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19 August 2014
Del Rio Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison in Child Porn CaseRead the Press Release
Law Enforcement testimony revealed the defendant possessed 1,000 videos and 100 images depicting child pornography
In Del Rio today, a former teacher at Calderon Elementary in the San Felipe Independent School District was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.
In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Alia Moses ordered that 40-year-old Ruben A. Vazquez pay a $ 5,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for ten years after completing his prison term.
On August 22, 2013, a jury convicted Vazquez of one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of access with the intent to view child pornography. Evidence presented during trial revealed that Vazquez was using peer to peer file sharing programs to access, receive and distribute videos of child pornography. During trial, law enforcement officers testified that Vazquez admitted to them that he had over 1,000 images and over 100 videos of child pornography.
On June 21, 2012, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized several computers and related equipment. According to court records, a forensics evaluation of the seized items revealed the presence of child pornography videos that depict minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct along with evidence of child pornography files that had previously resided on the computer.
“The prevention and investigation of the exploitation of minors is a priority for HSI,” said Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio. “These investigations are pursued by dedicated special agents who not only work with the United States Attorney's Office to bring predators to justice, but work tirelessly to prevent these crimes through extensive outreach and education.”
This case was investigated by HSI agents together with the investigators from the Beaumont Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan McCalla, Ralph Paradiso and Matthew Watters prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Defendant Sentenced for Prohibited Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that Marlique Jermaine Bridges of Mobile was sentenced following a May 2014 guilty plea to a charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Bridges was previously convicted in Mobile County of Robbery, First Degree in 2012. By virtue of this conviction, Bridges is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Possession of a firearm by a felon is a violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). At the time of this offense, Bridges was on probation for his 2012 robbery conviction. Subsequently, Bridges’ state probation was revoked. Chief United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed a sentence of 48 months on the federal charge, to be served consecutively to Bridges’ twenty year robbery sentence on his probation revocation. The federal sentence of imprisonment will be followed by a three year term of supervised release.
This case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution by Sgt. Louis Screws of the Mobile Police Department, who also serves as a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
Cupertino Businessman Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Forfeit $100,000 for High-Technology Worker Visa FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A Cupertino businessman was sentenced yesterday to prison and ordered to forfeit $100,000 arising out of his H-1B Visa Fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent in Charge Dean K. Shear, Nick Annan, Acting Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Francisco, and Patrick Van Thull, Supervisor for the Fraud Detection and National Security Unit of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s in San Jose.
Balakrishnan Patwardhan, 54, of Cupertino, Calif., previously pleaded guilty on March 31, 2014, to 19 counts of Visa Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546(a). As part of his plea agreement, Patwardhan pleaded guilty to all 19 counts of the indictment originally filed on March 27,2013. In pleading guilty, Patwardhan admitted that between July 2008 and October 2010 he knowingly submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services false immigration forms and supporting documentation in I-129 applications seeking to obtain H-1B visas for 19 applicants. I-129 petitions relate to the H-1B high-technology worker visa program which requires, among other things, that an American employer certify it has high-technology jobs that cannot be filled by Americans. Patwardhan submitted 19 fraudulent I-129 petitions in which he falsely represented that the applicants had high technology job offers with Gilead Sciences in Foster City, Calif., an American employer, when in reality he knew that these applicants did not have such job offers. Patwardhan also admitted that he had included altered contracts and false Statements of Work that he had created in connection with the fraudulent I-129 applications.
United States District Court Judge Edward J. Davila yesterday afternoon sentenced Patwardhan to a 10 month sentence split to consist of 5 months prison and 5 months of home detention with electronic monitoring. Pursuant to the parties’ plea agreement, Judge Davila also ordered Patwardhan to pay a $100,000 forfeiture money judgment constituting proceeds he received as a result of his Visa Fraud. Judge Davila also sentenced the defendant to a two-year period of supervised released and ordered him to self-surrender by Jan. 15, 2015.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fazioli is prosecuting the case with the aid of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service’s representative to the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) overseen by ICE HSI. The DBFTF is a multi-agency task force that coordinates investigations into fraudulent immigration documents. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Office of Fraud Detection and National Security also assisted with the investigation.
(Patwardhan indictment )
Connecticut Insurance Salesman Indicted on Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
A Newington, Connecticut, man was indicted last Thursday by a grand jury in the District of Connecticut for one count of corruptly interfering with the due administration of the internal revenue laws, two counts of filing false tax returns and five counts of willfully failing to file tax returns, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.
According to the indictment filed against him, which was unsealed today, Terry DiMartino corruptly endeavored to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws by, among other things, mailing and causing to be mailed to the IRS false tax returns, including a return requesting a false $14 million refund; submitting worthless bonds on a timely basis that purported to satisfy his tax liabilities; and using nominees to hide and conceal assets to prevent the IRS from collecting on his tax liabilities. The indictment also alleges that DiMartino failed to file individual income tax returns on a timely basis for 2008 through 2012.
A trial date has not been scheduled. If convicted, DiMartino would face a statutory maximum sentence of 14 years in prison as well as be subject to fines.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jennifer Laraia, Erin Pulice and Jason Scheff of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division website .
Related Materials:
United States v. Terry J. DiMartino
IndictmentCoeur D'Alene Man Sentenced for Depredation of U.S. Forest PropertyRead the Press Release
Judge orders defendant to pay over $7,000 in restitution
COEUR D'ALENE - Stanley D. Votava, 60, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was sentenced today to two years of probation and 50 hours of community service for depredation of U.S. Forest property, U.S. AttorneyWendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Candy W. Dale also ordered Votava to pay $7,033.35 in restitution, the cost of remediating the land. He pleaded guilty to the charge on May 7, 2014.
According to the plea agreement, Votava admitted he drove a skidder on U.S. Forest Service lands four times between November 2012, and January 2013, while working on private land that is adjacent to the U.S. Forest service land.
The case was investigated by U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
California Man Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud NissanRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 19, 2014- Bruce Young, 50, of Compton, Calif., was sentenced on August 15, 2014, to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $78,000 in restitution for his participation in a money laundering scheme that arose out of a scheme to defraud Nissan, announced David Rivera, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The scheme originated from Kenneth Carter, a former Nissan employee who was employed at Nissan’s Franklin, Tennessee headquarters as an “Arbitration Specialist” from March 2007 through April 2008. As Arbitration Specialist, Carter’s duties included negotiating with attorneys who brought claims on behalf of Nissan owners, alleging that Nissan had violated “Lemon Laws” or the “Federal Warranty Act.”
Between March 2007 and April 2008, Carter, along with Bruce Young and other defendants, engaged in a scheme to defraud Nissan by filing false Lemon Law claims on behalf of individuals who owned Nissan vehicles.
The defendants provided Carter with information obtained from Nissan owners, such as the owner’s name, address, and vehicle identification number. Carter then used the information to file false and fraudulent Lemon Law claims with Nissan requesting settlement checks. Once Carter approved the false claims he would cause settlement checks to be issued. Young and others then directed the Nissan owners to deposit the checks into their bank accounts or to cash the checks and then “kick-back” a portion of the funds received from Nissan. A portion of the funds were then paid to Carter, and the remaining funds were kept by Bruce Young and others.
According to charging documents, between March 2007 and April 2008, Carter caused approximately 80 false claims to be paid by Nissan, totaling approximately $571,500.
All six persons charged in this case have pleaded guilty. Bruce Young is the fifth to be sentenced. The remaining defendant, Kenneth Carter, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2014.
The case was investigated by the IRS? Criminal Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Ward Booth represents the government.
Buffalo Man Sentenced for Clean Air Act Violation Related to the Kensington Towers ProjectRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul announced today that Rai Johnson, 35, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of violating the Clean Air Act Asbestos Work Practice Standards, was sentenced to time served, 160 days, and two years of supervised release by District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U. S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a supervisor at Johnson Contracting of WNY, Inc., an asbestos abatement company that was hired to conduct asbestos abatement activities at six buildings at the Kensington Towers Apartment Complex, located at 1827 Fillmore Avenue in Buffalo. In a pre-abatement asbestos survey, each building at Kensington Towers was found to contain 63,000 square feet of regulated asbestos containing material. The asbestos abatement project lasted from June 2009 to January 2010.
