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12 June 2014
Indiana Man Convicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Indiana man has been convicted on federal charges of using the Internet to attempt to sexually exploit a teenage girl in Lawrence, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
A federal jury in Kansas City, Kan., returned a verdict Wednesday convicting Brett J. Williamson, 37, Ft. Wayne, Ind., on three counts of attempting to produce child pornography and three counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Williamson posed as a 15-year-old boy on a teen dating site called Tagged.Com. He befriended the Lawrence girl and coaxed her to perform sexual acts in Skype video chats.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of attempting to produce child pornography, and not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of enticement.
Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case.Independence Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Arson, Insurance Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to leading a $1.2 million arson and insurance fraud conspiracy.
Joshua Stamps, 27, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to the charges contained in a Sept. 25, 2013, federal indictment. In addition to the conspiracy, Stamps pleaded guilty to using fire to commit a federal crime (mail fraud).
Stamps and his co-conspirators bought, over-insured and burned five houses, all in Kansas City, Mo. The total actual loss to insurance companies in the scheme was $434,938, while the total intended loss was $1,196,840.
Beginning in July 2007, Stamps bought houses costing from $6,500 to $15,000. Stamps used co-conspirators as straw owners for three of the houses, while other co-conspirators helped commit the arsons and/or acted as tenants so the properties could be classified as rentals.
In the conspiracy that lasted until 2013, Stamps and his co-conspirators insured the houses for much more than the purchase price, in amounts from $88,000 to $307,000. Stamps and his co-conspirators made false statements on the insurance applications, such as that the houses were rented and/or occupied, that there were valuable contents in the houses, and that the houses had been renovated.
Stamps and his co-conspirators set fire to the houses. The listed owner of the house that burned would then claim a total loss with the applicable insurance company and would falsely claim they had no knowledge of, or involvement in, the fire.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Stamps must pay a money judgment of $434,938. Stamps is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to 25 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.Icon Telecom and Its Owner Plead Guilty and Agree to Forfeit More Than $27 Million in Connection with Federal Wireless Telephone Subsidy ProgramRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – WES YUI CHEW, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and his company, ICON TELECOM, INC., also of Edmond, pled guilty today to money laundering and making a false statement to the Federal Communications Commission, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Chew and Icon have also agreed that the United States will keep more than $27 million seized during the investigation.
The current Lifeline Program, which was created in 1985, furthers the FCC’s mission to provide all Americans with access to a basic level of telephone service. Since 2005, Lifeline has provided subsidies to participating telephone companies not only for landline service, but also for wireless service for qualifying low-income customers. The Universal Service Administrative Company ("USAC") administers the Lifeline Program on behalf of the FCC and under detailed federal regulations. To pay for the program, USAC collects fees from telephone companies, which often pass the fees on to customers as “universal service charges” on monthly telephone bills.
Most participating wireless telephone companies receive a subsidy of $9.25 per month for each qualifying low-income customer. If a qualifying customer lives on "Tribal Lands," however, the company receives $34.25 per customer. Much of Oklahoma includes Tribal Lands that qualify for the higher monthly subsidy.
Before receiving reimbursement, participating telephone companies file forms with the FCC that report the number of Lifeline eligible customers they have served. Companies must also file annual reports by January 31 to certify that customers who received Lifeline service at an earlier date remain eligible for the program.
Icon Telecom, owned exclusively by Chew, participated in the wireless Lifeline Program from July 2011 until September 2013. An information filed on June 3, 2014, alleges that in September 2011, Icon reported fewer than 2,200 wireless customers who qualified for the Lifeline program. By November 2012, that number had grown to 135,364. The information explains that although it had fewer than ten full-time employees, Icon received a total of $58,283,329 through the Lifeline Program during 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Today, Chew pled guilty to Count 1, which charges him with money laundering for his transfer of $20,455,829.10 on April 9, 2013, from an Icon account to a personal account. He admitted that when he made that transfer, he knew that Icon had tens of thousands fewer customers than it had reported to the FCC for the first three months of 2013.
As the sole owner of Icon, Chew also entered a guilty to plea on behalf of the company to Count 2, which charges that Icon knowingly made a false statement to the FCC on May 13, 2013. Chew admitted that in response to a USAC audit request, Icon intentionally fabricated 58 customer recertification forms, which included fictitious signatures.
The information seeks forfeiture of $20,542,740.73, which the United States seized on October 4, 2013, from a personal account at Ally Bank that belonged to Chew. Both Chew and Icon have agreed not to contest the forfeiture of this money. They have also agreed not to contest the forfeiture of $6,485,933.82 seized on October 7, 2013, from two Icon accounts at BancFirst.
In addition to the forfeiture, Chew faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transfer, whichever is greater. Icon faces a potential fine of $500,000.
The case against Chew and Icon are related to charges against Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumaeta, who faces a ten-count indictment filed on June 3, 2014. According to that indictment, Perez-Zumaeta used his company, PSPS Sales, to assist Chew and Icon in defrauding the FCC. Perez-Zumaeta has entered a plea of not guilty to all counts. His trial is scheduled for August 12, 2014. The public is reminded that Perez-Zumaeta is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Communications Commission; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris M. Stephens and Scott E. Williams.
Reference is made to the information and other public filings for further information.
Group of Six Charged in Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Identities of ChildrenRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - An indictment was unsealed today charging six people in an identity theft and tax fraud scheme in which the identities of disabled children and foster care children were stolen, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Akeia Conner. The indictment charges Ahmed Kamara, 38, and Ibrahim Kamara, 48, both of Yeadon, PA, Musa Turay, 41, and Foday Mansaray, 38, both of Darby, PA, Gebah Kamara, 46, of Sharon Hill, PA, and Dauda Koroma, 43, of Philadelphia, PA, with conspiracy, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and filing false individual income tax returns. All six defendants were arrested this morning.
Defendants Ahmed Kamara, Musa Turay, Ibrahim Kamara, Dauda Koroma, and Foday Mansaray worked as tax preparers at Medmans Financial Services, a tax preparation business located in South West Philadelphia. According to the indictment, Ahmed Kamara, Musa Turay, Ibrahim Kamara, Dauda Koroma, and Foday Mansaray defrauded the Internal Revenue Service by repeatedly falsifying information on tax returns. The indictment alleges that Gebah Kamara, then a social worker at Catholic Social Services, sold the defendant tax preparers the names and Social Security numbers of foster children for the purpose of creating fraudulent dependents on client tax returns. By including the false dependents, the tax preparers falsely claimed a number of credits and exemptions for their clients, which generated large fraudulent refunds, some in excess of $9,000. The tax preparer defendants charged clients up to $800 to fraudulently add a dependent on their income tax return.
If convicted, each of the defendants faces a mandatory two year prison term for aggravated identity theft consecutive to the following maximum possible sentences: Ahmed Kamara - 55 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.75 million fine, and a $1,300 special assessment; Musa Turay - 61 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.95 million fine, and a $1,500 special assessment; Gebah Kamara - 43 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.35 million fine, and a $900 special assessment; Ibrahim Kamara - 52 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.65 million fine, and a $1,200 special assessment; Dauda Koroma - 52 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.65 million fine, and a $1,200 special assessment; Foday Mansaray - 43 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.35 million fine, and a $900 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the City of Philadelphia Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen M. Klotz.
Click here to view the indictment
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Group of Six Charged in Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Identities of ChildrenRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - An indictment was unsealed today charging six people in an identity theft and tax fraud scheme in which the identities of disabled children and foster care children were stolen, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Akeia Conner. The indictment charges Ahmed Kamara, 38, and Ibrahim Kamara, 48, both of Yeadon, PA, Musa Turay, 41, and Foday Mansaray, 38, both of Darby, PA, Gebah Kamara, 46, of Sharon Hill, PA, and Dauda Koroma, 43, of Philadelphia, PA, with conspiracy, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and filing false individual income tax returns. Four of the defendants were arrested this morning.
Defendants Ahmed Kamara, Musa Turay, Ibrahim Kamara, Dauda Koroma, and Foday Mansaray worked as tax preparers at Medmans Financial Services, a tax preparation business located in South West Philadelphia. According to the indictment, Ahmed Kamara, Musa Turay, Ibrahim Kamara, Dauda Koroma, and Foday Mansaray defrauded the Internal Revenue Service by repeatedly falsifying information on tax returns. The indictment alleges that Gebah Kamara, then a social worker at Catholic Social Services, sold the defendant tax preparers the names and Social Security numbers of foster children for the purpose of creating fraudulent dependents on client tax returns. By including the false dependents, the tax preparers falsely claimed a number of credits and exemptions for their clients, which generated large fraudulent refunds, some in excess of $9,000. The tax preparer defendants charged clients up to $800 to fraudulently add a dependent on their income tax return.
If convicted, each of the defendants faces a mandatory two year prison term for aggravated identity theft consecutive to the following maximum possible sentences: Ahmed Kamara - 55 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.75 million fine, and a $1,300 special assessment; Musa Turay - 61 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.95 million fine, and a $1,500 special assessment; Gebah Kamara - 43 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.35 million fine, and a $900 special assessment; Ibrahim Kamara - 52 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.65 million fine, and a $1,200 special assessment; Dauda Koroma - 52 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.65 million fine, and a $1,200 special assessment; Foday Mansaray - 43 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.35 million fine, and a $900 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the City of Philadelphia Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen M. Klotz.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT, PENNSYLVANIA
615 Chestnut Street
Suite 1250,
Philadelphia, PA 19106Contact: PATTY HARTMAN
Media Contact: 215-861-8525
Click here to view the indictment
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.COPIES OF NEWS MEMOS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT http://www.justice.gov/usao/pae
Greeneville Oncologist and Practice Manager Sentenced for Violating Food, Drug and Cosmetic ActRead the Press Release
Cancer Clinic Purchased Unapproved Drugs for Three Years
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Anindya Kumar Sen, M.D., 65, and Patricia Posey Sen, 66, of Greeneville, Tenn., were sentenced on June 10, 2014, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, after their convictions at trial in December 2013 on charges of causing the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Dr. Sen was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Patricia Sen, his wife and practice manager, was sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $200,000.
