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Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
29 September 2014
Two Individuals Distributing Methamphetamine in Marin County Pleaded Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Miguel Macias aka “Flaco” pleaded guilty today and Alejandro Miranda pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2014, to distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jay Fitzpatrick, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.
According to the plea agreements, Miranda admitted to selling four ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover officer (UC). On Feb. 26, 2013, Miranda met with the UC in a parking lot in San Rafael. He gave the UC the drugs and the UC gave him the money. On Dec. 6, 2013, Macias sold methamphetamine to someone in the parking lot of the Home Depot store in San Rafael for which he received $5,000 for the drugs. On Sept. 21, 2013, Miranda helped Macias wire transfer money to Mexico. Miranda contacted the wire remitters by telephone to arrange the wire transfers. Macias then sent the wires under different sender names and different recipient names. This method was used to conceal the nature, source, and ownership of the funds. According to court documents the drug trafficking took place through Azteca Market in San Rafael.
Macias, 24, of Daly City, and Miranda, 28, of San Pablo, were both charged with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder money. They each pleaded guilty to both counts.
Miranda and Macias are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, United States District Court Judge, in San Francisco.
The maximum statutory penalties for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, is life in prison, with a minimum term of 10 years, a $10,000,000 fine, and denial of federal benefits for five years. The maximum statutory penalties for conspiracy to launder money, in violation of U.S.C. § 1956(h), (b)(1)(A), is 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,00 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force, the DEA and the IRS, Criminal Investigation.
(Macias indictment )
(Macias superseding information )
(Miranda indictment )
(Miranda superseding information )
Two Florida Residents Charged in Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
Eric Mathe 42, of North Bay Village, Florida and Ashif Jiwa 55, of Miami, Florida were charged in by indictment, unsealed today, with wire fraud in an investment scheme, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that between February 2009 and February 2010, Mathe and Jiwa defrauded investors located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, by making false representations of ownership of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Low Powered Television (LPTV) construction permits and licenses to induce investments in Mathe’s now defunct Florida based company Vision Broadcast Network (VBN). Mathe and Jiwa are alleged to have defrauded investors out of at least $1,688,150.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years= imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a related civil action against Mathe and Jiwa in Miami, Florida.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Miami Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Babb Wilmoth.
An Indictment or Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Click here to view the indictment.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Twin Falls Man Sentenced as Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
BOISE – Paul Edward Parnell, 47, of Twin Falls, Idaho, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Parnell to serve four years of supervised release, pay a $1,000 fine, and forfeit the firearm and ammunition he illegally possessed. He was found guilty after a bench trial on August 19, 2014.
According to court records, Twin Falls Police officers served a search warrant on Parnell’s residence and located a sawed-off shotgun in the defendant’s bedroom. Parnell has an extensive criminal history that includes seven prior felony convictions. Because Parnell had previously been convicted of at least three felony crimes of violence, he faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Parnell was previously convicted in Massachusetts of armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a weapon. He had also been convicted of a felony domestic violence offense in California.
The case was investigated by the Twin Falls Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. Agrees to Plead Guilty for Fixing Prices and Rigging Bids on Automobile Parts Installed in U.S. CarsRead the Press Release
Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd., an automotive parts manufacturer based in Aichi, Japan, has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $26 million criminal fine for its role in conspiracies to fix prices and rig bids for automotive hoses, airbags and steering wheels sold to automobile manufacturers, the Department of Justice announced today.
According to a two-count felony charge filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in Toledo, Toyoda Gosei conspired to fix the prices of certain automotive hoses sold to Toyota Motor Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries, affiliates and suppliers (collectively Toyota), in the United States; and conspired to fix the prices of automotive airbags and steering wheels sold to Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries, affiliates and suppliers, and certain of their subsidiaries, affiliates and suppliers (collectively Subaru), in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to the criminal fine, Toyoda Gosei has agreed to cooperate in the department’s ongoing investigation. The plea agreement will be subject to court approval.
“When purchasing an automobile, American consumers should feel confident that the sticker price is based on fair market costs to manufacture the vehicle,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. “The Antitrust Division will continue to prosecute cases in the auto parts industry to ensure fair and competitive prices are maintained.”
Toyoda Gosei and its co–conspirators, according to the charges, conspired through meetings and conversations in which they discussed and agreed upon bids and price quotations to be submitted to certain automakers and to allocate the supply of the products to those automakers. In furtherance of the agreements, Toyoda Gosei sold certain automotive hoses at noncompetitive prices to Toyota in the United States, and sold airbags and steering wheels at noncompetitive prices to Toyota and Subaru in the United States and elsewhere. Toyoda Gosei’s involvement in the automotive hoses conspiracy lasted from at least as early as February 2004 until at least September 2010 and its involvement in the automotive airbags and steering wheels conspiracy lasted from at least as early as September 2003 until at least September 2010.
Toyoda Gosei manufactures and sells a variety of automotive parts, including certain automotive hoses, airbags and steering wheels. The charges against Toyoda Gosei are the latest in the department’s ongoing investigation into anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry. These are the first charges filed relating to automotive hoses sold to automobile manufacturers.
To date, 43 individuals have been charged in the government’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry. Twenty-nine companies, including Toyoda Gosei, have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of nearly $2.4 billion in fines.
Toyoda Gosei is charged with price fixing and bid rigging in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty for corporations of $100 million for each violation. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Today’s charge is the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement sections and the FBI. Today’s charge was brought by the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office and the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office, Lima Resident Agency, with the assistance of the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Anyone with information on price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to other products in the automotive parts industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647–3258, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or call the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office at 216-522-1400.
Surf City Resident and Captain of “the Raven” Pleads Guilty to Violating the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors ActRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today in federal court, before Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox, david wayne luther , 63, of Surf City, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea to violating the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act.
According to information in the public record, on July 29, 2012, officers with the North Carolina Marine Patrol responded to a complaint of dredging in waters near Surf City, North Carolina. North Carolina Marine Patrol officers determined that LUTHER was "prop washing" with the M/V The Raven. The officers ordered LUTHER to cease and desist dredging activities. Approximately three hours later, on July 29, 2012, North Carolina Marine Patrol received another complaint of dredging activity by UTHER. On July 30, 2012, a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) representative took measurements at the violation site and confirmed unauthorized dredging activity.
“The dredging of federal waterways is strictly regulated to protect water quality and wildlife,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in North Carolina. “The defendant repeatedly dredged material in an environmentally sensitive area that has been designated an essential fish habitat. EPA will hold violators accountable as part of its mission to protect human health and the environment.”
On August 10, 2012, CAMA issued a Notice of Violation and Request to Cease Unauthorized Development to Captain David LUTHER. A copy of the Notice was hand delivered to LUTHER on August 14, 2012. During the morning of August 14, 2012, CAMA received an anonymous complaint alleging dredging activity during the night time hours involving the M/V The Raven at the violation site. During the afternoon of August 14, 2012, a multi-agency site visit confirmed additional dredging activity at the original violation site. The violation site was determined to be a Primary Nursery Area for oysters.
The maximum penalty that LUTHER faces at sentencing for both counts is a total of two years imprisonment, and a maximum total fine of $200,000. Pursuant to his plea agreement, LUTHER has also agreed to purchase .21 acres of coastal wetland restoration in order to compensate for impacts to wetlands and other jurisdictional waters impacted from his criminal conduct prior to sentencing hearing. If he fails to make the purchase, LUTHER has agreed not to contest a $50,000 additional fine.
The criminal investigation was conducted by the EPA-CID, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and North Carolina Marine Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan is handling the prosecution of the case.
Social Worker Found Guilty by a Federal Jury of Defrauding Blue Cross Blue ShieldRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal jury in Buffalo has convicted Nina Jafari, a licensed clinical social worker, 63, of Amherst, N.Y., of four counts of health care fraud. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both when sentenced.
“One of the reasons for the high cost of health care in this country is fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Thanks to today’s convictions, a woman who abused her position as a health care provider to illegally enrich herself will no longer be able to run up costs for the rest of the public.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael DiGiacomo and Aaron J. Mango, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that the defendant defrauded Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. Jafari submitted reimbursement claim forms to the insurance provider for services that were not rendered. For example, a witness for the Government testified that the defendant submitted claim forms for both he and his wife who were not even patients of Jafarai. The defendant received payment for 80 minute sessions for both the husband and wife.
