proceeds back to Mexico, where the Laredo brothers currently reside.
In addition to the prison terms, each defendant in the case faces possible fines, periods of supervised release, a criminal forfeiture judgment to the United States of up to $60 million, and special assessments.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s offices in Philadelphia, PA, Allentown, PA, Camden, NJ, Mexico City, Mexico, Chicago and Rockford, IL, Newark, NJ, New York, NY, Tyler, TX, Raleigh, NC, Jefferson City and St. Louis, MS, Richmond, VA, and the DEA Special Operations Division; FBI, Philadelphia; U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia, PA and Richmond, VA; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Philadelphia Police Department; Darby Borough Police Department; SEPTA Transit Police Department; Berks County District Attorney’s Office; Bucks County District Attorney’s Office; Philadelphia/Camden HIDTA in New Jersey: the N.J. Attorney General’s Office, N.J. Parole Board, Cherry Hill Police Department, Delaware River Port Authority Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office; in Illinois: Rockford Police Department, Will County Sheriff's Department, Skokie Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Oak Lawn Police Department, Addison Police Department, Prospect Heights Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Arlington Heights Police Department, West Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff's Department, and McHenry County Narcotics Task Force; in Texas: Texas Department of Public Safety, CID Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant Police Department; in Missouri: Missouri State Highway Patrol, Audrain County Sheriff’s Department, East Central Drug Task Force; in Virginia: the Mecklenberg County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the Virginia State Police; and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Support was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State Police, the U
Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Northern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph T. Labrum, III, Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr., and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Strauss, of the Justice Department's National Security Division.
Three Indicted for Importing White-Tailed Deer into MississippiRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – United States Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker unsealed a federal indictment yesterday charging Coleman Virgil Slade, 70, of Purvis, Mississippi, Don Durrett, 72, of Aspermont, Texas, and Dewayne Slade, 44, of Purvis, Mississippi, with various violations of the Lacey Act for importing live white-tailed deer into Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General.
Don Durrett and Dewayne Slade appeared for arraignment today and pled not guilty to the 7- count federal indictment. Coleman Virgil Slade will be arraigned at a later date.
According to the indictment, from January of 2009 through December of 2012, the Slades and Durrett did knowingly and willfully conspire to purchase and transport in interstate commerce live white-tailed deer from Texas to Mississippi in violation of both state and federal laws. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each individual count.
"The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing the Lacey Act and other federal laws to protect our wildlife resources," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. "We will continue to work closely with USDA OIG, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to enforce the Lacey Act."
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago stated "We take our mission working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the citizens of Mississippi in conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats very seriously. We will continue working vigorously investigating those who choose to violate state and federal laws."
"I want to thank the US Attorney’s office, OIG special agents, and our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation," said USDA OIG Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson, "USDA OIG is committed to pursuing individuals who commit criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which is intended to protect the health and well-being of America’s wildlife."
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The case is currently scheduled for trial on June 20, 2016 in Hattiesburg.
The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Statement of U. S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes on U.S. v. Troy KelleyRead the Press Release
I want to thank the jury for their service during this long trial, and the prosecutors from my office for their hard work in trying this case. My office will thoroughly review the counts that the jury deadlocked on before making a decision about our next steps in this case.
Springfield Gang Member Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the La Familia Gang, a national gang with a significant presence in Springfield and Holyoke, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Joshua Ortiz, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 27 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition. In December 2015, Ortiz pleaded guilty to the charges.
On Oct.10, 2014, Ortiz possessed a HiPoint Model JHP .45 caliber firearm and eight rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Ortiz was spotted with the firearm by law enforcement officers, and fled after discarding the gun in a residential neighborhood. He was later arrested when he appeared in court on an unrelated matter.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.
South Paris Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Contact: Michael J. Conley
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Andrew Bean, 51, of South Paris, Maine pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to possessing a firearm after being convicted of four felony offenses.
According to court records, on November 21, 2015, a Maine Game Warden discovered Bean in possession of a 12-gauge shotgun in the Paris, Maine area. Bean was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions for Operating Under the Influence and for Operating after Revocation in 2002 and, again, in 2006.
Bean faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Maine Warden Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Santa Fe Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Fidel Naranjo, 27, of Santa Fe, N.M., pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a bank robbery charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Naranjo will be sentenced to 40 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Naranjo and his codefendant, Kendra Brophy, 29, of San Pedro, N.M., were arrested in Dec. 2015, on criminal complaints charging them with robbing the New Mexico Bank and Trust located at 411 Carr Lane in Espanola, N.M. on Dec. 2, 2015. The complaint alleged that Naranjo robbed the bank by approaching the bank teller, threatening to shoot her, and demanding money. Naranjo left the bank and was driven away from the scene by Brophy.
Naranjo and Brophy were subsequently indicted on Dec. 17, 2015, and charged with bank robbery on Dec. 2, 2015, in Rio Arriba County, N.M.
During yesterday’s change of plea hearing, Naranjo pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on Dec. 2, 2015, he robbed the New Mexico Bank and Trust in Espanola, by entering the bank and demanding money from the teller. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
Brophy previously pled guilty to a felony information charging her with misprision of a felony on April 21, 2016. In entering her guilty plea, Brophy admitted that on Dec. 2, 2015, her codefendant Naranjo robbed a bank while she waited nearby. Brophy admitted concealing the identity of the bank robber and the cash he obtained during the robbery, and failing to notify the authorities about her codefendant and the robbery. At sentencing, Brophy faces a statutory maximum penalty of three years in prison. Her sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han.
Sanbornton Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Smith, 35, of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to a federal indictment charging him with eight counts of distribution and one count of conspiracy to distribute the Schedule I controlled substance heroin and the Schedule II controlled substance fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice.
During a law enforcement investigation, a cooperating individual purchased heroin and/or fentanyl from the defendant on eight occasions. Lab results have confirmed that over 20 grams of the substance purchase contained fentanyl, over 57 grams contained heroin and over 19 grams contained a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Smith obtained controlled substances from multiple sources and distributed to multiple customers, participating in the conspiracy since at least June, 2015.
Smith’s plea agreement includes a binding stipulated sentence of 96 months’ incarceration. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 27, 2016 in front of United States District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro. At that time, the Court will decide whether to accept the plea agreement and impose the agreed-upon period of incarceration, as well as any other conditions of Smith’s sentence.
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Drug Task Force for this case included law enforcement representatives from the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin Police Department, the Concord Police Department and the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky.
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RI Law Enforcement to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back ProgramRead the Press Release
On Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rhode Islanders are encouraged to drop off their unused and expired prescription drugs at one of more than 25 locations across the state as part of the national Prescription Drug Take Back Program. The program was created in 2010 by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prevent pill abuse and theft by allowing residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
A list of locations and participating police departments is attached and can be found at www.dea.gov. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. In addition, many police departments provide free drop-off boxes year-round. Contact your local police department to see if they offer the service. ((Note: The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.))
“Rhode Island continues to lead the nation in illicit drug use, and we have been in the eye of the storm of heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opiate overdoses. While State leaders recognize that we need a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem, which includes access to naloxone, increasing support for recovery programs, and prosecuting drug traffickers, much of this crisis has been borne out of the diversion of prescription drugs for illicit purposes,” said Attorney General Kilmartin. “Ridding our homes of expired and unused prescription medications is both easy and effective manner to ensure they don’t end up in the hands of someone with an addiction.”
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 of its 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.
United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha added, "For too many years, Americans have received far too many prescription pills, including opioids such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. We now know that the results have been disastrous. The overprescribing of opioids has led to addiction and death from both these prescription pills and from heroin, to which those who abuse prescription opioids often turn. Far too often, prescription opioids, no longer needed, remain in our medicine cabinets at home, all too available to those who might abuse them. These overfilled medicine cabinets are literally killing our friends, relatives, and in some instances our children. It is beyond time to empty them, and take-back day is a great opportunity to do so."
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30th Take Back Day event, visit www.dea.gov.
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Project Safe Childhood - Claremont Man Sentenced for Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE: James Bednarcyk, 28, of Claremont, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire after pleading guilty to one count of possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice.
In April 2014, an undercover investigation determined that child pornography images were being shared on the Internet from the Claremont, New Hampshire residence of James Bednarcyk. A search warrant for the residence was executed in September 2014, during which Bednarcyk’s personal computer was seized. That computer was later determined to contain approximately 20 videos and 70 still images of child pornography.
The case was investigated by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Hampton, New Hampshire Police Department, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manchester, the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force (NH ICAC), and the police departments of Claremont, Portsmouth, Nashua, and Rochester, New Hampshire. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Abramson.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Pleasanton Man Sentenced for Making False Statement to a Financial InstitutionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on April 26, 2016, Shane M. Wibbels, age 39 of Pleasanton, Nebraska, was sentenced for making a false statement to a financial institution. The Honorable Lyle E. Strom, Senior United States District Court Judge, sentenced Wibbels to the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons for thirty-six (36) months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Wibbels will begin a two (2) year term of supervised release. Wibbels was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,771,728.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that on March 22, 2010, Wibbels made a false statement in an Agricultural Financial Statement which he then submitted to a financial institution. The financial institution is located in the District of Nebraska and was insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Agricultural Financial Statement submitted by Wibbels failed to identify significant liabilities Wibbels had previously incurred. As a result of the false representations in the Agricultural Financial Statement, loans to Wibbels were approved by the financial institution. The financial institution, which relied upon the false Agricultural Financial Statement as a basis for approving the loans to Wibbels, incurred a loss of $1,771,728 due to Wibbels’ default on the loans he received.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Plantation Resident Sentenced to Prison for his Participation in a Stolen Identity Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Plantation resident was sentenced to 34 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $79,459 for his participation in a stolen identity tax fraud scheme.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and W. Howard Harrison, Chief, Plantation Police Department, made the announcement.
