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21 September 2015
Suspect in Multiple Bank Robberies ArrestedRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that MATTHEW DRAGONE, 31, of Middletown, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with the robbery of the Liberty Bank in Durham earlier this month. DRAGONE also is a suspect is five other recent Connecticut bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.
DRAGONE was arrested on September 18, 2015, in Middletown. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and currently is detained.
According to the criminal complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and several local police departments have been investigating a series of bank robberies that occurred in August and September.
The complaint alleges that, on September 3, 2015, DRAGONE, wearing dark sunglasses, a blue-striped long sleeve dress shirt and a white baseball cap with a “Coors Lite” logo, entered the Liberty Bank located at 357 Main Street in Durham. Holding a cellphone to his ear, DRAGONE approached the teller counter and presented to a teller a bank-style bag with a note affixed to the front. The note demanded money and an order not to include a dye pack or GPS. The teller placed approximately $1,490 in cash in the bag and handed it to DRAGONE. DRAGONE then exited the bank and drove away.
Investigators found a Coors Lite baseball cap and a blue-striped shirt on the side of the road approximately 50 yards from the bank. Laboratory analysis of the discarded shirt revealed DNA consistent with DRAGONE’s DNA on the shirt’s collar.
The complaint further alleges that DRAGONE is a suspect in the robbery of the Webster Bank at 145 Highland Avenue in Cheshire on August 12, the TD Bank at 1127 Farmington Avenue in Berlin on August 13, the Liberty Bank at 151 Main Street in Deep River on August 17, the TD Bank at 25 Wells Road in Wethersfield on August 31, the Webster Bank at 377 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill on September 9 (attempt), and the TD Bank at 184 Clinton Road in Killingworth on September 11.
As alleged in the complaint, a search of DRAGONE’s residence on September 16 revealed clothing and sunglasses consistent with those worn during the Durham robbery, and a bank-style bag consistent with the one used during several of the bank robberies.
The investigation is ongoing.
The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Connecticut State Police and the Middletown, Cheshire, Berlin, Wethersfield, and Rocky Hill Police Departments. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services is assisting the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
Stuttgart Man Pleads Guilty to Arson at County Courthouse AnnexRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Grover Crossland, Resident Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced that Donald Aaron, age 34, of Stuttgart, appeared before United States District Court Judge J. Leon Holmes on Monday and pled guilty to an indictment charging him with the arson of the Stuttgart Courthouse Annex building.
On September 23, 2014, a fire destroyed the Stuttgart Courthouse Annex building in downtown Stuttgart. This building housed the Arkansas County Sherriff’s Office, offices of the Arkansas State Police, the 911 coordinator, the Office of Emergency Management, the Arkansas County Tax Assessor, the County Tax Collector, the County Judge and the Emergency Operations Center. The building eventually had to be demolished with a total loss of approximately $2.2 million.
In January 2015, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment charging Aaron with arson for the fire at the Annex. After Aaron pled guilty to one count of maliciously destroying a building that is used in interstate commerce by means of fire, with injury resulting from the fire, the remaining count in the Indictment of maliciously destroying by means of fire a building which receives federal funds was dismissed. Under 18 U.S.C. § 844(i), the arson count carries with it a mandatory sentence of not less than seven years, not more than 40 years imprisonment, with not more than five years of supervised release to follow. Aaron will also be required to pay restitution in the amount of $2,207,334.25.
Through investigation the ATF determined that the fire at the Annex was incendiary. Based upon photographs taken of the fire, examination of the scene, and witness interviews, the fire investigators determined that the fire originated in the rear hallway of the first floor of the structure. Surveillance cameras from various businesses in downtown Stuttgart showed an individual, later determined to be Aaron, walking to and from the area of the Annex just prior to the fire, at times carrying objects and at other times hiding his face. Aaron is seen in the area near a broken first-floor window, which was the entry point to the locked Annex building.
According to the facts read at Monday’s hearing, following the return of the indictment in January Aaron was arrested and admitted to lighting the fire that destroyed the Annex. Aaron was attempting to smoke methamphetamine using tin foil and a lighter when flame from the foil shot up approximately 18 inches high. Aaron then threw the flaming foil down on the ground and fled the building, while the foil was still on fire. This fire caught the building on fire.
Aaron will be sentenced by Judge Holmes at a later date.
The case was investigated by ATF Special Agents Timothy Boles and David Oliver, with assistance from the Arkansas State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the matter for the United States.