The Government’s evidence also included tape recorded conversations between the defendant and a patient. In those conversations, Jafari instructed the patient not to share any information with Blue Cross Blue Shield regarding dates of service.
The amount that the defendant defrauded the insurance carrier totaled approximately $125,000.
The verdict is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Health Care Fraud Task Force.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in Buffalo before Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford who presided over the trial of the case.Seven Western Washington Jurisdictions Awarded DOJ Grants to Help Reduce Violence and Protect SchoolsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC—Today the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced funding awards to seven cities and counties in the Western District of Washington, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 33 law enforcement positions. Nearly $121 million will be awarded nationally, including $6.2 million for Western Washington.
“This essential program will put more officers on our streets and in our schools to improve community safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “It was a competitive process for grants, and today’s announcement is a tribute to these departments who demonstrated how they will serve their communities.”
The Seattle Police Department and Tacoma Police Department each received funding for ten new officers. Auburn is funded for five officers, Federal Way four officer and the cities of Fife and Aberdeen one officer each. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Department was awarded funding for two officers.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2014 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and community policing plans.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Serial Armed Robber Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Artavius Brown has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for his use of a firearm during the commission of multiple armed robberies.
“Brown terrorized our community and put the lives of many innocent people at risk,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “This crime spree was brought to an end through the coordinated efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners. Violent criminals should understand that in our district, significant federal penalties await them.”
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Today’s sentencing of Mr. Brown to thirty two years in federal prison for his extensive and violent crime spree illustrates that there is no tolerance for those who show a total and repeated disregard for law and order. Because of the lengthy sentences available for these types of offenders in the federal system and also noting that there is no parole in the federal system, it is important for law enforcement to consider federal prosecution in these types of cases.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: During a five-month crime spree, that spanned four counties in the Atlanta, Ga., area, Brown committed 24 armed robberies of Family Dollar and Dollar General stores and one armed robbery of a PNC Bank – often committing multiple robberies on the same day:
Date
Business
Address
2/18/2013
Family Dollar
3855 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker, Ga.
2/21/2013
Family Dollar
319 N. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road, Stone Mountain, Ga.
2/25/2013
Dollar General
6633 Covington Highway, Lithonia, Ga.
2/25/2013
Family Dollar
4787 Covington Highway, Decatur, Ga.
3/4/2013
Dollar General
5570 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, Ga.
5/1/2013
Family Dollar
3590 Panola Road, Lithonia, Ga.
5/1/2013
Dollar General
2552 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, Ga.
5/9/2013
Family Dollar
7184 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain, Ga.
5/9/2013
Dollar General
4312 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Ga.
5/9/2013
Family Dollar
4624 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross, Ga.
5/14/2013
Dollar General
4351 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker, Ga.
5/17/2013
Dollar General
5610 Singleton Road, Norcross, Ga.
5/23/2013
Dollar General
3900 Glenwood Road, Decatur, Ga.
5/26/2013
Family Dollar
3500 Martin Luther King Dr., Atlanta, Ga.
5/28/2013
Family Dollar
1400 Moreland Avenue, Atlanta, Ga.
5/29/2013
Family Dollar
5403 Covington Highway, Decatur, Ga.
5/30/2013
Family Dollar
1455 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lawrenceville, Ga.
5/31/2013
Dollar General
2846 Lavista Road, Decatur, Ga.
5/31/2013
Dollar General
1500 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, Ga.
6/2/2013
Family Dollar
807 Cascade Road, Atlanta, Ga.
6/6/2013
Family Dollar
5279 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, Ga.
6/6/2013
Family Dollar
6928 Main Street, Lithonia, Ga.
6/11/2013
Dollar General
1910 Jodeco Road, Stockbridge, Ga.
6/12/2013
Dollar General
1005 Brentwood Parkway, Stockbridge, Ga.
6/21/2013
PNC Bank
2355 Main Street, Tucker, Ga.
Brown, 24, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr., to 32 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,509.35.
Brown was convicted of these charges on March 19, 2014, after pleading guilty to a criminal information that charged him with one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (a Hobbs Act robbery) that occurred on May 26, 2013, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (armed bank robbery) that occurred on June 21, 2013. Conviction on the first count carried a mandatory minimum prison term of seven years, and conviction on the second count carried a mandatory minimum prison term of 25 years, to run consecutive to the seven year term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the City of Lithonia Police Department, and the City of Lilburn Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Angela M. Garland and John S. Ghose 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 Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
Sentencing in $2.9 Million Stolen Identity Tax ScamRead the Press Release
Grand Rapids businessman admits forging endorsements on $750,000 of US Treasury Checks
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Mateo Velasquez-Garcia, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to 48months’ incarceration and three years of supervised release for his convictions on one count of Forgery of U.S. Treasury Checks and one count of Illegal Re-entry by an Alien, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarod Koopman, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Marlon V. Miller of Homeland Security joined U.S. Attorney Miles in the announcement.
Velasquez-Garcia operated a grocery store located at 1814 S. Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan. An investigation revealed that $2.9 million dollars’ worth of fraudulently obtained federal tax refund checks were deposited into the bank account for the Tienda La Nueva Esperanza grocery store during the years 2011 to 2012. Velasquez-Garcia admitted to federal agents that he personally placed false endorsements on the back of 115 of the U.S. Treasury checks, which were payable to third parties. The checks totaled $750,000.
Velasquez-Garcia is also an alien. He was previously removed from the U.S. and has been found to be in the U.S. without the proper consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The investigation of this case was conducted by Special Agents of the Homeland Security Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation.
END
Saginaw Resident Found GuiltyOf Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A Saginaw man was convicted Friday of armed drug trafficking after a federal jury trial in Bay City, Michigan, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
Joining McQuade in the announcement was Steven Bogdalek, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The jury found Deondrai Allon Tippins, 41, guilty after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. Tippins was convicted of distribution of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm.
The convictions follow an investigation conducted by the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team "BAYANET") and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). According to evidence presented at trial, Tippins distributed drugs out of his residence while carrying a firearm. After his arrest, Tippins threatened to injure a confidential informant.
"We are using federal resources to make our neighborhoods safer by removing armed drug dealers," McQuade said.
The case was prosecuted by the Bay City branch of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Repeat Offender and Accomplice Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of A Minor from West AfricaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Steven E. Thompson has been sentenced to 25 years for sex trafficking of a minor by threats of force, fraud and coercion, conspiring to do the same, and inducing adult women to travel interstate for prostitution. His accomplice, Tierra Waters, has been sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor.
“These defendants exploited a 17-year-old girl from West Africa who desperately needed a place to live,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “The pair coerced the minor into engaging in prostitution at hotels and residences in Atlanta. Sex trafficking has no place in our society. And those who exploit vulnerable children in this way will face the kind of lengthy prison sentences that the defendants justly received today.”
“Like many of the young women we see exploited by sex traffickers in our investigations, this child was vulnerable and in need of help when she fell victim to this predator,” said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta. “Make no mistake, it was no chance encounter that brought this child into contact with the defendants. Sex traffickers are constantly on the lookout for vulnerable women and children they can exploit for their so-called ‘escort’ businesses. As these defendants have learned, law enforcement agencies like HSI and GBI are constantly on the lookout for these abusive predators and will hold them accountable for their heartless crimes.”
“Protecting children is a top priority for the GBI. We will continue to work in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify, investigate, and assist in the prosecution of individuals who have exploited children. It is imperative for law enforcement to protect those who cannot protect themselves,” said Vernon Keenan, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Between April and June 2011, Thompson, a convicted felon who used the nickname “Silk,” advertised a 17-year-old refugee from Sierra Leone, West Africa for prostitution on the website Backpage.com, falsely listing her as ages 19 and 20 years. When the juvenile met Thompson and Waters, she was living in the United States without her parents; relying on relatives and friends for housing and support; and frequently homeless. In February 2011, Clayton County, Ga., Juvenile Court declared her a deprived child and placed her in a temporary shelter. Her grandmother took custody of her, but soon left the country, leaving the minor to fend for herself.
In April 2011, Thompson and Waters offered to allow the minor to live with them while she waited to enter the Job Corps. After living with Thompson and Waters only a few weeks, the defendants told the minor that she must have sex with men to earn money or leave their condominium. During this time, the juvenile saw Thompson verbally and physically abuse Waters, who worked as a prostitute for Thompson. Thompson also forced the minor to have sex with him on more than one occasion. Thompson and Waters transported the minor to the various locations where they coerced her into engaging in prostitution, and kept all her earnings. Thompson and Waters also angrily confronted the juvenile after discovering that she was avoiding calls from customers responding to the Backpage.com ads.
