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Tuesday 26 May 2015
Michigan Man Sentenced to 14 Months Prison for Making Telephone Bomb Threats to San Benito High SchoolRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE—Jason Keith Smith was sentenced to 14 months in prison for making multiple telephone bomb threats to San Benito High School, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.
Smith, 30, of Lincoln Park, Michigan, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2015, to an indictment charging him with communicating threats, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). Smith admitted in his plea agreement that in November 2012, he began sending threatening Internet messages to a student at San Benito High School in Hollister, Calif. (the Student). In one instance, the defendant sent the Student a text message indicating that someone would be hurt unless she contacted him. The defendant admitted in his plea agreement that, in early December 2012, he knowingly placed a number of telephone bomb threats from his home in Michigan to San Benito High School. Specifically, on December 2 and 3, 2012, the defendant placed a call to San Benito High School claiming to be a police detective, stating that the Student was in trouble with the law and requesting that she contact him. The defendant also admitted in his plea agreement that on December 3, 2012, he called San Benito High School and left a series of telephone bomb threats on the school attendance message. In one of these messages, the defendant said that there was a bomb in the high school and that people should run and hide. The defendant further admitted that he left another telephone message indicating no one knew where he had placed the bomb, but he would blow the school to pieces. The defendant also admitted that he stated during one of these calls, “And by the way, I want you to look up this one chick named [the Student]. If she goes to school there, please let her know that I am watching her.” The defendant also admitted to making additional telephone bomb threats on December 4 and 7, 2014. As a result of defendant’s telephone bomb threats, San Benito High School had to be evacuated on several occasions and significant law enforcement resources were dedicated to investigate the threats.
Smith was charged in an indictment filed on February 19, 2014. Smith has been in federal custody since October 6, 2014. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh. Judge Koh also sentenced Smith to serve a three-year period of supervised release with special conditions. Among the special conditions of his supervised release are that he not telephone San Benito High School or possess any computer without permission from his probation officer.
The case was prosecuted by Northern District of California Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fazioli and Eastern District of Michigan Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulcahy, with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Northern California and Detroit, the Hollister Police Department, and the Lincoln Park Police Department.
Miami Springs Police Department Sergeant Arrested on Corruption ChargeRead the Press Release
Miami Springs Police Department (MSPD) Sergeant Andres Quintanilla arrested today on a corruption charge.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Andres Quintanilla, 33, of Miami Springs Police Department, was charged by complaint with attempting to affect commerce by extortion under color of official right, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
According to the allegations contained in the complaint, in September 2014, an FBI confidential source (CS) informed Quintanilla that he (the CS) was a drug trafficker. Rather than arrest the CS, or open an investigation, Quintanilla offered to help the CS’s drug trafficking business. During a series of recorded meetings, Quintanilla allegedly offered advice on how the CS should run his drug trafficking business, provided the location of an unmarked Miami Dade Police Department narcotics office, provided the names of three Miami Dade Police Department officers, and promised to provide photographs of officers in the future. In addition, Quintanilla ran the name of a purported drug dealer in a law enforcement database when asked to do so by CS.
By December 2014, Quintanilla had agreed to act as an escort during a purported 10 kilogram cocaine deal. Under FBI direction, the CS told Quintanilla that the CS needed a safe location in Miami Springs where the CS could exchange 10 kilograms of cocaine for $250,000. Quintanilla chose a location for the transaction to take place and, on the date of the transaction, the FBI filmed and recorded Quintanilla meeting with the CS and viewing the cocaine. After the purported deal took place with a second undercover CS acting as a drug dealer, Quintanilla then followed the CS’s vehicle to an express package service center, where Quintanilla believed that the CS would ship the $250,000 of drug proceeds to New York. Quintanilla participated in the transaction in uniform, while driving his MSPD marked vehicle. In exchange for his assistance, Quintanilla accepted $3,500 in bribe payments.
The complaint further alleges that in April 2015, FBI agents approached Quintanilla at his residence to discuss his involvement in the trafficking of narcotics. During the interview, Quintanilla admitted receiving bribes in return for assisting the CHS’s drug trafficking business.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the Miami Springs Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Lacosta.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Mexican National Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Executing a $4 Million Dollar Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Julian Martin Gaspar Vazquez (Gaspar), 52, of Mexico was sentenced on May 22, 2015, by United States District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, to forty-one months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release for executing a $4 million dollar bank fraud scheme. Gaspar was also ordered to pay $4,488,000 in restitution. In addition, the Court imposed a $4 million forfeiture money judgment against Gaspar.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael McCarthy, Deputy Inspector General, Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), and Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Washington Field Office, made the announcement.
On February 12, 2015, Gaspar pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.
According to court documents Gaspar was the owner of “Ecologia en Tratamientos de Agua, S.A. de C.V.” (“ETA”). ETA was a Mexican company in the business of water treatment. In or around March of 2006, Gaspar sought an Ex-Im Bank insured credit line from Espirito Santo Bank, a United States bank located in Miami, Florida. Ex-Im Bank is a United States agency that issues insurance to United States lending banks for loans made to foreign buyers of United States goods. The stated purpose for the credit line was to enable ETA to import United States goods into Mexico.
From September 2009 through February 2010, Gaspar caused Espirito Santo Bank to make four reimbursement disbursements of $1 million each to ETA. The supporting documents included false bank records purporting to show payments by ETA to a United States company and false Mexican customs documents purporting to show that United States goods had been exported to Mexico. From in or around March 2010, through in or around August 2010, ETA and Gaspar failed to repay the disbursements when due, and defaulted on the Ex-Im Bank insured loan. As a result, Gaspar caused $4,488,000 in losses to Ex-Im Bank which had insured the loan that Gaspar fraudulently obtained from Espirito Santo Bank.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Ex-Im Bank OIG and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Memphis Woman Sentenced to 70 Months for Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A 34-year-old Memphis woman has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for access device fraud and identity theft.
At different times between December 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012, Kavecia Simon, while employed in the payroll department of Fred’s Department Store, illegally obtained the names, social security numbers and other personal information of colleagues, according to an indictment and facts discussed in court.
After obtaining the personal information of various coworkers, she would access Fred’s computer system and use the stolen information to order and route Fred’s pay cards. The pay cards were solely for reimbursing Fred’s employees for overtime and company expenses. However, Simon used them for personal benefit.
Further investigation revealed that Simon used additional victims’ information to acquire credit accounts and rent apartments. Altogether, Simon fraudulently obtained over $20,000 during her scheme.
In June 2014, Simon pled guilty, but she failed to appear for her sentencing that October. While in fugitive status, she committed additional acts of identity theft. In March 2015, she was apprehended in Desoto County, Mississippi.
Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Simon to 70 months in prison on Friday, May 22nd.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and Memphis Police Department Economic Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Media Advisory: Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Highlight Child Protection Efforts and Announce National Missing Children CampaignRead the Press Release
WHO:
A. Lee Bentley, III
United States Attorney
Middle District of FloridaDavid Gee
Sheriff
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s OfficeMicah McCombs
Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge
ICE/Homeland Security InvestigationsRick Ramirez
Special Agent in Charge
Florida Department of Law EnforcementDaniel Slaughter
Chief of Police
Clearwater Police Department
Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force Against Human TraffickingAssistant Chief Brian Dugan
Tampa Police DepartmentWHAT: Press Conference
Enforcement and protection agencies to highlight combined efforts against child sexual predators and other predatory practices. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will recognize National Missing Children’s Day by announcing a new national child safety campaign.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015
10:00 A.M. ESTWHERE: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
700 N. Florida Avenue
(Meeting Room 1, Second Floor)
Tampa, FL 33602OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license). Media may begin arriving at 9:15 A.M. EST.
Media Advisory:Read the Press Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa will join the Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office in holding a joint press conference on May 27, 2015, announcing federal gun-related criminal charges against seven individuals. This joint law enforcement action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which has as its purpose reducing incidences of gun violence.
Event Details
When: Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Where: Waterloo City Hall Media Center (lower level), 715 Mulberry St., Waterloo, IA.
Time: 10:00 am.
Program
A press release and interview opportunities will be available at the end of the press conference.
Mechanic Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Gamaliel Cortez-Mendoza, 43, of Laredo, has entered a guilty plea to possession of child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Cortez-Mendoza was arrested in January following an investigation by the Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Webb County Sheriff's Office Cyber Crime Unit with assistance from the Laredo Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Marshals Service.
The Webb County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crime Unit learned that an individual living at Cortez-Mendoza’s address had been downloading child pornography. Investigators then executed search warrants on Cortez-Mendoza’s home and computers. Forensic analysis later revealed numerous videos and pictures depicting child pornography. Cortez-Mendoza admitted downloading and viewing the videos.
Cortez-Mendoza had previously been convicted in 2004 of possessing child pornography in Harris County and was also required to register as a sex offender.
He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison for the child pornography possession as well as another 10 years for failing to register.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa, was brought as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Man Sentenced for Marijuana Operation and Sparking the Nicolls Fire in Sequoia National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Edgardo Fournier, aka Edgardo Fournier-Nigaglioni, 46, of Perris, was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison for his involvement in a large‑scale marijuana cultivation operation on federal land in Kern County and for his role in starting the Nicolls Fire, according to U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.
In sentencing Fournier, U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill ordered Fournier to pay $6,509,329 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service.
According to court documents, from about April 1, 2014 to July 12, 2014, Fournier helped water and tend 2,090 marijuana plants at a grow site in the Smith Canyon area of the Sequoia National Forest in Kern County. He admitted that on July 11 and 12, he lit fires in the vicinity of the grow site within the boundaries of the federally designated Kiavah Wilderness Area. The fires converged and became known as the Nicolls Fire. The Nicolls Fire destroyed about 1,680 acres of public land causing over $6.5 million of damage. The fire did not damage the marijuana cultivation site, which also caused significant damage to the land and natural resources of the forest.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.
Lockport Pharmacist Indicted for Allegedly Falsely Billing $2.4 Million for Prescription ClaimsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A southwest suburban pharmacist was indicted on federal charges for health care fraud, federal law enforcement officials announced today. The defendant, WALTER BEICH, the owner and licensed pharmacist at Lockport Pharmacy, Inc. operating as Corwin Pharmacy, was charged in a twelve-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week, alleging he participated in a scheme to defraud various health care benefit programs in the amount of $2,400,000. The indictment also charges Beich with aggravated identity theft for his use of patient and physician names and identifying information during his scheme. The indictment also seeks forfeiture in the amount of $2.4 million, the amount of the alleged loss to the health care providers. Beich, 61, of Lockport, Illinois, was arraigned in federal court this morning and was released on a $4,500 unsecured bond and is scheduled for a status in front of U.S. District Court Judge John W. Darrah on June 26, 2015.
According to the indictment, Beich participated in a scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and United Healthcare by filing fraudulent claims for prescription drugs that were not dispensed to his customers or he had switched out for less-expensive supplements instead of FDA-approved prescription drugs. The indictment also alleges that Beich had his employees create fake prescriptions to make it appear as if a physician had phoned-in certain prescriptions. In addition, the indictment alleges that Beich obtained physician sample drugs and then submitted insurance claims for dispensing these sample drugs as if he obtained those drugs through commercial distribution channels. The indictment also alleges that Beich dispensed a foreign-sourced drug to customers instead of the prescription Viagra.
