Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
23 November 2015
Ogdensburg Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ConvictionsRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Bruce Michael Dority, age 55, of Ogdensburg, New York, was sentenced today to serve 112 months in prison on his convictions for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Dority to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to begin upon his release from prison. Dority must also register as a sex offender.
Dority admitted that between November 2013 and April 2014, he searched on the Internet for graphic images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, found such images, and downloaded such images onto his computer in order to view them. Dority also admitted that on May 6, 2014, he possessed numerous graphic image files of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Kopita.
Non-Citizen Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for DrugsRead the Press Release
Jose Francisco Garcia, 28, of Mexico, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on a one-count indictment charging him with Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced. Following his prison sentence, Garcia will be on federal supervised release for 3 years. In addition, Garcia was ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a $100 special assessment.
On December 22, 2014, Garcia was arrested by Collinsville Police Department for possession of a controlled substance. Garcia pled guilty to the offense on May 14, 2015.
This case was investigated by the Collinsville Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deirdre A. Durborow.
Monroe Construction Company, Its President and Four Codefendants Sentenced for Government Contract FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. sentenced Boggs Paving, Inc. (Boggs Paving), its president and part-owner, Carl Andrew “Drew” Boggs, III, and four others on charges stemming from the illegal use of a disadvantaged business enterprise to obtain government-funded construction contracts, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Marlies T. Gonzalez, Regional Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Region IV; John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division; and Thomas J. Holloman III, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), join U.S. Attorney Rose in making today’s announcement.
Drew Boggs, 51, of Waxhaw, N.C. was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release, and received a $15,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and money laundering conspiracy. Kevin Hicks, 44, of Monroe, N.C., was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud USDOT and money laundering conspiracy. Greg Miller, 61, of Matthews, N.C., was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release, Greg Tucker, 42, of Oakboro, N.C., was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and John Cuthbertson (a/k/a Styx Cuthbertson), 70, of Monroe, was sentenced to two years of probation, three of which will be served in home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. They each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud USDOT. Judge Cogburn sentenced the company, Boggs Paving, to pay a $500,000 fine. A fifth codefendant, Arnold Mann, 56, of Fort Mill, S.C., was previously sentenced to a term of probation, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud USDOT.
According to documents filed in the case, statements made in court and today’s sentencing hearings, from 2003 through 2013, Boggs Paving, Drew Boggs, and their codefendants engaged in a scheme by which they fraudulently obtained federally and state funded construction contracts by falsely certifying that a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), or a small business enterprise (SBE) would perform and be paid for portion of the work on those contracts. The purpose of USDOT’s DBE program is to increase the participation of such businesses in federally-funded public construction and transportation-related projects.
According to court records, Boggs Paving and the codefendants used Monroe-based Styx Cuthbertson Trucking Company, Inc. (“Styx”), a road construction hauler and a certified DBE and SBE, to help obtain the government-funded construction contracts. Court documents show that the codefendants took steps to conceal their fraud, including running payments for the work performed through a nominee bank account in Styx’s name and using magnetic decals bearing the “Styx” company logo to cover the “Boggs” logo on company trucks, among others. According to court records, the majority of the money was funneled back to Boggs Paving and its affiliates, and John Cuthbertson, owner of Styx, received kickbacks for allowing his company’s name and DBE status to be used by Boggs Paving.
Court records show that from June 2004 to July 2013, Boggs Paving was the prime contractor on 35 federally-funded contracts, and was a subcontractor for two additional contracts, worth over $87.6 million. Boggs Paving claimed DBE credits of approximately $3.7 million on these contracts for payments purportedly made to Styx. Styx only received payments of approximately $375,432 for actual work on these contracts, court records show.
In court today, Judge Cogburn described the DBE program as laudable and emphasized the imortance of deterrence in sentencing the defendants.
The investigation of the case was handled by USDOT-OIG, FBI and IRS. Assistant United States Attorneys Jenny G. Sugar and Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Pass Fraudulent PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today that on November 19, 2015, Luke Xavier Lore, 47, formerly of Saint Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to two counts of Attempting to Acquire or Obtain a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge. The charges carry maximum penalties of four years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. Having been previously arrested on July 2, 2015, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint, Lore remains detained, without bond, pending sentencing. The district court set sentencing for March 8, 2016.
According to facts revealed in court, on February 2, 2015, in Madison County, and on April 6, 2015 in Saint Clair County, Lore created fraudulent prescriptions and attempted to have them passed at pharmacies. In February, he attempted to illegally obtain Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and Alprazolam (trade name: Xanax), a Schedule IV controlled substance. In April, he attempted to illegally obtain Hydrocodone (trade name: Norco).
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Alton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Coonan.
Mexican National Sentenced in Alien Smuggling Case that Resulted in a DeathRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 32-year-old man from Mexico has been ordered to prison after knowingly transporting an illegal alien within the United States for private financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Victor Manuel Moreno-Ruiz pleaded guilty Sept. 2, 2015, further admitting that during the course of the illegal conduct, a female illegal alien died.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Moreno-Ruiz a 150-month sentence. At the hearing, additional evidence was presented including testimony from the case agent and the autopsy report. The agent testified that he had interviewed one of the undocumented aliens who was part of a group that Moreno-Ruiz was smuggling in August 2014. The undocumented alien reported that he witnessed a woman from the group fall off the bridge near the Pharr Port of Entry and land on the ground underneath. Unable to move due to her severe injuries, Moreno-Ruiz then ordered two other undocumented aliens to move the woman from the main road to a brushy area so as not to compromise the smuggling route.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that Moreno-Ruiz displayed a complete and callous disregard for the life of this woman.
At the time of his plea, Moreno-Ruiz admitted that on Aug. 4, 2014, he served as a foot guide responsible for smuggling a group of undocumented aliens into the United States. He instructed them how to walk along the side of the bridge and how to scale down from it at the Pharr Port of Entry. He further admitted that he left the injured woman behind and continued to smuggle the remaining members of the group.
The next day, law enforcement officers discovered the deceased body of the female victim. An autopsy revealed she had died as a result of blunt force trauma due to a fall.
Moreno-Ruiz will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. As an illegal alien himself, Moreno-Ruiz is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.
The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance by Border Patrol, Pharr Police Department and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Alex Benavides are prosecuted the case.
Memphis Woman Sentenced to 42 Months for Defrauding IRS of More Than $100,000Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A 33-year-old Memphis woman has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.
According to the facts presented in the charging document and revealed during the sentencing, between January 26, 2012 and July 17, 2012, Felechia Williams participated in a scheme to obtain payment of fraudulent federal tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false claims using the identities of various individuals without lawful authority. The stolen funds were routed to bank accounts controlled by Williams and others. As a result of the scheme, Williams and her two co-conspirators, Sharonda Carroll, 39, and Priscilla Rayford, 47, both of Memphis, received more than $100,000 in false federal income tax refunds.
In August 2015, Williams pled guilty to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.
On Thursday, November 19, 2015, Williams was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to 42 months in prison. Williams was also ordered to pay restitution of $108,471.66 to the IRS.
Carroll and Rayford have also entered guilty pleas. Carroll is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 24, 2015. Rayford is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, December 3, 2015.
This investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted the case on the government’s behalf.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ravi Singit, 41, of Rockville, Md., pled guilty today to a charge of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Singit pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He is to be sentenced Feb. 11, 2016 by the Honorable Senior Judge John D. Bates. Singit faces a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 15 years upon his release from prison.
According to the government's evidence, on Aug. 26, 2015, Singit contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social network site. Over the next several days, Singit engaged in e-mail, phone, and text message conversations with the undercover officer, whom the defendant believed had access to a purported under-age girl. During this period of time, Singit arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.
On Aug. 31, 2015, Singit traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Assistant Director in Charge Abbate, and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassidy Kesler Pinegar, who is prosecuting the case.
