Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
16 April 2015
Federal Judge Sentences Tax Preparer to 12 Months in Prison for Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM -- A federal judge today sentenced a former Birmingham tax-return preparer to 12 months in prison and ordered her to repay $44,080 to the Internal Revenue Service for filing false returns, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and IRS, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot.
U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced KRISTIE E. SYKES on two counts of aiding in the preparation of a false return. Sykes, 44, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the charges in September. Sykes worked at the the now-defunct tax preparation business, VIP Tax Services, on Bankhead Highway in Birmingham. Proctor ordered Sykes to serve a year of supervised release following her prison term. Among special conditions of that release, the judge ordered Sykes to pay the restitution to the IRS and to refrain from assisting or aiding others in the preparation of taxes.
Sykes must report to prison July 15.
According to court records, Sykes orchestrated a tax refund scheme through VIP Tax Services. During the time Sykes professionally prepared tax returns, from 2008 to 2010, she filed false tax returns on behalf of taxpayer clients who retained VIP’s services, often including numerous false items on client’s returns in order to maximize their refunds.
Sykes pleaded guilty to two counts of preparing a false federal tax return while operating a tax preparation service by adding a false First-time Homebuyer Credit, a false dependent, false net losses and false deductions -- including for tuition and fees, medical and dental expenses, gifts to charity and job expenses, to clients’ returns.
In her plea agreement, Sykes also admitted to causing 11 false U.S. tax returns for 10 of her clients to be filed with the IRS for the tax years 2007-2009. Those returns contained fictitious dependents, inflated deductions, false income and expenses, and false education credits, and First-Time Homebuyer Credits or Residential Energy credits. Some of the false deductions and credits also enabled the defendant’s clients to falsely claim the Earned Income Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit, and the Making Work Pay Credit. The total loss to the government was $49,411.
In a related case, JANICE FOY, 52, of Snellville, Ga., who owned and operated VIP, was sentenced in September 2014 to seven months in prison after pleading guilty to a two-count indictment charging her with one count of subscribing to a false federal tax return and one count of aiding in the preparation of a false return.
As part of their plea agreements, both women agreed to be permanently enjoined from aiding or assisting others in the preparation of taxes.
IRS-CI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Chinelo Dike-Minor is prosecuting.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Topeka Man in Bomb CaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against a Topeka man who was charged in a criminal complaint last week with plotting to explode a bomb at the Fort Riley military base near Manhattan, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
John T. Booker, Jr., 20, Topeka, Kan., was indicted on one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives), one count of attempting to damage property by means of an explosive and one count of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is a foreign terrorist organization.
If convicted, Booker would face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, including members from the FBI’s Kansas City Division, the Topeka Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith, and Trial Attorneys Josh Parecki and Rebecca Magnone of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
OTHER FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Randal H. Duncan, 57, Wichita, is charged with one count of bank robbery. The indictment alleges that on April 6, 2015, he robbed the Emprise Bank at 237 N. Broadway in Wichita.
A criminal complaint filed in the case alleges he entered the bank about 12:50 p.m. and said to a teller, “I have a bomb, give me $40,000 cash.” He was arrested later at a laundromat at Hydraulic and Harry in Wichita.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
**
Sixto Refugio Largerous-Perez, 42, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entered the United States after being deported. He was found April 1, 2015, in Olathe, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
**
Carlos Byron, 59, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 30, 2015 in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City (Kansas) Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
**
James G. Martin, 40, Independence, Mo., is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery one count of passing a counterfeit $100 bill and one count of possessing $570 in counterfeit bills. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from Sept. 1, 2013, to Feb. 1, 2015, in Johnson County, Kan.
f convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy count; and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the other counts. The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
**
Luis Gerardo-Montenegro, 21, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 2, 2015, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on the drug charge, and penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and ICE-HSI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward is prosecuting.
**
Sarah Willson, 26, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of destroying mail while working as a U.S. Postal Service employee. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 21, 2014, in Olathe, Kan.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
**
Matthew Williams, 46, Junction City, Kan., is charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from July 25 to August 2014.
The indictment alleges he submitted false documentation on a Veterans Affairs home loan from Pulaski Bank. He also is alleged to have used another person’s Social Security number.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud charge, and an additional two years on the identity theft charge. The Veterans Administration – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
**
Bryce D. Draper, 26, Mission, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 7, 2015, in Douglas County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence (Kansas) Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
**
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Federal Escapee Apprehended in San Antonio -- Charged in Connection with two Austin Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
In San Antonio yesterday, local authorities apprehended 37-year-old federal escapee Brian Anthony Whitford announced Acting United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and United States Marshal Robert Almonte.
A federal criminal complaint filed today in Austin charges Whitford with one count of escape and two counts of bank robbery. According to the complaint, on Monday morning (4.13.15), Whitford escaped from a halfway house in Del Valle, TX, where he was completing his federal sentence for robbing two Austin banks in April 2010. The complaint alleges that on the same day of his escape, Whitford robbed the Compass Bank located on South Congress Ave. and attempted to rob the Wells Fargo Bank located on Guadalupe Street. The complaint further alleges that Whitford stole approximately $3,700 from Compass Bank.
According to court records, the Compass Bank and Wells Fargo Bank were the same two financial institutions Whitford was convicted of robbing back in April 2010 and subsequently sentenced to 71 months in federal prison.
Upon conviction, Whitford faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each bank robbery charge and up to five years in federal prison on the escape charge.
This joint investigation was conducted by the FBI and the United States Marshals Service with assistance from the Austin and San Antonio Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Hoff and Gregg Sofer are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Federal Court Approves Justice Department Agreement to Protect the Rights of Military and Overseas Voters in IllinoisRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the federal court in Chicago has approved an agreement between the department and Illinois officials to help ensure that military service members, their family members and U.S. citizens living overseas have an opportunity to participate fully in the upcoming special primary election and special election to fill a vacated seat in the state’s 18th Congressional District. The agreement is necessary to ensure Illinois’ compliance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
The agreement, filed simultaneously with the complaint on April 6, 2015, requires that the state adopt an election calendar which enables local jurisdictions to transmit ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before the upcoming special elections as the federal law requires. The agreement establishes July 7, 2015, as the date for the special primary election and Sept. 10, 2015, as the date for the special election. These dates were selected to allow the election authorities sufficient time to complete all the pre-election steps necessary to timely transmit ballots to UOCAVA voters as required by the federal law. The agreement also requires that the state take measures to notify UOCAVA voters of the election dates and relevant deadlines.
“This agreement with Illinois reflects our continued commitment to ensure that members of our armed forces, their families and overseas U.S. citizens are offered a full and meaningful opportunity to vote in all federal elections, including the upcoming special elections for United States Representative from Illinois’ 18th Congressional District, and all future special elections,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will always work to ensure U.S. citizens can exercise their right to vote.”
UOCAVA requires states to allow uniformed service voters, serving both overseas and within the United States, and their families and U.S. citizens overseas to register to vote and to vote absentee for all elections for federal office. In 2009, Congress enacted the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which amended UOCAVA to require that states transmit absentee ballots to voters covered under UOCAVA, by mail or electronically at the voter’s option, no later than 45 days before federal elections.
The complaint and agreement were necessary because Illinois law mandates a truncated election schedule for holding special elections to fill vacancies for U.S. Representative that prevents Illinois from ensuring transmittal of ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before the special primary election and the subsequent special election. Under the terms of the agreement, Illinois is also required to take the necessary action to ensure that UOCAVA voters have a fair and reasonable opportunity to participate in future federal special elections for U.S. Representatives in Congress, including pursuing permanent changes to Illinois law governing the state’s special election calendar that will permit compliance with UOCAVA’s ballot transmission requirements. The agreement also requires that Illinois provide detailed reports to the department concerning the transmission of ballots for the scheduled special elections in the 18th Congressional District.
More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/misc/activ_uoc.php. Please report any complaints to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section at 1-800-253-3931.
Etowah County Man Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison for Producing, Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM -- A federal judge today sentenced an Etowah County man to 80 years in prison for exploiting two young children to produce child pornography, and for possessing about 1,500 pornographic videos and images of other children, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Cindy M. Johnson and Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins sentenced VICTOR GRAY DINGLER, 33, to the 80-year prison term, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Dingler pleaded guilty in November to five counts of producing child pornography between 2008 and 2014, and to two counts of possessing child pornography involving children younger than 12.
Some of the pornography Dingler produced involved a 3-year-old child. The second victim was an elementary school student in Etowah County, according to court records. The Alabama Department of Education was instrumental in helping law enforcement locate that child in September 2014, after HSI received a series of images that originated from a website located by Danish National Police. One of the images included a blanket bearing an Alabama university logo, according to court records.
“The government sought a sentence that would put this defendant behind bars for the rest of his life because of the serious and appalling nature of his crimes against young children," Vance said. "He has acknowledged that he sexually abused two young children, and that he produced and distributed pornographic images of his exploitation. His victims will have to live the rest of their lives with the memories of what he did to them, and with the knowledge that he memorialized his abuse in images and videos, some that travelled around the world," she said.