During the asbestos abatement of building A-1, Johnson, and employees working under his direction, violated the Clean Air Act asbestos work practice standards by: (i) failing to adequately wet Regulated Asbestos during stripping and removal operations; (ii) failing to ensure that Regulated Asbestos remained wetted until placed in leak-tight containers; and (iii) causing Regulated Asbestos to be dropped down holes cut through the floors in Building A-1.This is the fifth defendant to be sentenced as part of the Kensington Towers asbestos abatement project. In addition to Ernest Johnson, other defendants who have plead guilty include JMD project monitors Brian Scott, Evan Harnden and Chris Coseglia and current and former public officials responsible for certifying the project’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including Donald Grzebielucha, William Manuszewski, and Theodore Lehmann. The remaining defendants will be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.
The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge, Vernesa Jones-Allen; Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Christina D. Scaringi; and Investigators of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, BECI, under the direction of Captain Frank Lauricella. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Department of Labor, Asbestos Control Bureau.Buffalo Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Bland, 18, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of bank robbery, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that Bland robbed three M&T Banks located at 1300 Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, 750 Main Street in Niagara Falls, and 1877 Main Street in Buffalo, between August 21, 2013 and September 4, 2013.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Buffalo Police Department, of under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto.Bronx, N.Y., Man Charged in Violent Multi-State Crime Spree Capped by High-Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, N.Y., man is scheduled to appear in federal court today to face charges stemming from a violent crime spree spanning three states, in which he attacked, kidnapped, and raped a woman, assaulted a National Park Service employee and set fire to a used car dealership office before crashing on the George Washington Bridge, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Luis Figueroa, 33, is charged in a six-count complaint with kidnapping, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated sexual abuse, assaulting an employee of the United States, and arson. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court this afternoon.
According to the complaint:
On the morning of June 6, 2014, Figueroa allegedly entered a multi-family residence in Luzerne County, Pa., where a woman (Victim One) with whom he had a previous relationship and several other people lived in an apartment. He waited outside the apartment armed with a loaded shotgun.
When Victim One opened the door to leave shortly after 8:00 a.m., Figueroa struck her in the head with the shotgun. Figueroa allegedly stated, “I told you, bitch. I told you I was going to kill you.” He then entered the apartment and punched Victim One multiple times. Figueroa also struck Victim Two, a relative of Victim One, with the shotgun, then chased her and kicked her as she tried to escape, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs, and slammed her head against the front entrance. After a brief struggle with Victim One, which enabled Victim Two to escape, Figueroa collected the shotgun from the apartment and exited the building. Figueroa then forced Victim One into the back seat of a red SUV and drove away. Victim Two was eventually treated for her injuries.
Figueroa headed east in the red SUV on Interstate 80 towards New Jersey. At one point, Figueroa told Victim One that he was going to kill her, then kill himself. As he was driving, Figueroa allegedly forced Victim One to perform a sex act. After crossing the New Jersey state border, Figueroa exited the freeway and pulled the red SUV into a rest stop area at the Kittatinny Point Visitor’s Center.
After parking the red SUV, Figueroa allegedly climbed into the back seat with Victim One and forcibly raped her. Figueroa removed the ammunition from the shotgun and disposed of the rounds in a nearby wooded area. He then returned to the vehicle and retrieved the shotgun, then left again to dispose of the firearm. Once Figueroa left the red SUV with the shotgun, Victim One got in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and sped away. Victim One was subsequently transported to a hospital to receive treatment for her injuries.
After Victim One escaped in the red SUV, Figueroa allegedly approached U.S. National Park Service employee (Victim Three) near the parking lot area, attacked him and forced him into a nearby storage room, where he rammed Victim Three’s head into a door. Figueroa told Victim Three, “If you want to live, you better give me your car keys right now.” Victim Three handed over the keys and Figueroa drove away in Victim Three’s red minivan, heading east on Interstate 80. Victim Three was also treated for injuries.
Figueroa eventually stopped in Paterson, New Jersey, where he left Victim Three’s red minivan at a used car dealership he sub-let on West Broadway Street. Several days prior to June 6, 2014, Figueroa was given an eviction notice to vacate the property. At 11:30 a.m., Figueroa went to a separate used car dealership (the Victim Car Dealership) in Paterson, which was several blocks away. The Victim Car Dealership is operated by the individual who leased the West Broadway Street property to Figueroa. Figueroa asked an employee to borrow a portable gas container, then drove to a nearby gas station in a white SUV and filled the container with gasoline. Figueroa returned to the Victim Car Dealership and doused a small office area near the corner of the property with gasoline. The employee managed to get the gas container out of Figueroa’s hands, but Figueroa lit a match and ignited the structure. He then fled the scene in the white SUV.
Figueroa’s alleged crime spree ended when law enforcement officers traveling in marked police vehicles spotted him on the George Washington Bridge in the white SUV. Figueroa ignored the officers’ commands to stop and led them on a high-speed chase across the bridge, during which he struck two police vehicles before crashing into a wall. Figueroa then attempted to flee from the officers on foot but they tackled him and took him into custody.
Law enforcement subsequently searched the Kittatinny Point Visitor’s Center area and recovered the shotgun Figueroa used in the attacks.
The charge of kidnapping carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of aggravated sexual abuse carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of assaulting an employee of the United States carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of arson carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Belsky in Woodland Park, for the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Hazelton City Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office (Pennsylvania), the N.J. State Police, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamari Buxton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit in Newark.14-295
Figueroa, Luis Complaint
Bronx, N.Y., Man Charged in Violent Multi-State Crime Spree Capped by High-Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, N.Y., man is scheduled to appear in federal court today to face charges stemming from a violent crime spree spanning three states, in which he attacked, kidnapped, and raped a woman, assaulted a National Park Service employee and set fire to a used car dealership office before crashing on the George Washington Bridge, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Luis Figueroa, 33, is charged in a six-count complaint with kidnapping, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated sexual abuse, assaulting an employee of the United States, and arson. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court this afternoon.
According to the complaint:
On the morning of June 6, 2014, Figueroa allegedly entered a multi-family residence in Luzerne County, Pa., where a woman (Victim One) with whom he had a previous relationship and several other people lived in an apartment. He waited outside the apartment armed with a loaded shotgun.
When Victim One opened the door to leave shortly after 8:00 a.m., Figueroa struck her in the head with the shotgun. Figueroa allegedly stated, “I told you, bitch. I told you I was going to kill you.” He then entered the apartment and punched Victim One multiple times. Figueroa also struck Victim Two, a relative of Victim One, with the shotgun, then chased her and kicked her as she tried to escape, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs, and slammed her head against the front entrance. After a brief struggle with Victim One, which enabled Victim Two to escape, Figueroa collected the shotgun from the apartment and exited the building. Figueroa then forced Victim One into the back seat of a red SUV and drove away. Victim Two was eventually treated for her injuries.
Figueroa headed east in the red SUV on Interstate 80 towards New Jersey. At one point, Figueroa told Victim One that he was going to kill her, then kill himself. As he was driving, Figueroa allegedly forced Victim One to perform a sex act. After crossing the New Jersey state border, Figueroa exited the freeway and pulled the red SUV into a rest stop area at the Kittatinny Point Visitor’s Center.
After parking the red SUV, Figueroa allegedly climbed into the back seat with Victim One and forcibly raped her. Figueroa removed the ammunition from the shotgun and disposed of the rounds in a nearby wooded area. He then returned to the vehicle and retrieved the shotgun, then left again to dispose of the firearm. Once Figueroa left the red SUV with the shotgun, Victim One got in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and sped away. Victim One was subsequently transported to a hospital to receive treatment for her injuries.
After Victim One escaped in the red SUV, Figueroa allegedly approached U.S. National Park Service employee (Victim Three) near the parking lot area, attacked him and forced him into a nearby storage room, where he rammed Victim Three’s head into a door. Figueroa told Victim Three, “If you want to live, you better give me your car keys right now.” Victim Three handed over the keys and Figueroa drove away in Victim Three’s red minivan, heading east on Interstate 80. Victim Three was also treated for injuries.
