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21 January 2015
Neptune, New Jersey, Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Shooting of Cab Driver, Several Armed Robberies in Monmouth CountyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 276 months in prison for his involvement in a 24-hour crime spree in five separate shore-area towns that involved the shooting of a cab driver and a number of armed robberies, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Quam Wilson, 24, of Neptune, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to the first two counts of an indictment charging him with committing a Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm during the commission of that robbery. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Wilson engaged in a crime spree that began at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2012, when he robbed a cab driver in Asbury Park. The driver was shot during the robbery. The victim, who survived, sustained a single gunshot wound to the head and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. During the plea hearing, Wilson admitted he took the cab driver’s identification, taxi keys and debit card during the robbery.
After robbing the taxi driver, Wilson proceeded to a Shell gas station located in Ocean Township. There, he approached a gas station attendant and, while brandishing a handgun, robbed him of cash and fled the area. Later that morning, Wilson attempted to obtain money from the cab driver’s bank account from several area banks. Suspecting that a theft was taking place, a bank employee confiscated the identification and debit card from Wilson and contacted police. At approximately 9:00 p.m., that same day, he committed an armed robbery at a taxi stand in Long Branch, again while brandishing a handgun.During the early morning hours of the next day, Nov. 14, 2012, Wilson robbed an Exxon gas station in Red Bank at gunpoint. A short time later, Wilson entered a Quick Check convenience store in Neptune Township. Again, he pointed a handgun at a cashier and demanded money. Wilson was arrested at approximately 10:00 p.m. later that day by several police officers in Asbury Park, where he had been hiding in an attic.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Wilson to serve five years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Wilson’s sentence will be served consecutively to a state prison term he is currently serving. He was sentenced on March 14, 2014, to eight years in state prison with a four- year period of parole ineligibility.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in George Belsky, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni, Asbury Park Police Department, Ocean Township Police Department, Long Branch Police Department, Neptune Township Police Department and the United States Marshals Service N.Y. /N.J. Regional Fugitive Task Force for their assistance.The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Joseph Gribko of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelynn Seely from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
15-028
Defense counsel: David R. Oakley Esq., Princeton, New JerseyMonroe Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing more than $200,000 in Social Security PaymentsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Monroe woman pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 in Social Security benefit payments.
Cassandra D. Ellis, 53, of Monroe, entered a conditional guilty plea for one count of theft of government funds to U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, from February 1996 to April 2014, Ellis deposited and used her deceased grandmother’s Social Security benefit checks, to which she was not entitled. She also led Social Security officials to believe her grandmother was alive in order to continue receiving the checks. The total amount taken was $206,325.
Ellis faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date of May 4, 2015 was set.
The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.
Mobile County Man Sentenced to 5 Years Probation and Ordered to Pay $195,744.20 for Theft of Social Security (SSA) Widow's BenefitsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney, Kenyen Brown, announces that Alfred Earl, a 60 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced today. Mr. Earl pled guilty to theft of government funds on October 20, 2014. Mr. Earl’s mother died in 1986, and at that time, she was receiving SSA widow’s benefits. Her benefits continued to be deposited monthly into her bank account at a local bank more than 24 years after her death. Mr. Earl had sole access to his mother’s bank account and withdrew the money out every month for 25 years and used it for his personal use and enjoyment knowing he should have contacted the Social Security Administration and had the benefits for his dead mother terminated. Mr. Earl was sentenced today to a five year probationary term and order to repay the Social Security Administration $95,744.20, which was the total amount he stole over the 25 year period.
Special Agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case and presented it to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.
Miami-Dade County Resident Pleads Guilty to Unauthorized Possession of Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
Miami-Dade County resident pled guilty to unauthorized possession of stolen identities.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Brandon K. Jenkins, 23, pled guilty to one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices (social security numbers of other people), and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2014, the IRS and USSS executed a search warrant at a residence where law enforcement discovered and recovered over 3,000 items (papers, notebooks, etc.) that contained personal identifying information (PII) of various individuals. Located in the bedroom where Jenkins was sleeping was an envelope that had “Mr. Brandon K Jenkins” written on the front. Inside the envelope was a wallet that contained a Social Security card in the defendant’s name, other documents in the defendant’s name, three debit cards in the names of other individuals, and five “Student Selection Form Cards” containing the names and social security numbers of other individuals.
A latent print analysis of documents recovered from the residence revealed 29 of Jenkins’ fingerprints on documents containing PII. Jenkins’ fingerprints were also found on a piece of paper containing the name, date of birth, and social security number of another person who had a fraudulent income tax refund filed in her name. Jenkins lived at the target residence and participated in filing fraudulent income tax refunds from that residence until the execution of the search warrant.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. At sentencing, Jenkins faces up to ten years in prison for the access device charge, and a mandatory term of two years in prison, consecutive to any other term in prison, for the aggravated identity theft charge.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the USSS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke C. Watson and Gera R. Peoples.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Meadows Sentenced on Pipe Bomb Felony ChargeRead the Press Release
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced that Antonio Meadows, age 31, of Hull, Georgia was sentenced today by the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, United States District Judge in Athens, Georgia. Mr. Meadows was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for the possession of pipe bombs. He pled guilty to the felony charge on September 29, 2014.On December 24, 2013, Mr. Meadows’ girlfriend made a domestic violence report to the Comer Police Department alleging he had kidnapped and beaten her. She stated the incident took place at Mr. Meadows’ home. Officers obtained an arrest warrant for felony kidnapping. When they arrived at the home, Mr. Meadows was running around the house and attempting to dispose of something down the kitchen sink. He was arrested.
After officers obtained a search warrant, a cloth bag in the living room closet was discovered that contained three pipe bombs. The pipe bombs were tested and found to be fully functioning. They each contained pellets, bullets, and shards of PVC.
U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said, “Pipe bombs are dangerous explosive devices and cannot be tolerated in a civil society, especially in light of events taking place around the world today.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Comer Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Graham A. Thorpe prosecuted the case for the government.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pam Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office at 478-621-2603.
Mason City Man Who Traded His Dog for A Gun to Shoot His Son Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
Contact: Steve Young
A man who possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense was sentenced today to more than 21 years in federal prison.
Billy Douglas Thorne, 58, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 17, 2014, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The evidence at trial showed that on July 24, 2012, Thorne traded his dog for a .22 caliber rifle which he intended to use to shoot his son. Fearing that police would arrive and find the gun in his residence, Thorne had others hide the gun in a Mason City park. After Thorne was arrested on harassment charges, the gun was turned over to the police. Thorne had previously been convicted in 1997 in the State of Florida of five counts of Burglary of a Dwelling and one count of Armed Burglary, all felony offenses.
Thorne was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Thorne was found to be an Armed Career Criminal and sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Thorne is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Ankeny Police Department, and the Mason City Police Department.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 13-CR-3052.
Martha’s Vineyard CPA Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Vineyard Haven CPA pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns in which he underreported more than $800,000 in income for three years.
Roger A. Armstrong, 61, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with three counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for April 28, 2015.
Armstrong, a CPA and tax preparer who lived and worked on Martha's Vineyard, owned rental property in Massachusetts and Florida. As a sole proprietor, Armstrong was required to accurately report his gross receipts and his business profit or loss on his individual income tax returns and also was to report any rental income he received. For tax years 2009 through 2011, Armstrong filed tax returns in which he significantly underreported both his business gross receipts and his rental income. For these three tax years, Armstrong did not report a total of approximately $790,000 in gross receipts and approximately $47,000 in rental income. As a result of the underreporting, Armstrong did not pay $200,000 in taxes.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater for each count. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Sandra S. Bower of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Officer for Conspiring to Distribute Narcotics Shipped from ChinaRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James T. Hayes, Jr., the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), and Barry Kluger, Inspector General of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), announced today the arrest of BEY DOMINICK for conspiring to distribute kilogram quantities of Ethylone, a substance similar to Butylone, a Schedule I controlled substance. Ethylone is also similar to MDEA, also known as “Eve,” and MDMA, also known as “Molly” or “ecstasy.” DOMINICK is a police officer with the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (“TBTA”), which is part of the MTA. The defendant was arrested yesterday and presented today in Manhattan federal court before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:
In October 2014, law enforcement officers intercepted and seized a parcel (“Package-1”) at John F. Kennedy International Airport that originated from Shanghai, China. Package-1 contained approximately one kilogram of a substance that tested positive for Ethylone, an isomer of Butylone, which is a Schedule I controlled substance. Package-1 was addressed to a business (“Business-1”) at a UPS store mailbox (“Mailbox-1”) in Newburgh, New York. An individual using the name “Ali Smith” had rented Mailbox-1, using a fraudulent New York State driver’s license that contained a photograph of BEY DOMINICK (the “Fraudulent License”). An employee of the Newburgh UPS store identified a photograph of DOMINICK as the person who had picked up a subsequent package delivered to Mailbox-1 and signed for that package in the name “Ali Smith.”