"Individuals who produce child pornography are directly responsible for what is, in plain language, the rape of children. Child pornography steals the innocence of children and destroys lives," Johnson said. "Sexual abuse scars children for life, and HSI will continue to use all the tools in its arsenal to identify the perpetrators of these horrendous acts and seek justice on behalf of their victims,” she said.
"We are pleased with the sentence given to this predator today," Entrekin said. "His disgusting behavior and abusive actions have taken away the innocence of young victims; something no one, no matter the age, should ever endure. I appreciate the cooperation among Homeland Security Investigations and the office of U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance in bringing this case to a close.”
The victimization of the innocent children depicted in the pornographic pictures Dingler possessed "continues to live on with an insidious vitality through the perverted behavior of people like the defendant, who each and every time they distribute and receive an image of a naked child, proliferate the available quantity of the material," the government said in its sentencing memorandum.
The Department of Homeland Security-HSI and the Etowah County Sheriff's Department investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn Hutzell, Xavier Carter and Daniel J. Fortune prosecuted.
East St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
On April 16, 2015, Troy Edwards, a twenty-six year old East St. Louis, Illinois, man, pled guilty in federal district court, in East St. Louis, to one count of Distribution of Cocaine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Edwards is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. at which time he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000,000, not more than 3 years of supervised release after his prison term, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.
Facts presented in court revealed that Edwards sold approximately three ounces of cocaine and one ounce of heroin on January 25, 2013, to a confidential informant, acting at the direction of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
This case was investigated by the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.
Drug dealers face charges in federal court in BluefieldRead the Press Release
Bluefield, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that two drug dealers appeared in federal court in Bluefield, West Virginia. Shawn Owen Gillespie II, 25, of Shady Spring, West Virginia was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Gillespie pled guilty on December 3, 2014, admitting that on May 12, 2014, he possessed more than 400 pouches of heroin, which he intended to sell. Gillespie possessed the heroin in Princeton, West Virginia. Adrian Dewayne King, also known as “Fled,” 38, of Bluefield, West Virginia, pled guilty to using a communication facility to facilitate a felony. King admitted that on January 21, 2015, he had a telephone conversation with a confidential informant (CI) to set up a drug deal. A few minutes after the telephone conversation, King met the CI as planned, and sold hydromorphone to the CI. The phone call and drug deal took place in Bluefield, West Virginia. King faces up to four years in prison and a $250, 000 fine when he is sentenced on August 13, 2015.
These cases were investigated by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative, 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. Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecutions of Gillespie and King.
Dartmouth Selectman Convicted of EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dartmouth Selectman was convicted today of embezzling funds from his bus company, which was subsidized with taxpayer funds, to bankroll his personal farm.
John George, 68, was indicted in August 2014, and today he was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy and one count of embezzlement. Sentencing is scheduled for July 15, 2015, before Judge Denise Casper.
The defendant owned Union Street Bus Company (USBC), a New Bedford-based company that operated public buses. During the same period, George operated John George Farms (JG Farm), a large produce farm based in Dartmouth. From approximately 1991 to 2011, USBC was awarded the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) contract to operate the SRTA public bus system that served a region that included New Bedford, Fall River, and several other neighboring towns.
The evidence at trial showed that, while USBC had the SRTA contract, George conspired with certain individuals to have various USBC employees work at JG Farm during their assigned USBC work hours. Such farm work included plowing, loading produce, and operating a produce stand at JG Farm, all during USBC business hours. As part of the conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, George deployed USBC workers to JG Farm to repair George’s farm equipment, used USBC equipment and labor to provide personal out-of-state roadside assistance, and inflated his final yearly salary from $75,000 to $275,000 in an attempt to fraudulently boost his SRTA pension.
The maximum penalty for the charge of embezzlement is a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 on the charge of embezzlement from an organization that received federal funds. On the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States, the maximum penalty is a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Todd A. Damiani, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dustin Chao and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan M. DiSantis of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.
Darron Webb Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than 100 Grams of HeroinRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, David Capp, announced that Darron Webb, 29, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced today, for possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
Webb was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in September of 2014, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (Elkhart ICE Unit), the South Bend Police Department Metro Special Operations Section (South Bend MSOS), the Indiana State
Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms initiated an investigation into heroin trafficking by several individuals operating in South Bend, Indiana. Information was received by investigators indicating that a male known as “D” was dealing heroin in South Bend, Indiana. “D” was later identified as Darron A. Webb. In early October 2014, Darron Webb possessed at one time 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin as part of his heroin trafficking.
This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (Elkhart ICE Unit), the South Bend Police Department Metro Special Operations Section (South Bend MSOS), the Indiana State Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald J. Schmid.
Columbus, Ohio, Man Charged with Providing Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has charged Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, with one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and one count of making false statements to the FBI in an indictment returned in the Southern District of Ohio.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart of the Southern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division announced the indictment returned today.
According to court documents, Mohamud left the United States in April 2014 for the purpose of training and fighting with terrorists in Syria.
As a naturalized citizen of the United States, he obtained a U.S. passport and purchased a one-way ticket to Greece. He did not board his connecting flight to Athens, Greece, during his layover in Istanbul, Turkey, and instead completed pre-arranged plans to travel to Syria.
According to the indictment, Mohamud stated that, after arriving in Syria, he obtained training from a group in shooting weapons, breaking into houses, explosives and hand-to-hand combat. Mohamed also stated that, after completing this training, he was instructed by a cleric in the organization to return to the United States and commit an act of terrorism.
“According to the charges in the indictment, Mohamud allegedly traveled to Syria to train with and fight alongside terrorists” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Identifying and neutralizing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to the United States is one of the National Security Division’s highest priorities. I want to thank the many agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this ongoing investigation and today’s charges.”
“Mohamud sought and obtained terrorist training in Syria,” said U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Upon his return to the United States, he discussed carrying out acts in the United States.”
“The Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to protect our community," said Special Agent in Charge Byers. “Cases like this are tangible reminders of the threats we face each day.”
Providing material support to terrorists and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization – in this case, namely, Jabhat al-Nusrah – are each crimes punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Making false statements involving international terrorism carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Mohamud is scheduled to be transferred into federal custody based on today’s indictment. He was arrested and detained on state charges on Feb. 21, 2015.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the JTTF for its work on this investigation, and also thanked Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and his office for their ongoing efforts in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Doug Squires, Dana Peters and Salvador Dominguez of the Southern District of Ohio, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Gibson with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, and Trial Attorney Bridget Behling of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Mohamud Indictment
Columbus Man Charged with Providing Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –A federal grand jury has charged Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, 23, of Columbus, with one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one count of making false statements to the FBI involving international terrorism in an indictment returned in Columbus, Ohio.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and the FBI’s Columbus Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), announced the indictment returned today.
According to court documents, Mohamud left the United States in April 2014 for the purpose of training and fighting with terrorists in Syria.
As a naturalized citizen of the United States, he obtained a U.S. passport and purchased a one-way ticket to Greece. He did not board his connecting flight to Athens, Greece during his layover in Istanbul, Turkey, and instead completed pre-arranged plans to travel to Syria.
According to the indictment, Mohamud stated that, after arriving in Syria, he obtained training from a group in shooting weapons, breaking into houses, explosives and hand-to-hand combat. Mohamed also stated that, after completing this training, he was instructed by a cleric in the organization to return to the United States and commit an act of terrorism.
“According to the charges in the indictment, Mohamud allegedly traveled to Syria to train with and fight alongside terrorists” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Identifying and neutralizing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to the United States is one of the National Security Division’s highest priorities. I want to thank the many agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this ongoing investigation and today’s charges.”
“Mohamud sought and obtained terrorist training in Syria,” U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart said. “Upon his return to the United States, he discussed carrying out acts in the United States.”
"The Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to protect our community," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers. "Cases like this are tangible reminders of the threats we face each day."
“Our office worked with the JTTF to assist in the arrest and continued detention of Mohamud, including securing a terrorism indictment in State court,” Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said. “That state court charge will now be dismissed and that cooperation will continue in federal court with Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Gibson being named to the trial team to assist in the prosecution of the federal indictment that was announced today.”
Providing material support to terrorists and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization – in this case, namely, Jabhat al-Nusrah – are each crimes punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Making false statements involving international terrorism carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Mohamud is scheduled to be transferred into federal custody based on today’s indictment. He was arrested and detained on state charges on Feb. 21, 2015.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation of JTTF, and Assistant United States Attorneys Doug Squires, Dana Peters and Salvador Dominguez, Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Gibson with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office and Department of Justice National Security Division Trial Attorney Bridget Behling, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Columbus Man Charged for 6 Central Ohio Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged Thomas E. Shaffer, 62, of Columbus, Ohio, with six armed robberies in an indictment returned in Columbus.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Delaware County Sheriff Russell L. Martin, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Division, Donald Soranno, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy, Powell Police Chief Gary L. Vest and Worthington Police Chief James Mosic announced the indictment returned today.