Statement by U.S. Attorney John Walsh regarding jury finding Harold Henthorn guilty of murderRead the Press Release
“Today a jury in federal court has spoken – finding Harold Henthorn guilty of the First Degree Murder of his wife, Toni Henthorn. Henthorn, who has been in custody since his arrest, will not again experience life outside a prison cell. Thanks to the hard work of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suneeta Hazra and Valeria Spencer, and the federal agents, FBI Special Agent John Grusing and National Park Service Special Agent Beth Shott, the facts of this murder were uncovered and justice was obtained. Toni Henthorn’s family, especially her daughter and the entire Bertolels family, can now rest easier knowing that justice has been done. I also want to recognize the Rishell family, Henthorn’s first wife, who has also experienced great pain. Finally, I would like to thank the jurors for their service. These individuals, who were asked to see graphic photos and listen to difficult testimony, should be recognized for their dedication to justice and their service as citizens of this great state.”
John Walsh, United States Attorney, District of Colorado.
Springfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a fraudulent tax return preparation scheme that claimed nearly $340,000 in fraudulent income tax refunds.
Claudia Dorsey, 33, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims.
Co-defendant Cherie Christine Dupuis, 43, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on July 21, 2015, to leading the fraudulent tax return preparation conspiracy. Dupuis admitted that she and co-conspirators defrauded the government by filing false claims for income tax refunds from February 2009 to March 2012. In the false and fraudulent federal income tax returns they prepared and filed, conspirators claimed refunds from the IRS totaling approximately $340,630, of which approximately $336,839 was false. Over the course of the scheme, the total actual tax loss to the IRS was $284,169.
Dupuis admitted that she filed fraudulent federal income tax returns in her own name and for at least 19 other individuals. Dupuis would usually split the fraudulent refunds with her co-conspirators. The total amount of the false claims Dupuis personally prepared and/or filed was approximately $298,708, with approximately $256,281 being paid on these false claims and a loss to the government of approximately $213,711.
During the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tax years, Dorsey assisted Dupuis in the conspiracy by permitting Dupuis to use her laptop computer and to list her address on tax returns. Dorsey also filed false tax returns in her own name during those years in which she falsely listed wages that had not been earned and federal income tax withholdings that had not been withheld. As a result, Dorsey fraudulently received a total of $27,791 in fraudulent income tax refunds. Dorsey also prepared and filed a false federal income tax return for another person who claimed a false refund of $10,237 for the 2011 tax year.
Dorsey is the 11th defendant to plead guilty to her role in the scheme. In addition to Dupuis, co-defendants Amanda Leigh Boyd, 33, Johnny L. Cooper, 28, and Jeannie Marie Rhodes, 34, all of Springfield; Heather Nicole Drennen, 32, of Cameron, Mo., formerly of Springfield; Shawna Marie Hughey, 37, of Joplin, Mo., formerly of Springfield; William J. Coonce, 29, of Otterville, Mo.; Jeannette R. Dunn, 48, of Huntsville, Ark., formerly of Springfield; Asia Michelle Couchman, 26, of Oak Grove, Mo.; and Delbert L. Allen, 37, of Pleasant Hope, Mo., formerly of Springfield, have also pleaded guilty.
Under federal statutes, Dorsey is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Springfield Man Charged with Enticement of MinorRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – A Springfield, Ill., man, arrested in Decatur in late July, made his initial appearance in federal court in Urbana late Friday, Sept. 18, indicted on a charge of enticement of a minor. Jeffrey Parkhurst, 58, of the 1100 block of Reynolds St., entered his plea of not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long. Trial for Parkhurst has been scheduled on Nov. 24, 2015. The indictment of Parkhurst was returned by the grand jury earlier this month but had remained sealed pending his federal court appearance.
The indictment alleges that on July 27, 2015, Parkhurst used the Internet and a cellular telephone to persuade, induce, and entice an individual whom he believed had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in illegal sexual activity. Parkhurst was arrested on July 27, 2015, in Decatur, and was initially charged in state court in Macon county.
Parkhurst has remained in the custody of law enforcement since his arrest. Judge Long ordered that Parkhurst remain in custody pending his detention hearing scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
If convicted, the statutory penalty for enticement of a minor is 10 years to life in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Decatur Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in cooperation with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s office.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys= Offices and 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.