From October 2013 to August 2014, an individual or individuals using the names “Bey Dominick,” “Dominick Beq,” and “Ali Smith” sent more than $29,000 in Western Union wire transfers from the United States to banks in China.
An individual using the name “Ali Smith” and the Fraudulent License also rented a mailbox (“Mailbox-2”) at another UPS store, in New Windsor, New York. From January 2014 to December 2014, approximately 17 packages from China were delivered to a business (“Business-2”) with an address of Mailbox-2. A search of public records has revealed that Business-1 and Business-2 are not registered with the New York State Department of State Division of Corporations.
In January 2015, law enforcement officers learned that a package (“Package-2”) was in transit from China to Mailbox-2. After searching Package-2 pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement officers found that it contained approximately one kilogram of a substance that tested positive for Ethylone. Yesterday, after law enforcement officers removed the Ethylone, re-sealed Package-2, and provided it to the New Winsdor UPS store for delivery to Mailbox-2, DOMINICK entered the UPS store. While under surveillance by law enforcement officers, DOMINICK signed for Package-2 under the name “Ali Smith” and exited the store in possession Package-2, at which time he was arrested.
At the time of his arrest, DOMINICK possessed his police badge and a firearm.
DOMINICK, 43, of Middletown, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum term of 20 years and a mandatory term of three years of supervised release. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding work of HSI, USPIS, and the MTA Inspector General’s Office in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Johnson-Skinner is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dominick, Bey Complaint
Long Island Legislator Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $2 Million from Client of His Former Law FirmRead the Press Release
David Denenberg, a practicing New York attorney and Nassau County Legislator, pleaded guilty today to defrauding a former client of over $2 million. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert at the federal courthouse in Central Islip.
Today’s guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).
According to court filings and statements made in court at the time he entered the plea, between November 2006 and June 2014, Denenberg was a partner in the Garden City law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP (“DHC”), formerly Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP (“DMH”). During that time period, Denenberg sent fraudulent bills to a client for legal services that he never rendered. The client, a corporation based in Port Washington, New York, relied on Denenberg’s false billings and paid DHC/DHM $2,265,004.46. During the same time period, Denenberg also sent fraudulent expense bills to the client for purported expenses incurred in furtherance of his legal representation, which expenses were never incurred, totaling $126,071.43. In all, the client paid DHC/DHM $2,342,607.64 for legal service never rendered and expenses never incurred.
“Denenberg used his license to practice law as a license to steal, billing for phantom work to steal real money from a client who trusted him. Today’s conviction should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law. The defendant has admitted his criminal conduct and will now face the consequences,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its work on the investigation.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos stated, “Lawyers are expected to act in the best interest of their clients while upholding the tenants of the legal system. Denenberg did just the opposite by taking advantage of a trusting client and benefitting from illegitimate profits. Those who practice law are not above the law, and Denenberg will be held to face the consequences of his actions.”
At sentencing, Denenberg faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of more than $250,000. Denenberg has already made full restitution to the former client.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lara Treinis Gatz.
The Defendant:
DAVID DENENBERG
Age: 51
Merrick, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CR-594 (JS)
Local Man Heads to Prison for Ramming Border Patrol Vehicle While Transporting MarijuanaRead the Press Release
MCALLEN, Texas – A Rio Grande City man is now serving a significant sentence for possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson today. Issac Medina, 29, of Rio Grande City, pleaded guilty June 26, 2014.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Cane sentenced Medina to 135 months of federal imprisonment to be immediately followed by a four-year-term of supervised release.
On March 14, 2014, Border Patrol (BP) agents observed Medina drive his vehicle down to the Rio Grande River where it was loaded with 34 large bundles that later tested positive for marijuana. Medina then headed north at a high rate of speed. A BP agent attempted to intercept the defendant and pulled onto a road where the agent observed Medina’s vehicle come to rest. Medina began to exit but then accelerated his vehicle forward striking the agent’s vehicle head-on.
The agent, hearing Medina accelerating his engine, feared being pushed into the roadway and discharged his service weapon. At that time, Medina surrendered and was taken into custody.
Judge Crane enhanced Medina’s sentence for use of a deadly weapon (the motor vehicle), use of violence against the agent and acting in a manner creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury.
Medina has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Border Patrol and the Pharr Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Steven Schammel and former AUSA Juan Villescas prosecuted the case.
Kingston Woman Indicted for Unlawfully Acquiring A FirearmRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Kingston woman who was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2014, was arrested today for allegedly making false representations in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the grand jury alleges that Lori Svab, age 49, made false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer in Luzerne County to acquire a firearm. The indictment alleges that Svab obtained a .45 caliber pistol on February 8, 2014, and that she falsely represented that she was not purchasing the gun for another person.
The charge stems from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Wilkes-Barre Police, and Kingston Police.
Svab appeared in court today in Scranton before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick. Svab was released on her own recognizance under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office.
Svab faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if she is convicted of the charge.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.
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.
Kentuckiana Physician Charged with Prescribing Pain Medications That Resulted in the Deaths of Five PatientsRead the Press Release
Additional Charges Include Health Care Fraud and Unlawful Distribution or Dispensing of Controlled Substances
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Kentuckiana physician was charged today by a federal grand jury with prescribing pain medications that resulted in the deaths of five patients, health care fraud, and unlawful distribution or dispensing of controlled substances announce Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
Jaime Guerrero, age 47, a medical physician with offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, was charged in a 32 count indictment today with unlawfully dispensing pain medications to 30 patients, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice. Beginning in December, 2009, and continuing through May 2014, Guerrero allegedly prescribed pain medications that resulted in the deaths of five patients.
The indictment charges Guerrero with dispensing Oxycodone, a schedule II controlled substance, to K.J., between June 6, 2011, through August 25, 2011, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in K.J.’s death on or about August 29, 2011. That Guerrero intentionally distributed and dispensed, Methadone, a schedule II controlled substance, to D.N., between December 15, 2009, through April 1, 2010, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in D.N.’s death on or about April 5, 2011. That Guerrero knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed, Oxycodone, to R.S., between December 10, 2009, through February 9, 2010, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in R.S.’s death on or about February 18, 2010. That Guerrero dispensed Oxycodone, to P.F. December 28, 2009, and continuing through February 20, 2012, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in P.F.’s death on or about March 3, 2012. That Guerrero knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed, Hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance, to S.O., between January 6, 2010, and continuing through September 16, 2011, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in S.O.’s death on or about September 24, 2011.
Guerrero is further charged with two counts of health care fraud for allegedly fraudulently billing various health care benefit programs and for submitting fraudulent claims for patient health care counseling. Specifically, on May 26, 2011, June 15, 2011, and June 22, 2011, Guerrero allegedly saw more than 100 patients on each of the dates, by himself, and spent approximately 3 minutes or less with each patient, and fraudulently billed various health care benefit programs, for office visits at a higher code than the service provided. And for directing a staff member, who was not a licensed counselor, to provide drug education classes to patients, and falsely and fraudulently, bill various health care benefit programs, by submitting claims for 15-30 minute counseling sessions while the defendant was out of the office.
If convicted at trial, Guerrero faces up to life in prison, a $2,750,000 fine and a three year period of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Indiana and Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Units, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD).
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Kenner Man Sentenced for Possessing and Attempting to Pass Counterfeit U.S. CurrencyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that FREDERICK WILLIAMS, age 42, of Kenner, was sentenced today for possessing and attempting to pass counterfeit U.S. currency.
U.S. Attorney Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced WILLIAMS to 18 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Special Agents from the U.S. Secret Service, New Orleans Field Office, received information from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office that WILLIAMS had been arrested for attempting to pass counterfeit U.S. currency at Ochsner Hospital located on Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, Louisiana. WILLIAMS was also found to be in possession of an additional $720 in counterfeit U.S. currency.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Secret Service, New Orleans Field Office, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Loan "Mimi" Nguyen was in charge of the prosecution.
Justice Department and Columbus, Georgia, Agree to Landmark Reforms Regarding the Treatment of Prisoners with Serious Mental IllnessRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department reached an agreement with Columbus, Georgia, that will address the remaining goals of a long-standing consent decree calling for reforms of its mental health system.
Muscogee County has made significant improvements at the Muscogee County Jail in the areas of security, environmental health and safety as well as modest improvements in the provision of medical care following a 1999 federal consent agreement. In order to address the continued deficiencies that remain, with respect to identifying, treating and housing prisoners with severe and persistent mental illness, jail leadership worked collaboratively with the Justice Department to create additional solutions that will improve mental health care without compromising security through a supplemental agreement.
The existing consent decree will remain in place and the supplemental agreement adds crucial safeguards for prisoners with serious mental illness. The supplemental agreement restricts the use of solitary confinement for prisoners with serious mental illness and limits the use of solitary confinement after 14 days. The jail will provide secure mental health and step-down units, and programs to provide prisoners with serious mental illness a total of at least 24 hours structured and unstructured time out-of-cell each week. These and other measures will vastly improve the quality of mental health care services in the Muscogee County Jail, while helping to minimize violence in the facility.