Figueroa eventually stopped in Paterson, New Jersey, where he left Victim Three’s red minivan at a used car dealership he sub-let on West Broadway Street. Several days prior to June 6, 2014, Figueroa was given an eviction notice to vacate the property. At 11:30 a.m., Figueroa went to a separate used car dealership (the Victim Car Dealership) in Paterson, which was several blocks away. The Victim Car Dealership is operated by the individual who leased the West Broadway Street property to Figueroa. Figueroa asked an employee to borrow a portable gas container, then drove to a nearby gas station in a white SUV and filled the container with gasoline. Figueroa returned to the Victim Car Dealership and doused a small office area near the corner of the property with gasoline. The employee managed to get the gas container out of Figueroa’s hands, but Figueroa lit a match and ignited the structure. He then fled the scene in the white SUV.
Figueroa’s alleged crime spree ended when law enforcement officers traveling in marked police vehicles spotted him on the George Washington Bridge in the white SUV. Figueroa ignored the officers’ commands to stop and led them on a high-speed chase across the bridge, during which he struck two police vehicles before crashing into a wall. Figueroa then attempted to flee from the officers on foot but they tackled him and took him into custody.
Law enforcement subsequently searched the Kittatinny Point Visitor’s Center area and recovered the shotgun Figueroa used in the attacks.
The charge of kidnapping carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of aggravated sexual abuse carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of assaulting an employee of the United States carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of arson carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Belsky in Woodland Park, for the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Hazelton City Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office (Pennsylvania), the N.J. State Police, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamari Buxton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit in Newark.14-295
Figueroa, Luis Complaint
Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm IllegallyRead the Press Release
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Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GIOVANNI CANDELARIO, 21, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 10 p.m. on February 1, 2014, a vehicle in which CANDELARIO was a passenger engaged in a chase with Bridgeport Police. The vehicle eventually stopped on Ogden Street in Bridgeport and CANDELARIO fled on foot. CANDELARIO was apprehended after he was found hiding in a trash can behind an apartment building on Hallet Street. Officers subsequently traced the route of CANDELARIO’s flight and located a Smith and Wesson MP .40 caliber pistol on the driveway of an Ogden Street residence. The firearm had been previously reported stolen. In March 2012, CANDELARIO was convicted in state court of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
This prosecution stems from Project Longevity, a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to violence. A critical component of the Project Longevity strategy is the “call-in,” a face-to-face meeting where Project Longevity partners engage group members and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. CANDELARIO attended a call-in on October 30, 2013, in Bridgeport, and was offered services. Subsequently, CANDELARIO and his group committed acts of violence, which in turn drew the full and focused attention of local, state and federal law enforcement.
CANDELARIO’s sentencing has been scheduled for November 10, 2014 before U.S. Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford. CANDELARIO has been detained since his arrest on February 1.
This matter was investigated by the Bridgeport Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.
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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Leonard Dillon, 58, of Bim, Boone County, West Virginia pled guilty in federal court in Charleston to selling heroin. On March 21, 2013, Dillon sold heroin to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. On four other occasions in March and April 2013, Dillon sold heroin and oxycodone to a confidential informant. Dillon faces up to twenty years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine when he is sentenced on December 4, 2014.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald.
The case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The United States Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin.
Armed Felon Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
United States Attorney, Kenyen R. Brown announced Johnnie Lee Parks, 43, of Mobile, was sentenced today in federal court to 33 months imprisonment for his illegal possession of a firearm. Parks was previously convicted of possession of marijuana first when he was found in possession of a handgun under suspicious circumstances. United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed the sentence this morning.
Judge Steele ordered that Parks undergo mental health and drug abuse treatment, and that he serve a three-year term of supervised release when he is released from custody. The judge did not impose a fine, but did order that Parks pay $100 in special mandatory assessments.
The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney's Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.
Ana Alliegro Pleads Guilty to Violation of the Federal Election Campaign ActRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that Ana Alliegro, 44, of Miami, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. to having violated the Federal Election Campaign Act in connection with the Democratic Party primary election for Florida’s 26th Congressional District. Sentencing for Alliegro has been scheduled for September 10, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Scola.
Specifically, Alliegro pled guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission and to violate the contribution limits of the Federal Election Campaign Act (Count 1); making a false statement (Count 2); and making illegal campaign contributions (Counts 3 & 4). At sentencing, Alliegro faces a maximum term of five years in prison on each count and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Thomas J. Mulvihill.
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.
Alleged Bonanno Organized Crime Family Associate Sentenced to Eleven Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, John Venizelos, also known as “John V,” “Big Man,” and “John from Staten Island,” an alleged associate of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, was sentenced to 11 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2013, Venizelos pled guilty to marijuana trafficking charges contained in a superseding indictment returned on April 3, 2013. As part of his sentence, Venizelos will also forfeit $148,480 and two firearms that federal agents seized from multiple locations in Staten Island where Venizelos stored narcotics and drug proceeds.
The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Hunt, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York (DEA).
"Venizelos used violence and intimidation to protect his position as a major narcotics distributor. Those who challenged him were threatened, tortured, and beaten. Venizelos's conviction underscores our commitment to prosecuting drug traffickers who flood our communities with narcotics, especially when those individuals have chosen a life of organized crime,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York Police Department, and New York State Police for their work on the case. Ms. Lynch also expressed her appreciation to the Laval Police Service and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs for their invaluable assistance during this multi-year international investigation.
“Today’s sentencing is a credit to the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force who worked diligently with the United States Attorney’s Office in order to keep our city and state crime free. John Venizelos was responsible for flooding American streets with thousands of pounds of marijuana while profiting millions of dollars. DEA is committed to identifying the drug kingpins that sit on the top of the drug trafficking chain and bringing them to justice,” stated DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Hunt.”
According to the indictment and other court filings submitted by the government, Venizelos was a major Staten Island-based distributor of narcotics for a Canadian narcotics trafficking enterprise. Specifically, Venizelos was charged with narcotics and firearm-related offenses and witness tampering as a part of an indictment in which ten members of a Montreal-based drug distribution organization affiliated with the Rizzuto and Bonanno crime families, the Hells Angels, and the Sinaloa Cartel were charged with trafficking over $1 billion worth of marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy into the United States between 1998 and 2012. The organization transported tens of thousands of pounds of marijuana from outdoor growers in British Colombia to Montreal, Canada, and controlled numerous warehouses in and around Montreal for the manufacture of ecstasy and hydroponic marijuana. The drugs were smuggled into the United States using transportation networks run by the Hells Angels and Native American co-conspirators from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation along the U.S./Canadian border. Once the drugs were sold in the United States, much of it by distributors tied to the Bonanno crime family in New York, the organization used millions of dollars in drug proceeds to purchase more cocaine from the powerful Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico for exportation to and distribution in Canada. Venizelos was charged with witness tampering in connection with his attempts to dissuade a co-conspirator from cooperating with law enforcement by, among other things, informing the co-conspirator about a $2 million “hit fund” set aside to murder or otherwise retaliate against any individuals who cooperated with the government.
During the course of the investigation, federal agents seized more than 80 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $10,000,000 in suspected drug proceeds. At the time of Venizelos’ arrest, agents discovered narcotics, multiple encrypted Blackberry devices, approximately $150,000 in drug proceeds, and multiple firearms in his residence and a second stash house used by Venizelos – including a loaded semi-automatic handgun that had been stolen from a law enforcement officer. During the search, federal agents also discovered several handwritten letters addressed to Venizelos by an incarcerated associate of organized crime discussing a myriad of violent crimes committed by the author with, or on behalf of, Venizelos, including “a broad daylight kidnaping” and “torture” of an individual Venizelos suspected of stealing his drugs, threats of violence, and vicious assaults against customers who owed Venizelos drug debts, and preventing a witness (through threats and intimidation) from positively identifying Venizelos for a crime that would have resulted in him serving “at least 7 years in jail.”
The government's case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven L. Tiscione, Gina M. Parlovecchio, Amir H. Toossi, and Tanisha Payne.
The Defendant:
JOHN VENIZELOS
Age: 35
"Pills to Needles" Community Planning Meeting Draws Diverse Leadership Work Begins for Community Plan to Fight Opiate Abuse and AddictionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM -- More than 40 people interested in developing a comprehensive strategy to address opiate abuse and addiction and quell the rising number of heroin overdose deaths in north Alabama met today at Canterbury United Methodist Church to organize working groups and lay the groundwork for a community action plan, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.