According to evidence presented at trial, the Sens’ medical practice, East Tennessee Hematology Oncology and Internal Medicine (ETHOIM), a.k.a. East Tennessee Cancer and Blood Center, purchased over $3 million in misbranded and unapproved chemotherapy and chemotherapy supportive medications between April 2009 and March 2012. Patricia Sen purchased the drugs through a Canadian business which obtained the drugs through a United Kingdom distributor. The drugs were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for distribution and use in the United States, the drugs having been distributed in Turkey, India, and Europe. Many of the drugs had names different from the drugs approved for use in the United States, such as Altuzan, MabThera, and Bonviva. Patricia Sen told employees that she was purchasing drugs from Clinical Care because the drugs were cheaper, and records confirmed that the drugs from Clinical Care cost from 80 percent to more than half the cost of the FDA approved drugs. Because reimbursement by health care benefit programs such as Medicare is fixed at a percentage of the national average sale price of the drug (106 percent for Medicare), a provider can increase his profits by purchasing cheaper unapproved drugs. Evidence presented showed that the Sens received approximately $1.3 million in additional profit by purchasing the unapproved drugs.
The FDCA establishes a “closed” system to protect the safety and efficacy of drugs used in the United States, particularly prescription drugs. Domestic and foreign drug manufacturers must register with the FDA and must list with the FDA all drugs which the manufacturer intends to distribute in the United States. Drugs go through an extensive review process before being approved for distribution to assure that they are safe and effective for their intended use. Drug manufacturers are also subject to inspection of their facilities by the FDA to insure that the drugs are manufactured properly. The FDCA’s labeling requirements insure that users, particularly health care providers, have adequate information on the use of the drug, to include information on dangers and side effects. Foreign drugs not approved for use in the United States do not have on their labels and packaging the required information. The listing of FDA-approved drugs allows the FDA to quickly track drugs which may have been found to be contaminated or have some other safety risk. Purchasing unapproved drugs impedes the FDA’s ability to track the drugs being used in the United States and thwarts the approval process designed to insure that drugs used in the United States are safe and effective.
Genentech, the U.S. manufacturer of the FDA-approved bevacizumab drug product Avastin®, alerted health care providers in February 2012, that counterfeit versions of the drug had been found in the United States. A nurse at ETHOIM testified that the bevacizumab drug product at the practice, a foreign product labeled Altuzan®, bore the same lot numbers as the suspected counterfeit product. Rather than alert the FDA, Patricia Sen had the drugs mailed back to the United Kingdom on March 8, 2012, the day after news reports aired concerning the FDA’s execution of a search warrant at McLeod Cancer and Blood Center in Johnson City, Tenn.
District Judge Greer, in a written order, found that “overwhelming proof” established that Dr. Sen knew or should have known his practice was using misbranded and unapproved drugs in violation of the law and that “[t]here clearly was a risk of harm to patients from use of the unapproved drugs. Judge Greer went on to find that “Dr. Sen abandoned his duty and responsibility to assure that his patients received the drugs prescribed and in the dosage indicated to treat their life threatening conditions” and that “Dr. Sen’s conduct was reckless.”
In finding that Mrs. Sen acted with intent to defraud, Judge Greer, in the same order, found that Mrs. Sen knew that only FDA-approved drugs could be used in the practice and that there was nothing to indicate Mrs. Sen made any effort to determine whether the foreign drugs were approved. “Mrs. Sen submitted the claims to health care benefit programs with knowledge, or at least deliberate indifference, that the practice could not be reimbursed for use of unapproved drugs.”
Judge Greer also found that Mrs. Sen had obstructed justice by withholding email messages sought pursuant to a government subpoena in May 2012. Judge Greer stated “[a]n inference can easily be drawn from the e-mails that Mrs. Sen was aware of the fact that the practice had obtained counterfeit drugs, and they were returned to the United Kingdom to put them out of the reach of FDA investigators or other authorities.”
As conditions of probation, Dr. Sen must perform 100 hours of community service and Mrs. Sen must perform 200 hours of community service. Dr. Sen must also develop protocols to ensure regulatory compliance and provide those protocols to his probation officer as well as submit his practice for inspection by his probation officer to review records of drugs purchased. Mrs. Sen was prohibited from working in any medical practice without the permission of her probation officer and was prohibited from being involved in the ordering of any prescription drugs. Finally, Mrs. Sen was ordered to serve 48 hours in jail as a condition of probation.
Agencies involved in this investigation included the Federal Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Cunningham represented the United States.
Fourth Grade Teacher Pleads Guilty to Coercing and Enticing A 15-Year-Old Girl in Sexually Explicit Online ChatsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Corey Schock, 44, of Charlottesville, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to a federal crime relating to his participation in sexually explicit online chats with a 15-year-old girl.
Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police; Chief Timothy J. Longo, Charlottesville Police Department and Stephan M. Hudson, Prince William County Chief of Police made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
Schock was indicted on May 29, 2014, by a federal grand jury for online coercion and enticement of a minor. Schock faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on August 29, 2014.
In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Schock admitted that he engaged in sexually explicit online chats with a 15-year-old girl who lived in Woodbridge, Virginia. In those online chats, Schock sent the victim several sexually explicit pictures of himself, and he requested that the victim send him sexually explicit pictures. In response, the female sent Schock pictures and videos of herself engaging in sexually explicit behavior. Based on information in other court documents, Schock engaged in similar conduct with numerous other minors over a two-year period.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Fairfax County Police Department, Charlottesville Police Department and Prince William County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt J. Gardner is prosecuting 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.Former Symantec Marketing Director Indicted on Embezzlement ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE –Lena “Mickey” Jacobs Coombs was indicted yesterday afternoon on wire fraud and money laundering charges alleging that she embezzled money from her former employer, Symantec Corporation, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.
According to the indictment, Coombs was employed by Symantec as a Director of Marketing and worked at Symantec’s Lyndon, Utah facility near Salt Lake City. Between January 2010 and May 2012, Coombs allegedly used various methods to embezzle a total of over $1.34 million from Symantec. Coombs spent these embezzled Symantec funds on various personal expenses such as payments on automobiles, vacations, personal home remodeling, concerts, and childcare expenses. Coombs allegedly charged personal and other unauthorized expenses on the Symantec American Express Cards and then knowingly submitted fraudulent expense reports to disguise these charges as legitimate business expenses. Coombs also allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices falsely claiming that a shell company she had created had done marketing work for Symantec. Coombs then allegedly diverted the payments on those fraudulent invoices for her personal use.
Coombs, 47, of Highland, Utah, is scheduled to make her initial appearance pursuant to a summons in federal court in San Jose before the Honorable Paul Grewal, United States Magistrate Judge, on July 11, 2014, at 8:30 a.m.
The maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, is twenty years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution. The maximum statutory penalty for money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957, is ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution.
Any sentence following conviction would, however, be determined by the court only after considering the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and would be imposed in the discretion of the Court. An Indictment contains only allegations against a defendant and, as with all defendants, Coombs must be presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fazioli is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former Ku Klux Klan Officer Pleads Guilty to Committing Perjury During Investigation into Cross-BurningRead the Press Release
Pamela Morris, former secretary of a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Ozark, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to committing perjury during a grand jury’s investigation into a racially motivated cross-burning in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
Morris, 46, admitted in plea documents that on Feb. 20, 2013, she lied to a federal grand jury looking into a cross-burning committed by Steven Joshua Dinkle, Morris’s son and the leader of the local KKK, and Thomas Smith, another KKK member. On May 8, 2009, Dinkle and Smith burned a six-foot tall cross at the entrance to an African-American neighborhood in Ozark to threaten and intimidate residents. In sworn testimony before the grand jury, Morris made several false statements, including denying that she had been the secretary of the chapter or involved with the KKK at all.
In pleading guilty, Morris admitted that she had been an officer of the KKK and that her testimony denying any connection to the organization was false. She further acknowledged that she knew Dinkle had committed the cross-burning. In addition, Morris admitted that she testified falsely to prevent the grand jury from learning about other KKK members who had information relevant to the investigation.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Morris faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Dinkle pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2014, to hate crime and obstruction of justice charges related to the cross-burning. On May 15, 2014, he was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison. Smith, Dinkle’s co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with housing rights on Dec. 6, 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, 2014.
“Defendant Morris lied under oath blatantly and repeatedly to hinder an investigation into a cross-burning that was committed to intimidate an entire community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to hold accountable not only those who commit such acts of violence, but also those who lie and obstruct the investigation into these crimes of intimidation.”
“Ms. Morris lied to the grand jury in an attempt to protect herself and to protect a cross burner,” said U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr. for the Middle District of Alabama. “When someone testifies in court they swear to tell the truth. Unfortunately, Ms. Morris lied. For our system of justice to protect the rights of all, those who testify before the grand jury must provide accurate and honest information. If someone fails to tell the truth while under oath, we will prosecute them.”
This case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office and the Ozark Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerusha T. Adams of the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Chiraag Bains of the Civil Rights Division.
Former Ku Klux Klan Officer Pleads Guilty to Committing Perjury During Investigation into Cross-BurningRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama - Pamela Morris, former secretary of a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Ozark, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to committing perjury during a grand jury’s investigation into a racially motivated cross-burning in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
Morris, 46, admitted in plea documents that on Feb. 20, 2013; she lied to a federal grand jury looking into a cross-burning committed by Steven Joshua Dinkle, Morris’s son and the leader of the local KKK, and Thomas Smith, another KKK member. On May 8, 2009, Dinkle and Smith burned a six-foot tall cross at the entrance to an African-American neighborhood in Ozark to threaten and intimidate residents. In sworn testimony before the grand jury, Morris made several false statements, including denying that she had been the secretary of the chapter or involved with the KKK at all.
In pleading guilty, Morris admitted that she had been an officer of the KKK and that her testimony denying any connection to the organization was false. She further acknowledged that she knew Dinkle had committed the cross burning. In addition, Morris admitted that she testified falsely to prevent the grand jury from learning about other KKK members who had information relevant to the investigation.
The sentencing hearing has yet to be set for Morris. She faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Dinkle pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2014, to hate crime and obstruction of justice charges related to the cross burning. On May 15, 2014, he was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison. Smith, Dinkle’s co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with housing rights on Dec. 6, 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, 2014.
“Defendant Morris lied under oath blatantly and repeatedly to hinder an investigation into a cross-burning that was committed to intimidate an entire community,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to hold accountable not only those who commit such acts of violence, but also those who lie and obstruct the investigation into these crimes of intimidation.”
“Ms. Morris lied to the grand jury in an attempt to protect herself and to protect a cross burner," stated George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. "When someone testifies in court they swear to tell the truth. Unfortunately, Ms. Morris lied. For our system of justice to protect the rights of all, those who testify before the grand jury must provide accurate and honest information. If someone fails to tell the truth while under oath, we will prosecute them."
