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Tuesday 9 February 2016
Longtime Saline County Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Stealing $79,000 in Public FundsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the former Saline County, Mo., Sheriff pleaded guilty in federal court today to stealing nearly $79,000 in public funds by taking checks – issued by the state to reimburse the county for prisoner expenses – for his own personal use.
Wallace Newman George, Jr., 70, of Corder, Mo., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to an information that charges him with one count of stealing from an organization that receives federal funds.
George was appointed as acting sheriff for Saline County in November 1979 and elected to office the following month. He held that office for 36 years, purportedly the longest-serving sheriff in the history of the state until his resignation on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. George was required to resign from office as a condition of today’s plea agreement.
George assigned sheriff’s deputies to transport prisoners extradited or voluntarily returned from outside Missouri to Saline County. He then submitted claims to the state to be reimbursed for the expenses incurred. The state issued 34 reimbursement checks for prisoner extradition/transportation between Jan. 28, 2010, and June 30, 2015. Those checks totaled approximately $97,083, of which approximately 75 percent, or $71,994, was for mileage reimbursement and the remainder for meals and other expenses.
By pleading guilty today, George admitted that he stole $78,911 from those state reimbursements, which primarily represents the mileage reimbursement portion of every state reimbursement check for prisoner extradition/transportation that the county received (with only one exception) from Jan. 28, 2010, to June 30, 2015.
George opened a personal checking account at Wood & Huston Bank in Marshall. At various times, George cashed the state reimbursement checks at Wood & Huston Bank. Sometimes he deposited the state reimbursement checks into his personal account, and sometimes he deposited portions of the proceeds into his personal account and kept a portion for himself. Between Jan. 28, 2010, and June 30, 2015, George cashed, partially deposited, or deposited approximately 34 extradition reimbursement checks into his personal bank account, with an aggregate value of approximately $97,083.
George admitted today that, as a result of his scheme, he obtained $6,832 prior to 2010, $8,075 in 2010, $8,665 in 2011, $6,319 in 2012, $11,970 in 2013, $25,530 in 2014, and $11,517 during 2015.
Although George admitted to stealing funds over a period of more than five years, he specifically pleaded guilty today to one count of stealing $9,592 in taxpayer funds between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014.
George paid $51,162 in restitution to Saline County on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. He paid $27,749 in restitution to the state today. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of no more than one year and one day imprisonment. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Public Corruption Hotline
The FBI has established a toll-free public corruption hotline, 1-855-KCPCTIP, and email [email protected]. Details regarding the various types of public corruption investigated by the FBI can be found online: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/corruption.
Lawrenceville Pimp Convicted of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Travis Sentall Robinson, a/k/a “Triggaplay,” a/k/a “Trigga,” of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was convicted last week following a three-week jury trial of multiple sex-trafficking charges, including conspiracy to commit and commission of sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
“Calling himself the ‘King of Diamonds,’ Robinson attempted to build a sex trafficking empire by exploiting vulnerable young women and a minor,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Thanks to the courage of his victims and the diligence of the law enforcement officers whose efforts led to his arrest, Robinson is now officially out of business.”
“The FBI is pleased with the role that it played in getting Mr. Robinson and his co-defendant Ladrigus Stuckey off of our streets. Robinson, in particular, displayed a complete disregard for those who he exploited within sex trafficking industry. The conviction of Robinson and the earlier guilty plea of Stuckey should resonate among those other individuals out there who might consider this reprehensible criminal conduct acceptable. The FBI and its law enforcement partners have made human trafficking a priority matter,” said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.
“The jury saw Robinson for what he truly is - a predator,” stated Lt. Christopher Rafanelli, Gwinnett County Police Department. “The verdict is the result of countless hours of hard work and cooperation by the Gwinnett Vice Unit and the FBI. My hope is that this outcome will serve as a warning to anyone that is considering sexually exploiting victims in Georgia.”
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and evidence presented during the trial: From the summer of 2013 until his arrest at a hotel in downtown Atlanta on May 14, 2014, Robinson, the self-proclaimed “King of Diamonds,” ran a commercial sex operation he referred to as the “Queen of Diamonds.” Robinson used fraud to recruit female victims between the ages of 17 and 22, promising to hire the victims as models and party promoters for his business. Five of the victims testified at trial that Robinson lured them into prostitution by claiming that he was connected to Atlanta’s music scene and to a Grammy-nominated musician and producer. Robinson bought plane or bus tickets for the victims to travel to Atlanta and then, upon their arrival, invited the victims to live at his large Lawrenceville home. He took them shopping, to a recording studio, and to nightclubs.
After Robinson’s victims were indebted to and trusted him, he posted the victims’ names in “escort” sections of online classified websites. Robinson then forced the victims to commit commercial sex acts with customers who responded to the ads. Robinson’s scheme used force, threats of force, and psychological coercion to force his victims to engage in prostitution and involved regular beatings of the victims, causing them to suffer black eyes and other injuries. Several victims testified that Robinson frequently assaulted other victims in their presence, further increasing the victims’ fear of disobeying or attempting to escape from him. He required the victims to work seven days a week, plying them with a drug, “Molly,” so that they could work without sleep. He installed a program on their cell phones that enabled him to read their text messages and monitor their locations. And he kept the victims’ earnings, requiring them to ask permission to use money for food and personal hygiene items.
The evidence at trial established that Robinson caused the victims to travel to at least nine states for the purpose of committing commercial sex acts, including Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi and New York. Robinson also used hotels throughout the metro-Atlanta area for his sex-trafficking operation. He spent at least $31,000 on hotel rooms for this purpose between September 2013 and April 2014.
The jury convicted Robinson of 10 counts. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment and up to a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment for six counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment and up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for a single count of sex trafficking of a minor. And, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment for two counts of obstruction. Robinson could also receive a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count of conviction, and he must register as a sex offender. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Robinson’s co-conspirator, Ladrigus Dondrea Stuckey a/k/a “Dreek,” pled guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion on September 11, 2015.
Robinson’s and Stuckey’s sentencing dates have not yet been set.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gwinnett County Police Department with the assistance of the FBI's Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation (MATCH) Task Force, a partnership of police departments in the Atlanta area working together to identify, investigate, and prosecute organized child prostitution enterprises.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica C. Morris and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Lancaster Man Arrested on Multiple Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Lombardo, 24, of Lancaster, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal with production, receipt and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years.Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in May, 2014, a 15 year old female (victim 1) reported to Lancaster Police that three or four years earlier when she was 12 or 13 years old, she was contacted on the social media site “Kik” by an unknown male calling himself “Chris Richardson.” Victim 1 stated that “Chris Richardson” requested that she send him naked pictures. If she refused, Victim 1 said that “Chris Richardson” claimed he would post the pictures of her on the internet to exploit her. Victim 1 sent at least 50 naked pictures of herself to “Chris Richardson.” Victim 1 confided in another female (witness 1) who stated that “Chris Richardson” had also solicited pictures from her. Victim 1 then had her phone taken away by her mother for approximately one year.
In April 2014, Victim 1 got a new phone and was again contacted by “Chris Richardson” on “Kik” who demanded more naked pictures. Victim 1 sent an additional 100 pictures. Victim 1 told witness 1 about the continued extortion. Witness 1 told her about a male identified as “Dan” who would help her. Victim 1 was contacted by “Dan” who said she would help her if she hung out with him. Victim 1 agreed and chatted with “Dan” on a daily basis for several weeks. “Dan” also requested naked pictures and Victim 1 complied. Victim 1 and “Dan” eventually met in person and over the next few weeks had sexual contact several times. “Dan” asked Victim 1 for permission to record one of their sexual encounters which he would put on the internet and make money for her. Victim 1 is unsure if she was videotaped. Victim 1 stated that she told “Dan” her actual age.
On May 9, 2014, Victim 1 identified the defendant as “Dan” in a police photo array. On that same day, police recovered several items, including a laptop, during the execution of a search warrant at Lomabardo’s Lancaster residence.
During a forensic analysis of the contents of the laptop computer, officers discovered images of a 13 year old female (victim 2). The images were sent to the defendant by phone. In a subsequent interview with victim 2, she indicated that she met Lombardo on meetme.com. Victim 2 also indicated that the defendant identified himself as “Chris Richardson.”
The forensic analysis also revealed pictures of a 16 year old female (victim 3) who told police she also met the defendant on meetme.com. Victim 3 had sexual contact with Lombardo and also sent 30 to 40 naked pictures of herself to the defendant.
Lombardo made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on February 10, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam Cohen, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack, and the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald Gill.
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.
Kearney Resident and Corporation Charged with Unlawful Hiring of AliensRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced today that Paul Younes, age 63 of Kearney, Nebraska, and Kearney Hospitality, Inc. were arraigned on charges related to the unlawful hiring of aliens. Younes was charged with unlawful employment of aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324a(a)(2) and (f)(1). He faces a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment and a $3,000 fine. Kearney Hospitality, Inc. was charged with harboring an alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) and is subject to a term of probation of five years and a maximum fine of $500,000. Both defendants entered pleas of guilty and sentencing has been set for May 9, 2016.
Younes is an officer and director of various corporations which own and/or run hotels in the District of Nebraska including the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings, Nebraska, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney, Nebraska. Kearney Hospitality, Inc. runs the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney.
The investigation revealed that Blanca Gama, a citizen of Mexico who was not lawfully in the United States, was employed as the supervisor of housekeeping at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings. In 2014, Gama learned she was under investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Gama quit her job at the Holiday Inn Express, but later met with Younes who arranged for her to be employed in the housekeeping department at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney under the name Elizabeth Gomez. Younes was aware that this person had previously been employed under the name Blanca Gama.
Younes did not place Gomez on the regular payroll for the Fairfield Inn. Rather, he treated her as an independent contractor even though she was the only person in the housekeeping department who was employed in that capacity. Younes later authorized this person’s re-hire at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings under the name Jacqueline Lopez even though she continued to be referred to as Blanca Gama at that location.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Justice Department Sues to Permanently Shut Down Liberty Tax Service Franchise OwnerRead the Press Release
Contact: (202) 514-2007
Washington — Three Columbia-area, South Carolina Liberty Tax Service franchises deliberately prepare false federal income tax returns in order to increase their customers’ refunds, according to a civil lawsuit filed today by the Justice Department. The United States’ complaint asks the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina to permanently bar the alleged franchisee for all three locations, Christopher Paul Haynes of Irmo, South Carolina, from preparing federal tax returns for others.
According to the suit, Haynes and his employees prepare tax returns that include misstatements such as false or inflated Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business) income and expenses, bogus dependents, false filing statuses and improper unreimbursed employee business expenses. For example, the complaint alleges that Haynes’s employees included a bogus “arts and crafts” business on one customer’s tax return and a bogus “hair care” businesses on another’s. In each case, according to the complaint, the false statements purported to allow the customer to qualify for a larger Earned Income Tax Credit and receive inflated tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The lawsuit states that Haynes’s Liberty Tax Service offices have prepared more than 9,700 federal income tax returns since 2010. Based on adjustments the IRS has made to tax returns prepared and filed by Haynes’s Liberty Tax Service offices for 2010 to 2013, the average tax deficiency for tax returns audited in connection with the IRS’s investigation of Haynes is $3,834 per tax return, according to the suit.
The complaint also alleges that Haynes does not report to the IRS the wages he pays some of his employees, even though the report is required by law. According to the complaint, Haynes also fails to withhold and pay over to the IRS federal employment taxes for those same employees.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2016. The IRS has some tips on its website for choosing a tax preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers and tax scheme promoters. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
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Note: the complaint for permanent injuntion is attached as a pdf file.
Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Woman to Probation for Role in Crack Cocaine Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH -A Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to four years’ probation on her conviction of conspiracy to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Roxanne Thompson, 27.
According to information presented to the Court, in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The interception of wire and electronic communications began in December 2013 and continued through the end of August 2014. During that timeframe, Roxanne Thompson was intercepted over the wire conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute crack cocaine, which was shipped from California in powder form to the Western District of Pennsylvania through the United States Postal Service or commercial carrier.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to fulfill the purposes of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thompson.
International Wildlife Investigation Concludes in the United States with Convictions of Two Canadian Residents of Lacey Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
Juneau, Alaska –U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a joint United States-Canadian wildlife investigation has concluded in the United States after the convictions of two Canadian hunters for violations of the Lacey act for the illegal take and export of wildlife.
Kelly D. Murray, 51, and Jason J. Clemett, 42, were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to probation and to pay fines of $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who handled the sentencing hearings, the violations arose around guided hunts that occurred between May 2010 and October 2011 in the Haines, Alaska area. The charges against Murray resulted from an illegal brown bear hunt that occurred in May 2011. Murray had assisted in that illegal harvest by skinning an illegally killed bear. The charges against Clemett resulted from an illegal hunt of a mountain goat that occurred in October 2011, led by the same guide. The hunter failed to salvage all of the meat from his mountain goat and falsified the underlying hunt records required by Alaska State law. The hunter gave the illegally taken mountain goat to his friend Clemett who failed to declare the export of the goat prior to taking the mountain goat back to Canada in his private jet. The mountain goat was transported to Canada and delivered to the hunter.
The convictions are a result of a joint United States-Canadian investigation involving prosecutions in Alberta, and Yukon Territory Canada, with violations under Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Environment Canada, Yukon Conservation Officer Service, Alberta Fish and Game, Parks Canada, British Columbia Conservation Officer Service, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for the international cooperation extended in the investigation of these cases.
IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to $1 Million ID Theft Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – An IRS employee whose job was to assist taxpayers experiencing problems resulting from identity theft pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to stealing identities and orchestrating a tax-fraud scheme involving up to $1.5 million in fraudulent income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Karl A. Stiften, and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Mid-States Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Ruben Florez.
NAKEISHA HALL, 39, entered her guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre to theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, unauthorized access to a protected computer and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud affecting a financial institution. She acknowledged in her plea that the tax fraud conspiracy had an intended loss to the IRS of between $550,000 and $1.5 million. Hall agreed to restitution and forfeiture of $438,187, representing funds actually paid out by IRS as a result of the scheme. Hall’s sentencing is scheduled June 29.
Hall worked in the Taxpayer Advocate Service office in Birmingham from July 2007 to November 2011. Since November 2011, Hall has worked in TAS offices in Omaha, Neb., New Orleans, La., and Salt Lake City, Utah. TAS is responsible for assisting taxpayers who are having difficulties with the IRS. TAS works with victims of identity theft and assists them in removing fraudulent tax information from their accounts and in filing corrected tax returns, if necessary.
“Ms. Hall used her IRS access to compromise taxpayers’ identities and try to steal more than $1 million dollars from the U.S. Treasury,” Vance said. “Taxpayers must be able to trust that IRS employees will protect their sensitive information, not steal it and corrupt it for personal gain. I thank the TIGTA and IRS-CI investigators who helped my office ensure that this crime was prosecuted and punished.”
“Abusing her position with the Internal Revenue Service, Ms. Hall stole the identities of taxpayers through unauthorized access to IRS computers and filed false tax returns seeking more than a million dollars in tax refunds,” Stiften said. “This defendant systematically defrauded the government and blatantly disregarded the victims of her scheme.”
A federal grand jury in December indicted Hall, along with JIMMIE GOODMAN, 37, and ABDULLA COLEMAN, 37, both of Birmingham, on charges they took part in the scheme operated out of Birmingham between 2008 and 2011 that involved stealing personal identity information from the IRS to create fraudulent tax returns, and collecting the stolen refunds that were generated.
A separate indictment charged another co-conspirator, LASHON ROBERSON, 36, of Pelham, with the conspiracy and four counts of mail fraud affecting a financial institution.
Roberson is scheduled to plead guilty on Wednesday.
Goodman is scheduled for trial Feb. 29, and Coleman is to be arraigned on the charges against him on Thursday, after being arrested in Madison, Wis., and transferred to the Northern District of Alabama.
According to the indictments and Hall’s plea, Hall, Goodman, Coleman, Roberson and at least one other individual, conspired to defraud both the IRS and financial institutions, including Bancorp Bank, between January 2008 and November 2011, and used the U.S. mail to execute the fraud. Hall, Goodman, Coleman and Roberson also conspired to obtain money from Bancorp Bank and other financial institutions. Bancorp Bank and other financial institutions issue stand-alone debit cards for the purpose of accepting tax refunds.
The multi-year conspiracy was conducted as follows, according to the indictments and Hall’s plea:
Hall obtained individuals’ names, birth dates and Social Security numbers through unauthorized access to IRS computers. Hall used the personal identity information to prepare fraudulent income tax returns and submitted them electronically to the IRS. Hall requested that the IRS pay the refunds onto debit cards and directed that the cards be mailed to drop addresses that she controlled. Hall solicited and received drop addresses from Goodman, Coleman, Roberson and at least one other person. The co-conspirators also collected the refund cards from the mail.
Hall activated the cards by using stolen identity information. She, Goodman, Coleman, Roberson and the unnamed co-conspirator took the money off the debit cards at ATMs or used the cards for purchases. If the fraudulent returns generated U.S. Treasury checks rather than the requested debit cards, Hall and her co-conspirators used fraudulent endorsements in order to cash the checks. Hall compensated Goodman, Coleman, Roberson and the fifth co-conspirator by giving them a portion of the refund money, or by giving them refund cards for their own use.
The theft, aggravated identity, and unauthorized access counts relate to two specific taxpayers’ information that Hall accessed and used in 2010.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum prison penalty for theft of government funds is 10 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed in the case, and unauthorized access to a protected computer carries a maximum five-year prison term. All three charges carry a maximum $250,000 penalty.
IRS-CI and TIGTA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Williamson Barnes is prosecuting
Houston County Man Guilty of Violating Asbestos Work Practice StandardsRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A 60-year-old Kennard, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal environmental violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Rodney K. Beshears pleaded guilty to violating the work practice standards of the Clean Air Act today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne.
According to information presented in court, Beshears admitted that in October of 2011, he and his employees began excavating and removing a pipeline in northeast Texas. On Dec. 16, 2011, an inspector with the Texas Department of State Health Services conducted a site inspection where Beshears was removing the pipeline near Diana, Texas, and informed Beshears that the pipeline had a coating of asbestos. On Dec. 21, 2011, Beshears received training on asbestos removal practices which included instructions on the proper handling of asbestos material required under the work practice standards of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or “NESHAP” rules for asbestos when excavating and removing pipe with a coating of asbestos. On Jan. 13, 2012, the Texas Department of State Health Services inspected another site where Beshears was excavating and removing the pipeline just outside of Ore City, Texas and again informed Beshears that the pipe had a coating of asbestos material.
Beshears’ removal of the pipeline continued through March, 2012, during which time, Beshears removed, and caused others to remove, several thousand feet of pipeline which contained regulated asbestos containing material, between Diana and Ore City, Texas. The excavation, cutting and removal of the pipeline, as directed by Beshears, included no wetting of the asbestos material that coated the pipeline as Beshears had been instructed during the training. The asbestos material was crumbled and pulverized by hitting the pipe coating with a hammer to knock it off the pipe to expose the pipe so it could be cut into pieces; asbestos was crumbled and pulverized by dragging the pipe segments across the ground; and asbestos was not disposed of at approved disposal facilities. Beshears was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 3, 2014.
Under federal statutes, Beshears faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by congress and is provided 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Dallas, Texas, the TCEQ’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Heroin Traffickers SentencedRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — Two individuals, both in the U.S. illegally, have been sentenced for their roles in a heroin distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Yesterday, Ana Maria Guerra-Sanchez, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 95 months in federal prison. Last month, co-conspirator Florencio Galvan-Musico, also 23, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison. Both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess heroin with the intent to distribute. After serving their sentence, both will be referred to U.S. Immigration officials for deportation proceedings.
According to documents filed in the case, for approximately the past two years, Guerra-Sanchez and Galvan-Musico worked together, and with others, to distribute heroin to various customers in the Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas, area. Guerra-Sanchez received heroin from Galvan-Musico that she distributed to others, and she returned the drug proceeds to Galvan-Musico. Together, both possessed more than 100 grams of heroin with the intent to distribute it.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Fort Worth investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith was in charge of the prosecution.
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Henrietta Man Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Nathaniel Aaron Fisher, 29, of Henrietta, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2013, a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity downloaded images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing software from an Internet Protocol address registered to a computer in Henrietta. A search warrant was executed and images of child pornography were recovered from the defendant’s computer. The images included prepubescent minors.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 10, 2016 before Judge Geraci.
Haltom City, Texas, Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Haltom City, Texas, man, Nathan Bryant Cooper, 36, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 120 months in federal prison terms for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Cooper has been in custody since his arrest in September 2015 on a related federal criminal complaint. He pleaded guilty in November 2015 to one count of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Last month, several co-conspirators in the case received lengthy federal prison sentences:
Winfred Morgan Trammel, 39, of Breckenridge, Texas, 262 months
Larry Hawkins, 59, of Wichita Falls, Texas, 180 months
Jackie Lynn Watters, 50, of Fort Worth, Texas, 180 months
Matthew Rutledge, 33, of Fort Worth, Texas, 324 months
Joel Prickett, 37, of Fort Worth, Texas, 160 monthsA total of 29 defendants were charged in the case; 28 have been convicted, and most of those have been sentenced.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Fort Worth Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith was in charge of the prosecution.
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Granite City Woman Sentenced for Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today, that on February 9, 2016, Jessica A. Teets, 28, of Granite City, Illinois, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court in East Saint Louis on the charge that she engaged in a scheme to defraud a health care program. The district court sentenced Teets to five years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $1,292.62 in restitution to the Home Services Program.
During her plea hearing, Teets admitted that she had submitted false and fraudulent bills in relation to her alleged performance of personal assistant services in the Illinois Home Services Program, a Medicaid Waiver Program designed to allow individuals to stay in their homes instead of entering a nursing home. Teets admitted to falsely billing the program between December 7, 2012 and June 30, 2014, claiming that she had rendered personal assistant services to a customer when, in fact, she had not. As a result, Teets improperly billed 111 hours of services and obtained $1,312.05 in payments for services not performed.
Teets further admitted that her customer (who was her mother) was found on July 1, 2014 in an incoherent state, partially covered in dried excrement, by a friend checking on her welfare. Emergency responders transported the customer to a hospital and she was hospitalized for multiple days. Teets had not performed personal assistant services for the customer for more than a week prior to July 1, 2014.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Illinois State Police - Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, and the Wood River, Illinois Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam E. Hanna.
If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.
Georgia Woman Indicted for Bluffton Jewelry Store RobberyRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Abigail Lee Kemp, age 24, of Smyrna, Georgia, was charged in a 2-count indictment. Abigail Lee Kemp was charged with robbing the Jared Vault jewelry store in Bluffton, SC, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1951 as well as possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §924(c). The maximum penalty Kemp could receive is 45 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000.