Health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and restitution is mandatory. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory prison term of two years’ incarceration, served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Upon a conviction, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The charges were announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Holley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the HHS-OIG; and James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor-OIG.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel B. Cole.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Indictment
Lake Charles man sentenced to 33 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offenderRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Lake Charles resident was sentenced to 33 months in prison for not registering as a sex offender.
Michael Dewain Dugas Smith, 35, of Lake Charles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi on one count of failure to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to evidence presented at the February 10, 2015 guilty plea, Smith was previously convicted in January 10, 2007 in the 18th Judicial District Court in Brevard County, Fla., of sexual battery with use of actual physical force. After he was released from prison in Florida in January of 2013, he moved to Louisiana but did not register as a sex offender as required by law. Smith was arrested in February of 2013 in Lake Charles for disturbing the peace. He later admitted to agents that he traveled to Louisiana where he has relatives and did not register as a sex offender.
The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker prosecuted the case.
Justice Department and City of Cleveland reach agreement on reforming Cleveland Division of PoliceRead the Press Release
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF CLEVELAND TO REFORM CLEVELAND DIVISION OF POLICE FOLLOWING THE FINDING OF A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Justice and the City of Cleveland announced today that they have entered into a court enforceable agreement to address the department’s findings that the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The agreement will create widespread reforms and changes within the CDP. The changes focus on building community trust, creating a culture of community and problem-oriented policing, officer safety and training, officer accountability and technological upgrades. Under the agreement, the parties will jointly select an independent monitor to assess and report whether the requirements of the agreement have been implemented for a term of at least five years.
“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that every American benefits from a police force that protects and serves all members of the community,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “The agreement we have reached with the city of Cleveland is the result of the hard work and dedication of the entire Cleveland community, and looks to address serious concerns, rebuild trust, and maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. I am pleased to have the full cooperation of law enforcement and city officials in this effort. And I look forward to working with the entire community to build a stronger, safer Cleveland for residents and officers alike.”
The comprehensive agreement calls for:
- The creation of Community Police Commission, made up of ten representatives from across the community, and one representative each from the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Black Shield.
- CDP to reform use of force policies, including requirements for the use of de-escalation techniques whenever possible and appropriate, a prohibition on retaliatory force, mandatory reporting and investigation standards following use of force, and medical care for the subjects of force.
- CDP to integrate bias-free policing principles into all levels of the organization, including comprehensive training of officers and supervisors, which is to be developed with community input.
- CDP to create a Mental Health Response Advisory Committee and provide all officers with sufficient training to identify and appropriately respond to situations involving individuals in crisis. CDP will develop a plan to ensure these specialized officers are always available to respond to calls related to those in mental-health crisis.
- CDP to improve officer training by ensuring that it reflects the needs of officers and that it is effective.
- CDP to improve equipment and resources available to officers following a comprehensive equipment and resource study to assess its current needs and priorities, including providing officers with functioning, up-to-date technology in their zone cars that allows them to access necessary information; safe zone cars; and first aid equipment.
- CDP to develop a recruiting policy and strategic recruitment plan that includes clear goals, objectives and action steps for attracting qualified applicants from a broad cross-section of the community. CDP will consult with the Community Police Commission and other stakeholders on strategies to attract a diverse pool of applicants.
“Today’s agreement reflects a commitment by the city and the Division of Police to work with the Department of Justice and the Cleveland community to transform this police agency into a model of community-oriented policing that will make both police officers and the people they serve safer,” said the head of the Civil Rights Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Constitutional policing is key to building trust between police departments and the communities they serve. Today, Cleveland demonstrates to the rest of the country that people can come together across perceived differences to realize a common vision of a safer, more just city."
“For the past days and months the nation has looked toward Cleveland as we have grappled with difficult issues involving police-community relations,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio. “Today, the nation should look to this city as an example of what true partnership and hard work can accomplish – a transformational blueprint for reform that can be a national model for any police department ready to escort a great city to the forefront of the 21st Century. But the hard work is just beginning, and we will need the committed partnership of this entire community to turn today’s promise into tomorrow’s reality.”
The agreement addresses the conclusions announced in December 2014 of a comprehensive investigation into the CPD started in March 2013 which assessed use of force practices of the CDP. The investigation concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe that Cleveland police officers engage in a pattern or practice of unreasonable and in some cases unnecessary force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. That pattern or practice included the unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force, including shootings and head strikes with impact weapons; the unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including Tasers, chemical spray and fists; excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases where the officers were called exclusively for a welfare check; and the employment of poor and dangerous tactics that place officers in situations where avoidable force becomes inevitable.
The investigation also found that this pattern of excessive force has eroded public confidence in the police. As a result, public safety suffers and the job of delivering police services was more difficult and more dangerous. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
READ THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
# # #
15-XXX
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.
Justice Department Sues Beaumont, Texas, for Discrimination Against People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the city of Beaumont, Texas, alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, charges that Beaumont discriminated against persons with disabilities based on its treatment of small group homes and companion care homes for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities by applying overly-restrictive zoning and fire code restrictions that are not imposed on similarly-situated housing for persons who do not have disabilities.
The suit seeks a court order prohibiting Beaumont from imposing a one-half mile spacing rule that effectively prohibits many small group homes and companion care homes from operating in Beaumont. The suit further seeks to prohibit Beaumont from imposing unnecessary fire code requirements that exceed those mandated by the state of Texas, which regulates such homes. The city’s excessive restrictions have prohibited numerous persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities from living in Beaumont and resulted in the institutionalization in a nursing home of a woman who was forced to move out of her home. The suit also seeks monetary damages to compensate victims, as well as payment of a civil penalty.
This lawsuit arose as a result of complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities whose homes were closed and were threatened with closure under Beaumont’s challenged housing restrictions.
“The Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act seek to ensure that individuals with disabilities can live in communities of their choice without facing discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit furthers our commitment to community inclusion for persons with disabilities.”
“Fair housing practices for all Americans and certainly for individuals with disabilities is a keystone civil right and one which today’s legal action underscores,” said U.S. Attorney John Malcolm Bales of the Eastern District of Texas. “We trust that the city of Beaumont will respond appropriately but the department and the U.S. Attorney’s office is prepared to take the necessary steps to insure that these rights are enforced.”
“Persons with disabilities should not be further limited in their housing options by overly restrictive codes and policies,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Gustavo Velasquez of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD will continue to work with the Justice Department to support neighborhood-based choices for people with disabilities.”
Fighting illegal housing discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department. The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. Visit www.usdoj.gov/crt for more information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces. Additional information about the Fair Housing Act is available at www.HUD.gov. Additional information about the Americans with Disabilities Act is available at www.ADA.gov.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with City of Cleveland to Reform Cleveland Division of Police Following the Finding of a Pattern or Practice of Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
The United States Department of Justice and the City of Cleveland announced today that they have entered into a court enforceable agreement to address the department’s findings that the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The agreement will create widespread reforms and changes within the CDP. The changes focus on building community trust, creating a culture of community and problem-oriented policing, officer safety and training, officer accountability and technological upgrades. Under the agreement, the parties will jointly select an independent monitor to assess and report whether the requirements of the agreement have been implemented for a term of at least five years.
“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that every American benefits from a police force that protects and serves all members of the community,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “The agreement we have reached with the city of Cleveland is the result of the hard work and dedication of the entire Cleveland community, and looks to address serious concerns, rebuild trust, and maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. I am pleased to have the full cooperation of law enforcement and city officials in this effort. And I look forward to working with the entire community to build a stronger, safer Cleveland for residents and officers alike.”
The comprehensive agreement calls for:
- The creation of Community Police Commission, made up of ten representatives from across the community, and one representative each from the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Black Shield.
- CDP to reform use of force policies, including requirements for the use of de-escalation techniques whenever possible and appropriate, a prohibition on retaliatory force, mandatory reporting and investigation standards following use of force, and medical care for the subjects of force.
- CDP to integrate bias-free policing principles into all levels of the organization, including comprehensive training of officers and supervisors, which is to be developed with community input.
- CDP to create a Mental Health Response Advisory Committee and provide all officers with sufficient training to identify and appropriately respond to situations involving individuals in crisis. CDP will develop a plan to ensure these specialized officers are always available to respond to calls related to those in mental-health crisis.
- CDP to improve officer training by ensuring that it reflects the needs of officers and that it is effective.
- CDP to improve equipment and resources available to officers following a comprehensive equipment and resource study to assess its current needs and priorities, including providing officers with functioning, up-to-date technology in their zone cars that allows them to access necessary information; safe zone cars; and first aid equipment.
- CDP to develop a recruiting policy and strategic recruitment plan that includes clear goals, objectives and action steps for attracting qualified applicants from a broad cross-section of the community. CDP will consult with the Community Police Commission and other stakeholders on strategies to attract a diverse pool of applicants.
“Today’s agreement reflects a commitment by the city and the Division of Police to work with the Department of Justice and the Cleveland community to transform this police agency into a model of community-oriented policing that will make both police officers and the people they serve safer,” said the head of the Civil Rights Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Constitutional policing is key to building trust between police departments and the communities they serve. Today, Cleveland demonstrates to the rest of the country that people can come together across perceived differences to realize a common vision of a safer, more just city."
“For the past days and months the nation has looked toward Cleveland as we have grappled with difficult issues involving police-community relations,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio. “Today, the nation should look this city for an example of what true partnership and hard work can accomplish – a transformational blueprint for reform that can be a national model for any police department ready to escort a great city to the forefront of the 21st Century. But the hard work is just beginning, and we will need the committed partnership of this entire community to turn today’s promise into tomorrow’s reality.”
The agreement addresses the conclusions announced in December 2014 of a comprehensive investigation into the CPD started in March 2013 which assessed use of force practices of the CDP. The investigation concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe that Cleveland police officers engage in a pattern or practice of unreasonable and in some cases unnecessary force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. That pattern or practice included the unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force, including shootings and head strikes with impact weapons; the unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including Tasers, chemical spray and fists; excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases where the officers were called exclusively for a welfare check; and the employment of poor and dangerous tactics that place officers in situations where avoidable force becomes inevitable.
The investigation also found that this pattern of excessive force has eroded public confidence in the police. As a result, public safety suffers and the job of delivering police services was more difficult and more dangerous. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Carjacking MurderRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Ángel Ayala-Dávila (“Ayala-Dávila”), 19, pled guilty to Count One of an information which charged him, aided and abetted by others, with the carjacking murder of Roy Figueiredo-Ramos, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. As part of the plea agreement the parties have recommended a sentencing range of 24 to 30 years’ imprisonment.
On September 8, 2013, Roy Figueiredo-Ramos (“victim”), arrived at the Las Dalias Public Housing Project (“LDPHP”) in San Juan, PR, driving a grey 2002 Toyota Camry, which he parked in front of building 29 of LDPHP. Co-defendant Victor Miguel Duluc-Méndez, charged in a separate indictment, approached the victim and inquired if he was interested in selling the vehicle. The victim replied that he was not, but that he was willing to rent it. Shortly thereafter, Ayala-Dávila joined the conversation. Ayala-Dávila expressed he liked the 2002 Toyota Camry.
Duluc, Ayala-Dávila and another unknown male stepped away from the victim’s vehicle and started planning how to take the vehicle and keep it for themselves. Ayala-Dávila went into his apartment and grabbed a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. Thereafter, Duluc, Ayala-Dávila and others took the victim’s car by force. Duluc drove the victim’s vehicle with victim in the front passenger seat, and Ayala-Dávila sat in the rear right passenger seat behind victim.