A witness who met the minor through the Backpage.com ads agreed to cooperate in the investigation. According to the witness, he was initially unaware that the girl was underage. But after the witness engaged in a commercial sex act with the minor, he began receiving threatening text messages from Thompson. In the text messages, Thompson disclosed that the girl was a minor and attempted to extort money from the witness.
In addition to the minor victim, Thompson also advertised two adult women for prostitution in Internet ads: A.M. from Washington, and F.F. from Alabama. Thompson met the women on the Internet and persuaded them to travel to Atlanta to work as prostitutes for him. Between March and August 2011, Thompson induced both women to travel interstate for that purpose.
Thompson, 44, of Atlanta, Ga., a repeat offender, having been previously convicted of federal offenses involving counterfeiting currency and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, to be followed by ten years of supervised release. Thompson was convicted on June 25, 2014, of conspiracy to commit, and commission of, sex trafficking of a minor, and inducing adult women to travel interstate for prostitution, following a jury trial. Thompson must register as sex offender as a condition of his supervised release.
Waters, 30, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty on July 25, 2013, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations-Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Coppedge and Leslie J. Abrams prosecuted the case.This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Attempted Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Trafficking with Respect to Involuntary Servitude and Forced Labor was sentenced on September 23, 2014, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
John Miller, age 25, was sentenced to 3 years in custody, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Miller was one of nine men who were arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting persons willing to pay to have sex with underage girls obtained through the Internet. All nine men were indicted for Commercial Sex Trafficking.
The conviction stemmed from Miller responding to a Craigslist.com advertisement posted by Division of Criminal Investigation undercover agents, which purported to offer young girls for sex. Following several emails with a person Miller believed to be associated with a 13-year old girl, but who in fact was an undercover agent, he proceeded to negotiate the time and place they would meet, along with the price he would pay, which was $150.
The undercover operation and arrests were a joint effort between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins prosecuted the case.
Miller was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Priest Charged with Production, Transportation,And Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard James Kurtz, 69, formerly of Clarkston, Michigan, was charged in a criminal complaint with production, transportation, and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Paul M. Abbate, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
According to court records, Kurtz, a Jesuit priest and former teacher at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, was arrested in November 2011—while he was residing in Chicago—for “sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.” That arrest was based on an arrest warrant issued out of Douglas County, Colorado, for conduct that occurred in 2001. After Kurtz’s arrest in Chicago, two Jesuit priests discovered evidence of possible child pornography crimes among Kurtz’s belongings in Chicago, as well at Kurtz’s former residence in Clarkston, Michigan. The Jesuits provided that evidence to the FBI.
According to court records, the FBI’s investigation revealed that Kurtz surreptitiously videotaped UDJHS hockey players changing in the locker room after games during the 1998-1999 hockey season. Beyond this production of child pornography, the FBI also discovered that Kurtz transferred other child pornographic material from Clarkston to Chicago, and possessed still other child pornography in Clarkston.
Kurtz was arrested today in Missouri where he will face a magistrate judge for removal to the Eastern District of Michigan. If convicted of these offenses, Kurtz faces a term of 15-30 years in custody for the production of child pornography charge, 5-20 years in custody for the transportation of child pornography charge, and up to 10 years in custody for the possession of child pornography charge.Kurtz was a teacher of chemistry at the UDJHS from 1970-1973, 1978-1983, and from September 1984-May 2001.
McQuade praised the work of the FBI agents for their professionalism and dedication in their aggressive and thorough investigation of these cases.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Mulcahy is prosecuting this case for the United States.Porcupine Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Porcupine, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
Jefferson Swallow, age 23, was indicted on September 22, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica Duffy on September 25, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment up to 20 years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment charges that between March 2014 and August 2014, at Porcupine, Swallow knowingly received and possessed computers files containing images of child pornography.
The charges are merely accusations and Swallow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Swallow was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced to 5 Years Probation for Selling Subscriptions Without Delivering MagazinesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to five years probation and 200 hours of community service on her conviction of mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill imposed the sentence on Larhon Buchanan, 33, of Pittsburgh, PA.
According to the information presented to the court, Buchanan was a co-owner of several businesses that purported to sell magazine subscriptions but only collected money from victims without ever providing the magazine subscriptions. The scheme took place in cities throughout the country. Losses to the victims were approximately $2 million. The business names used were New Image Consultants, Inc., Fresh Start Opportunities, A Fresh Start by Larhon Buchanan, A Fresh Start by Samuel Cole, and Destiny Sales, Inc.
Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Larhon Buchanan.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for $1.9 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 84 months incarceration, three years supervised release and 500 hours of community service on his conviction of mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill imposed the sentence on Samuel Cole, 44, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA.
According to the information presented to the court, in February, 2007, Cole and his co-defendant, Lahron Buchanan, who previously pled guilty, formed New Image Consultants, Inc. They used Pittsburgh as their home base and traveled to several cities with other salespersons to sell door to door. Over the next four years they owned and operated the following corporations: New Image Consultants, Inc.; Fresh Start Opportunities; A Fresh Start by Lahron Buchanan; A Fresh Start by Samuel Cole; and Destiny Sales, Inc.
None of these businesses provided or paid for a magazine subscription for any of the persons who paid for them.
Salespersons often wore fraudulent credentials purporting to show their company was a member of the National Field Selling Association (NFSA), and when in fact none of the companies was a member. As described in the indictment, the NFSA was a trade association of the door to door sales and the direct sales industry. Each member company agrees to comply with the NFSA Code of Ethics to promptly handle consumer complaints, to not make false, deceptive or misleading statements to prospective purchasers, and to not misrepresent the time period for product delivery.
The sales pitches used were designed to create sympathy for the salesperson, who represented himself/herself to be impoverished, a student, a single parent, or a criminal who was starting over in life. The sales pitches were also designed to take advantage of any charitable inclination of victims by representing that delivery of the magazines could be directed to the local Children’s Hospital, or to the war fighters in the war zone.
Only checks were accepted as payment and the checks were collected by salespersons on the spot. During the course of the scheme, magazine delivery was promised from as little as 90 days and up to as many as 160 days. The victims were given a “receipt” at the time of the sale with instructions on how to seek a refund. Attempts by victims to get refunds were uniformly unsuccessful, and in fact, magazines were never delivered to any victim.
The extensive investigation involved reviewing checks from more than 30 checking accounts used during the scheme. Approximately 30,000 victims from virtually all over the country were identified through these checking accounts. The documented losses to victims is approximately $1,933,586.
Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Samuel Cole.
Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced for Theft from Indian Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft from Indian Tribal Organization was sentenced on September 22, 2014, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Lorelei Exendine, age 44, was sentenced to 2 years of probation, ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and restitution in the amount of $3,214.57.
Exendine was indicted for Theft from Indian Tribal Organization by a federal grand jury on August 27, 2013. She pled guilty on June 2, 2014.
In December 2009, Exendine was serving as president of the Northern Great Plains Emergency Medical Services Association. In that capacity, she planned a conference for emergency medical service providers to be held in Rapid City. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Ambulance Service, an entity of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), had agreed to co-sponsor the conference. Registration fees totaling over $3,000 were sent directly to Exendine, who kept the money for herself instead of sending it to the OST.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Pimentel-Lopez Gets 20 Years for Trafficking Ten Pounds of Meth in ButteRead the Press Release
Butte - Jesus Pimentel-Lopez, of Aguililla, Mexico, was sentenced to 240 months in prison today in United States District Court in Butte on conspiracy charges relating to the possession and distribution of methamphetamine. Pimentel-Lopez had previous been found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, following a two-day jury trial on June 4, 2014 in Butte. Pimentel-Lopez was sentenced by the Honorable Sam E. Haddon who also presided over the trial.
Pimentel-Lopez was engaged in the methamphetamine conspiracy from July 2012 through February 2013. During the course of the conspiracy, Pimentel-Lopez brought methamphetamine to Montana from Idaho and elsewhere for distribution in Butte. Pimentel-Lopez was found responsible for the possession and distribution of 10 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the conspiracy.