Manchester Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Jesse David Kuchta, age 28, of Manchester, Maryland, today to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production and possession of child pornography. Judge Russell ordered that upon his release from prison, Kutcha must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees; and Carroll County State’s Attorney Brian DeLeonardo.
According to Kuchta’s plea agreement, on May 14, 2014, a detective with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that had been uploaded to a website. Law enforcement identified Kuchta as the holder of the website’s accounts. On May 14, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kuchta’s residence.
Kuchta arrived home during the search. He admitted taking the images and videos of a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct and uploading them online. Law enforcement seized a flash drive, two micro SD cards and two cell phones used to produce and possess the child pornography, as well as other items seen in the images and videos that Kuchta produced.
This case 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HSI Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ayn B. Ducao, who prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Threats and Starting A Fire at Gettysburg National ParkRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gary L. DuRocher, age 42, formerly a resident of Maryland, was sentenced today to 33 months imprisonment by United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III in Harrisburg, for threats and starting a fire at Gettysburg National Park.
DuRocher was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $ 28,385.58 for the destruction of the hay on Park-owned property and clean-up costs. DuRocher has been in custody since August 2014.
According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, on August 8, 2014, DuRocher was involved in a dispute in the Park that led to his fleeing the scene. During his flight, DuRocher set fire to more than 200 bales of hay on Park-owned property to create a diversion. During that flight, DuRocher also sent text messages threatening to do harm to another person.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service with the assistance of Cumberland Township, Gettysburg Borough, McSherrystown Borough, Pennsylvania State Police and Maryland State Police, as well as fire and emergency response personnel from around the Gettysburg area. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy.
# # #
Man Ordered Held without Bond after Being Arrested on Charges of Retaliating Against IRS Employee by Filing $10 Million LienRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A man facing federal charges related to a $10 million lien filed against an Internal Revenue Service employee has been ordered held without bond pending trial after being arrested last week by federal agents.
James R. Vanderveldt was arrested Thursday morning and arraigned on Thursday afternoon in United States District Court. The Court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf under the name of “John Doe” after he refused to enter a plea to the charges.
A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned a two-count indictment that charges Vanderveldt with retaliation against a federal law enforcement officer by filing a false lien and obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws. The indictment alleges that the crimes took place in San Bernardino County.
At Vanderveldt’s court appearance on Thursday, a trial was scheduled for January 12, 2016 before United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal. If he is convicted of the two counts, Vanderveldt would face a statutory maximum sentence of 13 years in federal prison.
“The filing of fraudulent liens against government officials is more than harassment – it is a crime,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Use of this tactic to intimidate or deter a public official from doing his or her duty will fail.”
According to the indictment, Vanderveldt filed a false lien against the real and personal property of IRS employee “D.H.” that claimed the employee and D.H.’s spouse owed Vanderveldt $10 million. The false lien was allegedly filed in 2010 “on account of D.H.’s performance of his official duties.”
Vanderveldt is also charged in the indictment with “sending a false bill and other materials to D.H. that referenced a $10,000,000 debt that D.H. and D.H.’s spouse purportedly owed to Vanderveldt. In truth and in fact, as defendant Vanderveldt then well knew, neither D.H. nor D.H.’s spouse were indebted to defendant Vanderveldt.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The case against Vanderveldt was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Luzerne County man pleaded guilty today in Scranton before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to a federal heroin trafficking charge.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Pedro Noriega, age 42, of Plymouth, Luzerne County, admitted to the charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Noriega was indicted by a grand jury in August 2015.
The charge stems from an investigation in which investigators arranged to make a purchase of heroin from Noriega and then obtained a search warrant for Noriega’s residence, located on West Main Street in Plymouth, and seized approximately 495 bags of suspected heroin, a quantity of raw heroin, packaging materials and drug paraphernalia from a bedroom in the residence.
The investigation was conducted by the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations (BNI) of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.
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 up to twenty 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.
# # #
Leader of Pennsylvania to West Virginia heroin trafficking network convicted in federal courtRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher T. Gyorko, 31, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was convicted of heroin trafficking today in federal court, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Gyorko orchestrated and managed a drug trafficking operation in which heroin was transported across state lines from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania into Ohio and Marshall Counties in West Virginia, as well as locations in Ohio, for redistribution and sale. Gyrko was among six individuals charged in an 18-count federal indictment in June 2015. One additional defendant was charged in federal court by criminal Information. Six additional defendants were charged in state court.
Gyorko pled guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the Investigation.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
Leader of Bank Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced to 33 Months in CustodyRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Green (619) 546-6955 and Eric Beste (619) 546-6695
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 23, 2015
SAN DIEGO – A leader of a sophisticated bank fraud scheme that used dozens of bank accounts in the names of fictitious businesses was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for his role in causing $689,000 in losses to Bank of America.
U.S. Chief District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz sentenced Vahag Stepanyan of Las Vegas, Nevada, to almost three years in custody based on the defendant’s “brazen” scheme to defraud a federally insured financial institution, as well as for his participation in a separate tax fraud scheme that resulted in millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for tax refunds.
As a part of the bank fraud scheme, Stepanyan guided other co-conspirators in the creation of fictitious business entities in Nevada that were used to set up accounts at Bank of America. Stepanyan and other co-conspirators then engaged in a series of bank transactions that allowed co-conspirators to withdraw recently deposited funds from the bank accounts before Bank of America learned that the accounts did not have sufficient funds to cover the withdrawals. The scheme resulted in a loss of $689,000 to Bank of America.
In addition, as a part of a separate scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, Stepanyan cashed checks drawn on accounts that had received fraudulent tax refunds. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Moskowitz remarked that Stepanyan’s participation in a scheme to defraud the United States “added insult to injury” because he sought to take advantage of the nation that had welcomed him from Armenia.
At the conclusion of today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Moskowitz remanded Stepanyan into custody to begin serving his 33-month sentence.
DEFENDANTS
Vahag Stepanyan Age: 34 Las Vegas, NV
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, $250,000 fine, restitution
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation
Leader of the Black P Stone Nation Gang, Kenton Maurice Taylor, Convicted on Heroin Charges by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
THREE OTHER GANG MEMBERS PLED GUILTY PRIOR TO TRIAL
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — United States Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today that a jury convicted Kenton Maurice Taylor, age 45, of heroin trafficking and conspiracy. He faces a federal prison term of at least ten years up to life and supervised release of at least eight years up to life.
Taylor is the leader of the Lansing branch of the Black P Stone Nation gang. As its "Prince," Taylor is the highest ranking member of that gang in the State of Michigan. The Black P Stone Nation is a street gang based in Chicago, which is estimated to have more than 30,000 members across the United States. The gang was originally formed in the 1950s and 1960s by Jeff Fort. Fort is currently serving a sentence of more than 150 years for convictions in 1987 and 1988, which stemmed from conspiring with Libya to perform acts of domestic terrorism and ordering the murder of a rival gang leader. The Black P Stone Nation imbues itself in religion to provide a gloss over its criminal activities and finances itself primarily through narcotics and firearms trafficking.
Taylor and three other gang members – Karl Alphonso Lockridge, Maurice Ray, Jr., and Eric Darnell Cooper – were charged with conspiracy to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin and trafficking in heroin. Taylor’s co-defendants all pled guilty prior to trial. Lockridge and Ray each face up to 40 years in prison for their role in the conspiracy. Cooper faces up to 20 years in prison for his role. Sentencing for Taylor is set for March 28, 2016 before U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff in Grand Rapids. Sentencing is scheduled for February 29 for Lockridge and March 14 for Ray and Cooper.
