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Monday 21 September 2015
Logan Child Care and Resource Center and Its Chief Executive, Tyron Ali, Agree to Settle Federal False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Logan Child Care and Resource Center and its chief executive officer, Tyron Ali (collectively referred to as “Logan”), have agreed to pay $63,167.50 to resolve allegations that Logan violated the Federal False Claims Act. The United States alleges that Logan failed to provide accurate numbers of meals provided by child and adult care facilities and administrative costs pursuant to the requirements of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (“CACFP”).
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the settlement agreement resolves allegations that Logan, as a home care sponsor, failed to provide the Pennsylvania Department of Education in Harrisburg with accurate meal counts from participating child and adult care facilities in the Philadelphia area from 2005 through 2007. Logan was required to submit the information via computer for reimbursement. It is alleged that the inaccurate reporting resulted in the United States paying Logan more than it was entitled to receive under the CACFP. Logan was located in Philadelphia. In 2009, Logan was permanently excluded from the CACFP.
The CACFP is a federally funded program providing aid to child and adult care institutions and family or group day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons. Through CACFP, more than 3.3 million children and 120,000 adults receive nutritious meals and snacks each day as part of the day care they receive. The CACFP is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the states. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education administers the CACFP.
Logan and Ali did not reimburse the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the federal funds Logan and Ali allegedly received improperly. The failure to make repayment was reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2014.
The agreement is not an admission of liability by Logan and Ali. As a result of consideration by the government of the present ability of Logan and Ali to make payment, the agreement calls for monthly payments of $100. If Logan and Ali fail to make timely payments, the entire unpaid amount, plus interest will be due and payable immediately at the option of the United States. The agreement does not release Logan and Ali from any criminal liability or debarment by federal agencies.
The case was investigated by the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region. The case was litigated by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Judge.
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Leavenworth Man Sentenced for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Leavenworth man was sentenced Friday to a year in federal prison for fraudulently collecting more than $46,000 in government benefits, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Michael James Munsterman, 42, Leavenworth, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In his plea, he admitted he received Supplemental Security Income, food stamps and Medicaid even though he did not qualify for those benefits. In April 2011 he applied for SSI benefits claiming that he had a drug-induced heart condition that prevented him from working. He did not reveal to the government that he owned and operated a heating and cooling company and received substantial income from the business while he was receiving benefits. He also admitted that he concealed from the federal government his financial resources that far exceeded the eligibility criteria of the aforementioned needs-based programs.
He fraudulently received a total of approximately $46,367 in government funds.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Munsterman must also pay restitution to the victim-agencies. Grissom commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford for their work on the case.
Law Enforcement Across North Alabama Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs on SaturdayRead the Press Release
Ridding Home of Unused Drugs Discourages Abuse and Addiction
BIRMINGHAM -- U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay A. Morris and law enforcement across north Alabama are asking residents to take advantage of DEA's 10th Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday to dispose of unused prescription drugs properly and without damage to the environment.It is critical to get unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs out of family medicine cabinets before they can fall into the hands of children and others who might use them to fuel addiction. This year, along with the take-back sites at community locations across north Alabama, the U.S. Attorney's Office will provide new drug-neutralizing pouches that will be given out at some of the take-back sites for people to try at home.
The patented Deterra Drug Deactivation System neutralizes prescription drugs poured into the foil pouches that contain a proprietary activated carbon, rendering the drugs ineffective for misuse and safe for the environment, according to Deterra's manufacturer, Minneapolis-based Verde Technologies.
"We live in a state with one of the nation's highest per capita rates of opioid painkiller prescriptions," Vance said. "It is a fact that there is a strong link between prescription painkiller abuse and heroin use and, sadly, many addicts get their first dose from a family member's medicine cabinet," she said.
"Cultivating a habit of removing unused prescriptions from our homes is a vital step in curtailing easy access," Vance said. "DEA's nine previous Take-Back Days have cleared tons of prescription drugs from our neighborhoods. With the new drug-neutralizing pouches we are introducing, individuals could have a safe and effective means to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals at home, year-round."
“Prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem in Alabama," Morris said. "Parents should talk to their children about the dangers of taking prescription medication not prescribed to them and help reduce the threat of drug abuse, theft, and accidental overdoses. Please take this opportunity to clean out your medicine cabinet and keep your loved ones safe and healthy,” he said.
DEA and local law enforcement will operate take-back sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For the 10th time in five years, through a national Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, DEA is offering the public a convenient way to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Sites abound across north Alabama. The Birmingham Police Department will take back prescription drugs at each of its four precincts. The Blount County District Attorney's Office is operating at least six sites at pharmacies throughout the county. Police and sheriff's departments throughout the Greater Birmingham Metro Area and beyond are participating. Exact collection sites can be found by zip code, state or city at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.
DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons -- more than 617,000 pounds -- of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law-enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 2,400 tons, or 4.8 million pounds, of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans now are advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the September 26 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control site.
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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Receives $250,000 Grant from U.S. Department of Justice for Body Camera ProgramRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The U.S. Justice Department today awarded the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) a $250,000 grant to support its body-worn camera program, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch at the White House Champions of Change event which honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice are committed to doing our part to assist local police departments with their policing issues in an ever-changing environment,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “We will continue to support them in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility.”
The LVMPD was one of 73 police departments in 32 states to share in the more than $19.3 million in funding made by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs. The grants require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, and can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing this information will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
OJP has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body-worn cameras, including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers, prosecutors, victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The toolkit is available at: https://www.bja.gov/bwc/.
OJP is also collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases. For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Lafayette man pleads guilty to shooting at postal workerRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty last week to firing a gun at a postal worker.
David C. Sonnier, 40, Lafayette, La., pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to one count of discharging a firearm during commission of a crime of violence. According to the guilty plea, Sonnier shot a Hi Point 9 mm semi-automatic pistol on March 27, 2014 at the door of the postal worker’s vehicle passing in front of Sonnier’s home. The bullet passed through the driver’s side door and the postal worker’s pant leg before becoming lodged in the opposite side of the vehicle, which caused approximately $1,178 of damage.
Sonnier faces up to 10 years to life in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date was not set.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the Lafayette Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
Kansas Receives $593,000 in Justice Department Hiring GrantsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Law enforcement agencies in Kansas will receive more than $593,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services program, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Monday. The grants are aimed at expanding community based policing as recommended by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
The list of this year’s grantees includes:
- The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, one officer position, $125,000.
- The Concordia Police Department, one officer position, $118,568.
- The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, one officer position, $123,398.
- Osage City, one officer position, $125,000.
- Unified School District 501, one officer position, $101,344.
“These grants put more officers on the streets and support law enforcement efforts to build trust and work more closely with the communities they serve,” U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
The grants pay for salaries and benefits for officers for three years.
Nationally, more than $107 million is being awarded through the COPS Hiring Program. Priority consideration was given to agencies that are focusing on building trust or school based policing through school resource officers as recommended in the report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The report is online at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/policingtaskforce .
Justice Department awards $5.4 million to hire 43 officers in Northern OhioRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) funding awards to 11 agencies in the Northern District of Ohio, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 43 law enforcement positions. Over $107 million will be awarded nationally, through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), including $5.4 million in the Northern District of Ohio.
The list of this year’s grantees includes:
- Cleveland $1,875,000 15 officers
- Canton $981,670 8 officers
- CMHA $500,000 4 officers
- Mansfield $500,000 4 officers
- East Cleveland $472,446 3 officers
- Barberton $250,000 2 officers
- Boardman $250,000 2 officers
- Massillon $250,000 2 officers
- Austintown $125,000 1 officer
- Milton $125,000 1 officer
- Northfield $125,000 1 officer
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
“The Department of Justice continues to back up its words with action, providing more than $5 million to keep Northern Ohio safe,” U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach said. “This money will result in more officers on patrol in Greater Cleveland, Stark County, the Mahoning Valley and elsewhere, getting guns and drugs off the street while strengthening our community.”
CHP provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Justice Department Launches Effort to Improve Young People's Relations with PoliceRead the Press Release
IACP Awarded $500,000 to Host a Youth-Police Roundtable and Best Practices Institute
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today announced that the Justice Department is launching a new initiative to bring young people together with the police officers in their community.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded $500,000 to a joint effort of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice to convene a youth and law enforcement roundtable and to develop an institute for disseminating best practices and sharing new approaches on issues of juvenile justice.
To achieve these objectives, IACP will compile best practices and innovative approaches, help law enforcement departments conduct self-assessments and develop action plans to improve relations with youth in their communities and create a training curriculum to support these efforts. In addition to hosting the law enforcement/youth roundtable this upcoming fiscal year, IACP will hold virtual meetings with roundtable participants to seek their recommendations to law enforcement for long-term strategies for improvement.
Lynch announced the award today during a White House Champions of Change event co-hosted by the Office of Justice Programs and the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS). The event honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve interactions between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Awards over $23 Million in Funding for Body Worn Camera Pilot Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies in 32 StatesRead the Press Release
As part of President Obama’s commitment to building trust and transparency between law enforcement and the communities they serve, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today announced that the Justice Department has awarded grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The body-worn camera pilot program announced in May 2015 includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), build on President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
“This vital pilot program is designed to assist local jurisdictions that are interested in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility,” said Attorney General Lynch. “The impact of body-worn cameras touches on a range of outcomes that build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common purpose that all communities need to thrive.”
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. Each agency awarded a grant is responsible for developing a plan for long-term storage, including the cost of storing data.