This case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office and the Ozark Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerusha T. Adams of the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Chiraag Bains of the Civil Rights Division.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617Former Goodwill Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Making an Incendiary DeviceRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Daniel Edward Aaron Morgan, 39, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this afternoon to a year and a day in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws by unlawfully making an incendiary device. Morgan also was ordered to pay $2,319.56 in restitution to Goodwill Industries of New Mexico (Goodwill), the victim of his criminal conduct.
Morgan entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with unlawfully making an incendiary device on Nov. 6, 2013. In his plea agreement, Morgan admitted unlawfully making an incendiary device on Sept. 12, 2011. Morgan was remanded into federal custody after entering his guilty plea and has been in custody since that time.
Court filings reflect that at the time Morgan committed the crime for which he was sentenced, he was a manager at Goodwill store in Albuquerque. Morgan admitted embezzling money belonging to Goodwill which he was supposed to deposit at the night deposit box of a U.S. Bank branch in Albuquerque and using the money to gamble. In an effort to conceal his embezzlement activity, Morgan set the Goodwill bank deposit bag on fire before placing it in the night deposit box of the U.S. Bank with the expectation that the bag would burn and Goodwill would not be able to learn that he failed to make the bank deposit. Under federal law, Morgan’s actions constituted the manufacture of an incendiary device. The device, however, did not have enough oxygen and flammable material to set the bank on fire.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis E. Valencia.Former Financial Broker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that Lisa A. Lewis (age: 49) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced in federal court in Green Bay for wire fraud. Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Lewis to a fifteen-year term of imprisonment and ordered her to pay in excess of $2 million in restitution to approximately thirteen elderly investors. Judge Griesbach also placed Lewis on supervised release for three years and ordered the forfeiture of a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro and Lewis’ interest in several residences to partially offset the restitution amount.
Lewis, a former financial broker, was sentenced following her earlier guilty plea to the charge of wire fraud, as part of a larger scheme, occurring over the course of approximately seven years, to defraud the investors. Generally, the scheme involved Lewis creating a joint account under her name and that of the victim-most often unbeknownst to the victim. Without authorization, Lewis then transferred funds from the victim’s individual account, to the joint account, and then to one of Lewis’ personal accounts where she used the funds for personal expenses unrelated to the victim’s financial interest. Such unauthorized expenditures included the purchase of the Camaro, and use of investor funds to gamble at local casinos and pay personal expenses. As stated by many of the investors through their victim-impact statements, Lewis not only stole from their hard earned retirement accounts, but she did so after befriending the investors and ingratiating herself to them.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brown County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Roach.
Former City of Miami Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Criminal ContemptRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Manuel Orosa, Chief, City of Miami Police Department (MPD), announce that former City of Miami Police Sergeant Raul Iglesias, 41, Miami, pled guilty to one count of criminal contempt for violating a United States District Court protective order in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 401(3).
In 2010, the FBI and City of Miami Police Department Internal Affairs Unit initiated an investigation of Iglesias after receiving an anonymous letter that indicated Iglesias was stealing money and drugs from his arrests. At the time, Iglesias was assigned to the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) which targeted neighborhoods plagued with narcotics trafficking and violent crime. It was later discovered that CSU detectives in Iglesias’ unit wrote the anonymous letter.
On July 19, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against Iglesias, charging him with conspiracy, violation of civil rights, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. As part of the discovery in that case, the government turned over to the defense a number of consensual recordings made by cooperating CSU detectives with Iglesias. In order to protect the cooperating CSU detectives and other witnesses from intimidation and harassment, the government moved for a protective order to prevent the dissemination of the discovery materials outside of the defense team which was later granted by the Court.
Following trial, a federal jury found Iglesias guilty on eight of the nine counts in the indictment. Iglesias was later sentenced to 48 months in prison, and was ordered to surrender to the Federal Bureau of Prison on April 26, 2013, to commence serving his sentence. However, on April 24, 2013, less than two days before he was required to surrender to begin serving his sentence, Iglesias posted protected audio recordings of the undercover conversations made by cooperating CSU detectives on YouTube and LEOAFFAIRS, an internet message board which catered to law enforcement. Both the YouTube and LEOAFFAIRS postings were titled “Miami Mice” and were posted by Iglesias using the screen name of “Chivas Regal.” After the protected undercover recordings became public, various unknown individuals using fictitious screen names posted threatening or derogatory comments against the cooperating CSU detectives on the LEOAFFAIRS message board. The CSU detectives also found derogatory notes on their vehicles and in their mail boxes at work, and officers stopped responding to their calls to provide backup.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 5, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro. At sentencing, Iglesias faces life in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, MPD and the Miami Area Corruption Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Selmore.
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.
Former Bank Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas - A former bank officer with Texas State Bank has been ordered to federal prison for defrauding her former employer, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Sondra Tredaway, 65, of Mission, was the former manager of the Texas State Bank branch located in McAllen. She pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on June 7, 2011.
Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa handed Tredaway a sentence of 41 months in federal prison and further ordered she pay restitution to Texas State Bank in the amount of $4,496,455.83. The prison term will be immediately followed by a two-year-term of supervised release.
Tredaway had admitted she defrauded Texas State Bank, using her position as branch manager to defraud the bank of approximately $2.4 million. She used the names and personal information belonging to several individuals, without their permission, to create more than 58 fictitious loans beginning in 1998 through 2010. Tredaway further admitted she used the loan proceeds for her own benefit. The fraud was discovered when BBVA Compass Bank purchased Texas State Bank and began reviewing their loan records.
After handing down the sentence today, Judge Hinojosa permitted Tredway to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Wells Jr. prosecuted the case.Flint Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Assisting in Presenting False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A resident of Flint, Michigan, pleaded guilty on June 5, 2014, to aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Carolyn Weber, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Charles Sander, III, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terrence G. Berg.
According to court records, Sanders owned and operated SBC Tax Service Corporation, a return preparation business in Flint, Michigan. Sanders falsely held himself out to be a Certified Public Accountant. For the tax years 2008 and 2009, Sanders prepared over 200 individual income tax returns, along with their accompanying schedules that were then submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. An audit of at least 36 of the returns he filed for 2008 and 2009 contained false and fraudulent information such as federal fuel tax payments, medical deductions, personal and real property tax deductions, mortgage interest, charitable contributions and unreimbursed employee expenses. These false items resulted in higher refund payments to Sanders’ clients. Sanders kept a fee of between $900 and $4,000 per tax return.
Sanders’ sentencing was set for October 9, 2014 at 2:30 pm. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years and a maximum fine of $250,000. In addition, he will be required to pay restitution to the IRS.
The case was investigated by special agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
Final Defendant Sentenced In‘operation Frozen Freight’Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 9, 2014, John Kweku Eshun, 52, of Ellenwood, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 41 months in prison. Eshun is the 12th and final defendant sentenced in Operation Frozen Freight – a multi-year investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). On Aug. 10, 2010, 12 defendants were charged with running a conspiracy that used a network of front businesses and warehouses, residences, cars, and semi-tractor trailers to package and ship loads of marijuana from Arizona to Ohio, then to package, ship or deposit cash proceeds from those sales. Charges in the initial and superseding indictments included multiple counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, money laundering, promotional money laundering, illegal financial transactions to further the conspiracy. The conspiracy used aliases and false business names such as “Sea of Cortez Seafood & Produce Distribution, LLC”, “Wedoito’s Hotdogs, LLC”, “AB Trucking”, and others.
The organization is alleged to have trafficked at least 50,000 pounds of marijuana and one to two tons of cocaine, generating proceeds in excess of $34 million. Federal agents seized approximately $700,000 in assets, including numerous vehicles (including a semi-tractor-trailer), guns, jewelry, and a house in the course of the investigation.
The defendants received the following sentences:
Jonathan Ortiz Troncoza, 41, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 120 months in prison.
David Ortiz Troncoza, 44, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
John Kweku Eshun, 52, of Ellenwood, Ga., was sentenced to 41 months in prison.
Edward Christopher Morales, 43, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 150 months in prison.
Shawn Handell Holloway, 43, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 144 months in prison.
Manuel Martin Garcia, 37, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
Robert D. Wilson, 33, of Euklid, Ohio, was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
Yvonne Teresa Troncoza-Martinez, 40, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to probation.
Kathy Ann Troncoza-Valenzuela, 43, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to probation.
Manuel Alejandro Alvarez, 39, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to time served.
Juan Fonseca-Cantallops, 49, of Buckeye, Ariz., was sentenced to probation.
Angelica C. Mendivil, 41, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to probation.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, and included the participation of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Local police agencies that assisted include the Mesa, Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe and Tucson Police Departments; the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The investigation was also made possible by the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Imperial Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Arizona, Nevada and Ohio and various DEA offices throughout the U.S. and in Mexico. The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) provided extensive analysis of documents seized during the investigation.
The prosecution was handled by Karen S. McDonald and Brian Larson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-10-1126-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2014-032_ EshunFor more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Federal Jury Convicts Owner of Healthcare Company in Multi-million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced that a federal jury returned unanimous verdicts of guilty this afternoon against AHAOMA BONIFACE OHIA, age 60, of Missouri City, Texas, on all seven counts of wire fraud charged in the indictment against him.
The verdict follows a four day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick who remanded Ohia into custody pending sentencing. As a result of his convictions, Ohia faces up to 140 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine up to $1.75 million, restitution to victims, and forfeiture of the proceeds of his criminal activity. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
Ohia was convicted of engaging in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud Medicare from January 2007 through February 2009 through his company, All-Star Medical Supplies. The evidence at trial established that Ohia would cause All-Star to submit claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries, which falsely and fraudulently represented that (1) the equipment was medically necessary, (2) the equipment had been ordered for the beneficiaries by a physician, and (3) that All-Star had in fact provided the beneficiaries with the equipment reflected in the claims. In some cases, Ohia would then cause All-Star to provide the beneficiaries with equipment that was different, and far less expensive, then the equipment for which Ohia had sought reimbursement from Medicare. In other cases, All-Star did not provide any equipment at all.
U.S. Attorney Green stated: “Today’s verdict should serve as a reminder that fraudsters will find no safe haven in the Middle District of Louisiana. My appreciation to all the prosecutors and agents who handled this important matter and who will continue to be tasked with aggressively pursuing those who defraud the Medicare program.”
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHH-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office (MFCU), and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the United States Attorney’s Office and the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who serves as a Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam Le.