The conspiracy began in late 2012 when Taylor was released from the Michigan Department of Corrections after serving a five year prison term for cocaine distribution. Taylor returned home to Lansing, resumed leadership of the gang’s Lansing branch, and turned the gang’s focus towards heroin trafficking. Taylor, his co-defendants, and other gang members thereafter traveled to Chicago on a monthly basis to obtain heroin from their supply sources for further distribution in Lansing. Gang members armed themselves while on trips to Chicago and in and around Lansing in order to protect their drugs and their drug proceeds.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Lansing Police Department led the investigation, which began in January 2014. Other agencies contributing to the investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Michigan State Police, the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Michigan State University Police Department, and the Michigan Department of Corrections. All agencies worked in concert as members of the Capital Area Violent Crimes Initiative (VCI).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Mark V. Courtade are handling the prosecution.
END
Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to A Bank Robbery in Overland ParkRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Monday to taking part in a bank robbery in which his partner threatened to kill employees with a gun and dragged a woman across the floor by her hair, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Steve A. Watts, 56, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during the robbery.
In his plea, Watts admitted that on Oct. 29, 2014, he and co-defendant Clifton B. Cloyd robbed the Bank of America at 9500 Mission in Overland Park, Kan. Watts and Cloyd -- both carrying guns -- held five bank employees and a female customer at gunpoint during the robbery. Cloyd was the more aggressive of the two robbers, striking two bank employees and a customer and dragging a bank employee by the hair. Both men were arrested after they fled the bank.
Watts is set for sentencing Feb. 8. He faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the bank robbery charge, and a penalty of not less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.
Co-defendant Clifton Cloyd is set for sentencing Jan. 11.
Grissom commended the Overland Park Police Department, the Prairie Village Police Department, the Leawood Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel for their work on the case.
KC Man Pleads Guilty to Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man whose computer had been seized in a separate and unrelated state investigation, pleaded guilty in federal court today to obtaining another computer and attempting to distribute child pornography over the Internet.
Justin K. Eaton, 32, of Kansas City-North, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to the charge contained in a Dec. 16, 2014, federal indictment. Eaton was taken into federal custody at the conclusion of today’s court hearing.
On Oct. 8, 2012, an FBI agent identified Eaton’s computer as sharing images of child pornography over a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. The agent downloaded three video files and five images of child pornography from Eaton’s computer.
Approximately six months earlier, in February 2012, Eaton had been charged in Clay County, Mo., in an unrelated child pornography case. Eaton’s computer was seized during the state investigation. Eaton bought a new computer shortly thereafter and continued to download child pornography, which resulted in the federal investigation and grand jury indictment.
Eaton was arrested on the state charges on Oct. 12, 2012, and was released on bond. On Oct. 26, 2012, the FBI executed a search warrant at Eaton’s residence and seized electronic media that contained more than 150 images of child pornography. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Eaton must forfeit to the government a laptop computer, a computer hard drive and a micro SD card, all of which were used to commit the offense.
Eaton pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child pornography in the Clay County case on Aug. 17, 2013, and was sentenced to eight years. Eaton spent 120 days in the Sexual Offender Assessment Unit in the Missouri Department of Corrections and was released to probation.
Under federal statutes, Eaton is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case 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."
Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Sunny Grove Landscaping & Nursery Inc.Read the Press Release
The Justice Department reached an agreement today with Sunny Grove Landscaping & Nursery Inc. (Sunny Grove), a landscaping company in Ft. Myers, Florida. The settlement resolves the department’s investigation of Sunny Grove for discrimination against work-authorized non-U.S. citizens in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Under the settlement agreement, Sunny Grove will pay $7,500 in civil penalties to the United States and undergo department-provided training on the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Sunny Grove will be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
“The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting work-authorized individuals from discriminatory practices in the employment eligibility verification process,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “We commend Sunny Grove for working cooperatively with the division to resolve this matter.”
The investigation found that Sunny Grove discriminated against lawful permanent residents by requiring them to produce permanent resident cards to prove their work authorization, whereas U.S. citizens were permitted to choose whatever valid documentation they wanted to prove their work authorization. Lawful permanent residents do not have to show their permanent resident cards when they start working. Like all workers, they can choose whatever valid documentation they want to establish their employment authorization, and many lawful permanent residents have the same work authorization documents as U.S. citizens.
The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits, among other things, citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; document abuse; retaliation; and intimidation.
For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call OSC’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call OSC’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar at www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/webinars.php, email [email protected]; or visit OSC’s website at www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc.
Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to: different documentary requirements based on their citizenship status, immigration status or national origin; or discrimination based on their citizenship status, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral, should contact OSC’s worker hotline for assistance.
Sunny Grove Settlement Agreement
Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Utah Promoters of Solar Energy Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Two Utah companies are running a nationwide abusive scheme that purports to use false tax deductions and claims of the solar energy credit to reduce their customers’ federal income tax liability, according to a complaint filed today by the Justice Department. The United States’ complaint seeks to stop Utah companies RaPower-3 LLC and International Automated Systems Inc.; Utah residents R. Gregory Shepard and Neldon Johnson; Nevada company LTB1 LLC and Oregon resident Roger Freeborn, from facilitating and promoting the allegedly abusive tax scheme.
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, the defendants promote an abusive tax scheme based on a purported solar energy generation facility in Millard County, Utah. The suit alleges that the defendants claim to own and operate technology that offers a “disruptive” and “revolutionary” approach to capturing and using solar energy. But, according to the complaint, the defendants’ so-called technology is a sham.
“The Department of Justice and the IRS work aggressively to detect, investigate and shut down schemes that purport to allow others to avoid paying their proper federal income tax,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo for the Tax Division. “If a tax scheme sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
The complaint alleges that the defendants purport to sell “solar thermal lenses” – component parts of their technology – to individual customers. According to the complaint, the defendants claim that a customer who purportedly purchases a lens is entitled to claim depreciation and other business-related expenses and the solar energy credit on the customer’s individual income tax return. Under the proper circumstances, the Internal Revenue Code allows a taxpayer engaged in a trade or business to take certain tax deductions for expenses the taxpayer incurs while generating income; likewise, if all of the requirements are met, the tax law allows an “energy credit” for certain “energy property.” But there are specific requirements a taxpayer must meet in order to lawfully claim either kind of tax benefit.
According to the complaint, the defendants know, or have reason to know, that their statements to customers and potential customers about tax benefits in connection with promoting their solar energy scheme are false or fraudulent. The complaint cites a number of reasons that the defendants allegedly know, or have reason to know, about the falsity of their statements, including that the lenses and the facility do not and will not produce solar energy that could be collected and used for any purpose that Congress intended to encourage through tax credits and that their customers are not engaged in any legitimate trade or business related to the scheme.
The complaint alleges that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has disallowed defendants’ customers’ claims of illegitimate tax benefits from the solar energy scheme. According to the complaint, defendants’ customers, who reside around the country, have filed at least 70 cases which are currently pending in Tax Court. The complaint estimates that the harm to the U.S. Treasury from those Tax Court cases alone is more than $4 million.
The government’s complaint further alleges that the defendants engaged in a multi-level marketing scheme to enrich themselves by encouraging customers to “sponsor” additional individuals to buy lenses. According to the complaint, some of the defendants’ customers have recruited others to buy into the scheme, in exchange for a commission. In addition to stopping the marketing of the alleged tax scheme, the complaint seeks disgorgement of all income that the defendants earned through the alleged scheme and to stop the defendants from preparing tax returns or other tax documents for anyone else.
Abusive tax structures and return preparer fraud are both among the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2015. 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 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.
Indiana, Pa., Investment Advisor Indicted on Criminal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Indiana, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of securities fraud and mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The two-count indictment, returned on Nov. 19 and unsealed Friday, named Bernard M. Parker, 55, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Parker was an investment advisor in Indiana, Pennsylvania. He was the principal in Parker Financial Services. He solicited investments from his clients to purchase Investor Contracts which purportedly were vehicles to purchase tax lien certificates. The vast majority of the funds received were used for personal expenses and not the purchase of tax lien certificates.The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
Huntington woman sentenced for Federal firearms chargeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A woman who brought a concealed weapon into the federal building in Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced today in federal court in Huntington to seven months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin. Whitney H. Borders, 34, of Huntington, previously pleaded guilty in August 2015 to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On May 28, 2015, Borders passed through the Fifth Avenue entrance of the Sidney L. Christie United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Huntington and approached the security post to be screened for entry into the building. While Borders was being screened, security officers found a Jennings .22 caliber pistol in her purse. Borders is prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2004 felony conviction in Cabell County Circuit Court for forgery.