Sean Lyons, 29, previously pled guilty to one count of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1).
According to court documents, in May 2014, Lyons participated in a tax fraud scheme in which he received fraudulently obtained United States Department of Treasury tax refunds into accounts linked to prepaid debit cards over which the defendant had control. The tax refunds were filed in the names of other individuals, and the prepaid debit card accounts were registered using the names and Social Security numbers of those same individuals, without their knowledge and authority.
During the course of the scheme, Lyons had in his possession at least 73 prepaid debit cards that had been registered in the names and Social Security numbers of other individuals, without the individuals' knowledge or authority. Several of the debit cards had been funded through direct deposit with fraudulently obtained Treasury tax refunds.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI and the Plantation Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya R. Long.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Perkinston Man Pleads Guilty to Accessing Child Porn with Intent to ViewRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss – William Joshua Woodward, age 39, of Perkinston, Mississippi, pled guilty in U.S. District Court on Thursday, April 21, 2016, to one count of access with intent to view child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
This case began when the Gulf Coast Cyber Crimes Task Force, while monitoring the internet for individuals who download child pornography via Peer-to-Peer file sharing networks, located an IP address showing multiple downloads of child pornography. An investigation followed, which determined that Woodward, from July 2015 to February 2016, knowingly accessed the Internet through his computer using a Peer-to-Peer file sharing program which accessed visual depictions involving the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further forensic examination of Woodward’s computer revealed hundreds of downloaded images of child pornography.
William Joshua Woodward will be sentenced on July 7, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., by Chief U. S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by agents with the Gulf Coast Cyber Crimes Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Wiggins Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
Payette Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE - John Vernon McLeod, 36, of Payette, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. McLeod was indicted on September 9, 2015.
According to the plea agreement, McLeod and codefendant Ross Eugene Miller conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the state of Idaho between May 28, 2015, and June 18, 2015. The defendant and his codefendant arranged for two separate deliveries of methamphetamine in the Payette and Fruitland, Idaho, area. Investigating officers discovered the conspiracy and were able to intervene.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years or more than forty years, a term of supervised release of at least four years, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000.
McLeod is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
Codefendant, Ross Eugene Miller, 30, of Fruitland, Idaho, was sentenced on March 7, 2016, to 36 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Judge Winmill also ordered Miller to three years of supervised release and to forfeit $1,600 in drug proceeds. Miller pleaded guilty on December 18, 2015.
The case was investigated by the High Desert Task Force, a collaboration of law enforcement agencies from Payette County Sheriff’s Office, Payette Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Weiser Police Department, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Ontario Police Department, and the Nyssa Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Board. The Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Board is a collaboration of local law enforcement drug task forces and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, and Malheur County.
Norfolk Man Sentenced to Prison for Prostituting a ChildRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Alvin Norlee Moore III, 29, of Norfolk, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for sex trafficking of a child. He was also sentenced to 15 years of supervised release.
Moore pleaded guilty on January 6, 2016. According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, “Jane Doe,” a 15 year-old runaway, was found by her family after fleeing from Moore after several weeks of being forced to prostitute for him in the Tidewater area. The family then contacted the Virginia Beach Police Department. Moore had been a violent abuser of several young women since 2010. He was originally arrested by Virginia Beach, but was transferred to federal custody on a criminal complaint.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15cr52.
National Re-Entry Week “Employer Information Summit” Planned for ThursdayRead the Press Release
BOSTON – On Thursday, April 28, 2016, several federal agencies in Boston will co-host an “Employer Information Summit” as part of the Justice Department’s National Reentry Week.
Members of the business community are invited to attend. The Summit is also open to the media.
“The Department of Justice plays a critical role in reducing recidivism,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “We need to prepare individuals who have served prison sentences to reenter their communities and the workforce so that they can contribute in positive ways. Supporting successful reentry efforts is a critical means of breaking the cycle of recidivism and is an important step in improving our criminal justice system.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Probation Department, U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will meet with local business leaders about issues surrounding employment for citizens returning from incarceration. The Summit will take place at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Room 900-B, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Business leaders and policymakers are invited to attend to learn about vocational training provided to inmates while in federal custody and how such training can provide returning citizens with valuable experience and specific job skills. Representatives from U.S. Probation will discuss resources that assist returning citizens in securing employment, and the Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration will discuss grant programs that provide job training and placement, tax benefits of hiring returning citizens and the Federal Bonding Program. More details about the Federal Bonding Program can be found at http://www.bonds4jobs.com/.
Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from local businesses that currently employ returning citizens and learn about the advantages, as well as how to successfully overcome challenges with respect to hiring.
Opening remarks will be provided by U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Probation Chief Christopher Maloney and Regional Administrator Holly O’Brien of the Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. Perspectives from the federal bench will also be offered by U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.
The Summit is being held in connection with National Reentry Week, which aims to amplify the importance of sustainable employment as a factor in the successful reintegration of individuals returning to the community following incarceration. For more information, please read Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s editorial, National Reentry Week: An Essential Part of Our Mission.
For further information or to register to attend this event, please contact Kasim Adamson at U.S. Probation at [email protected] or Martha Wyatt at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected].
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Genfry Martinez, 20, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to a federal indictment charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute the Schedule II controlled substance fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice.
On February 11, 2016, after a traffic stop by the New Hampshire State Police, Martinez was found in possession of what lab results confirmed to be 68.67 grams of the Schedule II controlled drug fentanyl. The defendant possessed the drugs with the intention of distributing them.
“The narcotic drug fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous substance responsible for a large number of overdose deaths in New Hampshire,” stated United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice. “I will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who attempt to profit from the sale of this deadly drug.”
Martinez will be detained pending sentencing, which is presently scheduled for August 9, 2016 in front of United States District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro. The statutory maximum sentence is twenty years in prison and criminal fines of up to $1,000,000. Martinez’s actual sentence will be determined by the court at sentencing after a presentence investigation report is completed.
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
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Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 6 Men for Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the charges today against six men – ERIC ROBINSON, ELDRIDGE MITCHELL, JHAYMES BETHEL BROWN, JR., CRAIG SMITH, AKIL CHRISTOPHER, and KORDELL NESBITT – on charges stemming from their conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and their commission of credit card fraud. ROBINSON, MITCHELL, BROWN, JR., and NESBITT were arrested today in the New York City metro area. SMITH and CHRISTOPHER remain at large.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, these six men conspired to use fraudulent credit cards, encoded with the stolen bank account information of victims, to purchase scores of American Express, Visa and MasterCards. Together with our partners at the USPIS, we have put this alleged criminal ring out of business.”
USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “When the defendants used their ill-gotten gains for the finer things in life, they miscalculated the true cost of their crimes: being arrested. U.S. based merchants are quickly transitioning to EMV Chip-Pin point of sale terminals, eventually making these low level credit card fraud schemes a thing of the past.”
According to the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
From May 2015 until August 2015, a number of individuals, including all six defendants, engaged in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud others. They went to various post offices in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, where they purchased American Express, Visa, and MasterCard gift cards (“Gift Cards”). Typically, the defendants bought or attempted to buy several $500 Gift Cards at one time. The defendants purchased these Gift Cards using fraudulent credit cards. The credit cards appeared legitimate, and they were often made out in the names of the defendants. However, the credit cards were intentionally encoded with stolen bank account information. As a result, the individuals who purchased Gift Cards were not the individuals charged for the purchase; instead the victims whose bank account information had been stolen and encoded onto the fraudulent credit cards were paying for the Gift Cards, unbeknownst to them. Frequently, the stolen bank account information was for bank accounts maintained in foreign countries. In just four months, the defendants defrauded others, or attempted to defraud others, out of more than $150,000.
According to the Complaint, the defendants’ misconduct occurred at post offices throughout New York, as well as in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
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Each of the defendants is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
If you believe you were a victim of this crime, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact the Victim/Witness Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900. For additional information, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding efforts of the USPIS. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Laroche and Michael D. Neff are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Man from El Salvador pleads guilty to smuggling illegal aliens for profitRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a citizen of El Salvador pleaded guilty Monday to transporting illegal immigrants for his own profit.
Raul Alexander Soriano, 29, of El Salvador, pleaded guilty before by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of transporting illegal aliens. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi. According to the guilty plea, Border Patrol agents stopped Soriano’s vehicle on December 22, 2015, near Lake Charles. Four passengers were found in the vehicle with Soriano, and each admitted to being in the United States illegally. The passengers had paid Soriano to be transported to other areas of the United States as part of a human smuggling operation.
Soriano faces 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of August 11, 2016, was set.
United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.
Malian National Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Murder U.S. DiplomatRead the Press Release
Alhassane Ould Mohamed, aka Cheibani, 46, a citizen of Mali, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the Eastern District of New York for conspiring to murder a U.S. diplomat stationed in Niamey, Niger, in December 2000.