Duluc eventually drove the victim’s vehicle to the Banco Popular Branch located at Plaza Escorial shopping center, along with Ayala-Dávila and the victim. He parked the vehicle in Banco Popular’s parking lot. Ayala-Dávila requested the victim’s ATM card and the PIN number. The victim complied and gave the ATM card and PIN number to Duluc, who went to the ATM machine and withdrew $150.00.
Once the money was withdrawn, Duluc departed the Banco Popular Branch along with the victim and Ayala-Dávila. Duluc drove towards Trujillo Alto, PR, stopping in a rural area between Trujillo Alto and Carolina. Ayala-Dávila told the victim to step out to verify whether the vehicle had a flat tire. The victim and Ayala-Dávila exited the vehicle. The victim verified the front right tire of the vehicle and, as he turned around in the direction of Ayala-Dávila, Ayala-Dávila produced the pistol, pointed it at the victim’s head and fired one shot. The victim died as a result of this gunshot wound.
After shooting the victim, Ayala-Dávila got into the front right passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, and Duluc drove them back to LDPHP. Ayala-Dávila proclaimed that the victim’s vehicle belonged to him because he had been the one who killed the victim.
“The senseless crime that these men committed had fatal consequences,” said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Ayala-Dávila’s guilty plea brings us a step closer to bringing justice and closure to the victim and his family.”
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2015. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex.
Victor Miguel Duluc-Méndez pled guilty on May 1st, 2014; his sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2015. He faces a sentence of 30 years.
Individual Found Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – After a five-day jury trial, Leoner Martínez-Lantigua was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. United States District Court Judge Francisco Besosa presided over the trial. Five other co-conspirators had already pled guilty and are awaiting sentence. Defendant Erasmo Martínez-Trinidad remains a fugitive.
According to the indictment, throughout July of 2014, the defendant, along with others, intentionally combined, conspired and agreed to possess with intent to distribute more than 41 kilograms of cocaine.
During trial, the government presented video, audio, and telephone recordings of a Homeland Security Investigations undercover operation to transport 48 kilograms of cocaine from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to Puerto Rico for distribution and sale. The complex conspiracy involved numerous players with various roles, bags filled with U.S. currency, maritime coordination, and firearms. A jury heard lay and expert testimony at trial that proved Leoner Martínez-Lantigua’s willful participation and knowing involvement in the conspiracy.
“This conviction marks yet another victory in our fight against narcotics in Puerto Rico. Our team of prosecutors and case agents set an excellent example of teamwork during the investigation which led to the conviction of this defendant at trial,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron Howell and Luke Cass. Martínez-Lantigua faces a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment. The now convicted defendant also faces forfeiture of a white Nissan Altima and a money judgment. The sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2015 and the defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Perjury for Providing False TestimonyRead the Press Release
A Carmel, Indiana, resident pleaded guilty today to perjury today in the U.S. District Court in Cleveland, Ohio, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio.
According to the indictment, court documents and statements made at the court proceeding, Alexander Krivozus committed perjury by testifying falsely during the course of a federal grand jury investigation of Cleveland resident, Edward Gurary, who ultimately pleaded guilty in March 2011 to one count of filing a false income tax return on which he wilfully failed to report his Swiss bank accounts. As part of the investigation, bank records indicated that Gurary directed UBS AG to wire funds from his undeclared Swiss bank account, which was held in the name of a nominee Bahamian entity, and requested that confirmations of the transfers be sent to a U.S. fax number in the (317) area code. The investigation established that the fax number was associated with Krivozus. He was subpoenaed to testify before the federal grand jury and testified falsely.
Krivolus faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the perjury offense. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney Dettelbach commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Richard M. Rolwing of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Patton of the Northern District of Ohio, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website. Additional information about tax fraud schemes to watch out for may be found on the IRS-Criminal Investigation website.
Hurricane man pleads guilty in federal court to obstruction of justiceRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who sold heroin to a confidential informant on multiple occasions in 2014 pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Tayvon Mykal Gaulds, 21, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Huntington admitting that he distributed heroin.
On November 12, 2014, Gaulds arranged to sell heroin to a confidential informant working at the direction of the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force. Gaulds met the informant in the 1800 block of 9 1/2 alley in Huntington and sold the informant approximately 5 grams of heroin in exchange for $650. Gaulds also distributed heroin to the informant on two other occasions in Huntington.
Gaulds faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 2015.
The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is in charge of 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.
Huntington man pleads guilty to distributing heroinRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who sold heroin to a confidential informant on multiple occasions in 2014 pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Tayvon Mykal Gaulds, 21, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Huntington admitting that he distributed heroin.
On November 12, 2014, Gaulds arranged to sell heroin to a confidential informant working at the direction of the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force. Gaulds met the informant in the 1800 block of 9 1/2 alley in Huntington and sold the informant approximately 5 grams of heroin in exchange for $650. Gaulds also distributed heroin to the informant on two other occasions in Huntington.
Gaulds faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 2015.
The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is in charge of 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.
Houston Man Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Ricardo Garza, 52, of Houston, TX, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, was sentenced to 151 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White, who handled the case, stated that between January 2010 and December 9, 2011, the defendant conspired with James Leon, Richard Himbury, Daniel Garza and others, to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Garza supplied the drugs to James Leon who then redistributed them to Himbury and others.
On November 15, 2011, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at James Leon's residence in State Route 394 in the Town of Coldspring, NY. Officers found a grocery bag full of marijuana in the living room and a canister containing approximately four ounces of cocaine in the bathroom, as well as scales used to measure quantities of controlled substances.
Richard Himbury was arrested on November 15, 2011. Agents then searched his residence on St. Amelia Drive in Tonawanda, NY and located approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, 100 pounds of marijuana and $100,000.00 in United States currency. Himbury stated to the agents that one of his sources of supply was James Leon adding that Leon's source of supply for cocaine and marijuana was a Mexican male, later identified as Ricardo Garza.
James Leon, Richard Himbury, and Daniel Garza have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
Golden Grove Prisoner Sentenced to 34 Months for Possession of Prison ContrabandRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Chief District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis, on May 22, 2015, sentenced Gregoire George, 37, to 34 months in prison for Possession of Prison Contraband, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Lewis ordered George to serve the sentence consecutively to the sentence he was serving at the time he committed the offense.
Following a three-day jury trial, George was convicted of two counts of Possession of Prison Contraband and one count of Promoting Prison Contraband. Evidence presented at trial established that on June 14, 2013, while an inmate at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix, George possessed a cell phone and a homemade knife or “shank” inside his cell. Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) officers found both items during a search of the facility.
“Contraband in prison threatens the safety and security of inmates, employees, and the community as a whole,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said. “Cell phones, in particular, can be used to facilitate criminal activity inside and outside of Golden Grove including narcotics distribution and murder.”
George was sentenced to 34 months in prison for possessing a shank, 10 months for possessing a cell phone, and 12 months for promoting prison contraband, all to be served concurrently.
The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and BOC. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami S. Badawy.
Former Teacher Sentenced to Federal Prison on Child Pornography ConvictionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Derrick Gossett, 34, of Humble, has been ordered to prison following his convictions on two counts of production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. At the time of the offense, he was a music teacher at Anderson Elementary School in the Spring Independent School District (ISD). Gossett pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2014.
Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes handed Gossett a sentence of 15 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by 15 years of supervised release. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court records, Gossett used a Facebook profile he developed based on a former female student to solicit sexually explicit photographs that constituted child pornography from more than 150 young males. Gossett regularly used images he received from victims to extort additional images/videos containing child pornography. Not only did Gossett use the biographical information of a former student to elicit the child pornography images/videos from his victims, he created a fictitious woman “Katya” to communicate with and further manipulate the children. Victims have been identified throughout Texas, across the United States and in several foreign countries.
“While the Internet is a wonderful tool for connecting with others it can also a very dangerous place, especially for children,” said Magidson. “Adults, parents, older siblings and caregivers need to be vigilant in their efforts to protect our children online. We need to teach them about these dangers and what information should and should not be shared via the Internet.”
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Gossett’s residence, at which time authorities seized a laptop computer, several thumb drives, cell phones and digital cameras. One external portable hard drive, found in a lock box inside Gosset’s residence, was forensically analyzed and contained hundreds of files with images depicting different young males, ranging in age from I2 to I7 and in various stages of undress.
Gossett will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case was investigated by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with the assistance of the Spring ISD Police Department. The matter was brought as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri L. Zack.
Former IRS Employee Sentenced to 24 Months for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Valorie Shaw was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $309,834 for conspiring to file false claims, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.
Shaw, 38, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2015, to conspiracy to file false claims. Shaw was employed as a tax return preparer at “Kwiktax” for three years. Prior to working at Kwiktax, she held a variety of jobs, including working as a document transporter for the IRS. During 2011 and 2012, Shaw prepared false tax returns that she filed with the IRS. The purported filers listed on those tax returns were not entitled to tax refunds because the wage and tax withholding information listed on the returns were fictitious. Shaw also filed false W-2 information that stated the purported filers worked for the employers listed on the W-2s, even though she knew the information was false. Shaw filed the false tax returns using personal information she obtained illegally. Specifically, Shaw used personal identifying information of Kwiktax clients, including their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, without these victims’ knowledge.
During 2011, Shaw assisted in filing false tax returns requesting refunds in an amount no less than $487,248, for the 2010 tax year. During 2012, Shaw assisted in filing false tax returns requesting refunds totaling $495,789 for the 2011 tax year.
Shaw was indicted on August 14, 2014. She was charged with conspiracy to file false claims, in violation of 18 USC § 286. Shaw pleaded guilty to that charge. The Honorable Jon Tigar, U.S. District Judge, imposed the sentence. Judge Tigar also ordered Shaw is to surrender on September 18, 2015, to begin serving her sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Former Fresno Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Bonding Scheme Involving Government ContractsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Abel Martin Carreon, 57, formerly of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme involving surety bonds and government contracts, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced
According to court documents, between April 2005 and May 2011, Carreon devised and executed a scheme to defraud the United States and private companies seeking to perform contracted work for the United States. Through his company Tripartite Escrow Corporation (TEC), he offered bonding services to prospective government contractors throughout the United States that included bid bonds to secure a bid on a government contract and performance and payment bonds to insure the work on a government contract.
Surety bonds are required for certain federal government contracts. If a contractor defaults, the surety bonds compensate the government for the financial loss incurred. To be acceptable under federal regulations the bonding company must pledge acceptable assets with a value equal to or exceeding the amount of each bond, and submit a sworn affidavit disclosing the identity of the surety and verifying the existence and acceptability of the assets under penalty of prosecution.
According to the plea agreement, the bond packages Carreon submitted contained false statements and fraudulent documents. He pledged as collateral common stock that did not exist, was substantially less than represented, or was pledged across multiple bonds without full disclosure. He used forged notary stamps and notary signatures and other forged signatures on the bond documents.
Once the false and fraudulent performance and payment bonds were accepted by the contracting government agency and work began under the contract, the government would make payments on the contract to the contractor, including Carreon’s bond premium. The United States and government contractors paid Carreon for false and fraudulent payment and performance bonds, which resulted in a loss of approximately $1,253,000.
Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General Special Agent-In-Charge, David House stated: “This guilty plea represents the Department of Interior's, Office of Inspector General's commitment to pursue fraud involving the Department’s programs and operations.”