The United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
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 working with existing local programs that target gun crime.
-
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
-
Hartford Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Heroin, FirearmRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on November 20, JOEL DELEON, 34, of Hartford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 19, 2014, Hartford Police Department detectives observed DELEON engage in what they believed to be a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction. The detectives stopped DELEON’s vehicle and, upon questioning, DELEON admitted that he had narcotics and a handgun. A search of the vehicle’s glove box revealed approximately 30 individualized bags of heroin and a High Standard Sentinel .22 caliber revolver, which had an obliterated serial number and was loaded with nine rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
DELEON has been detained since his arrest on November 19, 2014. On August 28, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Gustafson and Gabriel J. Vidoni.
Gower Man Pleads Guilty to Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Gower, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing child pornography and to attempting to receive child pornography over the Internet.
William D. Everett, 45, of Gower, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to two counts of attempting to receive child pornography over the Internet and one count of possessing child pornography. Everett was taken into federal custody at the conclusion of today’s court hearing.
Everett’s computer was identified during an undercover FBI operation in New Orleans, La. Everett attempted to access a covert Web site with descriptions of child pornography and associated download links (which were not able to actually be accessed).
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Everett’s residence and interviewed Everett, who admitted that he used his computer to search for, view and download child pornography. Investigators examined two hard drives; both had child pornography movies and images as well as bestiality and bondage child pornography. Almost all were of prepubescent children, including some toddlers. More than 370 videos and 1,600 images of child pornography were extracted.
Under federal statutes, Everett is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 50 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $750,000. 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the Gower, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case 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."
Georgia Man Arrested for Drug Trafficking in DelawareRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del – Kevin Chambers, 39, of Austell, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2015 for trafficking heroin and cocaine, announced Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about October 26, 2015, Chambers conspired to distribute a kilogram of heroin and a kilogram of cocaine. Then, on November 4, 2015, Chambers was arrested at Harrah’s Casino in Chester attempting to obtain two additional kilograms of cocaine. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a 5 year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, at least 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and a $100 special assessment, if convicted.
The case was investigated by the DEA Wilmington Resident Office – HIDTA Group 41. Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Indictments are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Armed Bank Robbery and Possession of A Firearm and Ammunition by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Orental James Allen, Jr. (23, Ft. Myers) to 10 years in federal prison for armed bank robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Court also ordered him to forfeit a .40 caliber Sig Sauer P229 pistol and ammunition. Further, as part of his sentence, the Court entered a money judgment in the amount of $5,499, the proceeds of the armed bank robbery.
Allen pleaded guilty on August 19, 2015.
According to court documents, on December 23, 2013, three individuals, including Allen, entered the Fifth Third Bank located at 2068 Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers, Florida. All three carried firearms and two of them jumped over the bank teller counter. The three then took money from the teller drawers and Allen forced a bank employee to accompany him at gunpoint from an office, to the lobby of the bank. The amount of money stolen during the robbery was $5,499.
On January 18, 2014, Fort Myers Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic infraction, and Allen was the front passenger. A trained canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers subsequently located a plastic Wal-Mart grocery bag, which contained a black Hogue firearm grip, numerous empty white pill capsules, and numerous small clear plastic Ziploc baggies inside the glove box of the vehicle. Due to the vehicle’s driving pattern, officers conducted a search of the area where the vehicle had traveled and located a .40 caliber Sig Sauer P229 loaded with ammunition. The firearm, magazine, and ammunition were processed and identified as belonging to Allen.
Allen was a previously convicted felon and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under state law. The State of Florida Office of Executive Clemency certified that his civil rights had not been restored, specifically not the authority to own, possess, or use firearms.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande G. Viacava and Michael Baggé-Hernández.
Former FBI Ten Most Wanted Murder Fugitive Sentenced to LifeRead the Press Release
Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, Juan Garcia, also known as “Cruzito,” a member of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13 street gang, was sentenced to life by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco. Garcia and two other MS-13 members, Adalberto Ariel Guzman and Rene Mendez Mejia, shot and killed 19-year-old Vanessa Argueta and her two-year-old son, Diego Torres, in Central Islip, New York, on February 5, 2010. Garcia and Mejia shot Argueta in the chest and head, respectively, and Guzman shot Torres twice in the head. After committing the murders, Garcia and his co-conspirators fled to El Salvador. Guzman and Mejia were arrested in May 2010, but Garcia remained a fugitive for four years until March 2014, when, after being placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, he surrendered to law enforcement authorities in Nicaragua, waived extradition, and was returned to the United States for prosecution. He pled guilty on October 15, 2014.
The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.
“The MS-13 is infamous for committing senseless and brutal acts of violence, but, even for the MS-13, the murders of Vanessa Argueta and Diego Torres were particularly depraved and callous,” United States Attorney Capers stated. “However, as a result of the tenacious investigation and prosecution jointly conducted by this Office and our law enforcement partners, Garcia and his co-conspirators have been captured, convicted, and justly sentenced for cold-bloodedly executing a young mother and her two-year-old child.” United States Attorney Capers expressed his sincere gratitude to the members of the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, the FBI’s Violent Criminal Threat Section, and the FBI’s Legal Attaches for El Salvador and Panama, for their unwavering commitment to bring Garcia and his co-conspirators to justice for the Argueta and Torres murders.
“Today’s sentencing is the final chapter in the government’s commitment to get justice for the victims. Garcia and his fellow MS-13 members senselessly and callously murdered a young mother and her toddler five years ago. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to not only root-out gangs in our communities but also bring their crimes to justice,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez.
Garcia and other MS-13 members, including MS-13 leader, Heriberto Martinez, Guzman, and Mejia plotted to kill Argueta because they believed she had disrespected the MS-13 by sending rival gang members to attack Garcia.
Martinez was convicted in March 2013, following a six-week trial, in connection with the Argueta murder, as well as the March 6, 2010 murder of Nestor Moreno in Hempstead, New York, and the March 17, 2010 murder of Mario Alberto Canton Quijada in Far Rockaway, New York, and later sentenced to life in prison, plus 60 years. Guzman was convicted on charges relating to the Argueta and Torres murders in September 2013, following a three-week trial, and later sentenced to life in prison, plus 35 years. Mejia pled guilty to the Argueta and Torres murders and is pending sentence.
The convictions of Garcia and his codefendants are the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent international criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States, comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the largest and most violent street gang on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010 alone, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 25 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Centre Police Department, and Suffolk County Police Department.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham and Raymond A. Tierney are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
Juan Garcia
Age: 22
Baldwin/Inwood, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 10-CR-471 (JFB)
Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography and False Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
A Tampa, Florida, woman pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and issuing false bomb threats, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III of the Middle District of Florida announced today.
Jacqueline Numata, 27, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli of the Middle District of Florida to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of communicating false bomb threats to the U.S. Air Force Air Base in Misawa, Japan, while she was an Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee in Misawa. Numata’s sentencing will be set at a later date.
According to the plea documents, during a period of three months beginning in January 2015, Numata accessed and downloaded about 80 images of child pornography and uploaded the images to a blog she created in her estranged husband’s name. She then used a fake Facebook profile to link those images to the Misawa Air Base Facebook community page, visible to all members of the site. Numata also created and distributed in Misawa a flyer advertising the sale of children for sex, child pornography and marijuana that included her estranged husband’s name and additional child exploitation images that she downloaded. Numata used another fake Facebook profile to post a photo of the flyer on the Misawa Air Base Facebook page. During this period, Numata admitted that she communicated false bomb threats to Misawa Air Base on two occasions claiming to be from her estranged husband in order to frame him. As a result of the threats, the buildings in the affected areas on base were evacuated and the security posture was increased.