The supplemental agreement also includes robust training requirements. All correctional staff must receive Crisis Intervention Team training, including training on understanding and recognizing psychiatric signs and symptoms to identify prisoners who have or may have serious mental illness, using de-escalation techniques to calm and reassure prisoners who have or may have serious mental illness before resorting to use of force, discipline, or solitary confinement, and making appropriate mental health referrals.
“The Constitution requires that those detained in our nation’s jails and prisons are treated humanely and receive adequate mental health care,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta for the Civil Rights Division. “We are glad to have been able to work with Sheriff Darr, Jail Commander Collins, and Columbus, Georgia, in crafting sensible solutions to address a pressing issue confronting corrections administrators throughout this country: the burgeoning numbers of men and women with mental illness in our correctional institutions.
“These reforms will not only improve mental health care for this vulnerable population, but also enhance security within the facility, and facilitate inmates’ successful reintegration into the community upon release, which will help make our society safer,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore for the Middle District of Georgia.
The agreement requires a monitor to oversee implementation of the agreement and issue a compliance report every six months.
The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act authorizes the department to seek a remedy for a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of persons confined in a jail, prison, or other correctional facility. Please visit the division website to learn more about this act and other laws enforced by the Civil Rights Division.
This agreement is due to the efforts of the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, and the leadership of Columbus, Georgia, a consolidated government, acting by and through the Sheriff of Muscogee County, in his official capacity, and the Columbus City Manager, in his official capacity, as authorized by the Columbus Council.
Jury Convicts Independence Man of Illegal Firearm, Faces at Least 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing a firearm.
Meigel M. Craddock, 24, of Independence, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Craddock was in possession of a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 20, 2013.
A Kansas City, Mo., police officer saw a green Pontiac that had been reported stolen traveling eastbound on 43rd Street near Wabash late that morning. Shortly afterward, the officer located the unoccupied vehicle near 4600 Wabash. The officer stopped Craddock, who was walking nearby and was the only person walking in the area. According to the officer, Craddock appeared nervous and claimed that he lived at the address and had just gotten off the bus. Craddock, however, was unable to tell him the address. The officer frisked Craddock and found a large Pontiac key and fob in his left front pants pocket. The officer fit the key into the vehicle’s driver’s side door lock and discovered that the key operated the Pontiac. Upon opening the door, the officer saw the loaded Glock pistol on the driver side floorboard.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Craddock has three prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, three prior felony convictions for robbery, a prior felony conviction for burglary and a prior felony conviction for resisting police.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about two and a half hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple, ending a trial that began Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015.
Under federal statutes, Craddock is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Jasper County Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Producing Child PornRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jasper County, Mo., man who contacted a child victim on Facebook was sentenced in federal court today for producing child pornography.
Ian Holman, 33, of Jasper County, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 16 years in federal prison without parole.
On Sept. 4, 2014, Holman pleaded guilty to the charge contained in an Oct. 1, 2013, federal indictment.
According to court documents, law enforcement authorities received reports regarding two minors that Holman contacted via Facebook. One of the minors, a 13-year-old in Carthage, Mo., told officers that Holman (using the screen name “Lucky Holman”) offered to pay her $75,000 to $100,000. He also asked her to send him sexually explicit pictures of herself, which she did.
On Sept. 11, 2013, after receiving the report from Jane Doe, a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Holman’s residence. Holman attempted to elude the deputy by running out the back of the house and into the woods. The deputy, along with two other officers and a K9 unit, pursued Holman into the woods. The officers searched for Holman for approximately 45 minutes. The deputy was able to contact Holman by phone and persuade him to turn himself in.
According to court documents, Holman told officers that he friended numerous 12-to-14-year-old girls in the Carthage and Webb City area and used Facebook instant messaging to contact the girls.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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."
Harrisburg Man Sentenced to Four Months for Planning the Attempted Escape of His Son from PrisonRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that William Trickett Smith, Sr., age 77, of Harrisburg was sentenced to 4 months in prison following his conviction for planning the attempted escape of his son from prison to avoid extradition and lying to agents investigating that planned escape. The sentence was imposed by Senior U.S. District Judge William W. Caldwell.
Smith was charged in an indictment with attempting to arrange a prison escape, lying to federal agents about it, and trying to persuade someone else to lie to federal agents. In a written plea agreement filed with and accepted by the court, Smith pled to the escape and lying charges in exchange for dismissal of the obstruction charge. The charges stem from events surrounding the arrest and extradition of Smith’s son, William Trickett Smith II. In 2007, Smith II was arrested locally and charged in Peru for the murder of his wife. Peruvian authorities sought his extradition.Smith Sr. devised a plan to have his son escape from custody after Smith Sr. filed a false private criminal complaint that would cause a hearing to be scheduled, requiring Smith II to be transported to Harrisburg. The plan was that a stop would be made on the way, the transporting constable would be assaulted, and Smith II would escape. That plan failed because the criminal complaint was not approved by the district attorney and Smith II was moved to another prison. Smith Sr. then devised another plan for his son’s escape by paying off a prison guard. That plan failed because Smith II was extradited to Peru. Smith Sr. then lied about his plans and actions when questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance of detectives of the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, the Perry County Prison, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
(Government's Sentencing Memorandum)
Georgia man convicted of oxycodone traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Terence D. Brawner, a 32-year-old Georgia native, was convicted in federal court of prescription painkiller trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
An investigation by the West Virginia State Police and the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, revealed that Brawner collaborated with other individuals to distribute oxycodone in Wetzel County, West Virginia.
Brawner pled guilty 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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty in Wire Fraud Scheme That Bilked Airlines by Obtaining Free ‘Non-Rev’ Tickets for Non-EmployeesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Georgia man who fraudulently booked airline reservations by pretending to be a flight crew member pleaded guilty today to a federal wire fraud offense.
Gilbert Myers Jr., 38, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty this afternoon to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a charge that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Myers admitted orchestrating a conspiracy to defraud air carriers in which travelers would illegally board aircrafts while pretending to be employees of other airlines. In exchange for arranging their travel as “non-rev” employee travelers, Myers typically charged approximately $2,000 for one year of unlimited free flights.
Myers fraudulently booked hundreds of flights on victim airlines that include AirTran Airways, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and United Airlines.
The fraudulent travelers utilized Myers’ services to fly in and out of Los Angeles County airports by pretending to be in-flight crew members employed by other airlines. To obtain boarding passes and stand-by tickets (for which airline employees pay little or nothing, hence non-revenue), Myers called the victim airline’s reservation call center and gave the victim airline’s representative the name of a traveler, the airline he supposedly worked for, a bogus employee identification number, and a date of hire. Myers typically lied to the victim airline and said he worked on a flight crew for another airline, according to court documents.
Myers advised the fraudulent travelers to avoid detection by dressing appropriately and how to respond to questions about their employment at another airline. With the fraudulently obtained boarding pass and their real photo identification, the fraudulent travelers went through Transportation Security Administration security screening. The fraudulent travelers boarded planes listed as employees of other airlines. All of the travelers were subject to full security screenings by the Transportation Security Administration.
In the plea agreement, Myers admitted to several specific, fraudulent booking calls. As part of the conspiracy, Myers acknowledges that he “fraudulently booked these and hundreds of other flights with victim airlines.”
Myers pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Dean D. Pregerson, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 30.
In his plea agreement, Myers agrees that Judge Pregerson may order him to pay restitution to the victims. The fair market value of the fraudulently obtained plane tickets was more than $277,000, and attorneys in the case agree that the applicable amount of restitution is approximately $91,660.
All of the victim airlines fully cooperated in the investigation.
The case against Myers is the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Release No. 15-007
Galena Woman Sentenced for Stealing $300,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Galena, Mo., woman has been sentenced in federal court for embezzling more than $300,000 from her employer.
Sarah N. Underwood, 36, of Galena, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, to two years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Underwood to pay $311,280 in restitution to Fall Creek Condominium and $95,008 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, for total restitution payments of $406,288.
On March 17, 2014, Underwood pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and failure to file a tax return. Underwood worked as the community manager for Fall Creek Condominium in Branson, Mo., from Jan. 15, 2007, until she was fired on Sept. 7, 2012, when her theft was discovered. Fall Creek and its owners association has 639 condominiums owned by individuals and under its association. Among other duties, Underwood was responsible for the book-keeping and financial affairs of Fall Creek, and was an authorized signatory on the checking accounts.
Underwood’s wire fraud, money laundering scheme, and tax fraud extended over two years and totaled $406,288 in losses to her employer and the government.
Underwood conducted numerous unauthorized electronic bank transfers and wrote $311,280 in unauthorized checks from the bank accounts of the Fall Creek Condominium Owner’s Association over a two-year period. Underwood also received two paychecks every two weeks from Fall Creek. Underwood deposited these checks into her bank accounts and spent the money on personal expenses and purchasing luxury items.