The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers of the Eastern District of New York and Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI New York Field Office.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, in the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2000, Mohamed and a co-conspirator accosted a group of employees of the U.S. Embassy in Niger as they left a restaurant in Niamey. Carrying a pistol and an AK-47 assault rifle, the two men approached U.S. diplomat William Bultemeier as he was about to enter his car, a white sport-utility vehicle bearing diplomatic license plates clearly indicating that it belonged to the U.S. Embassy. After demanding that Bultemeier turn over the keys to the diplomatic vehicle, the defendant and his co-conspirator shot Bultemeier and Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, the Marine Detachment Commander for the U.S. Embassy in Niger at the time, who had run to Bultemeier’s aid. Mohamed and his fellow assailant then drove away in the U.S. Embassy vehicle.
Bultemeier died of the injuries inflicted by the gunshot wounds. Staff Sergeant McNeely survived the shooting and later retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant.
“The defendant and his confederate murdered U.S. diplomat William Bultemeier in cold blood and seriously injured U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, who bravely risked his life to attempt to save his colleague,” said U.S. Attorney Capers. “Although nothing can undo the pain caused by the defendant’s violent actions, we hope the victims’ families can take some measure of solace in knowing that the defendant is being held accountable for the senseless murder of Mr. Bultemeier and the attack on Staff Sergeant McNeely. The United States takes the protection of its employees stationed overseas very seriously and will continue to work tirelessly to bring those who harm our diplomats to justice.”
“Over the past 16 years, Cheibani evaded full accountability for his murderous actions in taking the life of a U.S. Diplomat,” said Assistant Director in Charge Rodriguez. “U.S. employees working overseas understand there are certain risks in representing their government in foreign territories; however, a death sentence should not be one of them. We are extremely grateful to the governments of Niger and Mali, in helping U.S. authorities seek justice for Cheibani’s crime. FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, conducted a thorough investigation and collected the necessary evidence to substantiate today’s sentence. Our condolences to the family of Mr. Bultemeier and the families of all crime victims. FBINY will continue to work, day and night, to hold those accountable for their crimes, and prevent acts of terror against our citizens, both domestically and abroad.”
The sentencing took place before U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II of the Eastern District of New York.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin joined U.S. Attorney Capers in expressing their sincere gratitude to the members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their thorough investigation, to the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for the assistance they provided and to the governments of Niger and Mali for their substantial assistance and cooperation in connection with this investigation. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zainab Ahmad, Margaret Lee and Melody Wells of the Eastern District of New York with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Malian National Sentenced Today in Brooklyn Federal Court to 25 Years for Conspiracy to Murder A U.S. DiplomatRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Alhassane Ould Mohamed, also known as “Cheibani,” a citizen of Mali, was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, for conspiring to murder a United States diplomat stationed in Niamey, Niger, in December 2000.
The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Diego G. Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court filings and facts presented during the guilty plea proceeding, in the early morning hours of December 23, 2000, the defendant and a co-conspirator accosted a group of employees of the United States Embassy in Niger as they left a restaurant in Niamey, Niger. Carrying a pistol and an AK-47 assault rifle, the two men approached Department of Defense official William Bultemeier as he was about to enter his car, a white sport-utility vehicle bearing diplomatic license plates clearly indicating that it belonged to the United States Embassy. After demanding that Mr. Bultemeier turn over the keys to the diplomatic vehicle, the defendant and his co-conspirator shot Mr. Bultemeier and Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, the Marine Detachment Commander for the United States Embassy in Niger at the time, who had run to Mr. Bultemeier’s aid. The defendant and his fellow assailant then drove away in the United States Embassy vehicle.
Mr. Bultemeier died of the injuries inflicted by the gunshot wounds. Staff Sergeant McNeely survived the shooting and later retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant.
“The defendant and his confederate murdered U.S. diplomat William Bultemeier in cold blood and seriously injured U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, who bravely risked his life to attempt to save his colleague,” stated United States Attorney Capers. “Although nothing can undo the pain caused by the defendant’s violent actions, we hope the victims’ families can take some measure of solace in knowing that the defendant is being held accountable for the senseless murder of Mr. Bultemeier and the attack on Staff Sergeant McNeely. The United States takes the protection of its employees stationed overseas very seriously and will continue to work tirelessly to bring those who harm our diplomats to justice.” Mr. Capers expressed his sincere gratitude to the members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their thorough investigation, to the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for the assistance they provided, and to the governments of Niger and Mali for their substantial assistance and cooperation in connection with the investigation.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez stated, “Over the past 16 years, Cheibani evaded full accountability for his murderous actions in taking the life of a U.S. Diplomat. U.S. employees working overseas understand there are certain risks in representing their government in foreign territories; however, a death sentence should not be one of them. We are extremely grateful to the governments of Niger and Mali, in helping U.S. authorities seek justice for Cheibani’s crime. FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, conducted a thorough investigation and collected the necessary evidence to substantiate today’s sentence. Our condolences to the family of Mr. Bultemeier and the families of all crime victims. FBINY will continue to work, day and night, to hold those accountable for their crimes, and prevent acts of terror against our citizens, both domestically and abroad.”
Today’s sentencing took place before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Zainab Ahmad, Margaret Lee, and Melody Wells are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by the Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section and by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The Defendant:
ALHASSANE OULD MOHAMED
Age: 46E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 13-527 (WFK)
Local Pain Doctor Named in A 114 Count Indictment; Accused of Illegally Issuing Hundreds of Thousands of Prescriptions for Controlled SubstancesRead 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 a federal grand jury has returned a 114 count indictment charging Dr. Eugene Gosy, 55, of Clarence, NY, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, unlawful distribution of narcotics, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and health care fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years, a $1,000,000 fine or both.
“As alleged, this defendant took advantage of his medical license and the trust placed in him by patients, and created a highly sophisticated criminal enterprise responsible for the mass distribution of addictive prescription opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “The defendant ignored the true needs of suffering individuals, falsified his participation in required medical training, directed unqualified staff to authorize prescriptions, and supplied patients with dangerous controlled substances contra- indicated by the patient’s condition. By turning his patients into dependents, this defendant and his practice became a criminal conspiracy to convert real pain into the defendant’s own considerable profit.”
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated, “Dr. Gosy’s medical clinic is the modern day version of 19th Century opium dens responsible for fueling opioid addiction, overdoses and death. Similar to blood money, it is alleged that Dr. Gosy prescribed millions of prescription pills for no legitimate medical purpose in exchange for profit. There is an irrefutable link between the abuse of pain medication and heroin abuse which has devastated families in Buffalo and throughout our nation. This investigation was a collaboration of ongoing law enforcement efforts in
battling drug traffickers of all kinds – those with stethoscopes and those with loads of glassines.”“Gosy’s lack of concern for the health and well-being of his patients -- and their affected families and friends -- speaks volumes to his arrogance,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen. “Doctors like Gosy should work to heal the sick, not increase their patients’ pain and suffering for their own greed and personal gain.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys George C. Burgasser and Elizabeth R. Moellering, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between 2006 and the present, the defendant, a self-described pain management doctor, distributed controlled substances, such as fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone for reasons other than legitimate medical purposes. The defendant is accused specifically of illegally prescribing the controlled substances in return for payments from patients and insurance companies.
The indictment alleges that defendant attracted and thereafter maintained repeat visits by his patients by operating his pain management clinic in a variety of manners contrary to accepted medical practice. These methods included:
• issuing prescriptions for controlled substances to patients despite obvious indications that the patients were abusing and misusing the medications; • falsifying completion of training requirements, including Continuing
Medical Education courses, Worker’s Compensation training and Infectious Disease Control training, by directing office staff to complete online courses for him; • signing blank prescriptions and directing and permitting others who were unqualified to fill out the remaining required information, such as name of patient, drug, and dosage; • creating and utilizing a telephonic patient prescription renewal process which allowed persons to obtain controlled substances prescriptions from individuals not medically trained or certified to do so, and without adequate medical review; • prescribing a highly regulated controlled substance (buprenorphine) under the cover of pain management to circumvent federal regulations limiting the number of patients that any given doctor may treat (100 patients).In addition, between 2010 and December 2015, the defendant is accused of defrauding insurance companies who paid New York State Workers’ Compensation claims, including the New York State Insurance Fund. The allegations center upon
occasions when Gosy traveled outside the Buffalo area but nevertheless submitted and purported to electronically sign claims for the treatment of patients provided by other staff members.The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Western New York Health Care Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott Lampert, the Army National Guard - New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, under the direction of Lt. Col. Nicholas Dean, the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent, the New York State Office of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General, under the direction of Inspector General Cathy Leahy Scott and the New York State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Lewis County man sentenced to five years in Federal prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Lewis County man was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for a child pornography crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Derrick Young, 33, of Weston, previously pleaded guilty in February 2016 to possessing images and videos of child pornography.
Young admitted that on May 21, 2014, he possessed images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual acts. Young possessed over 3,000 images and over 700 videos containing child pornography. The images and videos were contained on his computer and personal cell phone at his former residence located in Nallen in Nicholas County. The computer and cell phones on which Young stored the child pornography were ordered to be destroyed.