As part of her plea agreement, Numata must register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
This case was investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Jones of the Middle District of Florida.
Final Man in Four-Member Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – With the guilty plea of the final defendant today, a total of four men have now been convicted for their participation in a robbery crew that committed more than 30 different armed robberies throughout Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Jerrol Bluford, 22, entered his guilty plea today, while co-conspirators Calvin Smith, 19, Jamone Jones, 21, and Rodney Ford, 18, had previously entered guilty pleas Aug. 28, Oct. 26, and Nov. 4, 2015, respectively.
Between Jan. 9, 2015, and Jan. 25, 2015, the four men committed approximately 31 armed robberies of a variety of establishments, including restaurants, stores and phone companies. During each robbery, at least one member of the crew brandished a weapon against both store employees and customers.
Bluford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing a weapon during a commercial robbery. He faces up to 20 years for the conspiracy and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. For the first count of brandishing a weapon, he faces an additional mandatory seven years which must be served consecutively to the underlying conspiracy. The second conviction of brandishing a weapon carries a 25-year mandatory term which also must be served consecutively to the other sentences. Smith, Jones and Ford all also pleaded to the same charges and face the same penalties.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has set sentencing for Feb. 16, 2016. All of the defendants have been and will remain in custody pending their sentencing hearing.
These charges arose from an investigation conducted by the FBI, Harris County Sherriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Searle is prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man on Methamphetamine and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Michael Angelo Sapp, 40, of Nampa, Idaho, and formerly of Florida, was found guilty last Friday following a three-day jury trial in federal court on charges that he possessed over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
According to evidence presented at trial, Sapp was involved in a high speed chase the night of December 23, 2014. Meridian police officers attempted to stop him after he was reported as an intoxicated driver who hit a pole at the McDonald’s drive thru located at 195 E. Central in Meridian. During the chase that followed, Sapp reached speeds of 90 miles per hour, drove in the wrong lane and ran several red lights. Officers finally stopped him near Meridian and Chinden roads. The jury found that he possessed with the intent to distribute 174 grams of pure methamphetamine, which was found in his vehicle. The jury also found him guilty of possessing a .380 semi-automatic pistol. Sapp had previously been convicted in the state of Florida of grand theft firearm, burglary, grand theft of more $10,000, grand theft of $300-500, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, pawnbroker transaction fraud, dealing in stolen property by trafficking, fraud upon secondary metals recyclers, grand theft of a firearm, and grand theft. At the time of his arrest, he was wanted on felony warrants out of the state of Florida.
Sentencing is set for February 3, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge. Sapp faces a minimum sentence of ten years, and up to life on the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charge, and up to ten years on the unlawful possession of a firearm charge.
The case was investigated by the Meridian Police Department, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Board. The Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Board is a collaboration of local law enforcement drug task forces and prosecuting agencies dedicated to addressing regional drug trafficking organizations that operate in Ada, Canyon, and Malheur County.
Federal Inmate Gets Two More Months in Prison for Possessing ContrabandRead the Press Release
Erie, Pa. - An inmate at the McKean Federal Correctional Institution in Bradford, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 2 months in jail on his conviction of possession of contraband in prison, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Court Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Ranard Lamar Mitchell, 23. The sentence was imposed to run consecutively to the sentence Mitchell is currently serving.
According to the information presented to the court, on or about November 4, 2014, Mitchell was in possession of contraband, namely a quantity of marijuana and a cell phone.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.U.S. Attorney Hickton commended Officers of the McKean Federal Correctional Institution for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mitchell.
Federal Court Sentences Illegal Alien on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA - On November 19, 2015, Jose Manuel Dominguez-Anguiano a/k/a Manuel Francisco Zuniga, age 44, of Mexico, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 46 months in prison on the charges of conspiracy to distribute a mixture or substance containing cocaine, and distribution of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin VanderSchel. Dominguez-Anguiano was also ordered to pay $200 towards the Crime Victims Fund. Dominguez-Anguiano will be turned over to the Immigration officials upon release from prison.
Between November 2007 and May 2008, Dominguez-Anguiano participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine which involved the sale of more than 1,000 grams of cocaine in the Iowa City, Iowa, area.
This matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Johnson County, Iowa, Drug Task Force, and Iowa City, Iowa, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.
Federal Court Sentences Davenport Man on Charge of Being a Fugitive in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA - On November 19, 2015, Darion Daquan Gardner, age 19, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 30 months in prison on the charge of fugitive in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin VanderSchel. Gardner was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
In May 2014, the United States Marshal’s Service began attempting to locate Gardner, a fugitive from Mississippi, in the Davenport area. On August 13, 2014, officers received information that Gardner was at a certain Davenport residence and was armed with a firearm. When officers went to the residence, Gardner barricaded himself in a bedroom for approximately 20 minutes, but then surrendered without incident. A stolen and loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol was recovered in the residence. Under federal law, fugitives are prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This matter was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, United States Marshal’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.
Federal Court Sentences Davenport Man for Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA - On November 19, 2015, Chazz Dominic Kimble, age 19, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 20 months in prison on the charge of possession and transfer of a weapon made from a shotgun, and another consecutive 60 months in prison on the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin VanderSchel. Kimble was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment, and to pay $200 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
On June 14, 2014, an investigation by Davenport, Iowa, police officers revealed that Kimble discharged a 12-guage JC Higgins sawed-off shotgun into the air during an altercation with rival gang members. The sawed-off shotgun was eventually recovered by police in a nearby residence. The sawed-off shotgun was modified to have a barrel of less than 18 inches, and the shotgun was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records, making the shotgun illegal to possess.2
Kimble was indicted on October 22, 2014, on a federal charge of possession and transfer of a weapon made from a shotgun. Later that day, Kimble was stopped by police while driving in Davenport, and Davenport police executed the arrest warrant on Kimble. Subsequent to the arrest, officers found a backpack containing a loaded Accu-Tek .380 pistol and marijuana that Kimball intended to distribute. A Superseding Indictment was thereafter filed which added a charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Kimble pleaded guilty to the charges on April 21, 2015.
This matter was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.
El Departamento de Justicia Resuelve una Queja de Discriminación Relacionada con la Inmigración Contra Sunny Grove Landscaping & Nursery Inc.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia llegó a un acuerdo hoy con Sunny Grove Landscaping & Nursery Inc. (Sunny Grove), una compañía de paisajismo en Ft. Myers, Florida. El acuerdo resuelve la investigación por parte del Departamento de Sunny Grove por motivos de las acusaciones de que este hubiese discriminado a individuos que no eran ciudadanos de los EE. UU. pero que tenían autorización para trabajar, en violación de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés).
Conforme al acuerdo, Sunny Grove pagará 7.500 $ en sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos y se someterá a capacitación dirigida por el departamento sobre la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Sunny Grove quedará sujeto a los requisitos de supervisión y notificación del Departamento.
“La División de Derechos Civiles se compromete a proteger a los individuos con autorización para trabajar de prácticas discriminatorias en el proceso de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo,” declaró la Subprocuradora General Interina, Vanita Gupta, la Jefa de la División de Derechos Civiles. “Aplaudimos a Sunny Grove por su cooperación con la División en la resolución de este asunto.”
La investigación encontró que Sunny Grove había discriminado a residentes permanentes legales al requerir que presentasen tarjetas de residencia permanente para demostrar su autorización para trabajar, mientras que a los ciudadanos de los EE. UU. se les permitió elegir los documentos válidos que querían mostrar para probar su autorización para trabajar. Los residentes permanentes legales no tienen ninguna obligación de presentar sus tarjetas de residencia permanente al comenzar a trabajar. Como todo trabajador, pueden usar los documentos válidos de su elección para establecer su autorización para trabajar, y en muchos casos, los documentos de autorización para trabajar que tienen los residentes permanentes legales son iguales a los que tienen los ciudadanos de los EE. UU.