For example, Underwood admitted that she spent $76,287 to purchase a Shelby Mustang and used $25,505 to purchase a condominium at Fall Creek. Underwood also purchased a 2012 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2012 Yamaha wave-runner.
Underwood used a cashier’s check written on her employer’s bank account to purchase a 2012 Ford F350 Super Duty 4X4 Crew Cab Truck for $56,169. The truck was registered to Mstrmind Enterprises, a company owned by her and her boyfriend, which performed construction and rehabilitation work at Fall Creek. Underwood was responsible for running the business affairs of Mstrmind, while her boyfriend, who was also employed by Fall Creek, was the project manager and responsible for the actual construction or rehabilitation project. The embezzlement scheme included an $80,000 check written to Mstrmind for work that was never performed.
Underwood also admitted that she failed to file federal tax returns for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
According to court documents, after pleading guilty in this case, Underwood became involved in another incident that further casts suspicion on her because of monies from a not-for-profit organization that were in her possession and went missing. On May 13, 2014, the Branson, Mo., Police Department received a report from Biker’s Against Drunk Drivers (BADD) regarding the possible theft of a bank deposit totaling $1,997. Although BADD chose not to proceed with a criminal prosecution, court documents note, Underwood engaged in behavior that placed her under suspicion for theft and fraud while she was facing a sentencing for similar conduct perpetrated against a different victim.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Four from Northeast Ohio Indicted for Defrauding State Unemployment Agencies out of $1.1 MillionRead the Press Release
A 38-count federal indictment was filed charging four people from Northeast Ohio with conspiring to defraud states out of more than $1.1 million in unemployment insurance benefits, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Indicted are: Juan Sanders, 34, of Cleveland Heights; Trina Grant, 36, of Cleveland; Ashley Robinson, 30, of Warrensville Heights, and Robert Barrett, 40, of Cleveland. The charges include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sanders faces an additional count of aggravated identity theft.
“These defendants took advantage of a program designed to help people out of work and instead used it to enrich themselves,” Dettelbach said. “We will prosecute waste, fraud and abuse of government programs.”
The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to defraud state unemployment offices in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Illinois from about September 2011 to January 2014. Under this scheme, Sanders fraudulently obtained personal identifying information from unsuspecting individuals to submit fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits.
Sanders also created state unemployment insurance accounts for multiple fictitious employers in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Illinois. Sanders then filed claims from “employees” who had been purportedly laid off by the fictitious companies. Sanders caused benefit debit cards for the “employees” of these fictitious companies to be mailed to various addresses in Ohio, according to the indictment.
Once the benefits were loaded or reloaded onto the debit cards, Sanders, Grant, Robinson and Barrett used the debit cards at various ATMs in Ohio and withdrew the fraudulently obtained money, according to the indictment.
The indictment charges that as a result of this scheme, approximately $1,174,767 in fraudulent unemployment benefits were paid from state agencies in North Carolina ($572,170), Ohio ($261,509), Illinois ($144,240), California ($129,600) and Massachusetts ($67,248).
Sanders used $16,900 in fraudulently obtained cash to pay off a car loan on his 2007 Jaguar XJ automobile as well as several months’ rent on a Cleveland Heights apartment, according to the indictment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Kern, M. Kendra Klump, and James Morford following an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former elementary school guidance counselor sentenced for painkiller distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Kristyn Elizabeth Fetcko, 34, of Wheeling, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for selling oxycodone while employed as a guidance counselor at Ritchie Elementary School, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, revealed that Fetcko sold oxycodone from her Wheeling home as part of a painkiller distribution network led by Brian Schultz, 38, of Triadelphia, West Virginia. Most recently, Fetcko was discovered in possession of oxycodone in January 2014.
As part of her sentence, Fetcko was also ordered to forfeit her interest in nearly $3,905.00 in U.S. currency. She pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parr prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp presided.
Former Title Company Employee Heads to Prison in Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Harris County resident Maria Eliza Garza has been ordered to prison following her conviction in conspiring to defraud seven different Houston-area banks or more than $2 million in 2007 and 2008, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Garza pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2013.
Today, U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Garza an 18-month sentence to be followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court noted that Garza was an important player in the scheme and further ordered her to pay $2.078 million in restitution.
As outlined in documents filed with the court and admitted by Garza during her guilty plea, she and a co-conspirator agreed to carry out a check kiting scheme that targeted seven different financial institutions in the Houston area. While the co-conspirator allegedly devised the scheme which used multiple bank accounts held in the name of title companies he controlled, Garza admitted she assisted by discussing which bank accounts needed money, preparing checks to sign and depositing signed checks at the banks.
Garza, of Houston, admitted as part of her plea that she helped carry out the scheme from at least January 2007 through June 2008. To do so, Garza prepared checks drawn on the title companies’ accounts. The co-conspirator signed the checks and both knew the accounts lacked sufficient funds to cover the checks. Garza deposited the checks into other accounts controlled by the co-conspirator, which artificially inflated the account balances. They would then write additional checks using the artificially inflated balances and deposit them into either the original issuing account or other accounts controlled by the co-conspirator.
Garza also admitted she and conducted the scheme to artificially inflate the account balances and place the funds at her co-conspirator’s disposal to use as interest-free loans and lines of credit. They continued to carry out the scheme even after three of the banks discovered the kiting activity and shut down the relevant accounts. When the scheme finally collapsed in June 2008, the total loss to the affected banks was $2,099,65.72.
Garza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and police departments in Webster and Friendswood. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pearson is prosecuting the case.
Former Spalding County Battalion Chief and Firefighter Sentenced to Prison for Tipping Off Drug DealersRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. – Former Spalding County Fire Battalion Chief Dwayne Tyrone Coggins and former Firefighter Michael Owens have been sentenced for tipping off drug dealers to police activity in the Griffin, Ga., area. Both were convicted in October 2014, after a jury trial.
“The police thought there was no safer place to gather than a fire station. Instead, Coggins and Owens reported what they saw and heard to drug dealers operating in the area without ever considering the safety of the officers who trusted them with sensitive information,” said Acting United States Attorney John A. Horn. “The Court’s sentences in this case demonstrate that there are real consequences that come from tipping off criminals to police activity.”
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “The sentencing of these two former Spalding County firefighters concludes an unfortunate but very necessary investigation and prosecution. Those who serve within the public safety community should be able to depend on each other, to include their own safety and security as they carry out their duties, and that was not the case with former Spalding County Fire Battallion Chief Coggins and former firefighter Owens. The FBI will continue to provide significant resources toward identifying, investigating, and presenting for prosecution those individuals who betray their badges and their oaths of office.”
According to Acting United States Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Coggins was employed by the Spalding County Ga., Fire Department since 1990 and, most recently, served as a Battalion Chief. Owens had been employed by the Spalding County Ga., Fire Department as a firefighter for approximately four years.
Police regularly gathered at the Spalding County Fire Department before scheduled police activity such as serving arrest warrants. In April and May 2014, Coggins and Owens warned drug dealers about law enforcement activity in the area before it occurred because they had been told by the police about the investigation or had seen officers gathering near the fire station.
Police were unaware that Coggins and Owens were tipping off drug traffickers until they heard the drug dealers talking about the tips on a wiretapped telephone. During a series of wiretapped calls, the drug dealers discussed the specific information provided by the firefighters as well as how they could dispose of the drugs before the police arrived. In one recorded call, Owens himself was intercepted asking whether the drug dealer had already cleaned out the drugs before police executed a search warrant. Owens cautioned the drug dealer that he should immediately remove the drugs out of his stash house before it was too late.
Coggins, 47, of Griffin, Ga., was sentenced to four years in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. Owens, 37, also of Griffin, Ga., was sentenced to two years, six months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. Both were sentenced before United States District Court Judge Timothy Batten.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Kurt R. Erskine and Jeffrey W. Davis prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Newnan Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas R. Rodella Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Criminal Civil Rights and Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Thomas R. Rodella, 53, the former Rio Arriba County Sheriff, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge James O. Browning for his conviction on criminal civil rights and firearms charges. Rodella was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his deprivation of rights conviction and an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm while committing the civil rights offense, for an aggregate sentence of 121 months of imprisonment. Rodella will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. Rodella also was ordered to pay a $200,000.00 fine.
In announcing Rodella’s sentence, U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said, “When he attacked a defenseless innocent civilian, Sheriff Rodella chose to abuse his power rather than uphold his oath to protect the public. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who cross that line because they discredit the noble service of every other law enforcement officer and weaken the public’s trust in those who are sworn to protect them. I commend the prosecutors and investigators for their outstanding work on this case.”
“The American people hold their law enforcement officers to high standards, and those standards are even higher for the leaders of public safety agencies. Although the FBI realizes the majority of officers perform their duties in an exemplary and even heroic manner, we will not hesitate to investigate those who betray the public's trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “I want to thank the FBI Special Agents and support staff who worked on this investigation, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for a successful prosecution in this case.”