Jesus Elizondo, one of Pimentel-Lopez's co-conspirators in this case was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison. Timothy Gardiner, another co-conspirator, was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Jeffrey Lackman was sentenced to 98 months for his role in the conspiracy while Elizabeth Gardiner was sentenced to 48 months.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Pierre Man Charged with Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Darrell Jerome Anderson, age 43, was indicted on September 16, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 22, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, at least 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between June 1, 2014, and August 12, 2014, Anderson, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under state law, failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Anderson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Anderson was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Perry Hall Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in A Conspiracy to Defraud the City of BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - Robert Johnson, age 33, of Perry Hall, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft, related to a scheme to defraud the City of Baltimore through the reissuance of fraudulent checks for pay and benefits.The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Robert H. Pearre, Jr., Inspector General, City of Baltimore Office of Inspector General; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
According to his guilty plea and court documents, Robert Johnson was employed in the Consumer Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Johnson admitted that from July 11, 2013 through August 2, 2013, he and his co-conspirator, who was employed as an accountant in the Finance Department of the City of Baltimore, conspired to defraud the City of Baltimore. During the time of the conspiracy, Baltimore City employees who left their employment were entitled to a lump sum check of any pay and benefits for which they qualified. Johnson and his co-conspirator used the financial and identity information of former employees to request fraudulent employee benefit payout checks, which Johnson then deposited into his personal account and used for the benefit of the conspirators.
According to his plea agreement, Johnson’s co-conspirator identified individuals who had received and cashed large lump sum payments and then requested that such checks be reissued, as if they had not been received. These duplicate checks were printed at the Baltimore City Finance Office, where the co-conspirator stole the checks. The co-conspirator delivered the checks to Johnson, endorsed “Pay to the Order of Robert Johnson,” purportedly signed by the recipient. Johnson endorsed and cashed the checks, and deposited the proceeds into a bank account he controlled. Johnson used the funds for his own purposes and to fund meals and other purchases for the benefit of his co-conspirator.
For example, on July 11, 2013, Johnson deposited a check made out to Victim 1, in the amount of $14,741.09, and fraudulently endorsed to Johnson with a forged signature of Victim 1. On July 31, 2013, Johnson deposited a check made out to Victim 2, in the amount of $58,485.91. Again, the check was endorsed to Johnson with a forged signature of Victim 2. Both victims had previously received and cashed their initial lump sum payment checks and the duplicate checks were issued and endorsed to Johnson without their knowledge or permission.
After Johnson attempted to wire some of the funds to pay off an account at a different financial institution, Johnson’s bank was alerted to the suspicious transactions and referred the matter to the City of Baltimore Office of the Inspector General, who sought the assistance of the Finance Department in determining the authenticity of the endorsements. Johnson’s co-conspirator was tasked with the investigation and notified Johnson of the problem. According to Johnson’s plea agreement, the co-conspirator attempted to derail the investigation and obtain release of the funds by the bank by claiming to have spoken with the check recipients, who confirmed that the endorsements were genuine. In fact, neither statement was true. Meanwhile, Johnson’s bank had reversed the deposits and returned the funds to the City of Baltimore, leaving a large deficit in Johnson’s account balance. Johnson obtained funds from his co-conspirator to repay the amount due.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Johnson fraudulently obtained between $70,000 and $120,000, all of which was ultimately recovered.
Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy; and two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled sentencing for January 16, 2015 at 11 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Baltimore Office of Inspector General, Baltimore City Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tamera L. Fine and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Felsen, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who are prosecuting the case.
Pakistani Man Indicted for Selling 'StealthGenie' Spyware AppRead the Press Release
A Pakistani man has been indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for allegedly conspiring to advertise and sell StealthGenie, a spyware application (app) that could monitor calls, texts, videos and other communications on mobile phones without detection. This marks the first-ever criminal case concerning the advertisement and sale of a mobile device spyware app.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew McCabe of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
“Selling spyware is not just reprehensible, it’s a crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Apps like StealthGenie are expressly designed for use by stalkers and domestic abusers who want to know every detail of a victim’s personal life – all without the victim’s knowledge. The Criminal Division is committed to cracking down on those who seek to profit from technology designed and used to commit brazen invasions of individual privacy.”
“StealthGenie has little use beyond invading a victim’s privacy” said U.S. Attorney Boente. “Advertising and selling spyware technology is a criminal offense, and such conduct will be aggressively pursued by this office and our law enforcement partners.”
“This application allegedly equips potential stalkers and criminals with a means to invade an individual’s confidential communications,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. “They do this not by breaking into their homes or offices, but by physically installing spyware on unwitting victim’s phones and illegally tracking an individual’s every move. As technology continues to evolve, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who use illegal means to monitor and track individuals without their knowledge.”
According to allegations in the indictment, Hammad Akbar, 31, of Lahore, Pakistan, is the chief executive officer of InvoCode Pvt Ltd, the company that advertises and sells StealthGenie online. Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly created the spyware, which could intercept communications to and from mobile phones, including Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, and Blackberry Limited’s Blackberry. StealthGenie was undetectable by most users and was advertised as being untraceable.
Akbar was charged in the indictment with conspiracy, sale of a surreptitious interception device, advertisement of a known interception device and advertising a device as a surreptitious interception device. He was arrested in Los Angeles on Sept. 27, 2014, and is expected to appear before a magistrate judge in the Central District of California later today.
StealthGenie was hosted at a data center in Ashburn, Virginia. On Sept. 26, 2014, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary restraining order authorizing the FBI to temporarily disable the website hosting StealthGenie.
The indictment alleges that StealthGenie’s capabilities included the following: it recorded all incoming/outgoing voice calls; it intercepted calls on the phone to be monitored while they take place; it allowed the purchaser to call the phone and activate it at any time to monitor all surrounding conversations within a 15-foot radius; and it allowed the purchaser to monitor the user’s incoming and outgoing e-mail messages and SMS messages, incoming voicemail messages, address book, calendar, photographs, and videos. All of these functions were enabled without the knowledge of the user of the phone.
Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly programmed StealthGenie to synchronize communications intercepted by the app with the customer’s account so that the customer could review intercepted communications almost immediately from any computer with access to the Internet. To install the app, a purchaser needed to obtain physical control over the phone to be monitored for only a few minutes. The purchaser could then review communications intercepted from the monitored phone without ever again having physical control over the phone. Akbar and others alleged designed SteathGenie to be undetectable to users of the phone.
According to allegations in the indictment, the business plan for the development, sale and advertisement of StealthGenie stated that the target population for the marketing of the app was “[s]pousal cheat: Husband/Wife of (sic) boyfriend/girlfriend suspecting their other half of cheating or any other suspicious behaviour or if they just want to monitor them.” Language and testimonials on the StealthGenie website focused significantly on potential purchasers who did not have any ownership interest in the mobile phone to be monitored, including those suspecting a spouse or romantic partner of infidelity. The indictment alleges that Akbar and his co-conspirators fabricated the testimonials.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William A. Hall Jr. and Peter V. Roman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu of the Eastern District of Virginia.
The FBI has made available a document for individuals with questions concerning StealthGenie. It may be found at http://www.ic3.gov/media/2014/140930.aspx.
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Pakistani Man Indicted for Selling “Stealthgenie” Spyware AppRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Pakistani man has been indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for allegedly conspiring to advertise and sell StealthGenie, a spyware application (app) that could monitor calls, texts, videos and other communications on mobile phones without detection. This marks the first-ever criminal case concerning the advertisement and sale of a mobile device spyware app.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew McCabe of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
“Selling spyware is not just reprehensible, it’s a crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Apps like StealthGenie are expressly designed for use by stalkers and domestic abusers who want to know every detail of a victim’s personal life – all without the victim’s knowledge. The Criminal Division is committed to cracking down on those who seek to profit from technology designed and used to commit brazen invasions of individual privacy.”
“StealthGenie has little use beyond invading a victim’s privacy” said U.S. Attorney Boente. “Advertising and selling spyware technology is a criminal offense, and such conduct will be aggressively pursued by this office and our law enforcement partners.”
“This application allegedly equips potential stalkers and criminals with a means to invade an individual’s confidential communications,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. “They do this not by breaking into their homes or offices, but by physically installing spyware on unwitting victim’s phones and illegally tracking an individual’s every move. As technology continues to evolve, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who use illegal means to monitor and track individuals without their knowledge.”