Kemp is currently in federal custody in Florida after being indicted in the Northern District of Florida for conspiring to rob numerous jewelry stores and possession of a firearm during those robberies. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office for prosecution.
Mr. Nettles stated that the charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Fourteen Individuals Convicted for Their Participation in Large-Scale Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Eight current and former law enforcement officers, four correctional officers and two other individuals have been convicted for their participation in trafficking narcotics and narcotics proceeds for a large-scale drug trafficking organization, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney John Stuart Bruce of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
In April 2013, the FBI initiated an undercover investigation regarding allegations of systemic corruption within the Northampton County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office (NCSO). Undercover agents posed as members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for introducing kilogram quantities of narcotics to be transported up the I-95 corridor. In connection with their guilty pleas, the defendants admitted that they understood that they were recruited to work for the drug trafficking organization because of their status as law enforcement officers or ties to law enforcement. The investigation grew as the original targets recruited others to participate. The defendants transported purported narcotics and narcotics proceeds for the drug trafficking organization in exchange for bribe payments, and some defendants carried firearms during this time.
The following individuals pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of North Carolina:
- Lann Tjuan Clanton, a former correctional officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges today;
- Ikeisha Jacobs, a former sergeant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, firearm and bribery charges today;
- Jason Boone, a former captain with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;
- Adrienne Moody, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;
- Cory Jackson, a former deputy sheriff of the NCSO, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;
- Jimmy Pair Jr., a former lieutenant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;
- Curtis Boone, a former deputy sheriff with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;
- Alphonso Ponton, a former sergeant with the Virginia Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge today;
- Thomas Jefferson Allen II, a former sergeant with the NCSO, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and bribery charges today;
- Wardie Vincent Jr., a former detective sergeant with the NCSO, previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and firearms charges;
- Alaina Sue-Kam-Ling, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge;
- Kavon Phillips, a former correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge;
- Crystal Pierce, of Raleigh, North Carolina, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge; and
- Tosha Dailey, a former 911 dispatch operator for Northampton County, previously pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge.
The FBI Charlotte Division’s Raleigh Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Lauren Bell and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby W. Lathan of the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.
Fort Worth Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Harboring a FugitiveRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth, Texas, woman, Robie Lynn Sims, 41, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 18 months in federal prison for harboring a fugitive, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Sims pleaded guilty in October 2015 to one count of concealing a person from arrest. Yesterday, Judge O’Connor ordered her to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by March 18, 2016.
According to the factual resume filed in her case, Sims was the girlfriend of one of the defendants, Billy Bullitt, 45, also of Fort Worth, who, along with 28 co-defendants, was charged in a massive methamphetamine distribution conspiracy recently prosecuted in the Fort Worth Division of the Northern District of Texas. In fact, Bullitt, was sentenced in December 2015 to 121 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Bullitt had been living at Sims’ residence when, in June 2015, agents/officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Squad interviewed her at her residence. She was advised that Bullitt had an outstanding federal arrest warrant for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. When asked if she knew where Bullitt was currently living, Sims responded that she had last seen him two weeks ago at their residence. In fact, however, Bullitt had been living at that residence and had fled the residence as agents/officers had approached the residence. Sims lied about Bullitt’s whereabouts and stalled the agents/officers so Bullitt would have time to flee the residence. Bullitt was arrested by agents/officers with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Squad at a motel on Bryant Irvin Blvd. in Fort Worth on July 2, 2015. Sims was with him and had arranged for another person to rent the room for her and Bullitt to avoid alerting authorities of Bullitt’s location.
A total of 29 defendants were charged in the case; 28 have been convicted, and most of those have been sentenced.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Fort Worth Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith was in charge of the prosecution.
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Fort Hall Man Pleads Guilty to ManslaughterRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Joaquin Broncho, 19, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to voluntary manslaughter, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Broncho was indicted by the federal grand jury in Pocatello on September 23, 2014, on a charge of second-degree murder. Broncho was previously charged as a juvenile in this case, but his case was later transferred to adult court.
According to the plea agreement, on August 29, 2014, Broncho and others were involved in a fight outside of a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Broncho went into the house, obtained a knife and went back outside and stabbed the victim, Joey Runninghorse. Runninghorse was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead as a result of the stabbing.
The charge of voluntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Broncho is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Fort Hall Police Department.
Former Nurse and Home Healthcare Provider Sentenced for Federal Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – John Jaramillo, 46, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for his federal child pornography conviction. Jaramillo will be on supervised release for five years following his release from prison. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.
Jaramillo was arrested on April 24, 2014, by special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on a criminal complaint charging him with receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of his arrest, Jaramillo was a registered nurse employed by two home healthcare providers that provide mental health and medical care for children and adolescents.
According to court filings, the investigation leading to Jaramillo’s arrest began in Nov. 2013, when an agent with the New Mexico State Police identified an IP address that was being used to share child pornography while conducting an investigation targeting those who share child pornography on peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Subsequent investigation revealed that the IP address was subscribed to Jaramillo’s residence. On April 24, 2014, HSI, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department, all agencies that participate in the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed a federal search warrant at the residence and seized Jaramillo’s computer and computer-related media. A forensic examination of Jaramillo’s computer recovered approximately 255 images and videos consistent with child pornography.
On May 21, 2014, Jaramillo was indicted and charged with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleged that Jaramillo received and possessed child pornography from June 2013 to March 2014 in Bernalillo County, N.M. Jaramillo pled guilty to the indictment on Sept. 22, 2014, without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of HSI, the New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Wishard as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 82 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the NMAGO. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Former Attorney for Home Health Care Company Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Stealing over $2.6 Million from His EmployerRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – The former in-house counsel of an Ocean County, New Jersey-based home health care company was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for using his attorney trust account to steal more than $2.6 million from his employer, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Matthew S. Neugeboren, 39, of Manalapan, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Judge Cooper imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2006 through 2013, Neugeboren was in-house counsel for Company A, a home health care company in Ocean County. As such, Neugeboren maintained an attorney trust account to pay for Company A’s expenses. To cover those expenses, Neugeboren requested checks and wire transfers be made from Company A’s bank accounts into his attorney trust account.
As part of the scheme, Neugeboren caused Company A to transfer more money into his attorney trust account than was necessary to cover company expenses. Neugeboren admitted that he used the additional money for his personal benefit, including gambling. Neugeboren admitted that from January 2008 through December 2012, he stole $2,644,912 from Company A.
In addition to the wire fraud scheme, Neugeboren knowingly and willfully filed a false tax return that failed to include approximately $630,000 in gross income that he received in calendar year 2011 from his scheme to defraud Company A.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cooper ordered Neugeboren to serve three years of supervised release, entered a forfeiture order of $1,404,963 and ordered him to pay restitution of $1,404,963 to the victim company and $474,814 to the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Campi, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Lorber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel: Justin P. Walder Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
Fifth Shenandoah Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 25-year-old Shenandoah resident connected to a large-scale heroin trafficking ring that operated in Schuylkill County during 2012 through September 2015, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Derek Yashinsky pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. Yashinsky admitted to distributing heroin and transporting other drug traffickers to Patterson, New Jersey, and Hazleton to obtain large quantities of heroin on multiple occasions. Yashinsky was involved in transporting and distributing between 400 grams and 700 grams of heroin, which is equivalent to between than 13,000 and 23,000 retail bags of heroin.
Yashinsky was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Scranton in September 2015, as a result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police, and local police in Schuylkill County.
Judge Munley ordered a presentence investigation to be completed, and scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2016. Yashinsky faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Four co-defendants—Rhashean Strange, Carlos Correa, Nicolai Varga, and Paul Jadus—have also pleaded guilty to participating in the drug conspiracy. Three other co-defendants are awaiting trial in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the cases.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the heroin initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:
Greenwood Resident Charged with Theft of Government Funds
Richard Barry Scott, age 49, of Greenwood, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. The maximum penalty Scott could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.Two Individuals Indicted for Conspiracy to Possess Fifteen or More Counterfeit or Unauthorized Access Devices
Aubrionna D. Eckles, age 21, of Snellville, Georgia, and Donnell J. Slay, Jr., age 21, of Uniondale, New York, were charged in a 1-count indictment with conspiracy to possess fifteen or more counterfeit access devices, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2). The maximum penalty each defendant could receive is 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr. of the Greenville office for prosecution.Anderson Resident Charged with Wire Fraud
Carla Dawn Carnes, age 43, of Anderson, South Carolina, was charged in a 2-count indictment with wire fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The maximum penalty Carnes could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.Cowpens Couple Indicted for VA Fraud
Pamela Bullington, age 27, and Matthew Logan, age 30, of Cowpens, South Carolina, were charged with Theft of Government Funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. The maximum penalty Bullington and Logan could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Office of Inspector General for Veterans Affairs and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville office for prosecution.The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Farmington Man Sentenced to Prison for Robbing Bank in March 2015Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Richard Allen Buckner, 23, of Farmington, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 24 months in federal prison for his bank robbery conviction. Buckner will be on supervised release for three years following his incarceration.
Buckner was arrested on March 20, 2015, on a criminal complaint alleging that he robbed the First Convenience Bank- East Banking Center located in the Walmart store located at 4600 East Main Street in Farmington on March 18, 2015. According to the complaint, a man later identified as Buckner approached a bank teller with a handwritten note demanding cash. After obtaining cash from the bank teller, Buckner left in a vehicle. Thereafter two witnesses contacted the Farmington Police Department and identified Buckner as the bank robber after viewing surveillance photographs. The investigation revealed that Buckner used part of the money from the bank robbery to make a down payment on a vehicle.
Buckner was subsequently indicted on a bank robbery charge on April 14, 2015. On Sept. 1, 2015, Buckner entered a guilty plea to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Farmington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec prosecuted the case.
Detroit to Morgantown heroin trafficking scheme splintered by arrests, federal indictmentsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Federal indictments were unsealed today charging 14 people with facilitating a Michigan to Morgantown heroin trafficking operation, according to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.
A federal grand jury returned three separate indictments alleging that a group of individuals from Detroit traveled to Morgantown to operate a heroin distribution ring in North Central West Virginia. The indictments allege that heroin was repeatedly sold near a variety of protected locations in Monongalia County in 2014 and 2015.“Today’s operation, highlights the critical role our task forces play in combating heroin and other illegal drug trafficking and the violent criminal enterprises that attempt to take root in our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott S. Smith of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. “Federal penalties for drug trafficking are severe, and the FBI will continue to work with our local, state and Federal partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs and to dismantle the violent criminal enterprises that facilitate the flow.”
Today, many of the defendants were taken into custody during a coordinated, multi-agency arrest operation in West Virginia and Michigan. Those arrested on heroin trafficking charges today include:
• Draylon Eric Beecham, also known as “Wood,” 40, of Detroit, Michigan,
• Keith Antonio Cohens, also known as “Jay,” 34, of Detroit, Michigan,
• James Leon Fisher, also known as “D,” 29, of Detroit, Michigan,
• Craig S. Coffee, also known as “Mack,” 48, of Detroit, Michigan,
• An unidentified individual known as “Mac,” of Detroit, Michigan,
• Michaelo Merone, 30, of Miami, Florida,
• Daniel Ross Sims, 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia,
• Debra Bolden, 45, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and
• Justin Donald Myers, 36, of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Two additional drug trafficking suspects not connected with the aforementioned indictments were identified and arrested during today’s operation and are currently facing state charges.Several individuals have not yet been located, including:
• Darrin Lawrence Broadnax, also known as “Silk,” 48, of Detroit, Michigan,
• Romelle DeShaun Stevens, also known as “Bishop,” 26, of Detroit, Michigan,
• Jeffrey Allen Motley, also known as “G,” 24, of Detroit, Michigan,
• Robert Tucker, also known as “Diego,” 22, of Detroit, Michigan, and
• Ryan Hayworth, 21, of Mullens, West Virginia.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the aforementioned individuals is encouraged to contact the United States Marshals Service at (304) 623-0486.