On Sept. 26, 2014, a federal jury found Rodella guilty of the crimes alleged in a two-count superseding indictment. Both crimes arose out of a March 11, 2014 incident occurring in Rio Arriba County, N.M., during which Rodella engaged in an unjustified high-speed pursuit and unreasonable seizure of a victim identified as “M.T.” Count 1 of the indictment charged Rodella with violating the victim’s civil rights by subjecting him to an unreasonable seizure while acting under color of law. Count 2 charged him with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Rodella was the Sheriff of Rio Arriba County when the jury returned its guilty verdict. He resigned from his position as Sheriff on Sept. 29, 2014.
The trial evidence established that on March 11, 2014, Rodella and his son Thomas Rodella, Jr., who were in Rodella’s personal vehicle, engaged in an unjustified high-speed pursuit of the victim and used the vehicle to block the victim’s vehicle on a dead-end lane. Rodella, who was not in uniform, jumped out of his vehicle with firearm in hand, entered the victim’s vehicle, and assaulted the victim with the firearm. Rodella, Jr., dragged the victim out of his vehicle and identified the victim’s assailant as the Sheriff. When the victim requested to see Rodella’s badge, Rodella pulled the victim’s head up by his hair and slammed his badge into the victim’s face. The victim suffered injuries to his face and his hand as a result of the assault; the injury to the victim’s hand required surgical repair.
The evidence also established that Rodella instructed his deputies to arrest the victim and detain him at the Rio Arriba County Detention Center. The victim was released from custody two days later after appearing before a state magistrate, and the charges against him were dismissed on March 26, 2014. Deputies of the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office testified they did not conduct any investigation of the incident or prepare any reports until after the case was dismissed.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque and Santa Fe offices of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara C. Neda and Jeremy Peña.
Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Sentenced to 121 Months in Federal Prison for Criminal Civil Rights and Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
Thomas R. Rodella, 53, the former Rio Arriba County Sheriff, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge James O. Browning for his conviction on criminal civil rights and firearms charges. Rodella was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his deprivation of rights conviction and an additional seven years for brandishing a firearm while committing the civil rights offense, for an aggregate sentence of 121 months of imprisonment. Rodella will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. Rodella also was ordered to pay a $200,000 fine U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez for the District of New Mexico announced.
“When he attacked a defenseless innocent civilian, Sheriff Rodella chose to abuse his power rather than uphold his oath to protect the public,” U.S. Attorney Martinez said. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute officers who cross that line because they discredit the noble service of every other law enforcement officer and weaken the public’s trust in those who are sworn to protect them. I commend the prosecutors and investigators for their outstanding work on this case.”
“The American people hold their law enforcement officers to high standards, and those standards are even higher for the leaders of public safety agencies,” said Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “Although the FBI realizes the majority of officers perform their duties in an exemplary and even heroic manner, we will not hesitate to investigate those who betray the public's trust. I want to thank the FBI Special Agents and support staff who worked on this investigation, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for a successful prosecution in this case.”
On Sept. 26, 2014, a federal jury found Rodella guilty of the crimes alleged in a two-count superseding indictment. Both crimes arose out of an incident occurring on March 11, 2014, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, during which Rodella engaged in an unjustified high-speed pursuit and unreasonable seizure of a victim identified as “M.T.” Count 1 of the indictment charged Rodella with violating the victim’s civil rights by subjecting him to an unreasonable seizure while acting under color of law. Count 2 charged him with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Rodella was the sheriff of Rio Arriba County when the jury returned its guilty verdict. He resigned from his position as sheriff on Sept. 29, 2014.
The trial evidence established that on March 11, 2014, Rodella and his son Thomas Rodella Jr., who were in Rodella’s personal vehicle, engaged in an unjustified high-speed pursuit of the victim and used the vehicle to block the victim’s vehicle on a dead-end lane. Rodella, who was not in uniform, jumped out of his vehicle with firearm in hand, entered the victim’s vehicle and assaulted the victim with the firearm. Rodella Jr. dragged the victim out of his vehicle and identified the victim’s assailant as the sheriff. When the victim requested to see Rodella’s badge, Rodella pulled the victim’s head up by his hair and slammed his badge into the victim’s face. The victim suffered injuries to his face and his hand as a result of the assault; the injury to the victim’s hand required surgical repair.
The evidence also established that Rodella instructed his deputies to arrest the victim and detain him at the Rio Arriba County Detention Center. The victim was released from custody two days later after appearing before a state magistrate and the charges against him were dismissed on March 26, 2014. Deputies of the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office testified they did not conduct any investigation of the incident or prepare any reports until after the case was dismissed.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque and Santa Fe offices of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara C. Neda and Jeremy Peña.
Former Owner of Valley Dairy Sentenced to 30 Days in Prison for Lying to the USDA and Concealing Criminal Conduct of Dairy Co-OwnerRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that Karen B. Olson, of Wasilla, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for making false statements to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in connection with the construction and management of Valley Dairy, Inc., doing business as Matanuska Creamery, in Palmer, Alaska. She was also sentenced for concealing the criminal conduct of the former President and co-owner of the Dairy, Kyle E. Beus. Mr. Beus was recently sentenced to 60 days in prison for wire fraud and providing false statements to the USDA about his personal use of USDA grant funds intended for the construction of the Valley Dairy.
Karen B. Olson, 68, of Wasilla, Alaska, was sentenced on January 20, 2015, by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 30 days in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also fined $2000 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Retta Randall, who prosecuted the case, Olson was an investor in the Valley Dairy and in September 2008, its CEO. Between September 2008, and continuing through December 2008, in order to conceal the true nature of Valley Dairy finances and the losses to the Dairy caused by the illegal activity of Beus, Olson submitted false statements to USDA Rural Development to convince it to allow the State of Alaska to take a first lien position on equipment purchased with the proceeds of the USDA Valley Dairy grants. The documents submitted by Olson inflated the values of that equipment.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess stated that the breadth and detail of the level of deceit practiced by Olsen was “frankly a little breathtaking.” Olson, a “bright, educated person,” “should have known better,” yet she was taking no responsibility for her actions. Olson blamed her “political enemies” for her presence in court. Judge Burgess pointed out to Olson that 12 members of the community came to a different conclusion about her conduct when they convicted her, and that only she was to blame for her pending incarceration.
Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation of this case.
Former Operator of NYC Health Clinics Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to $12 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Scott Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Regional Office of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), Thomas E. Bishop, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that JORGE JUVIER pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to participating in a scheme to defraud Medicare out of more than $12 million through the use of fraudulent HIV/AIDS clinics in New York City. As part of the Medicare fraud scheme, JUVIER and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for medications that were never administered, that were administered at incorrect dosages or that were medically unnecessary. JUVIER pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “With today’s plea, Jorge Juvier has admitted his role in a scheme to set up and operate health care fraud mills where he and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for medications for HIV/AIDS patients that were never correctly provided, and recruited patients to undergo treatments that were largely unnecessary – all so Juvier and his co-conspirators could bilk a federal health care program out of more than $12 million.”
According to the criminal complaint, the information, and other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, as well as statements made at related court proceedings:
JUVIER and his co-conspirators set up and operated multiple health care clinics in New York City that purported to provide injection and infusion treatments to Medicare-eligible HIV/AIDS patients, but that were, in reality, health care fraud mills (the “Clinics”), that routinely billed Medicare for medications that were never provided or were provided at highly diluted doses and that were often unnecessary because the person being “treated” did not medically need the treatments.
JUVIER and his co-conspirators executed the fraudulent scheme by recruiting HIV/AIDS patients who were eligible for Medicare to come to the Clinics multiple times per week, for multiple months, to undergo expensive “treatments” that were often unnecessary. The purported treatments included drugs costing hundreds of dollars each to administer and typically reserved for cancer and anemia patients. JUVIER and his co-conspirators paid the patients cash kickbacks of up to $300 per week in exchange for coming to the Clinics and agreeing to undergo the treatments. Patients were also offered approximately $50 for each additional patient they referred to the Clinics. JUVIER and his co-conspirators then used these patients’ status as Medicare beneficiaries to submit claims to Medicare for reimbursement for the treatments purportedly administered to the patients, often receiving tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements per patient. However, in truth, the treatments typically were provided in highly diluted doses or not provided at all, and were often medically unnecessary. As a result of the scheme, from 2010 through 2013, JUVIER and his co-conspirators defrauded the Medicare system out of at least $12 million.
JUVIER, 56, a resident of Manhattan, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. As part of his plea, JUVIER agreed to pay over $12 million in forfeiture and restitution. JUVIER is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kimba Wood on May 18, 2015, at 11:00 a.m.
Oscar Huachillo, 54, of Manhattan, has been charged separately in connection with the Medicare fraud scheme. Huachillo pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla on July 1, 2014, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Failla on Thursday, March 5, 2015, at 3:30 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding efforts of HHS-OIG, IRS-CI, and the FBI in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Dorchester Resident Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A twice convicted sex offender who was residing in Ohio was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston for failing to register as a sex offender.