According to allegations in the indictment, Hammad Akbar, 31, of Lahore, Pakistan, is the chief executive officer of InvoCode Pvt Ltd, the company that advertises and sells StealthGenie online. Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly created the spyware, which could intercept communications to and from mobile phones, including Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, and Blackberry Limited’s Blackberry. StealthGenie was undetectable by most users and was advertised as being untraceable.
Akbar was charged in the indictment with conspiracy, sale of a surreptitious interception device, advertisement of a known interception device and advertising a device as a surreptitious interception device. He was arrested in Los Angeles on Sept. 27, 2014, and is expected to appear before a magistrate judge in the Central District of California later today.StealthGenie was hosted at a data center in Ashburn, Virginia. On Sept. 26, 2014, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary restraining order authorizing the FBI to temporarily disable the website hosting StealthGenie.
The indictment alleges that StealthGenie’s capabilities included the following: it recorded all incoming/outgoing voice calls; it intercepted calls on the phone to be monitored while they take place; it allowed the purchaser to call the phone and activate it at any time to monitor all surrounding conversations within a 15-foot radius; and it allowed the purchaser to monitor the user’s incoming and outgoing e-mail messages and SMS messages, incoming voicemail messages, address book, calendar, photographs, and videos. All of these functions were enabled without the knowledge of the user of the phone.
Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly programmed StealthGenie to synchronize communications intercepted by the app with the customer’s account so that the customer could review intercepted communications almost immediately from any computer with access to the Internet. To install the app, a purchaser needed to obtain physical control over the phone to be monitored for only a few minutes. The purchaser could then review communications intercepted from the monitored phone without ever again having physical control over the phone. Akbar and others alleged designed SteathGenie to be undetectable to users of the phone.
According to allegations in the indictment, the business plan for the development, sale and advertisement of StealthGenie stated that the target population for the marketing of the app was “[s]pousal cheat: Husband/Wife of (sic) boyfriend/girlfriend suspecting their other half of cheating or any other suspicious behaviour or if they just want to monitor them.” Language and testimonials on the StealthGenie website focused significantly on potential purchasers who did not have any ownership interest in the mobile phone to be monitored, including those suspecting a spouse or romantic partner of infidelity. The indictment alleges that Akbar and his co-conspirators fabricated the testimonials.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William A. Hall Jr. and Peter V. Roman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu of the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Nuestra Familia Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 31 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Hanrahan, aka Bubba, 41, of Salinas, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William B. Shubb to 31 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to facts admitted during Hanrahan’s guilty plea, beginning in 2003, he acted as a leader of the Nuestra Familia, a violent prison gang based within the California and Federal prison systems whose members exert control over street-level Norteño gang members engaged in drug trafficking and violent crime. Hanrahan oversaw the establishment of Street Regiments in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area counties. Hanrahan was the primary supplier of methamphetamine and cocaine to the San Francisco regiment between 2004 and 2005. During the drug conspiracy, in August 2004, Salinas police served a state search warrant for controlled substances at a Salinas residence. Inside the residence, officers found Hanrahan and two pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of cocaine, drug ledgers, two digital scales, empty baggies, a stolen .40-caliber handgun, a 12‑gauge shotgun, and a rifle.
According to the plea agreement, in January 2006, while Hanrahan’s Salinas drug case was pending, he fled to Mexico. The NF funneled money obtained through drug trafficking to him for living expenses in Mexico, which included high phone bills. Western Union receipts traced the flow of NF drug money from Northern California to Hanrahan in Mexico. Ultimately, Hanrahan was apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border on November 12, 2006.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Stockton Violent Crime Task Force, the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force (METRO), the Stockton Police Department, the Salinas Police Department, the Watsonville Police Department, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into the activities of the Nuestra Familia. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Hitt and William S. Wong prosecuted the case.
This case and a related indictment have resulted in a number of significant sentences:
On April 21, 2010, Manuel Gauna was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison.
On December 13, 2010, Richard Mendoza was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
On February 22, 2011, Bismark Ocampo was sentenced to 28 years in prison.On May 25, 2011, the trial defendants were sentenced to the following: Larry Amaro was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Ernest Killinger was sentenced to 362 years in prison.
Gerardo Mora was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison.
Jason Stewart-Hanson was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
On July 25, 2011, Gabriel Caracheo was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
On July 27, 2011, David Ramirez was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
On September 26, 2011, Fernando Villalpando was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On October 17, 2011, Faustino Gonzalez was sentenced to more than 15 years.
On November 28, 2011, Oscar Campos-Padilla was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
On September 24, 2012, Rebecca Guzman was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
On January 22, 2013, Juan Gallegos, aka Wino, was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
On December 23, 2013, Carolyn Huerta, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.North Dakota Man Gets 30 Years for Traficking over 30 Pounds of Meth in Bakken AreaRead the Press Release
Butte-A 48-year-old Minot, North Dakota man who trafficked over 34 pounds in and around Montana was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. United States District Court Sam Haddon sentenced Lloyd Nickle to 360 months in prison, followed by a term of 5 years supervised release. A federal jury made up of Montana citizens found Nickle guilty on June 11, 2014, following a trial in Butte. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Nickle's 30-year sentence sends a clear message to all those engaging in criminal enterprise in and around the Bakken," said Montana U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter. "If you push poison in Montana, you will pay the price. Meth traffickers are in the despicable business of destroying individuals, families, and placing Montana's public in danger. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office are committed to the relentless fight against drug distribution in Big Sky Country."
The FBI recognizes the positive impact of coordinated law enforcement efforts pertaining to drug trafficking in multi-jurisdictional areas," said Mary Rook, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City Division. "This case illustrates incredible results based on the cooperation of all of the involved agencies."
Nickle was engaged in the methamphetamine conspiracy from June 2012 until January 2014. During the course of the conspiracy, Nickle purchased large amounts of methamphetamine from sources in California for distribution in Montana and North Dakota. Nickle, who is from Minot, North Dakota, would send partial payments for the methamphetamine by Federal Express to the sources and then make arrangements to meet the sources in various locations to complete the transactions. These meetings occurred in Butte, Dillon, Elko, Nevada, Caldwell, Idaho and Sacramento, California. Nickle and his fellow conspirators would then transport the methamphetamine to Butte, Billings, and other locations in Montana and North Dakota for distribution. Nickle was found responsible for the possession and distribution of at least 34 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the conspiracy.
Von Rackham, one of Nickle's co-conspirators was previously sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. Margaret Silvia, another co-conspirator, was sentenced to 100 months, and Leonard Ewalt was sentenced to 138 months. Nickle was acquitted by the jury of a gun charge.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Bakken, a cooperative effort between federal and state prosecutors and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in Montana and North Dakota. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montana Division of Criminal Investigations and the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department.
Norris Man Sentenced for Two Counts of Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Norris, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on September 23, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Chauncy Crow Dog, age 20, was sentenced to 42 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, restitution, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Crow Dog was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2013, and pled guilty on June 17, 2014.
The convictions arose from an incident that took place on August 14, 2013, at the Paul Mart Store in Rosebud. The two victims engaged in an argument and physical confrontation with Crow Dog and another person. Crow Dog retrieved a baseball bat and struck both men, knocking them to the ground. Neither victim had a weapon. While the victims were down and on the ground, Crow Dog delivered blows to their backs and to their heads. Crow Dog’s friends told him to stop, but he did not. The victims were seriously injured.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher.
Crow Dog was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Norris Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Norris, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor was sentenced on September 22, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Arnold Eagle Bear, Jr., age 32, was sentenced to 27 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Also, Eagle Bear cannot have contact with minors, shall register as a sex offender, and participate in a sex offender program.
Eagle Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 22, 2014. He pled guilty on June 30, 2014.
The conviction stems from incidents between November 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, when Eagle Bear used his computer to communicate with underage girls. He misrepresented his age as being 18 or 19 when he spoke with a minor female. They later met at her house and had sexual intercourse. He knew it was wrong but believed girls would not talk to him if they knew his real age.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Maher prosecuted the case.
Eagle Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nashville Man Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threatening Communication on the Front of A Ku Klux Klan PublicationRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Daniel Puckett, age 58, of Nashville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to a one count indictment charging him with mailing a threatening communication to his ex-employer, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
“Today’s guilty plea reflects the vile nature of the threatening communication Daniel Puckett sent to his fellow co-worker,” said U.S. Attorney Stanton. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit heinous acts like Puckett’s, as there is simply no room in a civilized society for this kind of hateful conduct.”