Young’s sentence was further enhanced because he traded the images with others to increase his supply of child pornography. He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
The Department of Homeland Security and the West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.
This case is being brought as part of an ongoing initiative by the United States Attorney’s Office to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the Southern District of West Virginia.
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Lee County Man Sentenced to Four Years for Theft of Government Money and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced George Joyner, III (36) to four years in federal prison for theft of government money and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered Joyner to pay $169,456.90 in restitution to the United States Department of the Treasury.
According to court documents, on August 10, 2013, Joyner was arrested for driving with a suspended license. Prior to the car being towed from the scene, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department conducted an inventory of Joyner’s vehicle and found a laptop, various digital media storage devices, two credit card readers, a credit card encoder, credit card blanks, and several pieces of paper containing the personally identifiable information (PII) of others. The officers obtained a search warrant for Joyner’s electronic media. Subsequent forensic analyses of the media revealed a spreadsheet containing the PII of 163 individuals.
In December 2011, Joyner had opened an account at Regions Bank with a $100 deposit. Five U.S. Treasury tax refund checks, totaling $41,184.31, were deposited into the account later that month. Joyner also had an account at Wells Fargo bank. Between October and November 2011, he deposited 17 tax refund checks, totaling $128,272.59, into that account.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Fort Myers Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
Lawsuit Filed Against South Philadelphia Tap Room Owners for Violating Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – A lawsuit was filed yesterday against John Longacre, his companies, and the South Philadelphia Tap Room at 1509 Mifflin Street, which he owns, for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The lawsuit is the first to be brought as a result of the Philadelphia Restaurants ADA Compliance Review that was undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in March 2015, in an effort to evaluate the ADA compliance of 25 of the most popular and frequented restaurants in Philadelphia. The lawsuit also names Longacre Holdings, LLC, LPMG Management Company, LPMG Construction Management, LPMG Financial, Longacre Property Management Group, and Citywide Properties One.
The Complaint alleges that the South Philadelphia Tap Room is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination due to numerous alleged violations of the ADA. These violations pertain to the restaurant’s entrance and restrooms. The owners and operators of the South Philadelphia Tap Room did not respond to multiple communications from the U.S. Attorney’s Office informing them of the accessibility barriers that exist in the restaurant.
“The purpose of the Compliance Review was to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to area restaurants,” said Memeger. “Such an initiative is important in a city like Philadelphia that is widely known for its vibrant restaurant scene. As alleged, neither the ADA, nor the warnings from this Office were enough to convince the South Philadelphia Tap Room to comply with the law, and the goal of this lawsuit is to see that they finally do.”
The Philadelphia Restaurant ADA Compliance Review is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, and by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Crutchlow.
Lancaster County Man Charged in Tax Fraud IndictmentRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - James Kerr Schlosser, 59, of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, was charged today by Indictment with engaging in corrupt endeavors to impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue Code, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Schlosser is also charged with willfully failing to file federal income tax returns and to prevent the Internal Revenue Service from learning that he had earned income which should have reported to the United States Treasury.
The indictment alleges since 1995, Schlosser, a manufacturer’s representative for companies that sold medical equipment and surgical devices to various health care providers, stopped filing federal income tax returns. Along with attempting to revoke his American citizenship and social security number, Schlosser also declared himself to be a Sovereign Human Being thus making himself not subject to federal income taxation even though he earned income.
To conceal the income that he had earned, Schlosser attempted to assign his income to multiple foreign business trusts and corporate soles which he created and registered with the Nevada Secretary of State. In order to obtain possession of the income, Schlosser entered into contracts with Nevada-based mailing forwarding services who caused the income, that had been sent to the foreign trusts and corporate soles, to be forwarded to Schlosser in Pennsylvania or other individuals who Schlosser had convinced to serve as trustees for one or more of the foreign business trusts.
Upon receipt of the income, Schlosser and the trustees deposited the money into non-interest earning investment accounts that Schlosser had established at two investment companies in an effort to keep the investment companies from issuing IRS Form 1099-INT to the Internal Revenue Service. To further conceal his receipt of income, Schlosser purchased gold coins from at least four coin dealers which he then reconverted into cash through multiple purchases and sold in furtherance of his scheme to conceal the income that he had received.
If convicted, Schlosser faces a substantial period of incarceration, a fine, and a special assessment. The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Health Products Company and Owners Sentenced for Smuggling Seal Oil and Dietary Supplements into the United States from ChinaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A couple from Walnut, California and two of their import and distribution companies have been sentenced after previously pleading guilty to a wide variety of criminal activity, including smuggling Harp Seal oil into the United States from China, falsely classifying goods to avoid import duties, and importing mislabeled food into the United States from China.
Lynn Leung, 61, the former president and co-owner of the UBF Group, Inc., doing business as the Nu-Health Products Company, was ordered yesterday to serve five years of probation, which will include one year of home detention. Leung was also ordered by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer to pay a $20,000 fine. Additionally, Leung was banned from working as a manager, officer or director of any business entity – including her own family companies – for a period of five years.
Daniel Fu, 65, Leung’s husband and the former vice-president of UBF Group, Inc., was also sentenced Monday to five years of probation, ordered to spend six months under home detention and fined $20,000. During the period of probation, Fu is also banned from working as a manager, officer or director of any business entity – including his own family companies.
Leung and Fu jointly owned and operated a number of local dietary supplement import and distribution companies doing business as the Nu-Health Products Company, including UBF Group, Inc. and ASN Group, Inc.
Judge Fischer also sentenced UBF Group, Inc. yesterday, ordering it to pay a total monetary penalty of $1.29 million. The company was ordered to pay a $230,000 fine, to forfeit $941,000 in proceeds derived from criminal activity, and to pay $119,000 in restitution to the United States Customs and Border Protection agency for import duties it avoided as a result of the criminal scheme.
ASN Group, Inc., also on Monday was sentenced to pay a $30,000 criminal fine and ordered to implement a compliance program designed to insure compliance with all relevant United States Food and Drug Act requirements and regulations.
Leung and Fu previously pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded food into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead. The “food” at issue consisted of millions of capsules of honey bee royal jelly – dietary supplements that were falsely and misleadingly described in import records as “aloe vera.” The mislabeled dietary supplements were purchased from UBF Group, Inc.’s supplier in China, the Sirio Pharma Company, Ltd. Both Leung and Fu admitted that the royal jelly was falsely described in import and export documents because Sirio Pharma lacked regulatory certificates required for export of the honey bee products from China.
“Laws protecting wildlife are also designed to protect consumers, who deserve to know that products are legally obtained and do not pose a threat to their health,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Prosecutions like this one demonstrate the commitment of my office and our partner regulatory agencies to stop crimes motivated by greed that threaten our environment."
UBF Group, Inc. previously pleaded guilty to two felonies, specifically smuggling 4 million capsules of Harp Seal oil into the United States (the shipments were falsely labeled as fish oil) and smuggling falsely classified Chinese goods into the United State to avoid payment of import duties. Harp Seals are protected by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which forbids importation of any seals or seal parts, except for scientific or educational purposes. By falsely classifying the value of its imported products on customs documents, UBF Group, Inc. avoided payment of at least $119,000 in import duties legally owed on its Chinese merchandise.
ASN Group, Inc. previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of introducing mislabeled food into interstate and foreign commerce.
The Chinese supplier, Sirio Pharma Company, previously pleaded guilty in this case to wildlife trafficking and was ordered to pay $500,000 in monetary fines and penalties. Sirio Pharma admitted that employees of the Nu-Health Products Company asked Sirro Pharma to falsely label certain products, including Harp Seal oil and honey bee products, and invoice its shipments of various dietary products in a manner that helped the Nu-Health Products Company to disguise the true cost of the products and their true description.
“This case is victory for protected species everywhere,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Taking enforcement actions against those who violate the laws protecting marine species will always be a top enforcement priority.”
This case was investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Office of Law Enforcement, the United States Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation.
Greenbrier County man pleads guilty to Federal crime involving oxycodoneRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Greenbrier County man pleaded guilty today to a federal crime involving the distribution of oxycodone, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Ronald Ray McMillion, 63, of Renick, entered his guilty plea to interstate travel to facilitate an unlawful activity.
McMillion admitted that in February 2014, he traveled from Renick to the Baltimore area to obtain oxycodone pills, and that he then traveled back to Renick and sold some of the pills. He further admitted that he had sold oxycodone in Greenbrier County both before and after that trip.
McMillion faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on August 17, 2016.
The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.
This prosecution is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Gang Member with Prior Felony Conviction Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm That He SoldRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A convicted felon and member of the 92nd Street Hoover Crips gang has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm – a .22-caliber revolver that he sold.
James “Walter” Hayward, 33, of South Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald Monday afternoon after pleading guilty to the offense in February.
Hayward had been convicted of five felony charges in state court prior to being charged in the federal case.
When he pleaded guilty, Hayward admitted that he sold the revolver in exchange for at least $175.
“Illicit firearms trafficking poses a great danger to the community,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “This defendant’s conduct could have put innocent lives at risk.”
After he concludes his prison sentence, Hayward will serve three years of supervised release.
This case was part of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric Harden said, “ATF works proactively to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons in an effort to make our communities a safer place to live.”
Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Mark Darnell Peeples, age 31, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and to aggravated identity theft. Peeples is the fourth defendant to plead guilty to a scheme in which the defendants deposited counterfeit checks, drawn on the accounts of identity theft victims, into bank accounts opened by the defendants in the name of shell companies. The defendants then withdrew the funds before the fraud could be detected.
Lead defendant Monika Michelle Hill, age 36, of Baltimore and Cockeysville, Maryland, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2016, to three counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and to committing these offenses while on pre-trial release in another fraud case. Alysia Samon Rascoe, age 26, of Baltimore pleaded guilty on April 18, 2016 to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and to aggravated identity theft. Christopher Vance McKoy, age 24, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty April 20, 2016, to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Brian Murphy of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to their plea agreements, between March 2013 and July 2014, Hill, Rascoe, McKoy, Peeples, and others opened 22 business bank accounts online, using the personal identifying information of identity theft victims. The bank accounts were funded using forged checks bearing the bank account numbers and forged signatures of other identity theft victims.
For example, Grant U Pleasure, LLC and Kersey’s Recovery, LLC were registered with the State of Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation as businesses on March 12, 2014 and May 19, 2014, respectively. Each of the businesses listed an identity theft victim as the managing member/owner, and used that person’s social security number and date of birth to open online bank accounts for the business. The bank accounts listed the identity theft victim as the sole authorized signer on the account. Shortly thereafter, the co-conspirators deposited counterfeit checks into the accounts, and withdrew the funds before the fraudulent checks were detected.
Specifically, beginning on March 25, 2014, 31 counterfeit checks totaling $51,490 were deposited into three business banks accounts opened online in the name of Grant U Pleasure. A total of $52,433 was drawn out of those accounts by checks being cashed against funds in the accounts. All of the deposited counterfeit checks were from an account belonging to three identity theft victims. Hill deposited three of the counterfeit checks and Peeples deposited four counterfeit checks, each bearing the forged signature of a victim account owner. Once the counterfeit checks were deposited, Hill provided checks to Rascoe, Peeples, and others from the Grant U Pleasure accounts. The checks were made out to them in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $1,800, and bore the forged signature of the purported managing member/owner of Grant U Pleasure. Rascoe and Peeples cashed the checks, providing their driver’s licenses, fingerprints and signatures. They typically kept about $200 of the proceeds for themselves and provided the rest to Hill and others.
Similarly, between June 3 and 5, 2014, eight counterfeit checks totaling $13,810 were deposited into the Kersey’s Recovery bank accounts. Hill deposited four counterfeit checks, including on June 4, 2014, immediately after entering her guilty plea in a separate federal fraud case, and while she was on pretrial release. Hill then provided McKoy and others checks from the Kersey’s Recovery accounts that were made out to them in amounts ranging from $1,200 to $1,400, and bore the forged signature of the purported managing member/owner of Kersey’s Recovery. After cashing the checks, McKoy and others received between $150 and $400, and provided the balance to Hill.
The loss to the bank as a result of the scheme was $179,808.76, the amount actually withdrawn. The intended loss was $233,190.02, the total amount of the counterfeit checks deposited.
Peeples and Rascoe each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit ban fraud, and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Peeples on August 23, 2016 and for Rascoe on July 20, 2016, both at 2:30 p.m.
Hill, McKoy and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts their plea agreements Hill will be sentenced to 10 years in prison and McKoy will be sentenced to between 21 and 27 months in prison. Judge Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Hill on June 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. and for McKoy on July 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
Today’s announcement is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the U.S. Secret Service and Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the case.
Former Rocky Hill Resident Charged with Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging MARYANNE STEPHENS, 68, of Ireland, formerly of Rocky Hill, Conn., with bank fraud, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft offenses stemming from a scheme to steal Social Security retirement benefits that had been deposited into her deceased mother-in-law’s bank account.
The indictment was returned on September 18, 2012, and was unsealed on April 20, 2016, when STEPHENS was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. STEPHENS appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
STEPHENS’ mother-in-law died in October 1998. The indictment alleges that from approximately March 2004 to December 2010, STEPHENS forged the signature of her mother-in-law on bank checks in order to fraudulently obtain funds held in her mother-in-law’s bank account, including Social Security retirement benefits that were deposited into the account after STEPHENS’ mother-in-law had died.
Approximately $200,000 in Social Security benefits were deposited into STEPHEN’s mother-in-law’s bank account after she died.
If convicted, STEPHENS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years for bank fraud, a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years for theft of public money, and a mandatory, consecutive two-year term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.
STEPHENS has surrendered her passport and is released on a $200,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
Former Chief Digital Officer of Premium Entertainment Network Charged with $8 Million FraudRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that EMIL RENSING, former chief digital officer at a premium entertainment network, was arrested this morning on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges resulting from a scheme in which RENSING used companies he owned and controlled to fraudulently obtain from his former employer approximately $8 million for services that were, in large part, never performed. RENSING was presented today in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Emil Rensing abused the trust of his employer, hiding behind false and stolen identities, and submitting fraudulent invoices for millions of dollars of services never performed. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, Rensing’s alleged scheme has been uncovered.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said: “Greed clouds people’s judgment, so much so that in this case Rensing allegedly used his friends’ names in a scheme to steal money from his employers. This isn’t a case of an employee keeping the change after getting coffee for the office, Rensing is accused of stealing $8 million from the company that hired him.”
According to the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
EMIL RENSING, who was Chief Digital Officer of a premium movie network (the “Network”), defrauded the Network out of more than $8 million over five years. As Chief Digital Officer of the Network, RENSING caused the Network to contract with at least two vendor companies owned and controlled by RENSING (the “RENSING Companies”) to perform digital media services for the Network. In addition, the agreements between the RENSING Companies and the Network specified which personnel at the RENSING Companies were to perform the services for the Network. In truth and in fact, however, the promised services were, in large part, never performed by the RENSING Companies, and the vendor personnel designated in the contracts to perform the services – who included several of RENSING’s former professional associates and business partners – had never heard of the vendors or performed services for the Network. These individuals were unaware that their names were being used by RENSING in this manner.
RENSING concealed his fraudulent scheme by, among other things, using false and stolen identities to hide his own involvement. As to one of the vendors RENSING used to perpetrate the scheme (“Vendor-1”), RENSING provided the Network with a false name and e-mail address as the “contact” to be used by the Network to communicate with Vendor-1. As to a second RENSING Company, (“Vendor-2”), RENSING provided the Network with the name of a personal acquaintance as a “project manager” and “contact” for Vendor-2 when, in truth and in fact, this acquaintance had nothing to do with Vendor-2. Unbeknownst to this personal acquaintance, RENSING also established an e-mail account in that acquaintance’s name that RENSING, posing as the acquaintance, used regularly to communicate with the Network about the vendor’s billing and other administrative matters.
After the Network learned of RENSING’s fraudulent scheme, RENSING was interviewed by attorneys for the Network. During this interview, which was recorded at the request of RENSING and his counsel, RENSING lied to further conceal his fraudulent scheme.
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RENSING, 42, of Manhattan, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to run consecutively with any other term of imprisonment imposed. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are 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.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Elisha Kobre is 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.
Federal and State Authorities Charge 11 Men with Trading Child Pornography through Use of Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing ProgramsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Concluding a three-year investigation, authorities today arrested 11 defendants who are accused of using peer-to-peer file-sharing programs to receive and possess – and, in some cases, distribute – child pornography.
The arrests are the results of eight indictments filed in United States District Court and three cases filed by local prosecutors.
Today’s arrests are part of Operation “Wide Net,” an investigation conducted by the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. ICAC includes special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service, who work in conjunction with local law enforcement partners, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The Long Beach Police Department and the California Highway Patrol assisted in today’s operation.
Over the past three years, Operation Wide Net has resulted in a total of more than 80 defendants being prosecuted for child pornography offenses and the execution of over 100 federal and state search warrants in the Los Angeles area.
Those arrested today include Luis Gutierrez, 49, of Chino, who was previously indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography obtained through the use of the Ares file-sharing program. Gutierrez was an engineer with the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 2013 at the time of the alleged offenses, and investigators believe that he used Internet connections at three different fire stations to download the child pornography found on his computer.
Gerald Patrick Beaver, 53, of Cerritos, was also arrested today based on law enforcement operations in New Zealand and Oklahoma in which undercover officers allegedly observed him offering to distribute child pornography over the Internet using the Gigatribe file-sharing program. A federal grand jury previously indicted Beaver and charged him with one count of advertising child pornography, two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. When a search was executed at Beaver’s home, authorities allegedly found more than 6,000 images and more than 400 videos of child pornography on his computer.
“Those who trade in child pornography inflict great harm on the most vulnerable in our society by re-victimizing the children in the existing pornography as well as by fueling a market that requires new child victims,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Operation Wide Net and the scores of other child exploitation cases brought every year by my office demonstrate the Department of Justice’s dual commitments to prosecuting these offenders and to preventing the further abuse of children.”
“The children depicted in these images that were illegally shared are victimized time and time again,” said Jim Struyk, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s announcement illustrates the prevalence of this crime and law enforcement actions should send a message that peer-to-peer networks do not shield criminals from prosecution.”
Six other defendants were arrested this morning as a result of federal indictments obtained as part of Operation Wide Net. They are:
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Jace Jeanes, 39, of Torrance, is charged with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography that he allegedly obtained using the BitTorrent file-sharing program. Jeanes allegedly possessed more than 20,000 images and videos of child pornography on computer equipment found during a search of his residence.