Today's community planning meeting was an outgrowth of the June 10 community awareness summit, "Pills to Needles -- The Pathway to Rising Heroin Deaths," held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The summit, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the UAB School of Public Health, the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Addiction Prevention Coalition, drew more than 300 people and launched the effort to develop a strategic plan.The summit, and the need for a planned community response, followed a sharp spike in heroin overdose deaths in north Alabama, and across the nation, within the past five years. Heroin-related deaths in Jefferson, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties soared from 15 in 2008 to 83 in 2012. The number dipped to 72 confirmed deaths for the three counties in 2013, but in April in Jefferson County, the number of heroin overdose deaths was at 36, on pace to exceed the county's 58 heroin deaths in both 2012 and 2013. In the Northern District of Alabama, federal, state and local law enforcement have worked together since 2012 to prioritize prosecution of heroin suppliers and street dealers. Such prosecutions continue, but enforcement, alone, will not solve the problem.
The key accomplishment today was engaging influential community leaders, with specific expertise across various disciplines and areas of concern, to detail the next steps for working groups that will begin to draw the strategic plan.
"Collaboration across communities and professional disciplines is vital in creating a strategic plan that will organize resources and establish a network that can address the myriad ways opiate abuse affects our families, our lives and our society," Vance said. "Leaders from the medical, education, law enforcement and faith-based communities in North Alabama, as well as addiction, prevention and treatment professionals, and members of families who have lost a loved-one to overdose, came together today to begin the serious work of developing an action plan."
“This is a serious public health crisis in our community that demands action," said Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson. "The dramatic increase in the number of overdose deaths is quite tragic, but this number only tells part of the story of the uncountable number of individuals and families being devastated by addiction to heroin and other opioids," he said. "We’ve talked about it, and we’ve begun to raise awareness. Now begins the hard work of actually doing something that can make a positive difference.”
Working groups were established in five strategic areas: Public Awareness, Medical Community Engagement, Effective Research and Policy, Law Enforcement Partnership, and Access to Resources. The next step is for group members to identify leaders, refine the group's priority items and begin to develop strategies to accomplish their goals. Public and private funding is being sought to support continuing the work toward a comprehensive action plan.
The work is proceeding under the direction of a steering committee identified before the Pills to Needles summit in June. Members of the steering committee are Wilson, UAB School of Public Health Dean Max Michael, Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Coordination Manager Lyndon J. Laster, Addiction Prevention Coalition Executive Director J. Sandor Cheka, and Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities Director Foster Cook.
18 August 2014
Worley Man Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine on Coeur D'Alene ReservationRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE - Larry Donald Havier, Jr., 37, of Worley, Idaho, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Havier to forfeit $4,250 in drug proceeds to the Government. He pleaded guilty to the charge on May 27, 2014.
According to court documents, between May 2013, and January 2014, Havier conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. The defendant admitted that on at least two occasions he delivered methamphetamine to a confidential source of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department, and Plummer Police Department.
Williamson County Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine OffensesRead the Press Release
Follow @SDILNewsOn August 15, 2014, Eric Scott Russell, 48, of Carbondale, Illinois, pled guilty to a two-count superseding indictment, charging conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. The offenses occurred between 2012 and April 2013, in Williamson and Jackson Counties. Evidence at the plea hearing established that Russell was involved with co-defendant Albert Wesley, a/k/a “Boogie,” and others in the distribution of crack cocaine. On April 7, 2013, Russell sold crack cocaine to a confidential source working for law enforcement. Russell faces a prison term of up to 20 years on each count, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. Russell is currently being held without bond pending a December 3, 2014, sentencing hearing. Wesley has previously pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Carbondale Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Offices also assisted in the investigation.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
Wichita Area Man Sentenced to 9+ Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. A Wichita area man was sentenced Monday to 110 months in federal prison for trading files over the Internet with a Missouri man who was producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Jaime Menchaca, 34, Kechi, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that on Sept. 13, 2013, he sent an email containing child pornography to a Missouri man.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued that Menchaca knew the Missouri man was actively producing child pornography and he was hoping to swap for access to more of it. According to court records, Menchaca’s email said: “Would love to see more of (victim’s name withheld) and anything else you may have. Here are some pics and vids I hope you enjoy.”
Grissom commended Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Wichita Police Department, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
U.S. Attorney Luger Announces Charges for More Than $2 Million Stolen in Three Unrelated Coin Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the August 6, 2014 indictment of DENNIS CHARLES HELMER, a/k/a “Jeff Jones,” a/k/a, “Mr. Diamond,” a/k/a, “Dennis Dimon,” 53, for devising an elaborate coin fraud scheme and defrauding victims of over $1 million. HELMER is charged with 16 counts of Mail Fraud and three counts of Wire Fraud. In an unrelated indictment unsealed on August 12, 2014, TORY EVAN HUGHES, 44, is charged with Mail Fraud in a similar coin fraud scheme. In a third unrelated case, a felony Information was filed on July 22, 2014, in federal court charging CHRYSANTHOS NICHOLAS, 55, with one count of Mail Fraud.“Minnesota has more than its share of coin fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “In completely unrelated cases, these three defendants are charged with defrauding unsuspecting victims of more than $2 million dollars in total. Working with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are investigating and prosecuting those who prey on vulnerable victims.”
According to the indictment, HELMER operated Wholesale Assets Worldwide, LLC (WAW), which engaged in appraising, buying, selling, and trading of coins and precious metals. From November 2009 to
December 2013, through WAW, HELMER contacted individuals, many of whom were elderly, and persuaded them to send him money, coins, and precious metals, based on his false promises to provide money or coins in return. Some victims also relied on HELMER to provide safe storage for their coins. As part of the scheme, HELMER intentionally misled customers about the size and stability of his business, including providing them with copies of a false “Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Report,” and stating that WAW had 75 employees and $500 million in annual revenue.According to court documents, WAW received over $1.2 million in coins, precious metals, and cash from victims. Instead of fulfilling their orders, HELMER sold many of the coins and used customers’ money and proceeds from those sales to fulfill other orders, make payments to other customers, pay his own personal expenses, and attempt to fund start-up costs for another company, Smoke Shack, Inc.
According to the indictment, HELMER at different times used various aliases, including “Jeff Jones,” in an attempt to hide his prior criminal charges for similar conduct in both Dakota and Hennepin Counties. In November 2013, when HELMER learned that WAW was under investigation, he moved his coin fraud operation to Florida. In January 2014, HELMER formed Best Price International, LLC and continued to operate his scheme to defraud customers, this time under the aliases, “Mr. Diamond” and “Dennis Dimon.”
In an unrelated indictment unsealed on August 12, 2014, TORY EVAN HUGHES, 44, is charged with Mail Fraud in a similar coin fraud scheme. According to the indictment, HUGHES owned and operated Reputable Rare Coins, LLC (RRC), located in Roseville, Minnesota. HUGHES bought and sold gold, silver and other coins. The defendant and his sales staff made unsolicited phone calls, primarily to elderly individuals, in an attempt to sell or buy coins. Several customers sent money and coins to HUGHES and received nothing in return. HUGHES is charged with stealing more than $600,000 in cash and coins.
According to the indictment, in November 2013, HUGHES moved his coin fraud operation to Gilbert, Arizona, where he continued to victimize elderly individuals in the same manner as he had done through RRC. Through his new business, U.S. Collectables, HUGHES stole more than $100,000 from customers intending to purchase coins.
In a third unrelated case, a felony Information was filed on July 22, 2014, in federal court charging CHRYSANTHOS NICHOLAS, 55, with one count of Mail Fraud. NICHOLAS is scheduled to make his first appearance before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis on August 20, 2014.
According to the information, NICHOLAS owned and operated two coin businesses, TWC Trading (TWC) and North Fork Six Rare Coin Consultants (North Fork), located in New York State. Both businesses evaluated, stored, bought, sold and traded coins and precious metals. Through TWC and North Fork, NICHOLAS entered into contracts with clients to evaluate, store, and sell their coins; however, NICHOLAS did not pay his clients or return the coins to the clients upon their request. Through this scheme NICHOLAS stole more than $200,000 of coins and precious metals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Svendsen is handling the case against DENNIS CHARLES HELMER.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Schommer is handling the cases against TORY EVANS HUGHES, and
CHRYSANTHOS NICHOLAS.The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the HELMER and HUGHES cases. The Minnesota
Department of Commerce also investigated the HELMER case. The Roseville Police Department also worked the HUGHES investigation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the NICHOLAS investigation.