In addition to funds to help purchase body-worn cameras and train officers in their use, grants under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Smart Policing Initiative will support police departments in Miami, Milwaukee and Phoenix as they examine the impact of body-worn cameras on citizen complaints, internal investigations, privacy, community relationships and cost effectiveness. Each of these three departments will partner with a research institution to gain insight on the merits of deploying body-worn camera programs.
Lynch announced the award today during a White House Champions of Change event co-hosted by OJP and the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS Office). The event honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
BJA has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body-worn cameras, including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers, prosecutors, victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The toolkit is available at https://www.bja.gov/bwc/.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: BJA; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov
Justice Department Awards over $23 Million in Funding for Body Worn Camera Pilot Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies in 32 StatesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Attorney General Loretta Lynch today announced that the Justice Department has awarded grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The body-worn camera pilot program announced in May 2015 includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), build on President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years. In the Eastern District of California, the City of Sacramento received a substantial grant under the program.
“This vital pilot program is designed to assist local jurisdictions that are interested in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility,” said Attorney General Lynch. “The impact of body-worn cameras touches on a range of outcomes that build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common purpose that all communities need to thrive.”
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. Each agency awarded a grant is responsible for developing a plan for long-term storage, including the cost of storing data.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Awards over $97 Million to Improve Public Safety and Victim Services for American Indians and Alaska NativesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC. – The Department of Justice today announced 206 awards, totaling more than $97 million, to American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia and tribal designees. The announcement was made last week at the 2015 Tribal Leader Briefing, sponsored by the National Congress of American Indians, and included Tribal leaders, Members of Congress and Administration officials.
Awards to American Indian Tribes in Oregon include funding for Tribal Youth Programs; Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts; Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs; Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program; Community Police Programs; and; Violence Against Women Programs, as follows:
$1,227,951 Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
$ 101,969 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
$ 830,457 Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation
$ 683,439 Coquille Indian Tribe
$ 450,000 The Klamath Tribes
The awards are made through the Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a single application for tribal-specific grant programs. The Department developed CTAS through its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women, and administered the first round of consolidated grants in September 2010.
“My office has a strong history of working closely with the tribal communities in Oregon on issues of public safety, juvenile justice, violence against women, services for crime victims, and tribal youth programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams. “These funds will make a significant impact on enhancing community safety and prevention programs throughout Oregon, and across the nation.”
“For the past five years, the CTAS program has helped tribes develop their own comprehensive approaches to making their communities safer and healthier,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “CTAS grants have funded hundreds of programs to better serve crime victims, promote community policing, and strengthen justice systems. This year’s awards also support efforts to reduce domestic and dating violence, and promote wellness and healing for tribal youth, among many other programs.”
The awards are made through the Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a single application for tribal-specific grant programs. The Department developed CTAS through its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women, and administered the first round of consolidated grants in September 2010.
Since then, more than 1,400 grants totaling more than $620 million have been provided to enhance law enforcement practices, victim services, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts in nine purpose areas; public safety and community policing; justice systems planning: alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.
American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionate rates of violence and victimization and often encounter significant obstacles to identifying and accessing culturally relevant services. CTAS funding helps tribes to develop and strengthen tribal justice systems’ response to crime, while significantly increasing programs and services available to them.
A listing of all of the awards is available at www.justice.gov/tribal.
This announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Justice Department Awards over $23 Million in Funding for Body Worn Camera Pilot Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies in 32 StatesRead the Press Release
Contact: Public Affairs (202) 514-2007
WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama’s commitment to building trust and transparency between law enforcement and the communities they serve, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today announced that the Justice Department has awarded grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The body-worn camera pilot program announced in May 2015 includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), build on President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
“This vital pilot program is designed to assist local jurisdictions that are interested in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility,” said Attorney General Lynch. “The impact of body-worn cameras touches on a range of outcomes that build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common purpose that all communities need to thrive.”
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. Each agency awarded a grant is responsible for developing a plan for long-term storage, including the cost of storing data.
In addition to funds to help purchase body-worn cameras and train officers in their use, grants under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Smart Policing Initiative will support police departments in Miami, Milwaukee and Phoenix as they examine the impact of body-worn cameras on citizen complaints, internal investigations, privacy, community relationships and cost effectiveness. Each of these three departments will partner with a research institution to gain insight on the merits of deploying body-worn camera programs.
Lynch announced the award today during a White House Champions of Change event co-hosted by OJP and the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS Office). The event honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
BJA has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body-worn cameras, including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers, prosecutors, victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The toolkit is available at https://www.bja.gov/bwc/.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit
http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: BJA; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov
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DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.
Justice Department Awards Law Enforcement Hiring Grants to Help Build Trust, Reduce Violence and Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) funding awards to 10 cities in the Eastern District of California, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 47 law enforcement positions. Over $107 million will be awarded nationally, through the COPS Hiring Program, including $7,651,542 for local law enforcement agencies in the Eastern District of California.
This year’s grantees include the following jurisdictions, with funding for the number of positions noted: Avenal (1), Dinuba (1), Fresno (15), Mendota (1), Sacramento (15), Vacaville (2), Vallejo (6), Wasco (1), West Sacramento (2), and Woodland (3).
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
CHP provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
“These grants will provide meaningful assistance to law enforcement agencies large and small in this region,” said United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Justice Department Announces over $23.2 Million in Funding for Body Worn CamerasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Attorney General Loretta Lynch today announced that the Justice Department has awarded grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The grants include $600,000 for the Seattle Police Department. The investment includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
“This vital pilot program is designed to assist local jurisdictions that are interested in exploring and expanding the use of body-worn cameras in order to enhance transparency, accountability and credibility,” said Attorney General Lynch. “The impact of body-worn cameras touches on a range of outcomes that build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common purpose that all communities need to thrive.”
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing this information will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
In addition to funds to help purchase body-worn cameras and train officers in their use, grants under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Smart Policing Initiative will support police departments in Miami, Milwaukee, and Phoenix as they examine the impact of body-worn cameras on citizen complaints, internal investigations, privacy, community relationships, and cost effectiveness. Each of these three departments will partner with a research institution to gain insight on the merits of deploying body-worn camera programs.
Lynch announced the award today during a White House Champions of Change event co-hosted by the Office of Justice Programs and the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS). The event honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
BJA has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body-worn cameras, including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers, prosecutors, victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The toolkit is available at: https://www.bja.gov/bwc/.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit
http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov
Justice Department Announces over $23.2 Million in Funding for Body Worn CamerasRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla.—The Justice Department has awarded $599,200 to the Tulsa Police Department as part of the Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program, announced United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
“Today’s nearly $600,000 will allow the Tulsa Police Department to develop and enhance their body-worn camera program,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The Justice Department is committed to supporting the safety of law enforcement officers who protect our communities.”
Nationwide, a total of more than $23.2 million was awarded to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The investment includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing this information will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program, visit http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.
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Justice Department Announces over $23 Million in Funding for Body Worn Cameras; City of Rochester to Receive $600,000Read the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that the City of Rochester is one of 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to share in grants awarded by the Justice Department totaling more than $23 million.
The City of Rochester will receive $600,000. The grants will be used to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The investment includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
“Because body worn cameras have the potential to memorialize helpful information for both law enforcement and the public, we applaud this grant for the City of Rochester, said U.S. Attorney Hochul.”
“As we support local leaders and law enforcement officers in their work to protect their communities, we are mindful that effective public safety depends not simply on taking bad guys off the streets, but on winning – and keeping – the confidence of the people these officers are sworn to serve,” said Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “The awards we’re announcing today will enhance our understanding [of this technology] even further, and I am confident that they will help our many local law enforcement partners do an even better job of serving their communities.”
The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing this information will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
In addition to funds to help purchase body-worn cameras and train officers in their use, grants under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Smart Policing Initiative will support police departments in Miami, Milwaukee, and Phoenix as they examine the impact of body-worn cameras on citizen complaints, internal investigations, privacy, community relationships, and cost effectiveness. Each of these three departments will partner with a research institution to gain insight on the merits of deploying body-worn camera programs.
Lynch announced the award today during a White House Champions of Change event co-hosted by the Office of Justice Programs and the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS). The event honored law enforcement officers and young people who are leading efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and youth in their communities.
BJA has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body-worn cameras, including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers, prosecutors, victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The toolkit is available at: https://www.bja.gov/bwc/.
OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.
For additional information about the BWC Pilot Implementation Program, visit
http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Announces $107 Million in Community Policing Hiring Grants to Nearly 200 Law Enforcement Agencies Across the CountryRead the Press Release
Hiring Grants Will Aim to Create, Retain 866 Law Enforcement Officers
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today announced more than $107 million in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to nearly 200 law enforcement agencies across the nation, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 866 law enforcement positions.
“Ensuring that local law enforcement officers have the resources they need to serve their communities fairly, faithfully, and effectively is among the Justice Department’s highest priorities,” said Attorney General Lynch. “These awards will not only keep more officers on the beat – they will address specific issue areas like violent crime, school safety, homeland security, and community trust. They will help our law enforcement agencies become more efficient and more responsive to the needs of their jurisdictions. And they will promote the ongoing efforts of the Department of Justice as we work to build the safe, secure, and supportive communities that every American deserves.”
COPS Office Director Ronald L. Davis remarked that “The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues. Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, school safety, and building trust within their communities.”