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Steven David Lavinsky, 58, of Long Beach, is charged in a three-count indictment with advertising, distributing and possessing child pornography in a case involving the Gigatribe file-sharing program.
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Kenneth Martin Medellin, 55, of Carson, is charged with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography using the Limewire file-sharing program.
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Antonio Joseph Garcia II, 41, of Upland, is charged with four counts of distributing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and two counts of possessing child pornography. In addition to peer to peer file sharing, Garcia also allegedly sent and received child pornography by e-mail.
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Michael Brian Perry, 37, of Pasadena, is charged in a three-count indictment that accuses him of advertising, distributing and possessing child pornography.
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Curtis Audun Larssen, 33, of Los Angeles, is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography using the Ares file-sharing program.
The eight federal defendants arrested today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
“File-sharing software has become increasingly popular with collectors and producers of child pornography because they mistakenly believe the technology shields them and their reprehensible criminal acts from detection,” said Mark Selby, acting special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “But as today’s arrests make clear, cyberspace affords these predators no refuge from justice. HSI, together with its law enforcement partners, will continue to use every tool and resource at our disposal to pursue those who prey on and wantonly exploit the most vulnerable among us.”
As part of Operation Wide Net, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged three defendants in Los Angeles Superior Court with possession of child pornography. The three state court defendants – Michael Becerra, 30, of Long Beach; Cristian Carrasco, 23, of Compton; and Andre Desire Loustau, 71, of Van Nuys – were also taken into custody this morning.
Recently, as part of Operation Wide Net, prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office charged two other defendants, who are:
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James Breton Butler, 51, of Sherman Oaks, who has agreed to plead guilty to possession of child pornography, admitting that “he possessed several hundred thousand images of child pornography, as well as more than 20,000 videos of child pornography” obtained through the Ares file-sharing program. In a plea agreement filed yesterday, Butler agreed to plead guilty prior to being indicted. Butler will make his initial appearance in federal court next month.
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David John Gastelum, 53, of Palmdale, was arrested on March 10 after being named in an indictment that charges him with two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography using the Ares file-sharing program. Gastelum has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial on August 9.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The charge of advertising child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years. Distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography each carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 or 20 years in federal prison, depending on the nature of the images the defendant possessed.
President Barack Obama has declared April 2016 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, during which “we recommit to giving every child a chance to succeed and to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that is free from abuse and neglect.”
Last month, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch released the 2016 National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction (http://go.usa.gov/cuWMR). The strategy provides a comprehensive threat assessment of the nature and scope of the current dangers facing our nation’s children, including child pornography offenses, sextortion and live-streaming of child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, child sex tourism and sex offense registry violations.
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Federal Court Orders Seizure of 67 Website Domains Involved in Smuggling and Selling Misbranded and Counterfeit Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles today announced that Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations have executed seizure orders against 67 domain names of commercial websites engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit and prescription drugs. The seized domains are in the custody of the federal government. Visitors to the sites will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities for violations of federal laws against smuggling and trademark misuse.
The domain names are subject to forfeiture under federal forfeiture laws that afford individuals who have an interest in the seized domain names a period of time after the “Notice of Seizure” to file a petition with a federal court and additional time after the “Notice of Forfeiture” to contest the forfeiture. If no petitions or claims are filed, the domain names become property of the U.S. government.
Said Nettles: “It’s important for consumers to understand the significant risks involved in purchasing pharmaceutical drugs from these websites. The generic versions of these prescription drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and cannot be distributed in the United States legally. To be safe and effective, prescription drugs must be taken under the care and supervision of appropriate health care professionals; not purchased off the internet from unknown and unregulated foreign sources.”
The case was investigated by Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Klumb is assigned to handle the forfeiture.
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Estonian Cybercriminal Sentenced for Infecting 4 Million Computers in 100 Countries with Malware in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that VLADIMIR TSASTSIN was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to more than seven years in prison for perpetrating a massive internet fraud scheme by infecting more than four million computers in over 100 countries with malware. The malware secretly altered the settings on infected computers, enabling TSASTSIN and his co-conspirators to digitally hijack users’ Internet searches and re-route their computers to certain websites and advertisements. As a result, the defendants received millions of dollars in fees from advertisers who paid the defendants to bring customers to their websites or ads, but were unaware that the defendants did so by digitally hijacking victims’ computers. The malware also prevented the installation of anti-virus software and operating system updates on millions of infected computers, leaving those computers and their users unable to detect or stop the malware, and exposing them to attacks by other malware. On July 8, 2015, TSASTSIN pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan sentenced TSASTSIN earlier today.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Vladimir Tsastin was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for his role in a massive fraud scheme, which victimized more than four million Internet users in 100 countries. By falsely collecting advertising fees for every ‘click’ their victims made, Tsastsin and his co-conspirators collected over $14 million. Together with our law enforcement partners all over the globe, this Office will continue to investigate and prosecute sophisticated cyber frauds.”
According to the Indictment and other court documents previously filed in the case and statements made in court proceedings:
From 2007 until October 2011, TSASTSIN and co-defendants Andrey Taame, Timur Gerassimenko, Dmitri Jegorov, Valeri Aleksejev, Konstantin Poltev, and Anton Ivanov controlled and operated various companies that masqueraded as legitimate publisher networks (the “Publisher Networks”) in the Internet advertising industry. The Publisher Networks entered into agreements with ad brokers under which they were paid based on the number of times Internet users clicked on the links for certain websites or advertisements, or based on the number of times certain advertisements were displayed on certain websites. Thus, the more traffic that went to the advertisers’ websites and display ads, the more money the defendants earned under their agreements with the ad brokers. The defendants fraudulently increased the traffic to the websites and advertisements that would earn them money and made it appear to advertisers that the Internet traffic came from legitimate “clicks” and ad displays on the defendants’ Publisher Networks when, in actuality, it had not.
To carry out the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators used dozens of “rogue” Domain Name System (“DNS”) servers and malware (“the Malware”) designed to alter the DNS server settings on infected computers. Victims’ computers became infected with the Malware when they visited certain websites or downloaded certain software to view videos online. The Malware altered the DNS server settings on victims’ computers to route the infected computers to rogue DNS servers controlled and operated by the defendants and their co-conspirators. The re-routing took two forms that are described below: “click hijacking” and “advertising replacement fraud” (together, “click fraud”). The Malware also prevented the infected computers from receiving anti-virus software updates or operating system updates that otherwise might have detected the Malware and stopped it. In addition, the infected computers were left vulnerable to infections by other malware.
Click Hijacking
When the user of an infected computer clicked on a search result link displayed through a search engine query, the Malware caused the computer to be re-routed to a different website. Instead of being brought to the website to which the user asked to go, the user was brought to a website designated by the defendants. Each “click” triggered payment to the defendants under their advertising agreements. This click hijacking occurred for clicks by users on unpaid links that appeared in response to a user’s query as well as clicks on "sponsored” links or advertisements that appeared in response to a user’s query – often at the top of, or to the right of, the search results – thus causing the search engines to lose money. For example, when the user of an infected computer clicked on the domain name link for the official website of Apple-iTunes, the user was instead taken to a website for a business unaffiliated with Apple Inc. that purported to sell Apple software. The advertisers who paid for such Internet traffic to their websites were never told that the traffic consisted of hijacked clicks and that the visitors had not intended to visit their websites.
Advertising Replacement Fraud
In the advertisement replacement scheme, using their DNS Changer Malware and rogue DNS servers, the defendants replaced legitimate advertisements on websites, without the paying advertisers’ knowledge or consent, with substituted advertisements that triggered payments to themselves. For example, when the user of an infected computer visited the home page of The Wall Street Journal, a featured advertisement for American Express had been fraudulently replaced with an ad for “Fashion Girl LA,” which triggered a payment to the defendants from another advertiser.
To acquire the online infrastructure for the fraudulent scheme, enter into contracts to sell Internet traffic, and launder the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme, Tsastsin and his co-defendants created and controlled over a dozen front companies located and/or registered in the United States, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, the Republic of Seychelles, England, and Cyprus. At the time of his arrest, TSASTSIN, assisted by his co-defendants, operated approximately 50 rogue DNS servers located in New York City and additional ones at a data center in Chicago. Each of the rogue servers contained approximately two hard drives; the larger hard drives received as many as 3,000 fraudulent “clicks,” or DNS resolution requests, per second, while the smaller servers received several hundred requests per second.
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In addition to the 87-month prison term, TSASTSIN, 35, of Tartu, Estonia, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $2.5 million and pay a $200 special assessment. In imposing sentence, Judge Kaplan described TSASTSIN’s crimes as “brazen, sophisticated, and outrageous.”
On July 27, 2015, Gerassimenko, Jegorov, and Poltev were sentenced to 48 months, 44 months, and 40 months in prison, respectively. Aleksejev was sentenced on October 30, 2013, to 48 months in prison. Ivanov was sentenced on July 25, 2014, to time served. Judge Kaplan also entered orders against each defendant forfeiting his criminal proceeds and the electronic and online infrastructure used to perpetrate their fraudulent scheme. The last defendant, Taame, who is a Russian national, remains at large.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Office of the Inspector General, and the Estonian Central Criminal Police. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance with the extraditions.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Lai is in charge of the prosecution. Alexander Wilson, Deputy Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, is in charge of the forfeiture aspects of the case.