La Oficina del Consejero Especial para Prácticas Injustas en el Empleo Relacionadas a Inmigración (OSC, por sus siglas en inglés) es responsable de aplicar la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en la contratación, el despido o el reclutamiento o la recomendación por comisión; el abuso documental; las represalias o la intimidación.
Para más información sobre las protecciones contra la discriminación en el empleo bajo las leyes migratorias, llame a la línea directa de la OSC para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1‑800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llame a la línea directa de la OSC para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); matricúlese para un seminario en línea gratuito en www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/webinars.php; mande un correo electrónico a [email protected] o visite la página web de la OSC en www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc.
Los solicitantes o empleados que creen que fueron sometidos a requerimientos discriminatorios (durante la verificación de elegibilidad de empleo) por motivo de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio u origen nacional; o en discriminación basada en estatus de ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o en origen nacional en la contratación, el despido o el reclutamiento o referencia por comisión deberán llamar a la línea directa para trabajadores mencionada arriba y serán atendidos.
Eaton County Man, Christopher Todd Ritchey, to Serve 15 Years as Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr., announced today that Christopher Todd Ritchey, 31, of Bellevue, was sentenced on Friday to 180 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker. Ritchey pled guilty to being a felon in possession in July, after he was caught with a gun in his residence while on parole in January. The Armed Career Criminal Act mandated a sentence of at least 15 years because Ritchey had previously been convicted seven times of breaking and entering under Michigan law.
"Today we send a message to recidivist felons that they simply cannot possess firearms under the law," U.S. Attorney Miles said. "When armed career criminals do not heed that warning, they will be prosecuted, and the sentence will be strict, as the law requires."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation, with assistance from the Michigan Department of Corrections, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Michigan State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant prosecuted the case.
END
East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
An East St. Louis man, convicted of Distribution of Cocaine, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison on November 20, 2015, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. David Lee Taylor, Jr, 35, of East St. Louis, IL, received a 57 month sentence for distributing cocaine in St. Clair County, Illinois. Taylor had previously pled guilty to the offense on August 13, 2015. Following release from imprisonment, Taylor will serve a 3 year term of supervised release. Taylor was also ordered to pay a $1000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was the investigative agency in this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce.
Dominican Man Sentenced for Theft of $300,000 in Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining over $300,000 in government benefits under a false identity.
Jose Marin, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to a sentence of time served in prison, one year of home confinement, one year of supervised release and restitution. In May 2015, Marin pleaded guilty to stealing public money.
Marin, who was born in the Dominican Republic, unlawfully entered the United States in or about 2003 and fraudulently acquired a driver’s license and Social Security card in the name of an American citizen. Marin also fraudulently used the same American citizen’s name on multiple dates when Marin was arrested for drunk driving, breaking and entering and other charges. Marin began receiving government benefits in 2006 under the American citizen’s identity, including Social Security, MassHealth, and food stamp benefits, totaling $303,685.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The Marin case was investigated by HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Role in Smash-and-Grab Robbery of Stamford Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN MOORE, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for organizing and carrying out a smash-and-grab robbery of a Stamford jewelry store in November 2014.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 26, 2014, three of MOORE’s accomplices, armed with hammers, entered Sidney Thomas Jewelers in the Stamford Town Center Mall during regular business hours. Soon after entering, the accomplices used the hammers to smash open a jewelry display case and removed more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches. The three accomplices then fled with security guards in pursuit. One of MOORE’s accomplices, Richard Mathew Bailey, was caught and apprehended inside the mall while fleeing.
MOORE helped organize and carry out the robbery by soliciting others to participate and partially funding it. He also drove accomplices from Detroit to Stamford to carry out the robbery, and picked them up after the robbery in order to return to Detroit.
Judge Bolden also ordered MOORE to pay restitution to victims in an amount to be determined at a later date.
On August 31, 2015, MOORE pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with commerce by robbery.
Richard Mathew Bailey and a third defendant, Dajuhn Griffin, both from Detroit, have pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.
Deported Alien Admits Re-entering U.S. IllegallyRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Atlantida, Honduras, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal immigration laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Andres Carranza-Ferrera, 48, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about July 8, 2015, Carranza-Ferrera was found to be unlawfully present within the United States. Carranza-Ferrera had been previously deported and removed from the United States on Aug. 6, 2004. The defendant subsequently reentered the United States, and was found to be present in this country without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Carranza-Ferrera.
Dayton Man Sentenced for Sophisticated Tax Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Scheme Involving the Online Purchase of Hundreds of Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
DAYTON – Lance Ealy, 29, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 124 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay approximately $61,000 in restitution following convictions for access device fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and related charges arising from a sophisticated scheme in which he purchased hundreds of stolen identities online (including specifically targeting identities of the elderly and disabled) and used the identities to file more than 150 fraudulent federal income tax returns seeking refunds to which he was not entitled.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Troy N. Stemen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS), and Mark Porter, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service announced the sentenced handed down last Friday by U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett.
After an initial investigation by the United States Secret Service determined that Ealy had purchased stolen identities from an illicit online source, he was arrested on a federal complaint in October 2013. A federal grand jury subsequently indicted Ealy in November 2013, charging him with one count of knowingly possessing 15 or more access devices with intent to defraud.
A further investigation by both Secret Service and the IRS determined that Ealy was using stolen identities that he had purchased online to file fraudulent federal tax returns and open fraudulent bank accounts in which to deposit the fraudulent tax refunds.
The investigation also determined that Ealy continued to engage in fraudulent activities while on bond, including, but not limited to using stolen personal identifying information to open fraudulent bank accounts, conduct fraudulent purchases using the victim's personal accounts, and opened financial accounts at numerous institutions.
As a result of Ealy’s conduct, Judge Barrett revoked Ealy’s bond in July 2014. The Secret Service’s and IRS’ additional investigation also resulted in a federal grand jury returning a Second Superseding Indictment against Ealy in September 2014.
Following a nearly two-week trial, a jury in the Southern District of Ohio convicted Ealy of all 46 charges in the Second Superseding Indictment in November 2014, including on one count of illegally possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, 11 counts of filing false claims for income tax refunds with the IRS, 14 counts of wire fraud, 14 counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of mail fraud, and one count of using unauthorized access devices to obtain $1,000 or more in a one-year period. An access device includes things such as payment cards and bank account numbers used to access financial accounts.
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, between approximately January 2013 and October 2013, Ealy engaged in a sophisticated scheme in which he electronically filed at least 150 fraudulent federal income tax returns, including returns filed using the personal information of others that he had unlawfully acquired from an illicit online source.
Ealy opened dozens of bank accounts at multiple financial institutions using the names and social security numbers of other individuals – without their knowledge or permission – in order to electronically deposit the fraudulent tax refunds. The evidence at trial also showed Ealy specifically targeted vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and disabled, who were less likely to realize that their identities had been stolen to file fraudulent tax returns or open fraudulent bank accounts. Ealy was also convicted on the charges (wire fraud and aggravated identity theft) arising from his fraudulent conduct while on bond.
During the course of the trial, Ealy became a fugitive after failing to appear on November 17, 18 and 19, 2014 (Ealy had been placed back on bond in October 2014). It was later determined that Ealy had removed his electronic monitoring device on November 15, 2014 and fled while under bond conditions. He was ultimately recaptured in late March 2015 in the Atlanta, Georgia area by the United States Marshal’s Service.
In June 2015, Ealy was indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of Ohio on three counts of failure to appear in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3146. He was subsequently convicted on all three counts following a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose that took place on October 22, 2015. Judge Rose issued a written verdict on November 4, 2015.