“As evidenced by the guilty plea entered into today by Mr. Abel Carreon, we remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining the integrity of projects funded through Federal Highway Administration programs,” said William Swallow, regional Special Agent-in-Charge of USDOT’s Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues, we will continue to protect the taxpayers’ investment in our nation’s infrastructure from fraud, waste, abuse and violations of law.”
"We remain committed to fighting white collar crime affecting the United States and the General Services Administration," said U.S. General Services Administration Acting Inspector General Robert C. Erickson.
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) highest priority is to ensure the integrity of the Department’s programs and operations. Today’s guilty plea by Abel Martin Carreon reaffirms the DHS OIG’s commitment to aggressively pursue, investigate, and hold accountable those who commit fraud against the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Such egregious violations will not be tolerated. The DHS OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to bring justice to those who commit such fraud,” stated Roger T. Merchant, Special Agent-in-Charge, Los Angeles Field Office.
“America's Warfighters deserve the very best to perform their jobs and the taxpayers expect nothing less. Fraud committed by defense contractors not only takes away precious resources necessary for the protection of our brave solders, airman and marines, it also undermines the confidence of the American public who demand that tax dollars are used responsibly. This investigation should serve as a warning for those intent on defrauding the U.S. military and American public that the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners will pursue these crimes relentlessly,” said Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge, DCIS, Western Field Office.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Army, Criminal Investigation Division; the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; and the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III is prosecuting the case.
Carreon is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17, 2015, by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Carreon faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for mail fraud and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.
Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Bribing DeKalb and Georgia World Congress Center OfficialRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Cecil K. Clark has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official while working for a janitorial services company from 2006-2010.
“Clark attempted to circumvent the process which provides companies an opportunity to bid fairly on government contracts, and in doing so his scheme exposed a corrupt public official who was willing to put his own interests above those of the taxpayers he served,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “This plea clearly illustrates that the FBI will pursue not only those public officials engaged in corrupt activities but also those individuals who entice or otherwise conspire with those officials in their corrupt and criminal activities. The FBI considers public corruption as a priority investigative program and asks that anyone with information regarding such matters to contact their nearest FBI field office.”
“When bidding on government contracts, there are strict guidelines and processes that must be followed. Clark utilized a corrupt public official to obtain a lucrative contract without following the law and is now being held accountable,” said Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Cecil Clark worked for a company, identified as “Company A,” that sought to do business with both DeKalb County and the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC). Clark facilitated payments through his company to provide a public official a furnished luxury apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. The official who lived in the apartment was Patrick Jackson.
Jackson was simultaneously employed by both DeKalb County and the GWCC as the manager of janitorial services from approximately 2006-2012. Jackson did not disclose to either employer that the company Clark worked for, Company A, provided him with an apartment. In exchange for the apartment, Jackson used his position as a public official to benefit the interests of Company A in its business dealings with DeKalb County and the GWCC. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to accepting the bribes and is scheduled for sentencing on July 16, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing for Cecil K. Clark, 55, of Jonesboro, Georgia, is scheduled for July 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before United States District Judge William S. Duffey Jr.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie L. Mickelson and Kamal Ghali are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Attorney for Home Health Care Company Admits Stealing over $2.6 Million from His EmployerRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – The former in-house counsel of an Ocean County, New Jersey-based home health care company today admitted using his attorney trust account to steal over $2.6 million from his employer, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Matthew S. Neugeboren, 39, of Manalapan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2006 through 2013, Neugeboren was in-house counsel for Company A, a home health care company in Ocean County. As such, Neugeboren maintained an attorney trust account to pay for Company A’s expenses. To cover those expenses, Neugeboren requested checks and wire transfers be made from Company A’s bank accounts into his attorney trust account.
As part of the scheme, Neugeboren caused Company A to transfer more money into his attorney trust account than was necessary to cover company expenses. Neugeboren admitted that he used the additional money for his personal benefit, including gambling. Neugeboren admitted that from January 2008 through December 2012, he stole approximately $2,644,911.91 from Company A.
In addition to the wire fraud scheme, Neugeboren knowingly and willfully filed a false tax return that failed to include approximately $630,000 in gross income that he received in calendar year 2011 from his scheme to defraud Company A.
The wire fraud count to which Neugeboren pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The false tax return count is punishable by a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Both charges carry a maximum fine of $250,000. Neugeboren has already returned some of the money from the scheme. As part of his plea agreement, he must pay remaining restitution in the amount of $1,404,962.91. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel: Justin P. Walder Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
Federal Judge Hands Down Lengthy Prison Terms to Leaders of Operation Wax House Mortgage & Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Graham C. Mullen sentenced four defendants involved in mortgage and investment fraud schemes codenamed “Operation Wax House,” including three of the conspiracy’s leaders, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Judge Mullen sentenced James Tyson, Jr., 34, of Charlotte, to 30 years in prison, Carrie Tyson, 61, of Winterville, N.C., to 18 years in prison, Victoria Hunt, 36, of Rockville, Maryland, to 8 years in prison, and Vonetta Tyson Barnes, 41, of Mililani, Hawaii, to 30 days in prison. Each defendant was also sentenced to serve a term of three years supervised release.
Tyson, Jr., his mother, Carrie Tyson, and Victoria Hunt are three of the leaders of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) (the “Enterprise”) which operated in Mecklenburg and Union Counties from approximately 2005 until the defendants were arrested in 2012. A fourth leader, Ramin Amini, remains a fugitive. The Enterprise was responsible for a mortgage fraud and an investment fraud scheme that collectively defrauded victims of more than $75 million.
John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division and Thomas J. Holloman, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) join Acting U.S. Attorney Rose in making today’s announcement.
“As leaders of the racketeering conspiracy, James Tyson, Jr., Carrie Tyson and Victoria Hunt were single-handedly responsible for the financial hardships so many of their victims have suffered. In many instances, the victims knew and trusted the defendants, only to find themselves conned out of their money and left to deal with the devastating consequences of the fraud. Today’s lengthy sentences deliver a heavy dose of justice to the masterminds of a vast scheme that has been financially and psychologically devastating for so many individuals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rose.
“More than sixty people, from all walks of life, were cheated out of their hard earned money by those involved in these complex fraud schemes. Today’s sentencings represent the leaders of this vast racketeering enterprise which utilized mortgage fraud and high yield investment schemes to enrich themselves at a time our country was facing a tenuous economic future. The numerous convictions stemming from this long term investigation are proof of the FBI’s commitment toward holding accountable all those who put our nation’s economy at risk,” said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Charlotte.
“The brazen, sustained criminal activity perpetrated by these defendants lasted for years, and demanded the attention of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners. While the short-term gains of a financial crime wave such as this may appear enticing, the necessary consequences reflected in today’s sentencings are now their long-term reality,” said Thomas J. Holloman III, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at trials, and statements made in court proceedings, including during today’s hearings:
The Enterprise, led by the three defendants sentenced today, stole approximately $27 million from victims as part of its investment operations and approximately $48 million in loans from financial and lending institutions as part of its mortgage fraud operations.
James Tyson, Jr.
In court today, prosecutors described defendant Tyson, Jr. as the leader of the leaders, the most culpable person in the RICO Enterprise, and the most culpable of the 91 defendants charged as part of Operation Wax House. Tyson led the Enterprise in all aspects of its operations, including its investment fraud, its mortgage fraud, and its money laundering operations as well as a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. At today’s court hearing, prosecutors described Tyson, Jr. as the linchpin of the multiple interwoven illegal schemes carried out by the Enterprise.
The Enterprise defrauded $27 million from victims as part of its investment operations, using a series of sham corporations to steal from individual investor-victims. When the fraud associated with one sham corporation was discovered, the Enterprise would create another sham company with a different co-conspirator serving as the public front of the company, so that it could continue to steal money from unsuspecting investor victims. As the leader, Tyson, Jr. was involved in creating and running each of the various sham companies used by the Enterprise to steal money from victims, and he was directly involved in stealing nearly $19 million from more than 60 individual victims.
When the Enterprise could not find victims who had money to invest, the conspirators induced individuals to become “credit” investors. In exchange for handing over their personal information and good credit to the Enterprise, the victims were falsely told that the loan payments would be made for them and they would receive investment returns. The Enterprise then took loans out in these victims’ names, kept the loan proceeds, and ultimately left the victims with thousands of dollars of debt.
In addition to the investment fraud scheme, Tyson, Jr. personally engaged in at least 18 different mortgage fraud transactions, resulting in loses to financial and lending institutions of more than $11 million. Tyson, Jr. received more than $2.3 million of the fraudulent proceeds from those mortgage fraud transactions, including more than $1.5 million of fraudulent proceeds from financial institutions.
Tyson, Jr. pleaded guilty to racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, securities fraud, mortgage fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and bank bribery conspiracy. As part of the RICO conspiracy, Tyson Jr. pleaded guilty to the predicate act of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Prosecutors noted that Tyson, Jr. arranged truckloads of marijuana from Texas and elsewhere to be transported to North Carolina, distributing hundreds of pounds of marijuana. Tyson, Jr. also admitted to paying bribes of $7,500 to $30,000 to a bank employee in exchange for bogus letters of credit that he and his co-conspirators tried to leverage to fraudulently induce other victims.
In announcing today’s sentence of Tyson, Jr., Judge Mullen described the defendant as the “apex of this pyramid of criminal activity.” Tyson, Jr. has been in custody since he was arrested on October 21, 2012, returning from Senegal, where he was operating the Enterprise’s last fraud company, PEI, a purported import-export business.
Carrie Tyson
Carrie Tyson was also a leader of the Enterprise, and, in some instances, mentored the conspirators on how to operate the various schemes. For example, Carrie Tyson created and served as President of one of the first companies the Enterprise used to steal money from victims, “Brighton Developers,” falsely promising investor-victims that their investments were secured by lots of land. When the terms of those investment contracts expired, Carrie Tyson wrote more than a million dollars in checks on an account which she knew had a negative balance. In total, Carrie Tyson was directly involved in defrauding at least 14 victims out of at least $1.3 million. Carrie Tyson was also a leader of the Enterprise’s mortgage fraud operations, participating in at least five different mortgage fraud transactions, resulting in losses of more than $4 million. Carrie Tyson’s husband, James Tyson, Sr., was charged and previously sentenced to 37 months in prison for his role in the scheme. Carrie Tyson pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy in November 2013.
In announcing today’s sentence of Carrie Tyson, Judge Mullen noted that Carrie Tyson was “among the worst” of the defendants. Carrie Tyson has been in custody since September 2013, when she was found to have been in violation of her conditions of release.
Victoria Hunt
Victoria Hunt was the third leader of the Enterprise, who handled the Enterprise’s investment fraud and money laundering operations. Hunt served as Vice President and then CEO of “Sovereign Equity Group” and CEO of “Prestige Capital” and the “Elite Automotive” card dealership, which were used by the Enterprise to steal money from individual victims. Hunt targeted her friends and professional acquaintances to invest in the Enterprise’s sham businesses. In total, Hunt, working with Tyson, Jr., defrauded more than 60 victims of more than $19 million. Hunt also participated in the Enterprise’s mortgage fraud operations, providing down payment money for at least two transactions which resulted in losses of more than $2 million. Hunt pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy, securities fraud, mortgage fraud, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in January 2013. Following the sentencing hearing, Hunt was released on bond. She will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
Vonetta Tyson Barnes
Vonetta Tyson Barnes, Carrie Tyson’s daughter, was a promoter in the Enterprise’s investment fraud operations. She served as the President of “Sovereign Equity Group” after her brother, Tyson, Jr., stepped down. Barnes also created another sham company, “Inspiron Holdings,” used by the Enterprise to steal money from victims. In total, Barnes was involved in stealing nearly $900,000 from approximately 16 victims. She pleaded guilty in September 2013 to one count of RICO conspiracy. Following the sentencing hearing, Barnes was released on bond and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.