Six charged in federal cigarette smuggling indictmentRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging six individuals with unlawful cigarette smuggling, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
Mohamed Abdo Elbarati, 30, of Winchester, Virginia, Farouk Mohamed Aldaylam, 28, of Queens Village, New York, Amir Mohamed Alsaidi, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, Fahd Hamood Aljahaf, 37, of Bronx, New York, Galal Hameed Kassim, 29, and Muneer Kaid Khaled, 25, both of Brooklyn, New York, are alleged to have conspired to profit from the unlawful sale of contraband cigarettes. The indictment charges that the defendants transported large quantities of cigarettes across state lines for redistribution and sale. The cigarettes were acquired in Virginia, where the tax rate for cigarettes is one of the lowest in the nation, and sold in New York, which has one of the nation’s highest tax rates. The cigarettes were possessed and transported in West Virginia.
Tobacco retailer Smoke Palace, LLC, of Winchester, Virginia, which was owned and operated by defendant Elbarati, was responsible for the acquisition of the contraband. Smoke Palace and Elbarati are alleged to have purchased millions of dollars worth of cigarettes from various wholesalers in the region, primarily with cash, before reselling them to out of state smugglers for a profit.
"We will not allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to become a home base for this kind of large, organized criminal enterprise," said Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring. "This case is a textbook example of how collaboration and cooperation, even across state lines, can get results, and I'm proud that my team was able to help out."
Each of the six defendants is charged with one count of “Conspiracy.” Elbarati is further charged with four counts of “Transportation of Contraband Cigarettes.” Aldaylam is further charged with two counts of “Transportation of Contraband Cigarettes.” Alsaidi is further charged with two counts of “Transportation of Contraband Cigarettes.” Each of the defendants faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the aforementioned counts. 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.
"The New York State Tax Department has a vigorous and coordinated effort to battle the sale of untaxed cigarettes," said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone. "As we see in this case, working closely with our law enforcement partners is, more and more, leading to success."
“Organizations that attempt to systematically defraud state and local governments and profit through crime are sorely mistaken,” said Glenn Sorge, acting special agent in charge HSI New York. “HSI’s El Dorado Task Force and its law enforcement partners are committed to investigating financial crime and contraband smuggling activities that pose a threat to our public safety and the economic well-being of the United States.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Stein and Shawn Adkins are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations, the Frederick County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia Office of Attorney General, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the West Virginia State Police, the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation led the inquiry.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Seattle IRS Revenue Agent Charged with Soliciting and Accepting BribeRead the Press Release
A Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service was arrested this morning after he accepted payment from a Seattle businessman after allegedly soliciting a bribe, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. PAUL G. HURLEY, 42, of Seattle, is charged with Soliciting and Agreeing to Receive a Bribe by a Public Official and two counts of Receiving a Bribe by a Public Official. HURLEY appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle this afternoon and was released on his personal recognizance. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for October 5, 2015.
According to the criminal complaint, HURLEY has been a revenue agent with the IRS since 2009. Between July and September 2015, HURLEY was involved in the audit of the 2013 and 2014 tax returns of a Seattle marijuana business. Because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, no business deductions are allowed on federal tax returns and the gross revenue is taxable. HURLEY presented the owner of the marijuana business with his tax bill for both years, totaling more than $290,000. However, HURLEY told the business owner he had saved the business owner more than a million dollars. HURLEY then asked the business owner for $20,000 in cash. The business owner alerted his lawyer, who contacted law enforcement. Law enforcement observed two meetings where HURLEY accepted money delivered by the business owner. HURLEY was arrested following the second meeting this morning.
Both offenses, Soliciting and Agreeing to Receive a Bribe by a Public Official and Receiving a Bribe by a Public Official are punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Arnold.
Rochester Men Plead Guilty to Receipt of Stolen GoodsRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Igor Kasap, 34, and Arkadiy Kasap, 29, both of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen goods before U.S. District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge is punishable by 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that the defendants operated a shipping company located at 500 Trolley Boulevard in Rochester. The shipping company operated under various names, one of which was A.S.A.P. Trans, Inc.
In September, 2011, A.S.A.P. Trans was involved in shipping 16 pallets of synthetic jet engine oil from an Exxon-Mobil plant in Edison, New Jersey to a facility in Portland, Oregon. Each pallet contained 40 cases of oil and was valued at $14,000 per pallet. While in transit from New Jersey to Oregon, one of the pallets was stolen and diverted to the defendant’s Trolley Boulevard warehouse.