Federal Inmate in Ashland Sentenced to 60 Months for Conspiring with Prison Guard to Smuggle Prohibited Items into PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, KY -An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Ashland, Ky., has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiring with a correctional officer and others to smuggle prohibited items into the prison.
On Monday, June 9, U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning sentenced 33-year-old Gary Musick, of Newport, Tenn., for conspiracy to introduce contraband into a correctional facility and possession of contraband. The sentence will run consecutivly to the 235 month sentence that Musick is currently serving for other criminal convictions.
Musick was convicted of the contraband charges, by a jury, in March 2014. According to testimony at trial, Musick’s co-defendant and former girlfriend, Cindy Gates, and other female associates of Musick, routinely visited the FCI and delivered prohibited items, such as tobacco, marijuana, and nude photographs, to correctional officer James Lewis. Lewis subsequently provided the items to Musick, in exchange for payment from Gates and others.
The evidence at trial established that Musick also sold the prohibited items to other inmates. In some instances, he directed inmates to have money sent to an address outside of the institution as payment. The conspiracy lasted from December 2010 until February 2012.
Lewis and Gates have previously been convicted and sentenced for their roles. Lewis was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Gates received probation.
Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and John F. Oleskowicz, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edwin J. Walbourn, III and Wade T. Napier prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government.
Federal District Court Shut Down California Tax Return PreparersRead the Press Release
A federal court in Fresno, California, has permanently barred Ken Mendoza and Alice Mendoza from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Ken Mendoza and Alice Mendoza, who operated under the business name “Mendoza Business Services” in Fresno, consented to the civil injunction order, which was signed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
According to the complaint, the Mendozas improperly understate their customers’ federal tax liabilities by fabricating expenses, claiming false or inflated credits, particularly educational credits, and deducting personal expenses of their customers. In total, the complaint alleges that the loss to the U.S. Treasury from the Mendozas’ activities could be as much as $2.8 million for tax years 2010 through 2011. The complaint also alleges that many of the Mendozas’ customers may owe additional tax, interest and penalties because of the improperly prepared returns.
In addition to barring the Mendozas from preparing or filing federal tax returns for others, the court also enjoined anyone acting in concert with the Mendozas from preparing or filing federal tax returns, and prohibited the Mendozas from requesting or directing the preparation of federal tax returns for others. The court required the Mendozas to contact all persons for whom they prepared a federal tax return since Jan. 1, 2008, to inform all such persons of the permanent injunction entered against them.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2013 . 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 unscrupulous 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.
Elyria Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
An Elyria man was sentenced to life in prison after forcing four females, including a 16-year-old girl, to have sex for money, law enforcement officials said.
Jeremy Mack, 38, of Elyria, was found guilty by a jury in February on nine counts, including human trafficking, drug crimes and obstruction of justice following a trial before U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi.
“Jeremy Mack preyed upon vulnerable women and held them in conditions akin to modern-day slavery,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “His conduct was offensive to everything this community and this country stand for, but his victims persevered, survived and exposed his twisted world of forced sex, violence and drug trafficking. Jeremy Mack earned every day of this sentence.”
“Preying on, coercing and forcing children into a world of drugs and sex is simply despicable and will not be tolerated,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office. “This sentence clearly demonstrates that law enforcement and the courts will work together to ensure those responsible for such horrific crimes pay for their actions.
“This is an example of local police and federal law enforcement working together to make our community safer,” Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely said.
Ashley Onysko, 24, of Avon Lake, previously pleaded guilty to charges related to her role in the conspiracy. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison earlier this week.
Between December 2012 and April 9, 2013, Mack and Onysko conspired together to provide heroin or cocaine to four females and then, after the victims incurred drug debts, used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to compel them to engage in commercial sex acts.
They did this, in part, by posting photographs of the females on backpage.com on a user account that Mack and Onysko created, according to the indictment.
In March 2013, Victim 2, a 16-year-old minor, went to Mack’s residence in Elyria after school, at which time Mack gave her cocaine. Mack later told and caused others to tell Victim 2 that she needed to engage in commercial sex acts. She did, after which she turned over all proceeds to Mack, according to the indictment.
From March through April 9, 2013, Mack brandished a firearm in front of three of the females. He choked and threatened to kill one of the female victims, according to the indictment.
Count 1 charged Mack with conspiring with Onysko to force the four victims to engage in commercial sex acts by using force, threats of force, fraud and coercion
Counts 2 through 5 charged Mack with forcing each of the four victims to engage in commercial sex acts by using force, threats of force, fraud and coercion.
Count 6 and 7 charged Mack with distribution of heroin and cocaine, respectively.
Count 8 and 9 charged Mack with obstruction of justice. Count 8 charged Mack with advising his son, identified only as T.L., to “stick with the script” when testifying before the Federal Grand Jury. Count 9 charged Mack with providing money to Onysko in May 2013 to purchase personal items for Victim 4 and to advise the victim not to “flip”. He also told the victim not to speak with FBI agents attempting to contact her and advising her not to make incriminating statements against Mack, according to the indictment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Carole Skutnik following an investigation by the FBI and Elyria Police Department.
El Departamento de Justicia Llega a un Acuerdo sobre una Queja de Discriminación Relacionada con Inmigración Contra Commercial Cleaning SystemsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - El Departamento de Justicia llegó a un acuerdo hoy con Commercial Cleaning Systems, una empresa de servicios de limpieza con sede en Denver. El acuerdo resuelve los reclamos de que la empresa discriminó en contra de empleados que están autorizados a trabajar en los Estados Unidos pero que no son ciudadanos estadounidenses, en violación de la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA por sus siglas en inglés).
La investigación del departamento se inició basada en una remisión del Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos. La investigación encontró que Commercial Cleaning Systems requirió que empleados que no son ciudadanos estadounidenses, pero que cuentan con autorización de trabajo, presentaran documentos específicos emitidos por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional para probar su elegibilidad de empleo, mientras que a los ciudadanos estadounidenses se les permitía presentar los documentos de su preferencia. La provisión anti-discriminación de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores impongan cargas documentales adicionales a los empleados con autorización de trabajo durante el proceso de contratación y verificación de elegibilidad de empleo por causa de su ciudadanía u origen nacional.
Conforme al acuerdo de resolución, Commercial Cleaning Systems pagará $53,500 en sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos y establecerá un fondo de $25,000 con propósito de compensar a los individuos quienes hayan perdido salario como resultado de las prácticas discriminatorias documentales de la compañía. Además, la compañía estará sujeta a un período de monitoreo de un año de sus prácticas de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo.
"Discriminar en contra de empleados autorizados a trabajar por no ser ciudadanos viola la ley federal y el Departamento de Justicia está comprometido a hacer cumplir con esta ley," dijo la Sub-Procuradora Interina de la División de Derechos Civiles, Jocelyn Samuels. "Aplaudimos a Commercial Cleaning Systems por trabajar cooperativamente con la división para resolver este asunto."
La Oficina del Consejero Especial para Prácticas Injustas en el Empleo Relacionadas con Inmigración (OSC por sus siglas en inglés) es responsable de exigir el cumplimiento de la provisión anti-discriminación de la INA. La ley también prohíbe, entre otras cosas, la discriminación por causa del estado de ciudadanía y origen nacional en la contratación, despido y reclutamiento o referencia por comisión. El caso fue manejado por la abogada Linda White Andrews.
Para más información sobre las protecciones contra la discriminación en el empleo conforme a las leyes de inmigración o para registrarse en un seminario de internet gratis, llame a la línea directa para trabajadores de la OSC al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para las personas con dificultades auditivos, llame a la línea directa para empleadores de la OSC al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY) para las personas con dificultades auditivos, o visite el sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc.
Los solicitantes o trabajadores que creen que han sido sometidos a requisitos documentales distintos o discriminación por causa de su ciudadanía, estatus de inmigración u origen nacional, en la contratación, despido, o reclutamiento o referencia por comisión, deben comunicarse con la línea directa para trabajadores indicada arriba para recibir ayuda.
East St. Louis Man Convicted in Ups Truck RobberyRead the Press Release
Case was another victory for United States Attorney Wigginton’s Hobbs Act Armed Robbery Initiative
Follow @SDILNewsStephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that a jury has found Anthony T. Moore guilty of robbing a UPS truck at gunpoint on December 17, 2012. The guilty verdict was announced on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois, following a 3-day jury trial.
Moore, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois. Moore faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
According to evidence presented at trial, Moore hijacked a UPS truck in East St. Louis at gunpoint and forced the driver to move the truck to a deserted dead-end street in Washington Park, Illinois. Moore and two accomplices then stole the packages which were inside the truck.
At trial, the UPS driver testified that “I thought it was the last day of my life, and that I would never see my kids again. I just asked the Lord to receive my soul. I was that sure he was going to kill me.”
After the robbery, Moore shot a 15-year-old acquaintance in the back of the head, because Moore believed the juvenile could implicate him in the UPS truck robbery. Moore was convicted last year in St. Clair County Circuit Court for that shooting, and he was subsequently sentenced to 34 years in state prison for Attempted Murder.
The Armed Robbery count is a federal “Hobbs Act Robbery.” The Hobbs Act makes it a crime to obstruct, delay, or affect interstate commerce by robbery, and is used by United States Attorney Wigginton’s office as a way to combat armed robbery in the Southern District of Illinois. “This conviction is just the latest in a series of federal prosecutions I have initiated, as part of our efforts to send a clear message to these extraordinarily dangerous gunmen who commit armed robberies, that they will face harsh federal penalties for their crimes.” said Wigginton. “I will continue to use every available federal resource to try to ensure the safety of the citizens of Southern Illinois.”
The investigation which resulted in Moore’s arrest and conviction was conducted by the FBI and the Illinois State Police.
The case was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Clark and Robert Garrison.
District Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking in Southeast WashingtonVictims Were in the Process of Moving into Apartment When AttackedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rahmil Williams, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in an armed carjacking that took place last summer outside an apartment building in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Williams was found guilty by a jury in February 2014 of armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and related weapons offenses, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Milton C. Lee.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 12:50 a.m. on July 8, 2013, Williams and three others, all wearing masks and armed with handguns, approached two men who had parked their Ford Mustang convertible in an alley behind their new apartment in the 3500 block of B Street SE. The victims, who were in the process of moving, were bringing boxes inside.
Williams and the other assailants took the victims’ cash, phones, and keys. Three of the attackers then entered the Mustang and drove away. The victims called the police, and a short time later, officers spotted the stolen Mustang approximately ten blocks from the apartment.