According to facts revealed in the indictment and recited during the plea, Puckett was employed by Aerotech Corporation, a temporary employment service. Puckett was placed as a temporary employee at Unilever Corporation in Covington, Tennessee, but was later released by Unilever. Puckett sent a threatening communication written across the front of a Ku Klux Klan publication titled The Torch to his ex-supervisor at Unilever. The statement written on the publication read, “We have space for you and your family under a big oak tree.” Inside the publication it was written that the supervisor was not a member of the “Knights” but wanted to attend the “National Klan Congress.” Title 18, United States Code, Section 876 makes it a crime to mail a threatening communication.
Puckett faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a period of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Covington Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence Laurenzi on behalf of the government.
Mobridge Man Charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding A Federal Officer Involving Physical ContactRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mobridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Federal Officer Involving Physical Contact.
Ed Charles LeClair, IV, age 22, was indicted on September 16, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 22, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about July 27, 2014, LeClair forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a Dewey County Deputy Sheriff while he was assisting federal law enforcement officers. They were all engaged in the performance of their official duties.
The charge is merely an accusation and LeClair is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Dewey County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.
LeClair was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Mission Man Sentenced for First Degree BurglaryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Burglary was sentenced on September 23, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Joshua Daniel Peneaux, age 19, was sentenced to 44 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, $1,400 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Peneaux was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 8, 2014, and pled guilty on July 14, 2014.
The conviction stems from an incident on March 30, 2014, in Mission, when Peneaux and others kicked open the door of a home in the middle of the night intending to loot the house of valuables to sell for money to buy marijuana. The homeowner became alert to the intrusion, armed himself with a firearm, and confronted the intruders. When the intruders did not get on the floor as instructed, the homeowner shot at the intruders, mortally wounding one and shooting Peneaux in the buttock. When Peneaux was taken to the hospital for treatment, a knife was found in his pants pocket.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher.
Peneaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
- Mission Man Gets Nearly 20 Years for Leading Marijuana Conspiracy
Michael and Tommy Brummitt Sentenced for Being Felons in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Sept. 29, 2014, Tommy Brummitt, 43, of Elizabethton, Tenn., was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, to serve 188 months in federal prison, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Greer previously sentenced Michael J. Brummitt, 44, also of Elizabethton, on Sept. 22, 2014, to serve 54 months in federal prison for also being a felon in possession of a firearm. Upon their release from prison, each will be subject to supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
Both Tommy and Michael Brummitt pleaded guilty to possession of firearms after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. Tommy Brummitt was subject to the provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act, which provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years for possession of a firearm after three prior felony convictions for violent offenses or drug trafficking offenses.
In October 2013, shots were fired from a vehicle in which the Brummitts, who are cousins, were traveling on Dry Creek Road in Elizabethton. Shotgun pellets struck several residences and some residents suffered injuries. The Brummitts fled from officers, but were quickly apprehended by deputies with the Carter County Sherriff’s Department. Each denied being the shooter, although the shots were fired from the vehicle in which only the two Brummitts were occupants.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation included the Carter County Sheriff’s Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.
Mexican Citizen Apprehended in Lebanon County Charged with Improper EntryRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced today that a 42-year-old native and citizen of Mexico has been charged with improper entry into the United States.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Gerardo Bedolla-Diaz, age 42, was charged in a one-count information filed with the Court in Harrisburg today.
The information alleges that Bedolla-Diaz, an illegal alien, did enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers and was found in the United States in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
If convicted, Bedolla-Diaz faces a maximum sentence of up to six months’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alice Song Hartye.
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.
Mercer County, N.J., Woman Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison for Narcotics DistributionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. - A Lawrenceville, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 32 months in prison for distributing oxycodone-based prescription pills from a steakhouse in Trenton, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Mary Manfredo, 67, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to an indictment charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Manfredo admitted that from May 2011 through July 2012, she conspired with Joseph Giorgianni, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” 65, of Ewing Township, New Jersey; Charles Hall III, 51, of Trenton; Anthony DiMatteo, 33, of Trenton; Giuseppe A. Scordato, 49, of Hamilton, New Jersey; and others to illegally acquire and distribute oxycodone-based prescription pills. JoJo’s Steakhouse, a Trenton restaurant, served as a front for the conspiracy. Manfredo admitted that she received pills from Giorgianni and Hall at JoJo’s Steakhouse and then gave them to DiMatteo and Scordato. After selling the pills, DiMatteo and Scordato gave a portion of the proceeds to Manfredo, who later gave the money to Giorgianni and Hall.
For their roles in the conspiracy, DiMatteo and Scordato were sentenced to 87 months in prison and 48 months in prison, respectively.
Giorgianni and Hall also were sentenced – to 78 months in prison and 48 months in prison, respectively – after pleading guilty to the oxycodone distribution conspiracy and separate charges, including conspiring with the former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack to extort bribes and kickbacks in connection with a Trenton parking garage project.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Shipp sentenced Manfredo to serve three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton and Camden, respectively.14-346
Defense counsel: Anthony Simonetti Esq., Hightstown, New JerseyMarysville Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Distribution of Pictures of Child RapeRead the Press Release
A 43-year-old Marysville, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. TODD ALAN RAMEY was arrested in November 2013 following the serving of a search warrant at his Marysville home. RAMEY was identified in an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) of a foreign based website used to exchange images of child rape and sexual abuse. The forensic review of RAMEY’s computer revealed more than 14,000 images and 1,700 videos of children being raped and sexually molested. RAMEY was ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the photos. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart imposed 15 years of supervised release following the prison sentence.
According to records filed in the case, RAMEY came to the attention of law enforcement because of his use of a website involved in the exchange of child pornography. In addition to the child pornography, RAMEY distributed images of children with descriptions of how he planned to rape or molest them. RAMEY had been investigated previously in connection with sexual contact with a 14-year-old. RAMEY pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography in February 2014.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/pscThe case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Vaughan.
Manon Cote Imprisoned for Embezzling from Newport EmployerRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Manon Cote, 47, of Newport, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Brattleboro to 15 months of imprisonment following her guilty to a forgery charge which stemmed from Cote's embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer. U.S. District Judge J. Garvan Murtha ordered that Cote serve three years of supervised release following completion of her prison term, and pay restitution of about $368,000. Cote was directed to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on November 18 to begin serving her sentence.
On March 21, 2013, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned a three count indictment charging Cote with mail and wire fraud and forging checks of an organization. Cote pled guilty to the forgery charge last October. According to the indictment, Cote was employed as office manager for DeLaBruere=s Auto Sales, Inc., a new and used car and truck dealership in Newport. Between 2006 and January 2012, Cote embezzled about $380,000 from DeLaBruere=s, primarily be stealing cash from the daily receipts she was responsible for depositing into the company=s bank account. Cote tried to cover up the thefts of cash by writing company checks to unauthorized payees in amounts equal to the sum of cash she was stealing, then depositing the checks back into the company bank account. In issuing those checks, Cote used without authority the signature stamp of the owner of DeLaBruere=s. Cote stole additional company funds by improperly issuing checks to herself; by using company funds to pay personal loans; and by using the company credit card for personal reasons.
This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police and the U.S. Secret Service.
Cote is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender David McColgin. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Man Using False Identity Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison on International Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
First time recently enacted extraterritorial jurisdiction provision of our anti-trafficking laws is used to charge sex trafficking occurring in another country
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Wendy A. Bashnan, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Miami Field Office, announce that Damion St. Patrick Baston, 37, of Jamaica, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga to 324 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
On July 1, 2014, Baston was convicted by a jury of all of the crimes with which he was charged: three counts of sex trafficking through means of force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, both in the Southern District of Florida and in multiple countries around the world, including Australia, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and 1596; five counts of transporting multiple individuals for prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2421; one count of importation of an alien for prostitution, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1328; one count of use of a passport secured by false statement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542; one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A; one count of illegal reentry of an alien previously ordered removed, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326; and nine counts of money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956.
According to the indictment, other documents filed in federal court and statements made, beginning as early as 2009, Baston victimized seven women in the Middle East, Australia, and the United States. At trial, six victims bravely testified that the defendant had used force, threats, and coercion to traffic them for sex in various cities, including Miami. Baston had been ordered removed from the United States in the late 1990s following his conviction for an aggravated felony, but thereafter stole the identity of an American citizen, which he used to obtain a Florida driver’s license and U.S. passport in that person’s name. Baston used this false identity for international travel as he continued to recruit and victimize women.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI and DS, as well as the Australian Federal Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia S. Choe and Roy K. Altman.