The defendants advertised the pallet of stolen oil using eBay in an attempt to sell it. However, investigators saw the online posting and set up an undercover operation during which they recovered the stolen oil from the defendants.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of James V. Buthorn, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division, and Officers and Investigators of the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief James VanBrederode.Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2016, before Judge Siragusa.
Richard Johnson Jr. pleads guilty to filing a false tax returnRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Richard Z. Johnson Jr. pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return.
Johnson, 58, of Mansfield, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to a one count bill of information charging him with making or subscribing a false tax return. According to the guilty plea, Johnson reported a total income of $126,197 on his 2011 U.S. individual tax return but willfully failed to report additional income in the amount of $78,717.
Johnson faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution of taxes owed to the U.S. Treasury. A sentencing date of February 17, 2016 was set.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Flanagan and Seth D. Reeg are prosecuting the case.
Rhode Island Resident Sentenced for Operating Meth LabRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Nicholas Selser, 33, of Cranston, R.I., has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for manufacturing methamphetamine (meth) inside a residence of the D’Evan Manor housing complex in Cranston, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist and Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division.
A co-defendant in this matter, Michael Fortes, 48, of Cranston, R.I., is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2015.
At sentencing on September 18, 2015, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Nicholas Selser to serve three years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Selser and Fortes pleaded guilty in July as charged in a grand jury indictment returned in March 2015, to one count each of conspiracy, knowingly manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possessing equipment to manufacture methamphetamine.
On February 18, 2015, Cranston Police, the R.I. DEA Drug Task Force and a DEA Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team executed a court authorized search of the defendants’ D’Evan Manor apartment and seized various chemicals, supplies and items used in the manufacture of meth.
Information was developed and evidence was seized by law enforcement that indicated that the defendants had manufactured meth inside the apartment of the densely populated complex approximately eleven times. The defendants admitted to the court that they used the “one pot” method to manufacture meth, a simple but potentially dangerous method of manufacturing meth in approximately one hour. The manufacture of methamphetamine is often times a dangerous process which may result in explosion or fire.
Selser and Fortes have been detained in federal custody since their arrest on February 18, 2015.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Possessing Crack, GunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a 57-month term of imprisonment on each of his convictions of possession with intent to distribute less than 28 grams of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, followed by supervised release for a term of three years on each of his convictions, to be served concurrently. In addition, Poindexter was ordered to pay a Special Assessment in the amount of $200.00.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Cornell Poindexter, 29, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa.
According to information presented to the court, on or about July 2, 2014, Poindexter possessed with the intent to distribute less than 28 grams of a mixture and substance which contained cocaine base, in the form commonly known as “crack,” a Schedule II controlled substance. Further, on or about July 2, 2014, Poindexter, who has previously been convicted of carrying a firearm without a license, fleeing and eluding a police officer, and escape, was found to be in possession of two 9 millimeter pistols. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm.
Assistant United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for conducting the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Poindexter.
This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crimes.
New York Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Brooklyn, New York, tax return preparer pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the indictment, Awilda Rosario owned and operated Edujas Multiservices Corporation, a tax preparation business located in Brooklyn. She prepared false federal individual income tax returns for clients for tax years 2008 through 2013. Rosario attached false schedules to the returns that reported business losses that the clients did not incur and reported inflated or fictitious deductions. She also attached forms claiming fictitious education and fuel tax credits that the clients were not entitled to receive.
The indictment further alleges that after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoked the electronic filing identification number (EFIN) for Edujas Multiservices Corporation, Rosario obtained at least two different EFINs and continued to prepare and submit false tax returns for her clients, listing a different paid tax return preparer and tax preparation firm.
Rosario faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. Rosario’s sentencing is set for Jan. 8, 2016.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Shawn T. Noud of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
New York City Man Sentenced to 18 Months on Counterfeit Credit Card ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a New York City man was sentenced today to 18 months imprisonment for possessing 62 counterfeit credit cards. In addition to the 18 months imprisonment, Dawill Almonte was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Caldwell to serve two years on supervised release following his release from prison.
Almonte, age 23, from the Bronx, New York, was arrested on November 19, 2013, with two co-defendants, Danilo Vargas, age 27, and Jeriel Delosangeles, age 26, both also from the Bronx, following a Pennsylvania State Police traffic stop for speeding on Route 30 near Hellam Township, York County.