Jonathan Fey, 45, formerly of Dorchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 18 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2014, Fey pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with failure to register as a sex offender. In May 2014, Fey was apprehended in Ohio and returned to Massachusetts.
In March 2001, Fey was convicted in Bristol County Superior Court of rape and indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14 and received a 9-11 year sentence of incarceration and 10 years of probation. In June 2010, Fey was released from prison and registered as a level II sex offender as required by the court. At some point in July 2011, without permission from or notification to the probation department, Fey left Massachusetts and moved to Kentucky, Arkansas, and most recently in Ohio, but never registered as a sex offender in any of those states.
Additionally, in 1989, Fey was charged with a sex offense in Rhode Island, but given the date of this conviction was not required to register as a sex offender for that offense.
U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for District of Massachusetts, made the announcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.
Former Director of Market Intelligence at Investor Relations Firm Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court for Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MICHAEL A. LUCARELLI, the former Director of Market Intelligence at Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. (“LHA”), an investor relations firm, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 30 months in prison for insider trading. LUCARELLI repeatedly used material nonpublic information that he acquired during his employment at LHA to take positions in the stock of LHA clients over the course of the year-long scheme. LUCARELLI pled guilty on September 24, 2014, and was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Michael Lucarelli took part in corrupting our markets by abusing his access to nonpublic information and ultimately generating over $900,000 in illicit proceeds for himself. Such behavior denotes a misguided perception among privileged professionals who consider themselves above the law – a perception that we will continue to seek to correct through aggressive prosecution of financial crime.”
According to the allegations contained in the Information, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made during court proceedings:
From at least August 2013 through at least August 2014, LUCARELLI engaged in an insider trading scheme to use and trade upon material nonpublic information that he acquired during his employment at LHA, an investor relations firm based in Manhattan. Specifically, LUCARELLI, as an LHA employee, had access to working drafts of press releases prepared by LHA for its clients prior to their issuance to the investing public. Those draft press releases contained material, nonpublic information about business events and announcements relating to LHA’s clients.
In violation of LHA’s policies and in breach of his duties to LHA and its clients, on multiple occasions, LUCARELLI took positions in the stock of LHA clients shortly before the announcement by these companies of material information through press releases prepared by LHA. Shortly after LHA issued the press releases, LUCARELLI sold these securities that he had acquired prior to the issuance, thereby profiting on the movement in the stock price.
LUCARELLI repeatedly traded in LHA client securities despite LHA’s written code of conduct, which strictly prohibited LHA employees from trading in any security issued by an LHA client. LUCARELLI carried out his scheme in at least four different brokerage accounts. When opening new brokerage accounts through which to conduct his illegal trades, LUCARELLI did not reveal his affiliation with LHA. And, on two occasions, LUCARELLI opened new brokerage accounts soon after his ability to trade in other accounts had been suspended by the respective brokerage firms.
On or about July 24, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) obtained a court-approved search warrant to search LUCARELLI’s office at LHA for evidence of his insider trading activities. During that search, which was conducted without LUCARELLI’s knowledge, the FBI located a locked briefcase that contained a draft press release for LHA client TREX Company (“TREX”). That press release was marked “DRAFT” and contained TREX’s second fiscal quarter 2014 financial results. The following day, after the FBI completed the search, LUCARELLI started purchasing shares of TREX. Between July 25, 2014, and August 1, 2014, LUCARELLI took a net position of 37,400 shares of TREX. Then, on August 4, 2014, shortly before the market opened, TREX issued a press release announcing its second fiscal quarter 2014 financial results. Among other things, TREX announced that sales and earnings before taxes had increased 23 percent and 62 percent, respectively, in comparison with the comparable period in 2013. TREX also issued revenue guidance for the third fiscal quarter of 2014, which was a 27 percent increase over the comparable period in 2013. Within two hours of the announcement, LUCARELLI sold 35,058 of the 37,400 TREX shares he previously purchased. Those sales yielded a profit of almost $90,000.
As a result of the 13 instances of insider trading specifically set forth in the Information, LUCARELLI earned at least $538,215.32 in illicit proceeds. Furthermore, as reflected in the plea agreement, on at least 18 additional occasions, LUCARELLI took positions in LHA client securities on the basis of inside information. In total, these 31 instances yielded LUCARELLI $955,521.62 in profits.
In addition to the prison sentence, LUCARELLI, 52, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $955,521.62.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, for its assistance.
Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since the inception of FFETF in November 2009, the Justice Department has filed more than 12,841 financial fraud cases against nearly 18,737 defendants including nearly 3,500 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian R. Blais and Damian Williams are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolina A. Fornos of the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture of assets.
Former Athol City Clerk Admits EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE - Sally R. Hansen, 39, formerly of Athol, Idaho, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The charge stemmed from Hansen’s years as the City Clerk of Athol from 2009 to 2014.
According to court documents, during the time of her employment, Hansen used the wires and fraudulently took $417,879 from the City of Athol. She did this by writing fraudulent checks to herself and her husband and using the wires to transfer money between different city accounts.
The maximum penalty for each count is up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and $100 special assessment. As part of her guilty plea, Hansen agreed to make $417,879.00 in restitution to the City of Athol. The sentencing is set for May 5, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
The case was investigated by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Secret Service.
Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants.
Floyd County Man Sentenced to 320 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin,Cocaine and Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, KY - Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration; Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky; Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police Commissioner; and Phillip Reed, Pikeville Police Chief, jointly announced today that a Floyd County man has been sentenced to 320 months in prison, for his role in a drug conspiracy involving heroin, prescription drugs, and cocaine.
Billy Shepherd, 41, was sentenced, on January 8th, following convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession of heroin. U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves enhanced Shepherd’s sentence because Shepherd qualified as a career offender, based upon his significant criminal history. Shepherd has previously been convicted of first degree fleeing and evading police and first degree wanton endangerment. Under federal law, Shepherd will have to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence.
A jury convicted Shepherd in September 2014. According to evidence presented at trial, in 2013, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a vehicle in which Shepherd was a passenger. They found 21 grams of heroin, along with Oxycodone pills and cocaine, that belonged to Shepherd.
The evidence also established that Shepherd conspired, with five others, to distribute heroin in Floyd County. According to testimony, the conspirators made trips to Columbus, Ohio to buy ounce quantities of heroin for distribution.
All of Shepherd’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, London Field Division; the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office; Kentucky State Police; and the Pikeville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government.
Femal Getaway Driver Convicted of Robberies of 13 Banks and Stores in Las Vegas Area During 2012-2013Read the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A woman who served as the getaway driver for the robberies of 13 banks and stores in southern Nevada from December 2012 to March 2013, has been convicted by a federal jury of multiple counts of robbery and firearm charges, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada.
Sesley Williams, 46, of Las Vegas, was convicted on Friday, Jan. 16 of eight counts of bank robbery, five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and five counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Williams is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon on May 21, 2015. She faces up to 20 years in prison on each robbery count and a mandatory minimum of 107 years in prison on the brandishing counts, which must run consecutively to the sentences for the other counts.
The co-defendant, Anthony Jordan, was convicted by a jury in November 2014 of 13 counts of robbery and firearm-related charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2015.
The duo robbed six banks, three outlet mall and one other store in Las Vegas, two banks in Henderson, and one outlet mall store in Primm, Nev., between Dec. 28, 2012, and March 30, 2013.
This case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Cartier-Giroux.Federal Indictment: Two Men Robbed Overland Park BankRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Missouri men were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges of robbing an Overland Park bank, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Landein Craddock, 33, Kansas City, Mo., and Jerome Davis, 31, Kansas City, Mo., are charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during the robbery. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 20, 2015, they robbed the Bank of the West at 9400 Antioch in Overland Park, Kan. During the robbery they brandished a revolver.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge, and a maximum penalty of 25 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the bank robbery charge. Grissom commended the Overland Park Police Department, the Leawood Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI for their work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Harold C. DeLoach, 41, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of bank robbery. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 15, 2015, he robbed the Credit Union of America at 212 S. Ridge Road in Wichita, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting
Kathleen Stegman, 56, Leawood, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with five counts of federal tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. Co-defendant Christopher Smith, 50, Leawood, Kan., is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
The indictment alleges Stegman, who owned Midwest Medical Aesthetics Center, Inc., in Leawood, under-reported the company’s income and overstated the company’s expenses. The conspiracy count alleges Stegman and Smith fabricated $50,575 in deductible expenses for Stegman’s company. In fact, Stegman wrote a check to Smith’s company, Encompass Construction Group, LLC, and Smith purchased gold coins for Stegman. Stegman caused the payment to be deducted as repairs and maintenance on her company’s equipment.
Upon conviction, tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count; and conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble and with DOJ Tax Attorney Ryan Raybould are prosecuting.