CHP provides funding directly to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies for the hiring and rehiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. All CHP applicants were asked to identify a specific crime and disorder problem area and how funding would be used to initiate or enhance their capacity to implement community policing approaches to that problem area. In 2015, the COPS Office gave additional consideration to applicant agencies selecting the category of “Building Trust,” and those agencies were encouraged to refer to the final report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their community policing strategies. Additional consideration was also given to agencies that selected the areas of school based policing, homicide or violent crime, and homeland security. Applicants who committed to hiring or rehiring at least one military veteran under CHP also received additional consideration for funding.
In 2015, 76 agencies that selected the category of “Building Trust” will receive funding for 353 positions. Funding will be awarded to 31 agencies to hire 303 officers to focus specifically on the reduction of homicides and other violent crimes. In addition, 56 agencies will receive funding for 123 officer positions dedicated to our nation’s schools, and 133 agencies committed to hiring one or more officers who are military veterans. The entire list of grantees can be found here: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2015AwardDocs/chp/CHP_Award_List.pdf.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
Judge Sentences Reading Man in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
ALLENTOWN - Cori Merklinger, 24, of Reading, PA, was sentenced today to 27.5 years in prison for conspiracy to produce child pornography, three counts of production of child pornography, and one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge James Knoll Gardner ordered 15 years of supervised release, a $500 special assessment, and $2300 in restitution.
Merklinger was initially identified through an undercover operation as a distributor of videos of young children being sexually assaulted by adults. A search of his cellular phone led to the discovery of text messages with his then-19-year old girlfriend, Ambur Ham, also charged. Via text messaging, Merklinger directed Ham to take sexually explicit photos of the 3-, 4-, and 5-year old children she was babysitting. Text messages revealed that Merklinger repeatedly asked Ham to take photographs of the three minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Merklinger went so far as to coach the children on speaker phone to engage in sexual conduct. He pleaded guilty on November 27, 2013. Ham had also pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 2, 2015 to 20 years in prison, 15 years of supervised release, $2,300 restitution, and a $400 special assessment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Berks County Detectives and the Chester County Detectives, with assistance from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan
Investment Bank Financial Adviser Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Illegally Accessing Confidential Client InformationRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriquez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that GALEN MARSH, a private wealth management adviser, pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to obtaining confidential client information from his employer, a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Manhattan (the “Bank”), by gaining unauthorized access to certain of the Bank’s computer systems. Marsh pled guilty to one count of unauthorized access to a computer before U.S. District Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Galen Marsh has admitted that he accessed confidential and private account information of hundreds of thousands of his employer’s clients without authorization and to use it for his personal advantage. Accessing such confidential information through a bank’s computer systems is a federal crime and one to which Marsh has now pled guilty.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said: “Marsh obtained unauthorized access to confidential data on approximately 730,000 clients from his then-employer. Marsh’s illegal access of this data put the confidential information of those clients at risk when he put the information on his personal server. Today’s guilty plea should send a message to those who inappropriately obtain and mishandle sensitive information that such actions may not just be improper, they can also be criminal.”
According to the Information and statements made at today’s plea hearing:
MARSH was employed in the private wealth management division of the Bank, initially as a Customer Service Associate (“CSA”) and then as a Financial Advisor (“FA”). In that capacity, MARSH worked as part of a group of CSAs and FAs at the Bank’s Manhattan office (the “Group”) that provided financial and investment services to particular private wealth management clients of the Bank. Other similarly structured groups within the private wealth management division provided the same services to the Bank’s other private wealth management clients (together with the Group’s clients, the “Clients”).
The Bank maintained certain computer systems to manage confidential account information regarding the Clients. Like other FAs and CSAs, MARSH was authorized to access the Client information maintained in the Bank’s computer systems only with respect to Clients of his own Group. From June 2011 through December 2014, MARSH used the Bank’s computer systems to access, without permission or authority, confidential information about certain Clients serviced by FAs and CSAs outside of his Group. In order to obtain this unauthorized access to confidential Client information, MARSH used the identification numbers of other Bank branches, groups, and FAs in the Bank’s computer systems. MARSH conducted a total of approximately 6,000 unauthorized searches in the Bank’s computer systems, and thereby obtained confidential Client information, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, account numbers, fixed-income investment information, and account values, of approximately 730,000 Client accounts at the Bank. Over a series of dates from June 2011 through December 2014, MARSH uploaded the confidential Client information from the Bank to a personal server at his home in New Jersey.
MARSH illegally accessed the Bank’s confidential client information in order to use it for his personal advantage as a private wealth management adviser at the Bank. From October 2013 through December 2014, MARSH was engaged in discussions regarding potential employment with two other financial institutions that are competitors of the Bank.
* * *
MARSH, 31, of Hoboken, New Jersey, faces a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MARSH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Duffy on Monday, December 7, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Christine Magdo is in charge of the prosecution.
Huntington woman sentenced to nine years in Federal prison for possession with intent to deliver heroinRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Jazzmyn Rochon Litzy, aka Zoe, 35, from Cabell County, West Virginia, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
In December of 2014, a member of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) working in an undercover capacity, bought drugs twice from Litzy. Following these drug deals, DEA obtained a search warrant for Litzy’s Huntington home at 127 Oakland Avenue. During the search, agents found more than 70 grams of heroin, and several guns. Litzy was previously convicted of robbery in 2001, and drug trafficking and tampering with evidence in 2007. These felony convictions make it a federal crime for Litzy to possess any firearm.
Today’s sentence was imposed by Chief United States District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Huntington Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Huntington man sentenced in Federal court for distributing oxymorphone pillsRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who assisted in the distribution of prescription pills on multiple occasions in July 2014 was given five years of probation announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Eric Lawrence Silverstein, 39, previously pleaded guilty in federal court in Huntington January of 2015 to distributing oxymorphone before Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
On July 25, 2014, Silverstein participated in a drug transaction with a confidential informant working at the direction of the Huntington Police Department. Silverstein drove the informant to the 1400 block of 4th Avenue in Huntington where he arranged for the informant to receive 10 oxymorphone pills in exchange for $600. Silverstein was paid $100 for setting up the drug deal. Silverstein also arranged the sale of 8 oxymorphone pills with an informant on July 28, 2014, in Huntington.
The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force and Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Four convicted of heroin, cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four individuals were convicted of heroin and cocaine trafficking offenses today in federal court, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Amanda Dawn Arth, 34, of Lost Creek, West Virginia sold heroin in April 2015 near the Clarksburg, City Park – Broadway Playground in Harrison County, West Virginia. She pled guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location.” She faces between one and forty years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000.
Stacy Michelle Hitt-Snyder, 36, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, sold heroin near Glen Elk Park in Harrison County, West Virginia. She pled guilty today to Distribution of Heroin within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location.” She faces between one and forty years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000.
Brian K. Dixon, 47, of Clarksburg, sold heroin in Harrison County, West Virginia. He pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Heroin.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
Craig J. Singleton, 32, of Clarksburg, conspired with other individuals to possess and sell heroin and cocaine in Harrison County, West Virginia. He pled guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine Base.” 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 defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Montoro prosecuted Dixon and Singleton, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted Arth, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Adkins prosecuted Hitt-Snyder on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated each of the defendants.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided in the Hitt-Snyder plea hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull presided in the remaining plea hearings.
Former Union Officials Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Betty Martin, 54, and Duane Rush, 44, both of Buffalo, NY, who were convicted of bank fraud, were each sentenced to 12 months in prison and three years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Martin was ordered to pay restitution totaling $59,683 to the Transportation Aides of Buffalo Union (TAB). Rush was ordered to pay $61,746 in restitution to TAB.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell, who handled the case, stated that between 2006 and 2013, Martin served as the President, and Duane Martin served as the Vice President, of TAB, a public employees union comprised of school bus aides employed by the City of Buffalo.
While serving as union officers, Martin stole approximately $61,746 of union funds, and Rush stole approximately $59,683 in union funds from the union’s M&T bank account. The two accomplished these thefts through the use of an M&T Bank debit card, drawn on the union’s bank account, to pay for personal expenditures; by withdrawing cash from the account for personal use; and by writing checks from the union account to themselves. TAB’s treasury was funded by dues paid by union members.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York Regional Office.
Former Peanut Company President Receives Largest Criminal Sentence in Food Safety Case; Two Others also Sentenced for Their Roles in Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Product OutbreakRead the Press Release
Two former officials of and one broker for the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) were sentenced to prison today in Albany, Georgia, for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud their customers by shipping salmonella-positive peanut products before the results of microbiological testing were received and falsifying microbiological test results, the Department of Justice announced today.
Stewart Parnell, 61, of Lynchburg, Virginia, the former owner and president of PCA, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia to serve 336 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Michael Parnell, 56, of Midlothian, Virginia, who worked at P.P. Sales and was a food broker who worked on behalf of PCA, and is Stewart Parnell’s brother, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mary Wilkerson, 41, of Edison, Georgia, who held various positions at PCA’s Blakely, Georgia, plant including receptionist, office manager and quality assurance manager, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Sands will issue a restitution order at a later date.
The Parnell brothers were convicted by a federal jury on Sept. 19, 2014, of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and the sale of misbranded food. Stewart Parnell was also convicted of the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson were also convicted of obstruction of justice. Stewart Parnell was found guilty of all but one of the 68 felony counts with which he was charged on Feb. 15, 2013.
Expert evidence at trial showed that tainted food led to a salmonella outbreak in 2009 with more than 700 reported cases of salmonella poisoning in 46 states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based on epidemiological projections, that number translates to more than 22,000 total cases including nine deaths. The court found that the evidence presented at trial linked Stewart and Michael Parnell’s conduct, and specifically PCA’s contaminated peanut products, to the victims’ illnesses. The court also found that steps taken by the CDC to link reported illnesses to the specific strain of salmonella found in PCA products established that Stewart and Michael Parnell’s conduct was the proximate cause of the victims’ illnesses.