Ealy faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for his failure to appear convictions, which must run consecutive to the 124 month sentence that has been imposed by Judge Barrett. Judge Rose has scheduled sentencing in Ealy’s failure to appear case for February 6, 2016.
"Today’s announcement exemplifies IRS Special Agents' intense focus on the rigorous pursuit of identity theft and refund fraud," said Troy N. Stemen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. "Lance Ealy perpetuated an elaborate scheme driven by insatiable greed and a blatant disregard for the tremendous damage inflicted on innocent victims. Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation, together with our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office and the United States Secret Service, will hold those who engage in similar behavior fully accountable."
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation of this case by the Secret Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Andrew J. Hunt, who prosecuted the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 50 YearsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On November 19, 2015, James Everett Faler, 49, formerly of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge John A. Jarvey to five life sentences for five counts of Production of Child Pornography, and five consecutive ten-year sentences for committing the offenses while being required to register as a sex offender, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Faler also was ordered to serve life on supervised release if he is ever released from prison, and to pay $1,000 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
On May 31, 2013, police in Louisville, Kentucky, encountered Faler at an apartment complex after receiving a call from a concerned citizen. During the encounter, the police learned that Faler was a registered sex offender from Davenport who had not complied with sex offender registration requirements, and they arrested him. After the arrest, the police found Faler’s backpack which contained a thumbdrive with pornographic images of children, including five different minor boys, some of them engaging in sexual activity with Faler at a trailer park in Davenport. These images became the basis for federal charges in Iowa.
On July 13, 2015, Faler plead guilty to all charges. Because Faler has multiple prior convictions for sexual abuse of children, the mandatory federal sentence for each charge of production of child pornography is life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Louisville, Kentucky, Police Department and the Scott County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Erie, Pa. - A resident of Danbury, Connecticut, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day in jail on his conviction of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Daniel Freeman, 50.
According to information presented to the court, Freeman allowed three bank accounts in his name and under his control to be used as repositories for fraudulently obtained federal tax refunds. Freeman would then withdraw the fraudulently obtained refunds, keep a portion for himself and give the remainder of the money to another co-defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Freeman.
Capitol Heights Man Exiled to over 10 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Reuben Benjamin Coleman, age 38, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, today to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm in a school zone and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on September 25, 2014, ATF Violent Crime Initiative Team agents and Prince George’s County police officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Capitol Heights where Coleman often stayed. They seized a 9 mm pistol from Coleman’s bedroom, and a small bag containing 8.28 grams of crack cocaine from a Mercedes Benz that Coleman drove and had parked outside the residence.
Coleman admitted that from August 15 to 16, 2014, he transported the pistol to the residence via public roads that he knew or had reasonable cause to believe were within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
Coleman also admitted that he is a career offender based on two prior drug convictions.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.
Campaign Aid Sentenced for Launching Federal Investigation Aimed at Discrediting Congressional CandidateRead the Press Release
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip L.B. Halpern (619) 546-6964 and
Emily J. Keifer (619) 546-7319
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 23, 2015
SAN DIEGO – Todd Bosnich, fired policy director for the failed Carl DeMaio congressional campaign, was sentenced today to five years of probation for sending anonymous emails to himself - making it appear that DeMaio threatened him – and then lying to the FBI about it.
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns also ordered Bosnich to undergo psychiatric counseling, complete 240 hours of community service and a pay a $2,500 fine. In imposing the sentence, Judge Burns noted that DeMaio lost the election.
“There is no way of knowing how much [Bosnich’s conduct] affected voters’ minds,” he said, emphasizing that this was not a victimless crime. “The victim is Mr. DeMaio, DeMaio’s campaign, or the democratic process.”
Bosnich pleaded guilty in June, admitting that he instigated and impeded the FBI investigation. According to his plea agreement, after he was terminated from his job in May of 2014, a disgruntled Bosnich made sexual harassment accusations against DeMaio. Among other things, he claimed that DeMaio offered him $50,000 in hush money to keep quiet about the harassment.
Bosnich also told a radio reporter during an interview on June 2, 2014 that he had received threatening emails from an anonymous source that he was “positive” were from DeMaio or someone closely associated with DeMaio.
According to his plea agreement, Bosnich admitted that three days later, on June 5, 2014, Bosnich set up a dummy yahoo email account, [email protected], from his North County residence using bogus personal information including a false date of birth and gender. According to his admissions, he then sent a “particularly ugly and threatening message” to his own personal email account. The email suggested that the “anonymous” author of the email would ensure that Bosnich never again worked in politics if he didn’t stop making accusations against DeMaio.
During multiple interviews with the FBI, Bosnich – supposedly the victim of threatening emails - continued to claim that he did not know who sent the emails, but he believed DeMaio was behind the anonymous threats. Based on these false claims, a grand jury issued subpoenas attempting to identify the source of the emails. All the while, it was Bosnich himself who had sent the emails.
“The integrity of the American electoral process is the very bedrock of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy. “Bosnich’s criminal act had the very real possibility of improperly tipping the scale towards a particular candidate. This was far from a harmless prank.”
“Mr. Bosnich engaged in a pattern of lies and deceitful acts in an effort to obstruct FBI Agents from getting to the truth in this case,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric S. Birnbaum. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI will aggressively investigate and seek prosecution of those who attempt to obstruct justice by lying to the FBI.”
DEFENDANT: Case Number 14CR1544-LAB
Todd Bosnich Age: 29 Del Mar, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Obstruction of Justice – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1512
Maximum penalty: 5 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Baltimore Drug Dealer Sentenced to 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Damonan Irby, age 33, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone or MDMC.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Irby’s plea agreement, on October 17, 2014, law enforcement received information from a confidential source of information that a multi-kilogram shipment of the controlled substance 3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone or MDMC, known on the street as “Molly,” would be delivered to Baltimore City later that afternoon. Information provided by the source was corroborated and independently verified by law enforcement.
Members of the Baltimore Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, Baltimore, established surveillance in the area of Northern Parkway and Harford Road, where the delivery was scheduled to take place. Law enforcement officers observed a silver Camaro, that matched the description supplied by the source, parked behind a restaurant in the 6600 block of Harford Road. A short time later, law enforcement observed a vehicle, being operated by Irby, pull into the parking lot and park one car away from the Camaro. Irby, carrying a grey shopping bag, got into the Camaro. Law enforcement officers were able to observe the two individuals exchange packages. At the conclusion of the exchange, Irby got out of the Camaro with a large black backpack in his hand. Law enforcement officers, believing a narcotics transaction had just occurred, approached Irby and detained him. The black backpack was found to contain four kilogram sized plastic bags containing an off white substance. A search of the Camaro recovered the grey shopping bag that Irby had brought into the vehicle. The bag contained three large bundles of cash, totaling $39,920. A subsequent lab analysis of the drugs from the backpack revealed that the bag contained a total of 3,970 grams of MDMC.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised HSI Baltimore and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Jason D. Medinger, who prosecuted the case.
Alabama Woman Sentenced for Role in $20 Million Stolen Identity Tax Fraud RingRead the Press Release
Conspired With Others to File False Tax Returns Using Stolen Names and Social Security Numbers
A Phenix City, Alabama woman was sentenced today to serve more than seven years in prison for her role in a stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) conspiracy, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr. of the Middle District of Alabama announced today.
Talashia Hinton aka LayLay and LaLa, 24, was sentenced to 94 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,173,704. According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Hinton participated in a large-scale SIRF scheme in which participants filed more than 8,000 false tax returns for 2012 and 2013 fraudulently claiming more than $20 million in federal income tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Hinton worked with Keshia Lanier, who supplied her with IRS Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) in the names of sham tax preparation businesses and stolen personal information, including names and social security numbers. Hinton used the EFINs and stolen personal information to prepare and file false income tax returns that fraudulently claimed tax refunds. At the direction of Lanier, Hinton also obtained stolen identities from Tamika Floyd, who stole names from a databases maintained by the state of Alabama. Hinton used some of those names to file false returns, emailed some of the names to Lanier and delivered other names to another co-conspirator, Tracy Mitchell and her family, who used the names to file false returns. Hinton then directed the IRS to pay the refunds by issuing U.S. Treasury checks and direct deposits onto prepaid debit cards.