Human trafficking must stop. To report suspected human trafficking occurring in South Florida, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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.
Lonnie Greer, Jr. Sentenced for Being A Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, TN – On Sept. 29, 2014, Lonnie Gene Greer, Jr., 36, of Jonesborough, Tenn., was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, to serve 180 months in federal prison. Upon his release from prison, Greer will be subject to supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
Greer pleaded guilty to possession of firearms after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. He had been previously convicted of multiple aggravated burglaries in Washington County.
Greer was the subject of a firearms trafficking investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. His possession of firearms was discovered after he was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for evading arrest. Further investigation confirmed that Greer sold multiple firearms, which he admitted were sometimes traded for illegally obtained prescription narcotics.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation included the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.
Laytonville Resident Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Marijuana and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Matthew David Graves pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2014, to manufacturing and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to do so, and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jay Fitzpatrick and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.
In open court, Graves admitted that between Nov. 6, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2012, he knowingly and intentionally conspired to manufacture and possess with the intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants and that he possessed more than 100 marijuana plants with intent to distribute on multiple occasions during that period. Graves also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of money laundering and admitted that he made multiple cash deposits into the bank account of his business, Matt Graves Construction, and that those deposits involved the proceeds from the manufacturing and possession of marijuana.
On Sept. 19, 2013, Graves, 56, of Laytonville, Calif., was charged by a Superseding Indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, three counts of manufacturing and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, four counts of money laundering, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Graves pleaded guilty to all counts in the superseding indictment with the exception of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Graves also consented to the forfeiture of his interest in four pieces of real property in Leggett, Calif. and a 2008 Toyota Tundra. This property was used to commit or facilitate the crimes to which Graves pleaded guilty.
The maximum statutory penalties for conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and manufacture and possession with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants, in violation of U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(vii), is 40 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine and a lifetime supervised release with a four year minimum term of supervised release. The maximum statutory penalty for money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), is 20 years in prison, and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Graves sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2014, before the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, United States District Court Judge, in San Francisco.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Barry is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
(Graves superseding indictment )
Justice Department Settles with Private Montessori School to Prevent Disability DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with Milwaukee Montessori School, a private day school serving over 400 children from 18 months old through eighth grade, to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement resolves allegations by the department that the school failed to accommodate and then impermissibly disenrolled a young child whose disability caused him to stumble and fall more frequently than his peers. The agreement is being filed as a consent decree along with a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and must be approved by the court.
Under the agreement, the school will adopt a disability nondiscrimination policy, including procedures for prompt handling of requests to reasonably modify school policies for children with disabilities. The school will train teachers, administrators, and board members on ADA requirements and report to the department on its compliance with the agreement. In addition, the school will pay $50,000 in compensatory damages to the child identified in the complaint and his parents, and will pay a civil penalty of $5,000 to the United States.
“It is illegal under the ADA to discriminate against children with disabilities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division. “Just like public schools, private schools must make reasonable modifications of policies to permit children with disabilities to participate fully in their programs. This agreement ensures that children will not be denied quality educational opportunities based on their disabilities.”
“This is a most important, meaningful, and effective action by the leadership of the Milwaukee Montessori School to ensure compliance with the ADA,” said James L. Santelle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “The agreement that we are announcing today reflects the school’s commitment and that of the Justice Department to ensure the full accessibility and opportunity promises of the law in the private educational setting.”
Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations, including private schools such as Milwaukee Montessori School, to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to goods, services, privileges, accommodations, facilities, advantages and accommodations. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Joliet Man to Serve More Than Six Years in Prison for Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
Urbana, Ill. – A Joliet, Ill., man, Troy J. Kelly, 32, of the 900 block of Leawood Drive, was sentenced today to serve 77 months (6 years, 5 months) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. District Judge Colin Bruce also ordered that Kelly remain on supervised release for a period of three years following completion of his prison sentence.
A grand jury indicted Kelly in February 2014, and he has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in March 2014. On June 3, Kelly entered a plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol on Oct. 3, 2013, in Kankakee County.
The charge is the result of ongoing investigations related to gun violence in the Kankakee area by the Kankakee Area Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kankakee Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller prosecuted the case.
Information: Federal Court ArraignmentsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Strong in Great Falls on September 29, 2014, and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
WILLIAM JAMES BALL, a 46-year-old resident of Harlem, appeared on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and strangulation. If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, BALL faces life in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference: 14-81
ROBERT ALLEN SMITH, a 59-yeard-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, SMITH faces 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime years supervised release. The case was investigated by the Great Falls Police Department. PACER Case Reference: 14-70
Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ostby in Billings on September 25, 2014, and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:
DUSTIN JAMES MASSEY, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, MASSEY faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release. The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference: 14-96
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court's calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl..
Indiana Man Charged with Perjury, Obstruction and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
Alexander Krivozus, 42, of Carmel, Indiana, was charged earlier this week by a grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio for two counts of making false statements, one count of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice during an investigation into a Cleveland resident who maintained a secret bank account at UBS, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service announced.
According to the documents filed with the court, during 2009 through 2011, the Department of Justice and the IRS were investigating Edward Gurary, of Cleveland, Ohio as a result of receiving records from UBS bank in Switzerland from Gurary’s undeclared bank account at UBS. The records revealed that Gurary had UBS wire funds from his undeclared bank account to various bank accounts in Latvia, and asked UBS to fax the confirmations of some of the wire transfers to a fax number in the (317) area code, a number the government later associated with Krivozus. Krivozus was subpoenaed to testify, interviewed by the government over two days, and testified before the grand jury. In each interview, as well as before the grand jury, Krivozus denied knowing about the Gurary transactions or the faxed confirmations.
According to other court records, Gurary was arrested in February 2011, and pleaded guilty on March 08, 2011 in United States District Court in Cleveland, Ohio to one count of filing false income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2004 through 2008. The charges against Krivozus allege that his statements and denials in the interviews and before the grand jury were false.
Krivozus faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each charge, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Justice Department Tax Division trial attorney Richard M. Rolwing and Assistant United States Attorney Robert Patton.
Additional information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/. Additional information about tax fraud schemes to watch out for may be found on the IRS Criminal Investigation Web site at http://www.ustreas.gov/irs/ci/.
Hillsboro Drywall Company President Sentenced for Federal Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - On Friday, September 26, 2014, Stephen Gregory Nagy, 53, Hillsboro, Oregon, was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman, to nineteen months in federal prison for evading the payment of federal payroll taxes. Judge Mosman also ordered that Nagy pay $481,517.73 in restitution to the IRS, and serve a three-year term of supervision upon his release from prison. Nagy, who had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion, was the president of S&S Drywall Assemblies, a company providing drywall services in the construction industry, from January 2005 through September 2011. Nagy was ordered to surrender to U.S. Marshals by December 2, 2014.
The IRS assessed S&S Drywall Assemblies $481,519 in federal employment taxes, penalties and interest for the quarters beginning June 2009 and ending September 2010. Nagy met with the IRS in May 2010, and committed to a plan to pay the past due payroll taxes for his company, but he decided not to comply with the payment plan and engaged in a variety of interrelated fraudulent schemes to evade the payment of the delinquent payroll taxes.
Nagy began conducting extensive business transactions in cash in order to hide funds from the IRS. He obtained the cash by illegally hiring undocumented workers to work on prevailing wage jobs, paying them a small portion of the prevailing hourly rate, and demanding that they kick back the largest portion of their wages to him in cash. Nagy failed to report this cash to the IRS.
Nagy also forced some S&S Drywall employees to file for unemployment benefits through the Oregon Employment Department. After the employees filed for unemployment coverage, Nagy fraudulently insisted that they continue to work full-time for S&S Drywall. The unemployment benefits did not fully compensate the employees at a rate equal to their previous S&S Drywall salaries. To make up the deficit, Nagy gave employees cash payments amounting to the difference between the unemployment benefits and their full-time salaries. These cash wages were neither reported to the IRS, nor were traceable by the IRS. Nagy did not withhold federal income taxes, or Social Security and Medicare taxes from these cash payments. Another result of this scheme was that Nagy had the State of Oregon pay a large portion of his labor costs, giving him more profit from his drywall business. Nagy used some of the cash from the prevailing wage fraud to pay the difference between his employees’ full-time salaries and the illegal unemployment benefits they were receiving. Nagy intimidated, manipulated, and threatened the loss of much needed jobs to gain the cooperation of his employees in this scheme.