“Americans should be able to trust that the food we buy for ourselves and our families is safe,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “The sentences handed down today to officials associated with the Peanut Corporation of America demonstrate the consequences for those whose criminal actions threaten that trust by introducing contaminated food into the marketplace. Our prosecution is just one more example of the forceful actions that the Department of Justice, with its agency partners, takes against any individual or company who compromises the safety of America’s food supply for financial gain.”
The government presented evidence at trial to establish that Stewart Parnell and Michael Parnell – with former PCA operations manager Samuel Lightsey, 50, and Daniel Kilgore, 46, both of Blakely – participated in several schemes by which they defrauded PCA customers and jeopardized the quality and purity of their peanut products. Specifically, the government presented evidence that the defendants misled customers about the presence of salmonella in their products. For example, the Parnells, Lightsey and Kilgore fabricated certificates of analysis (COAs) accompanying various shipments of peanut products. COAs are documents that summarize laboratory results, including test results concerning the presence or absence of pathogens in food. According to the evidence, on several occasions, the Parnells, Lightsey and Kilgore participated in a scheme to fabricate COAs that stated that the food at issue was free of pathogens when in fact there had been no testing of the food or tests had revealed the presence of pathogens.
The government also presented evidence that when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials visited PCA’s Blakely plant to investigate the outbreak, Stewart Parnell, Lightsey and Wilkerson gave untrue or misleading answers to questions posed by those officials.
“Today’s sentencing sends a powerful message to officials in the food industry that they stand in a special position of trust with the American consumer, and those who put profit above the welfare of their customers and knowingly sell contaminated food will face serious consequences,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work aggressively with its partners to ensure that the American people are protected from food that is adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and pursue any person who fails to abide by the vital food safety protections in the law. We are dedicated to using all the tools that we have at our disposal to ensure that the processors and handlers of our food have the public’s safety forefront in their minds.”
“The sentence that was handed down today means that executives will no longer be able to hide behind the corporate veil,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore of the Middle District of Georgia. “The tragedy of this case is that at a peanut processing plant in Middle Georgia, protecting the public lost out to increasing of profits. This case was never just about shipping tainted peanut product; it was about making sure individual wrong doers were held accountable and the losses suffered by the victims and their families are never forgotten.”
Judge Sands took into account the fraud loss of PCA’s corporate victims when imposing today’s sentence. The court found that Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson should be held accountable for more than $100 million but less than $200 million in losses, and Michael Parnell should be held accountable for more than $20 million but less than $50 million in losses. The court also found the government established evidence that Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson should be accountable for harming more than 250 victims, and Michael Parnell should be accountable under federal sentencing guidelines for harming more than 50 victims. The court additionally found that the Parnells should have known that their actions presented a reckless risk of death or serious bodily injury.
“At the outset, the FBI saw this case as a serious breach of the public’s trust by a corporation and its officers who were expected to comply with the various regulations that would ensure their products safe for consumption,” said Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of FBI Atlanta Field Office. “They did not and lives were lost. The lengthy prison sentences handed down today in federal court clearly reflects the magnitude of the criminal conduct of these corporate officers and it is hoped that these sentences can provide some solace to those victims or their families who suffered so much from that criminal conduct and waited so long for justice.”
“Americans expect and deserve the highest standards of food safety and integrity,” said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, FDA Acting Commissioner. “Those who choose profits over the health and safety of U.S. consumers are now on notice that the FDA, working with the Department of Justice, will strive to use the full force of our justice system against them.”
Lightsey and Kilgore are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 1, in Albany.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Patrick Hearn and Mary M. Englehart of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Dasher of the Middle District of Georgia. Acting Associate Attorney General Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mizer and U.S. Attorney Moore thank the investigative efforts of the FBI and FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Former Peanut Company President Receives Largest Criminal Sentence in Food Safety Case; Two Others Also Sentenced for Their Roles in Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Product OutbreakRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two former officials of and one broker for the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) were sentenced to prison today in Albany, Georgia, for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud their customers by shipping salmonella-positive peanut products before the results of microbiological testing were received and falsifying microbiological test results, the Department of Justice announced today.
Stewart Parnell, 61, of Lynchburg, Virginia, the former owner and president of PCA, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia to serve 336 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Michael Parnell, 56, of Midlothian, Virginia, who worked at P.P. Sales and was a food broker who worked on behalf of PCA, and is Stewart Parnell’s brother, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mary Wilkerson, 41, of Edison, Georgia, who held various positions at PCA’s Blakely, Georgia, plant including receptionist, office manager and quality assurance manager, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Sands will issue a restitution order at a later date.
The Parnell brothers were convicted by a federal jury on Sept. 19, 2014, of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and the sale of misbranded food. Stewart Parnell was also convicted of the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson were also convicted of obstruction of justice. Stewart Parnell was found guilty of all but one of the 68 felony counts with which he was charged on Feb. 15, 2013.
Expert evidence at trial showed that tainted food led to a salmonella outbreak in 2009 with more than 700 reported cases of salmonella poisoning in 46 states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based on epidemiological projections, that number translates to more than 22,000 total cases including nine deaths. The court found that the evidence presented at trial linked Stewart and Michael Parnell’s conduct, and specifically PCA’s contaminated peanut products, to the victims’ illnesses. The court also found that steps taken by the CDC to link reported illnesses to the specific strain of salmonella found in PCA products established that Stewart and Michael Parnell’s conduct was the proximate cause of the victims’ illnesses.
“Americans should be able to trust that the food we buy for ourselves and our families is safe,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “The sentences handed down today to officials associated with the Peanut Corporation of America demonstrate the consequences for those whose criminal actions threaten that trust by introducing contaminated food into the marketplace. Our prosecution is just one more example of the forceful actions that the Department of Justice, with its agency partners, takes against any individual or company who compromises the safety of America’s food supply for financial gain.”
The government presented evidence at trial to establish that Stewart Parnell and Michael Parnell – with former PCA operations manager Samuel Lightsey, 50, and Daniel Kilgore, 46, both of Blakely – participated in several schemes by which they defrauded PCA customers and jeopardized the quality and purity of their peanut products. Specifically, the government presented evidence that the defendants misled customers about the presence of salmonella in their products. For example, the Parnells, Lightsey and Kilgore fabricated certificates of analysis (COAs) accompanying various shipments of peanut products. COAs are documents that summarize laboratory results, including test results concerning the presence or absence of pathogens in food. According to the evidence, on several occasions, the Parnells, Lightsey and Kilgore participated in a scheme to fabricate COAs that stated that the food at issue was free of pathogens when in fact there had been no testing of the food or tests had revealed the presence of pathogens.
The government also presented evidence that when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials visited PCA’s Blakely plant to investigate the outbreak, Stewart Parnell, Lightsey and Wilkerson gave untrue or misleading answers to questions posed by those officials.
“Today’s sentencing sends a powerful message to officials in the food industry that they stand in a special position of trust with the American consumer, and those who put profit above the welfare of their customers and knowingly sell contaminated food will face serious consequences,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work aggressively with its partners to ensure that the American people are protected from food that is adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and pursue any person who fails to abide by the vital food safety protections in the law. We are dedicated to using all the tools that we have at our disposal to ensure that the processors and handlers of our food have the public’s safety forefront in their minds.”
“The sentence that was handed down today means that executives will no longer be able to hide behind the corporate veil,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore of the Middle District of Georgia. “The tragedy of this case is that at a peanut processing plant in Middle Georgia, protecting the public lost out to increasing of profits. This case was never just about shipping tainted peanut product; it was about making sure individual wrong doers were held accountable and the losses suffered by the victims and their families are never forgotten.”
Judge Sands took into account the fraud loss of PCA’s corporate victims when imposing today’s sentence. The court found that Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson should be held accountable for more than $100 million but less than $200 million in losses, and Michael Parnell should be held accountable for more than $20 million but less than $50 million in losses. The court also found the government established evidence that Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson should be accountable for harming more than 250 victims, and Michael Parnell should be accountable under federal sentencing guidelines for harming more than 50 victims. The court additionally found that the Parnells should have known that their actions presented a reckless risk of death or serious bodily injury.
“At the outset, the FBI saw this case as a serious breach of the public’s trust by a corporation and its officers who were expected to comply with the various regulations that would ensure their products safe for consumption,” said Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of FBI Atlanta Field Office. “They did not and lives were lost. The lengthy prison sentences handed down today in federal court clearly reflects the magnitude of the criminal conduct of these corporate officers and it is hoped that these sentences can provide some solace to those victims or their families who suffered so much from that criminal conduct and waited so long for justice.”
“Americans expect and deserve the highest standards of food safety and integrity,” said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, FDA Acting Commissioner. “Those who choose profits over the health and safety of U.S. consumers are now on notice that the FDA, working with the Department of Justice, will strive to use the full force of our justice system against them.”
Lightsey and Kilgore are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 1, in Albany.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Patrick Hearn and Mary M. Englehart of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Dasher of the Middle District of Georgia. Acting Associate Attorney General Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mizer and U.S. Attorney Moore thank the investigative efforts of the FBI and FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Former Memorial Hermann Employee Sentenced for Embezzling Nearly $10 MillionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The former manager of Printing and Mail Services at Memorial Hermann Health Systems has been ordered to federal prison after defrauding his employer of nearly $10 million over a 14-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Kenneth Joseph Wild II, 50, of Katy, entered a guilty plea April 22, 2015, to one count of mail fraud.
Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Wild an 87-month sentence to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $$9,302,667.29 in restitution. As part of his plea agreement, Wild agreed to forfeit his home and all of its contents, his vehicles, his 401K pension plan with Memorial Hermann and any other financial assets in his possession in order to pay that restitution to Memorial Hermann. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted the significance of the case because it involved public money. Judge Hoyt commented that Wild "victimized Memorial Hermann, it's patients, your family and yourself. You only came to your senses after you got caught and now you will have a significant amount of time to reflect on your actions.”
On or about Feb. 23, 2001, Wild was appointed as manager of Printing and Mail Services, a division within Memorial Hermann which oversees and outsources the creation of all informational and promotional materials disseminated by Memorial Hermann. In this role, Wild had the responsibility for approving invoices submitted for printing services utilized by Memorial Hermann and for forwarding those invoices to accounts payable for payments to be remitted via checks delivered by U.S. mail.
On or about March 8, 2001, just two weeks after Wild’s promotion to management, an entity named Digital Designs Limited began submitting invoices to Memorial Hermann for printing and data conversion services purportedly provided to Memorial Hermann. Wild used his position to cause the Digital Designs invoices to be approved. Over the span of 14 years, from March 2001 through March 2015, Wild submitted 229 invoices totaling $9,302,667.29 in the name of Digital Designs for services that were never provided to Memorial Hermann.
On March 11, 2015, Memorial Hermann’s chief audit and compliance officer received an anonymous, hand-written letter alleging the Digital Designs account was an anomalous, ghost account and asking for an investigation. As a result, Memorial Hermann swiftly conducted a preliminary review of the account and immediately reached out to law enforcement to report the incident.
The investigation revealed that the address listed for Digital Designs was a P.O. Box opened by Wild in 1996. In October 2001, Wild had obtained an assumed name certificate from the Harris County Clerk’s Office for “Digital Designs of Texas, P.O. Box 36345, Houston, TX 77236.” The investigation further revealed that payments remitted to Digital Designs were deposited into a bank account which was assigned to Wild with a dba of Digital Designs. Wild deposited the checks from Memorial Hermann into that account and then transferred those funds to other accounts he controlled. He then used the funds to support his extravagant lifestyle which included, among other things, making significant personal expenditures, purchasing a home and making substantial improvements and extensive international travel for himself and his family and friends.
He has been in custody since his arrest on March 21, 2015, where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The charges are the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Varnado is prosecuting the case.
Former Mayor and Councilman for Islamorada Village Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
The former Mayor and Councilman for Islamorada Village was sentenced today, by United States District Court Judge Jose E. Martinez, after previously pleading guilty to conspiring to commit tax evasion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.
Michael Alan Reckwerdt, 47, of Islamorada, Florida, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day for conspiring to defraud the IRS in the collection of employment taxes. Following his release from incarceration, Reckwerdt will be on supervised release for three years. Reckwerdt was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $160,031.71 in restitution. Reckwerdt previously paid an additional $276,951.46 to the IRS in order to satisfy restitution, interest and penalties.
According to court documents and information presented in court, Reckwerdt, who owns and operates several businesses in Islamorada and Key West, namely, Flamingo Air of the Florida Keys, Inc., Rent-A-Boat, Inc., Robbie’s Charter Enterprises, Inc., Robbie’s Marine Enterprises, Inc., and Robbie’s of Key West, LLC, conspired to pay a portion of his employees’ wages in cash from January 2006 through December 2010, and consequently, underpay employment taxes due and owed to the IRS. The cash payments were uncovered after the IRS executed three search warrants on Reckwerdt’s home and two of his businesses on November 3, 2011, and seized hundreds of business and financial records. A subsequent review of those records revealed that between 2006 and 2010, Reckwerdt’s businesses had systematically paid employees in cash and therefore underreported employees’ wages and underpaid employment taxes. Additionally, interviews of current and/or former employees of Reckwerdt revealed that once an employee’s salary composition was determined, the companies’ books and tax records were falsified to hide and conceal the cash payments to employees. Between 2006 and 2010, Reckwerdt underreported approximately $1,045,841.24 in cash wages, resulting in $160,013.71 of employment tax due and owed to the U.S. government.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Selmore.
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
Former Detroit City Treasurer Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison for Taking Bribes in Exchange for Tens of Millions in Detroit Pension InvestmentsRead the Press Release
Former Detroit City Treasurer Jeffrey Beasley was sentenced to eleven years in prison today for taking bribes and kickbacks from businessmen who sought and received hundreds of millions of dollars from Detroit’s two pension systems, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined in the announcement by FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge John Shoup, IRS Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman, and James Vanderberg, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations in Chicago. During a hearing today before U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds, Beasley, 46, of Chicago, was sentenced to eleven years in prison and a term of supervised release based on his four convictions by a jury for honest services fraud conspiracy, extortion and bribery. Beasley, who was appointed by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, served as Treasurer of Detroit from 2006 through September 2008. As Treasurer, Beasley oversaw Detroit’s two pension systems and served as a Trustee for both Detroit’s General Retirement System and the Police and Fire Retirement System. Detroit’s two pension systems service more than 30,000 pensioners, beneficiaries, and city employees. While city Treasurer, Beasley demanded and accepted bribes of more than $250,000 in cash, all-expense paid trips to Miami Beach, Las Vegas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, an $800 set of golf clubs, massages, limousine rides, free liquor, meals and entertainment, among other things of value. Beasley accepted these bribes and kickbacks from men seeking investment money from the two Detroit pension systems, including investment sponsors, third party marketers and the former General Counsel of the pension systems, Ronald Zajac. In addition, Beasley pressured businessmen appearing before the pensions systems to contribute more than $400,000 to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund in exchange for pension system investment money. The former Mayor then used the civic fund money as a slush fund for personal and political expenses. The investigation of corruption in the pension systems of Detroit resulted in a number of convictions. Four other men convicted for their involvement in paying and accepting bribes in connection with the Detroit pension system will be sentenced over the next two weeks. They are: Paul Stewart, a former police officer, pension trustee, and Vice President of the Detroit Police Officer’s Association; Chauncey Mayfield, the former CEO of Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors; Roy Dixon, the former CEO of Onyx Capital Advisors; and George Stanton, the former Chief of Staff of a Detroit city councilwoman and pension trustee. In addition, a number of other defendants were convicted in relation to the pension fund investigation, including (1) Monica Conyers, a former Trustee of the General Retirement System and former member of the Detroit city council, for conspiracy to take bribes, including bribes relating to a proposed multi-million dollar pension fund investment in Wireless Resources and a $10,000 extortion payment relating to the Police and Fire Retirement System’s investment in the Romulus Deep Injection Waste Well; (2) Samuel L. Riddle, Conyers’ Chief of Staff, for conspiracy to commit bribery and extortion relating to the Wireless Resources and Romulus Deep Injection Well investments; (3) DeDan Milton, a former Trustee of Detroit’s two pension funds; (4) Andrew Park, an owner of Asian Village, who paid a bribe to obtain a $2.75 million loan from Detroit’s General Retirement System; (5) Derrick Miller, former Chief Information Officer of Detroit, who accepted the bribe from Park and who took a kickback of more than $500,000 on a $44 million investment by Detroit’s two pension funds; and (6) the late Ronald Zajac, former General Counsel of Detroit’s two pension systems for over 30 years, who was convicted prior to his death of collecting and delivering almost $20,000 in cash bribes to trustees in order to secure a huge raise in salary for himself. United States Attorney McQuade said, “Beasley robbed city employees and retirees of pension benefits they had earned through their hard work and dedication to public service. The court’s sentence today sends a strong message that public officials will be punished when they abuse their positions of trust to personally profit at the expense of pensioners.” “With this sentencing, we move closer to closing an ugly chapter of corruption in Detroit”, said John R. Shoup, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Division. “We are committed to protecting our citizens from officials who abuse their positions of trust, and steal from the hard-working people of this city.” "IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working with the US Attorney's Office and its law enforcement partners to detect and investigate public officials that choose to abuse their position for their own personal enrichment", said Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman. “Public officials who betray their trust by extorting financial vendors undermine the viability of pension plans like the City of Detroit Retirement System. Corrupt actions have cheated hard working City of Detroit employees out of what they rightfully earned. Our office will continue to work with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to detect and deter crimes against American workers and their benefits,” stated James Vanderberg, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations in Chicago. The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David A. Gardey, Stephanie Dawkins Davis, and Julie Beck.Former City of Miami Police Officer Charged with Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
A former uniformed police officer with the City of Miami Police Department is charged with accepting bribes.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, and Rodolfo Llanes, Chief, City of Miami Police Department (MPD) made the announcement.
On September 21, 2015, Julio Ruiz made his initial appearance in federal court on a Criminal Information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In that Information, Ruiz is charged with three counts of affecting commerce by extortion under color of official right, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Specifically, Ruiz is charged with accepting three bribe payments between April 26 and June 12, 2013, for a total sum of $1,800 cash and a cellular telephone. In exchange for the bribe payments, the Information alleges Ruiz misused his position as a police officer by providing access to, and information regarding, traffic accidents within the jurisdiction of the City of Miami police department.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a) carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. The case has been assigned to United States District Court Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the City of Miami Police Department Internal Affairs Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Lacosta.
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.
Former Chatham County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA - Richard Adam Hall, 53, a former Chatham County Deputy Sheriff, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 206 months in prison based on his conviction for Production of Child Pornography.