Defendant Information:DENNIS CHARLES HELMER, D.O.B. 2/3/1961
Farmington, MN
Charges: • Mail Fraud, 16 counts
• Wire Fraud, 3 counts
TORY EVAN HUGHES, D.O.B. 12/8/1969
Minneapolis, MN
Charges: • Mail Fraud, 1 count
CHRYSANTHOS NICHOLAS, D.O.B. 1/22/1959
Mettituck, NY
Charges: •Mail Fraud, 1 countThe charges contained in an indictment are mere allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Suburban Men Indicted on Federal Gun Charges for Allegedly Illegally Possessing 40 FirearmsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO ― Two suburban men are facing federal gun charges for allegedly illegally possessing 40 firearms, and one of them was also charged with selling firearms without a federal license between 2010 and 2011, federal law enforcement officials announced today.
One defendant, WALTER FREEMAN, also known as “Charlie” and “Cha-Lay,” 35, whose last known residence was in Lisle, was charged with one count each of being a felon-inpossession of firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and dealing firearms without a federal license. Co-defendant, TIMOTHY VANA, 53, of Forest Park, was charged with one count each of being a felon-in-possession of firearms and possession of stolen firearms.
Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Susan Cox in U.S. District Court. They were charged together in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury last Thursday.
According to the indictment, between October 2010 and July 2011, Freeman and Vana illegally possessed 40 assorted firearms, both as previously convicted felons and because they had reason to believe that those same firearms were stolen. Freeman was also charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal license during the same time period. The firearms included various 9 and 25 mm, and .22, .38, and .45 caliber pistols.
Being a felon-in-possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, and dealing firearms without a federal license carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Levin.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Indictment
Two Individuals Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Jeffrey Cephus McCoy, 68, and Andra L. McCoy, 65, both of Brentwood, Tenn. were arrested by IRS agents this morning and charged with filing false tax returns and with conspiracy to defraud the United States in the collection of income taxes, announced David Rivera, U. S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Both were indicted by a federal grand jury in Nashville on August 13, 2014.
According to the indictment, beginning in 2002, the McCoys conspired to defeat the lawful function of the Internal Revenue Service in its assessment, computation, and collection of income taxes. The McCoys are alleged to have filed false and fraudulent joint tax returns for tax years 2003- 2007, which included hundreds of thousands of dollars in false and fictitious withholding amounts.
The indictment also alleges that the McCoys placed assets in the names of others and submitted false and fraudulent paperwork to the IRS in order to obstruct the IRS’s assessment and collection of their taxes. During the times alleged in the indictment, Jeff McCoy earned compensation for his services as a radiologist from various healthcare providers with whom he contracted.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the conspiracy charge, and three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of five counts of filing a false tax return.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn W. Booth represents the government.
An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tribal Member Admits to Smoke Shop BurglaryRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE - Joseph Reno Stensgar, 36, of Plummer, Idaho, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2014 to burglary, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Stensgar was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on May 20, 2014.
According to the plea agreement, Stensgar admitted that on January 3, 2014, he agreed to enter the Stubby Lake Smoke Shop in order to seal cartons of cigarettes. During the course of the burglary, cigarettes, cash, a laptop computer, car keys, and 2012 Subaru Forrester were taken by Stensgar and another person. The crime happened on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.
The charge of Burglary is punishable by at least one year and up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for November 12, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.
The case was investigated by Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Suffolk Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Her Role in Conspiracy to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Sierra Danyelle Halsey, 23, of Suffolk, Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography and obstruction of justice.
Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Clark Settles, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar.
Halsey pleaded guilty on May 5, 2014. According to court documents, Halsey became involved in the conspiracy when she was contacted by coconspirator Robert Harold Scott, Jr. under his assumed online identity of “Mike Pyro.” Scott would routinely communicate with women in and around the Tidewater area to set up “sex parties,” where the women would work as prostitutes and Scott would pay them for their services. In reality, Scott would not pay them and sometimes would extort the women by threatening to publish sexually explicit videos. In addition to the adult parties, Scott was found to be conspiring with and producing child pornography with several different women, including Halsey. Law enforcement found that, when discussing the sex parties, sometimes Scott would request these women to produce child pornography and was very specific as to the sex acts he wanted done on camera. Halsey complied in return for the promise of money. Specifically, Halsey produced child pornography on several occasions with a 1 year old and a 5 year old. Halsey also obstructed justice by deleting electronic evidence at the behest of Scott after he was arrested in the Fall of 2013.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov
St. Francis Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of A Minor and Making False Statement to Federal AgencyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Making False Statement to a Federal Agency.
Luke Two Eagle, age 19, was indicted on July 15, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on August 1, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about April 10, 2014, and April 30, 2014, Two Eagle engaged in a sexual act with a minor who had not attained the age of 16. On May 1, 2014, Two Eagle told a federal officer that the victim had left his residence, when he in fact knew this statement was not true.
The charge is merely an accusation and Two Eagle is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Two Eagle was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for September 23, 2014.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on August 11, 2014, by Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Denardo LaVelle Cunningham, age 40, was sentenced to 41 months in custody, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cunningham was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 8, 2013, for Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. He pled guilty to Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance on May 12, 2014.
At the time of his arrest, Cunningham was found with over 200 bags of heroin packaged for resale.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, Sioux Fall Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.
Serial Robber Sentenced to over 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Robbed Seven Businesses and Employees; Attempted to Rob a Take-Out Restaurant
Greenbelt, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Duane James, age 53, of Germantown, Maryland today to 151 months in prison for five counts of robbery.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on seven occasions from January 21 to February 17, 2013, James robbed Maryland businesses and their employees, each time wearing a ski mask and pointing what appeared to be a gun at the store clerks. In Silver Spring, James stole $50 and $10,000 worth of jewelry at The Gold Spot store; $110 from the store register and $100 from the clerk’s wallet at the AT&T store; and $3,000 from the cash drawer and lottery proceeds at the Bel Pre Beer & Wine store. In Rockville, James stole $1,500 from the register at the Shell Gas Station. In Gaithersburg, James stole $400 from the store register and $5 from the clerk at the Walnut Hill Liberty Gas Station; $300 from the cash register and $200 from the clerk at Twinbrook Shell Gas Station; and $1,043 from the register and cigarettes at the Exxon Gas Station.Also, on February 17, 2013 and prior to robbing the Exxon gas station that same day, James pointed what appeared to be a gun at a clerk at a take-out restaurant in Gaithersburg, demanding cash from the register. The clerk did not move or open the drawer. James left the store.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Gardner and Adam Ake, who prosecuted the case.
Sanger Man Charged with Stealing Batteries from U.S. Mail TrucksRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Rene Garcia, 47, of Sanger, will be arraigned in federal court today, charged with stealing government property, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to the indictment, on 12 separate occasions between September 2012 and March 2013, Garcia stole vehicle batteries from U.S. Postal Service mail trucks parked at the U.S. Post Office in Selma. In total, Garcia stole approximately 51 batteries.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baker is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the charges, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Registered Sex Offender in Hamilton County Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Porn ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. A registered sex offender from Hamilton County, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to a federal child pornography charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Wade H. Dewey, 47, Syracuse, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that on Aug. 2, 2013, in Syracuse he was found in possession of images and videos depicting child pornography. He obtained the child pornography via the Internet.
Dewey previously was convicted in 1999 in Pueblo, Colo., on a charge of criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 3. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 20 years.Grissom commended the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Rapid City Man Charged with Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Jeffrey Jandreau, age 35, was indicted on July 15, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 1, 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, a mandatory minimum period of supervised release of 5 years up to life, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between June 25, 2014, and July 1, 2014, Jandreau knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
The charge is merely an accusation and Jandreau 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.
Jandreau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Petaluma Slaughterhouse Owners and Employees Charged in Scheme to Distribute Adulterated MeatRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – An Indictment against one of two owners, as well as two employees, of the now-defunct Rancho Feeding Corporation, a livestock slaughterhouse located in Petaluma, Calif., was unsealed today in federal court, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Special Agent in Charge Lori Chan, USDA Office of Inspector General, Investigations. The two also announced charges, in the form of an Information, against Rancho’s other owner. All of the defendants are charged with violating the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) by fraudulently processing and distributing condemned and diseased cattle.
The Indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in San Francisco on Aug. 14, 2014, charges Rancho owner Jesse “Babe” Amaral, Jr., 76, Eugene Corda, 65, both of Petaluma, Calif., and Felix Cabrera, 55, of Santa Rosa, Calif., with distribution of adulterated, misbranded, and uninspected meat, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 610(c) & 676(a); conspiracy to commit the same, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; and mail fraud conspiracy in furtherance of the same scheme, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. The Indictment also charges Amaral with mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and mail fraud conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, in a separate scheme to defraud farmers by means of false invoicing. The Information charges Rancho owner Robert Singleton, 77, of Petaluma, Calif., with one count of distribution of adulterated, misbranded, and uninspected meat, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 610(c) & 676(a).
According to the charging documents, between mid to late 2012 and Jan. 10, 2014, Amaral instructed Cabrera to process cattle that had been condemned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarian. Based on this instruction, Cabrera directed Rancho employees under his supervision to carve “USDA Condemned” stamps out of the cattle carcasses and to process the carcasses for transport, sale, and distribution. As a result of this conspiracy, Rancho distributed more than one hundred condemned cattle.
The charging documents also allege that, during this same time frame, Amaral and Singleton directed Cabrera and Corda to circumvent inspection procedures for cattle showing signs of epithelioma, or “cancer eye,” a disease that can result in condemnation. Specifically, the Indictment and Information allege that, at Amaral’s and Singleton’s instructions, Rancho employees including Cabrera and Corda engaged in a scheme to slaughter cancer eye cows during USDA inspectors’ lunch breaks, a time during which plant operations were supposed to cease, and then to conceal the diseased cow heads by swapping them with healthy cow heads for the purpose of post mortem inspections. As a result, Rancho distributed approximately 79 diseased cattle that did not undergo full USDA inspection.
Additionally, the Indictment alleges that, between 2012 and January 2014, Amaral conspired to and did fraudulently charge farmers “handling fees” based on false statements that their cattle had died or been condemned, when in fact he knew that the cattle had been sold for human consumption.
As a result of this investigation, in February 2014, Rancho voluntarily recalled approximately 8.7 million pounds of beef products.
Amaral’s and Corda’s initial appearances on the Indictment took place this morning in federal court in San Francisco. Amaral has been released on a $50,000 secured bond, and Corda was scheduled for a bond hearing today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler. Singleton’s initial appearance on the Information is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Francisco. Cabrera has not yet made his initial appearance.
The maximum statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute adulterated meat are 5 years’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. The maximum statutory penalties for fraudulent distribution of adulterated meat are 3 years’ imprisonment, 1 year supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. The maximum statutory penalties for mail fraud and mail fraud conspiracy are 20 years’ imprisonment, 3 years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Notwithstanding these statutory maximums, any sentence imposed by the court following conviction would take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. In addition, an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hartley M.K. West is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by agents of the USDA’s Office of Inspector General, Investigations, and USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service, Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit, Compliance and Investigations.
(Rancho Feeding Corporation information )
(Rancho Feeding Corporation indictment )
Parmelee Man Charged with Assault with A Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Franklin Running Horse, age 48, was indicted on July 15, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on July 31, 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, 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 April 10, 2014, in Todd County, Running Horse assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, that is, shod feet, and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
The charge is merely an accusation and Running Horse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Running Horse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Orlando Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Darin Leon Givens (32, Orlando) to a total of 9 years in federal prison for the robbery of a retail store and the use and carrying of a firearm during that robbery. The Court also ordered Givens to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the crime and to serve a 5-year term of supervision following his incarceration. Givens pleaded guilty on May 20, 2014.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2014, at approximately 7:00 a.m., Givens and another individual, both wearing masks, entered the CVS store located at 9975 Lake Underhill Road in Orlando. Givens approached CVS employee/victim A.R., pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at A.R. Givens demanded money and told A.R. to take him and his accomplice to the safe in the store’s office. A.R. complied with Givens’ demands and led the robbers to the store’s office.
When they arrived at the office, A.R. knocked on the door and asked CVS employee/victim E.V. to let them in. E.V. opened the office door, and the robbers pushed A.R. into the office. Once inside, Givens told A.R. to open the safe or he would shoot. After A.R. opened the store’s safes, Givens and his accomplice took approximately $4,300. Givens and his accomplice told A.R. and E.V. to lie down on the ground. The robbers then zip-tied their victims’ hands behind their backs and fled with the cash. Law enforcement officers caught Givens and his accomplice as they ran to their getaway car that was parked on the side of the road near the store.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.
Operator of Financial Consulting Firm Sentenced to 46 Months’ Imprisonment for Investment FraudRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on August 15, 2014, United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced August John Stile, Jr., age 50, of Hughestown, Pennsylvania, to 46 months’ imprisonment. In October 2013, Stile pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of approximately $310,000. This was Stile’s second federal conviction for fraud since 2001.
Stile was the purported Vice President of JFC Group and the President of Stile Consulting. JFC Group had an office in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, and Stile Consulting had office in Exeter, Pennsylvania. Stile was indicted on the fraud charges in April 2013.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, between 2007 and 2009, Stile schemed to defraud private investors by fraudulently offering short-term investment opportunities based upon a promise of a return of the investment with substantial interest in less than 90 days. In one instance, Stile promised an investor a payout of $265,000 in return for a short-term investment of $25,000-—the payout to occur in roughly 40 days.
Rather than investing the money he received as promised, Stile used the funds for his own purposes which included the purchase of vehicles, and improvements to his other property.
Judge Mannion sentenced Stile to the top of the applicable Sentencing Guidelines range. In addition to the imprisonment term, Judge Mannion ordered Stile to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $327,500. Judge Mannion denied Stile’s request for a delay to begin his sentence and ordered him immediately into custody.
Stile was previously prosecuted in federal court for fraud in 2001 and was sentenced to a prison term. In 2011, he was sentenced to an additional 14 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his supervised release in that case as a result of the fraudulent investment scam activity that led to his indictment in the present case.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case.
Omaha Businessman Sentenced for Failing to Pay over Withholding TaxesRead the Press Release
Chief United States District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp sentenced Randall J. Thompson, age 65 of Omaha, Nebraska, upon his conviction for failing to pay over to the IRS the federal income taxes which had been withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Judge Smith Camp sentenced Thompson to six months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Thompson was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $95,505.42.
Thompson formed a company called American Medical Files, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “AMF”) in 2006. He served as the President and CEO of AMF from its inception through 2008. Thompson maintained control of AMF’s financial accounts and was the person responsible for paying over to the IRS the payroll taxes which had been withheld from AMF’s employees’ paychecks.
AMF was required to make deposits of the payroll taxes to the IRS on a periodic basis. In addition, AMF was required to file, following the end of each calendar quarter, an Employer’s Quarterly Federal Income Tax Return (Form 941) setting forth the total amount of wages and other compensation subject to withholding, the total amount of income tax withheld, the total amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes due, and the total tax deposits. Although the Form 941 was filed by AMF for the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, Thompson failed to pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes that had been withheld. The total amount that should have been paid for these two quarters was $95,505.42.
The investigation revealed that during the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, AMF took in approximately $775,000 and paid out approximately $982,000. The amount paid out by AMF included distributions to Thompson which far exceeded the amount of withholding taxes which should have been paid to the IRS.
“Business owners have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the Internal Revenue Service,” said Sybil Smith, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “The failure to pay over withheld taxes results in lost tax revenue to the United States and the possible loss of future social security or Medicare benefits for the employees.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Passing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
Contact: Michael J. Conley
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that
Andrew Cupidore, 21, of New York, New York, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court before
Judge D. Brock Hornby to passing counterfeit U.S currency.According to court records, on April 21, 2014, a police officer patrolling the Maine Mall in South Portland located four female minors from New York who were using counterfeit $100 bills to pay for purchases in the mall. The officer seized over $1000 in counterfeit $100 bills from the minors. The investigation revealed that Cupidore gave the minors the counterfeit bills and told them to pass them in the mall and to return change from the transactions to him.