These convictions are the latest in Operation Wax House, an investigation which began in 2007. Of the 91 individuals charged, 89 defendants have either pleaded guilty or have been convicted following trial. The two remaining defendants are international fugitives. Of the 89 defendants convicted, five remain to be sentenced in the coming months.
Operation Wax House in the Western District of North Carolina is being handled by the Charlotte Division of the FBI and the Criminal Division of the IRS for the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, along with the Securities Division of the North Carolina Secretary of State with respect to a separate prosecution. The Operation Wax House prosecution is being handled for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Maria K. Vento.
The charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
District Real Estate Agent/Broker Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $100,000 of Clients' MoneyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mark Alan Wall, 57, a real estate agent and broker from Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a theft charge stemming from the embezzlement of over $100,000 of his clients’ money, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr., and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Wall pled guilty to first-degree theft in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He appeared before the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson. The plea carries a potential sentence, under federal guidelines, of six to 24 months in prison, $117,000 in restitution, $5,000 in fines and $100 to $5,000 in assessments. A status hearing was set for Aug. 4, 2015.
According to the government’s factual proffer, from about July 2010 to at least May 2013, Wall stole from real estate clients who had entrusted their money to him. He entered into agreements with clients to serve as their agent in purchasing residential property in the District of Columbia. The agreements stated that the clients would not be paying Wall an advance fee, nor did they agree to pay him a percentage of the purchase price. Instead, as in an arrangement typical of residential real estate sales of existing homes, Wall would be paid his commission by the seller of the property upon the completion of the transaction.
Wall convinced his clients to provide as their earnest money deposit an amount of money greater than typically used, saying that he would hold it in escrow for their benefit to demonstrate that they had sufficient money to close on future sales. He assured his clients that the money remained theirs unless and until they purchased a property. If the clients were unable to quickly succeed with an offer to purchase a home, Wall convinced them to deposit additional money telling them that it would strengthen their negotiating power for future offers.
As a licensed real estate agent and broker, Wall had a fiduciary duty to keep earnest money deposit client funds in a separate escrow bank account. Agents/brokers may not commingle the escrow funds with their own funds, use the escrow funds for a purpose other than the purpose for which they were entrusted to them, or fail to return the money when directed by the client.
Wall deposited the clients’ earnest money deposit checks into his operating account, rather than his escrow account. If the clients became dissatisfied with him and asked about their money, he assured them that their earnest money deposit money was maintained in an escrow account held at a federally insured bank. Wall did not maintain his clients’ money for their benefit; rather, he spent their money on himself and his expenses within a few weeks or months of receiving the funds. He also borrowed money from another person, falsely representing that he needed money to pay expenses of a real estate closing; having received the money, Wall used the money to replace the money he had stolen from clients in order that the settlement on their District of Columbia home may proceed. After the closing on the home, Wall falsely stated that the settlement did not occur and that buyers were forced to file a law suit against the sellers of the property. He did not repay the loan.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen and Chief Lanier expressed appreciation for the work performed by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division-Financial Crimes Section as well as by Special Agent Juan Juarez of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the efforts of Paralegal Specialists Kristy Penny and Corinne Kleinman, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, who is prosecuting the case.
District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy, Obstruction of Justice and Other Charges for Plot to Kill VictimRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jarod Yorkshire, 21, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, and related charges in the December 2011 killing of a man in Northeast Washington. The jury also returned guilty verdicts on three counts of obstruction of justice, Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr. announced.
The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Yorkshire faces more than 100 years in prison at his sentencing on July 24, 2015 before the Honorable Jennifer Anderson.
At trial, the evidence established that on Dec. 16, 2011, the victim, Derrick Ragland, 19, orchestrated a sham gun sale with Jarod Yorkshire and his co-defendant, Raymond Faunteroy. The gun sale was a ruse, and masked men fired at both Yorkshire and Faunteroy, grazing Faunteroy in the hand. The two men then hatched a plot to gain revenge against Mr. Ragland.
Three days later, on Dec. 19, 2011, Yorkshire encountered Mr. Ragland at a home in the 1000 block of Taussig Place NE. He texted and called Faunteroy a total of 29 times prior to the murder to alert him to Mr. Ragland’s whereabouts. Yorkshire and two witnesses then entered a vehicle that began to drive around the neighborhood. According to the government’s evidence, Faunteroy ambushed the victim from behind, shooting him seven times in the back as Mr. Ragland ran for his life down an alley in the 1000 block of Taylor Street NE before collapsing in a neighbor’s yard. Despite the best efforts of emergency personnel, Mr. Ragland later died of his wounds.
Immediately following the shooting, Yorkshire and Faunteroy spoke seven more times by phone as Yorkshire directed the driver of the vehicle to Faunteroy’s location. According to the government’s evidence, Faunteroy confessed to the murder upon entering the vehicle, and then directed the driver to drop him off at a location away from the crime scene. Cellular tower records demonstrated that both Yorkshire and Faunteroy were in the vicinity of the murder at the time it occurred.
Following the murder, Yorkshire began a campaign of witness intimidation and obstruction of justice. He instructed one witness to refuse to cooperate with police in the homicide investigation and resulting court proceedings; corruptly persuaded another witness to provide false information to a defense investigator in an attempt to be called as a witness at trial to provide knowingly false testimony; and finally agreed in a recorded call with a police informant to cooperate in a scheme to kill a government witness.
Faunteroy, 29, is awaiting trial in the case.
In announcing the verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen recognized the efforts of the detectives, evidence technician, and officers who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the Special Agent from the FBI who provided expert testimony concerning cellular site evidence concerning the whereabouts of the defendant. He also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenn Kirschner and Michael Spence, who tried the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kerkhoff and Emily Miller and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor, who investigated and indicted the case, and finally the work of Paralegal Specialists Meridith McGarrity and Lashone Samuels, Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin.
Detroit men sentenced for roles in heroin conspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Michigan men who were part of a conspiracy that funneled large quantities of heroin from Detroit to Huntington between 2012 and 2014 were sentenced to federal prison today, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Robert Lamar Payne, 31, of Detroit, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and Derrick Wayne Goodwin, 25, also of Detroit, was sentenced to 74 months in federal prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty in federal court in Huntington in February of 2015 to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Payne admitted that from 2012 to 2014, he conspired with others to distribute heroin from Detroit in the Huntington area. Members of the conspiracy used multiple Huntington residences to store, prepare and distribute the drugs.
Payne and Goodwin also used an apartment at 1002 12th Avenue in Huntington as a base for distribution. In February of 2014, a confidential informant made multiple purchases of heroin from Payne from that apartment. On February 13, 2014, agents executed a search warrant at the apartment and seized approximately 41 grams of heroin and two firearms. That same day, agents searched a room at the Super 8 Motel on 16th Street Road in Huntington where they found Payne and Goodwin with approximately 200 grams of heroin.
The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from the Huntington Police Department Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams 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.
Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A Colombian national who recently was extradited from Mexico, pleaded guilty today in federal district court in Dallas, to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Tito Miller Parra-Isaza, 45, a Colombian national, entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee H. Toliver of the Northern District of Texas. He will be sentenced at a later date.
According to a factual stipulation filed with the court, Parra-Isaza’s role in the conspiracy was to coordinate the deposit of bulk cash, which he knew to be the proceeds of drug smuggling, into financial institutions in Mexico and elsewhere. In furtherance of the conspiracy, this bulk cash was later wire transferred to bank accounts in Dallas. The funds then were transported to Panama and elsewhere to distribute to individuals involved in drug smuggling.
Two other defendants charged in this case previously entered guilty pleas. Of the remaining charged defendants, one is in Mexican custody, two are fugitives and one is deceased.
This case is being investigated by the DEA. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Mark Irish and Nicole Grosnoff of the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also has provided substantial assistance.
Parra-Isaza Plea Agreement
Cleveland man convicted of heroin, cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – LeDon Gaither, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio, was convicted of heroin and cocaine trafficking today in federal court, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Gaither engaged in a coordinated effort to transport heroin and cocaine across state lines from Cleveland, Ohio into Northern West Virginia. He then collaborated with other individuals to distribute and sell the drugs in Ohio and Marshall Counties.
Gaither pled guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bernard prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, both HIDTA-funded initiatives, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp presided.
Burtonsville Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Prison for the Armed Robbery of a Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Donnell Edward Harris, age 22, of Burtonsville, Maryland, today to 117 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for robbing a convenience store in Waldorf, Maryland, and to brandishing a gun during the robbery.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.
According to Harris’ plea agreement, on September 11, 2013, Harris, Charles Johnson and Madani Tejan robbed a convenience store on St. Ignatius Drive in Waldorf. Harris brandished a firearm during the robbery and the conspirators forced the store employee at gunpoint to open the store’s cash register. The robbers stole $90 in cash and several packs of cigarettes.
Harris also admitted that after he was arrested for the robbery and while he was incarcerated, he threatened to hurt co-conspirator Charles Johnson if Johnson did not lie to law enforcement by stating that he (Johnson) had brandished the firearm during the robbery.
Johnson, age 21, of Beltsville, Maryland, and Madani Ilara Tejan, age 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to the robbery, and were sentenced to 51 months in prison and 68 months in prison, respectively.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Montgomery County Police Department and Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Leah J. Bressack and Daniel Gardner, who prosecuted the case.
Bloomsburg Man Sentenced for Distribution of Controlled Substance Analogue and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Court Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner sentenced Adam N. Riegel, age 25, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania today to three years’ probation with eight months’ home confinement for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of the controlled substance analogue, 5-flouro-PB-22, and money laundering of proceeds from the distribution of that substance. Riegel was also ordered to forfeit $25,000 cash.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Riegel conspired with other persons between September 2013 through February 20, 2014, to distribute 5-flouro-PB-22. Riegel deposited $52,000 in proceeds of that offense on February 20, 2014, at the Service 1st Credit Union in Danville, Pennsylvania. Riegel was charged in August 2014 and pled guilty in January 2015 pursuant to a plea agreement filed on December 23, 2014.
The case was investigated by the Danville Borough Police Department, the Mahoning Township Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Division. Prosecution of this matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel.
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Big Fork Man Sentenced for Killing Three Grizzly BearsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – Dan Wallen, 34, of Bigfork, Montana was sentenced today to $15,000 in restitution, and three years of probation for shooting three grizzly bears at his residence near Bigfork, Montana. Wallen is also required to serve sixty days of his sentence in a pre-release center. United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch sentenced Wallen after finding him guilty following a bench trial in March 2015, of three counts of Unlawfully Taking a Threatened Species.