According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Hall was under investigation by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office for child molestation, and a search of Hall’s residence resulted in the recovery of numerous sexually explicit photographs of a juvenile male. A further investigation revealed that the minor depicted in the photographs traveled with Hall to Tennessee and Florida where the minor was molested by Hall on multiple occasions. The sexually explicit photographs of the minor were taken by Hall when the victim was approximately 12 years old. Hall’s criminal conduct occurred while he served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Last year, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Hall on 25 counts of child molestation and related offenses. The State charges against Hall are still pending.
United States Attorney Edward Tarver stated, “This defendant was supposed to protect the innocent; instead, he preyed on children. He now rightfully faces hundreds of months in a federal prison cell. When he’s released, he’ll then be under the watchful eye of federal probation officers for the rest of his life. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work hard with our state and federal law enforcement partners to make sure that sex offenders who prey on the innocent will end up where they belong, in prison.”
“To see an individual who takes an oath to uphold the law turn and exploit that position of trust is heinous and truly heartbreaking,” said Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan, ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Atlanta. “Law enforcement officers at all levels of government, including our partners at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in this investigation, are engaged in a desperate battle to stop child predators from victimizing and abusing the most innocent members of society. This defendant betrayed everyone in his community and everything he pretended to stand for in his pursuit of perversion. His extensive incarceration is well deserved punishment.”
“The Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will continue to assist and support State of Georgia and federal agencies to investigate and bring to justice those that violate our children. Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department personnel assigned to federal task forces are performing admirably in those roles,” said Chief Joseph Lumpkin.
Chatham County Sheriff Al St. Lawrence said, “The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is entrusted with the safety of the public. Unfortunately, we had among our ranks one that violated that principle. After receiving information about these crimes, the CCSO conducted an investigation resulting in the arrest of former Lt. Richard A. Hall for multiple egregious against children offenses that occurred a lengthy time period. We appreciate the job our investigators did in conducting this investigation, and the assistance of other agencies, especially Armstrong State University Police Department's Forensic Investigation Unit. We also appreciate HSI for their fantastic assistance in concluding this investigation, and partnering with the US Attorney's Office and the District Attorney's Office to ensure that justice prevailed.”
In addition to a prison sentence, Judge Wood also sentenced Hall to a lifetime of supervised release. Mr. Tarver noted that there is no parole in the federal system.
The federal indictment of Hall arose out of a joint investigation by HSI, the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Department, and Armstrong State University’s Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian T. Rafferty and Daniel R. Crumby prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.
Federal Grants Will Buy Body Cameras in Wyandotte County, Wichita, Dodge CityRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded federal grants to buy law enforcement body cameras in Wyandotte County, Wichita and Dodge City, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
The grants awarded through the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance are designed to support body cameras as a law enforcement strategy aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime, and improving trust between police and the public.
The agencies receiving the grants are:
- Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., $352,500.
- City of Wichita, $250,000.
- Dodge City Police Department, $45,205.
“Body cameras are a big step forward in our efforts to protect officers and the public – and to build trust between police and the communities they protect,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Nationally, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday announced grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 law enforcement agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body cameras. The grants are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
The grants, which require a 50/50 local match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing information from body cameras will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body cameras including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers; prosecutors; victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The tool kit is online at https://www.bja.gov/bwc/
District Man and Woman Indicted on Federal Charges Stemming from Trafficking Children for SexRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daraya Marshall, 35, and Jarnese Harris, 29, both of Washington, D.C., have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they engaged in sex trafficking of children and transported them for prostitution. Marshall also was indicted for child sexual abuse and production and possession of child pornography.
The indictment, which was returned on Sept. 17, 2015, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr., Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Marshall and Harris were arrested earlier this summer and had been charged in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The case now will be prosecuted in the U.S. District Court, where the two defendants made their first appearances today. Both defendants pled not guilty to the charges and were ordered held pending a hearing on Sept. 30, 2015.
Marshall and Harris could face life prison terms if convicted of the charges. The indictment includes forfeiture allegations seeking all proceeds that can be traced to the charges related to sex trafficking of children, transportation of minors for prostitution, and child pornography.
According to the indictment, Marshall and Harris trafficked three children for sex and transported them between the District of Columbia and Maryland for the purpose of prostitution. The indictment alleges that Marshall and Harris began trafficking one of the children in the summer of 2014, and began trafficking the other two children earlier this year. The indictment also alleges that Marshall engaged in sexual acts with two of the children while they were under the age of 16. Finally, the indictment charges Marshall with production and possession of child pornography depicting one of the children.
“Those who engage in human trafficking are targeting the most vulnerable members of society, including children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen. “The federal prosecution of this case reflects the priority we have placed on aggressively combating this crime and saving victims from future abuse.”
“Child sex trafficking is an abhorrent crime that creates a cycle of victimization which must be stopped,” said Assistant Director in Charge Abbate. “The FBI is committed to bringing child predators to justice and rescuing children from this heinous exploitation. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to aggressively prevent and investigate crimes against children.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen, Assistant Director in Charge Abbate, and Chief Lanier expressed appreciation for the work performed by detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division, and Special Agents and Analysts of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also recognized the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Lezlie Richardson and Veronica Vaughan; Victim/Witness Security Specialists Michael Hailey, Lesley Slade, Tanya Via, and Wanda Queen; Paralegal Specialists Tierra Nanches and Joyce Arthur; Criminal Investigator Mark Crawford, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassidy Pinegar. Finally, they acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff T. Cook, who investigated and is prosecuting the case.
Detroit man sentenced to four years for role in Federal heroin conspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man who assisted in the distribution of heroin in Huntington in 2013 and 2014 was sentenced today to four years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Ramone L. Wells, 20, previously pleaded guilty in June of 2015 to conspiracy to distribute heroin.
From February of 2013 to December 8, 2014, Wells assisted multiple co-conspirators in the sale of heroin transported from Detroit to Huntington. During the conspiracy, Wells supervised street level heroin dealers in Huntington and collected cash from drug sales. Wells also sold heroin he received from his co-conspirators.
Members of the conspiracy used multiple Huntington residences as locations where heroin was stored, prepared and distributed, including the residence located at 403 Homestead Place in Huntington. On December 6, 2014, a postal inspector with the United States Postal Service intercepted a package addressed for the residence containing approximately 230 grams of heroin. Agents delivered the package on December 8 and executed a search warrant at the residence after the package was accepted. During the search, agents seized heroin, drug paraphernalia, cash, and guns.
Multiple others have been convicted for their respective roles in the conspiracy including Paul A. Roberts, who pleaded guilty to maintaining a residence for the distribution of heroin in March 2015, Pricilla Lee Dylan, who pleaded guilty to maintaining a residence for the distribution of heroin in August 2015, Dustin S. Barton, who pleaded guilty to distributing heroin in August 2015, Kenneth E. Baxter, who pleaded guilty to distributing heroin in August 2015, Coty S. Richardson, who pleaded guilty to attempting to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin in August 2015, and Sean L. Gist, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin earlier this month.
The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force, United States Postal Service, West Virginia State Police and Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Detroit man sentenced for Federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to six months in prison, followed by six months of home confinement for a federal drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Anthony Curtis Beckley II, 34, previously pleaded guilty in federal court in Charleston to possessing oxycodone with the intent to distribute it. Beckley admitted that on October 7, 2013, he possessed over 200 oxycodone pills that he intended to sell.
The investigation was conducted by the Metro Drug Enforcement Network Team. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald was in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of pills and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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Department of Justice awards grants to IMPDRead the Press Release
Indianapolis – U. S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today funding awards from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A series of grants totaling over $2.5 million was announced; the largest of which is a $1.875 million grant awarded through the COPS Hiring Plan (CHP). CHP provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer hires for three years and will allow IMPD to hire 15 additional officers to patrol neighborhood streets.
“These grants reaffirm my promise to support IMPD and all our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in Indianapolis,” said Minkler. “However, this cannot be accomplished with funding and more officers alone. It is the responsibility of every citizen in this community to work toward a safer Indianapolis. When one of us becomes a crime victim, we should all feel the pain.”
“We are grateful to receive the COPS grant as it will help us augment hiring next year and help us as we plan for subsequent years to sustain those numbers,” said Department of Public Safety Director Dr. David Wantz.
“We are grateful to be awarded four federal grants to continue our partnerships within the community. I would like to personally thank the COPS Office for this prestigious award. In our continual effort to be efficient, these grants are instrumental in allowing IMPD to put more officers on the streets,” said Chief Rick Hite. “Additional officers will enable us to continue to combat crimes and build stronger community partnerships within our neighborhoods, all of which are mentioned as pillars in the President’s 21st Century Policing report.”
The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
Other grants awarded to Indianapolis include:
$294,000 for Project Safe Neighborhoods, an anti-gun and gang initiative
$250,000 for a criminal justice and mental health collaboration
$150,000 to fight crime in hot spot areas of Indianapolis
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Department of Justice Awards Grants to Middle District Law Enforcement AgenciesRead the Press Release
TAMPA, FL - The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards to five cities and counties in the Middle District of Florida. These grants, totaling $2,096,297, are intended to create, and in some cases protect, 17 law enforcement positions. Over $107 million will be awarded nationally, through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP).
The list of this year’s grantees includes the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office; the Rockledge Police Department; and the South Daytona Police Department.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
CHP provides grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
“Community policing is critical in fostering and sustaining strong relationships between local law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. “The partnerships developed through these efforts create the dialogue necessary to build trust at all levels. Our Office is excited that five of our local law enforcement partners will have additional funding to enhance community policing within their jurisdictions.”