Monongalia County, West Virginia Sheriff Al Kisner applauded the “diligence and hard work of each of the investigating agencies involved in today’s operation. The arrests made today are the direct result of the close working relationship that has been forged among local, state, and federal authorities. This investigation sends a clear message to local residents and to those individuals engaged in criminal activity, that we are committed to responding aggressively and intelligently to perceived drug trafficking threats and that we will not allow those who seek to profit from the sale of illegal drugs to takeroot in our neighborhoods.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is leading the investigation. The Mon Metro Drug Task Force is a collaborative, multi-agency initiative comprised of representatives from the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia University Police Department, the Granville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Department of Justice FY 2017 Budget RequestRead the Press Release
President’s Request Invests in Department of Justice Criminal Justice Priorities, Including National Security, Cyber Security, Smart on Crime, Building Community Trust, Among Other Priority Initiatives
President Obama’s FY 2017 Budget proposal totals $29 billion for the Department of Justice to support federal law enforcement priorities and the criminal justice priorities of our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. The request represents a comprehensive investment in the Justice mission and includes increases in funding for countering violent extremism and other national security areas, civil rights and advancing equality under the law, Smart on Crime activities, including increased funds for prisoner reentry initiatives and other key enforcement initiatives.
“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring the safety of our communities and the strength of our nation and the resources laid out in President Obama’s budget are vital to our efforts,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “With investments in priority areas from national security and cybercrime to community policing, this budget will allow us to protect the progress we have made and build on our success in the years to come.”
The Department of Justice’s areas of investment include:
- +$1.1 billion for the department’s law enforcement components, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program.
- +$70 million for our litigating components, including the U.S. Attorneys, National Security Division, Criminal Division, Civil Rights Division, Civil Division and the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
- +$214 million for the prisons and detention functions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service.
- +$47 million for immigration, administration, technology and other support functions; includes the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Office of the Pardon Attorney, Office of the Inspector General, Community Relations Service, General Administration and Justice Information Sharing Technology.
- +$443 million for Justice Department grant programs overall (Office of Justice Programs, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and Office on Violence Against Women), for a total grant program request of $4.7 billion.
National Security
As the Attorney General remarked in December 2015, “my highest priorities are the security of our country and the safety of the American people.” National security threats are constantly evolving, requiring additional investments to adapt to those threats in innovative ways. The FY 2017 Budget request provides $780.7 million in program increases to counter violent extremism, improve intelligence collection and analysis, strengthen foreign partnerships and address critical law enforcement technology challenges.
Today’s national security and crime threats require that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintain an interconnected and nimble workforce. The complexities of today’s National Security work dictate that the FBI be in an interconnected workspace to promote internal information sharing. A new modern FBI facility will consolidate disparate worksites in to one common location and exploit synergies previously stovepiped in the FBI. The men and women of the FBI are critical to protecting national security, and this request demonstrates our commitment to invest in their safety and provide them with an appropriate environment conducive to their important work.
The FY 2017 request supports a comprehensive national security strategy towards countering violent extremism (CVE) in U.S. communities. The recent tragedy in San Bernardino is a painful reminder that this work is critical to achieving a peaceful society, and the department is committed to addressing the multi-faceted nature of this crime problem in FY 2017. Supported by Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) grants, the department will foster community-led CVE efforts and emphasize trusted partnerships between public safety agencies and local residents and community organizations. Grant funding through the OJP will also provide training and assistance to local efforts and continue to support research to better understand violent extremism and advance evidence-based strategies for prevention and intervention. U.S. Attorneys will expand their community presence and enhance federal engagement and support to local communities. These efforts will work to counter violent extremism encouraged by both international and homegrown actors.
The department must continue to address worldwide threats by enhancing its intelligence capacity and capabilities and strengthening coordination with foreign partners. The FY 2017 request includes resources for the FBI to improve collaboration with the Intelligence Community (IC) through enhanced intelligence programs and leveraging the common IC information technology (IT) infrastructure. The request also supports the FBI’s new Biometrics Technology Center, which will enhance biometric investigations. The request will also improve the FBI ability to conduct physical surveillance on the highest priority targets. The FY 2017 request includes resources to improve evidence sharing and extraditions with our foreign partners and overseas security sector assistance programs operations. The department’s foreign experts are best situated to build the strong overseas partnerships that are essential to joint efforts to fight terrorism and transnational crime.
The FBI must also adapt to evolving communication technologies, anonymization, and encryption. Law enforcement faces an increased threat of Going Dark – the degradation of law enforcement’s ability to lawfully access, collect, and intercept real-time communications and stored data. The FY 2017 request includes critical resources to develop and acquire tools to address the challenges Going Dark poses to law enforcement and national security.
For more information, view the National Security Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Cyber Security
The Department of Justice has a unique and critical role in cyber security that emphasizes countering and mitigating cyber threats, including by investigating, prosecuting, and providing legal and policy support to other departments for intrusion and cybercrime cases. The FY 2017 Budget provides $121.1 million in additional resources to investigate and address computer intrusions and cybercrimes, defend the security of the department’s critical information networks, and protect against insider threats. This request provides resources to enhance the technical capabilities of FBI investigative personnel, increase the number of cyber investigations, and improve cyber collection and analysis.
Building on the significant investments made in FY 2015 and FY 2016, this request also provides additional resources for the Justice Information Sharing Technology (JIST) account to maintain and strengthen the department’s cyber security environment: to counter cyber threats and to ensure its personnel have unimpeded access to the Information Technology (IT) systems, networks, and data necessary to achieve their missions. Similarly, the department requests additional resources for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to enhance its ability to combat insider threats and to enhance its cyber security posture.
For more information, view the Cyber Security Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Smart on Crime
While we must remain vigilant in our efforts to stop violent crime, we cannot simply prosecute and incarcerate our way into becoming a safer nation. The FY 2017 budget invests an additional $246.9 million to support Smart on Crime programs. The Smart on Crime initiative focuses on effectively using federal resources for the most significant federal law enforcement priorities—including violent crime—and implementing a series of commonsense reforms to reduce unnecessarily long sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug offenders. The Smart on Crime policies also bolster prevention and reentry programs to deter crime, reduce recidivism, and create pathways of opportunity for eligible candidates.
The department’s plan focuses federal resources on, and directs prosecutors to pursue, cases implicating the most substantial federal interests, rather than prioritizing the sheer number of prosecutions. Considering alternatives to incarceration for low-level, non-violent offenses also strengthens our justice system and places a lower financial burden on the budget. This means increased use of diversion programs, such as drug courts, that reduce taxpayer expense and have the potential to be successful at preventing recidivism. When imprisonment is appropriate, sentencing should reflect the individualized circumstances of the case.
We must also provide necessary care for inmates by expanding mental health services, medical treatments, and reducing the use and need for restrictive housing. To better prevent recidivism, it is important to reduce barriers to reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. This includes emphasizing reentry programs, and revisiting rules and regulations that make it harder for these individuals to find a job, an education, or affordable housing.
For more information, view the Smart on Crime Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Building Community Trust
The FY 2017 Budget includes $129.4 million in increases to further the efforts the department and its state and local law enforcement partners have made to build and sustain community trust.
Building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide is the foundational principle underlying the nature of relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Law enforcement cannot build community trust if it is seen as an occupying force coming in from outside to impose control on the community.
Through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and other components, the department is making good on its pledge to provide law enforcement with access to the tools and support they need to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible. With the launch of its National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, the department is striving to strengthen the partnerships between community members and law enforcement professionals at every level of government.
Through the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, the department is bringing law enforcement leaders and experts together to provide strong, national direction on a scale not seen in nearly half a century. And going forward, the department intends to continue to use every tool at its disposal to enhance its capacity to combat crime while restoring public trust.
For more information, view the Building Community Trust Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Enhancing Public Safety
The department’s mission and responsibility is to investigate and prosecute those who break federal laws. Continued investments to uphold its commitments are needed to strengthen the department’s ability to protect the health and well-being of our Nation’s citizens, and have the flexibility to address threats as they emerge. Simply maintaining existing law enforcement capacity is not sufficient to meet the demands of this commitment. For FY 2017, the department requests $164.2 million in additional investments to address the threats of violent crime and illicit drugs, and to strengthen the litigating divisions of the department.
In FY 2017, the department is requesting additional resources to respond to the recent increase in heroin abuse and support increased prosecution of drug trafficking organizations along the Southwest Border. The funding will create four new enforcement groups, including support personnel and operational funding, to counteract growing heroin abuse in the United States.
The Budget request supports significant investments that focus on combatting violent crime in the U.S. and support the President’s initiatives on reducing gun violence. The request includes funding to enhance the enforcement of existing federal firearms laws and expand the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) regulatory capacity. Funding is also requested for the FBI to maintain FY 2016 investments in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The investments to combat violent crime also include resources for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to support hiring of additional Deputy U.S. Marshals and the creation of a new Regional Fugitive Task Force to apprehend violent fugitives.
The department’s request also invests funding in litigating divisions to enforce laws that address economic competition, animal welfare, immigration, and to ensure public safety. The department seeks to improve the Antitrust Division’s ability to promote economic competition, strengthen the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s ability to enforce animal welfare laws through the development of a new animal welfare enforcement program, augment the Civil Division’s immigration litigation capabilities, and to provide security services at U.S. Trustee meetings.
For more information, view the Enhancing Public Safety Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Protecting Vulnerable Populations
The department’s priority of upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society, remains vital importance. Accomplishing this requires resources to investigate, litigate, conduct outreach, and provide capacity-building education, training, and technical assistance. The FY 2017 President’s Budget will address these needs by dedicating an additional $80.7 million to these tasks, thereby enhancing the lives of the country’s vulnerable populations.
The nation’s vulnerable populations deserve the same rights, opportunities, and protections from injustices as the rest of society. The Administration and the department are committed to accomplishing this goal. The FY 2017 President’s Budget requests funding to prevent and investigate elder abuse and fraud, particularly health care fraud, which remains a top priority for the department. The Budget will also address environmental concerns in Indian Country.
Our nation’s children and youth are a vulnerable demographic group. At a national summit on Youth Violence Prevention last year, the Attorney General spoke of the importance of providing services to children exposed to violence in order to break the cycle of violence. The FY 2017 request includes additional funding to do just that. Additional resources are requested to ensure the nation’s police are properly trained to interact with children and people with disabilities, and to support enforcement, technical assistance, and the issuance of guidance and regulations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
For more information, view the Vulnerable Populations Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Mission Critical Infrastructure
In order to maintain an effective and efficient Department of Justice, the department must maintain a robust infrastructure to support its investigative and prosecutorial enterprises. The department’s request of $179.1 million addresses gaps in critical infrastructure, including information technology (IT) system improvements that support law enforcement and litigating components, facility construction and maintenance, policy oversight, and personnel security investments.
Resources are requested to upgrade outdated IT systems, enhance capabilities of existing systems, and construct and maintain facilities. Resources for the USMS Office of Professional Responsibility and the department’s policy offices are included to enhance policy analysis, coordination, and compliance functions. Finally, resources are requested to address the department’s current backlog of security investigations of both federal employees and contractors and future security investigation needs.