In spring 2014, several grizzly bears were reported in residential areas, which caused state wildlife officials to place electric wire around chicken coops and set traps to relocate bears in the Bigfork, Montana area. The bears had become habituated to human food sources, including dog food, bird feed, chicken feed, and unsecured garbage cans in the area. The bears that Wallen killed had attacked several of Wallen’s chickens the previous night and returned to the chicken coop on the evening of May 27, 2014. When the bears initially returned, Wallen, his wife, children, and family friends were outside. They retreated to the area in and around their house. Wallen used his truck to scare the bears away. He then spoke to a caretaker of a nearby house. He told her that grizzly bears had been killing his chickens and returned to the residence. The caretaker observed the grizzlies later that evening near the residence and scared them away by throwing rocks. She later heard at least three shots from the direction of Wallen’s residence.
Later in the evening, when the bears returned, Wallen shot all three bears. At the time, his family and friends were in or around the house, and the bears were only approaching his chickens. Wallen fired several shots from his .22 rifle at the bears and they ran off. Shortly after Wallen shot the bears, his neighbor discovered one of the bears lying in his driveway and unable to stand due to its injuries. The neighbor contacted Wallen. Concerned about the bear’s serious injuries, the neighbor shot the bear once with a .300 rifle, which killed it. He then reported to law enforcement that he had shot the bear, and a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) Bear Biologist was notified.
The Bear Biologist contacted a MFWP Game Warden, who responded to the incident location. Wallen admitted he had shot toward the grizzly with a .22 rifle, hoping to scare it away. Wallen did not report shooting at the other two grizzly bears at that time. On May 28, 2014, the biologist listened to a cell phone message from Wallen’s wife from May 27th. In the message, she stated they were having problems with grizzly bears killing their chickens. He then contacted Wallen’s wife and asked about setting traps to catch the other two grizzlies that were in the area. On May 28, 2014, the biologist went to the Wallen residence to set a trap. While inspecting the area to set a trap, he found another dead grizzly bear in tall grass near the location of the first dead grizzly. Wallen was questioned about the second bear and admitted to firing multiple shots at the three grizzly bears.
On May 29, 2014, Wallen confirmed, in a recorded interview, that the bears had killed a number of his chickens on the night of May 26th and returned to the chicken coop the following evening while his family and friends were in the yard. However, Wallen stated that the bears ignored the children and went to the coop. Wallen drove the bears off in his truck twice and when the three bears returned again, his family and friends were in or near the house and not in immediate danger from the bears. Wallen then used his .22 rifle to shoot in the direction of the bears. He stated that at the time he shot the bears, his family was behind him near the house. Wallen also acknowledged that he knew the bears were grizzlies when he shot them. Wallen testified at trial and provided a different account of the events than his previous statement.
On June 5, 2014, law enforcement agents were notified that the decomposed carcass of a third grizzly bear had been found by a neighbor. Based on examination of the carcass, it was determined that the bear had been dead for approximately a week.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Dishong prosecuted the case, which was investigated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Baltimore Career Offender Exiled to over 17 Years in Prison for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr., sentenced Damien Riley, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 210 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Riley was convicted for those charges on February 9, 2015, after a six day trial. At today’s sentencing hearing Judge Quarles found that Riley was a career offender, based on previous convictions for robbery and drug distribution. In addition, Riley had a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 13, 2013, August, 19, 2013 and September 4, 2013, an undercover ATF Task Force Officer purchased a total of more than 10 grams of heroin and 1.7 grams of crack cocaine. Riley provided the drugs in exchange for a total of $1,560 in premarked bills. The transactions occurred in the 3300 block of West Cold Spring Lane in Baltimore and were observed by ATF agents.
Witnesses testified that on October 23, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Riley residence in the 2900 block of West Cold Spring Lane. Law enforcement recovered a .357 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, 45 rounds of .357 caliber ammunition in a box, eight ziplock baggies of heroin, five cell phones, a digital scale, drug packaging material, a revolver speed loader, a firearm holster, and personal items belonging to Riley.
The jury was not able to reach a verdict on three other counts: possession with intent to distribute heroin; illegal possession of a ammunition by a convicted felon; and maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing, storing, distributing, and using any controlled substance.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney H. Brandis Marsh, Jr., a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case.
Auburn Man Arrested for Selling Date Rape DrugRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Stephen K. Howard, a 64-year old Auburn resident who is employed as a lab technician at Auburn University, was arrested Friday, May 22, 2015 for selling large quantities of a “date rape” drug, announced George L. Beck Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
According to court documents, Howard sold an undercover agent 20 ounces of a liquid substance used to incapacitate women. Shortly thereafter, another purchase was made from Howard for nearly a gallon of the same substance. During the second purchase, Howard showed the undercover agent that he had a handgun.
Following these purchases, lab tests confirmed that the liquid was in fact a controlled substance called 1,4-butanediol. When ingested, 1,4-butanediol is converted into Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB), commonly known as a “date rape drug.” On May, 22, 2015, law enforcement executed search warrants at Howard’s office on Auburn’s campus, and at his home. Howard was arrested the same day.
A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Howard faces up to 20 years in prison for distribution of a controlled substance, and a possible 32 year sentence on charges for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The case is being investigated by the Auburn Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Verne Speirs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to give special thanks to Auburn University for its support and cooperation in this matter.
Arraignments Today for Two Men Charged with Using Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Keys to Steal MailRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The arraignments for two men charged with using counterfeit mail box keys to steal checks, credit cards, and other information from local mailboxes will be held at 3:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada.
John Douglas Gibson, 44, and Juan Carlos Rodriguez, 40, both of Las Vegas, are charged with one count of possession of counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys, one count of possession of stolen mail, one count of theft of government money, one count of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison on the stolen mail count and up to 10 years in prison on each other count, except for the aggravated identity theft count which carries a two year mandatory minimum penalty which must be served consecutively. They also face fines of up to $250,000 on each count.
“Financial and personal identifying information stolen from the U.S. mail is commonly used to create counterfeit checks and credit cards and to assume the identity of the victims whose mail was stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “Be aware of any suspicious activity at your mailbox and report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as soon as possible so that investigators can track it.”
According to the criminal complaint filed on May 8, 2015, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service had been investigating reports of extensive mail theft in the Henderson and Las Vegas areas. The reports indicated that someone was stealing all of the mail from individual and cluster mailboxes without causing any damage to the mailboxes. Investigators determined that between Feb. 1 and May 7, defendants Gibson and Rodriguez were allegedly using counterfeit U.S. Postal Service mailbox keys to steal mail from secured mailboxes. The criminal indictment specifically charges Gibson and Rodriguez with possessing stolen mail belonging to an individual who resided at La Suena Court in Henderson, stealing U.S. Treasury checks valued at more than $10,000, and fraudulently using Sam’s Club and Lowe’s hardware store credit cards.
Information concerning mail theft should be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/ or by telephone at 800-275-8777.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Damm.
“The charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.”
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Monday 25 May 2015
El Departamento de Justicia Lleeo a un Acuerdo con la Ciudad de Cleveland para Reformar la División de Policía de Cleveland Despues de Haberse Encontrado el Ejercicio de un Patrón o Práctica de Uso Fuerza ExcesivaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos y la Ciudad de Cleveland anunciaron hoy que han realizado un acuerdo exigible judicialmente en resolución de los hallazgo por parte del Departamento de que la División de Policía de Cleveland [Cleveland Division of Police (CDP)] exhibe un patrón o una práctica de uso de fuerza excesiva en violación de la Cuarta Enmienda. El acuerdo creará reformas y cambios amplios en el ámbito de la CDP. Los cambios se centran en conquistar la confianza de la comunidad, y crear una cultura de servicio policial, seguridad y la capacitación de los agentes dirigida a los problemas y la comunidad, la responsabilización de los agentes y mejoras en tecnologías. Según el acuerdo, las partes seleccionarán en conjunto a un monitor independiente que evalúe e informe si se han implementado las exigencias del acuerdo por un período de al menos cinco años.
“El Departamento de Justicia se empeña en asegurar que cada ciudadano de los Estados Unidos disfrute de los beneficios de una fuerza policial que protege y sirve a todos los miembros de la comunidad”, señaló la Secretaria de Justicia Loretta E. Lynch. “El acuerdo que hemos realizado con la ciudad de Cleveland es el resultado de arduo trabajo y dedicación de toda la comunidad de Cleveland, y busca resolver inquietudes graves, reconquistar la confianza y mantener los más altos estándares de profesionalismo e integridad. Me complace contar con la plena colaboración de las fuerzas del orden público y las autoridades municipales en esta iniciativa. Y me complacerá trabajar con toda la comunidad en crear un Cleveland más fuerte y más seguro tanto para residentes como para agentes”.
El acuerdo integral exige:
- La creación de una Comisión de Policía Comunitaria, compuesta por diez representantes de la comunidad y un representante de la Asociación de Patrulleros Policiales de Cleveland (Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association), el sindicato Fraternal de Orden Policial y Black Shield.
- La CDP reformará el uso de políticas del uso de fuerza, lo que incluye exigencias de uso de técnicas de desintensificación, siempre que corresponda y sea posible, la prohibición del uso de fuerza como represalia, la emisión obligatoria de informes y estándares para la investigación de casos de uso de fuerza, y atención médica para las personas objeto de la fuerza.
- La CDP integrará principios de acción policial libres de parcialidad en todos los niveles de la organización, lo que incluye la capacitación integral de agentes y supervisores a ser desarrollada con opiniones de la comunidad.
- La CDP creará un Comité Asesor de Respuesta a Problemas de Salud Mental y esta proporcionará a los agentes la suficiente capacitación para identificar y responder adecuadamente a situaciones relacionadas con personas en crisis de salud mental. La CDP desarrollará un plan para asegurarse de que estos agentes especializados estén siempre disponibles para responder a llamadas relacionadas con personas en crisis de salud mental.
- La CDP mejorará la capacitación de los agentes al asegurarse de que refleje las necesidades de los agentes y que esta sea eficaz.
- La CDP mejorará los equipos y recursos disponibles para los agentes después de realizar un estudio integral de equipos y recursos para evaluar sus necesidades y prioridades actuales. Esto incluye el suministro de tecnología actualizada y funcional en sus carros de zona, que les permita acceso a información necesaria; carros de zona seguros y equipos de primeros auxilios.
- La CDP desarrollará una política de reclutamiento y un plan estratégico de reclutamiento que incluya metas, objetivos y pasos de acción claros para atraer a candidatos calificados de un amplio espectro de la comunidad. La CDP consultará a la Comisión de Policía Comunitaria y otras partes interesadas acerca de estrategias para atraer a un grupo diversificados de candidatos.
“El acuerdo de hoy refleja el compromiso de la ciudad y de la División de Policía de trabajar con el Departamento de Justicia y la comunidad de Cleveland en transformar a esta repartición policial en un modelo de acción policial con orientación comunitaria que permitirá una mayor seguridad tanto de los agentes de la policía como de las personas a las que sirven”, señaló la líder de la División de Derechos Civiles, la Secretaria de Justicia Auxiliar Adjunta Principal Vanita Gupta. “La acción policial constitucional es clave para la creación de confianza entre las comisarías y las comunidades a las que sirven. Hoy, Cleveland demuestra al resto del país que las personas pueden unirse en sus diferencias percibidas para realizar una visión común de una ciudad más segura y más justa”.