Nagy also thwarted IRS collection efforts by placing business and personal assets in the names of others, by physically hiding the assets, and by eventually transferring all S&S Drywall Assemblies income, contracts, receivables, and assets to ASM Drywall, Inc., a shell company he created and placed in his sister’s name.
“Stephen Nagy spent years planning and executing his scheme to steal from his employees and to cheat the IRS,” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. “It is through the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, the IRS and the investigators at the Oregon Department of Justice, that this criminal was finally brought to justice.”
"When a person undertakes to cheat on their tax obligation as Nagy did, they take advantage of all the American taxpayers," said Special Agent in Charge Teri Alexander of IRS Criminal Investigation. "Paying taxes is the price we all pay to live in a free and functioning society. When someone fails to pay their fair share, the rest of us bear the burden. Moreover, in this case, Nagy cheated his employees who trusted him to pay their payroll deductions, thus robbing them of Social Security, Medicare, and other important contributions."
Special Agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the Oregon Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire M. Fay and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Campbell prosecuted the case.
Head of International Narcotics Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization Sentenced to 150 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Organization spanned three continents, distributed over 8 tons of cocaine and laundered over $14 million in narcotics proceeds
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Donnell Young, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announce that Alvaro López Tardón, 39, of Miami Beach and Madrid, Spain, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard to 150 years in prison. In addition to the term of imprisonment, a $14 million forfeiture money judgment and $2 million fine were entered against Tardón. Tardón was also ordered to forfeit a significant number of assets, including luxury real estate, cars and bank accounts.
After a seven-week trial, Tardón was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 13 substantive counts of money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956 and 1957, respectively.
Tardón was the head of an international narcotics trafficking and money laundering syndicate which distributed over 7,500 kilograms of South American cocaine in Madrid and laundered over $14,000,000 in narcotics proceeds in Miami by buying high-end real estate, luxury and exotic automobiles and other high-end items. The proceeds were smuggled into Miami by couriers through Miami International Airport, wire transferred to South Florida by co-conspirators via MoneyGram and Western Union, wire transferred to third parties internationally on behalf of Tardón, and wire transferred directly to Tardón and his co-conspirators in Miami through Tardón’s exotic car dealership and other companies controlled by him located in Madrid, Spain.
Following the guilty verdicts, the jury found that a significant portion of the Tardón’s assets should be forfeited. Those assets involved real estate and cars. The real estate purchased by Tardón included condominium units in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove areas of Miami-Dade County. The exotic automobiles included a Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari Enzo, each worth over $1 million, a Mercedes-Benz Maybach 57S, two Mercedes-Benz G55, a Rolls Royce Ghost, and a Land Rover Range Rover. The government also seized three bank accounts.
The seven-week trial included the introduction of over 36,000 pages of financial and corporate documents from Spain and the United States. The trial also included testimony from six members of the Spanish National Police, a member of the Spanish national wiretapping agency (SITEL), and the Spanish taxing authority (Agencia Estatal de la Administración Tributaria).
The investigation and prosecution of Tardón was the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and prosecute high level narcotics traffickers and money launderers.
“For over a decade, Tardón oversaw a narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization that spanned three continents, distributed over 8 tons of cocaine and laundered over $14 million,” said U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer. “Today’s sentencing, which includes the forfeiture of millions of dollars in assets acquired with the proceeds of the narcotics trafficking, ensures not only that Tardón will spend the rest of his life in prison, but the dismantlement of this criminal organization.”
“With this term of imprisonment, rest assured Alvaro Lopez Tardon’s days as an international drug kingpin are over,” said George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “This was most certainly a team effort with the Spanish National Police and our partners in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.”
“Today’s sentencing of Tardon is a decisive blow against the drug trafficking and money laundering network. It also sends a clear message to those who attempt to hide their ill-gotten gains through investment in real estate and cars,” said Donnell Young, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “The success of this case can be attributed to the partnership of local, federal and international partners, and IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to be part of such a dedicated group of agencies who were committed to putting Tardon in prison and taking away assets he acquired from the proceeds of his illegal international organization.”
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, IRS-CI and members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) for their extraordinary work in this multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional investigation. Mr. Ferrer also thanked Customs and Border Protection, Tactical Analytical Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Police Department and Monroe County Sherriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Gonzalez, Cristina Maxwell, Daren Grove and Evelyn B. Sheehan.
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.
Hawaii-Bound Meth Trafficker SentencedRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Oscar Rodriguez, 31, of Sanger, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to four years and one month in prison, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, on January 31, 2013, Transportation Security Agency officers stopped Rodriguez at the Modesto Airport after his baggage tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance. As the result of a pat-down search, officers discovered two zip-lock baggies containing methamphetamine. The combined weight of the packaging materials and methamphetamine was 2.68 pounds. Rodriguez was carrying boarding passes for flights from Modesto to San Francisco and from San Francisco to Maui, Hawaii.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Frye prosecuted the case.
Guilty Plea in Spice CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Tamer Shaher Foqahaa, a resident of Mobile, Alabama, entered a guilty plea today before Chief United States District Court Judge William Steele to a one count Information charging a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The matter was investigated by the DEA, the HSI and MCSENT and was prosecuted by AUSA Deborah Griffin.
Goodwin Announces Crime-fighting Grant for HuntingtonRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney also welcomes selection of new Huntington police chief
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that Huntington has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant funding is being provided as part of the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program. The award is a planning grant under which a strategic, collaborative and community-oriented plan will be designed to reduce crime in a specific neighborhood or target area. The city will use the grant to attack crime in downtown Huntington, in an area stretching from 18th Street to 1st Street and Veterans Memorial Boulevard to 7th Avenue.
U.S. Attorney Goodwin also welcomed today's announcement that Joe Ciccarelli has been selected as Huntington's new police chief. "I have known and worked with Joe Ciccarelli for many years during his time as a special agent with the FBI," Goodwin said. "He has long been a leader in the law enforcement community in southern West Virginia. Joe has a unique ability to bring agencies together in pursuit of a common goal. Mayor Williams made a great choice.
"Former Chief Skip Holbrook made invaluable and lasting contributions to the city of Huntington and its police department," Goodwin continued. "I was fortunate to work with him and the department on many initiatives to help fight crime in Huntington. I look forward to continuing that productive partnership and making it even stronger. "
Fresno Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Laser Strikes on CHP PlaneRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Walter Fee, 22, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, for aiming a laser pointer at a California Highway Patrol airplane, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.
According to court documents, the CHP airplane, Air 43, was struck up to 50 times by a powerful green laser pointer. As a result, the pilot suffered temporary blindness and Air 43 was forced to break away from a burglary in progress at a Fresno middle school. The CHP pilot reported that he gets struck by lasers almost every night and this incident was “the worst.”
The case was the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Fresno Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen A. Escobar and Michael G. Tierney prosecuted this case.
“The public should be outraged by this reckless behavior that jeopardizes both air crews and the public,” said Supervisory Special Agent Jacqueline Neumann of the Sacramento FBI’s Fresno resident agency. “The public has the power to stop this activity. If anyone witnesses aircraft laser incidents, they should report it by calling 911 immediately. The public is also encouraged to have conversations with friends and family to improve understanding of the risks and discourage reckless usage of hand-held laser devices. The threat to aircraft safety is real and the penalties for this activity can be substantial.”
According to the latest statistics from the FBI, in 2014, the FAA has received 104 reports of laser incidents involving aircraft from the Eastern District of California. Fresno leads in the number of reported incidents in our district followed by Modesto, Bakersfield, and Sacramento, in that order.
Thousands of laser attacks go unreported every year. If you have information about a laser incident, or see someone pointing a laser at an aircraft, call your local FBI field office or dial 911.
Fremont Man Faces Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
An information was filed against Timothy J. Miller, age 30, of Fremont, Ohio, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The information charges Miller with possession of two silencers and an AR-15 firearm that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, and the defendant’s 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.
The investigating agency in this case is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah P. Hood and Gene Crawford.
Fort Thompson Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child.
Dillon Bagola, age 22, was indicted on August 13, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 22, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about August 3, 2014, Bagola knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years old.
The charge is merely an accusation and Bagola is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Bagola was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for October 21, 2014.