For more information, view the Mission Critical Infrastructure Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement
The Department of Justice strongly supports its partnerships with state, local, and tribal entities. The FY 2017 Budget maintains its commitments to state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners without reducing the department’s federal operational role. Simultaneously, efficiencies are identified to ensure that federal resources are being targeted to the most effective grant programs. The FY 2017 discretionary and mandatory request for state, local, and tribal law enforcement assistance is $4.7 billion, including discretionary enhancements of $442.7 million.
The FY 2017 request for OJP totals $4.2 billion, including $1.6 billion for discretionary grant programs and $2.6 billion for mandatory grant programs. It includes $326.2 million in discretionary enhancements, including increased funding for an indigent defense initiative, Second Chance Prisoner Reentry, Justice Reinvestment, and juvenile justice programs, and new funding to support the Violence Reduction Network.
The FY 2017 request for COPS totals $286 million, including $88 million in enhancements. The COPS request includes an increase of $42 million for the COPS Hiring Program.
The FY 2017 request for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) totals $489 million. OVW’s Budget includes a total of $28.5 million in enhancements. The Budget includes enhancements of $11.25 million for Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program (Arrest), $7.5 million for Legal Assistance to Victims and $6 million for OVW’s Campus Violence Program.
For more information, view the State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
Public Safety In Indian Country
The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with American Indian tribes and Alaska Native communities as provided by the Constitution, treaties, court decisions, and federal statutes. The Department of Justice has an important legal and moral responsibility to prosecute violent crime in Indian Country because under current law, in much of Indian Country, the department alone has the authority to seek an appropriate sentence when a major crime has been committed. Federal investigation and prosecution of serious violent crime in Indian Country is often the primary avenue of protection for the victims of these crimes.
The FY 2017 President’s Budget requests $417.6 million in total resources for public safety initiatives in Indian Country. Investments support activities across many Department of Justice components that address a range of criminal and civil justice issues facing Native American communities. A highlight is the COPS Tribal Resources Grant Program, which facilitates tribal access to critical information sharing systems. The increase will support the department’s Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information that was launched in August 2015 allowing tribes to more effectively serve and protect their tribal members by ensuring the exchange of critical data across systems, such as those managed by the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The department is also requesting resources to strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws on tribal lands, and to support consultation with tribes and coordination of tribal policies through the Office of Tribal Justice.
For more information, view the Public Safety in Indian Country Fact Sheet at http://www.justice.gov/about/fy17-budget-fact-sheets.
FY 2017 Budget Rollout PowerPoint (683.85 KB)
Dallas Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FORT WORTH, Texas — Yesterday, Miguel Bonilla, 36, of Dallas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 360 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in October 2015 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
According to the factual resume filed in the case, since approximately 2014, Bonilla and another co-conspirator supplied multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine on consignment to other co-conspirators, who in turn, distributed the methamphetamine to various customers in the Fort Worth and North Richland Hills, Texas areas, returning to Bonilla and the co-conspirator for additional methamphetamine.
Other defendants in the case have also received lengthy federal prison sentences for their roles in the methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Samuel Hebert was sentenced to 240 months, Joseph Sutton was sentenced to 140 months, and Steven Villegas was sentenced to 120 months. All three are age 32 and from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith was in charge of the prosecution.
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Cupertino Couple Indicted for Embezzeling Donated FundsRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury indicted Jonathan Chang and Grace Chang last week with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, announced Acting United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.
According to the indictment unsealed late yesterday, Jonathan Chang, 60, of Cupertino, Calif., together with his wife, Grace Chang, 57, engaged in a scheme to defraud a wealthy donor of money intended to support the Home of Christ 4 Christian Church (HOC4), located in Saratoga, Calif. Jonathan Chang, who served as an “elder” responsible for managing the finances of the church, established his own charitable organization with a name similar to the church. He then secretly directed that monthly donations from the donor be wired to his own organization rather than to the HOC4.
Jonathan Chang is also alleged to have solicited funds from the same donor for the stated purpose of acquiring a new HOC4 building. In response to Chang’s requests, the donor provided a $2 million donation and a $3 million loan to acquire the new building. Jonathan Chang and Grace Chang did not disclose the existence of the funds to HOC4. Instead the Changs directed the $5 million to accounts under their control.
In total, between 2004 and January 2016, the defendants are alleged to have obtained approximately $7.4 million in funds from the donor, all of which was intended for HOC4’s use but was instead misappropriated for the couple’s own purposes. The defendants were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire or mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h); and three counts of money laundering, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 1956(a).
Both defendants were arrested yesterday morning at their home in Cupertino and made their initial appearance in federal court in San Jose before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins. Both defendants were released on bond, pending further hearings. Bail was set at $200,000 per defendant. The defendants’ next scheduled appearance is at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2016, for identification of counsel and further bond proceedings before the Magistrate Judge Cousins.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343. The defendants also face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds, whichever is greater, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(h) and 1956(a)(1)(B). Additional periods of supervised release, fines and restitution may apply. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amie D. Rooney and David Countryman are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen and Carolyn Jusay. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Courtland Woman Sentenced to Prison for Stealing over $175K from Franklin Retirement CommunityRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Marian Lewis, 49, of Courtland, was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for mail fraud and ordered to pay $176,780 in restitution.
Lewis pleaded guilty on Nov. 12, 2015, to five counts of mail fraud. According to evidence presented and court documents, Lewis was employed as a book keeper at a non-profit retirement community in Franklin. Over the course of at least four years, Lewis routinely used the retirement community’s credit cards to purchase items for her own personal use, such as a TV, computer, digital cameras and tools. She also used the credit cards, along with over $130,000 in cash that she stole from the retirement community, to make home improvements, such as redoing her kitchen and building a deck around a pool at her residence in Courtland. In total, Lewis is responsible with stealing over $176,780 from the retirement community.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Douglas Mease, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Richmond Office; and George Purefoy, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Norfolk Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi and Kevin Hudson prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15-cr-64.
Connecticut Man Arrested in Greeley After Driving for Three Days to Colorado to Have Sex with MinorsRead the Press Release
DENVER – Jason Tremblay, age 28, of Ledyard, Connecticut, was arrested late last week in Greeley, Colorado after driving from his home to Colorado to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a mother and her two minor daughters, who in this case was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced. Today U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix ordered the defendant released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. He was first charged based on a Criminal Complaint on February 4, 2016, and then indicted by a federal grand jury today, February 9, 2016.
According to charging documents, including the affidavit in support of the Criminal Complaint, in December of 2014, an HSI special agent began an investigation targeting individuals who use a particular website to sexually exploit children. They also may create and join a variety of groups based on their sexual interests, including groups called “incest,” “jailbait,” and “teen.” Members may post advertisements in the website’s classified section seeking to meet other members with the same sexual interests such as rape and incest.
In November of 2015, the HSI special agent was working in an undercover capacity in Greeley, adopting a fictional persona of a single mother of two children, ages 10 and 14. On November 30, 2015, the agent received an email via the afore mentioned website from an individual asking if the mom persona was “active with your girls.” After this email, further communications ensued, including chats and other communications.
On January 6, 2016, the undercover agent received an image that then target, now defendant Tremblay claimed to be himself. In return, the special agent sent images that she identified as her with her two minor daughters. After agreeing to a meeting that would involve the sexual exploitation of the minor girls, on February 2, 2016, Tremblay began a drive he estimated would take 29 hours from Ledyard, Connecticut to Greeley, Colorado. On February 4, 2016 at 2:20 a.m., Tremblay was encountered by a Greeley Police Officer, who asked Tremblay about his sobriety and why he was in the vicinity. HSI agents and Colorado State Patrol Officers then arrived on scene and Tremblay was placed under arrest.
According to the indictment, the defendant faces one count of aggravated sexual abuse with children. If convicted on that count he faces not less than 30 years, and up to life in federal prison. Further, he faces one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. If convicted on that count, he faces not more than 30 years in federal prison. Finally, Tremblay faces two counts of attempted coercion and enticement. If convicted on those counts, he faces not less than 10 years, and not more than life imprisonment, per count. Each of the four counts also carries a fine of not more than $250,000.
This case was investigated by HSI, with support from the Colorado State Patrol and the Greeley Police Department.
Tremblay is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia Riewerts.
The charges contained in the Criminal Complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Colorado Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Participation in Conspiracy to Illegally Transfer FirearmsRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A former resident of Colorado was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for her involvement in a conspiracy to illegally transfer firearms from Colorado to a felon in New Jersey, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Krystel Lopez, 28, of Greeley, Colorado, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to one count of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to illegally transfer firearms interstate. Judge Wolfson imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between February and April 2013, Lopez purchased an assault rifle and a handgun in Colorado. Later in April 2013, she mailed both the assault rifle and the handgun to the business address of a known felon in New Jersey, who was prohibited from possessing such weapons.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Lopez to two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Howard and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Michael Calabro Esq., Newark
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DENVER – Michael Alvares Fykes, age 45, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was recently sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson to serve 60 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Ken Croke announced. Following his prison sentence, Fykes was ordered to spend 3 years on supervised release. The defendant, who appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, was remanded at the hearing’s conclusion.
Fykes was first charged by Criminal Complaint on May 8, 2015. He was then indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on May 21, 2015. On August 28, 2015, following a 3-day jury trial, Fykes was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced by Judge Jackson on January 29, 2016.
According to the facts presented at trial, as outlined in the government’s sentencing statement, on February 1, 2015, at approximately 4:22 p.m., a male in Colorado Springs called 911 and told the operator he was calling on behalf of a female who was involved in prostitution. Prior to the 911 call, the male caller had contacted the female for sexual services after viewing her website advertisement. When the female arrived at the male’s residence she was visibly nervous and scared. Rather than pursue sexual services, the male called the police for help. The female left the residence with two males in a red Pontiac before the police arrived.
Officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) arrived at the callers location. One officer while responding noticed a 1999 red Pontiac Grand Prix in a driveway. The CSPD officer blocked the driveway with a squad car, preventing the red Pontiac from fleeing. The officer then approached the vehicle’s passenger side and asked the occupant, later identified as Fykes, to exit the vehicle. Another CSPD officer asked the driver to exit the vehicle. Both males complied with CSPD commands.
Officers interviewed the two males in the car, the young female who was the subject of the 911 call who was seated in the back of the red Pontiac, and the original 911 caller. As a result of those interviews, the driver and the passenger (Fykes) were arrested on state charges of human trafficking for sexual servitude. CSPD officers then impounded the Pontiac as it was used in the commission of a felony. Prior to impounding the vehicle, officers did an inventory search. During the search officers found a black backpack. In the unzipped pouch of the backpack the officers found a Taurus .45 caliber revolver. The bag also contained Fykes’ Passport. After finding the weapon, CSPD stopped the inventory search and obtained a search warrant.
Fykes’ criminal history revealed that he was a convicted felon, which by law prohibited him from possessing a weapon. His convictions included a Felony Menacing in Adams County District Court in 1992; Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine in U.S. District Court in Colorado in 1992; Theft in El Paso County District Court in 1992; and Possession of a controlled substance in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2003. The state charges of human trafficking were dismissed against Fykes and the driver of the vehicle as the victim of the crime fled and could not be found.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Colorado Springs Police Department in conjunction with the ATF, a previously convicted felon who was caught with a firearm will now spend the next 5 years away from his family as punishment for his crime,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.