Searches of the defendants’ vehicle yielded 62 counterfeit Mastercard, American Express and Visa credit cards and a counterfeit Florida and Connecticut driver’s licenses. The drivers’ licenses bore the photographs of Almonte and Vargas. Fifty Four of the 62 counterfeit credit cards were in Almonte’s name.
The government’s investigation revealed no charges had as yet been incurred on any of the counterfeit credit cards. On March 9, 2015, Almonte, Delosangeles and Vargas all pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging them with one count of Possession of 15 or More Counterfeit or Unauthorized Access Devices.
The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of U.S. Secret Service and the Pennsylvania State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.
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New York City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Heroin and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 32 year old New York City resident was sentenced Friday, September 18, 2015 to serve 10 years in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for selling cocaine, crack and heroin in Lackawanna and Luzerne County.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Timothy Smart pleaded guilty in December 2014 to distributing cocaine, crack and heroin between 2012 and September 2013. The conviction and sentence were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police into the sale of drugs at motels in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. FBI Agents arrested Smart on September 20, 2013, following a “controlled buy” of crack cocaine at a Lackawanna County motel. A subsequent search of the motel room resulted in the seizure of 84 bags of heroin, crack cocaine and a digital scale.
Judge Mariani also ordered Smart to be placed on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, Jr.
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Meriden Man Charged with Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK W. IRVIN, 63, of Meriden, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography.
IRVIN was arrested on September 18. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven, who ordered IRVIN detained.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, law enforcement officers received information from a teenage male that IRVIN had had repeated sexual contact with him since he was 15 years old, and that there are cameras in IRVIN’s residence recording all the time. The male also stated that he had observed IRVIN engaged in sexual contact with other minors at the residence.
On September 8, 2015, law enforcement officers conducted a search of IRVIN’s residence and observed cameras in several rooms, including cameras in the bathroom of the residence. Officers seized camcorders, computers, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs and multiple thumb drives and data storage devices. The forensic analysis of the devices is only in its initial stages, but the complaint alleges that one of the devices contained sexually explicit photographs of a 13 year old male.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Meriden Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
Citizens with information that may be relevant to this ongoing investigation should call the Meriden Police Department at 203-238-1911.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Mauldin Man Sentenced to 77 Months on Conspiracy and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins 864-282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Denis B.L. Kearney, age 32, of Mauldin, South Carolina, was sentenced to 77 months for conspiracy to steal mail, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and for making a false statement to purchase a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6). United States District J. Michelle Childs of Greenville sentenced Kearney to 77 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The evidence at the change of plea hearing established that Kearney was part of a conspiracy to steal mail, make fraudulent identification documents, create counterfeit checks, and create fraudulent prescriptions. On January 25, 2014, law enforcement recovered fraudulent prescriptions, multiple false identification documents, and genuine means of identification, from a vehicle driven by Kearney and his associates. The materials seized were used by Kearney to aid in the commission of fraud.
Further investigation revealed that four days prior to the search of the automobile, Kearney used a false identification document when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer in Anderson, South Carolina. Multiple prior felony convictions barred Kearney from owning or possessing any firearm.
The case was investigated by agents the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Greer Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
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Maryland man sentenced for failing to register as a sex offenderRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Shawn Edwards, 40, of Cumberland, Maryland, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Edwards was previously convicted of “Second Degree Rape” in 1993 in the Circuit Court of Allegany County, Maryland. As a result of that conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender. Further, Edwards has been convicted on three separate occasions in Mineral County, West Virginia for failing to register as a sex offender.
An investigation by the United States Marshals Service, the Ridgeley, West Virginia Police Department, and the Cumberland, Maryland Police Department, revealed that in late 2014, Edwards moved from Ridgeley, West Virginia to Cumberland, Maryland without updating his sex offender registration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Camilletti prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update His Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeremy Lynn Rasmussen, age 38, pleaded guilty today to failing to update his sex offender registration, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and U.S. Marshal David McNulty of the Northern District of New York.
Rasmussen faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life when he is sentenced on January 19, 2016 by United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.
Rasmussen pleaded guilty to a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which requires a convicted sex offender to register where he or she resides, is employed, or is enrolled as a student, and to keep any registration current.
Rasmussen was prosecuted after abandoning his Albany residence in January 2015 and then moving to Pittsfield, Mass., without updating his sex offender registration. Rasmussen is required to register as a sex offender as a result of a 2002 conviction, from Jefferson County, New York, for first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Pittsfield Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Barnett.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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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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.