The indictment alleges that on six different occasions, Shaffer robbed establishments in Central Ohio while armed. Specifically, Shaffer allegedly robbed The Pub in Gahanna, Ohio; Halftime Tavern in Columbus, Ohio; Brew-Stirs on 23 in Columbus, Ohio; Lazy Chameleon in Powell, Ohio; Villa Nova in Worthington, Ohio and Aldi in Lewis Center, Ohio between March 2014 and December 2014 while brandishing a firearm.
Shaffer was indicted on six counts of robbery, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and six counts of using a firearm during the commission of the robberies. Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a potential penalty of seven years in prison for the first count of conviction and up to 25 years of prison consecutively for each additional count.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended law enforcement’s cooperative investigation of this case, and Assistant United States Attorney David DeVillers and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Martinez, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Clearwater and Jacksonville Men Indicted for Manufacturing and Passing Counterfeit Federal Reserve NotesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Darius Jondi Edwards (35, Clearwater) with manufacturing and passing counterfeit currency. His co-defendant, Timothy Deante Burroughs (28, Jacksonville), is charged with passing counterfeit currency. If convicted on all counts, Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Burroughs faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Both men were arraigned earlier this month and ordered detained.
According to the indictment, Edwards began manufacturing counterfeit currency, beginning at least in November 2014. Edwards and Burroughs then began passing the counterfeit currency in Duval County, Florida.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Chelmsford Man Charged in Plot to Murder State TrooperRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelmsford man was charged yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston for initiating a murder-for-hire plot.
Andrew S. Gordon, 52, was charged in a criminal complaint with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. He is scheduled to have an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein on Friday, April 17, 2015.
According to the complaint, in October 2014, Gordon was charged by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office with plotting to have his estranged wife murdered. In that case, Gordon attempted to hire a “hit man” to kill his wife; however, the “hit man” was actually an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper. Since his arrest, Gordon has been held on state charges at the Middlesex House of Correction and Jail.
According to the federal complaint, while Gordon was incarcerated on the state charge, he attempted to hire a gang member living in New Hampshire to kill a Massachusetts State Trooper and another individual who were both witnesses against him in the pending case. For the commission of the murders, Gordon offered $15,000 and instructed that the murders were to appear accidental. Gordon, who believed that murdering the witnesses would effectively end the state’s ability to prosecute him, was actually communicating with an undercover officer.
The federal statute provides for a sentence of no greater than ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Gordon will be prosecuted and sentenced separately by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the crimes charged by the state.
U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan; Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cary, Illinois Man Charged in Federal Court with Robbery of Fifth Third Bank in Woodstock, IllinoisRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Cary, Ill. man was charged today in federal court with bank robbery. MICHAEL FETERICK, 45, of Cary, Ill., also known as “Michael Retterly,” was charged with the robbery of Fifth Third Bank, 1745 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock, Ill., on April 15, 2015. According to the complaint, at about 10:50 a.m., Feterick entered the bank and presented a note written in black sharpie stating "Money, no dye pack" to a bank teller. The teller provided the subject with money from the teller’s drawer and left the bank. Feterick was arrested late yesterday by the FBI, and law enforcement officers of the Crystal Lake and Woodstock Police Departments, at a hotel in Algonquin, Ill. Feterick is presently in federal custody pending his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain D. Johnston at 3:30 p.m. today.
Bank robbery carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and full restitution. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that a complaint is only a charge and 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.
The charge was 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation; Robert W. Lowen, Chief of the Woodstock, Illinois Police Department; and James R. Black, Chief of the Crystal Lake, Illinois Police Department. The U.S. Marshals Service, and law enforcement officers of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and the Algonquin, Illinois Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.
Complaint
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – Otis McGee, 28, of Choctaw, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate, Jr. to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. McGee pled guilty to the charge on January 29, 2015. The crime occurred on the tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.
Brian Gill Sentenced to Life and His Brothers David Gill and Samuel Mcintosh Sentenced to 40 Years for Drug-Related MurderRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, Chief Judge Carol Bagley Amon sentenced defendant Brian Gill to life in prison and his brothers David Gill and Samuel McIntosh to 40 years in prison. Following a three-week trial in November 2014, the three brothers were convicted of the June 22, 1994, drug-related murder of Michael Dawson and conspiracy to commit the murder. Brian Gill and David Gill were also convicted of a narcotics trafficking conspiracy between 2011 and 2013. At sentencing, the court found by clear and convincing evidence that Samuel McIntosh also participated in the 2011-2013 narcotics trafficking conspiracy. The charges stemmed from the defendants’ control of a drug-trafficking organization that operated in the Park Hill housing complex in the Clifton neighborhood of Staten Island.
The sentences were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Diego G. Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).
Over the course of two decades, the defendants intermittently operated a lucrative drug distribution business in Park Hill. On June 22, 1994, in connection with that business and in retaliation for selling crack cocaine on the defendants’ turf, the defendants brazenly murdered 22-year-old Michael Dawson in broad daylight in the street outside 160 Park Hill Avenue, a profitable building for crack dealing. Shortly thereafter, Brian Gill fled Staten Island. In 2011, when Brian Gill returned to Park Hill after 17 years, he launched another crack dealing business in Park Hill from his residence at 160 Park Hill Avenue. David Gill and Samuel McIntosh participated in and helped Brian Gill with that business.
“For years, these defendants escaped punishment for a senseless murder they committed in a community plagued by drug-trafficking and violence for far too long,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “The sentences imposed appropriately reflect the seriousness of their crimes and demonstrate our steadfast commitment to holding accountable those who choose to commit murder and drug-trafficking, regardless of the age of their crimes.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and the Richmond County District Attorney for their outstanding work in this case.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime & Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia Shihata, Alicyn Cooley, and Tali Farhadian are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
BRIAN GILL
Age: 46 years
Staten Island, New York
DAVID GILL
Age: 43 years
Staten Island, New York
SAMUEL MCINTOSH
Age: 40 years
Staten Island, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 13-CR-487 (CBA)
Boynton Man Sentenced to 188 Months for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that MICHAEL WAYNE CHERRY, age 48, of Boynton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
The charge arose from an investigation by and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Department. The defendant was indicted in December, 2013 and was found guilty at a jury trial in September, 2014.
The evidence presented at trial proved that on or about September 4, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed in and affecting commerce, the following firearm; one Mossberg model 500A, 12 gauge pump action shotgun that had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the trial. The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal Service pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.
Bowie Man Convicted in Identity Theft Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Kenneth Wayne Watford, age 55, of Bowie, Maryland, today of conspiring to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud and attempted wire fraud, three counts of credit card fraud and attempted credit card fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft in connection with the wire and credit card fraud offenses. Watford’s fraud schemes involved using the stolen identities of others to purchase expensive cars and obtaining credit cards in Watford’s businesses’ names backed by other people’s credit. After being charged with the first scheme, and while on federal pre-trial supervision, Watford also used another victim’s stolen identity to obtain and use a credit card to make purchases exceeding $14,300.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Michalko of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge David M. McGinnis of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department, and Chief John Nesky of the Bowie Police Department.
According to evidence presented at his six day trial, Watford, Flinton Newton and Juan Carlos Willis obtained the identity information of credit-worthy individuals, created false identity documents in the names of those individuals, and then posed as those individuals at automotive dealerships in order to apply for vehicle financing. Watford and his coconspirators filled out credit applications with dealers in Maryland and Virginia, and then used the extended credit to purchase, or attempt to purchase, expensive cars without any intention of making payments on the loans.
On June 23, 2012, Watford, Willis and a coconspirator posing as an identity theft victim used the victim’s identity to complete and submit a credit application for $77,450 in financing to purchase a 2011 BMW 750 at BMW of Silver Spring, Maryland.
On June 29, 2012, Watford used the victim’s identity to apply for an American Express business credit card account in the name of Annie M’s Groceries, a business entity Watford had registered in North Carolina the previous year. Evidence presented at trial also revealed that Watford, Willis and the unidentified co-conspirator also attempted to purchase two Cadillac Escalades using the same victim’s credit from Capitol Cadillac in Greenbelt.
On July 19, 2012, Newton and Willis returned to Capitol Cadillac in Greenbelt. On that day, Newton posed as a second victim whose identity he had fraudulently obtained, to apply for $80,663 in financing to purchase a 2013 Cadillac Escalade in the second victim’s name. Watford had provided Willis with access to a business auto insurance policy he had established in the name of Annie M’s Groceries, a company which Watford claimed to have owned. Willis used this online access to Watford’s insurance policy to obtain proof of insurance in support of the vehicle purchase.
Later that evening, Newton and Willis drove to Mercedes-Benz of Silver Spring where Newton again posed as the second victim. The men attempted to purchase a 2012 Mercedes-Benz CL550 and a 2009 Mercedez-Benz S550 for a total of $120,056. They filled out credit applications to finance the entire purchase price, again using the victim’s identity and credit, and an insurance policy under the name of Annie M’s Groceries. The dealership manager, however, saw that the victim’s credit had just been used to purchase the Cadillac Escalade, so he notified Montgomery County Police, who responded and arrested Newton and Willis.