"Fykes is a habitual felon who was indiscriminate in his criminal activity. He has been involved in drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and robbery,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Ken Croke. "Colorado Springs PD should be commended for putting this dangerous felon back behind bars."
This case was investigated by the Colorado Springs Police Department and the ATF.
Fykes was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason St. Julien and Kurt Bohn.
Cherry Creek Man Charged with Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Cherry Creek, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Randy Little Shield, age 25, was indicted on January 21, 2016. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 5, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about October 8, 2015, at Cherry Creek, Little Shield unlawfully assaulted the victim with a baseball bat.
The charge is merely an accusation and Little Shield is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.
Little Shield was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Charleston felon pleads guilty to Federal gun crimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man with several felony convictions who possessed a firearm pleaded guilty today, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Dereck Skylar Brown, 33, entered his guilty plea in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On July 4, 2015, Charleston Police Detectives responded to a shooting at a bar on Leon Sullivan Way and observed Brown leaving the bar immediately after they heard several gunshots from inside the bar. Brown appeared to be concealing something in his waistband as he exited the front door of the bar. Brown ignored the detectives’ commands to stop until after he briefly leaned into an unoccupied vehicle parked with its driver side door open. One detective detained Brown while another looked into the vehicle and observed a Colt .380 semiautomatic pistol on the passenger seat of the vehicle.
The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory later identified a fingerprint lifted from the pistol’s magazine as having been made by Brown’s right thumb. Brown was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of his numerous felony convictions, including armed robbery, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and malicious wounding.
Three people inside the bar suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds. Through law enforcement’s forensic analysis, Brown was excluded as a suspect in the shooting.
Brown faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 13, 2016.
This case was investigated by the Charleston Police Department Special Enforcement Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory also provided invaluable assistance to the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution. The hearing was held before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
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Bakersfield Man Agrees to Forfeit 3,804 Lower Receiver FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher Cook, of Bakersfield, agreed to forfeit to the United States approximately 3,804 polymer AR-15 lower receivers manufactured in violation of federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. AR-15 lower receivers are classified as firearms under federal law.
The AR-15 style rifle is composed of both an upper and lower receiver. The lower receiver contains the trigger control group, hammer and firing mechanism, and contains mounting points for the upper receiver. Federal law classifies AR-15 lower receivers as firearms and, thus, requires that they must be manufactured with serial numbers by a licensed manufacturer, and that they can only be sold by a licensed firearms dealer. In addition, dealers must perform background check on prospective buyers before they can be sold. The unregulated sale of unserialized AR-15 style firearms assembled using similar lower receivers has been a focus of several recent criminal prosecutions in the Eastern District of California.
According to documents filed by the Government in the civil forfeiture case, Christopher Cook manufactured and sold unserialized polymer AR-15 lower receivers online and from his retail store in Bakersfield. Cook also distributed his product to other dealers who sold them at gun shows. Cook’s lower receivers were made of polymer and contained cavities with different color polymer, making it easier for purchasers to mill out the cavities and convert the lower receiver to an operational firearm. Cook holds a dealer’s license and was trained on the laws governing the manufacture and sale of firearms. Cook does not, however, have a manufacturer’s license.
Starting in January 2014, undercover federal agents purchased approximately 33 lower receivers directly from Cook’s retail store, through his company’s online store, or from one of his distributors. Not one of the lower receivers purchased by undercover agents were serialized for later identification, nor did Cook or his distributors initiate background checks. In April 2014, federal agents executed warrants at Cook’s business and personal residence, seizing the 3,804 lower receivers. According to the Government’s complaint, Cook contracted with a Southern California plastics company to manufacture approximately 40,000 of the multi-colored polymer lower receivers. In the stipulation in which he agreed to the forfeiture of the lower receivers, Cook did not admit to the allegations in the Government’s complaint.
“The construction of high-powered firearms with no serial numbers, and the sale of such firearms with no background checks or other regulatory oversight, has become a serious threat to public safety in this area,” said U.S. Attorney Wagner. “As a result of this agreement, over 3,800 unserialized lower receivers will never hit the streets as components in illegally sold firearms.”
“Targeting the illegal manufacturing and distribution of unfinished lower receivers continues to be a priority for ATF. Keeping these untraceable firearms out of the hands of criminals is paramount to protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Khasigian prosecuted the case.
Attorney Charged with Forgery of Federal Bankruptcy Court Orders, Wire Fraud and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a ten- count indictment against attorney Luis R. Santos-Baez, charging him with Forgery of a Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge’s signature, obstruction of justice and wire fraud, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Santos-Baez was arrested earlier today by agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
The indictment alleges that Luis R. Santos-Baez forged and concurred in the use of a purported legal documents bearing the false signatures of Hon. Mildred Caban-Flores and Hon. Edward A. Godoy, both Judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico, for the purpose of authenticating said documents for the bankruptcy proceedings, to wit: documents that appeared to be court orders signed by the Honorable Judges, had in fact never been entered by the bankruptcy court nor signed by any judge.
The indictment also alleges that the defendant unlawfully enriched himself by obtaining money and property from individuals under the false and fraudulent pretenses and representations that defendant had filed on their behalf, bankruptcy petitions under the United States Bankruptcy Code. During the course of the scheme, Santos-Baez filed on behalf of Debtor #1, Debtor #2 and Debtor #3, various bankruptcy petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Santos Baez received payments from the debtors for filing and attorney’s fees. However, the bankruptcy petitions filed by Santos-Baez were later dismissed by the Court for failure to pay the corresponding filing fees and/or failure to provide required information to the Court. Furthermore, Santos-Baez made a series of false and fraudulent statements and representations to convince the debtors that he was working on their cases, and that they were under bankruptcy protection, when in fact their cases had been dismissed. Defendant Santos-Baez also sent e-mail communications attaching fraudulent court documents purportedly filed in the debtors’ bankruptcy cases and signed by United States Bankruptcy Court Judges, when in fact these documents were not signed by, or consented to by the Judges.
In order to carry out the objects of the scheme and artifice to defraud, Santos-Baez sent e-mail communications in furtherance of the scheme to defraud. In these communications Santos-Baez made a series of false statements and provided false documents in order to induce his clients into believing that they were under bankruptcy protection, when in fact their cases had been dismissed. The defendant knew the signatures and the orders provided in these wire communications were fraudulent and false.
“Today’s arrest demonstrates our commitment to prosecute those who maliciously seek to enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable victims who have sought the protection and relief under our bankruptcy laws.” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
“This man took advantage of people who deposited their trust in his profession and alleged expertise with the sole intent to line his own pockets,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “HSI's special agents are constantly vigilant against those who attempt to feed off the vulnerable and will continue to pursue those who think they can game the system.”
“I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez and to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations for joining the U.S. Trustee Program’s efforts to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse,” stated Guy G. Gebhardt, Acting U.S. Trustee for Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 21). The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga Castellón is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to twenty-nine years of imprisonment. Criminal indictments are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Alaskan Physician Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Juneau, Alaska – An Alaskan physician was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography, a lifetime term of supervised release, and a $25,000 fine, announced U.S. Attorney Karen. L. Loeffler.
Greg Alan Salard, 54, of Wrangell, Alaska, was found guilty on July 28, 2015, after a six-day trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess.
According to evidence presented at trial, between June and October 2014, during an FBI investigation concerning the trading of child pornography using peer-to-peer (P2P) software, investigators discovered that an Internet Protocol (IP) address linked to Salard was used on multiple occasions to share files of known child pornography. The evidence also showed that a laptop computer subsequently seized from Salard’s home contained the same P2P software used to share one of the images identified during the investigation.
Testimony regarding a forensic examination of the laptop demonstrated that the computer contained the child pornography video identified by investigators, as well as evidence of hundreds of other files of child pornography; the jury reviewed the contents of eleven of those files. The testimony also showed that multiple searches had been run on the laptop for a term associated with child pornography, and videos of child pornography had been viewed on the computer. Finally, the evidence introduced at trial revealed that a program designed to erase or “wipe” computer files had been used multiple times, including on the morning the search warrant was executed.
At sentencing, Judge Burgess focused on the defendant’s “extremely serious conduct,” and the “thoughtful, deliberate, and sophisticated way in which he obtained the material.” Judge Burgess noted that Salard “was sophisticated enough to put [his child pornography] into files no one searching for it would know were child pornography…he was sophisticated enough to alter the default features of [the file-sharing program. That was not an unintentional step…and only adds to the seriousness.”
Judge Burgess noted that the defendant had not appeared to come to terms with the fact that he had committed a crime and that there was no acknowledgement of guilt. There is no first step toward rehabilitation. Judge Burgess expressed concern with the fact that there was “nothing” to assure him that the defendant will not engage in child exploitation crimes in the future.
Finally, Judge Burgess also stated that the many letters of support submitted on behalf of the defendant did not capture his true nature. “I think Dr. Salard is a sophisticated and manipulative person who was able to compartmentalize his life and deceive others,” said Judge Burgess. “There is a dark and sinister side to his personality that let him get involved in this type of behavior and hide it from others.”
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service; the Petersburg, Alaska, Police Department; the Wrangell, Alaska, Police Department; and the Juneau, Alaska, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon of the District of Alaska, and Trial Attorney Leslie Williams Fisher of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Advance Fee Fraud Scheme Operator Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that DAVID C. JACKSON, also known as “C. David Manns,” “Charles Jackson” and “Andrew D. Smithson,” 54, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 205 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for operating an advance fee fraud scheme that victimized more than 40 individuals who lost a total of more than $4.5 million.
“This sentence is entirely appropriate for this defendant who has a prior federal felony conviction and preyed upon over 40 business owners ultimately defrauding them of more than 4.5 million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Daly. “Many of these victims were small business owners and family farmers struggling in the extremely limited financing environment that existed in the wake of the 2008 recession. “As part of his scheme, Mr. Jackson used multiple identities to conceal his criminal past and thwart background checks. His outright theft had devastating consequences to many of his victims. We urge those seeking business loans to be wary of any one who offers funding that requires significant advance fees. The public should be especially cautious of purported lenders who operate on the internet preying upon trusting individuals unable to verify the accuracy of the representations made by these lenders.”
“Driven by greed, and through lies, deceit, and deception, Mr. Jackson took advantage of unsuspecting individuals and stole millions of dollars so he could line their own pockets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Ferrick. “The FBI will continue to vigorously pursue and bring to justice those who would operate advance fee fraud schemes.”
On December 22, 2014, a grand jury returned an 11-count indictment charging JACKSON, formerly of Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and Alexander D. Hurt, also known as “Alex Hurt” and “Alex Dante,” of Scottsdale, Ariz., and formerly of Massachusetts, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. The indictment also charged Hurt with one count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement. On September 29, 2015, a jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, in approximately September 2009, JACKSON, using the alias “C. David Manns,” established Jalin Realty Capital Advisors, LLC, using a business address in Dayton, Ohio. In 2011, JACKSON changed the name of his business to American Capital Holdings, LLC, using business addresses in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Soon after changing the business name, JACKSON began introducing himself to victim clients as “Charles Jackson” and then also used the name “Andrew Smithson” to prevent victims from learning his true identity and the true nature of his background and his scheme.
Hurt held himself out as Vice President of Brightway Financial Group, LLC, a company that used a business addresses in Grapevine, Texas. As established during the trial, Hurt used his background as a pastor with a Brockton, Massachusetts church to gain the confidence of at least one victim who lost money in the scheme.