When officers tried to order the car to stop, the driver of the Mustang took off, leading to a high-speed chase that reached 100 mph and into Prince George’s County, Md. With officers in pursuit, the Mustang crashed at a traffic circle, and the three assailants fled into a wooded area along the highway. Officers with the Prince George’s County Police Department apprehended Williams and a second person a few blocks away. Williams’s DNA was found in the car and on a face mask recovered from his flight path.
A 16-year-old co-defendant, who was charged as an adult, pled guilty in February 2014 to an armed robbery charge. He has not yet been sentenced.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Prince George’s County Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates James Brennan and Wanda Queen, Supervisory Victim/Witness Specialist Michael Hailey; Paralegal Specialists Richard Cheatham, Theresa Nelson, and Antoinette Sakamsa; Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; and Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long, who prosecuted the case.
14-133Darby Tax Preparer Charged with Using Foster Childrens' Identities in Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
Momolu Sirleaf, 34, of Darby, PA, is charged by indictment, unsealed today, in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by stealing the identities of foster children, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and IRS Special Agent-in-Charge Akeia Conner. Sirleaf is charged with six counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false federal income tax returns, six counts of wire fraud, and eight counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that, between January 2010 and February 2012, Sirleaf obtained the names and Social Security numbers of children within the foster care system to falsely use as dependents on his clients’ income tax returns. Sirleaf was arrested this morning.
Sirleaf owned and operated I.E.S. Tax Services, a tax preparation business located in Darby, PA, that prepared and electronically filed, via the Internet, income tax returns for clients. According to the indictment, Sirleaf charged clients an extra fee for the use of each dependent’s identity, or withheld an additional fee from the client’s refund amount to pay for the false dependent. It is further alleged that by adding the false dependents, the defendant generated false tax refunds for his clients, some in excess of $8,000.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 154 years in prison, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $4.1 million fine, and a $2,000 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the City of Philadelphia Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen M. Klotz.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Criminal Immigration Charges Brought Against Two Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), announced today that charges in two unrelated cases were brought against the following persons in Harrisburg on June 11, 2014.
Agustin Lopez-Velasco, age 38, a native and citizen of Mexico has been charged with illegal reentry into the United States and fraud and misuse of documents.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Lopez-Velasco, in the United States illegally, was charged in a two-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg yesterday.
The indictment alleges that Lopez-Velasco, an alien previously arrested and deported from the United States in March 2011, reentered the United States illegally, and knowingly possessed a fraudulent permanent resident card when apprehended in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
If convicted, Lopez-Velasco faces a maximum sentence of up to 12 years’ imprisonment and a $500,000 fine.
Jose Galarza-Buestan, age 29, a native and citizen of Ecuador, in the United States illegally was charged in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg today.
The indictment alleges that on or before May 14, 2014, Galarza-Buestan did knowingly possess, use, or attempt to use a fraudulent social security card and birth certificate during an encounter with immigration officials in York, York County, Pennsylvania.
If convicted, Galarza-Buestan faces a maximum sentence of up to ten years’ imprisonment and a $750,000 fine.
Both investigations were conducted by ICE ERO. They are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Career Offender Sentenced for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Steven L. Jackson has been sentenced today to 24 years and six months in prison for recidivist armed bank robber and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
“Jackson terrorized the bank employees, forcing them to lie face down on the floor of the bank while he pointed a gun at them,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “His long history of committing violent crimes merited the lengthy sentence that he received, and his removal from our community will make the Atlanta area a safer place.”
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “The streets of our community will be much safer with today’s sentencing of Mr. Jackson as a career offender. The FBI will continue its investigative focus toward such repeat offenders that plague our communities and burden our criminal justice resources that have to deal with them.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: On Thursday, April 9, 2009, at approximately 8:20 a.m., Jackson entered BB&T Bank located at 6343 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, Ga. He entered the bank through a rear window prior to the bank opening for the day, but after employees had arrived. Jackson placed tape on the glass of one of the rear windows of the bank and then broke the glass. Once inside the bank, Jackson walked to the branch manager’s office and pointed a gun at him. Jackson ordered the manager and two more bank employees to take him to the vault where he stole $16,180.30 in United States currency. After taking the money, Jackson forced the employees to lie face down on the floor of the bank while he fled the scene.
Because Jackson has several prior convictions relating to robbery, he was sentenced as a Career Offender. His prior convictions include the following:
- A May 2, 1986, sentence of four years of imprisonment for robbery, arising from an October 29, 1984, arrest;
- A July 30, 1999, sentence of twenty years of imprisonment for robbery, arising from an October 30, 1996, arrest; and
- An October 10, 1997, sentence of eight years of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, arising from a May 9, 1997, arrest.
Jackson was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Steve C. Jones to 24 years and six months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,180.30. Jackson pleaded guilty on November 2, 2012, to the offenses of armed bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
Canton Man Charged with Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
A five-count criminal information was filed charging a Canton man with attempting to evade nearly $200,000 in taxes by making false statements to the Internal Revenue Service and paying creditors other than IRS, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS' Cincinnati Field Office.
Frederick C. Berndt, 39, attempted to evade the payment of a large part of income tax due for calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2006, in the amount of approximately $193,359, according to the information.
“The privilege of living well in the United States carries certain responsibilities, one of which is the voluntary payment of taxes,” Enstrom said. “IRS Criminal Investigation will vigorously investigate those individuals who knowingly and willfully evade their tax obligation.”
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Roberts following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Camarillo Woman Sentenced to 97 Months for Involvement in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Rosa Fernandez, 38, of Camarillo, was sentenced earlier today by United States District Court Judge John A. Kronstadt to 97 months in federal prison for her involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme.
Fernandez was arrested in June 2010 and charged along with nine other individuals in a federal indictment with scheming to defraud banks by falsifying loan applications and using bogus tax letters to vouch for borrowers. Fernandez originated numerous loans and earned substantial commissions. She pleaded guilty in February 2012 to three counts of bank fraud.
While pending sentencing, Fernandez defrauded another lender in connection with seeking a loan modification for one of her several properties and she pleaded guilty to that offense as well. The two cases were consolidated for sentencing.
The District Court found that Fernandez was the leader and organizer of the bank fraud scheme and that she had obstructed justice by committing the loan modification fraud while on pretrial, post-conviction release in the mortgage fraud case. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,646,485.
The case was investigated by the FBI Ventura Resident Agency and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the IRS – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Housing and Finance Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Release No. 14-073
Boise Man Sentenced for Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Unlawfully Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
BOISE – Nathen Leon Massie, 35, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced today by United States District Court Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or More of Actual Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Massie pleaded guilty to the charges on March 5, 2014.
According to the plea agreement Massie admitted that from at least as early as July 1, 2013, through November 7, 2013, he distributed methamphetamine to persons that contained more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, and he did so in exchange for money, knowing that those persons, in turn, intended to sell the methamphetamine to others. When the defendant was arrested, officers found over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine at his house along with three firearms and ammunition. According to the plea agreement, one of the firearms found at Massie’s residence was a Barrett, Model 99, .50-caliber rifle. Massie, who had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense, was prohibited from having any of these firearms.
The case was investigated by the Idaho State Police.
Alamogordo Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Fraudulently Obtain Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Connie Coble, 52, of Alamogordo, N.M., pled guilty this afternoon in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to participating in a conspiracy to obtain prescription drugs by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge by filling fraudulent prescriptions at retail pharmacies.
Coble and her co-defendant Sharon Carter, 57, also of Alamogordo, were charged in a 66-count indictment filed on March 19, 2014. Count 1 of the indictment charged both women with conspiracy to fraudulently obtain Hydrocodone, a prescription painkiller, by filling fraudulent prescriptions at retail pharmacies in Doña Ana and Otero Counties, N.M., between Aug. 10, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2013. Count 2 charged Carter alone with unlawfully distributing Hydrocodone between Dec. 2011 and Dec. 2013 in Otero County, and Counts 3 through 66 charged Carter alone with fraudulently obtaining Hydrocodone on dates between April 20, 2013 and Dec. 19, 2013.
Today Coble, who was arrested on March 21, 2014, pled guilty to Count 1 of the indictment, the sole charge against her, pursuant to a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In her plea agreement, Coble admitted that between Aug. 10, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2013, she conspired with Carter to fill fraudulent prescriptions for Hydrocodone at various pharmacies in Doña Ana and Otero Counties. According to the plea agreement, Carter posed as a doctor and called in prescriptions for non-existent persons and Coble went with Carter to the pharmacies to pick up the Hydrocodone after the prescriptions had been filled.
At sentencing, Coble faces a statutory maximum penalty of four years in prison. She remains on conditions of release pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Carter, who was arrested on Dec. 19, 2013, based on a criminal complaint, entered a guilty plea to all 66 counts of the indictment on April 30, 2014, without the benefit of any plea agreement. Carter has been in federal custody since her arrest and remains detained pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Carter faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Tactical Diversion Squad of the El Paso Division of the DEA with assistance from the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gould of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squads combine DEA resources with those of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an innovative effort to investigate, disrupt and dismantle those suspected of violating the Controlled Substances Act or other appropriate federal, state or local statutes pertaining to the diversion of licit pharmaceutical controlled substances or listed chemicals.
Activity for May 21, 2014Read the Press Release
Wyoming Man Charged with Assault of a Spouse by Strangling
U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Christopher A. Crofts announced that on May 21, 2014, Jameson Kaulaity, a 28-year-old Northern Arapaho Tribal member, was charged in an indictment with one count of assault of a spouse by strangling in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(8) and 1153. The charge against Mr. Kaulaity stemmed from an incident that occurred on January 29, 2014 on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Mr. Kaulaity is facing a potential ten (10) year term of imprisonment, and could be ordered to pay restitution, a fine, and special assessment. An indictment is only an accusation. In every criminal case, the accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and the government always has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
34 Individuals Indicted for Drug Trafficking in the Municipality of AguadillaRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Yesterday, June 11, 2014, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 34 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Today, FBI agents and officers of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), the agencies in charge of the investigation, executed the arrest warrants.
The indictment charges 34 individuals with conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack), cocaine, and marihuana, all within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising the La Montaña Housing Project located within the Municipality of Aguadilla, all for significant financial gain and profit.