Jose Ontiveros, 27, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of carjacking in which a death occurred and one count of discharging a firearm during the crime. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 14, 2014, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the carjacking charge, and a penalty of not less than five years on the firearm charge. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.
Felipe Sifuentes-Cabrera, 34, De Soto, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The conspiracy is alleged to have occurred from Feb. 1, 2014, to Nov. 4, 2014, in Olathe, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the possession on each count. The Olathe Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Federal Agent Pleads Guilty in Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas - Reynaldo Gonzalez, 38, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Gonzalez is a deputy U.S. Marshal in San Antonio who was previously assigned to the Southern District of Texas. He is currently on administrative leave.
Gonzalez was charged in April 2014. He was set to begin trial next week, but opted to plead guilty today.
Gonzalez purchased an accident-only insurance plan from the American Family Life Assurance Company (Aflac) in May 2005. The plan is commonly known as supplemental insurance and is designed to mitigate expenses incurred by policyholders during injuries that are not otherwise covered by major medical insurance.
As part of his plea, Gonzalez admitted that on or about March 24, 2009, he faxed a claim form containing false and fraudulent information to Aflac headquarters in Columbus, Ga., indicating he had been examined by a physician for ankle pain four days prior. To accomplish the fraud, Gonzalez used a physician’s signature and tax identification number without the physician’s knowledge or consent.
Gonzalez admitted that he was not, in fact, seen by this physician on that date. Further, the last time he was examined by this physician was actually in October 2007.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez, who accepted the plea today, has set sentencing for April 23, 2015, at which time he faces up to 20 years of federal imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Linda Requénez and Michael Day are prosecuting the case.
Fairmont, WV man convicted for role in manufacturing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Coy Wollard, 29, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was convicted in federal court for his role in manufacturing methamphetamine, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
During a Three Rivers Drug Task Force investigation, Wollard was discovered in September 2014 in possession of medication pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in methamphetamine.
Wollard pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” He faces up to 20 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 defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull presided.
Former Usm Student Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss - Miles Justin McNairy, 25, of Aberdeen, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on January 20, 2015 to 80 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, FBI Special in Charge Donald Alway and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. Upon completion of his prison sentence, McNairy must register as a sex offender.
At the time of his arrest, McNairy was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He was charged with downloading and sharing images of child pornography which he had transported to Hattiesburg from his home in Aberdeen. He pled guilty to the charges on October 17, 2014.
"There is no more noble calling than protecting our children", said Donald Alway, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi. "Cases like this one underscore our resolve to decrease the vulnerability of our youth to sexual exploitation. The success of this investigation and prosecution by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and the U. S. Attorney’s Office is evidenced by the significant sentence rendered against this subject. Partnerships among law enforcement agencies, such as this one between the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, have never been stronger. We work collectively as a team, and are dedicated to protecting Mississippi’s children."
"Cases like this one exemplify why we are glad to be a part of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and shows how joining forces produces positive results," said Attorney General Jim Hood.
This case was investigated by FBI Child Exploitation Task Force which includes the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May, 2006, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Through Project Safe Childhood, federal, state and local law enforcement officials have formed partnerships to 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.
Eleven Defendants Indicted on over Forty Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Michael J. Moore announced today that a federal grand jury returned a multiple count indictment in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division, charging Gregory Paige, also known as “Rudy,” aged 31, Dequaveous Lane, also known as “Quay,” aged 27, Kevin K. Deberry, also known as “Bear,” aged 29, John W. Wilcox, also known as “John Boy,” aged 40, Marion F. Deberry, also known as “Funk,” aged 37, Tony A. Crumpton, also known as “TC,” aged 44, William Deberry, aged 54, Anthony Deberry, also known as “Flea,” aged 43, Dan Wiseman, also known as “DD,” aged 27, Shalinda Wilcox, aged 38, and Vernardo Henley, also known as “Sack,” aged 34, all of Sparks, Georgia with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine. If convicted, those indicted on count one face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of $10 million, or both.John Wilcox and Shalinda Wilcox face two additional charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and Dan Wiseman faces one additional charge. These charges carry a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison, a fine of $5 million, or both.
For the possession with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance (i.e. crack cocaine), John Wilcox is facing an additional seven charges, Gregory Paige faces three charges, William DeBerry faces two charges, Dequaveous Lane faces three charges, Dan Wiseman faces three charges, Anthony DeBerry faces three charges, Tony Crumpton faces one charge, Shalinda Wilcox faces one charge, Kevin DeBerry faces one charge, and Vernardo Henley faces two charges. With these additional charges comes an additional sentence of up to 20 years in prison, $1 million, or both.
Kevin DeBerry, Vernardo Henley, John Wilcox, Shalinda Wilcox, Dequaveous Lane and Gregory Paige also face one charge of maintaining a drug involved premises. They could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.
For the possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Anthony DeBerry may face a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutively.
Marion DeBerry and Dan Wiseman are facing an additional two charges while Anthony DeBerry, William Deberry, and Vernardo Henley are facing one additional charge for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These allegations carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Dequaveous Lane has three charges of possession of a firearm by a person under indictment and one charge of possession of an unregistered firearm. The first charges carry a 10 year sentence, fine of $250,000, or both. For possession of an unregistered firearm, he could receive a 10 year sentence, $10,000 fine, or both.
A copy of the indictment is attached. The indictments are only allegations and the accused are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."Today's enforcement action serves as a text-book example of the impact that can be achieved when we blend our investigative resources with our State and local partners, as we continue to aggressively address violent crime that plagues our communities," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Carl Walker. "ATF remains committed to target violent offenders and dismantle their criminal organizations, but admits there's much work to do."
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Cook County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, and the Sparks (Georgia) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case for the government.Inquiries regarding this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.
Desmond Simpson of Wilmington Sentenced for Hobb’s Act Robbery and Firearms Violation 924(c)Read the Press Release
RALEIGH – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced, DESMOND SIMPSON, 29, of Wilmington, to 189 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.
SIMPSON was named in an Indictment filed on December 17, 2013. On September 30, 2014, the Defendant was found guilty by a jury of Robbery of a Business Engaged in Interstate Commerce and Using, Carrying and Brandishing a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence. According to the investigation and information presented in open court during the trial and sentencing, on April 25, 2012, SIMPSON, robbed a Papa John’s delivery person after calling in the order and waiting for the delivery driver to attempt the delivery. When the delivery driver arrived at the given address for the delivery, SIMPSON brandished a firearm and demanded the victim’s money. When the victim refused and tried to run away, SIMPSON grabbed him by the collar and began to fight with him, repeatedly hitting the victim in the head with the firearm, an injury which required numerous staples. SIMPSON fled the area but left behind a pair of sunglasses that he wore during the robbery. Later testing confirmed SIMPSON’S DNA on this item. In addition, a shirt was found nearby the scene of the robbery that had SIMPSON’S DNA on it along with the DNA of the delivery driver.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant United States Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. Ms. Wilson is a prosecutor with the District 5 District Attorney’s Office encompassing New Hanover and Pender Counties. District Attorney Ben David has assigned her to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute violent crime, firearm related cases, and narcotic crimes.
Defendant Sentenced to 8½ Years in Prison in Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Broward County resident was sentenced to 102 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $876,215.00 in restitution in an identity theft tax refund fraud scheme.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Nick Caty, 44, of Tamarac, previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Co-defendant Junior Thompson, 35, of Tamarac, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to use unauthorized access devices and one count of aggravated identity theft. Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2015 before U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn. At sentencing, Thompson faces up to five years in prison for the access device charge, and a mandatory term of two years in prison, consecutive to any other term in prison, for the aggravated identity theft charge.
According to court documents, from January 2014 through March 2014, the defendants engaged in an identity theft tax refund fraud scheme in which they caused 352 fraudulent tax returns to be submitted to the IRS using stolen personal identity information (PII). The defendants sought $945,554 in refunds for deposit onto prepaid debit cards. In February 2014, the defendants withdrew money from different prepaid debit cards registered in different people's names and loaded with fraudulent tax refunds. Caty and Thomson agreed to share in the proceeds together from the debit cards and they also transferred debit cards between each other. In March 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendants’ business and residence in Broward County and found lists with over 4,000 individuals’ PII.
Court documents also state that from January 2012 through October 2013, Caty used stolen PII to file fraudulent tax returns to the IRS seeking approximately $1 million in fraudulently obtained refunds for deposit into bank accounts he controlled.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the USSS. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Convicted Tampa Sex Offender Sentenced to Four Years in Prison in Second Failure to Register as a Sex Offender CaseRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Kevin Robert Leblanc (52, Tampa) to four years in federal prison for failing to register as sex offender after absconding from supervision in Florida and traveling to Arizona. He was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release. Leblanc has been in custody for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release since his arrest in August 2014.
According to court documents, on July 29, 1999, Leblanc was convicted of committing two child sex offenses in Massachusetts. Subsequently, he traveled to Florida, failed to register as a sex offender, and was prosecuted for failure to register. Leblanc pleaded guilty to this charge and, on August 25, 2011, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, and a 15-year term of supervision.