JACKSON, Hurt and others defrauded individuals, including Connecticut residents, who wired funds to them in anticipation of receiving large business loans. The upfront fees were alternately described as “application fees,” “collateral fees” or “commitment fees.” The victims were promised a refund of the upfront fees if their loan transactions were not completed. In order to convince victim-borrowers that the loans were legitimate and Jalin and ACH had successfully secured loans in the past, JACKSON provided victims and potential victims the name and phone number of a co-conspirator and told them that they could contact her for a reference. After she was contacted, the co-conspirator falsely represented to victims and potential victims that she had, in fact, received funding from JACKSON for a construction loan, and that she had successfully done a project financed with her co-conspirator and Jalin. The reference she gave was false and was just another part of the scam.
Through this scheme, more than 40 individuals provided JACKSON and Hurt with more than $4.5 million in advance fees and funds that were to be held in escrow for business loans that were never provided. Some of the individuals received partial refunds of the advance fees they had provided, but the refunds were made using fees that had been paid by other victims in a Ponzi-like scheme. JACKSON was ordered to make full restitution.
JACKSON has been detained since his arrest on August 26, 2014.
JACKSON was previously convicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania of federal bank fraud and money laundering offenses in October 2006 and was sentenced to 41 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was released from federal prison in September 2009 and operated this advance fee fraud scheme while on supervised release.
Hurt, who is released on bond, awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ansonia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Michael S. McGarry.
Monday 8 February 2016
Wife of Dead ISIL Leader Charged in Death of Kayla Jean MuellerRead the Press Release
Defendant Charged with Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to ISIL
Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, aka Umm Sayyaf, 25, an Iraqi citizen and wife of Abu Sayyaf, a senior leader within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) until his death last year, was charged by criminal complaint today for her role in a conspiracy that resulted in the death of American citizen Kayla Jean Mueller in February 2015.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
“The charges filed today allege that Umm Sayyaf and others conspired to provide material support to ISIL and that this conspiracy resulted in the death of Kayla Jean Mueller,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Sayyaf is currently in Iraqi custody for her terrorism-related activities. We fully support the Iraqi prosecution of Sayyaf and will continue to work with the authorities there to pursue our shared goal of holding Sayyaf accountable for her crimes. At the same time, these charges reflect that the U.S. justice system remains a powerful tool to bring to bear against those who harm our citizens abroad. We will continue to pursue justice for Kayla and for all American victims of terrorism.”
“Kayla Mueller’s kidnapping and death is a tragic reminder of the dangers that ISIL poses to Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Boente. “We will continue to work alongside the FBI to investigate this case and remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for the Mueller family.”
“The FBI continues to work tirelessly alongside our partners to hold accountable those who are responsible for the kidnapping and death of Kayla Mueller,” said Assistant Director in Charge Abbate. “This criminal complaint is another step toward achieving justice in the case. We will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and arrest those who are responsible for the kidnappings and murders of American citizens.”
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, in August 2013, on their second full day in northern Syria, Mueller and Individual 1 were kidnapped at gunpoint by masked ISIL soldiers. Mueller remained an ISIL hostage until her death on or about Feb. 7, 2015.
According to the affidavit, in August 2014, Individual 2 and Individual 3, two young Kurdish women of Yazidi heritage, were forcibly kidnapped by ISIL from their village in northern Iraq. After their capture, Individual 2 and Individual 3 were taken to a prison in Syria maintained by ISIL where they were held with Mueller.
According to the affidavit, on or about Sept. 24, 2014, Mueller, Individual 2 and Individual 3 were transferred from the ISIL prison to the custody of Abu and Umm Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf, who reported directly to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was ISIL’s minister of oil and gas, and was previously responsible for ISIL’s media program. The Sayyafs maintained several residences where they forcibly held Mueller, Individual 2 and Individual 3, along with other female captives. The captives were at various times handcuffed, held in locked rooms, and Mueller was sexually abused by Baghdadi, who forced her to have sex with him. Umm Sayyaf knew how Mueller was treated by Baghdadi when Mueller was held against her will in Sayyaf’s home.
The Sayyaf residences featured ISIL flags and other ISIL-branded items, and often had numerous firearms open and visible to captives. For a period of time, a large supply of weapons was maintained in a room of one of the residences for use by ISIL fighters.
According to the affidavit, the Sayyafs held young women who were sold or traded to ISIL men, and the women were characterized as being “owned” by the ISIL men who acquired them. While Mueller, Individual 2 and Individual 3 were held captive by the Sayyafs, Umm Sayyaf threatened the women, telling them she would kill them if they did not listen to her.
According to the affidavit, on or about May 15, 2015, the U.S. military conducted an operation targeting one of the Sayyaf residences. During the operation, Abu Sayyaf was killed when he engaged with U.S. military forces and Umm Sayyaf was captured. Firearms stored at the residence at the time of the operation were seized and are currently in the custody of the FBI.
According to the affidavit, beginning on or about June 17, 2015, Umm Sayyaf was interviewed by FBI agents and admitted that her family belonged to the al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) terrorist organization, the predecessor group to ISIL, and remained members of the terrorist organization when its name changed to ISIL. The defendant admitted to holding Mueller, Individual 2, Individual 3 and others hostage on behalf of ISIL. Umm Sayyaf also admitted she had sole responsibility for Mueller, Individual 2, Individual 3 and others in captivity while her husband travelled on ISIL business. In addition, she admitted to hosting ISIL members, including al-Baghdadi, at her residence.
According to the affidavit, Sayyaf admitted that al-Baghdadi “owned” Mueller during her captivity at the Sayyaf residence and admitted that “owning” is equivalent to slavery.
If convicted, Sayyaf faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. 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.
The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Bridget Behling and John Gibbs of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Sayyaf Complaint
Wife of Dead ISIL Leader Charged in Death of Kayla Jean MuellerRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, aka Umm Sayyaf, 25, an Iraqi citizen and wife of Abu Sayyaf, a senior leader within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) until his death last year, was charged by criminal complaint today for her role in a conspiracy that resulted in the death of American citizen Kayla Jean Mueller in February 2015.
“Kayla Mueller’s kidnapping and death is a tragic reminder of the dangers that ISIL poses to Americans,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to work alongside the FBI to investigate this case and remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice for the Mueller family.”
“The charges filed today allege that Umm Sayyaf and others conspired to provide material support to ISIL and that this conspiracy resulted in the death of Kayla Jean Mueller,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Sayyaf is currently in Iraqi custody for her terrorism-related activities. We fully support the Iraqi prosecution of Sayyaf and will continue to work with the authorities there to pursue our shared goal of holding Sayyaf accountable for her crimes. At the same time, these charges reflect that the U.S. justice system remains a powerful tool to bring to bear against those who harm our citizens abroad. We will continue to pursue justice for Kayla and for all American victims of terrorism.”
“The FBI continues to work tirelessly alongside our partners to hold accountable those who are responsible for the kidnapping and death of Kayla Mueller,” said Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “This criminal complaint is another step toward achieving justice in the case. We will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate, and arrest those who are responsible for the kidnappings and murders of American citizens.”
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, in August 2013, on their second full day in northern Syria, Mueller and Individual #1 were kidnapped at gunpoint by masked ISIL soldiers. Mueller remained a hostage of ISIL until her death on or about Feb. 7, 2015.
According to the affidavit, in August 2014, Individual #2 and Individual #3, two young Kurdish women of Yazidi heritage, were forcibly kidnapped by ISIL from their village in northern Iraq. After their capture, Individual #2 and Individual #3 were taken to a prison in Syria maintained by ISIL where they were held with Mueller.
According to the affidavit, on or about Sept. 24, 2014, Mueller, Individual #2 and Individual #3 were transferred from the ISIL prison to the custody of Abu and Umm Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf, who held a senior leadership position within ISIL and reported directly to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was ISIL’s minister of oil and gas, and was previously responsible for ISIL’s media program. The Sayyaf’s maintained several residences where they forcibly held Mueller, Individual #2, and Individual #3, along with other female captives. The captives were at various times handcuffed, held in locked rooms, and Mueller was sexually abused by Baghdadi, who forced her to have sex with him. Umm Sayyaf knew how Mueller was treated by Baghdadi when Mueller was held against her will in Sayyaf’s home.
The Sayyaf residences featured ISIL flags and other ISIL-branded items, and often had numerous firearms open and visible to captives. For a period of time, a large supply of weapons was maintained in a room of one of the residences for use by ISIL fighters.
According to the affidavit, the Sayyaf’s held young women who were sold or traded to ISIL men, and the women were characterized as being “owned” by the ISIL men who acquired them. While Mueller, Individual #2, and Individual #3 were held captive by the Sayyaf’s, Umm Sayyaf threatened the women, telling them she would kill them if they did not listen to her.
According to the affidavit, on or about May 15, 2015, the U.S. military conducted an operation targeting one of the Sayyaf residences. During the operation, Abu Sayyaf was killed when he engaged with U.S. military forces, and Umm Sayyaf was captured. Firearms stored at the residence at the time of the operation were seized and are currently in the custody of the FBI.
According to the affidavit, beginning on or about June 17, 2015, Umm Sayyaf was interviewed by FBI agents and admitted that her family belonged to the al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) terrorist organization, the predecessor group to ISIL, and remained members of the terrorist organization when its name changed to ISIL. The defendant admitted to holding Mueller, Individual #2, Individual #3, and others hostage on behalf of ISIL. Umm Sayyaf also admitted she had sole responsibility for Mueller, Individual #2, Individual #3, and others in captivity while her husband travelled on ISIL business. In addition, she admitted to hosting ISIL members, including al-Baghdadi, at her residence.
According to the affidavit, Umm Sayyaf admitted that al-Baghdadi “owned” Mueller during her captivity at the Sayyaf residence, and admitted that “owning” is equivalent to slavery.
Umm Sayyaf has been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. 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; John P. Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick and Trial Attorneys Bridget Behling and John Gibbs are 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. 1:16-mj-63.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Wheeling woman sentenced for cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jennifer Vensel, 38, of Wheeling, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Vensel was discovered in possession of cocaine base in late 2014 in Ohio County, West Virginia. Following an investigation by the Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, she pled guilty in May 2015 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter for Killing a Climber in National Park in MarylandRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - David DiPaolo, age 33, of Bristow, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a person in Carderock, a popular rock climbing area within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Chief of Police Robert MacLean of the U.S. Park Police.
According to DiPaolo’s plea agreement, on December 28, 2013, DiPaolo had an argument with the victim in the parking area at Carderock Recreation Area (Carderock), located in Bethesda, Maryland, within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Immediately following this altercation, the victim went to the base of the rock climbing area and DiPaolo returned to his parked vehicle. Shortly thereafter, DiPaolo found the victim and used a claw hammer to hit the victim multiple times on his head. DiPaolo then fled first from Carderock and subsequently drove to New York State, where he remained until his arrest on January 8, 2014.
Following DiPaolo’s attack, other rock climbers in the area discovered the victim at the base of the rock face. The victim was suffering from massive head trauma, but was still alive. Emergency personnel were called, and the victim was airlifted to a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, where he later died of his injuries.
DiPaolo and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement DiPaolo will be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for May 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Park Police for its work in the investigation and thanked the New York State Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, who is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney’s Office Releases Tips to Keep Kids Safe OnlineRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. released today a list of tips that parents, teachers, caregivers, and others, can use to help keep children safe online. Today’s tips, in conjunction with the offer of free community training sessions, continues the United States Attorney’s Office mission of not only prosecuting those who exploit children but also being a community leader in education and prevention.