The indictment alleges that beginning in 2009, the organization established drug distribution points located at different areas in La Montaña. It was further part of the manner and means of the conspiracy that the defendants and their co-conspirators would act in different roles in order to further the goals of the conspiracy, to wit: leaders and drug point owners who directed and supervised runners, enforcers, drug processors, sellers, and facilitators. Leaders directly controlled and supervised the drug trafficking activities at the drug points located within La Montaña. Enforcers possessed, carried, brandished, used and discharged firearms to protect the members of the drug trafficking organization, the narcotics, the proceeds derived from their sales, and to further accomplish the goals of the conspiracy.The runners were responsible for providing sufficient narcotics to the sellers for further distribution at the drug point and collecting the proceeds of drug sales, as well as paying and supervising sellers. Sellers distributed street quantity amounts of crack, cocaine, and marijuana. Facilitators allowed the use of their residences by the drug trafficking organization, and served as messengers and intermediaries for other members of the conspiracy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa E. Bonhomme is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
27 Defendants Facing State or Federal Drug Charges for Allegedly Selling Heroin and Crack Cocaine on City’s West SideRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Twenty-seven defendants are facing state or federal narcotics charges for their alleged roles in supplying and distributing heroin and crack cocaine in the neighborhood just north of Douglas Park on the city’s west side. An investigation led by officers of the Chicago Police Department and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration assigned to the Chicago Strike Force, resulted in federal charges against 14 defendants and state charges against 13 others, who police and federal agents began arresting early this morning.
Eight handguns, an AR-15 assault rifle, approximately $140,000, nearly a half-kilogram of heroin, and some cocaine were seized this morning during the arrests. Another half-kilogram of heroin was seized during the course of the investigation from last August through this month. Early today, Chicago police, DEA agents, and other Chicago Strike Force law enforcement partners also executed eight search warrants upon several defendants’ residences and four alleged stash houses.
The federal defendants were charged with conspiracy or possession with intent to distribute narcotics in five separate criminal complaints that were filed yesterday in U.S. District Court and unsealed following the arrests. The federal defendants were scheduled to begin appearing at 3 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Martin in U.S. District Court. The state defendants were charged with delivery of a controlled substance in separate complaints and will appear later in state court.
According to a 169-page affidavit in support of the federal arrests and search warrants, the investigation revealed that KENNETH SHOULDERS, a leader of the Conservative Vice Lords (CVL) street gang, controlled the distribution of narcotics in the area bounded by West Roosevelt Road, West Fillmore Street, and South California and South Kedzie avenues immediately north of Douglas Park. Shoulders, 47, of Chicago, also known as “Kenny Shannon,” allegedly assigned responsibility for narcotics distribution on specific corners within the 12 blocks he controlled to specific individuals, who further delegated distribution to shift workers who sold heroin and crack cocaine throughout the day.
The area is just south of the Interstate 290 Eisenhower Expressway corridor that has been referred to as the “Heroin Highway” because of the accessibility it provides to city and suburban heroin customers.
An admitted member of the “12th Street” faction of the Traveling Vice Lords (TVL) street gang (named for Roosevelt Road’s location at 1200 south on Chicago’s street grid) told investigators in 2013 that Shoulders is a high-ranking member of the Conservative Vice Lords who controlled all of the Vice Lords and drug operations in the area known as “12th Street,” north of Roosevelt Road between the 1100 and 1200 blocks. This cooperating individual told agents that the 12th Street Vice Lords consist primarily of CVL members, but also members of the TVL, Black Souls Nation, Gangster Disciples, and New Breed street gangs. The non-Vice Lord members are mostly “pack workers” or street level drug dealers who have no direct allegiance to the 12th Street Vice Lords other than making money from selling drugs within the 12th Street territory.
“This case mirrors the trending alignment of Chicago’s street gangs into localized drugdealing factions, and the investigation is another example of the extraordinary cooperation among the Chicago Police Department, DEA and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “While this case focuses on narcotics trafficking and the complaint does not allege these defendants committed any acts of violence, we believe that bringing serious charges such as these is an effective tool in reducing violence in our communities,” he said.
“This operation demonstrates how police and prosecutors are continuing to work together to dig in at the local level and hammer away at the drug markets plaguing our communities,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. “We are pleased to be an active participant in the Chicago Strike Force efforts and look forward to continued success.”
Mr. Fardon and Ms. Alvarez announced the charges with Garry F. McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department; Jack Riley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and James C. Lee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
“This investigation stemmed from numerous citizen complaints, and those citizens should now be able to enjoy their communities without the threat of these alleged gang and narcotic activities,” said Chicago Police Department First Deputy Superintendent Al Wysinger. “I am extremely proud of the members of our department who led this investigation, and the entire joint law enforcement Strike Force that tracked this alleged criminal organization’s illegal activities and is bringing the offenders to justice to make our community safer,” he said.
“This is exactly the type of case we envisioned when we put together the Chicago Strike Force,” Mr. Riley said. “To go after alleged significant criminal organizations and hold the leaders of those organizations accountable for their actions, with the shared desire that the positive results will be felt in our communities.”
The investigation was conducted through the U.S. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Chicago Strike Force, which ― in addition to the DEA, IRS-CID and CPD ― consists of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and task force officers from various state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department and the Illinois State Police.
The complaint affidavit alleges that Shoulders was a wholesale supplier of heroin and worked with his partner, DERRICK WASHINGTON, 44, of Hazel Crest, aka “D-Rock;” his sister, SANDRA SHOULDERS, 49, of Chicago, aka “Penny;” and his son, KENNETH WILLIAMS, 29, of Chicago, aka “Lil’ Kenny,” and other members of the “Shoulders drug trafficking organization.” Another cooperating individual told investigators that Williams managed his father’s heroin distribution at the corner of West Fillmore and South Francisco, and that a state defendant, CHARLES WEATHERSBY, 31, managed Shoulders’ crack cocaine distribution from the same corner.
The Shoulders drug trafficking organization operated its heroin distribution from its main stash house at 211 South Lavergne Ave., as well as specific locations in the 12th Street area, such as 2902 and 2950 West Fillmore St., and 1107 South Mozart St., the charges allege. Other defendants allegedly diluted the heroin to increase profits, shuttled heroin among the various stash and retail locations, advised Shoulders when a new supply was needed, and returned his share of the profits to him. The Shoulders organization’s heroin was typically packaged in small user-portion plastic bags with either a green dollar sign or a black bomb symbol stamped on them.
One federal complaint charges nine defendants ― Shoulders, Washington, Sandra Shoulders, Williams, ANTHONY HAYES, 48, aka “Mustafa;” HARRISON HALL, 50; TIARA WHITE, 27; MARLEANA PORTER, 20; and CRANE MARKS, 50, all of Chicago ― with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine.
RODNEY BEDENFIELD, 40, of Chicago, aka “Bump,” was charged separately with supplying heroin to the Shoulders organization. MARC DAVIS, 45, of Chicago, allegedly supplied heroin to Bedenfield, and was charged with QUEENIE VARGAS, 25, of Chicago, an alleged courier who transported heroin for Davis. If convicted, these three defendants face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a $5 million fine.
DORIAN MILLER, 42, of Riverdale, and JEWNEUS WILSON, 35, of Chicago, were charged separately with being heroin customers of Bedenfield. If convicted, they face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The state defendants, in addition to Weathersby, are: JIM DUNBAR, 19; AMOS HADLEY, 61; DAVID HIGGS, 37; DEONTE HOLLINGWORTH, 26; PARIS HOLMES, 18; JOHN PERRY, 26; NIKKI SANDERS, 21; MILTON TAYLOR, 30; ANTWONE WASHINGTON, 20; NATHANIEL YANCEY, 21; SHARDELL GREEN, 27; and ANTWONE HENRY, 27, all of Chicago.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Baker, Shoba Pillay and Katherine A. Sawyer are representing the government in the federal cases. Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron R. Bond is handling the state cases.
The public is reminded that complaints contain only charges and are 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.
Shoulders et al. Complaint
11 June 2014
Yukon Physician Pleads Guilty to Failure to File Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – DWAYNE L. ROUSH, from Yukon, Oklahoma, a physician practicing in Purcell, Oklahoma, pled guilty to failing to file a federal tax return for 2011, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
Roush was charged by information on May 22, 2014, with failing to file a federal tax return for 2011. As part of his guilty plea, Roush agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for six tax years, including 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. In addition, Roush agreed at the plea hearing that the total tax loss to the IRS is between $200,000 and $400,000.
At sentencing, Roush faces up to one year in prison followed by one year of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and an order to pay mandatory restitution. A sentencing date will be set by the court in approximately 90 days.
This case is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry.
Youngstown Man Sentenced to 90 Years in Prison for Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
A Youngstown man was sentenced to 90 years in prison for exploiting children and distributing visual depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Christopher Cavna, 27, had children engage in sexually explicit conduct in 2013 and then distributed images of that conduct.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
Two Long Island Men Charged in Manhattan Federal Court in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Potential Home BuyersRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment in Manhattan federal court charging KEITH ANTHONY, the former President and owner of a company that purported to provide financing for home purchases to people with poor credit, and a former employee of the company, ANTHONY PODIAS, for their alleged participation in a scheme that victimized more than 100 financially struggling people across the country. ANTHONY PODIAS was arrested earlier today and will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein. KEITH ANTHONY has not yet been apprehended. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed today:
From at least November 2011, up to at least March 2013, the defendants perpetrated a scheme to defraud aspiring home owners who had poor credit and who therefore could not qualify for traditional mortgages. Through a company called CIG REALTY, which was located in Long Island, New York, the defendants promised to help financially struggling individuals purchase homes by providing private financing for the purchase in exchange for small deposits or down payments. The customers were then supposed to repay CIG REALTY until the customers’ credit had improved to the point where they could obtain mortgages from a bank. Despite the defendants’ claims, however, CIG REALTY did not purchase homes for customers and instead diverted most of the customers’ deposits into the personal accounts of KEITH ANTHONY. Through their scheme, CIG REALTY obtained at least approximately $800,000 from more than 100 potential home buyers throughout the United States.
When customers contacted CIG REALTY, they were told that they could either pick a specific house for purchase or have the company help them find one. Once a house was selected, CIG told customers that they needed to send a deposit and then CIG would purchase the house using money obtained from private investors. Once the house was purchased, the customer was to repay CIG at a 10% interest rate until their credit improved and they could obtain financing through a bank. In practice, however, after the customer sent his or her deposit, CIG either did not place a bid or placed a bid that was so low, it would not be accepted. In those instances where CIG’s bid was accepted, CIG would fail to follow through and the deal would fall apart. Customers seeking refunds were typically directed to different people at CIG, who gave different explanations for the delay, before CIG stopped calling them back. Of the more than $800,000 taken in from customers by CIG, only about $44,000 was paid out in refunds.