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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DOJ Awards Law Enforcement Hiring Grants to Help Build Trust, Reduce Violence, Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) funding awards to12 cities and counties in Ohio, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 58 law enforcement positions. Over $107 million will be awarded nationally, through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), including $7.3 million in Ohio.
In the Southern District of Ohio, nearly $1.9 million is being awarded to the City of Cincinnati for 15 law enforcement positions.
The list of this year’s grantees includes: Austintown Township, Barberton, Boardman, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police, East Cleveland, Mansfield, Massillon, Milton Township and the Village of Northfield.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”
CHP provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers. All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Crime Stoppers’ Tip Leads to Arrest of Bank Robber on Federal ChargeRead the Press Release
DALLAS — A Dallas man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing the September 3, 2015, robbery of a First Convenience Bank in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Following a detention hearing on Friday, September 18, 2015, U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Horan ordered that Joshua Sefnathn Chavez, 23, remain in federal custody on the charge.
According to the complaint, the First Convenience Bank, located inside the Kroger store at 752 Wynnewood Shopping Center in Dallas, was robbed by a male suspect, later identified as Chavez. Chavez approached a teller’s counter and handed the teller a dark-colored bank bag, a folded piece of paper and a withdrawal slip. The teller opened the piece of paper that read, “This is a robbery no one gets hurt! Put all lose bills in bag! No trackers no dye packs. Gun in waist!”
In fear for her life, the teller removed cash from her cash drawer, placed it in the bag and handed the bag to Chavez, who then left the bank.
After further investigation, detectives with the Dallas Police Department (DPD) determined that the suspect in the First Convenience Bank robbery matched the description of an individual who robbed a Chase Bank in Dallas two days earlier. The DPD issued a press release to the local media and to social media asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual who robbed these banks. Crime Stoppers received a tip that identified the suspect as Chavez.
A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this bank robbery, however, Chavez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
The FBI and the DPD are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson is in charge of the prosecution.
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Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA - Oris Blair III, 38, a previously convicted sex offender from Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 15 years in federal prison, this time for possessing thousands of images of child pornography. Blair pled guilty to the federal offense in early 2014.
According to evidence presented during his guilty plea and sentencing hearings, members of the Queensland Police Department (QPD), in Brisbane, Australia, arrested an Australian citizen for distributing child pornography. Investigators determined that the Australian citizen distributed child pornography to hundreds of additional individuals worldwide, including Blair, a previously convicted sex offender residing in Savannah, Georgia. After identifying Blair as a potential recipient of the child pornography, investigators reviewed email exchanges between Blair and others. In one of the email exchanges, Blair wrote, “I like boys from 0 on up.” The investigation determined that Blair had received, possessed and distributed child pornography. In total, Blair was found to be in possession of at least 2,031 images and 318 videos of child pornography. Many of the images depicted prepubescent males, toddlers, and infants being brutalized and raped by adults.
In 2002, Blair was convicted in Chatham County Superior Court on two counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes. Both of those counts involved Blair sodomizing minors on two separate dates. For those charges, Blair received a sentence of 7 months in prison, followed by just over 9 years of probation.
United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “We cannot allow Blair another opportunity to inflict irreparable harm on children. Blair deserves every day in prison he was sentenced to serve. And, after he’s released from federal prison, Blair will be on federal supervised release for the remainder of his life. The successful outcome of this prosecution is the direct result of the hard work and cooperation by the FBI and our friends with Australia’s Queensland Police Department.”
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “Today’s sentencing reflects the serious nature of the defendant’s unbridled exploitation of children through child pornography. Every time one of these images is traded or otherwise distributed, the child on those images is again victimized. The FBI is proud of the role that it played in removing this individual from our streets as we continue to work hard to protect our nation’s children from individuals like Mr. Blair.”
This case was investigated by the Australia’s Queensland Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Gilluly and Jenna Solari prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.
Conspirator Admits to Robbing Casino PatronsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Jose Hector Laguerre, age 47, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit robbery in connection with several robberies of patrons of the Maryland Live Casino.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
According to his plea agreement, on three occasions from November 1 to November 10, 2013, Laguerre and co-conspirator Willie Fleming used a firearm to rob eight patrons of the Maryland Live Casino located in Hanover, Maryland. Fleming instigated the robberies in order to pay his gambling and marijuana trafficking debts. Fleming obtained and maintained possession of the handgun used in the robberies, and committed an additional robbery with another co-conspirator of three casino patrons on October 27, 2013.
Video surveillance from the casino showed Laguerre and Fleming following patrons inside the casino, and then by car as they drove out of the casino garage. The co-conspirators robbed the victims at gunpoint after the victims got out of their cars to enter their homes, or in one instance, as they rested in their car while parked in a shopping center lot on their way home. The robbers stole a total of at least $26,000 in cash, a check and personal property such as jewelry, credit cards, cell phones, wallets, purses and clothing.
On November 14, 2013, Fleming was arrested for drug and gun offenses in Baltimore while he was in the vehicle used to commit the robberies. A search warrant was executed on the car and law enforcement seized ski masks, a vest worn by Laguerre in a casino video, jewelry stolen from the victims and a receipt for valet parking at the casino dated the same day as one of the robberies.
Laguerre faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled sentencing for January 5, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Willie Hernandez Fleming, age 37, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was sentenced to 137 months in prison.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Maryland State Police, and the Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John F. Purcell, Jr., who is prosecuting the case.
Coles County Man Indicted on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – A Charleston, Ill., man, Arnett Deshaun Brown, 42, made his initial appearance in federal court today in Urbana. Brown, aka Shaun, of the 1500 block of Woodlawn, was indicted on charges of possession of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms by a felon in early September; however the indictment remained sealed pending Brown’s court appearance. Brown appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long who ordered that Brown remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Trial has been scheduled on Nov. 24, 2015.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Central Illinois Task Force. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is prosecuting the case in the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division.
The nine-count indictment alleges that Brown possessed heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute on June 11, 2014, and heroin and marijuana with intent to distribute in February 2015. Brown is also charged with possession of firearms after being convicted of a felony. Between Feb. 3 and Feb. 6, 2015, the indictment alleges that Brown possessed 11 firearms, including handguns and two rifles. Brown also faces one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (five counts) is up to 30 years in prison if the defendant has a prior felony drug conviction. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (one count), the penalty is a mandatory minimum five years in prison served consecutive to any sentence for the underlying crime. For possession of a firearm by a felon (three counts) the penalty is up to 10 years in prison.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Cherryvale Man Sentenced to 7 Years on Federal Child Porn ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA KAN. - A Cherryvale, Kan., man was sentenced Monday to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Daniel Hosier, 35, Cherryvale, Kan., was convicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on March 28, 2013, Hosier emailed images of child pornography on Yahoo. They also presented evidence that on July 13, 2013, he possessed child pornography on laptop computers and on a smartphone.
Grissom commended the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Charlotte Insurance & Financial Executive Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Obstructing Grand Jury InvestigationRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Patrick Emanuel Sutherland, 47, of Charlotte, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte for filing false tax returns and obstructing a federal grand jury investigation, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment was returned on September 17, 2015, and was unsealed today in federal court.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s announcement by Thomas J. Holloman III, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI).
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from 2007 to the present, Sutherland was an actuary, and the owner and operator of numerous companies in the insurance and financial industries. The indictment alleges that between 2007 and 2010, Sutherland and his affiliated companies received deposits from domestic and foreign sources exceeding $2.5 million, yet Sutherland fraudulently underreported his business receipts and his personal income to the IRS by more than $1.5 million. For example, despite receiving substantial income for years 2007 to 2010, Sutherland reported a combined income of approximately $276,697, and paid a mere $12,483 in total federal income taxes. During the same three-year period, Sutherland’s lifestyle and expenditures for personal living expenses far exceeded his total income reported on his individual tax returns, the indictment alleges.
According to allegations in the federal indictment, to conceal the fraud, Sutherland falsely claimed that international wires to his domestic bank accounts were loans from his sister and her company. In reality, the indictment alleges, most of these funds were insurance commissions due to Sutherland or were funds obtained from a brokerage account in Bermuda which Sutherland controlled.
The indictment alleges that because Sutherland worked with offshore insurance companies, some of his commissions had to be paid to an offshore intermediary. The indictment alleges that Sutherland used his Bermuda-based shell company, Steward Technology Services Limited (STS) to funnel personal and business funds to Sutherland’s U.S. bank accounts. According to allegations contained in the indictment, on numerous occasions, Sutherland mischaracterized the wire transfers from STS’s bank account in Bermuda to Sutherland’s various domestic accounts as capital contributions and loans.
According to the indictment, on several occasions between June 2012 and September 2012, Sutherland attempted to obstruct a federal investigation by providing fraudulent documents, including fictitious loan agreements and documents purportedly alleging his lack of control over STS’s bank account in Bermuda.
Sutherland had his initial appearance today in federal court. The penalty for filing a false tax return is a maximum term of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count. The obstruction of official proceedings charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IRS-CI is handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Charleston man pleads guilty to Federal drug distribution chargeRead the Press Release
Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Gregory Woods, 38, of Charleston, plead guilty in federal court in Charleston to using a cell phone to facilitate the distribution of cocaine and possession of marijuana for distribution.
During his hearing, Woods admitted that on June 8, 2011 he arranged to sell a confidential informant working with law enforcement an ounce of cocaine through telephone calls made on his cell phone. The confidential informant travelled to Woods’ residence in Charleston where he bought an ounce of cocaine. After the drug sale, officers executed a search warrant at Woods’ residence on Early Street and recovered 13.9 grams of cocaine, 176 grams of marijuana, and a gun. Woods admitted that he possessed the marijuana located in his house for distribution.