A subsequent search of Willis’ cell phone revealed text messages between Willis and Watford concerning the purchase and use of the BMW, as well as the victim’s personal information. On July 26, 2012, Watford was arrested while driving the BMW in Bowie. Inside the car were the victim's credit reports from three credit bureaus, and a social security card and driver’s license in the name of Watford’s alias, “Abdul Abrams.” Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Watford’s residence and seized credit reports and financial documents in the names of other victims.
The total attempted loss as a result of this fraudulent scheme was between $400,000 and $1 million.
After Watford was charged for the above scheme and released pending trial in 2013, he obtained the personal identifying information of a third victim. Using that identity to guarantee the cards, Watford twice applied for credit cards in the name of a second business entity he controlled, Futranet Coaches of America. Watford’s first attempt, an application to American Express in August 2013, was declined; however, in September 2013 Watford successfully used the third victim’s credit to obtain a $15,000 line of credit with Fleetcor, LLC, a credit-card issuer specializing in fuel cards. During the next month, Watford ran up over $14,300 in purchases on cards issued on that account, including $13,000 paid to a former business associate who was holding several vehicles belonging to Watford as collateral on a large outstanding debt Watford owed him. In addition to being found guilty of two counts of unauthorized credit card use and two counts of aggravated identity theft in conjunction with this post-release conduct, Watford was also found guilty of committing these offenses while on federal pre-trial release, which means that his sentences for these counts must run consecutive to his sentence on the automobile-related fraud charges.
The federal jury acquitted Watford of the charge of being a felon in possession of a gun.
Watford faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count; 30 years in prison for each wire fraud count; 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm; 15 years in prison for each credit card fraud count; and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence for each aggravated identity theft count. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.
Flinton Newton, age 34, of Bartlett, Tennessee previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the scheme and was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Juan Carlos Willis, age 41, of Hyattsville, Maryland pleaded guilty to the same offenses on the day before his trial was scheduled to begin, and is awaiting sentencing.
Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 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. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Montgomery County Police Department and Bowie Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant United States Attorney James I. Pearce, who are prosecuting the case.
Bookie Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gambling and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Paul Borrelli, 70, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to illegal gambling and money laundering before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The defendant has forfeited over $3,200,000 in assets.Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Paul Borelli conducted an illegal gambling business with co-defendants Mark Ruff, 40, of Connecticut and Joseph Ruff, 32, of Rochester. The gambling operation involved sports betting through multiple offshore internet gambling websites and involved at least $76 million in gross wagers.
Specifically, between January 13, 2012, and April 25, 2014, Borrelli deposited quantities of United States Currency into a Bank of America account, proceeds of the illegal internet gambling business. On July 5, 2012, Borrelli withdrew and transferred of $14,919.91 from the account by check the defendant made payable to the City of Rochester Treasurer.
Paul Ruff was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. Joseph Ruff was also convicted and sentenced to 41 months in prison.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office, Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division, Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan, the Webster Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Joseph Rieger, and Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.
Belleville Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today that Roshanda J. Story, a/k/a Roshanda J. Guyton, 34, of Belleville, Illinois, pled guilty today to the charge of Theft of Government Funds. Story faces the following maximum penalties: ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, restitution to the child care program and a special assessment of $100. The Court ordered that Story be held without bond until her sentencing on July 24, 2015.
Court records indicate that from December 2012 through May 2013, Story admitted to willfully and knowingly stealing government funds by falsifying application forms in order to receive child care benefits to which she was not entitled. She claimed child care benefits through the Illinois Department of Human Services, which are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for being a single parent when in fact she lived with and was assisted in caring for a child with the child’s father. In all, Story improperly received $2,379.25 in child care benefits
The case was investigated by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Southern District of Illinois with the assistance of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam Coonan.
Bedford County Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing 19 Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A Bedford County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment named Gene F. Bussard, 40, of Everett, Pa., as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 7, 2013, Bussard, who had been convicted in 2003 in the Allegany County, Md., of theft, unlawfully possessed 19 firearms and ammunition. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year from possessing ammunition or firearms. Theft is such a crime.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to Mr. Hickton, Bussard is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.
Beckley man pleads guilty to cocaine chargeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Bryan Cross, 31, of Beckley, West Virginia, plead guilty yesterday in federal court in Beckley to distributing cocaine. Cross admitted that on September 23, 2014, he sold cocaine to a person who was cooperating with law enforcement authorities. The drug deal took place on Canterbury Drive in Beckley, West Virginia.
Cross faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger scheduled the sentencing for August 12, 2015.
The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit conducted the investigation.
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 United States 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.
Bank Teller Charged with FraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Christina Ann Ramirez, 26, of Houston, has appeared in court today on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Ramirez surrendered to authorities yesterday and appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy.
The indictment alleges Ramirez used her position as a Wells Fargo Bank teller to cash approximately 95 tax refund checks that had been obtained by applying for refunds using stolen identities. Ramirez allegedly cashed the checks from May 2-25, 2012, which had a combined total of $610,228.48.
If convicted, she faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a $1 million possible fine for bank fraud as well as a mandatory two-year-term for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The charges are the result of an investigation by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of lawBakersfield Man Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 12 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment today against Jonathan Arturo Alvarez, 25, of Bakersfield, charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, on April 2, 2015, a California Highway Patrol officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle driven by Alvarez in Siskiyou County. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 12 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Olusere Olowoyeye is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Artesia Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Drug and Firearm LawsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Martin O. Madrid, 25, of Artesia, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges.
Madrid and a co-defendant, Lillian Crosby, 21, of Hope, N.M., were federally charged in Jan. 2015, in a criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the criminal complaint, the two were arrested on related state charges on July 12, 2014, by the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office after deputies found approximately 125 grams of methamphetamine, several scales and pipes, and other drug paraphernalia in a vehicle driven by Madrid with Crosby as his passenger. Madrid was arrested on the federal complaint in Jan. 2015, and Crosby was arrested in Feb. 2015.
During today’s plea hearing, Madrid entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Madrid admitted that on July 12, 2014, he and his co-defendant were in a vehicle that contained approximately 125 grams of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to others. He also admitted possessing a .40 caliber pistol which he was not permitted to possess because he previously had been convicted of a felony.
At sentencing, Madrid faces a statutory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison followed by a minimum of four years of supervised release. He remains detained pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Crosby has entered a plea of not guilty to the criminal complaint. Charges in complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A trial date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA, the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Edwin Garreth Winstead, III, of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch office is prosecuting this case.
The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Artesia Police Department and the Carlsbad Police Department, and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
Andre Allan Forbes Sentenced for Being A Felon in Possession of A Firearm, Cocaine Trafficking and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, David Capp, announced that Andre Allan Forbes, 32, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced yesterday, for crack cocaine trafficking, possession of a firearm by convicted felon and witness tampering.
Forbes was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and 6 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Forbes was previously convicted in 2010 in federal court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime. In the Fall of 2013, while he was a convicted felon and while he was engaged in crack cocaine and powder cocaine distribution, Forbes illegally possessed a Kel-Tec pistol in South Bend, Indiana.
Additionally, after Forbes was indicted by a federal Grand Jury and while awaiting his trial in the case, Forbes asked his cousin to lie for him. This became the subject of an additional federal charge that was lodged against Forbes.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald J. Schmid.
Andover Man Sentenced for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Andover man was sentenced today for stealing more than $149,000 in Social Security benefits.
Graeme Griffith, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf to four months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $3,000 fine. Griffith also paid full restitution of $149,285 today. In January 2015, Griffith pleaded guilty to theft of public money.
In 2003, Griffith’s father died, but his monthly Social Security benefits continued to be directly deposited into a joint bank account in his and his father’s names. From 2003 to 2014, Griffith continued to receive his deceased father’s benefits totaling $149,285.
This case was brought as part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Social Security Administration to investigate and prosecute the posthumous fraud of Social Security benefits. In many of these cases, family members, knowing they are not entitled to government benefits, continue to withdraw and spend the funds after a relative has died.
One of the ways the Social Security Administration detects this kind of fraud is through the Medicare Non-Utilization Project, in which the agency investigates people receiving benefits who are at least 90 years old and who have not used their Medicare Part B benefits for three or more years. In some instances, the agency learns that such a person is actually deceased, but a surviving child has continued to take the deceased person’s benefits.
Since October 2013, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted several similar cases involving a total of more than $1 million in stolen government money.
Earlier this month, Frances Kenney Moseley, of Boston, was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, 1500 hours of community service, a fine of $5,000, and restitution of $470,188, of which she has paid $124,000. From 2003 to 2010, Moseley stole $222,172 in Social Security benefits and $248,016 in annuity funds paid to her deceased father.
In February 2015, Charles Gerbutavich, of Manchester, was sentenced to one year of probation, including three months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $161,587 in restitution to the Social Security Administration, which he paid in full in February. Gerbutavich pleaded guilty in connection with taking his deceased father’s Social Security benefits, which were directly deposited into a joint bank account after his death in 1993.
In October 2014, Mary Murphy, of Dorchester, was sentenced to 18 months of home confinement and 10 hours per week of community service, and was ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 and $331,630 in restitution, which she paid in full in October. Murphy pleaded guilty in connection with taking her deceased mother’s Social Security and Civil Service retirement benefits, which were directly deposited into a joint bank account after her death in 1977.