“En los últimos días y meses, la nación ha observado a Cleveland en nuestra resolución de problemas complejos relacionados con las relaciones entre la policía y la comunidad”, observó el Fiscal Federal Steven M. Dettelbach del Distrito Norte de Ohio. “Hoy, la nación debe considerar a esta ciudad un ejemplo de lo que el verdadero trabajo arduo conjunto puede lograr: un proyecto transformativo de reforma que puede ser un modelo nacional para cualquier comisaría lista para acompañar a una gran ciudad a la vanguardia del siglo 21. Sin embargo, el trabajo arduo recién comienza y necesitaremos el compromiso del trabajo conjunto de toda la comunidad para transformar a la promesa de hoy en la realidad de mañana”.
El acuerdo se ocupa de los hallazgos anunciados en diciembre de 2014, de una investigación integral de la CPD iniciada en marzo de 2013, que evaluó el uso de prácticas de uso de fuerza por parte de la CDP. La investigación concluyó que hubo causas razonables para creer que los agentes policiales de Cleveland ejercían un patrón o una práctica de fuerza irrazonable y, en algunos casos, innecesaria, en violación de la Cuarta Enmienda de la Constitución. Dicho patrón o práctica incluyó el uso innecesario o excesivo de fuerza letal, que incluyó disparos y golpes en la cabeza con armas de impacto; el uso innecesario, excesivo o en represalia de fuerza menos letal, incluidos Tasers, rosear químicos y fuerza física; fuerza excesiva contra personas con deficiencia mental o en crisis, que incluyó casos en los que se llamó a los agentes exclusivamente para una verificación del bienestar, y el empleo de tácticas ineficientes y peligrosas que colocaron a agentes en situaciones en las que la fuerza evitable se volvió inevitable.
La investigación también encontró que este patrón de fuerza excesiva desgastó la confianza pública en la policía. Como resultado de esto, afectó la seguridad pública y la tarea de prestar servicios policiales resultó más difícil y peligrosa. La investigación fue llevada a cabo conjuntamente por la Sección de Litigios Extraordinarios de la División de Derechos Civiles y la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Norte de Ohio.
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Download Cleveland Complaint (32.66 KB)
Download Cleveland Joint Motion and Memo for Entry of Consent Decree (26.98 KB)
Download Cleveland Settlement Agreement (21.39 MB)
Download SPL Police Accomplishments 5.26.15 (212.23 KB)
Download Cleveland Division of Police 5.26.15 (180.2 KB)
Resumen del Acuerdo de Conciliación con la Ciudad de Cleveland Hacerca de la División de Policía de Cleveland (103.08 KB)
Saturday 23 May 2015
Statement from Vanita Gupta, Head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettlebach for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony for the FBIRead the Press Release
Statement from Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony for the FBI:
“The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have been monitoring the extensive investigation that has been conducted around the events of Nov. 29, 2012. We will now review the testimony and evidence presented in the state trial. We will continue our assessment, review all available legal options and will collaboratively determine what, if any, additional steps are available and appropriate given the requirements and limitations of the applicable laws in the federal judicial system. This review is separate and distinct from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney's Office's productive efforts to resolve civil pattern and practice allegations under 42 U.S.C. 14141 with the city of Cleveland.”
Justice Department issues statement following Brelo verdictRead the Press Release
Statement from Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony for the FBI:
“The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have been monitoring the extensive investigation that has been conducted around the events of Nov. 29, 2012. We will now review the testimony and evidence presented in the state trial. We will continue our assessment, review all available legal options and will collaboratively determine what, if any, additional steps are available and appropriate given the requirements and limitations of the applicable laws in the federal judicial system. This review is separate and distinct from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney's Office's productive efforts to resolve civil pattern and practice allegations under 42 U.S.C. 14141 with the city of Cleveland.”
Friday 22 May 2015
Willis Texas Tax Return Preparer Sentenced for False ReturnsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Doyle J. Blevins Jr. has been ordered to prison following his conviction related to the preparation of false client tax returns, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Lucy Cruz, special agent in charge of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Blevins pleaded guilty in February 2015.
At a hearing held yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake handed Blevins a 24-month prison sentence. He was further ordered to pay $285,147 in restitution and will also be required to serve one year of supervised release following completion of the prison term.
Blevins owned and operated Total Refund Tax Service in Willis until 2012. Court documents show that Blevins included false deductions in at least 71 tax returns for tax years 2008 through 2010 without his clients’ knowledge or consent, which fraudulently increased their refunds by approximately $285,147. The most egregious fraudulent refund was obtained in a 2009 tax return that included a $23,248 loss for a non-existent family counseling business. This tax return alone caused an estimated loss to the U.S. Treasury of $7,351.
Blevins was permitted to remain on bond pending the issuance of an order to surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.
The investigation leading to these charges was conducted by IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Sledge Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Wakpala Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Wakpala, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and four counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor was sentenced on May 15, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann. The convictions were the result of a jury trial held in Pierre in September of 2014.
Stoney End Of Horn, age 37, was sentenced to 293 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, and a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The assault conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in September 2008 near Wakpala, when End Of Horn assaulted the victim on a rural road. The 2008 assault caused multiple facial fractures and internal injuries to the victim’s brain. The surgeon that repaired the victim’s face described the bones as “busted up so bad they were like a bag of potato chips.” Eventually, injuries from the assault caused the victim to have a cerebellar infarction on February 9, 2010. The evidence at trial established that the victim never recovered from the cerebellar infarction and died at Triumph Long-Term Care Hospital in Mandan, North Dakota, on June 25, 2010.
The sexual abuse convictions arose from incidents in 2010 when End Of Horn, who had previously been convicted in South Dakota State Court for Possession, Manufacturing, and Distributing Child Pornography, engaged in repeated sexual acts with a minor victim he was caring for in Wakpala. The young victim considered End Of Horn to be a father figure.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency, the National Park Service, and the Mobridge Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy R. Morley and Mikal Hanson.
End Of Horn was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
U.S. Attorney Announces “Be Here for Kids” Event in TucsonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, is hosting the “Be Here For Kids” event on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Children’s Museum in Tucson. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the “Be Here For Kids” campaign to promote awareness about all child safety issues. The campaign is designed to help parents and others teach children to be aware, alert, and cautious to potential threats and to provide steps that children can take to stay safe, both on the Internet and in daily life. Families also are encouraged to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about abduction and safety prevention.
“The annual ‘Be Here For Kids’ national child safety campaign is particularly important this time of year, when children begin their summer breaks and have more time on their hands” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This event is designed to increase awareness among parents and children of the potential threats to child safety present in daily life, including the Internet.”
This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Pima County Attorney’s Office, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Interactive children’s self-defense demonstrations by Ko Sho Martial Training Institute will take place throughout the day, and digital child identification kits will be provided free of charge to those that attend.
A similar Phoenix event is scheduled for June 12, 2015.
For more information on NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about the Take 25 campaign, visit www.Take25.org. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-040_Take_25_Tucson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Two Orange County Men Arrested on Federal Charges of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Two Orange County men, one of whom attempted to travel to the Middle East to allegedly join ISIL, have been arrested on federal charges of conspiring to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Muhanad Badawi, 24, and Nader Elhuzayel, 24, both of Anaheim, were arrested Thursday evening by special agents with the FBI.
Badawi and Elhuzayel were charged in a criminal complaint filed this morning in United States District Court in Santa Ana, and both me are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon.
The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint outlines a scheme in which Badawi and Elhuzayel used social media to discuss ISIL and terrorist attacks, expressed a desire to die as martyrs and made arrangements for Elhuzayel to leave the United States to join ISIL.
According to the affidavit, on May 3, Elhuzayel saw a tweet from Elton Simpson, one of the two gunmen who were killed trying to attack a conference in Garland, Texas. In this tweet, Simpson stated that he and his “bro” had pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIL. In response, Elhuzayel tweeted his support for the attempted attack and praised Simpson as a “martyr.”
In recorded conversations last month, Badawi and Elhuzayel “discussed how it would be a blessing to fight for the cause of Allah, and to die in the battlefield,” and they referred to ISIL as “we,” according to the complaint affidavit. When Badawi expressed concerns about ISIL struggling due to airstrikes by Coalition forces, Elhuzayel responded that they had to be patient and “can you imagine when al-Qaeda joins with Islamic State”? According to the affidavit, Badawi responded: “We will be huge.” The two men also discussed local Muslim leaders and Elhuzayel complained that these leaders were not “legitimate” because they believed in democracy and were not fighting for an Islamic State.
The men discussed where in the Middle East they would rather be, and Elhuzayel said he wanted to fight and did not want to be in the United States, according to the conversations recounted in the affidavit.
On May 7, Badawi allowed Elhuzayel to use his credit card to purchase a one-way airline ticket for travel from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, Israel, via Istanbul, Turkey, on a Turkish Airlines flight scheduled to depart on May 21. Badawi indicated that he would be traveling to the Middle East in the future, according to the affidavit.
Elhuzayel was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. According to the allegations in the complaint, Elhuzayel admitted after being read his Miranda rights that he planned to disembark in Istanbul to join ISIL and did not intend to travel on to Israel.
If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Badawi and Elhuzayel each would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for conspiring to provide material support to ISIL.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Orange County, which includes the following agencies: the Anaheim Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Secret Service, IRS – Criminal Investigation, the City of Orange Police Department, the Irvine Police Department, and the Buena Park Police Department.
Release No. 15-050
Two North Carolina Residents Indicted for Conspiracy to File False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Two Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, residents were indicted yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina, with conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing false, fictitious or fraudulent claims, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jill W. Rose of the Western District of North Carolina.
Daniel Heggins and Joan Clark were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 16 counts of filing false, fictitious or fraudulent claims for federal income tax refunds. According to the allegations in the indictment, beginning no later than July 2009 and continuing through May 2011, Heggins and Clark operated Guarantor Manufacturer Inc., which advertised consulting, investing, debt reduction, and foreclosure avoidance services. Heggins and Clark recruited individuals who owed debts, such as mortgages or car loans, and used their information to file false federal income tax returns with fraudulent claims for tax refunds.
Heggins and Clark prepared false tax returns by attaching false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms 1099-Original Issue Discount (OID) to the returns. Certain taxpayers file Forms 1099-OID because taxes owed to the IRS on certain bonds must be reported annually and paid as interest accrues. Heggins and Clark intentionally mischaracterized the debts owed by improperly using Forms 1099-OID to report debts as interest income to the individuals. As a result, the false tax returns claimed refunds based on fictitious tax withholdings from that purported interest income. Heggins and Clark filed at least 16 false tax returns that fraudulently claimed more than $4 million in tax refunds.
If convicted, Heggins and Clark each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Savage of the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Todd P. Kostyshak of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.
More information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Daniel Heggins and Joan Clark Indictment
Two Men Charged with Distributing Synthetic Drugs That Caused Overdoses at Wesleyan UniversityRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Middletown Police Chief William McKenna, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging ERIC LONERGAN, 22, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and ZACHARY KRAMER, 21 of Bethesda, Maryland, with distributing controlled substances that caused multiple Wesleyan University students to overdose during the past school year.
The five-count indictment was returned yesterday, and LONERGAN and KRAMER are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven at noon today.
“Our hope is that this prosecution puts to bed the misperception that synthetic drugs are harmless party drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Daly. “As the allegations in this indictment clearly show, these drugs are highly dangerous. Many of the Wesleyan students who overdosed were seriously ill and one student nearly died. The growth and evolution of synthetic drugs is a serious public health concern. As is clear today, together with the DEA and our local partners, we will prosecute these cases. We thank the DEA, the Middlesex State’s Attorney’s Office and the Middletown Police Department for their collaboration and diligent work in this ongoing investigation.”