ANTHONY was the President and owner of CIG REALTY, which closed in late 2012. PODIAS was a supervisor. Both dealt directly with the customers, telling them where to send money, updating them on the progress of negotiations, and explaining why they could not get refunds. ANTHONY also diverted more than approximately $500,000 from CIG’s accounts into his personal accounts and into the accounts of another business that he controlled.
ANTHONY, 46, of Elmont, New York, and PODIAS, 39, of Levittown, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the FBI for its outstanding work in the investigation. Mr. Bharara also thanked the New York State Department of Financial Services for its assistance.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Egan is charge of the case.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. v. Keith Anthony and Anthony Podias Indictment
Two Charged with Leading A Conspiracy to Defraud and Extort Spanish-Speaking Consumers Through Fraudulent Call CentersRead the Press Release
A grand jury in Miami, Florida, indicted two individuals and two corporations for allegedly operating call centers in Peru that lied to and threatened Spanish-speaking victims into paying fraudulent settlements.
U.S. Attorney Wilfredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Ronald Verrochio of the Miami Office made the announcement.
Maria Luzula, of Miami, and Juan Alejandro Rodriguez Cuya, of Lima, Peru, were charged with conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and extortion. Two Miami-based corporate entities – Angeluz Florida Corporation and Angeluz Miami, LLC – were charged with the same offenses.
“Consumer fraud that targets a specific population is shameful,” said U.S. Attorney Ferrer. “In this case, the defendants are alleged to have targeted Spanish-speaking consumers and falsely threatened them with arrest, deportation, forfeiture of property or harm to their credit scores when the consumers refused to settle claims for products that were not delivered or ordered. Such tactics are intolerable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed and stands united with the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch, to protect our consumers from fraud.”
“The Department of Justice is committed to fighting consumer fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Delery. “Threats, misrepresentations and other predatory tactics used to rip off consumers will not be tolerated.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue those who threaten our citizens and defraud them of their hard earned money, no matter what country they are operating from,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Verrochio.
According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants’ employees in Peru, using Internet-based telephone calls, lied to Spanish-speaking victims in the U.S. about fines they owed and lawsuits that would be brought against the victims. Peruvian callers threatened the victims and falsely told each victim that he or she had wrongfully failed to receive a delivery of products. The callers went on to claim, again falsely, that the victims owed thousands of dollars in fines. In reality, the victims had never ordered these products and no attempts to deliver products to the victims had been made.
The indictment alleges that Luzula’s and Rodriguez Cuya’s employees claimed that the consumers could resolve the fines if they immediately paid a “settlement fee.” Consumers who contested these settlement fees were told that failure to pay could lead to arrest, deportation, forfeiture of property or harm to their credit scores. Although consumers typically objected that they did not order or refuse delivery of any products, thousands still agreed to pay the fees due to these threats. The indictment alleges that a phone room in Miami collected the fees.
Luzula and Rodriguez Cuya originally were charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Jan. 10, 2013. They have remained incarcerated since their arrests.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant Attorney General Delery commended the Postal Inspection Service for their investigative efforts and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida for their contributions to the case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Assistant Director Richard Goldberg with the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch.
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.
Two Brothers Charged with Preparing and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Frederick Jenkins and Willie Jenkins have been arraigned on federal charges that they conspired to prepare and file false federal tax returns that claimed over $1 million in tax refunds.
“Citizens trust that tax preparers will accurately prepare their returns,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Citizens also expect preparers to maintain the integrity of the tax system. Tax preparers who abuse the system for their own financial gain will be investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and, where appropriate, criminally prosecuted.”
“IRS special agents work year round to investigate and root out dishonest return preparers and protecting taxpayer money is a matter IRS takes extremely serious,” stated IRS Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge, Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot. “It is also important to note that even if someone else prepares someone’s return, the taxpayer is ultimately responsible for all the information on the tax return. Therefore, choose your tax preparer carefully.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: Since 2006, brothers Frederick and Willie Jenkins owned and operated Global Tax Service LLC (GTS), a tax preparation business with multiple locations throughout the Atlanta, Ga., area and in other states, including Alabama. During the tax years under investigation, 2008 through 2011, the Jenkins brothers allegedly prepared and filed false income tax returns for clients. The false items primarily consisted of fraudulent and fictitious business income and losses in order to inflate tax refunds.
Frederick Jenkins, 42, of Atlanta, Ga., and Willie Jenkins, 44, of Fairburn, Ga., were arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker. The Defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 20, 2014.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bernita B. Malloy and Nekia S. Hackworth are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.St. Thomas Man Convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – After a three-day trial in District Court on St. Thomas, a federal jury on Wednesday convicted Richard Antonio Hodge, Jr., 29, of St. Thomas for his role in the armed robbery and shooting of a Ranger American Armored Service messenger and his supervisor on December 3, 2013 in the Lockhart Gardens Shopping Center, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe. Hodge, who has been in custody since his arrest, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing, which the court scheduled for October 10, 2014. Hodge faces up to 80 years in prison when he is sentenced.
“Individuals who commit these types of violent gun crimes in our community pose a danger to all of us and to our way of life,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, is committed to fully investigating, prosecuting and seeking lengthy prison sentences for those who engage in this type of violent and brazen criminal conduct.”
After deliberating for nearly a day, the jury convicted Hodge of the following offenses:
- interfering with commerce by robbery (federal Hobbs Act robbery);
- discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence (federal offense);
- unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence (territorial offense);
- assault with intent to commit murder, robbery (territorial offense), and;
- reckless endangerment (territorial offense).
The jury acquitted Hodge of one count of discharge of a firearm during the commission of an attempted murder, two counts of attempted murder (territorial offense) and use of a firearm during the commission of an attempted murder (territorial offense).
According to the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2013, a messenger for Ranger American Armored Service went to Kmart at Lockhart Gardens Shopping Center to deliver and retrieve U.S. currency for deposit at a bank. The messenger entered Kmart, delivered coins and picked up $33,550 from Kmart to take to the bank. While in Kmart, the messenger also picked up $4,700 from the AT&T kiosk in the store. After exiting Kmart, the messenger stopped to talk to his supervisor, who was standing a short distance from the entrance to Kmart. While the messenger was speaking with his supervisor, Hodge ran up to the messenger, shot him in the back, hip and wrist, and ripped the money bag from his hands. Hodge then ran through the parking lot and into the Oswald Harris Court public housing community where he was chased by an off-duty Virgin Islands police officer and the messenger’s supervisor. Hodge was apprehended approximately 45 minutes later hiding in dense brush behind Oswald Harris Court. The messenger and supervisor were taken to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital where both were treated for multiple gunshot wounds. Both men are expected to make a full recovery. The stolen money and firearm used in the crimes were never recovered.
Hodge faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the federal Hobbs Act robbery, a mandatory consecutive 10 years on the federal firearms offense, a minimum penalty of 15 years and up to 20 years in prison on the territorial firearms offense, a maximum of 15 years in prison on the territorial first-degree assault conviction, a maximum of 20 years in prison on the territorial robbery conviction, and a maximum of 10 years on the reckless endangerment conviction. Hodge also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 on each of the federal offenses, $25,000 on the territorial offenses, and a special assessment of $300.
U.S. Attorney Sharpe commended the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their outstanding work in this case. He also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Nelson L. Jones, who prosecuted the case.
Shooting at House Lands Convicted Felon Gang Member in Federal Prison for 57 MonthsRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – DAVID ASHARD SAMILTON, 20, from Oklahoma City, was sentenced today to serve 57 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, on September 15, 2013, the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a report of a street fight at 1708 NE 11th in Oklahoma City. Samilton and others were interviewed by the responding officers with no arrests at that time. Less than an hour later, OCPD responded to another call that shots were fired at the same residence. Officers discovered bullet holes in the siding, bullet strikes in the brick, one bullet hole in the front window of the residence, and six .45 caliber shell casings in the street. Witnesses at the scene described the shooter as wearing the same clothing matching the description of what Samilton was wearing during the prior interview. Officers then discovered Samilton hiding in a vacant house nearby with a Taurus PT145, .45 caliber pistol. The OCPD’s Metropolitan Violent Crime Gang Task Force has documented Samilton as a member of a local street gang. Samilton had prior felony convictions in Oklahoma County for possession of cocaine base, auto theft, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Under federal law, Samilton was prohibited from possessing this firearm as a convicted felon.
Samilton was indicted on October 1, 2013, and pled guilty today. In addition to being ordered to serve a 57-month prison sentence, Samilton was ordered to serve three years of supervision upon his release from prison. Samilton also faces an additional charge in Oklahoma County District Court for discharging a firearm into a dwelling. (Oklahoma County District Court case CF-2013-6383).
This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley L. Altshuler.
Shawn Augare Sentenced to Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that SHAWN JOSEPH AUGARE, 38, of Browning, Montana, was sentenced to a term of 9 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, a special assessment of $100, and restitution of $6,460.14 during a federal court hearing in Great Falls, Montana, on May 23, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris.
AUGARE was sentenced in connection with his February 11, 2013, guilty plea to bank fraud. In an Offer of Proof, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon stated it would have proved that AUGARE cashed and deposited forged checks from the Child and Family Advocacy Center account that were drawn from Wells Fargo Bank and Stockman Bank. The Child and Family Advocacy Center (CFAC) account was an account controlled by AUGARE's father, Delyle Shanny Augare and Francis Onstad, the Directors of the Po'Ka Project. Prosecutors alleged that over $230,000 was embezzled from the Po'Ka grant and laundered through the CFAC account between August 2008 and September 2011 with the assistance of Dr. Gary Conti, who was convicted in May 2014 of 26 counts related to corruption and theft from the Po'Ka program.
AUGARE attempted to take $10,300 during the commission of the bank fraud. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, AUGARE admitted that he stole the money.
At sentencing, the government stated, "Augare is old enough to know better. . . [H]e has been unable to control his propensity to steal and defraud others. It is now up to the Court to ensure that Augare is properly punished and that he is deterred from continually engaging in fraudulent activity."
The District Court sentenced AUGARE to a guideline sentence of 9 months imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the truth in sentencing guidelines mandate that AUGARE will serve all of the time imposed by the court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rio Arriba County Man Sentenced to Prison for Robbing Espanola Bank in September 2013Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Stephen R. Gurule, 35, of Hernandez, N.M., was sentenced this afternoon to 41 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his bank robbery conviction. Gurule also was ordered to pay full restitution to the bank that was the victim of his crime.