Also in October 2014, Richard Oldham, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was sentenced to four months in prison, six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay $195,862 in restitution for endorsing Social Security checks in his deceased mother’s name following her death in 1993.
In August 2014, George Bergstrom, of Shrewsbury, was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $57,948 in restitution – which he paid in full in August – for taking his deceased mother’s Social Security benefits, which were directly deposited into a joint bank account after her death in 2009.
In October 2013, John Flaherty, of Newburyport, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and was ordered to pay $168,830 in restitution for taking his deceased mother’s Social Security benefits, which were directly deposited into a joint bank account after her death in 1993.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The Griffith case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
15 April 2015
West Jordan Woman Sentenced Following Conviction for Using Identifiers of Deceased Individuals to Get Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Jacquelin Boyd, aka Jacquelyn Boyd, age 37, of West Jordan, who pled guilty in January to making a false claim to the IRS, has been sentenced to a year in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell imposed the sentence Wednesday afternoon.
Judge Campbell also ordered Boyd to serve 36 months of supervised release when she finishes her prison sentence. She must pay $32,243 in restitution to the IRS.
As a part of a plea agreement reached in the case, Boyd admitted that from May 2, 2012, through about Oct. 13, 2012, she worked with others to obtain the names, addresses, social security numbers and other personal identifiers of deceased individuals and used the information to file false and fraudulent tax returns with the IRS.
Boyd admitted that she created false records of employers, wages, and Utah addresses to submit with the returns. She directed that the refunds, based on the fraudulent information, be deposited to various bank accounts under her control. She withdrew the money after it was deposited in the accounts. She pled guilty to a count involving a false tax return filed on Oct. 13, 2012, in the name of A.B., who is deceased. A return of $2,444 was mailed to Boyd.
“Individuals thinking about stealing identities and participating in tax fraud including filing false tax returns should stop and look at the consequences,” stated John Collins, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of Utah. “These consequences include going to prison, being branded a convicted felon for the rest of their lives, and paying back all the taxes owed plus steep penalties and interest. It’s not worth it.”
Vinalhaven Man Pleads Guilty to Making Hoax Radio Call to Coast GuardRead the Press Release
Contact: Jonathan R. Chapman
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Owen R. Adair, 23, of Vinalhaven, Maine, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to a charge of making a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard.
According to court records, on September 30, 2014, Adair initiated a two-way radio conversation using a VHF radio with a radio operator at the United States Coast Guard Sector Northern New England. In ensuing transmissions, Adair repeatedly told the Coast Guard operator that he urgently needed assistance because a crewman on his fishing vessel had sustained a serious injury and was bleeding badly. In fact, the defendant was not aboard a vessel but was ashore on Vinalhaven Island and was using a VHS radio in his truck. There was no injured person. The Coast Guard dispatched a search and rescue vessel from Rockland. After a four-hour search, the Coast Guard abandoned its efforts and concluded that the distress call was a hoax.
Adair faces up to six years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
U.S. Navy Officer Pleads Guilty to Selling Classified Ship Schedules as Part of Expanding Navy Bribery ProbeRead the Press Release
A lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy pleaded guilty to bribery charges in federal court today, admitting that he accepted cash, hotel expenses and the services of a prostitute in return for providing classified U.S. Navy ship schedules and other internal Navy information to an executive of a defense contracting firm.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations James B. Burch of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Director Andrew L. Traver of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Director Anita Bales of the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) made the announcement.
“Another Navy officer has now pleaded guilty and admitted to taking bribes to reveal classified military information to a major supplier,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “It is both troubling and disappointing how many Navy officers we have exposed as willingly falling prey to GDMA’s corruption, and our investigation remains active and ongoing. Those who serve in our nation’s military must uphold the public’s trust or pay the consequences for their crimes.”
“The receipt of envelopes of cash and lavish hotel stays by our public officials at whatever level erodes the public’s trust in our institutions and our government,” said U.S. Attorney Duffy. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the next step in our ongoing effort to regain that public trust.”
Todd Dale Malaki, 44, of San Diego, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin of the Southern District of California to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2015.
As part of his guilty plea, Malaki admitted that in 2006, while he was working as a supply officer for the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet, he began a corrupt relationship with Leonard Glenn Francis, the former president and chief executive officer of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), a company that provided services to the U.S. Navy. As part of the scheme, Malaki provided Francis with classified U.S. Navy ship schedules and proprietary invoicing information about GDMA’s competitors. In exchange, Malaki admitted that Francis provided him with luxury hotel stays in Singapore, Hong Kong and the island of Tonga, as well as envelopes of cash, entertainment expenses and the services of a prostitute. Malaki admitted that the total value of the benefits he received was approximately $15,000.
Malaki is the eighth individual to plead guilty in this expanding probe into corruption and fraud in the U.S. Navy. GDMA pleaded guilty in January. Two other individuals, Paul Simpkins, formerly a Department of Defense (DOD) contracting officer, and Michael Misiewicz, a Captain-select in the U.S. Navy, have been charged and entered pleas of not guilty.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by NCIS and DCIS, with substantial assistance from the DCAA. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Robert S. Huie of the Southern District of California.
Those with information relating to fraud, corruption or waste in government contracting should contact the NCIS anonymous tip line awww.ncis.navy.mil or the DOD Hotline at www.dodig.mil/hotline, or call (800) 424-9098.
U.S. Navy Officer Pleads Guilty to Selling Classified Ship Schedules as Part of Expanding Navy Bribery ProbeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Todd Dale Malaki pleaded guilty to bribery charges in federal court today, admitting that he accepted cash, hotel expenses and the services of a prostitute in return for providing classified U.S. Navy ship schedules and other internal Navy information to an executive of a defense contracting firm.
Malaki, 44, of San Diego, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin of the Southern District of California to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2015.
As part of his guilty plea, Malaki admitted that in 2006, while he was working as a supply officer for the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet, he began a corrupt relationship with Leonard Glenn Francis, the former president and chief executive officer of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), a company that provided services to the U.S. Navy. As part of the scheme, Malaki provided Francis with classified U.S. Navy ship schedules and proprietary invoicing information about GDMA’s competitors. In exchange, Malaki admitted that Francis provided him with luxury hotel stays in Singapore, Hong Kong and the island of Tonga, as well as envelopes of cash, entertainment expenses and the services of a prostitute. Malaki admitted that the total value of the benefits he received was approximately $15,000.
“The receipt of envelopes of cash and lavish hotel stays by our public officials at whatever level erodes the public’s trust in our institutions and our government,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the next step in our ongoing effort to regain that public trust.”“Another Navy officer has now pleaded guilty and admitted to taking bribes to reveal classified military information to a major supplier,” said Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell. “It is both troubling and disappointing how many Navy officers we have exposed as willingly falling prey to GDMA’s corruption, and our investigation remains active and ongoing. Those who serve in our nation’s military must uphold the public’s trust or pay the consequences for their crimes.”
Malaki is the eighth individual to plead guilty in this expanding probe into corruption and fraud in the U.S. Navy. GDMA pleaded guilty in January. Two other individuals, Paul Simpkins, formerly a Department of Defense (DOD) contracting officer, and Michael Misiewicz, a Captain-select in the U.S. Navy, have been charged and entered pleas of not guilty.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, with substantial assistance from the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Robert S. Huie of the Southern District of California and Senior Trial Attorney Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Those with information relating to fraud, corruption or waste in government contracting should contact the NCIS anonymous tip line at www.ncis.navy.mil or the DOD Hotline at www.dodig.mil/hotline, or call (800) 424-9098.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 15CR967-WQH Todd Dale Malaki Age: 44 San Diego, California CHARGESConspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Maximum penalty five years in prison, $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater;
INVESTIGATING AGENCIESDefense Criminal Investigative Service
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Naval Criminal Investigative ServiceU.S. Government Concludes Major Public Corruption and Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Federal authorities have concluded an extensive public corruption and drug trafficking investigation that spanned over five years and resulted in the convictions of a Customs and Border Protection Officer from Atlanta’s airport, a DeKalb County Police Officer, and more than 10 drug traffickers who were responsible for the distribution of approximately 1 million pills of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) and benzylpiperazine (BZP), a drug similar to ecstasy.
Mark Tomlinson, a/k/a “Supa,” has been sentenced to 16 years in prison, and is the final defendant in this case which involved multiple federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies.
“This case began with a Customs and Border Protection officer taking payoffs to smuggle guns and purported drug money through Atlanta’s airport, and it ended with the dismantling of a large-scale drug trafficking organization and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of ecstasy pills,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.
Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Whether the crimes being committed were public corruption, marriage fraud, or drug trafficking, the coordinated law enforcement response demonstrates how spirited law enforcement cooperation on all levels produce fruitful results. I would like to personally thank everyone who worked tirelessly to make this investigation a success.”
The Department Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge James E. Ward said: “Today’s announcement sends a strong message, that we remain committed with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue such complex investigations. We are pleased with the overall outcome of this investigation; and we will remain vigilant in pursuing the prosecution of criminals, who brazenly defy federal law.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Beginning in late-2009, numerous federal, state, and international agencies conducted an extensive investigation into a corrupt federal and local law enforcement officer with ties to a major drug trafficking organization. The investigation led to the arrest, indictment, and conviction of more than 15 defendants.
Federal Corruption
Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Devon Samuels pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder drug money, attempting to bring guns onto an airplane, and conspiring to commit marriage fraud. The charges against Samuels centered around three undercover sting operations during which he smuggled drug money and guns through Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
More specifically, on November 3, 2010, an undercover officer (posing as a drug money launderer) gave Samuels approximately $25,000 in money represented to be from the sale of drugs. By unlawfully using his badge to bypass security and avoid screening, Samuels smuggled the money through Atlanta’s airport and onto a plane bound for Jamaica. Once in Jamaica, Samuels delivered the cash to a Jamaican undercover police officer who was posing as an international drug trafficker.
On November 19, 2010, another undercover officer gave Samuels over $50,000 in purported drug money. Samuels took the money, flew from Atlanta to Jamaica, and then delivered the money to Jamaican undercover police officers. While in Atlanta’s airport, Samuels unlawfully used his badge to bypass security and avoid being screened.
Finally, on November 30, 2010, Samuels accepted five firearms and approximately $20,000 in alleged drug money from an undercover police officer. Samuels smuggled the firearms and money into the airport by using his badge to bypass security. Once inside the airport, Samuels gave the firearms and money to a second undercover officer who had explicitly told Samuels that she was going to transport the firearms and money to Arizona for a meeting with members of a Mexican drug cartel.
On June 2, 2011, Devon Samuels, a/k/a “Smokey,” 49, of Stockbridge, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Marriage Fraud
Beginning in November 2009, Samuels and his wife Keisha Jones (a former Delta Airlines employee) used Samuels’ intimate knowledge of immigration policies to commit marriage fraud. In that regard, Samuels and Jones taught Carlton Ferguson and Dahlia McLaren how to deceive U.S. immigration authorities into believing that Ferguson and McLaren’s sham marriage was genuine and legitimate. Samuels and Jones were also paid to falsely complete the immigration paperwork necessary for McLaren to obtain United States citizenship through her sham marriage to Ferguson. Samuels, Jones, Ferguson, and McLaren all pleaded guilty to marriage fraud conspiracy charges. After her plea, McLaren was stripped of her U.S. citizenship and removed from the United States to Jamaica.
The following individuals were convicted on the marriage fraud indictment:
- On June 2, 2011, Samuels was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- On June 2, 2011, Keisha Jones, a/k/a Platinum, 34, of Stockbridge, Georgia, was sentenced six months of home confinement, three years of probation, and 150 hours of community service.
- On April 11, 2011, Carlton Ferguson, a/k/a “Fergie,” 39, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to three years of probation and 150 hours of community service.
- On April 11, 2011, Dahlia McLaren, a/k/a “Dahlia McLaren Ferguson,” 34, formerly of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to three years of probation and was removed from the United States.
Drug Trafficking
In a parallel investigation beginning in February 2010, law enforcement officers started investigating a major drug trafficking organization operating in the Atlanta-metropolitan area and in other areas across the country. The organization was led by Jerome Bushay, Otis Henry, and Mark Tomlinson.
Otis Henry was a major distributor of BZP (a drug similar to ecstasy) and marijuana who provided pills and marijuana to several lower-level drug dealers. Most notably, on October 1, 2010, law enforcement officers obtained a federal warrant to search Henry’s residence located in DeKalb County, Georgia. Inside the home, officers seized approximately 700,000 tablets of BZP – which was one of the largest domestic seizures of the drug in U.S. history. In particular, officers found the pills hidden all over the house, including in the walls of the house, behind insulation, under seat cushions, in crawl spaces, and stuffed into luggage. Officers also recovered a handgun, two pounds of marijuana, almost $40,000 in cash, and over 150 grams of methamphetamine from Henry’s residence. The street value of the pills was estimated at $2.8 million.After agents executed the search warrant, Henry fled from authorities and remained on the run for over a year. Ultimately, in January 2012, Henry was arrested in Tampa, Florida. Thereafter, agents searched Henry’s hotel room and recovered four pounds of marijuana and $3,300 in cash.
Jerome Bushay also organized and supplied countless drug transactions sales, in addition to supervising several lower-level drug traffickers. In total, Bushay distributed over 185,000 pills. Bushay also used former Customs and Border Protection Officer Devon Samuels to transport his drug money through the airport. For example, on November 12, 2010, Bushay had Samuels smuggle $40,000 in drug money into Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Inside the airport, Samuels used his badge to bypass airport security, which resulted in the bag not being screened. Thereafter, Samuels gave the bag to Bushay’s associate, who was destined for Texas.
On December 15, 2010, law enforcement officers executed a coordinated take-down. As part of the take-down, agents executed a search warrant on Bushay’s home, where they recovered an arsenal of weapons and cache of drug paraphernalia. Specifically, agents recovered: (1) a Cobra 9mm pistol; (2) a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; (3) a Bushmaster Assault Rifle; (4) a .22 caliber rifle; (5) a Sturm Ruger Ranch Rifle with a scope; (6) a Glock semi-automatic pistol with a laser sight; (7) a Sten-Type 9mm machine gun; and (8) approximately 700 rounds of ammunition, including ballistic tipped and hollow point rounds. In addition to the weapons, agents found a narcotics ledger, an electronic money counter, two digital scales, and a baseball hat with “Customs and Border Protection” embroidered on it.
Mark Tomlinson also distributed thousands of pills of MDMA and BZP, while simultaneously running Club Intrigue (a nightclub in DeKalb County). In addition, in April 2010, Tomlinson brokered a major marijuana deal, which resulted in the seizure of over $100,000. After law enforcement seized the drug money, Tomlinson and others devised a scheme to make it appear that the money was actually to pay musicians for his nightclub. On December 15, 2010, law enforcement officers searched Tomlinson’s home, where they recovered: (a) a Remington 12 gauge shotgun, (b) a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, (c) a Taurus semiautomatic handgun, and (d) a drug ledger. In October 2014, after a one week trial, a federal jury convicted Tomlinson of conspiring to traffic MDMA, BZP, and marijuana.
The following individuals were convicted on the drug trafficking indictment:
- Mark Tomlinson, a/k/a “Supa,” 40, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jerome Bushay, a/k/a “Romey,” 36, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Otis Henry, a/k/a “Wesley Johnson,” 44, of DeKalb County, Georgia, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Conrad Harvey, a/k/a “Fowley,” 45, Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years, one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Roshaun Hood, a/k/a “Shaun,” 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to nine years, three months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Dave Grant, a/k/a “David Clarke,” a/k/a “Scratchy,” 39, of Lithonia, Georgia; was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by six years of supervised release.
- Nigel Edwards, a/k/a “Nigel the Barber,” 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to four years, four months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Ricardo Duncan, a/k/a “Ricky,” 32, of Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Damien Aarons, a/k/a “Damage,” 39, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, nine months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Jermaine Campbell, a/k/a “Fatman,” 35, of DeKalb County, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Christopher Williams, a/k/a “Eric Washington,” “Bobby,” “Beagle,” and “Apachee,” 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.
Local Corruption
During the course of the operation, law enforcement authorities also learned that former DeKalb County Police Officer Donald Bristol abused his law enforcement position to help drug traffickers hide a stolen vehicle; that he unlawfully accessed his police computer; and that he lied to federal agents. More specifically, starting in April 2010, Bristol helped separately-charged defendants Christopher Dixon (currently a fugitive) and Ricardo Duncan hide the fact that the car they were driving was in fact a stolen vehicle. Bristol also misused his access to a sensitive law enforcement database to provide drug traffickers with confidential information, such as whether the drug traffickers had any open warrants. Finally, when questioned about his activities, Bristol made numerous false statements to federal agents.
On October 18, 2011, Bristol, 45, of DeKalb County, Georgia was sentenced to one year and one day of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE); Drug Enforcement Administration; ICE - Office of Professional Responsibility; ICE - Office of Inspector General; ICE - Homeland Security Investigation; Jamaican Constabulary Force - Anti-Corruption Branch; DeKalb County Police Department; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Marshal’s Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Department of State - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis, L. Skye Davis, and Dahil Goss prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.com.
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.
U.S. Attorney's office establishes website for potential victims of Freedom chemical spillRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that his office has established a new website to provide information to potential victims of the January 9, 2014, Freedom Industries’ chemical spill. The website is located at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/chemical-spill. The site may also be accessed from www.justice.gov/largecases.
In accordance with the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and the Attorney General’s Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance, the site will provide information to potential victims of the chemical spill. The information on the site will include links to all documents charging the defendants with crimes, dates and times of upcoming public criminal proceedings, and a listing of resources available to those who believe they may have been harmed by the chemical spill.
Anyone who believes that they are a victim of the chemical spill and wishes to receive notice of future developments in the criminal cases related to the spill, submit written information concerning the impact the alleged crimes have had on them, or attend the criminal court proceedings, should visit the website above or contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and ask to speak with the Victim-Witness Coordinator. The local number for the United States Attorney’s office is (304) 345-2200, and the toll-free number is (800) 659-8726.