Elyria man sentenced to nine years in prison, latest effort between Lorain County and federal law enforcementRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was sentenced to more than nine years in prison for a firearms violation, said Acting U.S. States Attorney Carole S. Rendon and Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely.
Steve Hamilton, 24, was sentenced to 110 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hamilton pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, specifically a Heritage MFG “Rough Rider” .22 Caliber revolver. Hamilton had been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses which would prohibit him from possessing a firearm and ammunition, according to court documents.
Hamilton used the firearm and a knife to threaten his then-girlfriend in Elyria. When Elyria police officers arrived at the scene, Hamilton did not immediately comply with their commands and ultimately the knife and the firearm were found concealed on him. Hamilton stated to the arresting officers that he “...should have shot it out with you guys”. Hamilton later said that he should have choked out the police officers and identified himself as a Heartless Felon and should have shot it out with the officers. He continued and stated: "I’m a threat and you . . . better watch out when I get out . . . I’m going to shoot one of you in the head,” according to court documents
This prosecution of a violent felon possessing a firearm is just one of multiple prosecutions the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio is engaged in with local Lorain County law enforcement. These prosecutions represent a coordinated effort on behalf of the federal and state partners to hold accountable these individuals who all have significant prior firearm and or drug charges and have continued to possess firearms and/or sell drugs in Lorain County.
Recent cases from Lorain County prosecuted in federal court include the following:
Jason Vasquez, 37 of Lorain, was indicted by the grand jury in a multiple count federal conspiracy indictment for the distribution of heroin in Lorain County. He was also charged with being in possession of a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of felony offenses which would prohibit him from possessing a firearm. Vasquez was out on bond from Lorain County Court of Common Pleas when he committed the new offense. Vasquez was believed to be a major source of heroin and fentanyl in the Lorain County area. Vazquez has entered pleas of guilty and will be sentenced on May 27, 2016. He is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
Anetaeus Spencer, 33, of Lorain, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and several firearms, namely: a Rohm Arms 7.62 x 39 mm. rifle, a Taurus “Judge” .45LC/410GA revolve, a Smith and Wesson pistol, a Keltec .380 handgun, and a Mossberg 12 gage shotgun. Spencer had been previously convicted of felony offenses which would prohibit him from possessing a firearm and ammunition. Spencer also sold quantities of crack and heroin, and had several thousand dollars on his person at the time of his arrest, according to court documents. Spencer was out on bond from Lorain County Court of Common Pleas when he committed the new offense. He has entered pleas of guilty and will be sentenced on June 2, 2016. He is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Calvin L. Williams, 32, of Elyria, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a weapon, namely a Glock 9 mm. handgun. Williams also has pending state drug cases and was previously convicted of felony offenses which would prohibit him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williams was out on bond from Lorain County Court of Common Pleas at the time of the most recent offense. Williams has entered pleas of guilty and will be sentenced on June 2, 2016.
Octavious Smith, 37, of Elyria, was indicted on one count of possessing a 9 mm. firearm and distributing quantities of heroin and crack cocaine in Lorain County. Smith had been previously convicted of felony offenses which would prohibit him from possessing a firearm and ammunition. Smith was out on bond from Lorain County Court of Common Pleas when he committed the new offense. This case is pending
Each defendant had at least one previous felony conviction, rendering them ineligible to possess a firearm.
In prior cases the United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted multiple Lorain County residents who ran afoul of gun and drug laws in cooperation with local law enforcement.
These previous cases include but are not limited to the following:
Jeremy Mack, 38, of Elyria, human trafficking, drug crimes and obstruction of justice after forcing four females, including a 16-year-old girl, to have sex for money. Mack was sentenced to life in prison.
Siarres Noble, 29, of Elyria was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl, including fentanyl that caused the death of an Elyria resident last year.
Anthony Paul Montoy, 40, of Elyria and Fred Alston, 60, of Elyria were convicted of conspiracy to distribute kilograms of cocaine in the Lorain County area. Montoy was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and Alston was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison.
Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates Announces Family-Friendly Prison Policies to Strengthen Inmate-Familial BondsRead the Press Release
NOTE: The prepared remarks for the Deputy Attorney General are attached as a PDF.
National Reentry Week Initiatives Aimed at Children of Incarcerated Parents and Enhancing Communication and Coordination Between Inmates and Family Members
As part of National Reentry Week, Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates today announced several family-friendly initiatives aimed at strengthening the bonds between inmates and their children and families. The Deputy Attorney General also announced the launch of a new reentry hotline for returning citizens seeking help navigating life outside prison.
The announcement was made following the Deputy Attorney General’s visit to the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) female facility in Bryan, Texas, and a subsequent stop at Santa Maria Hostel, a residential reentry center for women in Houston.
The family-friendly initiatives announced and highlighted by the Deputy Attorney General include expanding video-conferencing visitation; a pilot program that engages children of incarcerated parents in positive youth development activities; guidance and training for BOP staff on how to make visitation spaces more child friendly and interact with children in a developmentally appropriate way; educating inmates on how to keep in contact with children who may be in foster care; tip sheets for parents, correctional staff and mentors to support children of incarcerated parents; and a new interagency partnership to develop model policies that can be used by state and local prison facilities to help strengthen family ties.
In addition to the department’s efforts to promote family engagement, the Deputy Attorney General announced the launch of the first ever reentry hotline (1‐877‐895‐9196) for individuals who have been released from federal custody and their families. The hotline, which opened this week, will aid returning citizens who need help finding government and private resources to aid their successful reentry. That includes help in determining how to get a copy of their birth certificate, where to start a job search and where to find legal aid service providers, among other crucial resources. The Deputy Attorney General toured the hotline’s control center during her visit to the BOP facility in Bryan today. The hotline is staffed by female inmates working for Federal Prison Industries, BOP’s largest reentry program.
“Assisting inmates in maintaining family relationships while they are in prison is not only good for the individuals returning from prison and their families, it’s good for the community as well, because when a person has a strong support system when they are released, they are less likely to re-offend,” said Deputy Attorney General Yates. “Doing everything we can to equip inmates to be successful when they leave prison, including assisting them in maintaining family relationships, is one of the most important things we can do for the safety of our communities.”
As laid out yesterday in Principle III of the Attorney General’s “Roadmap to Reentry,” research shows that close and positive family relationships reduce recidivism, improve an individual’s likelihood of finding and keeping a job after leaving prison and ease the harm to family members separated from their loved ones. To help ensure that all returning citizens have a robust support system, prisons must have significant opportunities for family engagement.
The BOP initiatives announced and highlighted by the Deputy Attorney General today include:
- Expansion of the pilot program that provides video services for visitation to all of BOP’s female facilities by June 2016 and development of an implementation plan to expand the video services visitation program to all of BOP’s facilities.
- A children of incarcerated parents pilot program at four BOP facilities. BOP is working with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on this pilot program, which engages children of incarcerated parents in positive youth development activities and includes their parents in these activities. The programs are scheduled to begin in June 2016, following the awarding of $1.3 million in grant funding to service providers last September. Facilities chosen for the pilot are in Connecticut, New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
- Development of “best practices” guidance and training for BOP staff regarding interacting with children in a developmentally appropriate way during visitation and creating visiting spaces at BOP facilities that are welcoming to children. Specifically, wardens will be encouraged to consider the potential stress and anxiety some children experience when visiting their incarcerated parents. The suggested best practices include making waiting areas and children’s centers child-friendly and encouraging positive conversations between prison staff and children visitors.
The Deputy Attorney General also announced and highlighted three interagency initiatives developed to support incarcerated parents and their children:
- Guide for Incarcerated Parents who have Children in the Child Welfare System. This guide, co-authored by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and BOP, is a resource to help incarcerated parents who have children in foster care better understand how the child welfare system works so that they can stay in touch with their children and stay involved in decisions regarding their children's well-being. The guide offers best practices on how to communicate with social workers, information about federal child welfare laws and where to find additional assistance.
- Educational “tip sheets” to support children of incarcerated parents. The department-funded and HHS-managed children of incarcerated parents website on youth.gov released yesterday three new “tip sheets” focused on providing easy and practical information to support children who have parents in the criminal justice system. The tip sheets include:
- Tips for incarcerated parents. This resource will provide strategies for parents to help them prepare their child for visiting a prison facility in order to make the experience less intimidating and more positive. It includes information about child development, ways to prepare in order to reduce possible stress and trauma and suggested family-friendly activities;
- Tips for correctional staff and volunteers. This resource provides tips to correctional staff and volunteers about positive child interaction during prison visits. It includes information on how child development may be impacted by parental incarceration and provides strategies on how to support positive communication to mitigate some of the stress of visiting; and
- Tips for mentors. This resource provides mentors working with children of incarcerated parents with information about the unique challenges this population of children may face and how they may be able to better support the mentor-child relationship with this unique context in mind.