“The amount of technology our children have access to expands almost daily. It is nearly impossible for parents to keep up with every website or social media portal their children visit, which is why we, as parents, must be vigilant in protecting our children from online exploitation,” United States Attorney John P. Fishwick said today. “In our office we have experts who not only prosecute these cases but also train parents, and other community members, to help keep our kids safe online.”
U.S. Attorney Fishwick, along with Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Assistant United States Attorney Nancy S. Healey, offered the attached “Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online” as a basic resource for parents, and others, who are looking for some first steps to take in keeping children safe online.
The U.S. Attorney also announced today that in the coming weeks and months he, along with AUSA Healey and others, will be offering free training for parents, teachers, school groups, and other interested community groups, looking to learn more about the online dangers children encounter on a daily basis and how to keep kids safe online. These presentations can be tailored for length and audience and offer a plethora of information dealing with the subject of online safety.
“This is a topic every parent needs to be up-to-date on,” AUSA Healey said today. “Unfortunately, there are many places our kids are going online that parents simply aren’t informed enough about. Our kids are also posting questionable pictures online and communicating with people they don’t always know. I hope through these tips and our trainings that we can help parents better understand the online world our children are encountering.”
For more information or to schedule a free training session, please contact Brian McGinn, 434-293-4283, [email protected]. Groups of all sizes are encouraged to reach out.
Two Men Plead to Possessing Large Quantities of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Two Memphis men have pled guilty to conspiring to distribute large quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone. One of the defendants has also pled to possessing multiple firearms. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the pleas today.
According to information presented in court, 45-year-old Freeman Monger and 40-year-old Jeffrey Ingram, both of Memphis, possessed with intent to distribute large quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone. Ingram also possessed multiple handguns and rifles.
In April 2013, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Ingram. A large quantity of cocaine was found in Ingram’s vehicle. Deputies later executed a search warrant at Ingram’s residence, as well as storage units he maintained. Eleven handguns and two rifles were recovered from the storage units.
Over two years later, in August 2015, deputies executed a search warrant on a residence owned by Monger. Upon entering the residence, law enforcement located Monger and Ingram in separate parts of the house. A search of the residence yielded hundreds of grams of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as 50 oxycodone pills. The residence was reportedly used to stash and distribute narcotics.
A search warrant was also conducted on Ingram’s residence in August 2015. Deputies recovered a Beretta 9mm pistol during the search.
On Friday, February 5, 2016, both Ingram and Monger pled guilty to multiple offenses.
Ingram pled guilty to two counts of possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine; individual counts of aiding and abetting a co-conspirator in possession with the intent to distribute multiple grams of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone; felony possession of 13 firearms; felony possession of 12 firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and felony possession of a Beretta 9mm pistol.
Monger pled guilty to aiding and abetting a co-conspirator in unlawful possession with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. on Thursday, May 6, 2016.
Ingram faces a maximum sentence of life.
Monger faces a maximum sentence of 40 years.
This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lorraine Craig is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Sprinfield Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – Terrence Victoria, 30, of Springfield, Ohio was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 96 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Donald J. Soranno, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Clark County Sheriff Gene A. Kelly, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.
According to court documents, Victoria was armed with a semi-automatic pistol while at the parking lot of Horseshoe Sports Bar in Springfield, Ohio. The recovery of his firearm occurred following an interaction with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office during which the defendant was incapacitated by a gunshot wound.
Victoria pleaded guilty on July 29, 2015 to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
“The defendant displayed the firearm and threatened a patron in the bathroom of the bar,” Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Smith told the court. “As law enforcement responded, Mr. Victoria left the bar and went to a vehicle in the parking lot, where he pointed the firearm at responding deputies.”
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by ATF and BCI, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Amy Smith, who is representing the United States in this case.
Shawnee Mission Man Sentenced in $6 Million EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Shawnee Mission man was sentenced Monday to 63 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $6 million from an Overland Park company, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Kenneth Voboril, 46, Shawnee Mission, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. In his plea, he admitted he was hired in 2005 by Commodity Specialists Company to run its subsidiary, TransMaxx. TransMaxx brokered trucking deliveries for customers and occasionally provided services to CSC.
Voboril devised a scheme to defraud CSC by creating fake companies and billing CSC for deliveries that never occurred. He caused false truck load information to be entered into TransMaxx’s computer system, resulting in invoices being created by TransMaxx’s account software program.
Over the course of time, he embezzled more than $6 million from CSC. In addition, he failed to report the income on his federal tax returns.
Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Shasta County Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the VA by Falsely Claiming He Was a Decorated VeteranRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Cal Howe II, 42, of Lakehead, pleaded guilty today to 23 misdemeanor counts in a scheme to obtain thousands of dollars in veterans’ benefits to which he was not entitled, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, Howe pleaded guilty to one count of theft in connection with a healthcare program, 20 counts of theft of government property, one count of making a fraudulent demand against the United States, and one count of making a fraudulent representation about the receipt of military decorations or medals.
According to the superseding information filed on January 14, 2016, between February 2012 and April 2015, Howe obtained health care benefits from the Veterans Affairs Health Benefits Program. He also obtained fraudulent travel reimbursements from the VA, and applied for a VA pension. He falsely claimed he was a decorated United States Marine Corps veteran and the recipient of three Purple Heart medals, although he had never enlisted or served in the armed forces of the United States.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
Howe is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2016, by United States Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan. Howe faces a maximum statutory penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and a one-year term of supervised release on each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
School Bus Driver Gets 500 Months for Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas – A 46-year-old Galveston man has been ordered to federal prison for nearly 42 years for sexual exploitation of a child as well as possession and distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Michael Lee Martinez pleaded guilty Sept. 11, 2015.
Today, U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. handed Martinez a sentence of 360 months for three counts of production of child pornography, each to be served concurrently. He also received a sentence of 140 months for the distribution which be served consecutively to production sentence and 120 months for possession which is to be served concurrently to the other sentences imposed. The total 500-month sentence will be followed by life on supervised release during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet and will be required to register as a sex offender.
At the hearing, information was presented including evidence that he produced numerous images to a website used by pedophiles to exchange child pornography. He possessed 140 videos and 394 images of child pornography on his cell phone as well as 44 images and 1,261 videos in his emails. The images Martinez produced were of two minor female relatives and a close friend of one of the relatives. All of the victims were under 16 years of age with one only five.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks called his actions horrible and selfish. “You destroyed the lives of three innocent children,” the court noted, “and society has to protect itself from people like you.”
Martinez came to the attention of law enforcement during a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation of a particular website hosted outside the United States. The website was used by those sexually exploiting children and looking to connect with others who shared their interest in the sexual exploitation of children by trading images of child pornography.
Martinez created an account on this website in May 2014, using the screen name “Mr. Happy” and indicated he loved girls eight to 16 years of age. His profile contained 37 albums with hundreds of images of child pornography. A review of his albums led law enforcement to believe Martinez was producing some of the images he had posted to the website. Law enforcement was able to identify the victims and learned Martinez was a school bus driver. There is no indication that any of this criminal behavior was connected to his employment nor any of his victims a part of his route.
Martinez admitted to his criminal behavior, including stealing images of from two of his victims’ cell phones. He turned his phone over to law enforcement and indicated they would find images of him sexually gratifying himself next to the head of one of the victims as well as an image of his face near her breasts while she slept.
Martinez was originally arrested by local authorities and later transferred to federal custody where he has been and will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Galveston Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He still faces state charges in Galveston.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Randolph County Resident Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
On February 3, 2016, Randall A. Miller, 25, of Percy, was sentenced on a methamphetamine offense, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter, announced today.
Miller, who had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison, 3 years’ supervised release, and fined $200.00. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Miller was involved with others in distribution of ice/methamphetamine. Ice is a form of methamphetamine with a purity of at least 80%. Miller was getting dealer amounts of ice/methamphetamine from a Missouri source for redistribution in southern Illinois. At sentencing, the judge found that Miller was responsible for the distribution of more than 1.9 kilograms of ice/methamphetamine. Miller also received a sentencing enhancement based on his possession of a firearm. The offense occurred between 2013 and June 2015, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Counties. Six co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Five co-defendants have pled not guilty and are awaiting a February 29, 2016, jury trial. As to those awaiting trial, remember that they are presumed innocent unless/until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Drug Task Force, Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department, Mascoutah Police Department, Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, DuQuoin Police Department, Pinckneyville Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Randolph and Perry County State’s Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
Pittsburgh Man Participated in California to Pennsylvania Cocaine Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Keith Beck, 23, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies joined forces in a multi-agency wiretap investigation of drug trafficking and violence in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The interception of wire and electronic communications began in December 2013 and continued through the end of August 2014. During that timeframe, Keith Beck was intercepted over the wire conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, which was shipped from California to the Western District of Pennsylvania through the United States Postal Service or commercial carrier.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2016. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s detention.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Keith Beck.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of ChildrenRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Today, Abram Kyle O’Bannon, 31, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 14 years’ incarceration, to be followed by a 20 year term of supervised release. O’Bannon previously pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking of children.
“My office places a high priority on investigating and prosecuting human traffickers, who prey on the weak and vulnerable for financial advantage,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “I am hopeful that today’s fourteen-year sentence will send a strong message that such conduct will be punished severely.”
O’Bannon was responsible for the sex trafficking of a juvenile in Phoenix, Ariz., during a four-day period in October 2014. On October 15, 2015, the Phoenix Police Department Vice Enforcement Unit recovered the juvenile victim during an undercover operation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Phoenix Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Robert Brooks and Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-CR14-1530-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-007_O’Bannon
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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to More Than 14 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping, Jewelry Store RobberyRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KASAM HENNIX, 42, of Easton, Pa., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 171 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a violent kidnapping and jewelry store robbery in April 2013.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 11, 2013, HENNIX, William Davis, Christopher Gay and Jeffrey Houston, all of whom were wearing masks and gloves and two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into an apartment on Gravel Street in Meriden, Conn., bound four victims with duct tape and covered their heads with pillowcases, towels and jackets. HENNIX, Davis, and Houston then forced two of the victims into a victim’s vehicle and drove to Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, Conn., where the two victims worked. A fifth defendant traveled to Fairfield in a separate vehicle, and Gay remained in the Meriden apartment to guard the two other victims.
After the perpetrators arrived at the Fairfield store, they stole jewelry, watches and loose diamonds with a total replacement value of more than $3 million. They then fled in the victim’s car, leaving the two victims bound inside the store. One of the defendants called Gay to advise him that they had successfully carried out the robbery and that he should leave the apartment. The defendants abandoned the victim’s vehicle before they fled the state.
HENNIX has been detained since his arrest on May 22, 2013. On May 18, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
HENNIX’s criminal history includes a conviction for third degree murder for which he served approximately 20 years in prison. In October 1992, HENNIX shot a victim multiple times with a sawed-off shotgun, and his co-defendant then shot the victim in the head, killing him. He was discharged from custody in October 2012.
William Davis of Allentown, Pa., Jeffrey Houston of Allentown, and Christopher Gay of the Bronx, N.Y., also pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their involvement in this kidnapping and robbery. The fifth defendant is awaiting trial. On April 17, 2015, Davis was sentenced to 176 months in prison and, on January 27, 2016, Gay was sentenced to 102 months in prison. Houston has not been sentenced.
HENNIX, Davis and Gay have been ordered to pay restitution of more than $3.1 million.
The defendants also have forfeited gemstones, jewelry, watches, a vehicle, and more than $127,000 in cash seized from them at the time of their arrests.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfield Police Department and Meriden Police Department. U.S. Attorney Daly also acknowledged the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI in New York and Pennsylvania; the York, Allentown and Bethlehem Police Departments in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton.