Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
18 March 2015
Former Assemblyman and Perth Amboy, New Jersey Mayor Joseph Vas and Aide Melvin Ramos Sentenced to Prison for Mail and Federal Election FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Former Assemblyman and Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas and his longtime aide Melvin Ramos were sentenced today to 78 and 37 months in prison, respectively, for corruptly misusing Vas’ position as mayor to steal affordable housing funds and for committing federal election fraud, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The defendants were convicted following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who also imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court. Vas, 56, and Ramos, 55, both of Perth Amboy, were each convicted of two counts of mail fraud for misappropriating $360,000 in affordable housing funds. The jury also convicted Vas of one count of fraud and misapplication of funds in connection with unlawfully misapplying $90,000 in low income housing funds; one count of making false statements to FBI agents; and one count of accepting contributions to a federal candidate in the names of others. The jury also convicted Ramos of one count of making contributions to a federal candidate in the names of others and two counts of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”). The jury acquitted Vas and Ramos of four counts of mail fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Vas and Ramos misused Vas’ position and authority as mayor to assist Vas in selling a 12-unit Perth Amboy apartment building on DeKalb Avenue in Perth Amboy. As part of the scheme, Vas bought the building in December 2005 for approximately $660,000 – well under the $955,000 property appraisal Vas had obtained. Five months later, Vas “flipped” the property to a contractor for approximately $950,000. To induce the contractor to buy the property, Vas and Ramos assured him that a significant amount of affordable housing funding would be available to offset the cost of renovating the building. After selling the property, Vas directed city employees to submit a resolution to the Perth Amboy City Council to authorize $360,000 in funds for the rehabilitation of the property. City Council members voted to approve the resolution on June 14, 2006. Though Vas was present at the council meeting, he did not disclose any facts regarding the profit he received from the sale.
Vas also misused his authority to direct city employees to make a $90,000 advance payment, even though state officials had not yet approved this project as state law required. Vas failed to completely recuse himself from this matter. Vas and Ramos also concealed material aspects of the arrangement and used mail and a courier service in furtherance of the scheme.
In an interview by FBI agents in December 2008, after the investigation began, Vas falsely stated that he had never spoken with the contractor about the availability of city funds for the property, and that he never directed city officials to sign off on the $90,000 disbursement.
Ultimately, Vas used approximately $75,000 of his approximately $290,000 in profits from the sale of the apartment building to fund his 2006 congressional primary campaign for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 13th District.
Ramos was convicted for his participation in a scheme to use conduit donors to funnel contributions to that same campaign. Ramos, who was Vas’ campaign treasurer, used four straw donors to contribute between $2,000 and $2,100 each to the campaign. Ramos funded the straw donations by giving cash to each donor, who then gave Ramos a check made out to the campaign fund. He then filed false and fraudulent reports with the FEC regarding the contributions.
The jury also convicted Vas of accepting campaign contributions which he knew to have been obtained in violation of federal election law.
U.S. Attorney Fishman stated: “The lengthy prison sentence the defendants will serve is an appropriate punishment for abusing the power of Vas’ office.”
In addition to prison terms, Judge Wigenton sentenced Vas and Ramos to three years of supervised release and ordered them to pay $90,000 in restitution to Perth Amboy. Vas was also ordered to pay a $73,200 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation leading to today’s sentences.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian R. Howe, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division, and Jenny R. Kramer, Acting Deputy Chief of the Office’s General Crimes Unit.
11-152 ###
Defense counsel: Vas: Alan L. Zegas and Edward J. Byrne, Esq., Chatham, N.J.
Ramos: Jerome A. Ballarrotto, Esq., Trenton, N.J.Eight Taken into Custody for Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Eight individuals were arrested by federal, state and local authorities following a long-term investigation into the trafficking of heroin and cocaine in the Keene, New Hampshire area, announced United States Attorney John P. Kacavas. Those arrested include:
(1) Ross Gould, age 28, of 61 B Prospect Street, Richmond New Hampshire, was arrested for unlawful possession of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 841(a)(1);
(2) Jamie Hilow, age 28, of 15 High Street, Winchester, New Hampshire, was arrested for unlawful distribution of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 841(a)(1);
(3) Jaclyn Hilow, age 29, of 15 High Street, Winchester, New Hampshire, was arrested for unlawful distribution of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 841(a)(1);
(4) Jason Daigle, age 38, 79 Prospect Hill Road, Richmond, New Hampshire, was arrested for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1);and
(5) Brandon Rivers, age 29, 49-51 Howard Street, Keene, New Hampshire, was arrested for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1)
(6) Jonathan Cruz-Marte, age 32, of 52 Howard Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1);
(7) Felix Portes, age 56, of 227 Bailey Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1);
(8) Pedro Pena, age 37, 125 Chestnut Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested for distribution of heroin;
In addition to the arrest of these individuals, fourteen firearms and significant quantities of heroin and cocaine were seized during the execution of a search warrant at Gould’s residence.
The investigation was conducted by the (1) United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; (2) Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations; (3) New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force; (4) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; (5) New Hampshire State Police; (6) Keene, New Hampshire Police Department; (7) Richmond, New Hampshire Police Department; and (8) Salem, New Hampshire Police Department. In addition, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service assisted the above-referenced agencies in making the arrests.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man was convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and was sentenced on March 9, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Randall Bear Eagle, age 30, was sentenced to 24 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bear Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 15, 2014, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. He pled guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon on December 16, 2014.
The conviction arose from a July 5, 2014, incident in which Bear Eagle got into a verbal argument with the victim, his half-brother. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, and Bear Eagle picked up a tire iron and assaulted the victim, hitting him in the head.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.
Bear Eagle was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Duneweg Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Sexually Exploiting 4-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Duneweg, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for sexually exploiting a 4-year-old child to produce child pornography.
Tony Lasiter, 33, of Duneweg, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 23 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole, followed by a life term of supervised release.
On Sept. 4, 2014, Lasiter pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child. According to court documents, Lasiter used his cell phone to take nude photos of a 4-year-old child (identified in the indictment as “Jane Doe”) while she was in the bathtub and while she was being molested. Lasiter downloaded the photos to his laptop computer then transferred the files to an SD card. The files were discovered when the child victim’s father noticed the SD card in the computer and opened the files, according to court documents. The photos were taken in August 2013.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Duneweg, Mo., Police Department, the Sarcoxie, Mo., Police Department and the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Drage Convicted of Tax Charges Following Three-Week Trial in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY - Nathan Whitney Drage, age 56, a Salt Lake City attorney, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to impair and impede the IRS and three counts of willful failure to file a tax return, following a three-week trial in federal court in Salt Lake City. A jury returned the verdict late Tuesday night.
The case was investigated by special agents of IRS Investigation. The SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) also contributed to the case.
Evidence at trial showed that Drage and other business partners worked together to acquire vast amounts of stock and then exercise control of the stock through nominees to hide their control. Drage and others then caused thousands of shares of stock to be sold generating millions of dollars. Drage and other business partners took steps to hide and conceal from the IRS who owned the stock, who should report the stock sale, who got the money from the stock sale, and whether the stock sale resulted in a tax.
Evidence at trial showed Drage and others obtained control of public shell companies by acquiring stock in those shells through entities they controlled. Drage prepared and filed misleading and deceptive SEC filings for each of the public shells which hid and concealed his and others control of and beneficial ownership of the stock in those shells. Once control was obtained over the shell, Drage and others recruited nominees, primarily friends and acquaintances, to serve as officers or directors of those shells.
Evidence at trial showed Drage prepared corporate resolutions which facilitated the issuance of public shell stock to their controlled entities. Nominees knew nothing about the companies for which they were signing corporate resolutions. Nominees knew nothing about the financial and operational information contained in the SEC filings and simply signed the paperwork Drage prepared for them. The public shell was merged with a private company, often leaving Drage and others with free-trading shares post-merger.
Drage and others deposited more than $25 million in stock sale disbursements from brokerage accounts to 34 bank accounts in the names of controlled entities and individuals. They also made numerous transfers among the accounts. Drage and others agreed to set up these accounts, mix stock sales proceeds among them, pull from those accounts to pay for personal expenditures. They concealed from the IRS who got the money from the stock sale and whether the stock sale resulted in a tax.
Drage controlled two attorney trust accounts. For the eight years of the conspiracy, Drage commingled his stock sale proceeds with others’ stock sale proceeds. He also took money from client trust accounts, as well as other accounts, to pay for private school for his children, mortgage payments totaling $189,000, payments to his wife totaling $668,545, and payments to himself totaling $144,000 – among other expenses.
Drage also was convicted of failing to file corporate tax returns for three years. He failed to file a 2004 corporate return despite having $1,668,061 in gross reportable stock sales. He did not file a 2005 corporate return despite $2,748,633 in gross reportable stock sales. In 2006, Drage did not file a corporate return despite $26,691 in gross reportable stock sales.
U.S. District Judge David Sam set sentencing in the case for June 1, 2015, at 3 p.m. The felony count of conspiracy to impair and impede the IRS count carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Willful failure to file a tax return is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of $100,000, together with the cost of prosecution.
Defendant Pleads Guilty in Complex Real Estate ScamRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Daniel Deaibes pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to steal title to Southern California homes, and then to “sell” the properties to unsuspecting buyers – who later learned they had actually purchased nothing.
According to his plea agreement, between September 2012 and November 2014, when Deaibes and two alleged co-conspirators were indicted and arrested, the trio fraudulently sold or attempted to sell at least 10 homes for more than $2.3 million.
As Deaibes admitted during his guilty plea, he participated in the scheme at the direction of a co-conspirator, the owner of several real estate investment outfits. According to Deaibes’ admissions, the co-conspirator and others would record fraudulent grant deeds at county recorder’s offices, so that it would appear that the true owners of homes had deeded their properties to shell companies controlled by the co-conspirator.
Once the fraudulent documents were recorded in the chain of title, the co-schemers would pose as the new owners and immediately try to sell the properties. Deaibes said his coconspirator used aliases and a host of sham businesses to pose as the owner of properties they listed for sale, and along with Deaibes, set up bank accounts for the sham companies so that fraud proceeds could be funneled out of the scheme. In this way, the conspirators would take all the proceeds of the sale, and the true owners of the properties would get nothing.
As Deaibes admitted during his guilty plea, the schemers even took steps to thwart efforts by the true owners to regain title to the properties. In one instance, true owner Fannie Mae discovered that a fraudulent grant deed had been recorded on a property it owned in Rowland Heights, California. Shortly after discovering the fraudulent deed, Fannie Mae filed a lawsuit to recover control over the property and notify prospective buyers of the fraudulent deed.
According to Deabes’ plea agreement, he and his co-schemers created a fake “Withdrawal of Lis Pendens” in an effort to proceed with the fraudulent sale. When Fannie Mae won a judgment in its favor and obtained a court finding that the deed was fraudulent, the co-schemers created a fake “Satisfaction of Judgment” and recorded that fraudulent document as well.
Deaibes also admitted that he used the alias “John Moran” to pose as the seller’s representative in several of the fraudulent sales. He introduced himself as “Moran” and presented a fake driver’s license to two different notaries in 2014. Deaibes admitted that he signed fraudulent documents using this alias in an effort to sell or encumber properties that belonged to unsuspecting owners.
Deaibes admitted that he and the co-schemers generated more than $1.5 million in profits from the scheme. In each case, the unwitting third-party buyer paid for a house believing that Alzoubi and his co-schemers had valid title. In fact, most of these properties were actually owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- government sponsored enterprises with a mission to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the United States housing and mortgage markets. As part of their mission, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase residential mortgages in the secondary market, enabling lenders to replenish their funds to finance additional single family loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can become the property owners if they own the mortgage loan at the time a home is foreclosed.
U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy commented, “Although the Great Recession ended some time ago, some of the lingering problems in the housing market are caused by schemes, such as this one, that undermine the public’s confidence in the security of their most important investment, their homes. The Department of Justice, working closely with our law enforcement partners, is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who misuse the real estate process to commit fraud.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge, Eric S. Birnbaum, commented, “Today’s conviction is a step in the right direction in holding Mr. Deaibes accountable for his illegal activities. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in identifying and dismantling fraudulent schemes that undermine our economy and leave taxpayers to pay the bill. The FBI will aggressively pursue these cases so that our precious tax dollars will be used where they are needed most.”
Sentencing is set for June 8 at 9:00 am before U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant.
Deaibes and two other defendants, Mazen Alzoubi real estate investor Mohamed Daoud, were indicted in November 2014. Deaibes and Alzoubi, who were both arrested by FBI agents on November 19, 2014, were charged with mail fraud. Daoud was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as he prepared to depart for his home country of Norway. He was charged in a related case with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.
The investigation into this fraud scheme is continuing. Anyone with information relating to these charges or similar scams is encouraged to contact the San Diego branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (858) 320-1800 or the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) 793-7724.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 14CR3325-BAS Daniel Deaibes Age: 36 Rancho Cucamonga, CA CHARGESMail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341.
Maximum Penalties: 20 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine or twice the pecuniary gain or loss resulting from the offense, $100 special assessment, restitution.
DEFENDANTS PREVIOUSLY CHARGED Daniel Deaibes, 14CR3325-BAS Age: 31 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1341 Mohamed Daoud, 14CR3326-BAS Age: 50 Norway Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349 INVESTIGATING AGENCIESFederal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General
Federal Bureau of InvestigationAs to defendants Mazen Alzoubi and Mohamed Daoud, the public is reminded that the charges are not evidence that the defendants committed the crime charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the United States meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Convicted felon sentenced for escape from reentry centerRead the Press Release
Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Billy Roy Myers, 39, of Charleston, West Virginia was sentenced today in federal court in Charleston to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Myers pled guilty in December of 2014 to escaping from the Dismas Charities Residential Center in St. Albans, West Virginia, a federal residential reentry center, where he had been placed by the United States Bureau of Prisons after his release from prison. Myers had previously been convicted of a federal firearms violation in 2008, and after a term of imprisonment, was serving the remainder of his sentence at the Dismas Center. Myers escaped on May 6, 2014, and was apprehended on the West Side of Charleston by United States Marshals on October 6, 2014. The sentence imposed on the escape charge will run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving for the firearms offense.
Columbia County Man Charged with Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
March 18, 2015
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Berwick man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Scranton on charges of producing child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the grand jury alleges that Rickie Sitler, age 57, persuaded and induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of such conduct. The indictment alleges that Sitler committed the crime between November 2014 and December 20, 2014.
The charge stems from an investigation by agents of Homeland Security Investigations, the Berwick Police Department, and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
If convicted of the charge, Sitler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation and Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that David William Burkman, 31, of Canon City, Colorado, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge George Z. Singal to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting a child and transporting child pornography. Burkman pleaded guilty to the charges on October 20, 2014.
According to court records, in March 2014, Burkman engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a six-year-old girl and took photographs of the conduct. In April, Burkman sent an email message to the undercover email account of a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Maine. Attached to the email was one of the photographs of the girl. Burkman was arrested in May and a search warrant was executed at his residence. During an interview after his arrest, he admitted engaging in sexual activity with the six-year-old girl, taking photographs of the activity, and sharing the photographs online.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Collin County Woman Sentenced for Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A 31-year-old McKinney, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Judith Williams pleaded guilty on Apr. 22, 2014, to conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography and was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, in December 2012, Williams videotaped herself performing oral sex on an infant she was babysitting. Williams then emailed the videos to her boyfriend, Charles Smolens. Afterwards, Smolens provided Williams with a thumb drive that contained hundreds of images of child pornography, some of which he produced himself. Williams and Smolens were indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 13, 2013. Smolens was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison on Jan. 9, 2015.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McKinney Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey M. Batson and Mandy Griffith.
####
Clarksburg, WV man sentenced for unlawful possession of firearmRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Clarence Thompson, 36, of Clarksburg, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Thompson was previously convicted of the felony offenses of “Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana),” “Uttering,” and Burglary.” As a result of those convictions, he is not permitted to possess a handgun. Thompson was subsequently discovered in Harrison County, West Virginia in possession of a .22 caliber pistol. He pled guilty in August 2014 to one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearm.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
City of Tonawanda Man Sentenced on A Gun ChargeRead 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 Christopher Simmance, 38, of City of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of a firearm after having been committed to a mental institution, was sentenced to time served (19 months) and two years supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Alsup, who handled the matter, stated that on November 12, 2011, law enforcement officers responded to the defendant’s Tonawanda residence where they located a Remington shotgun. Simmance had previously received mental health treatment preventing him from legally possessing any firearms.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Office, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and the City of Tonawanda Police, under the direction of Chief William Strassburg.
Chicago Revenue Inspector Sentenced to 12 Months Probation for ExtortionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former Revenue Inspector for the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve to 12 months’ probation as a result of his conviction of extortion under color of official right. ELIAS GARZA, 55, of Chicago pled guilty in February 2011 to a one-count information, admitting that while employed as a Revenue Inspector in 2009, he received money from a confidential source and an individual who controlled stores in Chicago that sold cigarettes. Garza would, in return, provide advanced notification of upcoming City inspections of those stores that were designed to ensure proper payment of taxes on cigarettes. Defendant Garza admitted that in May 2009, he accepted $500 from the confidential source in return for providing information about upcoming inspections of Individual A’s stores, and that in September 2009, Garza accepted another $300 in return for his promise to alert them of upcoming inspections.
According to his plea agreement, Garza cooperated with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in their ongoing investigations of public corruption.
The sentencing 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joseph Ferguson, City of Chicago Inspector General.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Getter.
Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Multi-State Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 37-year-old Chicago resident pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to participating in a drug conspiracy that was responsible for distributing heroin and other drugs during a four-year time period in Monroe, Montgomery, and Berks Counties in Pennsylvania.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the defendant, Gilberto Bautista-Ocampo, admitted to acting as a drug courier for the conspiracy and transporting seven kilograms of heroin from Chicago to Pennsylvania in February 2014.
The charge against Bautista-Ocampo resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Berks County Detectives and Montgomery County Detectives.
Bautista-Ocampo faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Judge Mariani ordered a pre-sentence report to be completed. Sentencing is scheduled to take place in June 2015.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Charleston man who impersonated United States Marshal sentenced in federal courtRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W. Va. - United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that John E. Swain II, 52, of Charleston, West Virginia was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas Johnston to three years of probation for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. On April 14, 2014, Swain chased a Ford Explorer on I-77, while the passenger in Swain’s car waived a badge that appeared to belong to a United States Marshal. The driver of the Ford Explorer was an undercover Kanawha County Detective. When the Detective pulled over at the Greenbrier Street exit, Swain sped away. The Detective followed Swain and directed him to stop. When the Detective approached the car, Swain claimed he was a United States Marshal from Richmond, Virginia. Swain advised that he asked his passenger to waive the badge because the Detective was driving too fast and Swain wanted him to slow down. The Detective contacted the United States Marshal in Richmond and learned that Swain had never been employed with the federal law enforcement agency. When confronted, Swain admitted that he had lied to avoid arrest for impersonating a federal officer. Swain claimed that he bought the fake badge on the internet.
The United States Marshal Service and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes was responsible for the prosecution.
Carterville Resident Sentenced on Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
On March 17, 2015, Daniel J. E. Overmyer, 23, of Carterville, IL, was sentenced for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Overmyer, who had previously pled guilty to the one-count indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and was $400. The offense occurred between 2010 and January 2014, in Jackson, Williamson, Union, and Franklin Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Overmyer was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Overmyer and others purchased pseudoephedrine for others to use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court found that Overmyer was responsible for the illegal possession of 180.06 grams of pseudoephedrine.
Also, on March 17, 2015, two of Overmyer’s co-defendants, James C. Leming, 53, and Dawn E. Unterfer, 45, both of Carbondale, entered guilty pleas to the one-count methamphetamine indictment. Leming and Unterfer were allowed to remain on bond pending June 10, 2015, sentencing hearings. Six co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their involvement in the methamphetamine conspiracy. One co-defendant has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Four co-defendants have pled not guilty and are awaiting jury trial.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
California man convicted of painkiller trafficking in Marshall County, WVRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Mario O. Garcia, 41, of Van Nuys, California, was convicted in federal court today of oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Garcia admitted to oxycodone trafficking in Marshall County, West Virginia, when he pled guilty today to one count of "Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Oxycodone." He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McWilliams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - Los Angeles Field Division Tactical Diversion Squad, the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police are investigating.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
Buckhannon, WV man sentenced for witness tamperingRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Tobias Lynn Bennett, 41, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison today for witness tampering, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
An investigation by the West Virginia State Police revealed that, while incarcerated at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail in Belington, West Virginia, Bennett discouraged two potential witnesses from testifying at a fellow inmate’s sentencing hearing. He pled guilty in December 2014 to one count of “Witness Tampering – Aiding and Abetting.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Attorney Admits Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Follow @USAO_CTDeirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMOTHY G. GRIFFIN, 54, of Ridgefield, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport to one count of filing a false tax return.
According to court documents and statements made in court, GRIFFIN practiced law in Bronxville, New York, and his clients paid him for his legal services. In 2006, the Internal Revenue Service sent letters to GRIFFIN about his having not filed income tax returns for 2002, 2003, and 2004 tax years. In response to the IRS inquiry, GRIFFIN prepared and submitted fraudulent individual income tax returns for the 2003 and 2004 tax years. The 2003 return reported business income of $77,713, gross receipts from the law practice of $225,825, a net profit of $32,200, and a total tax of $10,981. The 2004 return reported business income of $67,983, gross receipts from the law practice of $234,894, a net profit of $39,767, and a total tax of $9,606. A subsequent criminal investigation determined that GRIFFIN did not report on these two tax returns approximately $498,934 in additional gross receipts from his law practice, resulting in additional tax due of $136,844.
GRIFFIN is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill on December 23, 2014, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years and a fine of up to $250,000. GRIFFIN also has agreed to make restitution to the U.S. Department of Treasury in the total amount of $153,807 – which includes $136,844 for the 2003 and 2004 tax years and $16,963 for the 2005 and 2006 tax years – plus applicable penalties and interest.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Arrests Made and Charges Added in Federal Investigation of Interstate Sex Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted six men – five residents of Chambersburg and one from Harrisburg – as part of an investigation of an alleged sex trafficking ring operating in six states and the District of Columbia.
The indictment, filed on March 11 and unsealed this week, charges Albert E. “Pipo” Martinez, age 34, of Chambersburg, Anthony “Tony” D’Ambrosio, age 34, of Chambersburg, Antonio ”Tony” Delgado, age 18, of Chambersburg, Armando Delgado, age 20, of Chambersburg and Keanu Martinez, age 19, of Chambersburg, with sex trafficking of minors, transportation to engage in prostitution, distribution of controlled substances, and conspiracy. Brandon Hill, age 28, of Harrisburg, is charged with conspiracy and drug distribution.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Martinez and his co-conspirators allegedly recruited and transported females between the ages of 13 and 18 years old to engage in commercial sex acts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Martinez and the others allegedly rented motel rooms and posted “escort” advertisements and photographs on a website from July 2012 through January 2015. The conspirators allegedly took most of the money made during the course of the prostitution business, and distributed drugs to the women, including oxycodone, cocaine hydrochloride and heroin.Martinez has been incarcerated on an initial indictment since January 15, 2015 and is scheduled for an arraignment on the March 11 indictment on March 26, 2015.
D’Ambrosio, the Delgados, Martinez and Hill were arrested last week by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Chambersburg Police Department, the Franklin County Drug Task Force and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.
The defendants arrested last week appeared before Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab on March 12 in Harrisburg and ordered temporarily detained. Yesterday, after the detention hearings, Magistrate Judge Schwab ordered the five co-defendants detained pending trial, which is scheduled for May 11, 2015 before the Honorable William W. Caldwell.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on the offenses involving a minor, as well as a $250,000 fine. Each defendant faces up to 20 years’ incarceration and a $1,000,000 fine if convicted of the drug trafficking offenses.
This continuing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Taylor. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 717-232-8686.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc for more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for String of RobberiesRead the Press Release
Federal sentence results from “Project Recoil”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A career criminal from Georgia was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by Senior District Judge Thomas B. Russell, for multiple robberies, including brandishing a firearm announced Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. There is no parole in the federal system.
The federal charges stemmed from “Project Recoil,” the on-going partnership of multiple Jefferson County, Kentucky law enforcement agencies, to maximize penalties for the most violent offenders and to reduce violent crime in our community.
Xavier Demetrius Porter, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on December 5, 2014, to nine counts of obstructing interstate commerce through robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 1996, Porter was convicted of three counts of armed robbery, in case number 96-R-398 in Dougherty County (Georgia) Superior Court. During those robberies, he used a sawed-off shotgun.
“Through the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement, a violent and dangerous repeat offender will spend the next 30 years behind bars. Project Recoil’s commitment to a team approach is our most effective weapon against crime. Together, we are getting results and making our community a safer place, “stated Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
“Today’s sentence sends a very strong message that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working together to make Louisville a safer community. Anyone contemplating a gun-related crime should realize the possible consequences,” stated Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad.
“Today, an armed and violent criminal was removed from the Louisville community for a long time. Strong partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement and with the public we serve are making a positive difference. Gun violence will not be tolerated in Louisville,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Stuart Lowrey.
Porter admitted to robbing Spinelli’s Pizza located at 2905 Goose Creek Road on March 5, 2013, the Subway located at 3503 South Hurstbourne Parkway on March 7, 2013, the Subway located at 8056 New LaGrange Road on March 17, 2013, Circle K located at 4600 Wattbourne Lane on April 15, 2013, the White Castle located at 3705 Bardstown Road on April 16, 2013, the Thornton’s located at 3909 Taylorsville Road on April 17, 2013, the Subway located on Bishop Lane on April 17, 2013, Cigarette Outlet located on Six Mile Lane on April 18, 2013, and the Adam and Eve store on South Hurstbourne Parkway on April 18, 2013. The federal robbery charges are brought pursuant to the Hobb’s Act, which criminalizes robberies that affect interstate commerce. During eight of the robberies, Porter brandished a firearm. During the first two robberies, he used a small black handgun. During the last five robberies, he used a pistol-grip 12 gauge shotgun. At the time of his arrest, Porter was clutching the money he stole from Adam & Eve in his hand.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Louisville Metro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.
Alleged High Ranking Member of Los Zetas Cartel ArrestedRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-31” or “El Borrado” has been charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana allegations after illegally entering the U.S., announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Saldivar-Farias, 27, is alleged to be a regional commander for the Los Zetas transnational criminal organization. Initially arrested on immigration charges related to his illegal presence in the U.S., a criminal complaint unsealed today charges him and Osiel Hernandez-Martinez, 26, with conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Salidvar-Farias is also charged with giving false statements to government agents.
They appeared in federal court in Laredo this morning and are set for a detention and probable cause hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R. Garcia on Friday, March 20, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Laredo.
The criminal complaint alleges that on the night of March 12, 2015, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Quick Reactionary Force (QRF), in conjunction with the Texas Air National Guard, were conducting fly-over operations over Falcon Lake. During that time, they observed a boat traveling northward into the U.S. from Mexico at a high rate of speed. Suspecting the individuals were undocumented foreign nationals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, DPS-QRF immediately apprehended the individuals aboard the boat, which included Saldivar-Farias and Hernandez-Martinez. Upon arrest, the criminal complaint alleges Saldivar-Farias lied to agents about his true identity.
According to the criminal complaint, Saldivar-Farias is the regional commander of the northern region of Mexico to include the states of Coahuilla, Taumalipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico, as well as Zapata, Texas. As such, he is allegedly in charge of all narcotics moving through the area. The criminal complaint alleges several multi-ton quantities of marijuana have been crossed into U.S. over this area every week.
If convicted on the drug charges, Saldivar-Farias and Hernandez-Martinez each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible maximum fine of $10 million. Saldivar-Farias also faces up to five years and a $250,000 fine if convicted of making false statements.
The arrest was a collaboration effort between FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations which are all investigative partners within the South Texas corridor to include Customs and Border Protection components Office of Border Patrol, Office of Field Operations and Office of Air and Marine. DPS also provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz are prosecuting the case.
Akron man sentenced to nearly four years in prison for firearms convictionRead the Press Release
An Akron man was sentenced to nearly four years in prison fo illegally possessing a firearm, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Joe L. Fletcher, age 27, was sentenced to 46 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko. Fletcher previously pleaded guilty to having a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Feb. 7, 2014, despite a previous conviction for cocaine trafficking.
"This man had no business possessing a firearm because of his criminal record," Dettelbach said.
"Joe Fletcher is considered to be one of Akron's most dangerous individuals," Akron Police Chief James Nice said. "As a result, the APD collaborated with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring federal charges against him. Our city is safer today because of this federal conviction."
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Feran following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Akron Police Department.
10th Street Gang Member Sentenced on Racketeering ChargeRead 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 10th Street Gang member Nourooz Ali, 31, of Buffalo, who was convicted of RICO conspiracy, was sentenced to 132 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that between 2000 and 2010, the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang. As a part of his involvement in the gang, Ali, along with other members and associates of the gang, committed violence, possessed firearms, and sold marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances on the West Side of Buffalo.
The defendant is among 44 10th Street Gang members and associates charged and convicted in this case.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division.
17 March 2015
Woman Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Nicole Dette Perkins has entered a guilty plea to one count of knowingly presenting a material false, fictitious or fraudulent claim against the United States in the nature of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Lucy Cruz, special agent in charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The plea agreement filed in the public record of the case indicates that Perkins prepared income tax returns for others. As part of those returns, she attached false and fabricated W-2 forms purporting to show wages earned and federal taxes withheld when, in fact, the taxpayers did not work for the alleged employers nor had the alleged withholdings. As part of her plea, Perkins admitted she knowingly attached a fabricated W-2 to a tax return claiming wages and withholdings that resulted in a false claim for an income tax refund and a tax loss to the United States of $7,889.
Perkins further agreed in the plea agreement that for purposes of sentencing, her conduct resulted in an intended tax loss to the United States of $346,044. The intended tax loss included not only the intended tax loss on tax returns Perkins prepared for others, but also the intended tax loss of more than $20,000 on three of Perkins’s own income tax returns. Perkins has agreed to pay restitution to the United States of $66,332.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal, who accepted the plea today, has set sentencing for June 25, 2015, at which time Perkins faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
This case was the result of an IRS-CI investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Escher.
Williamsburg Man Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Fraud resulted in over $800,000 in unpaid fees to select resorts
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Keith D. Kosco, 56, of Williamsburg, Va., pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft and Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Thomas J. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar.Kosco was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2014. Kosco faces a maximum penalty of twenty years on the conspiracy count, ten years for engaging in monetary transactions with proceeds from unlawful activity, and a mandatory two year sentence for aggravated identity theft when he is sentenced on July 13, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement Keith Kosco, admitted to being the owner and operated of a number of entities involved in travel, tourism and timeshare businesses including Resort Realty, Inc., Resort Solutions, Inc., and Exotic Equity Transfers, LLC (“EET”). A timeshare unit, generally a fully furnished resort accommodation, is a deeded or non-deeded interest in real estate divided into intervals, most commonly by week. Since at least 2007, EET conducted timeshare transfers in exchange for a fee charged to the original owner.Keith Kosco and his employees represented that the timeshare unit transfers conducted by EET would be legitimate and result in clean title passing to a new owner with no further obligations of timeshare ownership (including maintenance fees) on the original owner once the transfer was complete. Transfer paperwork was handled by EET in coordination with Professional Closing Company which served as a third party closing entity, and was operated by co-defendant Julie Duffield. From at least 2009 – 2013, Kosco, Duffield and their employees conducted fraudulent transfers of over 1,000 timeshare units into the names of stolen identities, including Kosco’s incarcerated daughter, who were unaware that they were receiving these properties, and straw buyers (about ten total), who they paid $35-$50 for each transferred unit. The defendants collected fees for conducting the transfers from the original owners. None of the stolen identities / straw buyers paid the required maintenance fees or taxes on the timeshare units, resulting in over $800,000 in losses to select resorts for the unpaid fees. Kosco, Duffield and their employees engaged in various fraudulent acts in support of the scheme, including false reps and promises to resorts, propping up stolen identities with email accounts, bank accounts and tax returns, falsely notarizing signatures and preparing fraudulent deed paperwork. The transfers also had devastating impacts on the credit of the stolen identities/straw buyers. Julie Duffield pled guilty on January 12, 2015, to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2015. In a related case, Brendan Hawkins pled guilty on December 22, 2014, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and his sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2015.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Samuels and Kaitlin C. Gratton are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:14cr66.Washington, D.C. man sentenced to two years for failure to update sex offender registrationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Celot Jay Carr, Jr., 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for failure to update his sex offender registration after relocating to West Virginia, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.In December 2006, Carr was convicted of “Second Degree Child Abuse” in the District of Columbia Superior Court for engaging in sexual activity with a minor. As a result, Carr is required to register as a sex offender. Upon his release, Carr registered with the District of Columbia Sex Offender Registry. Carr failed to update his sex offender registration when he subsequently relocated from Washington D.C. to Westover, West Virginia.
Carr pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration” following a U.S Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Transporting Women for ProstitutionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Diamond Latroy Hawkins, Jr., 39, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, followed by twenty years of supervised release, for transporting women for prostitution.
Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Norfolk Field Office; and James A. (Jim) Cervera, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Raymond A Jackson.
Hawkins pled guilty on October 16, 2014. According to court documents, between August of 2009 and April of 2014, Hawkins was a pimp who prostituted multiple women in Virginia and Florida, as well as other locations. Hawkins would recruit these women to work for him and, once they agreed, he took all the money they made and kept control over their movements through physical violence, threats of harm to them and their families, and protracted sexual and verbal abuse. In March 2013, Hawkins forced a group of his prostitutes to move to Florida with him in the hopes of getting better rates for their services.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and V. Kathleen Dougherty prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:14cr98United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Jacksonville-Based Dermatology Practice for $787,814Read the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that the United States has settled allegations that a Jacksonville-based dermatology practice knowingly billed the government for services that were cosmetic in nature and not medically necessary, as well as “up-coded” certain bills to receive higher than allowed reimbursement. The allegations resolved included liability under the False Claims Act (FCA).
The government announced today that it has reached a settlement with the defendant, Coastal Dermatology, and the physician who owned the practice – Dr. Sanjiva Goyal. In reaching this settlement, the parties resolved allegations that from January 1, 2009, until April 2014, Dr. Goyal operated a dermatology practice that routinely had a practice of billing for cosmetic dermatological procedures, billing for services when all the Medicare and TRICARE requirements were not established, and billing for services at a higher rate of reimbursement than appropriate. The government agreed to accept $787,814 to resolve these allegations.
This settlement involved false claims submitted to both the Medicare and TRICARE programs. This case was developed by proactively mining healthcare reimbursement data. In mining through this data, Coastal Dermatology was identified as a top biller of procedures related to skin lesion removal procedures and removal of inflamed seborrheic keratoses. Among the 3,814 TRICARE-participating dermatologists in the South Region, Coastal Dermatology was number one in terms of billings for lesion removals.
"The United States Attorney's Office is committed to taking the steps necessary to protect Medicare, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs from fraud," said U.S. Attorney Bentley. "By bringing FCA cases such as this, we hope to recover funds obtained through the fraud and deter others from attempting similar schemes."
"Patients unable to receive necessary medical care suffer the cost of Medicare fraud when those funds are purposely stolen and diverted to pay for uncovered voluntary procedures," stated Special Agent in Charge Derrick Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of entitlement programs like Medicare."
This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $19 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $13.4 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
"This settlement highlights the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and its law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) health care program," said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office. “DCIS' aggressively investigates health care providers that defraud the DoD, to preserve American taxpayer dollars intended to care for our Warfighters, their family members, and military retirees."
This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS/OIG), HHS Office of Counsel to Inspector General (HHS/OCIG), the Defense Health Agency Program Integrity Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Mehta.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
United States Air Force Veteran Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned a two-count indictment charging Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, an American citizen and veteran of the United States Air Force, with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a foreign terrorist organization, and obstruction and attempted obstruction of justice. The defendant will be arraigned on the indictment tomorrow at 11 a.m. before Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John P. Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Diego G. Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
“Born and raised in the United States, Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organization,” stated U.S. Attorney Lynch. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute extremists, whether based here or abroad, to stop them before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which comprises a large number of federal, state, and local agencies from the region. Ms. Lynch also thanked the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Asbury Park, New Jersey Police Department, and the Neptune, New Jersey Police Department for their assistance.
“Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISIL,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Identifying and bringing to justice individuals who provide or attempt to provide material support to terrorists is a key priority of the National Security Division.”
“As alleged, Pugh, an American citizen, was willing to travel overseas and fight jihad alongside terrorists seeking to do us harm. United States citizens who offer support to terrorist organizations pose a grave threat to our national security and will face serious consequences for their actions. We will continue to work with our partners, both here and abroad, to prevent acts of terrorism. This investigation demonstrates the importance of law enforcement coordination and collaboration here and around the world,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez.”
“We thank the members of the NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and our Federal law enforcement partners for their work in this case and for their tireless efforts to identify threats of terrorism here and abroad. It is this type of collaboration that results in swift investigative work to stop individuals such as this from making any further contribution to terrorist organizations such as ISIL,” said Police Commissioner Bratton.
As alleged in the complaint, indictment, and other court filings, the defendant served in the Air Force as an avionics instrument system specialist and received training in the installation and maintenance of aircraft engine, navigation, and weapons systems. After leaving the Air Force, the defendant worked for a number of companies in the United States and Middle East as an avionics specialist and airplane mechanic. The defendant lived abroad for over a year before his arrest in this case.
Earlier this year, weeks after being fired from his last job as an airplane mechanic based in the Middle East, the defendant attempted to join ISIL. On January 10, 2015, the defendant traveled from Egypt to Turkey in an effort to cross the border into Syria to join ISIL and fight violent jihad. Turkish authorities denied the defendant entry, however, and sent him on a return flight to Egypt. Upon his arrival in Egypt, the defendant was carrying multiple electronic devices, including four USB thumb drives that had been stripped of their plastic casings and an iPod that had been wiped clean of data. The defendant also had a cellular telephone that contained, among other things, a photograph of a machinegun. The defendant was soon thereafter deported to the United States.
On January 14, 2015, JTTF agents obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s electronic devices, including his laptop computer. Subsequent exploitation of the laptop revealed, among other things, the following:
- recent Internet searches for “borders controlled by Islamic state”,
- recent Internet searches for “who controls kobani,” “kobani border crossing,” and “jarablus border crossing,” all references to Syrian cities under ISIL’s control near the Turkish border,
- a chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by ISIL and other groups, and
- Internet searches for “Flames of War,” an ISIL propaganda video, as well as downloaded videos, including one showing ISIL members executing prisoners.
The defendant was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint on January 16, 2015, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and he has been in custody ever since. After the defendant’s arrest, JTTF agents seized and later obtained warrants to search two backpacks that the defendant had when he was overseas. Agents recovered from the backpacks, among other things: two compasses, a solar-powered flashlight, a solar-powered power source, shards of broken USB thumb drives, a fatigue jacket, and camping clothes.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel P. Nitze and Tiana A. Demas, with assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Larry Schneider and Andrew Sigler of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice.
The Defendant:
TAIROD NATHAN WEBSTER PUGH
Age: 47
Neptune, New Jersey
E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 15-MJ-044 and 15-CR-116 (NGG)
US Air Force Veteran Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISILRead the Press Release
Defendant, a Former Avionics Specialist, Travelled from Egypt to Turkey in an Attempt to Cross the Border to Syria to Join ISIL
U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, Assistant Director in Charge Diego G. Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office and Commissioner William J. Bratton of the New York City Police Department announced that yesterday, a federal grand jury in New York City returned a two-count indictment charging Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, an American citizen and veteran of the U.S. Air Force, with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a foreign terrorist organization, and obstruction and attempted obstruction of justice. The defendant will be arraigned on the indictment tomorrow, March 18, at 11 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York.
“Born and raised in the United States, Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Lynch. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute extremists, whether based here or abroad, to stop them before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies.” U.S. Attorney Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which comprises a large number of federal, state, and local agencies from the region. U.S. Lynch also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of New Jersey, the Asbury Park, New Jersey Police Department and the Neptune, New Jersey, Police Department for their assistance.
“Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISIL,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Identifying and bringing to justice individuals who provide or attempt to provide material support to terrorists is a key priority of the National Security Division.”
“As alleged, Pugh, an American citizen, was willing to travel overseas and fight jihad alongside terrorists seeking to do us harm,” said Assistant Director in Charge Rodriguez. “U.S. citizens who offer support to terrorist organizations pose a grave threat to our national security and will face serious consequences for their actions. We will continue to work with our partners, both here and abroad, to prevent acts of terrorism. This investigation demonstrates the importance of law enforcement coordination and collaboration here and around the world.”
“We thank the members of the NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and our Federal law enforcement partners for their work in this case and for their tireless efforts to identify threats of terrorism here and abroad,” said Commissioner Bratton. “It is this type of collaboration that results in swift investigative work to stop individuals such as this from making any further contribution to terrorist organizations such as ISIL.”
As alleged in the complaint, indictment and other court filings, the defendant served in the Air Force as an avionics instrument system specialist and received training in the installation and maintenance of aircraft engine, navigation and weapons systems. After leaving the Air Force, the defendant worked for a number of companies in the United States and Middle East as an avionics specialist and airplane mechanic. The defendant lived abroad for over a year before his arrest in this case.
Earlier this year, weeks after being fired from his last job as an airplane mechanic based in the Middle East, the defendant attempted to join ISIL. On Jan. 10, 2015, the defendant traveled from Egypt to Turkey in an effort to cross the border into Syria to join ISIL and fight violent jihad. Turkish authorities denied the defendant entry, however, and sent him on a return flight to Egypt. Upon his arrival in Egypt, the defendant was carrying multiple electronic devices, including four USB thumb drives that had been stripped of their plastic casings and an iPod that had been wiped clean of data. The defendant also had a cellular telephone that contained, among other things, a photograph of a machinegun. The defendant was soon thereafter deported to the United States.
On Jan. 14, 2015, JTTF agents obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s electronic devices, including his laptop computer. Subsequent exploitation of the laptop revealed, among other things, the following:
-
recent internet searches for “borders controlled by Islamic state”,
-
recent internet searches for “who controls kobani,” “kobani border crossing,” and “jarablus border crossing,” all references to Syrian cities under ISIL’s control near the Turkish border,
-
a chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by ISIL and other groups, and
-
internet searches for “Flames of War,” an ISIL propaganda video, as well as downloaded videos, including one showing ISIL members executing prisoners.
The defendant was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint on Jan. 16, 2015, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and he has been in custody ever since. After the defendant’s arrest, JTTF agents seized and later obtained warrants to search two backpacks that the defendant had when he was overseas. Agents recovered from the backpacks, among other things: two compasses, a solar-powered flashlight, a solar-powered power source, shards of broken USB thumb drives, a fatigue jacket and camping clothes.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel P. Nitze and Tiana A. Demas, with assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Larry Schneider and Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division.
Pugh Indictment
-
U.S. Attorney Announces Project Safe Neighborhoods-Funded Initiative to Combat Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
Local Prosecutors in Four Counties to be Deputized as Special Asst. U.S. Attorneys to Identify State Firearms Cases that can be Adopted for Federal Prosecution
PITTSBURGH – U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton today announced a new initiative whereby several county prosecutors will be designated as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) for the purpose of evaluating local criminal cases involving the use of firearms and referring appropriate cases for federal prosecution. The salaries of the assistant district attorneys from the four counties - Erie, Washington, Lawrence and Cambria - will be subsidized by Project Safe Neighborhoods grant funds, awarded to Western Pennsylvania in previous years but not yet expended.
“In 2013 and 2014, much of our PSN enforcement efforts focused on illegal activity along our interstates and major thoroughfares, key routes used by dealers to move drugs and guns,” stated U.S. Attorney Hickton. “Cross-designating local prosecutors is an extension of those efforts and will prove an effective means for determining whether or not federal prosecution of an armed defendant would further the aim of making our communities safer. This initiative also adds another dimension of cooperation between our office and the county prosecutors’ offices.”
“ATF Special Agents will team up with our designated prosecutors to initiate federal investigations that identify and target gun carrying criminals and habitual violators, who are a menace to our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Sam Rabadi. “ATF’s core mission is fighting violent crime and we look forward to working closely with these dedicated prosecutors to reduce gun violence and increase public safety in our neighborhoods throughout western Pennsylvania.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hickton, the Assistant County District Attorneys will serve a six-month term as a SAUSA to handle intake and federal prosecution of PSN cases originating in their respective counties. The SAUSAs would have access to their District Attorney’s database of criminal filings, review cases where serious firearms-related charges have been involved, and quickly retrieve and review investigative reports relating to these cases. The SAUSAs will pay particular attention to chronic offenders, designated as ‘Armed Career Criminals’ in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, large-scale drug dealers and gang members. Working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Chief, the SAUSAs will select the more serious and/or complex cases wherein there is a federal jurisdiction and the likelihood of greater federal sentence. Once a case has been selected for federal prosecution, the arrangements would be made to transfer the defendant to federal custody. Also, the SAUSAs will work with local police departments to provide education on federal firearms laws.
The $44,000 in funding for this project is provided by Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime. The United States Department of Justice has committed millions of dollars to this effort. This funding is being used nationwide to hire new federal, state and local prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun safety lock kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts.
In Western Pennsylvania, the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force has developed a strategic plan to strengthen partnerships between all levels of law enforcement agencies and community organizations, to increase awareness of the problem and to develop solutions for achieving the goal of creating safer communities by reducing gun crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office PSN strategy continues to implement Attorney General Eric Holder’s three-legged stool approach to protecting the public welfare. This approach involves Enforcement, Prevention/Community Engagement and Prisoner Reentry. Beginning in 2011, the U.S. Attorney through PSN began to forge a community impact prosecution strategy intended to have a demonstrable and meaningful impact on community crime and improve public safety. This strategy employs federal, state and local cooperation among law enforcement to target illegal firearms, gang activity and drug trafficking, including the unlawful sale of prescription drugs.
Two More St. Robert Residents Plead Guilty to $3 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two more St. Robert, Mo., residents pleaded guilty in federal court today to their roles in a Nigerian fraud scheme in which thousands of victims across the country were tricked into cashing up to $3 million in counterfeit money orders and cashier’s checks.
Terry L. Shupe, 38, and Nancy Madelen Peebles, 74, both of St. Robert, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The conspiracy involved counterfeit postal money orders, counterfeit cashier’s checks and numerous wires to unindicted co-conspirators in the country of Nigeria.
Co-defendants Lisa Kaye Barwick-Majeski, 54, who is Peebles’s daughter, and Cheryl Barber, 41, who lived with Shupe, both of St. Robert, have also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy.
Conspirators dispatched counterfeit postal money orders and bogus cashier’s checks to thousands of victims throughout the United States. These false money orders and cashier’s checks were deposited in victims’ bank accounts after the victims were duped into believing they were paid participants as part of a “secret shopper” exercise designed for them to evaluate Wal-Mart and various money wire outlets. The victims were instructed to keep approximately $200 or more of the less than $2,000 counterfeited postal money orders or bogus cashier’s checks, and immediately wire the remaining money to the conspirators. After a few days, the counterfeited money orders or bogus cashier’s checks would be returned against the victims’ accounts as not negotiable. The victims would then be obligated to pay their banks or their financial institutions.
Conspirators shared most of their proceeds with a group of Nigerians who were responsible for supplying Barwick-Majeski with fraudulent postal money orders and cashier’s checks.
By pleading guilty today, Shupe admitted that his criminal conduct within the wire fraud conspiracy amounted to approximately $6,491 of illegal wires sent or received by Shupe. Peebles admitted that her criminal conduct within the wire fraud conspiracy amounted to approximately $38,360 of illegal wires sent or received by Peebles. Under the terms of their plea agreements, both Shupe and Peebles must pay restitution to their victims.
Under federal statutes, Shupe and Peebles are each subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull, II. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Robert, Mo., Police Department.
Two Mexican nationals charged with illegal reentryRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned indictments today charging Mexican nationals Laurencio Garcia-Labra, 39, and Mario Labra-Garcia, 25, with illegal reentry after they were discovered to be in the country illegally, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
The defendants were allegedly discovered in Ohio County, West Virginia without requisite permission to be in the United States. Both defendants had previously been deported from California to Mexico.
The defendants are each charged with one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” They each face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. 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 Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations is leading the inquiry with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Martinsburg residents charged with cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Gary Vincent Whorley, 32, and Dawn Marie Wiley, 25, both of Martinsburg, with cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
The defendants allegedly participated in crack cocaine trafficking in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
The defendants are each charged with:
• One count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1,000 Feet of a School,” for which they each faces up to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000.00, • One count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base,” for which they each face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, • One count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Base,” for which they each face to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and
• One count of “Aiding and Abetting the Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base,” for which they each face up to 30 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. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Paul Camilletti are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, is leading the investigation.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Troy R. Morley Selected to Serve as Tribal LiaisonRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Troy R. Morley has been named the new Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota. As Tribal Liaison, Morley will serve as the conduit in matters between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the nine tribes of South Dakota.
Morley joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2012, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Pierre branch office. In that capacity, his primary area of prosecutorial responsibility is in Indian country, and specifically the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
Morley is currently involved in the formation of a working group to study reentry alternatives with the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Morley will also be working on a reentry project with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, as well as working with tribal officials in implementing a pilot program to exercise special domestic violence jurisdiction.
Morley completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota. In addition to his experience in private practice prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, Morley previously served as Special Judge to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy and was a member of the Commission to Study Racial and Ethnic Bias in the North Dakota Court System.
He is originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Morley and his wife, Abby, live in Pierre, and are the parents of six children.
Troy R. Morley Selected to Serve as Tribal LiaisonRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Troy R. Morley has been named the new Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota. As Tribal Liaison, Morley will serve as the conduit in matters between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the nine tribes of South Dakota.
Morley joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2012, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Pierre branch office. In that capacity, his primary area of prosecutorial responsibility is in Indian country, and specifically the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
Morley is currently involved in the formation of a working group to study reentry alternatives with the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Morley will also be working on a reentry project with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, as well as working with tribal officials in implementing a pilot program to exercise special domestic violence jurisdiction.
Morley completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota. In addition to his experience in private practice prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, Morley previously served as Special Judge to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy and was a member of the Commission to Study Racial and Ethnic Bias in the North Dakota Court System.
He is originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Morley and his wife, Abby, live in Pierre, and are the parents of six children.
Thai Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Violate Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Involving Significant Amounts of Gun PartsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Kitibordee Yindeear-Rom, 28, a native and citizen of Thailand, was sentenced today to three years in prison for taking part in a conspiracy involving the purchase and shipment of hundreds of gun parts from the United States to Thailand without a license.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington, D.C.
Yindeear-Rom pled guilty in November 2014, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of 36 months of incarceration. The Honorable Rosemary M. Collyer accepted the plea today and sentenced the defendant accordingly.
According to the evidence presented at the plea hearing, beginning at least in or about July 2010, Yindeear-Rom entered into an agreement with at least one other individual to ship United States origin goods, including defense articles - specifically gun parts - to Thailand. As part of their agreement, Yindeear-Rom purchased gun parts from United States manufacturers through on-line purchases, and directed the purchased items to be sent to at least one other individual in the United States to conceal the ultimate destination of the purchases.
Upon receipt of the gun parts, the items would be repackaged for shipment to Thailand. Extending through at least October 2013 as part of the conspiracy, Yindeear-Rom caused to be purchased and shipped hundreds of different gun parts from the United States to Thailand without a license. These gun parts included, for example, magazines, gun barrels, night vision scopes, and all manner of gun replacement parts for a variety of handguns, rifles, and shotguns. These defense articles had a retail value in excess of $66,000.
As part of the plea agreement, Yindeear-Rom agreed to his removal from the United States and the forfeiture of $66,000.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge Settles commended the efforts of the Special Agents who investigated the case for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tejpal Chawla and Opher Shweiki, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zia Faruqui, who assisted with forfeiture aspects of the investigation.
15-049
Texans Sentenced in East Texas Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Six defendants have been sentenced for their roles in a mortgage fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. Sentencing hearings were held before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
Debra Rush-Santens, 42, of Plano, pleaded guilty on Oct.4, 2012, and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on Mar. 12, 2015, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of 6,215,087.47.
Casey Irons, 42, of Rockwall, Texas, pleaded guilty on Dec 18, 2012, and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison on Mar. 12, 2015, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,907,697.05.
Chris Limbrick, 47, of Houston, pleaded guilty on Nov 8, 2012, and was sentenced to 47 months in federal prison on Mar. 13, 2015, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,521,764.15.
Gregory Preston, 43, of Cedar Hill, Texas, pleaded guilty on Dec 18, 2012, and was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison on Mar. 16, 2015, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,085,085.52.
Eric Patterson, 36, of Dallas, pleaded guilty on Nov 8, 2012, and was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison on Mar. 12, 2015, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,233,784.91.
Michael Allen, 47, of Houston, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2014 and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $507,862.61.
Santens, Irons, Limbrick, and Preston all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Patterson and Allen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to information presented in court, from July 2006 to March 2008, in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere, Santens conspired with Irons, Limbrick, Preston, Patterson, and Allen to engage in monetary transactions in criminally-derived property of a value greater than $10,000, which property was derived from wire fraud, that is a scheme to induce lending institutions to fund mortgage loans for residential properties for which the property values had been fraudulently inflated for buyers who had been fraudulently qualified for loans.
Santens owned, operated, and controlled Silver Key Financial ("SKF"), LDS Lakehill Developers Group, L.P. ("LDS"), and North Texas Developers Group ("NTDG") from her residence in Plano, Texas, and at her office in Frisco, Texas, both in the Eastern District of Texas. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Santens caused HUD-1 forms to be submitted to lending institutions that falsely stated that the buyers had provided the down payment for the purchase of the property when Santens was the source of the down payment. Santens knew at the time of submission to the lending institutions that the source of the down payment was material to the lender in determining whether to fund the requested mortgage loan. Santens also knew that co-conspirators would provide documents containing false information to the lending institutions; that lending institutions would rely on the false material representations made in the loan documents in determining whether to fund the mortgage loans; that the lending institutions would provide the loan funds through the use of interstate wire transfers; and Santens intended for these actions to occur.
Santens, as a recipient of the criminally-derived loan funds from the title companies’ subsequent disbursements, distributed the proceeds through wire transfers in amounts greater than $10,000 to co-conspirators as kickbacks for their roles in the conspiracy.
Irons' role in the offense was to identify properties that could be fraudulently flipped by Santens, through one of her companies, at a fraudulently inflated price to a straw buyer. Irons coordinated these fraudulent deals with the title company employees, the appraisers, Santens, and other co-conspirators. Irons knowingly caused false gift letters and false verifications of employment forms to be submitted to lenders to induce the lenders to fund the mortgage loans.
Limbrick was a loan officer for Outlook Mortgage who assisted individuals with completing Loan Applications in order to qualify the individuals for mortgage loans from lending institutions.
Patterson and Preston's role in the offense was to recruit buyers to purchase properties in a fraudulent flipping scheme where Santens, through one of her companies, would sell properties at a fraudulently inflated price.
Allen was a loan processor for Mortgage Icons who assisted individuals with completing Loan Applications in order to qualify the individuals for mortgage loans from lending institutions.
This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Williams and Chris Eason.
#######
Ten sentenced on drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Ten individuals were sentenced today on drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Dustin Turner, 42, of Weston, West Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Lewis County, West Virginia, in May 2014. He pled guilty in October 2014 to one count of “Possession of Materials to be used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine” following an investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Turner will receive credit for time served since May 2014.
Julie Ann Johnson, 37, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for her role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Randolph County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Possession of Materials to be used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine” following an investigation by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,221.49.
Shannon David Flagg, 41, of Hambleton, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for her role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Tucker County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in October 2013 to one count of “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine” following an investigation by the United States Forest Service, the Tucker County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Richard Raymond Linger, 29, of Norton, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison after he was discovered in possession of morphine in Tucker County, West Virginia in February 2014. He pled guilty in December 2014 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Morphine” following an investigation by the Tucker County Sheriff Department.
Shannon Salisbury, 35, of Burnsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years of probation for her role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Lewis County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in May 2014 to one count of “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine” following an investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
Rita Brown, 50, of Sand Fork, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years of probation for her role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Gilmer County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in May 2014 to one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises” following an investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
Clyde Earl Goldstein, 35, of Davis, West Virginia, was sentenced today to two years of probation for selling subutex, a prescription painkiller, in Tucker County, West Virginia. He pled guilty in October 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Subutex” following an investigation by the Tucker County Sheriff Department.
Jessica Dawn Kerns, 23, of Beverly, West Virginia, was sentenced today to two years of probation for selling Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug, in Randolph County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Alprazolam” following an investigation by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the United States Forest Service, the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Angie Lyn Graber, 48, of Philippi, West Virginia, was sentenced today to two years of probation for selling Clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, in Randolph County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Clonazepam” following an investigation by the United States Forest Service.
Mindy Rachelle Leary, 26, of Durbin, West Virginia, was sentenced today to two years of probation for her role in manufacturing methamphetamine in Randolph County, West Virginia. She pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Laboratory Supply Knowingly to Manufacture Methamphetamine” following an investigation by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the United States Forest Service, the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted Brown and Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Stein prosecuted Goldstein and Linger, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the remaining defendants on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Stover Man Charged with Threatening to Shoot the PresidentRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Stover, Mo., man was charged in federal court today for making threats against the President of the United States.
Cameron James Stout, 24, of Stover was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. Stout, who was arrested and had an initial court appearance today, remains in federal custody.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Stout threatened on several occasions to shoot and kill President Barack Obama.
A confidential informant approached a Morgan County sheriff’s deputy on Friday, March 13, 2015, and reported that Stout had solicited him the previous day for a rifle and assistance in his plan to shoot the president in the next few weeks, the affidavit says. The confidential informant, a former Aryan Nation member, reported that Stout said he was going to kill the president and that he was serious. According to the confidential informant, Stout said he didn’t have a high-powered rifle and needed to obtain one. The confidential informant told Stout he could put him in contact with a high-ranking member of the Aryan Nation to assist him in obtaining a rifle and to provide Stout with information which would assist him.
On Saturday, March 14, 2015, Stout again discussed shooting the president while he and the confidential informant worked on four-wheel ATVs. Stout drew two diagrams of the Washington, D.C., area and his shooting locations that he had identified through research on the Internet, the affidavit says, which he gave to the confidential informant (who turned them over to law enforcement). According to the affidavit, Stout told the confidential informant that he actually owns a .270-caliber Weatherby rifle with a high-powered scope that he had loaned to another person, but now has the rifle back and plans to use it to commit his crime.
On Monday, March 16, 2015, the confidential informant visited Stout’s residence then met him again later. According to the affidavit, they again discussed Stout’s intention to shoot the president and made arrangements for Stout to meet the confidential informant’s superior in the Aryan Nation.
Stout and the confidential informant met again this morning with an undercover law enforcement officer purporting to be the confidential informant’s superior in the Aryan Nation. According to the affidavit, Stout stated that his plan was to set up at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., and to shoot the president the next time he comes to Kansas City. Stout wanted the undercover officer to provide him with transportation to and from Kansas City. Stout allegedly stated that he was a competent shot up to 200 yards.
The undercover officer asked Stout if it was Stout’s plan to shoot the president, according to the affidavit, and Stout replied “Yes.” Stout allegedly told the undercover officer that he had done research for his plan on his home computer.
Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to Twelve Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced William G. Roberts (55, St. Petersburg) to 12 years in federal prison for receiving, possessing, and distributing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to serve a life term of supervision following his release from prison, and to register as a sex offender. Roberts pleaded guilty on December 11, 2014.
According to court documents, Roberts sought out and caused a nine-year-old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing videos of the explicit conduct. The child was directed by Roberts to upload the requested videos to his private YouTube account. The child’s mother discovered the explicit videos and chats and contacted police. Subsequent investigation by law enforcement identified Roberts as the individual with whom the child had been communicating.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Unit and the Cape Coral Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Saipan Sex Trafficker Sentenced to over 19 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAIPAN, CNMI – ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, U.S. District Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Wei Lin, age 32, of the People’s Republic of China, to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Judge Manglona also ordered Lin to pay $7,172.39 in restitution to each of the three victims.
Lin pleaded guilty to the offense on June 8, 2012. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Manglona found the United States had also proven by clear and convincing evidence that Lin was the leader of the sex trafficking organization.
United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, stated, “Those who traffic women will find no refuge from law enforcement. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who tries to profit off the sexual exploitation of women. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this heinous crime. It also sends a clear message that trafficking in persons will not be tolerated in the C.N.M.I.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance of the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe.
Registered Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Rogelio “Roger” Cordero, age 58, of New Castle, Delaware, pled guilty today to Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of federal law. Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced the guilty plea following a hearing in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Cordero was previously convicted in Delaware of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, Unlawful Sexual Penetration and Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree in 1992. Those crimes involved Cordero’s sexual abuse of two female minors over an 18-month period. He was sentenced to 18 years in Delaware state prison, and 5 years of probation following his release.
As a result of his prior convictions, Cordero faces enhanced sentencing penalties under federal law, including a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years, and a maximum sentence of forty years, in prison. Cordero also faces a term of supervised release of five years to life following his prison sentence, and he will be required to register as a sex offender in any U.S. jurisdiction in which he lives, works, or attends school. Cordero will be sentenced on July 27, 2015 by United States District Judge Sue L. Robinson.
According to statements made and documents filed in court, Cordero came to the attention of the Delaware Child Predator Task Force (the “Task Force”) after it began an investigation into two other registered child sex offenders living in Delaware. That investigation began in October 2012, after the Task Force received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The cybertip reported that an AOL user, subsequently identified as Cordero, a registered child sex offender from New Castle, Delaware, had uploaded files containing child pornography through an AOL server.
On December 20, 2012, Task Force officers executed a state search warrant at Roger Cordero’s New Castle residence, where they found computers containing thousands of images of child pornography featuring mostly prepubescent and adolescent children. They also found that Cordero had been trading child pornography with David Pennington, another registered child sex offender whom Cordero had met while both were incarcerated in the Smyrna Correctional Institution for child sex offenses. The men shared the images of child pornography by mailing digital photographs saved to thumb drives back and forth to one another. They also found a small, concealable “pen” camera that Cordero had used to attempt to record explicit footage of a minor child changing clothes.
Later on the day of December 20, 2012, Task Force officers executed a state search warrant at Pennington’s Georgetown residence. Pennington, who was then wearing an electronic monitoring device due to a state probation violation, was present for the search. During the search, Task Force members recovered evidence relating to the mailing of USB “thumb drives” containing child pornography and handwritten child sexual abuse stories between Pennington and Cordero. Pennington also informed the officers that he would view child pornography mailed to him by Cordero with another registered sex offender, William Zimmerman, of Georgetown, Delaware.
On January 8, 2013, Task Force officers executed a state search warrant at Zimmerman’s Georgetown residence. They recovered several pieces of computer equipment found to contain hundreds of images of child pornography. The images featured children ranging in age from infancy to mid-teen being posed or engaged in sexual acts with adult males.
Cordero is now the third member of the group to be convicted of child exploitation crimes. On October 11, 2013, David Pennington was sentenced to 28 years in prison by Delaware Superior Court Judge T. Henley Graves after pleading guilty to Dealing in Child Pornography, in violation of Delaware law. On April 22, 2014, William Zimmerman was sentenced to the mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison by United States District Judge Gregory M. Sleet after pleading guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography.
All three cases were brought as part of the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Program, which was launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims.
As intended by the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Program, the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked together to investigate and prosecute Cordero, Pennington and Zimmerman. Based on their outstanding efforts, the investigative and prosecution team recently received the United States Department of Homeland Security’s “Exemplary Partnership Award,” the only award of its kind presented nationally by DHS this year.
Ramah Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Kenneth Durante, 57, of Ramah, N.M., was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for his possession of a stolen firearm conviction. Durante will be on supervised release for three years after completing his term of incarceration.
Durante was arrested on Jan. 6, 2014, in Gallup, N.M., on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleged that Durante unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on July 6, 2013, in McKinley County, N.M. At the time, Durante was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, attempted second degree murder and possession of marijuana.
On Dec. 3, 2014, Durante pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of a stolen firearm. Durante admitted possessing a loaded revolver which had been stolen from a residence when he was encountered by law enforcement on July 6, 2013, in McKinley County, N.M.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh.
The case was prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.
Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Contact: Craig M. Wolff
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Beth M. Rogers, 45, of Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to mail and wire fraud.
Court records show that Rogers operated TravelWise Cruises & Tours, a travel agency in Saco. Beginning in late 2011, Rogers began taking client money without making travel reservations for the clients who had provided the funds. She instead used the money to pay for the travel of other individuals who had booked travel through TravelWise. She misapplied money from more than 50 clients in this fashion until mid-2012, when her scheme was discovered.
Rogers faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. She will also be required to pay full restitution to her victims. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Saco Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Portland Resident Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Aiming a Laser Pointer at Commercial AircraftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - Stephen Francis Bukucs, 41, of Portland, was sentenced to six months in federal prison yesterday by U. S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman for two felony counts of aiming a laser pointer at commercial jetliners as they approached Portland International Airport for night landings in October 2013. Following the prison term, Bukucs must serve three years of supervised release.
On July 15, 2014, Bukucs pleaded guilty to aiming his green laser device at United Airlines Flight 1406 and Jet Blue Flight 1205 as they flew over his apartment in Northeast Portland on October 13, 2013. The laser struck both aircraft and distracted the pilots during their final descents to Portland. Bukucs confessed to the FBI that, over several months, he had targeted up to 25 aircraft and that he did so for entertainment and as a “cat-and-mouse” game with the police who pursued him. His arrest occurred after intense air and ground surveillance by FBI agents and police officers. Investigators reported over 100 laser strikes from the vicinity of defendant’s apartment in 2013, the government stated to the court.
Bukucs, a native of Portland, worked for Delta Airlines in the Portland ground crew from 1997 to 2004. From 2007 until his arrest, he worked for a private security firm, providing armed security in Portland and Vancouver, Washington.
Among his findings as part of the sentence, Judge Mosman found that “the offense involved recklessly endangering the safety of an aircraft.” The government noted at sentencing that aiming a laser at aircraft always jeopardizes aircraft safety, since it may impair pilots’ vision by causing glare or flash blindness. The action can force pilots to divert their eyes from their flight or landing path, startle them, and reduce their ability to observe obstacles.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, the Port of Portland Police and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Stephen F. Peifer.
Pecos Father and Daughter Sentenced in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
In Pecos today, a federal judge sentenced 56-year-old Jose Luis Corrales to 365 months and 28-year-old Angelica Corrales to 210 months in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez and Pecos Chief of Police Clay D. McKinney.
Both defendants are from Pecos. In addition to the prison terms, visiting U. S. District Chief Judge of the Southern District of Mississippi Louis Guirola, Jr., ordered the defendants to serve a 5-year term of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.
According to court records, Jose Luis Corrales and Angelica Corrales pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, admitting that from October, 2013, continuing until August, 2014, the two distributed over 3000 grams of methamphetamine. Court records further reveal that Angelica Corrales admitted she sold at a minimum three grams of methamphetamine, supplied by her father, three times a day for a year.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations - Alpine and the Pecos Police Department with assistance from the United States Border Patrol, Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James J. Miller, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Newton County Man Sentenced for Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 61-year-old Newton, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
John Dale Clark pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2014, to the sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
According to information presented in court, on July 30, 2013, law enforcement officers were alerted to possible child exploitation taking place in Newton County. Federal search warrants were executed for Clark’s digital camera, memory card, an external thumb drive, and a thumb drive. A forensic examination of the items revealed images of child pornography, which Clark had produced. Clark was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 4, 2013.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke.
New York Man Admits Enticing a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man today admitted soliciting a female minor to produce sexually explicit images and using Craigslist to advertise sexual encounters with the minor, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced
Gabriel Toro, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of online enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Toro admitted that between December 2011 and August 2014, he used the internet to induce a 14-year-old girl to engage in criminal sexual conduct including taking pictures of her genitals for him. Toro also admitted to distributing images of the girl to another individual and posting advertisements on Craigslist for individuals to have sex with the minor in exchange for money.
The charge to which Toro pleaded guilty carries a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Toro will be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
15-091
Defense counsel: James Friedman Esq., Newark