Woods faces up to nine years imprisonment when he is sentenced on January 4, 2016.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman.
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Centralia Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that RACHEL L. REEVE, 24, of Centralia, Illinois, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of Pseudoephedrine with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine, charges returned against her by a federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois, in November 2014. The offenses are in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The conspiracy charge carries a statutory penalty of not less than 5 years’ imprisonment up to 40 years’ imprisonment, not less than 4 years’ supervised release to follow imprisonment, and up to a $4 million fine. The possession charge carries a statutory sentence of not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, up to 3 years’ supervised release to follow imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine. A $100 assessment for each count is mandatory.
According to court documents, the conspiracy operated from approximately December 2012, to February 21, 2014, in Marion, Clinton and Jefferson Counties. During this time, Reeve obtained and provided pills containing pseudoephedrine to others in the conspiracy who manufactured methamphetamine, and she knew the pills would be used for that purpose. She generally obtained cash in exchange for the pills which she used to support her own drug habit.
Information leading to the charges against Reeve was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.
Centralia Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Conspiracy to Manufacture MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that BRIAN LEE FEAR, 40, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced on September 18, 2015, to 84 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, a $500 fine and a $300 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing followed Fear’s May 27, 2015, guilty plea to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Equipment, Chemicals, Products and Materials with Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Possession of Pseudoephedrine with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. The offenses are in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents, from approximately December 2012, to February 21, 2014, in Marion, Clinton and Jefferson Counties, Fear and others worked together to manufacture methamphetamine to support their drug habits and to make extra cash. Fear produced methamphetamine using the "one-pot" or "shake and bake" method, and used as many as 30 people to obtain pills containing pseudoephedrine for use in the production process.
Information leading to the conviction of Brian Fear was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team, and the Centralia Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kit Morrissey.
Cattaraugus Man Sentenced on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Tigano, III, 51, who was convicted of manufacturing in excess of 1000 marijuana plants; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; maintaining a premises for the manufacturing of marijuana; conspiracy to manufacture and possess marijuana and maintain a premises for the manufacturing of marijuana; and being a felon in possession of a firearms, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who handled the case, stated that on July 8, 2008, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Mill St. factory. During the search, officers discovered an active hydroponic marijuana grow operation which included 1414 plants. In addition, officers seized 100 pounds of harvested and processed marijuana packaged for sale. The estimated value of the processed marijuana is between $300,000 and $500,000.
Officers also seized three firearms, United States currency, money orders, and savings bonds. Also seized were a 2007 Cadillac Escalade, a 2005 Jeep Cherokee Limited, and a 2007 Haulmark Trailer.
Tigano was arrested on July 8, 2008 along with his father, Joseph Tigano, Sr., who was also convicted and sentenced to time served and three years supervised release.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, with the assistance of the Cattaraugus County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and the Southern Tier Regional Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ronald Lott, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit, under the direction of Timothy Howard.Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court in Connection with Advance Fee SchemeRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that OCTAVIO LOMBARDO, a/k/a “Otto Lombardo,” pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to one count of wire fraud stemming from his scheme to defraud small business owners of more than $1 million through an advance fee scheme. In connection with the scheme, LOMBARDO induced more than 30 business owners to pay an upfront due diligence fee that was purportedly necessary to obtain loans for the business owners. Instead, LOMBARDO used the vast majority of the money he received from the business owners – over $1 million in total – on his own personal expenses, including rental payments, club dues, food, and other personal items. LOMBARDO was arrested on December 4, 2014, and pled guilty today before United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other statements made in open court:
From 2007 through 2013, LOMBARDO engaged in a fraudulent scheme to mislead small business owners into paying an upfront due diligence fee, typically in the amount of $25,000, in connection with loans that LOMBARDO promised to obtain for the small business owners. During this period, LOMBARDO convinced the business owners he had the ability and expertise to structure investment loans for their businesses through LOMBARDO’s purported exclusive relationships with small community banks across the United States. In fact, LOMBARDO had no ability to provide such financing, and none of the businesses at issue received a loan through LOMBARDO during this period of time.
In connection with the scheme, LOMBARDO made a series of false and misleading misrepresentations to the business owners, including: (i) that LOMBARDO could obtain interest-only loans in amounts ranging from $1 million to $75 million by consolidating the lending power of several small community banks into a trust, which he would manage through his holding company, Lombardo & Company; (ii) that, in order to structure the loan appropriately, LOMBARDO needed to conduct due diligence of the businesses, including by obtaining corporate and financial documentation, and by conducting site visits; (iii) that LOMBARDO required a non-refundable upfront payment – generally in the amount of $25,000 – to cover the expenses incurred during the due diligence process, including legal and other professional fees, taxes, appraisals, and the like; and (iv) that this fee would be incorporated into the final loan agreement, so that the business owners would ultimately “get back” the upfront payment once the financing was in place.
As a result of these misrepresentations, LOMBARDO obtained more than $1 million in so-called due diligence payments from more than three dozen business owners. LOMBARDO spent the vast majority of the due diligence payments on his own personal expenses, including, among other things, rental payments, club dues, food, and other personal items. For example, LOMBARDO spent more than $300,000 on rental payments for his residence in Brooklyn, more than $100,000 on membership dues for a private gun club located in Manhattan, and more than $50,000 on restaurants and purchases of wine and liquor.
Once he received the due diligence payments, LOMBARDO made a variety of excuses to the business owners – including, among others, that he was having health problems and had been hospitalized, that he was traveling, and that he had a new grandchild – in order to explain the delay in closing the loans.
Ultimately, LOMBARDO did not provide any of the loans to the business owners as promised.
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LOMBARDO, 68, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. LOMBARDO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Furman on January 6, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Lester and Damian Williams are in charge of the prosecution.
Biotech Company and CEO Agree to Resolve Allegations of Grant FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Sterling Biomedical LCC (Sterling), a biotechnology company in Lynnfield, and its president and CEO, Dr. Michael Szycher, have agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for National Science Foundation (NSF) grants. In addition, Sterling and Szycher have agreed not to apply for National Science Foundation funding for five years.
“There are many deserving researchers who apply for government grants in order to perform novel and groundbreaking research,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “It is both unacceptable and unethical for scientists to submit falsified information in order to gain a competitive edge among applicants for government grants.”
Allison Lerner, Inspector General at the National Science Foundation, said, “This fraudulent scheme illegally diverted valuable and scarce federal research dollars from advancing new technologies. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its strong support in this case.”
Between 2009 and 2011, Sterling received $539,000 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation. This settlement resolves allegations that in proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation, Szycher misrepresented the size and assets of Sterling and its ability to perform the proposed research. The government further alleges that Szycher failed to perform the funded research as described for one of the grants received, and then fraudulently represented to NSF that he had completed the research.
U.S. Attorney Ortiz and NSF IG Lerner, made the announcement today. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Giselle J. Joffre and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Lei of Ortiz’s Civil Division.
Bayer CropScience to Enhance Safeguards at Chemical Facilities in Four States to Settle Violations at a West Virginia PlantRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a $5.6 million settlement with Bayer CropScience LP to resolve violations of federal chemical accident prevention laws at its facility in Institute, West Virginia, where an explosion killed two people in 2008. Under the settlement, Bayer CropScience committed to spending $4.23 million to improve emergency preparedness and response in Institute and protect the Kanawha River, pay a $975,000 penalty, and spending approximately $452,000 to implement a series of measures to improve safety at chemical storage facilities across the United States.
“Failures by a chemical manufacturer to comply with safety, accident prevention, and response requirements can have catastrophic consequences,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to worker safety. Under this judicially enforceable settlement, Bayer Crop Science will not only pay a penalty but commits to significant improvements in preparedness and response capabilities at its facilities across the country.”
“The tragic accident at the Bayer CropScience facility in West Virginia underscores the need for hazardous chemicals to be stored and handled in accordance with the law to protect worker health and the environment,” said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement will establish important safeguards at its facilities across the country and improve emergency response capabilities in the Institute, West Virginia community.”
Under the settlement, Bayer CropScience will implement a series of steps to prevent future chemical releases at its facilities in West Virginia, Texas, Missouri and Michigan by improving inspections to identify potential safety issues and standardize facility safety operating procedures. At the facility in Institute, the company will conduct emergency response exercises with local responders and ensure proper certification of facility environmental management systems. Bayer must complete the majority of these actions within three years.
The nearly $4.23 million for environmental projects will benefit the Institute community by improving mobile communications for local first responders, providing emergency response equipment and training for local fire and police departments, shelter-in-place training and hazardous waste collections at local public schools and installing equipment to prevent pollution from water used in Bayer CropScience’s manufacturing process from reaching the Kanawha River. Local emergency responders may start receiving equipment as early as December 2015.
The complaint details numerous problems that arose at the pesticide manufacturing facility where the company did not comply with its standard operating procedures designed to prevent accidental releases. In 2008, a new digital control system was installed, but safety interlock associated with the control system was not properly engaged at startup. Employees were not fully trained to understand or operate the system and failed to follow procedures for sampling, temperature control and flow safeguards. The result was an uncontrollable buildup in a treatment unit causing a chemical reaction resulting in the explosion, fire and loss of life. During the incident, the company delayed emergency officials trying to access the plant, and failed to provide adequate information to 911 operators.
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.
For a copy of the consent decree, go to http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.