Officers located Cupidore hiding in a mall restroom and seized nine counterfeit $100 bills from him.Cupidore faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, the South Portland Police
Department and the Seabrook and Newington, New Hampshire Police Departments.Mission Woman Charged with Assault with A Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Misty Swalley, age 24, was indicted on July 15, 2014. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on July 31, 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, 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 June 25, 2014, in Todd County, Swalley assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, that is a sharp edged instrument, and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
The charge is merely an accusation and Swalley is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Swalley was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE - Allan R Hayes, 30, of Minnesota, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Hayes was indicted by a federal grand Jury in Coeur d'Alene on February 20, 2013.
According to the plea agreement, on January 22, 2013, Hayes was stopped for traffic violations. Pursuant to consent, the officer searched the vehicle and found over $200,000 in the trunk. The defendant admitted the money was proceeds from the sale of marijuana. Hayes told the officer that he was taking the money from Minnesota to California to pay for marijuana that was previously supplied and sold.
The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $500,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for November 12, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.
The case was investigated by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that Elia V. Orlando, (age: 26) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for four counts of production of child pornography. Each count involved a separate child between the ages of two and three years. It should be noted that on March 4, 2010, Orlando was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in state court.
According to documents released in court, on August 1, 2013, Orlando inadvertently left his cellular phone at a gas station in Cudahy, Wisconsin. A citizen noticed that Orlando had left the phone behind and attempted to return it to him. When she was unsuccessful in catching Orlando before he left the parking lot, the citizen opened the phone with the intention of obtaining information on the owner. While looking for ownership information that citizen stumbled upon images she believed to child pornography. The citizen, who resides in Milwaukee, turned the phone over to the Milwaukee Police Department.
The Milwaukee Police Department was able to determine the ownership of the telephone and the location of Orlando the same day they were contacted by the citizen. When Orlando was questioned by police officers, he admitted the phone was his and that he was in possession of child pornography. A forensic examination by the High Technology Unit of the Milwaukee Police Department revealed additional images of child pornography that were produced by Orlando. Orlando befriended several of the parents of the young children and was ultimately entrusted with their care.
This case was prosecuted in federal court as part of “Project Safe Childhood,” the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children using the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz.
Methamphetamine Manufacturing Conspirator SentencedRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney, Kenyen R. Brown, announced today the sentencing of Janet Marie Boykin. Judge William H. Steele sentenced Janet Marie Boykin to a year and a day imprisonment. Boykin, 53, of Robertsdale, was indicted in July of 2013 along with seven co-defendants, charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The conspiracy began in or about 2009 and continued through 2013. She entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy charge in March of 2014 and was sentenced this morning.
Judge Steele ordered that Boykin would undergo drug testing and treatment as a condition of a four-year term of supervised release, which will follow the custody sentence. The judge also ordered that Boykin pay $100 in special assessments, but no fine was imposed.
The case was investigated by the Loxley Police Department, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney's Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.
Merritt Island Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography and Attempted Online Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Michael Glenn Glascock (39, Merritt Island) pleaded guilty today to one count of using a minor to produce images depicting child pornography and one count of attempting to induce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity using an interstate facility. Glascock faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison on the child pornography count, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life in federal prison on the attempted enticement count, as well as a potential life term of supervised release on each count. Glascock was indicted on February 19, 2014.
According to court documents, from on or about October 11, 2012 through October 11, 2013, in Brevard County, and elsewhere, Glascock used a three-year-old minor victim to produce visual depictions of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In the fall of 2013, an undercover agent with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to an online advertisement which Glascock posted on Craigslist. On October 11, 2013, the undercover agent communicated with Glascock over the Internet and by cell phone. In these communications, Glascock described his sexual abuse of the minor victim and expressed an interest in meeting the undercover agent and the undercover agent’s fictitious minor daughter. Glascock further expressed a desire to engage in illegal sexual activity with the fictitious minor daughter and offered to allow the undercover agent to engage in illegal sexual activity with the minor victim. After Glascock agreed to meet the undercover agent, agents went to Glascock’s home on Merritt Island, where they met Glascock and located the minor victim.
During an interview, Glascock admitted to producing child pornography images of the minor victim, to sexually abusing the minor victim as depicted in some of the images, and to distributing and receiving images of child pornography over the Internet. Agents also executed a search warrant at Glascock’s home and recovered his cell phones, SD cards, and the digital camera that he admitted to using to produce some of the child pornography involving the minor victim. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that there were 24 images depicting explicit sexual conduct involving the minor victim on one of the SD cards.
Agents also searched Glascock’s email accounts and discovered child pornography images of the minor victim in emails that Glascock had sent to another individual. In these and other emails, Glascock had many discussions with other individuals about his sexual abuse of the minor victim. In a series of emails discovered by agents, Glascock and an individual identified to be Jonathan Tyler Prive discussed an incident where Prive sexually abused the minor victim at Glascock’s home, as Glascock watched the abuse. After discovering these emails, the undercover agent conducted an investigation that led to Prive’s arrest. Prive was also indicted by a federal grand jury on February 19, 2014.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mayfield Village Doctor Forfeits $650,000 After Importing Misbranded DrugsRead the Press Release
A Mayfield Village rheumatologist was sentenced to probation for importing medications that had not been approved by the Federal Drug Administration, said Steven M. Dettelbach,United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Dr. David Mandel, 65, has paid more than $650,000 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to causing the shipment of misbranded drugs, a misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
“FDA’s regulatory standards are designed to ensure the safety and quality of the medical devices and drugs distributed to American consumers,” said Antoinette V. Henry, Special Agent in Charge, FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Washington Field Office. “We will continue to work to investigate all persons, including medical professionals, who disregard regulatory requirements and jeopardize the public health by participating in the distribution of misbranded products.”
“Acquiring and prescribing prescription medications that have not met regulatory standards puts the safety and well-being of patients at risk,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General –Chicago Region. “The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that medical professionals who choose to evade these standards are held accountable.”
Dr. Mandel obtained Boniva, Aclasta, Prolia, Euflexa and Orthovisc, from outside the United States, where the drugs are not approved by the FDA, according to court documents.
A drug may be considered misbranded even if it is identical in composition to an FDA-approved drug (that is, a drug labeled and packaged in compliance with the FDA’s standards) and even if it was made by the same manufacturer in the same facility as the FDA-approved version.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer following investigations by the FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations and the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
Anyone suspecting health care fraud, waste or abuse can report it by calling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General at800-447-8477.To learn more about healthcare fraud prevention and enforcement go towww.stopmedicarefraud.gov
Mattawan Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of A Child and Other Related ChargesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – James Alfred Beckman, Jr., 39, of Mattawan, Michigan was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for multiple counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Child, and Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff ordered Beckman to pay $32,480 in restitution to multiple victims, and Judge Neff imposed a lifetime term of supervised release that will commence once Beckman is released from imprisonment. Beckman will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
A jury returned guilty verdicts on these counts on March 11, 2014, after a two-week trial. The evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant sexually abused and exploited two young children during 2012. He streamed and attempted to stream live video of this abuse and exploitation to others. In exchange, he received child pornography and other things he deemed of value. The defendant’s conduct came to light when one of his victims disclosed the abuse to another adult. The Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation then launched an investigation. The investigation revealed a network of individuals trafficking in child pornography. Two of the defendant’s accomplices testified against him.
During the sentencing proceeding, Judge Neff stated that Beckman’s conduct was “about as serious as it gets,” and she stated that it would be difficult to imagine a more serious offense. She stated that on a scale from 1 to 10, this case was “way past 10.” U.S. Attorney Miles echoed these sentiments, stating, “The seriousness of Beckman’s crimes cannot be overstated. Preying upon children and exploiting them while also feeding the online demand for child pornography are extremely damaging to children and to our society. Protecting the vulnerable is a top priority of federal law enforcement. Child sex predators are being pursued relentlessly by local, state and federal authorities.”
“The perpetrator in this case, who egregiously exploited and sexually abused young children, is among the worst of the worst offenders” stated Paul M. Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Those who prey upon our children must know that state and federal authorities will be relentless in our efforts to protect and keep children safe, and will bring to bear the full weight of justice upon those who violate their innocence.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney's Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Michigan State Police (MSP) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Lewis and Timothy P. Verhey prosecuted the case.
END
Man Charged with Three Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Edward Stone, 25, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today where he is charged with three bank robberies. The indictment, which was returned July 31, 2014, alleges that during a three-week period in June 2014, Stone robbed two TD Bank branches in Braintree, and one in Hingham.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution in the approximate amount of $18,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Chief Russell Jenkins of the Braintree Police Department; and Chief Michael Peraino of the Hingham Police Department, made the announcement today. The investigation was also assisted by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Admits to Unlawful Possession of A Firearm on Kootenai ReservationRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE - William Gene Andrews, 53, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Andrews was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on July 15, 2014.