Pending charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two convicted of oxycodone traffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Keyara Peters, 21, of Rivesville, West Virginia, and Ryan Brooks, 28, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were convicted in federal court today for oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
An investigation by the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force revealed that Peters and Brooks participated in a drug distribution operation designed to transport heroin and prescription painkillers across state lines from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Morgantown, West Virginia for redistribution and sale.
The defendants each pled guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Oxycodone.” They each face 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 defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull presided.
Two Southern Illinois Residents Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that two southern Illinois residents were charged and appeared in Court today on child pornography offenses which are alleged to have occurred in Jackson and Richland Counties. Joseph R. Washburn, 33, of Murphysboro, Illinois, and Thomas C. Fulk, 46, of Olney, Illinois, were charged in separate cases with using a computer to access and download child pornography images from the internet.
If convicted, each person faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation in the Washburn case was conducted by the Secret Service Southern Illinois Cyber Crimes Task Force, The United States Marshals Service, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the Benton, Illinois, Police Department, and the Murphysboro, Illinois, Police Department.
The investigation in the Fulk case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Richland County State’s Attorney, the Illinois State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas E. Leggans.
Two Men Each Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Their Roles in Armed Robbery of New Jersey Target Store on Black Friday 2012Read the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. –Two Essex County, New Jersey, men were each sentenced to 130 months in prison for robbing a Target Store in Union, New Jersey, on “Black Friday” in November 2012, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.
Lavell Jones, 29, of East Orange, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to an indictment charging him with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Darrell A. Carter, 25, or Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Judge Thompson to an information charging him with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Thompson imposed both sentences in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Nov. 23, 2012, Jones, Carter, DaQuaan Vaughn, 36, of Newark, New Jersey, and Maryland Liggins III, 30, of Newark, robbed a Target store located on Springfield Avenue in Union on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – which is considered to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Jones posed as a shopper and served as a lookout inside the store. He alerted the others when the store was closing and money was being transferred from the store’s registers to the cash room. Liggins served as the getaway driver.
Before closing, Carter and Vaughn waited in the bathroom. When an employee entered the bathroom, Carter and Vaughn restrained the employee and threatened him with a firearm. After the store closed, Carter and Vaughn entered the cash room, restrained other Target employees with zip ties and robbed them at gunpoint, stealing more than $50,000 from a cash cart and safe. Then they fled the store and ran out to a vehicle – driven by Liggins – that was parked on the shoulder of nearby Route 78.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Jones to three years of supervised release and Carter to five years of supervised release; both were ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution to Target. All of the defendants have the same restitution obligation until the full $54,000 is satisfied.
Vaughn and Liggins have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the robbery and await sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas. He also thanked the Union Police Department for its role in the investigation and Target corporate security for its cooperation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas P. Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense Counsel:
Carter: Peter Carter Esq., Newark
Jones: Richie Roberts Esq., Newark
Two Individuals Sentenced on Marijuana 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 Charles Palmer, Jr., 31, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute, and to distribute, marijuana, was sentenced to one year probation by Senior U. S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Co-defendant Aleathea Stone, 43, of Buffalo, who was convicted of possession of marijuana, was sentenced to time served and one year supervised release, also by Judge Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who handled the case, stated that between January 2011 and June 2011, Charles Palmer, Jr. conspired with his father, co-defendant Charles Palmer, Sr., to possess and distribute marijuana. The investigation utilized a court authorized wiretap which included multiple phone calls regarding the distribution of marijuana between Charles Palmer, Jr. and Charles Palmer, Sr.
On March 1, 2011, Aleathea Stone received 15 pounds of marijuana from Charles Palmer, Sr. and gave it to another individual.
Charles Palmer, Sr. was also convicted and is scheduled to be sentenced April 22, 2015.
The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Two Fairfax Men Charged with Causing Amtrak Train CollisionRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles today announced the indictment and arrest of James Duvall Love, 33, and Deon Dovell Roberts, 34, for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, causing a train wreck, and unlawful interference with a train operator. The Indictment was returned by a Grand Jury sitting in Columbia but was sealed pending the arrests of the defendants, which occurred earlier today. The Indictment alleges that on the early morning hours of September 6, 2013, the two men parked a car in the path of an oncoming Amtrak train, got out of the car prior to the collision, and then returned to the car after the collision, feigning injury, all for the purpose of submitting bogus claims for personal injuries and other losses.
Love, a convicted felon, was also charged in a separate Indictment with unlawful possession of a shotgun and live shells.
The case was investigated by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Fairfax Police Department, and the Allendale County Sheriff’s Department. Amtrak Inspector General Tom Howard emphasized that: “The safety of the American railroad system is among the highest priorities of the country’s law enforcement agencies. Those who would seek to interfere with the well-being of Amtrak’s passengers and the commerce of the railroads will be held accountable to the greatest extent allowed under the law.”
Assistant United States Attorney Eric Klumb is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney stated that the charges alleged in the Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
#####
Two Detroit Women Sentenced for Filing False Tax Returns Using Identities of Dead PeopleRead the Press Release
Two Detroit residents were sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and aiding and abetting in identity theft, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarod Koopman of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced today.
U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn of the Eastern District of Michigan sentenced Brenda Knight to serve 24 months in prison and Adreann Turnage to serve 18 months in prison. Willie Watkins, Knight’s husband, was sentenced on April 29, 2014, to serve 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $410,949 in restitution for wire fraud and identity theft.
“The Tax Division has zero tolerance for stealing the identities of the deceased and other vulnerable members of our communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo. “The individuals perpetrating these egregious tax crimes will be identified, their criminal operations will be dismantled and they will be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court records, Knight and Turnage participated in a scheme with Watkins and others to defraud the United States by using the stolen names and social security numbers of recently deceased individuals to prepare fraudulent income tax returns. The defendants electronically filed more than 700 fraudulent 2010 tax returns falsely claiming the Earned Income Credit, Education Credits and the Making America Work Credit, resulting in refund claims of more than $1.8 million. The returns were transmitted utilizing public access internet connections from various locations including Starbucks and Red Roof Inns. A Comcast Communications account registered to Turnage transmitted 46 fraudulent returns. The refunds were directed to bank accounts, many of which were controlled by Watkins, established for the sole purpose of receiving the refunds. Knight helped recruit individuals to whom Watkins would issue checks written on the accounts, cash them and bring the proceeds back to Watkins for distribution to participants in the scheme.
“Using the identities of deceased individuals to commit crimes for financial gain is particularly egregious,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Koopman. “Identity theft is a top priority for the IRS-Criminal Investigation and we will continue to detect and investigate these types of cases in order to protect taxpayers from being victimized.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney McQuade thanked the special agents of IRS-CI, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross I. MacKenzie of the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Kenneth C. Vert of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Trio of Lynchburg Women Indicted on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA – Three local women are facing federal fraud charges following a grand jury indictment that charges them with mail fraud, wire fraud, student loan fraud, and other charges.
A federal grand jury sitting in Roanoke, Va. has charged Melinda Smith, 42, Catherine Pankey, 61 and Vernetta Johnson, 40, all of Lynchburg, Va., in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud insurance companies and the federal student loan program. Smith has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, 23 counts of student loan fraud, eight counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Pankey has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and four counts of student loan fraud. Johnson has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, nine counts of student loan fraud and eight counts of mail fraud.
According to the indictment, between 2011 and 2014, Smith, Pankey and Johnson allegedly engaged in a scheme to submit Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to get Federal Student Aid (FSA) credit refunds for online classes for the purpose of obtaining money to which they were not entitled. It is alleged that as part of the scheme, Smith completed coursework for certain classes, which she at times shared with others, including Pankey, in order to complete a sufficient amount of courses to maintain enrollment. While enrolled at Liberty University, the indictment alleges that Smith helped Pankey with coursework in exchange for a portion of Pankey’s FSA credit refund.
To further support the scheme, Smith and Johnson allegedly submitted false insurance claims for car accidents that did not occur. In addition, Smith and Pankey submitted a false temporary rental agreement to obtain rental reimbursement in connection with a fire.
The indictment also alleges that Smith committed aggregated identity theft by submitting FAFSA forms and obtaining FSA credit refunds in the names of three other individuals without lawful authority.
As a result of these actions, Pankey was reimbursed for losses from a house fire in excess of the amount to which she was entitled; Smith and Johnson were reimbursed for losses caused by car accident that did not occur; and, all three, Smith, Pankey and Johnson, received Higher One debit cards containing credit refunds to which they were not entitled for online classes in which they never intended to participate.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud charges, up to 20 years on each of the wire fraud charges, up to 20 years on each of the mail fraud charges and up to five years on each of the student loan fraud charges. Smith faces an additional consecutive term of two years imprisonment on each count of aggravated identity theft. Each charge in the indictment also carries significant fines and a period of supervised release. Restitution to the victims is mandatory in the event of conviction.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Department of Education- Office of the Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, the Virginia State Police, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Lynchburg Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer R. Bockhorst will prosecute the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Three Individuals Charged in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has indicted Chad Weishan, 28, Jessica Kazmark, 26, both of Buffalo, NY, and Julie Reed, 41, of Houston, TX on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, and carisoprodol (Soma) and alprazolam (Xanax). The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both.Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Weishan and Kazmark obtained prescription medications Reed in Salamanca, NY. In exchange for a cut of the prescriptions, the defendants picked up the drugs, and shipped the partial scripts to Reed in Houston. On at least two occasions, the partial prescription medications were shipped to Reed at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Houston where she was employed. Julie Reed has not yet been taken into custody but efforts continue.