- New partnership to develop model family strengthening policies for states and localities. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Corrections and HHS are partnering to support a $1 million effort to develop family strengthening policies that can be implemented in state and local correctional facilities in order to reduce the traumatic impact of parental incarceration on children. Model policies may include, but are not limited to: child development training for correctional staff; family-friendly visiting policies and procedures; parenting programming offered in correctional facilities; family reunification and/or reentry planning; and other issues that impact incarcerated parents and their children.
Department of Justice Launched Inaugural National Reentry WeekRead the Press Release
RALEIGH – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthening the criminal justice system, the Department of Justice designated the week of April 24-30, 2016, as National Reentry Week. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro traveled to Philadelphia yesterday, to hold events as part of National Reentry Week with public housing advocates, legal services providers and community leaders where they announced new efforts to improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals including youth.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina (USAO-EDNC) will host a Reentry and Crime Prevention Conference on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Auditorium located at 3320 Garner Road, Raleigh 27610. The press is invited to attend the conference beginning at 1:00 p.m. A variety of speakers will present at the conference representing USAO-EDNC’s partnerships with federal, state and local agencies on topics such as the judicial perspective on reentry and crime prevention; the reentry efforts at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in preparing individuals before they are released from federal incarceration; the state of North Carolina’s reentry efforts; and a panel discussion by members of the Capital Area Reentry Council.
“Too often, justice-involved individuals who have paid their debt to society confront daunting obstacles to good jobs, decent housing, adequate health care, quality education, and even the right to vote,” said Attorney General Lynch. “National Reentry Week highlights the many ways that the Department of Justice – and the entire Obama Administration – is working to tear down the barriers that stand between returning citizens and a meaningful second chance – leading to brighter futures, stronger communities, and a more just and equal nation for all.”
The Obama Administration has taken major steps to make our criminal justice system fairer, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities. Removing barriers to successful reentry helps formerly incarcerated individuals compete for jobs, attain stable housing, and support their families. An important part of that commitment is preparing those who have paid their debt to society for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, and addressing collateral consequences to successful reentry that too many returning citizens encounter.
EDNC Acting United States Attorney John Stuart Bruce stated: “Our office is committed to helping formerly incarcerated citizens who are returning to their communities. Our goal is to help them become productive, law-abiding citizens and help break the cycle of recidivism.”
National Reentry Week events are being planned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S. Attorney’s Offices alone are hosting over 200 events and BOP facilities are holding over 370 events.
Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. For additional information please e-mail Don Connelly at [email protected].
Del City Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Today, DONNIE RAY SHULTZ, 45, of Del City, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to producing child pornography depicting of a 15-year-old girl with whom he engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced Mark A. Yancey, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, in July 2014, Shultz began engaging in sex acts with the then 14-year-old girl, whom he met through a religion class that he taught at a Del City church. According to those records, the sex acts occurred between July 2014 and November 2015, and took place in various locations in the Oklahoma City metroplex, including the church’s parking lot, the child victim’s house, and Shultz’s own house. According to court documents, Shultz produced images of sexual acts involving the child with his iPhone.
Shultz was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 16, 2016. During the plea hearing today before United States District Judge Robin Cauthron, Shultz admitted that on September 26, 2014, he engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the 15-year-old and took photographs with his iPhone.
Due to a prior Cleveland County conviction for second degree rape, Shultz faces a mandatory minimum term of 25 years in prison and maximum of 50 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine. A sentencing hearing will be set by the court in approximately 90 days.
This case is the result of an collaborative investigation by the Del City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale.
Defendant Convicted at Trial for His Involvement in Multiple Queens Extortion Schemes Carried Out with New York City Police OfficerRead the Press Release
Yesterday, following two and a half weeks of trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, returned a guilty verdict against Redinel Dervishaj, on Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion, threatening/committing physical violence in furtherance of an extortion plan, and related charges involving brandishing firearms. The charges arose out of the defendant’s schemes to extort three small business owners in Queens, New York. When sentenced by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 57 years in prison. Co-defendants Besnik Llakatura, a police officer with the New York City Police Department during the charged crimes, and Denis Nikolla previously pleaded guilty in this case and are awaiting sentencing.
The verdict was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York Police Department.
“Through fear, intimidation and threats of violence, Dervishaj and his co-defendants demanded payment from local business owners in Astoria, Queens, for so-called protection,” stated United States Attorney Capers. “When the victims refused to pay, the defendants escalated their efforts to secure payment, brazenly threatening the business owners with firearms. Yesterday, Dervishaj was held accountable for the harm he caused and the fear he engendered.”
“Dervishaj’s tactics of fear, intimidation, and violence will work no more. Yesterday, he was convicted by a jury on charges relating to his role in extorting small business owners in Queens for payments for so-called protective services. The FBI thanks our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York for their work on this case,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez.
“The defendant faces a minimum sentence of more than a half-century in prison, which should serve to discourage others from attempting to use intimidation and threats of violence to bilk legitimate businesspeople,” stated New York Police Commissioner Bratton.
As proven at trial, between May and November 2013, Dervishaj and his co-defendants conspired and attempted to extort a Queens restaurant owner, demanding regular payments in exchange for so-called protection. The extortion began shortly after the victim opened a restaurant in Astoria when he was visited by Dervishaj and told that he had opened a business in “our neighborhood.” As a result, the restaurant owner was required to pay Dervishaj $4,000 per month. He then sought help from Besnik Llakatura, whom the restaurant owner believed was his friend. Unbeknownst to him, Llakatura, an NYPD officer in Staten Island since 2006, was conspiring with Dervishaj in the extortion and actively discouraged the restaurant owner from going to the police. Llakatura sought to persuade the victim that he had no choice but to make the demanded payments, warning him that Dervishaj and his associates would physically harm him if he did not pay. When the victim resisted, at Dervishaj’s direction co-conspirator Denis Nikolla threatened the victim with physical violence and chased him at gunpoint down a street in Queens. Over the course of five months, each of the three defendants took turns collecting monthly payments from the victim, ultimately collecting $24,000 in so-called protection money.
Between April 2012 and November 2013, Dervishaj and Nikolla also conspired and attempted to extort the proceeds of two nightclubs located in Queens, New York, and used a firearm in their efforts to do so. After the nightclub owner failed to make the demanded payments, on September 20, 2012, Dervishaj and Nikolla confronted the victim at a bar in Astoria; Nikolla took a firearm from Dervishaj’s waistband and pressed it to the victim’s ribs, threatening to beat him in front of his wife and children and, threatening to beat his wife and children in front of him.
Finally, during 2013, Dervishaj and his co-defendants conspired and attempted to extort a proprietor of two social clubs in Astoria. After the initial extortion demand, the proprietor refused to make the payments and ceased going to his social clubs out of fear for his safety. Thereafter, the defendants attempted to locate the proprietor and threaten him. In one instance, Dervishaj threatened and repeatedly punched a friend of the victim, while a co-conspirator pulled a gun on him. The victim ultimately fled the country for a period of time to avoid the defendants’ threats.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia Shihata and Patrick Hein are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
REDINEL DERVISHAJ
Age: 40
Queens, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 13-CR-668 (ENV)
Dallas Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine and GHB with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Roger Harry Olson, II, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to serve a total of 15 years in federal prison following his guilty plea in October 2015 to an indictment charging two federal felony drug offenses, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Specifically, Olson, 43, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to the factual resume filed in the case, in May 2014, a detective with the Garland Police Department, two detectives with the Garland and Dallas Police Departments, assigned as task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant for Olson’s car. The same date, Officers searched Olson’s apartment and found approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine as well as a mixture containing gamma hydroxybutyric, commonly known as GHB or the “Date-Rape” drug. Olson admitted he possessed the methamphetamine and the GHB with the intent to distribute it.
According to information presented at Olson’s sentencing hearing, the evidence showed that Olson had three prior California convictions involving “possession for sale” of methamphetamine and GHB, and he was on Texas probation for possession of methamphetamine when he was arrested in May 2014 for the instant drug offenses. Because of Olson’s prior convictions, the government filed an information enhancing the penalties for Olson’s possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, subjecting Olson to a statutory period of imprisonment of 10 years to Life. The court also ordered that Olson’s federal sentence run consecutive to any term of imprisonment resulting from the revocation of his probated state sentence.
The Garland Police Department and the DEA investigated the case. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay was in charge of the prosecution.
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DEA South Carolina District Office to Hold 11th Prescription Drug Take-Back Day This SaturdayRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Chuvalo J. Truesdell (404) 893-7124
COLUMBIA, SC. - The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) South Carolina District Office is partnering with national, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, as well as community coalition groups, to hold its 11th state-wide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. This one-day event will make it convenient for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. At the event, South Carolinians will be able to drop off their expired, unused, and unwanted pills at sites across the state free of charge, no questions asked. By doing so, they will help prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. South Carolinians participating in DEA’s last take-back, held on September 26, 2015, yielded 5,230 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses vital public safety and health issues. 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 alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Surveys of opioid drug users show that the majority of them get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. This is a unique opportunity for Americans to make their homes and medicine cabinets safe from theft and abuse.
Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms. The Prescription Drug Take-Back program will allow Americans to properly and safely dispose of their prescription medication which could otherwise be abused for non-medical purposes. This event is free and anonymous. Simply turn in your unused, unwanted, unneeded medication, no questions asked. This is just one example of how DEA is working hand-in-hand with its law enforcement and community partners in an effort to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.”
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
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