According to the court documents, Andrews admitted that on June 9, 2014, he possessed a Hi-Point .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol on the Kootenai Reservation after having previously been convicted of a felony. Andrews was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Boundary County in 2008.
The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for November 12, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.
The case was investigated by the Kootenai Tribal Police and the FBI.
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE - James Spencer, Jr., 33, of Lewiston, Idaho, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Spencer to pay $388.22 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. He pleaded guilty to the charge on May 27, 2014.
According to court documents, on September 27, 2012, within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, Spencer intentionally struck the victim, causing the victim to lose two teeth. Both the defendant and the victim are members of the Nez Perce Tribe.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nez Perce Tribal Police.
Leader of Maritime International Drug Transportation Organization Arraigned in BrooklynRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Jair Estupinan-Montano was arraigned at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on charges relating to international narcotics trafficking. Estupinan-Montano was arrested in Panama on October 14, 2013, on a provisional arrest warrant issued from the Eastern District of New York.
The arraignment was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James J. Hunt, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
According to court filings, prior to his arrest, Estupinan-Montano was the leader of a narcotics trafficking organization responsible for transporting shipments of cocaine from Colombia to locations in Central America and Mexico for ultimate delivery to the United States. Estupinan-Montano allegedly worked closely with the violent “Los Rastrojos” drug trafficking organization, a paramilitary organization that employed hundreds of individuals and controlled drug trafficking along the Pacific coast of Colombia. Estupinan-Montano was responsible for arranging boats and submarines that transported the cocaine from Colombia to other members of his organization in Central America, who then transported the cocaine north to be sold to Mexican cartels for eventual shipment to the United States. A detention memo filed today by the government details that, between 2010 and 2012, the United States Coast Guard seized two ships and a semi-submersible vessel that had been sent from Colombia by Estupinan-Montano. In total, those vessels contained over 7,200 kilograms of cocaine when they originally left South America.
“Evoking Jules Verne, the defendant Estupinan-Montano relied on boats and submarines to ferry his illegal cargo, and was an essential link in the flow of illegal narcotics from Colombia to the United States, ” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “The illegal narcotics trade is a scourge, both in the United States and throughout the world. With the help of our international allies, we will continue to strike at those who enrich themselves off this violent industry wherever they are found.” Ms. Lynch thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bogota Country Office and Panama Express Task Force; the United States Coast Guard; the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs; and the Republic of Panama for their help in investigating and capturing Estupinan-Montano.
The defendant was arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler Smith, Amir Toossi, Justin Lerer, and Robert Polemeni.
The Defendant:
JAIR ESTUPINAN-MONTANO
Age: 31
COLOMBIA
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 12-CR-793 (SLT)
Estupinan Montano Arraignment Press Release Submarine Photo
Estupinan Montano Arraignment Press Release Submarine Photo 2
Leader of $20 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Bogus Prescriptions for Expensive Anti-Psychotics Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The leader of a $20 million health care fraud scheme based at a Glendale medical clinic was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison for overseeing a plot to fraudulently prescribe expensive anti-psychotic medications and to sell those drugs back to pharmacies through the black market, where the drugs would be billed to the government over and over.
Lianna “Lili” Ovsepian, 33, of Tujunga, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge S. James Otero, who stated that “we can’t have a situation where crime pays.” In addition to the prison term, Judge Otero ordered Ovsepian to pay $9,146,137 in restitution to Medicare and Medi-Cal.
Last November, Ovsepian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to commit identity theft.
Ovsepian was the manager and owner of Manor Medical Imaging, Inc. in Glendale, which generated thousands of fraudulent prescriptions for unneeded and expensive anti-psychotic medications for “patients” who were typically low-income beneficiaries of the government-funded health care programs Medicare and Medi-Cal, and who did not need those drugs. The prescriptions appeared to be issued by co-conspirator Dr. Kenneth Johnson, who pre-signed thousands of blank prescriptions that were filled out by Ovsepian’s mother-in-law, Nuritsa Grigoryan.
The beneficiaries who received the prescriptions were brought to pharmarcies, where the prescriptions were filled. The drugs were returned to Manor, the “patients” were given nominal payments (usually around $100), and the drugs were diverted into the black market, where they were sold to other pharmacies and re-billed to health care programs as though the drugs were being dispensed for the first time.
As prosecutors argued at sentencing, the beneficiaries included veterans recruited from dual diagnosis programs for drug addiction and schizophrenia, elderly Medicare beneficiaries whose identities were stolen and homeless beneficiaries recruited from skid row.
From September 2009 through October 27, 2011, when the scheme was shut down by authorities, Medi-Cal and Medicare was billed more than $20 million, and the programs paid more than $9.1 million to pharmacies based on more than 14,000 claims submitted in relation to the scheme, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing brief filed in Ovsepian’s case.
The case involving Manor was the first one in the nation alleging an organized scheme to defraud government health care programs through fraudulent claims for anti-psychotic medications. The case is also the largest of its kind in Southern California involving a fraud targeting Medicare Part D.
Following a trial earlier this year, Dr. Johnson, Grigoryan and Ovsepian’s brother, Artak Ovsepian, were found guilty of a host of charges related to the scheme (see: http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/2014/023.html). Those three defendants are currently pending sentencing.
Ovsepian oversaw a scheme that involved several family members and other co-conspirators. A total of 16 defendants have been convicted either through guilty pleas or by jury verdicts.
Other defendants who were charged in this case include a Pasadena couple whose Huntington Pharmacy in San Marino saw its business grew dramatically due its affiliation with Manor Medical. The owner of the pharmacy, Phic Lim, is scheduled for trial in this case in March 2015.
The investigation in this case, which was called Operation “Psyched Out,” was conducted by the San Marino Police Department; the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse; the United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; IRS-Criminal Investigation; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Glendale Police Department, Organized Crime Team; and the California Department of Health Care Services, Audits and Investigations Branch.Release No. 14-107
Justice Department Sues to Stop Florida Tax Return PreparerRead the Press Release
The United States has asked a federal court in Tampa, Florida, to stop Octavio Cruz and his company, Advantage Accounting Corp., from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
Cruz has been preparing tax returns since approximately 1998 with the assistance of his family. Operating first as Cruz and Cruz Accounting, and later as Advantage Accounting Corp., Cruz directly or indirectly prepared more than 30,000 tax returns for customers since 2009. The complaint alleges that Cruz prepares returns that unlawfully understate income tax liabilities and overstate refunds by fabricating and/or exaggerating deductions and tax credits his clients are not eligible to take. Cruz’s practices include fabricating losses for nonexistent businesses on customers’ Schedule C – Profit or Loss From Business, and falsely claiming child care and residential energy credits for which they were not eligible and did not incur. Cruz also prepared returns which falsely claimed American Opportunity Credits for taxpayers who did not incur the education expenses or go to college. Altogether, the complaint alleges that loss to the U.S. Treasury from the defendant’s activities may total millions of dollars.
Return-preparer fraud is one of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014 . The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a tax preparer. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of fraudulent tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Related Materials:
United States v. Octavio Cruz, et al.
Complaint for Permanent InjunctionJudge Gives Sex Trafficker Long Prison TermRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA –Rahim McIntyre, 35, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison for three counts of sex trafficking. McIntyre, a/k/a “King Kobra,” ran a prostitution business in Philadelphia and other major cities between early 2006 and late 2012. McIntyre recruited unsuspecting girls ages 18 and younger and then psychologically manipulated them to comply with his demands through physical violence. He obtained numerous photographs of each victim in lingerie and then caused Internet advertisements to be created in which he advertised them as available for purchase for purposes of prostitution. A federal jury found McIntyre guilty, on April 21, 2014, of using force and coercion to cause the women to engage in prostitution.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Harvey R. Bartle ordered restitution of $5,200 per victim, a $300 special assessment, and eight years of supervised release.
McIntyre’s brother, Rashaad McIntyre, was charged in December 2012 with sex trafficking of minors and production of child pornography. He pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Intelligence Center, and the Philadelphia First Judicial Court Warrant Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525