Hinton pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and aggravated identity theft. Lanier, Mitchell and Floyd also previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the SIRF scheme. In May, Tamika Floyd was sentenced to 87 months in prison; in August, Tracy Mitchell was sentenced to 159 months in prison and in September, Lanier was sentenced to 180 months in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney Beck commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Michael C. Boteler and Gregory P. Bailey of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross of the Middle District of Alabama, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/tax.
Alabama Man Sentenced for Assisting Illegal Guided Deer HuntsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - On November 20, 2015, Kinsman Bruce Wolfe, 63, of Semmes, Alabama, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge John A. Jarvey to sixty days imprisonment for his role in illegal, guided deer hunts in Southern Iowa, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin VanderSchel. Wolfe was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution to the Iowa Division of Natural Resources, pay a $3,000 fine, and pay for the costs associated with having court-appointed counsel. A term of three years of supervised release was imposed following Wolfe’s release from imprisonment, a condition of which will be the prohibition against Wolfe engaging in hunting and fishing activities. Wolfe was also ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund.
Wolfe was convicted at trial on July 23, 2015, on two felony counts of violation of the Lacey Act for the unlawful sale of wildlife, and one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. From around 2009 to January 2014, Steven Miller leased land in rural Lucas County, Iowa, to Robert Jerome Wilkins of Alabama in order for Wilkins to hunt white-tail deer. Wilkins, with the assistance of Wolfe, guided out-of-state hunters during paid hunts for trophy white-tail buck deer on Miller's land. None of these out-of-state hunters possessed hunting license or tags as required by the laws and regulations of the State of Iowa. Some of the hunters were successful in illegally killing white-tail buck deer, and the capes and antlers of those deer were transported from Iowa to Alabama.2
Wilkins previously pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, a felony. He was sentenced on July 17, 2015, to four years of probation, with a special condition of six months home confinement. Wilkins was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution, and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund. Miller previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act and on October 21, 2015, he was sentenced to four years of probation. Miller was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine, a $2,500 money judgment in lieu of forfeiture of equipment used during the illegal hunts, and a $25 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund.
This investigation was conducted by the United State Fish and Wildlife Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Alabama Game and Fish Division. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Accountant Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $130,000 from Illinois Medical District CommissionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A senior accountant at the Illinois Medical District Commission pleaded guilty today to charges she embezzled more than $130,000 from the agency by misdirecting procurement funds into her personal accounts.
CYNTHIA FERNANDEZ-ALONSO, 42, of Berwyn, used her position to direct payments from the Commission’s bank account into three personal accounts, according to a plea agreement. Fernandez-Alonso recorded the payments in the Commission’s internal records, but attributed them as having been made to the agency’s energy provider and other vendors, the plea agreement states.
Fernandez-Alonso pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, plus mandatory restitution. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo scheduled a sentencing hearing for February 22, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
The Illinois Medical District Commission is a governmental agency that facilitates collaboration among the various medical, health and social service agencies operating within the Illinois Medical District on Chicago’s Near West Side. Fernandez-Alonso was entrusted with the responsibility of authorizing payments from the Commission’s bank account to its outside vendors and suppliers.
From at least November 2013 to at least April 2015, Fernandez-Alonso directed deposits into her accounts on a nearly monthly basis. In some months, multiple transfers were made. On the same day she received one such deposit – for $4,852 on Dec. 10, 2014 – a purchase of jewelry was made with her Chase debit card at Kay Jewelers for $2,847, according to the plea agreement.
The guilty plea was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Merin and Sarah Streicker.
Plea Agreement
20 November 2015
Wellington Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Heroin, Identity Theft and Filing False Tax Return ChargesRead the Press Release
A Wellington resident was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, identity theft and filing false tax return charges.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations Miami Office (DOL-OIG), and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office (PBSO), made the announcement.
Christopher Richard Edwards, 26, of Wellington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra to 60 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Edwards was also ordered to pay $212,936 in restitution.
According to the Superseding Information and court documents, a search warrant was executed on Edwards’ apartment, during which law enforcement found approximately 159 access device cards in other peoples’ names, three laptop computers, an encoder/decoder, a credit card embosser, a currency counter machine, and several ledgers containing personal identifying information (PII). In addition to the evidence of identity theft and access device fraud, agents also recovered 66 capsules containing heroin, a digital scale, and a plate containing heroin residue.
A forensic examination of Edwards’ computer revealed substantial filings for unemployment benefits, consistent with the unemployment benefit cards found in his apartment. The unemployment claims filed from Edwards’ computer in 2014 totaled $287,360. Law enforcement also determined that Edwards filed 41 federal tax returns containing false information in the names of others claiming a total of $299,240 in false tax refunds.
The total amount of loss attributable to Edwards is $586,600, including the actual payments and intended fraud. Restitution payable for the paid unemployment claims and tax returns totals $212,936.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of USSS, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, and PBSO. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Jorgensen.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Web Page and Telephone Line Available to Assist Potential Victims of Fraud in Cases InvolvingRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa has established a link on its website and a dedicated telephone line to provide case updates and other information, including assistance in submitting victim impact statements or claims for restitution, for potential victims in the following cases:
United States v. William B. Aossey, Jr.,
Case Number 14-CR-00116
United States v. Jalel Aossey, Yahya Nasser Aossey, Midamar Corporation, and ISA, Inc., d/b/a Islamic Services of America,
Case Number 14-CR-0138
Under the Crime Victims Rights Act (Title 18, United States Code, Section 3771), victims of federal crimes have several rights, including: to be notified of certain Court proceedings; to be reasonably heard by the Court; and to submit claims for restitution. Through the website and telephone line, potential victims will be provided timely and accurate information about the criminal cases and their rights under the law.
Potential victims can view the Victim Witness Assistance link on the United States Attorney=s website to receive updated case information. The website provides victims with information about their statutory rights and includes links to court documents in the case. The website also contains a link to a victim impact statement, through which persons claiming to have been victims of one of the referenced cases can submit a statement to the Court and/or make a claim for restitution. The website may be found at: http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/victim-witness-assistance/information-victims-large-cases
Potential victims may also call (319) 731-4034 or toll free at (877) 398-2842 to learn more about their rights.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
University of Florida Agrees to Pay $19.875 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
The University of Florida (UF) has agreed to pay the United States $19.875 million to settle allegations that the university improperly charged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for salary and administrative costs on hundreds of federal grants, the Department of Justice announced today. The grants in question were administered from the UF campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida.
“The monies utilized by HHS to fund important medical research and clinical programs across the nation are both precious and limited,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that knowingly divert those funds from the projects for which they were provided.”
“As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awards more grant dollars than any other government agency, prudent oversight of those funds is absolutely essential,” said HHS Regional Inspector General for Audit Lori S. Pilcher. “Grantees must have internal controls promoting accountability and transparency,” she said. “Taxpayers should expect nothing less.”
The University of Florida receives millions of dollars in grant funding from HHS on hundreds of grants each year. The settlement announced today resolves the alleged misuse of grant funds awarded by HHS to UF between 2005 and December 2010. The United States contended that the university overcharged hundreds of grants for the salary costs of its employees, where it did not have documentation to support the level of effort claimed on the grants for those employees. The government also contended that UF charged some of these grants for administrative costs for equipment and supplies when those items should not have been directly charged to the grants under federal regulations. Lastly, UF allegedly inflated costs charged to HHS grants awarded at its Jacksonville campus for services performed by an affiliated entity, Jacksonville Healthcare Inc.
This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $26.5 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $16.7 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and the HHS Office of the Inspector General, Office of Audit Services and Office of Investigations.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.