“The distribution and use of synthetic drugs is a potentially deadly game,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ferguson. “The truth of the matter is that when someone uses a synthetic drug, they are playing Russian roulette with their life. There is no way for a user to know what deadly combination of drugs is in that capsule. The DEA New England Field Division and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating individuals and groups that traffic synthetic drugs.”
“I am very proud of the Middletown Police Department members and all public safety officials who have worked on the WESU Molly incident,” said Middletown Police Chief McKenna. “We received incredible assistance from outside agencies, including the Middlesex County State’s Attorney’s office, the State of Connecticut Forensics Crime Laboratory, medical providers and WESU officials during the course of the investigation. The health of many students was jeopardized, causing a major public safety concern to our community. We are now fortunate to partner up with, and give continued assistance to, the U.S. Attorney’s office, DEA and other federal agencies in their continued efforts to achieve the results that are being reported today. The citizens of Middletown and the State of Connecticut are very fortunate to have the combined efforts of local, state and federal agencies working in collaboration to achieve law enforcement’s ultimate goal of providing the safety and security that they deserve.”
According to the allegations set forth in the indictment, LONERGAN and KRAMER were students at Wesleyan in Middletown, Connecticut. Beginning in approximately November 2013, LONERGAN began purchasing and redistributing MDMA, also known as “Molly,” a Schedule I controlled substance, to students on or in the vicinity of the Wesleyan campus. Charging approximately $20 per .1 gram of Molly or $200 per gram, LONERGAN regularly sold Molly from his dorm room between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. during most nights. LONERGAN also counseled students on how to ingest Molly and other psychedelic drugs. At one point in 2014, after the administration at Wesleyan sent out a campus-wide communication warning of the dangers of ingesting controlled substances like Molly, LONERGAN responded by distributing a pamphlet instructing students on the use of psychedelic drugs. Also in 2014, KRAMER began purchasing Molly from LONERGAN and distributing it to students at Wesleyan.
The indictment alleges that in September 2014, LONERGAN agreed to provide Molly to students who were planning a “rolling” party at Wesleyan, which is a party where guests ingest Molly. LONERGAN provided several grams of what he represented to be Molly to an individual who then distributed it to students in .1 gram capsules. On September 13, 2014, several Wesleyan students overdosed on the substance provided by LONERGAN and some were transported to the hospital. The students either swallowed the capsule or opened the capsules and snorted the powder. Many of them had strong adverse reactions, complaining of extreme lethargy or an irrational fear of everything and everyone around them. Some of these students did not recover for at least three days. One student snorted only .05 grams of the substance and within 10 minutes, passed out. After she was revived and taken to her room, she remained bedridden for two days before finally being transported to the hospital.
According to the indictment, after the September 2014 overdoses, LONERGAN sent electronic communications to several of the students, assuring them that the substance he had sold them was safe and that he had tested it himself to make certain it was Molly. He also sent some of these students a link to a video purporting to show him performing a test on the substance that yielded a positive result for MDMA. In February 2015, one of the students, who had earlier overdosed, provided a capsule that she had purchased from LONERGAN in September 2014 to the Middletown Police. A lab test on that capsule revealed that it did not contain MDMA, but rather AB Fubinaca, which is a synthetic cannabinoid and a Schedule I controlled substance, and 6-MAPB, which is an analogue of MDMA.
The indictment further alleges that in early 2015, KRAMER, who had taken over for LONERGAN as the primary supplier of Molly at Wesleyan, provided Molly to some of his friends for redistribution to students on campus. On February 21, 2015, 11 individuals, including 10 Wesleyan students, overdosed on a substance they believed was Molly, and many were transported to the hospital. These students reported similar symptoms as those who overdosed in September 2014. Two of the students were in critical condition, and one of those students had to be revived after his heart stopped. All of these students obtained the purported Molly through individual distributers who were supplied directly by KRAMER. After the events of February 21, law enforcement officers seized the substance identified as Molly from one of KRAMER’s distributers and sent it to a toxicology laboratory for testing. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the powdered substance contained AB Fubinaca.
The indictment charges both LONERGAN and KRAMER with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute MDMA and AB Fubinaca, and one count of attempted distribution of MDMA and distribution of AB Fubinaca. Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million. The indictment also charges LONERGAN and KRAMER with distribution of MDMA within 1000 feet of a private college, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year, a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and a fine of up to $2 million.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Middletown Police Department, with the assistance of the State of Connecticut’s Forensic Science Laboratory.
U.S. Attorney Daly acknowledged the support and assistance of the Middlesex State’s Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting several state cases stemming from these overdose events.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector, with the assistance of Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Eugene Calistro.
Two Men Arrested in Connection with Stock Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER – Michael Todd Osborn, age 44, who has been living in Connecticut and New York, and Corey Earl Engelen, age 45, of Parker, Colorado were arrested last week, Osborn on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, and Engelen on charges of money laundering, United States Attorney John Walsh and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gilbert R. Garza announced. Osborn and Engelen were indicted by a federal grand jury on February 11, 2015 which remained sealed until Osborn’s arrest. Engelen has been released on a $70,000 unsecured bond after being read his rights and the charges pending against him. He was later arraigned and pled not guilty. Osborn was arrested in New York City and is pending release on bond.
According to the indictment, beginning in October 2009 and continuing until July 2010, Osborn devised a scheme to defraud investors. He told them that he would use their funds to trade stocks on their behalf. In fact, he did no trading, and he and his Colorado associate used the investors’ money for their own personal benefit and purposes other than trading. Osborn held himself out to investors as an experienced trader of stocks and other securities and a veteran in the equity/swing trading business. In some instances, he falsely represented he was a licensed broker. He sold investors units in the CU Equity Swing Fund I, LLC and the 10x Leveraged Oscillator Fund, through which he represented he would conduct short-term trading. Investors typically learned of the investment opportunity through a friend or trusted associate.
Osborn falsely represented that he had a prime trading account through which he would be able to leverage the funds invested and thereby reap greater profits than from unleveraged trading and falsely represented that the investors’ funds were protected from fraud, larceny, and embezzlement by a fidelity bond with Lloyds of London.
Osborn instructed investors to wire their funds to accounts held in the name of Infinite One, LLC, which he represented to be the trading accounts he would use for the trades. In fact, the accounts were not trading accounts and were never used for trading. They were merely checking accounts held by Osborn’s associate in Colorado. Once the investors had wired funds, Osborn provided them “blotters,” which contained detailed records of trades he had purportedly made. The information provided was false, as Osborn had never made the trades, and certainly no profits had been realized.
In June of 2010, Corey Engelen knowingly engaged in monetary transactions derived from specified unlawful activity, namely wire fraud. The transactions consisted of wire transfers from Infinite One, LLC of $50,000, $44,915, and $15,000 to the bank accounts of Dream Motor Cars and law offices.
Osborn was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. Engelen was charged with three counts of money laundering. Wire fraud carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Money laundering carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Included in the indictment is a notice of forfeiture for any property traceable to the structuring charges alleged in the indictment.
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Special Enforcement Program of the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Kaufman.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Two California Men Arrested on Charges of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
Two California men, one of whom attempted to travel to the Middle East to allegedly join ISIL, have been arrested on charges of conspiring to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura of the Central District of California.
Muhanad Badawi, 24, and Nader Elhuzayel, 24, both of Anaheim, California, were arrested late Thursday afternoon by the FBI. Badawi and Elhuzayel were charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court of the Central District of California, and both men are expected to make their initial court appearance this afternoon.
The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint outlines a scheme in which Badawi and Elhuzayel used social media to discuss ISIL and terrorist attacks, expressed a desire to die as martyrs and made arrangements for Elhuzayel to leave the United States to join ISIL.
According to the affidavit, on May 3, 2015, Elhuzayel saw a tweet from Elton Simpson, one of the two gunmen who were killed trying to attack a conference in Garland, Texas. In this tweet, Simpson stated that he and his “bro” had pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIL. In response, Elhuzayel tweeted his support for the attempted attack and praised Simpson as a “martyr.”
In recorded conversations last month, Badawi and Elhuzayel “discussed how it would be a blessing to fight for the cause of Allah, and to die in the battlefield,” and they referred to ISIL as “we.” When Badawi expressed concerns about ISIL struggling due to airstrikes by Coalition forces, Elhuzayel responded that they had to be patient and “can you imagine when al-Qaeda joins with Islamic State”? According to the affidavit, Badawi responded: “We will be huge.” The two men also discussed local Muslim leaders and Elhuzayel complained that these leaders were not “legitimate” because they believed in democracy and were not fighting for an Islamic State.
The men discussed where in the Middle East they would rather be, and Elhuzayel said he wanted to fight and did not want to be in the United States, according to the conversations recounted in the affidavit.
On May 7, Badawi allowed Elhuzayel to use his credit card to purchase a one-way airline ticket for travel from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, Israel, via Istanbul, Turkey, on a Turkish Airlines flight scheduled to depart on May 21. Badawi indicated that he would be traveling to the Middle East in the future, according to the affidavit.
Elhuzayel was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. According to the allegations in the complaint, Elhuzayel admitted after being read Miranda rights that he planned to disembark in Istanbul to join ISIL and did not intend to travel on to Israel.
If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Badawi and Elhuzayel each would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for conspiring to provide material support to ISIL.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation in this case was conducted by members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Orange County, California.
Badawi and Elhuzayel Criminal Complaint
Three Members of an Illegal International Gambling Enterprise Convicted of Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Oklahoma City today convicted two Texas men and a California man for their participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and money laundering, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats of the Western District of Oklahoma.
Rodger Bramley, 73, of Plano, Texas, Kelley Diebner, 43, of Houston, Texas, and Leon Moran Jr. 54, of Kingsburg, California, were found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conducting an illegal gambling business and money laundering conspiracy. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2003 to 2013, Bramley, Diebner and Moran conspired with others to operate an international criminal enterprise known as Legendz Sports, which ran internet and telephone gambling services from Panama City, Panama. Legendz Sports took in more than $1 billon in illegal wagers, almost exclusively from gamblers in the United States betting on American sporting events. Bramley and Diebner worked as bookies in Texas who illegally solicited and accepted sports wagers as well as settled gambling debts.
Evidence further showed that Moran worked as a runner who delivered and picked up cash to Legendz Sports bookies. As part of the racketeering conspiracy, bookies and runners for Legendz Sports transported millions of dollars of gambling proceeds in cash and checks from the United States to Panama. The checks were made out to various shell companies created by Legendz Sports throughout Central America.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Dickerson Cox and Travis D. Smith of the Western District of Oklahoma.
Tappahannock Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Coerce Children into SexRead the Press Release
Law Enforcement Found Defendant on Incest Social Network
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – William Andrew Clarke, 44, of Tappahannock, Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for online coercion and enticement of a minor.
Clarke, who also is a resident of Reston, Virginia, was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 24, 2015. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Clarke created a profile page on a social networking website for people who were interested in engaging in incest or sharing their children with others who are interested in sexually abusing children. Clarke was contacted through the website by an undercover agent with HSI. The agent pretended to be a father with two children, ages eight and nine. Clarke described to the undercover agent how he was interested in sexually abusing the two children, and Clarke and the agent made arrangements to meet in Fairfax, Virginia. Clarke traveled from Tappahannock to the designated meeting place, where he was taken into custody.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington, D.C. Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, HSI. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Claffee is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-246.