“This is the second prosecution by our Office today which seeks to combat the growing problem of illegal prescription drug abuse in our area,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.
Weishan and Kazmark made an initial appearance on April 14, 2015 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott and were released on conditions.
The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Buffalo and Houston Offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Division of Drug Enforcement, under the direction of Director Darren Cruzan, and the Salamanca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Troy Westfall.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Ten Chicago Area People Indicted on Charges of Trafficking Contraband CigarettesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – An indictment was unsealed late yesterday charging the following ten Chicago people involving a conspiracy to buy State of Missouri tax stamped cigarettes and transporting them to Illinois for resale.
According to the indictment, between October 2012 and April 2015, the defendants purchased large amounts of State of Missouri tax stamped cigarettes in the St. Louis, Missouri area, from either a confidential informant or retail business, which they then transported to the Chicago area for resale. The indictment alleges that they then sold the contraband cigarettes themselves or to local distributors. The defendant’s made a profit at the expense of millions of dollars of lost tax revenue for the State of Illinois.
Individuals indicted:
- Mohamad Awadallah
- Khalid Alazzah
- Ibrahim Moghli
- Baraa Awwad
- Wisam Zeidan
- Ahmad Zayed
- Raad Hamdeh
- Suhaib Awwad
- Muath Salah
- Yazan Alsala Ymeh
Each defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury April 8th on one felony count of conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes. The indictment was suppressed until the arrest of some of the defendants Tuesday. They are expected to appear in court Monday, April 20, 2015.
If convicted, this charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John Ware is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
TDCJ Inmate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - George Yarbrough, 43, a former resident of Houston, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of mailing a threatening communication, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Yarbrough a 21-month sentence. Yarbrough’s sentence was ordered to being after he finishes serving his current sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
As part of his plea, Yarbrough admitted that on or about Sept. 26, 2014, he knowingly mailed a communication threatening to kill a specific federal judge in Houston. The communication was received at the Bob Casey U.S. Courthouse at 515 Rusk St. in Houston and had a return address implicating Yarbrough, who was an inmate serving a sentence within TDCJ.
In the letter, Yarbrough warned the judge that he intended to kill him as soon as he got out of TDCJ. Yarbrough claimed the judge had ruined Yarbrough’s life and that he had lost of his loved ones. Yarbrough repeated the threat throughout the letter with a final note that “…I’m coming to get you and your family!”
Yarbrough was interviewed on two occasions and never denied sending the letter.
Yarbrough indicated the basis for the threat was because the judge had had dismissed a civil rights lawsuit Yarbrough filed against TDCJ personnel several years earlier.
He will be returned to state custody. Upon his release from state custody he will be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Yarbrough was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from federal prison, during which he will participate in mental health counseling.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the TDCJ-Office of Inspector General investigated the case which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mel Pechacek.
Spiro Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Drug Conspiracy, Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that BILLY DON FULLER, age 48, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for Drug Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.
The charge is a result of an investigation by the District 16 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The defendant was indicted in March, 2014 and pled guilty in July, 2014.
The Indictment alleged that from in or about the beginning of 2011, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, and continuing until on or about December 31, 2013, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, BILLY DON FULLER, did willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, to wit: to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending transportation to the federal facility at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.
South Jersey Man and South Carolina Woman Admit Roles in Conspiracy to Traffic 25 GunsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A South Jersey man and a woman from South Carolina have admitted their roles in a conspiracy to sell 25 guns without a license, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.
Shawn Tribbett, 32, of Camden, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to deal firearms without a license, two counts of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Katelynn Schippnick, 25, of Greeley, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to a separate information charging her with one count of conspiring to deal firearms without a license. Both defendants entered their pleas before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between April 8, 2013, and July 2014, both Tribbett and Schippnick conspired with others to illegally sell firearms without a license, including handguns, shotguns and an assault rifle. They obtained the firearms from pawn shops, gun stores and other sources in South Carolina and brought them to New Jersey, at times using Amtrak trains to transport the guns. Tribbett personally sold or participated in the sale of at least six firearms, including handguns, shotguns and an assault-style rifle, to a witness cooperating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Schippnick assisted in the sale of at least five firearms, including handguns and a shotgun, also to an ATF cooperating witness. On at least one occasion, Tribbett and sold ammunition with the firearms.
In addition to the firearms conspiracy, Tribbett admitted that on several occasions he sold cocaine and oxycodone pills to a witness cooperating with the ATF.
The conspiracy charge to which Tribbett and Schippnick pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon charges to which Tribbett pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The distribution of cocaine charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for July 23, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas. He also thanked special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, as well as officers from the Winslow Township and Clementon, New Jersey, police departments, for their work in the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Defense counsel:
Tribbett: Brian O’Malley Esq., Haddon Heights, New Jersey
Schippnick: Martin Isenberg Esq., Gibbsboro, New Jersey
Somerset Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing MethRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Somerset County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison and five years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Justin D. Carr, 23, of Somerset, Pa.
According to information presented to the court, on Jan. 14, 2013, Carr and a co-defendant possessed with the intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Hickton commended the Pennsylvania State Police Troop A Barracks, the Somerset Borough Police Department and the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Carr.
Second Man Involved in March 2014 Heroin Overdoses SentencedRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA – A Cross Junction, Virginia man, who was responsible for selling heroin that caused the same man to overdose twice in seven days in March 2014, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg.
Colin Patrick Butler, 30, of Cross Junction, Va., previously pled guilty to two counts of distribution of heroin. Today in District Court, Butler was sentenced to 150 months of federal incarceration and three years of supervised released after that. David Josueh Medina, 34, the man who sold the heroin to Butler before the first overdose, was previously sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in the heroin overdoses.
“Heroin continues to pose a real and substantial danger to many communities throughout Virginia,” Acting United States Attorney Anthony P. Giorno said today. “I commend our law enforcement partners in the Northwest Region of the Western District who have made significant progress in identifying and interdicting organizations and individuals who are profiting from heroin trafficking. We will continue to fight this epidemic with the combination of enforcement, education and prevention.”
According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth G. Wright, on March 15, 2014, Medina sold heroin to Butler. In turn, Butler then distributed that same heroin to a friend, J.H.H. The friend was injected with the heroin and overdosed inside a residence in Winchester, Va. Butler, and another resident at the home, attempted CPR on J.H.H. and soon called 911. Emergency medical personnel and law enforcement personnel responded to the scene, and after taking life-saving measures, administered Narcan to J.H.H., who ultimately survived the overdose.
One week later, on March 21, 2014, Butler again distributed heroin to J.H.H. and again J.H.H. suffered an overdose. Again, 911 was called and emergency personnel administered life-saving measures and Narcan to J.H.H. and were able to save J.H.H.’s life.
During both overdoses, Butler disposed of and cleaned up evidence of drug use after J.H.H. collapsed.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force, which includes the Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Task Force includes law enforcement from the counties of Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren and Page as well as the cities and towns of Winchester, Front Royal and Strasburg. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Wright prosecuted the case for the United States.
Rochester Man Charged with Possession and Distribution of Synthetic CannabinoidsRead 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 Mohammed W. Akram, 27, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of, controlled substances. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who handled the case, stated that according to the complaint, between January 22, 2015 and April 14, 2015, the defendant sold synthetic cannabinoids out of Best in the West, a store he operated on Jay St. in Rochester.
Following multiple undercover purchases over a period of time, Akram was stopped by law enforcement officers on April 14, 2015, as he was headed to Buffalo from Rochester. During a search of the defendant’s vehicle on the I390, officers recovered three gallons of suspected liquid synthetic cannabinoids.
Subsequently, search warrants were executed at the defendant’s store and residence above the store. During the search, officers found additional synthetic cannabinoids, both liquid form (approximately 850 small bottles) and “spice” form (approximately 2000 packets).
“The public, from parents to police, need to be aware that these synthetic drugs are now being put into electronic cigarettes and ingested, said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “And like all illegal drugs, these substances can pose a serious danger to those who abuse them.”
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott and is being held pending a detention hearing on April 16, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, New York, New York Field Division, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Rochester Man Arrested in Louisiana on Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ricky Knox, 28, of Rochester, NY, was arrested in Louisiana and charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 10, 2015, the defendant robbed the Chase Bank on Rochester Street in Scottsville, NY. The defendant approached the teller window and demanded the teller “put 50’s and 100’s up on the counter.” Knox also told the teller to hurry. The defendant fled on foot with a specific amount of money.
The defendant was arrested on April 14, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Rochester Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.