On April 4, 2014, Leblanc was released from federal prison, established a residence in Tampa, and commenced his term of supervised release. On July 25, 2014, he absconded from federal supervision. In doing so, he failed to update his sex offender registration status with Florida authorities, as required by law. Leblanc was arrested near Flagstaff, Arizona, on August 15, 2014, by the U.S. Marshals Service. When interviewed, he acknowledged knowing that he was required to register as a sex offender, that he did not notify Florida authorities that he was leaving the state, and that he failed to notify authorities because he “got fed up” with being supervised.
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The Adam Walsh Act provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the United States Marshals Service, to assist state and local authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Kelly S. Karase.
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.
Contract Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Theft of MailRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that DAVID HENRY, age 31, of Covington, pled guilty today to a one-count Indictment for theft of mail.
According to court records, as a result of multiple complaints of missing mail from highway contract route No. 76 (“Route 76”) in Mandeville, the Office of Inspector General for the United States Postal Service (“Postal OIG”) initiated an investigation into Route 76 in an effort to determine the cause of the lost mail. HENRY admitted to taking three cards on April 23, 2014 that he believed to have contained cash. HENRY also admitted to taking cash from the mail on three or four other occasions.
HENRY faces a maximum of 5 years’ incarceration. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing for April 29, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Fraud Unit Chief, Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba is in charge of the prosecution.
Cincinnati-Area Man Indicted for Plot to Attack U.S. Government OfficersRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart for the Southern District of Ohio and Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Barrios of the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Division announced that a federal grand jury has charged Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, of Green Township, Ohio, with attempting to kill officers and employees of the United States, solicitation to commit a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in an indictment returned in Cincinnati. Cornell was charged for his alleged plot to attack the U.S. Capitol and kill government officials.
The indictment alleges that from August 2014 through January 2015, Cornell plotted an attack on the U.S. Capitol that would have killed officers and employees of the United States during their official duties. During that same time, the defendant allegedly attempted to persuade another to join him in his planned act of violence. Cornell also allegedly possessed two semi-automatic rifles and approximately 600 rounds of ammunition.
Attempted murder of government employees and officials is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Solicitation to commit an attempted murder is a crime punishable by 20 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of an attempted crime of violence is a crime punishable by a mandatory sentence of five years in prison.
Cornell was arrested on Jan. 14, 2015, by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The JTTF is made up of officers and agents from the Cincinnati Police Department, Colerain Police Department, Dayton Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, United States Secret Service, West Chester Police Department and Xenia Police Department.
Cornell is scheduled for an arraignment on the charges on Jan. 22, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., before Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation of this case by the JTTF. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Mangan and Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department National Security Division Counterterrorism Section.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Cornell Indictment
Child Pornography Distributor IndictedRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that an indictment has been returned against Daniel Edward Palmer (37, Port Charlotte), charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the indictment, Palmer distributed child pornography images and videos to an undercover FBI Task Force Agent over an Internet peer-to-peer network between the dates of March 30, 2014 and July 8, 2014. A federal search warrant was subsequently executed at Palmer’s residence and all computer-related items were seized. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed over 300 images and videos of child pornography. Palmer is a registered sex offender stemming from a 2009 conviction for possessing child pornography.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Ft. Myers Office and the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office. It is being 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.
Child Pornography Distributor IndictedRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that an indictment has been returned against Daniel Edward Palmer (37, Port Charlotte), charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the indictment, Palmer distributed child pornography images and videos to an undercover FBI Task Force Agent over an Internet peer-to-peer network between the dates of March 30, 2014 and July 8, 2014. A federal search warrant was subsequently executed at Palmer’s residence and all computer-related items were seized. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed over 300 images and videos of child pornography. Palmer is a registered sex offender stemming from a 2009 conviction for possessing child pornography.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Ft. Myers Office and the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office. It is being 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.
California Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced to more than 22 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine.
Dwight Erwin Herrera, 40, was convicted by a jury in November of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine greater than five kilograms. Herrera and others were arrested in Cleveland on Dec. 1, 2012, with approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine that had been transported to Cleveland from California, according to court documents.
Herrera is one of eight defendants who were indicted and convicted as part of this conspiracy. The group was responsible for the distribution of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in Ohio, according to court documents.
The investigation into this conspiracy led to the subsequent indictments in federal and state court of an additional 23 people who have been convicted of participating in a drug conspiracy.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts and Margaret Sweeney following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. The NOLETF is a task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the police departments of Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Lakewood, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Shaker Heights. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives, which supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.
Buffalo Man Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead 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 Nicholas Gaskin, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. George C. Burgasser, who handled the case, stated that between April 2012 and May 12, 2012, the defendant sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer on several occasions in the City of Buffalo.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
Buffalo Man Sentenced for Lying to the Federal Grand Jury in the Bailey Boys InvestigationRead 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 Michael Acoff, 24, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of perjury for lying to the grand jury in the connection with the Baily Boys investigation, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce, who handled the case, stated that Acoff told a federal grand jury that he had firsthand knowledge of the January 19, 2011 murder of Harold McCain. The defendant told the grand jury that he received a telephone call from McCain’s alleged killer following the murder asking the defendant to pick him up. Acoff further claimed that he did in fact pick up the alleged killer who then provided Acoff with details of the murder which Acoff then repeated for the grand jury as though he had first-hand knowledge of them. In pleading guilty, Acoff had admitted that he never received a call from the alleged killer, did not pick him up and did not have conversations regarding the murder of Harold McCain, but rather had learned the details from a third party.
Bailey Boys Gang member Tyrone Brown was indicted, along with six other members and associates, on August 1, 2012. The indictment alleged that Brown murdered Harold McCain in January 2011.
The sentencing is the result of an ongoing investigation on the part of the United States Attorney’s Office in close cooperation with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard, and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Askey.
Bowie PCP Dealer Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Purchased More Than 30 Kilograms of PCP Worth over $700,000
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Ricky Lee Holloway, age 31, of Bowie, Maryland, today to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing more than 30 kilograms of phencyclidine (PCP).The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, beginning no later than September 2011, Ricky Lee Holloway conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP and other controlled substances in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and its surrounding area. A co-conspirator manufactured PCP, which he would package and ship to Holloway and other coconspirators in Maryland. Beginning no later than 2011 and continuing through at least September 2012, the co-conspirator supplier established bank accounts at various national banks and sent Holloway ATM cards by which Holloway could access the accounts. Holloway and other co-conspirators deposited cash into those accounts to pay for shipments of drugs that the co-conspirator supplier sent to Maryland. Holloway and other local coconspirators sent the co-conspirator supplier over $700,000 for drug shipments using this method of payment. In exchange, Holloway received more than 30 kilograms of PCP, which he then redistributed in Maryland and the surrounding area.
As part of his plea agreement, Holloway will forfeit two 2007 Mercedes Benz sedans, and a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette that were either purchased with proceeds of the conspiracy or are forfeitable as substitute assets.Co-defendants Gary Antonio Green, age 35, of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Jesse Fletcher, age 26, of Landover, Maryland, pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy. Green was sentenced to five years in prison on January 14, 2015, and Fletcher is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Co-defendant Raymond Bullette III, age 34, of Los Angeles, California, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute PCP after a four day trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.
In related cases, Richard Brown, age 29, and David Chittams, age 34, both of Lanham, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP), and were sentenced to 10 years and seven years in prison, respectively. Shawn Anthony, age 35, of Landover, Maryland, pleaded guilty to distribution of PCP and was sentenced to five years in prison. Kyle Daniels, age 36, also of Landover, pleaded guilty to distribution of PCP and illegal possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 51 months in prison.
Ricky Lee Holloway’s younger brother, Richaco Fernandis Holloway, age 24, of Camp Springs, Maryland, was previously sentenced to 57 months in prison, for being a felon in possession of a gun. According to testimony presented at Richaco Holloway’s two-day trial, on July 3, 2013, a music label belonging to Ricky Lee Holloway posted a video in which Richacho Holloway was filmed holding a .45 caliber handgun with an extended magazine. The video was shot at a building that had been converted into a music studio and doubled as a distribution hub for Ricky Lee Holloway’s PCP distribution operation. During a search conducted at the music studio during a takedown of Ricky Holloway’s PCP trafficking activity, agents recovered the firearm Richaco Holloway was filmed holding in the rap video. Richaco Holloway was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a 2008 conviction in Prince George’s County Circuit Court for robbery with a deadly weapon and for which he was on parole.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, DEA and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Beaver woman pleads guilty to distributing heroinRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Kristen Rachele Davis, 24, of Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing heroin.
Davis admitted that on Sept. 4, 2013, she distributed heroin to a confidential informant. The drug deal took place on Skyline Drive in Beaver.
Davis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2015.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the plea hearing.
The case is being investigated by the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and opiates. The United States Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
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