Gurule was arrested on Oct. 3, 2013, on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the Community Bank, located at 411 Carr Lane in Espanola, N.M., on Sept. 27, 2013. He subsequently was indicted on that same charge on Oct. 30, 2013.
According to court filings, the bank was robbed on the afternoon of Sept. 27, 2013, by a man who slid a note, written on the back of a check, to the teller. The note demanded money and made referenced to a “bomb.” After the teller complied with the demand, the bank robber fled from the bank with the cash. Before leaving the bank, the bank robber placed the bag he was carrying on the floor inside the bank. Several days later, Gurule turned himself into law enforcement and admitted committing the bank robbery.
Gurule entered a guilty plea to the indictment on Jan. 3, 2014.
This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI and the Espanola Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh.Poplar Man Gets 20 Years for Rape, Assault and BurglaryRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, Montana, on June 6, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, KEVIN J. DEVEREAUX, 50, of Poplar, was sentenced to a term of 20 years imprisonment and five years supervised release for the rape of a woman on the Fort Peck Indian reservation. Devereaux was sentenced for aggravated sexual assault after two earlier attempts to convict Devereaux for other sex crimes against other victims ended in acquittal or mistrial.
Following a three-day trial in Great Falls, a jury convicted Devereaux of raping a woman on the Fort Peck Reservation, burglarizing her home, and severely assaulting her in front of her 7-year-old granddaughter. The rape occurred in 2009, when Devereaux appeared in the victim's house as she was asleep on the sofa with her two grandchildren, ages two and eight months. Devereaux dragged her to the bedroom, where he raped her. He then fled the house. Days after the offense occurred, Devereaux intimidated the victim into recanting her story. In 2013, Devereaux broke into her bedroom where she was sleeping with her seven-year-old granddaughter and beat her in the head multiple times. When the child pleaded with him to stop, Devereaux screamed at her "I'm going to kill your grandma!" The victim was able to escape and call 911. During the investigation of the second offense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed the victim, at which point she disclosed Devereaux had intimidated her into changing her story regarding the rape. Due to advancements in the law, the United States was still able to prosecute the rape offense years later, when the truth came out about the circumstances surrounding the victim's statements about the rape.
Devereaux was referred to as a "serial predator" by prosecutors. Deveraux was indicted by the federal grand jury in 2012 on two counts aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual conduct. A jury acquitted Devereaux of those charges. Devereaux was again indicted by the federal grand jury for aggravated sexual abuse of another woman, the burglary of her home, and assault with a dangerous weapon. In January 2013, a trial jury acquitted Devereaux of burglary and assault with a dangerous weapon, and could not reach a unanimous verdict on the sexual assault charge. The court declared a mistrial on that charge. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to re-try Devereaux for the sexual assault of the second victim and Devereaux has appealed, claiming double jeopardy.
The Court sentenced Devereaux to 20 years of imprisonment, with five years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the truth in sentencing guidelines mandate that Devereaux will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Devereaux does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior. However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice.
Philadelphia Day Care Owner Charged with Defrauding Public WelfareRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA –Tianna Edwards, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.
According to the information, in 2008, Edwards had a criminal record which would have prohibited her from obtaining a license to operate a child day care facility and receive state and federal child subsidy payments from the Department of Public Welfare (“DPW”). In order to circumvent the criminal history clearance requirements for a license and to become eligible for state and federal child care subsidy funds, in September 2008, defendant Tianna Edwards submitted the first of two separate applications to DPW containing the forged signatures of another individual, for licenses to operate facilities named “Tianna’s Terrific Tots.” Both applications were false because they listed a person who did not have a criminal record as the sole legal owner and operator of “Tianna’s Terrific Tots” when, in fact, defendant Tianna Edwards controlled and operated “Tianna’s Terrific Tots.” The facilities were located on Germantown Avenue and Rising Sun Avenue in Philadelphia. The information alleges that, from December, 2008 through July 2012, Tianna Edwards received from DPW approximately $1,459,470.25 in fraudulent payments to Tianna’s Terrific Tots. According to the information, Edwards spent the money on lifestyle expenses and gambling, as well as business expenses.
If convicted, Tianna Edwards faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a $1,250,000 fine and a $500 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joan E. Burnes.
Click here to view the indictment
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Owner of Construction Company Admits Filing False Tax Returns and Underreporting More Than $1 Million in IncomeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. - The owner and operator of Larino Masonry Inc., a construction company based in northern New Jersey, today admitted underreporting more than $1 million diverted from his business for his personal benefit, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Juan Larino, 53, of West New York, N.J., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katherine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of filing a false federal personal income tax return.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
During his operation of the business, Larino received checks made payable to Larino Masonry Inc. Larino admitted that instead of depositing all of the payments into bank accounts held by the business, he cashed some of the checks for his own personal benefit.
For the tax years 2010 through 2011, Larino filed individual income tax returns in which he claimed to report all of his income from the construction business. However, Larino failed to report approximately $1.1 million in cash that he kept from checks made payable to Larino Masonry Inc. Larino’s failure to truthfully disclose income he received as owner of the company resulted in a tax loss to the United States of $200,000 to $400,000.
As part of his guilty plea, Larino agreed to make full restitution for all losses resulting from his false tax returns. He also agreed to forfeit $575,000 in a related civil case with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The subscribing to false tax returns charge carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan S. Weitz of the U.S. Attorney's Office Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Unit.
14-214
Defense counsel: Vincent Martinelli Esq., Staten Island, N.Y.
Larino, Juan Information
Orlando Credit Union Robber Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Raulier Rivas Lopez (28, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to one count of credit union robbery with assault, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of the robbery. Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on the robbery charge, and a consecutive mandatory minimum term of 7 years, up to life imprisonment for the firearm charge.
According to court documents, on the morning of January 25, 2012, Lopez, and three others robbed the American Eagle Credit Union located at 7007 SeaWorld Drive, in Orlando. Lopez and two of his co-conspirators, all wearing masks, entered the credit union and demanded money from the credit union employees. Lopez pointed a firearm at the credit union employees, as his co-conspirators pepper-sprayed them so that they would not be able to identify the robbers. Lopez and his co-conspirators stole approximately $7,000 during the robbery.
To date, one other individual, Joseph Cotto-Diaz, has been arrested for his role in this case. Cotto-Diaz was charged in a superseding indictment on March 19, 2014. He is scheduled for trial in July 2014.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.
Orlando Area Men Convicted of Wire Fraud Conspiracy Involving the Travel IndustryRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Albert Jeffrey Sanchez (50, Orlando) and Harold Ferdinand (36, Longwood) guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Sanchez and Ferdinand were indicted on February 19, 2014. The verdict was returned yesterday. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2014.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Sanchez owned and operated AVYT Tours, an Orlando-area travel agency. Ferdinand worked as a rental agent at Budget Rent-A-Car in Orlando. Between January 2008 and March 2009, Ferdinand used his position with Budget to modify almost 1,000 customer reservations and agreements from Avis Budget branches around the country. Ferdinand modified customer reservations to make it appear as though Sanchez’s travel agency AVYT Tours had booked the reservations, when he knew that the customers had booked the reservations themselves, usually over the Internet.
For reservations booked by AVYT Tours, Avis Budget wired Sanchez’s travel agency a commission. The commissions for the customer reservations that Ferdinand and co-conspirator and fellow Avis Budget employee Lillian Sanchez had fraudulently modified totaled nearly $140,000. Sanchez then wrote Ferdinand approximately $17,000 in checks for his participation in the scheme.
Lillian Sanchez (50, Debary) pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme on May 20, 2014. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2014.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Role in Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Charleston, W.Va. – Christopher Swann, 24, of Port William, Ohio, was sentenced today to six months’ imprisonment and six months’ home confinement for his involvement in a heroin conspiracy where he purchased heroin in Ohio for distribution in West Virginia. Swann pled guilty in March of 2014 and admitted that he made three trips to Ohio to purchase heroin for resale in West Virginia. Swann was sentenced by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver who made it a specific requirement of Swann’s sentence that he work at least 40 hours per week after he completes his period of incarceration.
This case was prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and opiates. The United States Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal heroin and pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District .
Ohio Man Convicted on Heroin Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Matthew Lyman, Public Affairs Specialist/Community Outreach CoordinatorWHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – An Ohio man has been convicted on charges of distributing heroin in Hancock County, according to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.
Marcel D. WEAVER, age 29, of East Liverpool, Ohio, entered a plea of guilty before Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert to the distribution heroin within 1,000 feet of Allison Elementary School in Chester, West Virginia. WEAVER was part of a conspiracy to distribute heroin and other drugs in Hancock County and elsewhere between August and December of 2013.
WEAVER, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to forty years in prison, a $2 million dollar fine and six years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin and investigated by the Hancock Brooke-Weirton Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, an Appalachia HIDTA-funded unit. The case began with a tip provided by the Youngstown, Ohio, office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Nineteen Individuals Indicted in June Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today the results of the June 2014 Federal Grand Jury.
“The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Statutory maximum punishments are in parentheses. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable.”
ELADIO ARGUELLES, age 26, of El Paso, TX
Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine
The Indictment alleges that on or about April 5, 2014, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Savanna Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The charge is, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $10,000,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson
MICHAEL ALLEN COOPER, age 39, of Moore, OK
AMANDA JO JONES, age 24, of Westville, OK
Drug Conspiracy
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Drug ForfeitureThe Indictment alleges that from in or about June 2013, until on or about April 9, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants did willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the District 16 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. The charges are in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, punishable by not less than 20 years imprisonment and/or up to a $20,000,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas A. Horn
RICKY ELLIS LAMB, age 56, of Van Buren, AR
Possession and Uttering a Counterfeit Security
The Indictment alleges that on or about June 20, 2012 in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant knowingly possessed, uttered and caused to be uttered counterfeit securities, to wit: counterfeit check #6410 on a closed account, made payable to Staples in the amount of $665.58, and drawn on Weokie Credit Union, an organization which operates in interstate commerce. The Indictment further alleges that on or about July 18, 2012 in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, knowingly possessed, uttered and caused to be uttered counterfeit securities, to wit: counterfeit check #8561 on the account of Compass Assembly of God, Inc., made payable to Staples in the amount of $844.16, and drawn on Citizens Security Bank, an organization which operates in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the District 18 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The charges are in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 513(a), punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Melody Noble Nelson
NIKEA PAUL LEE, age 38, of Ardmore, OK
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
The Indictment alleges that on or about February 6, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute over five (5) grams or more of actual Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The charges are in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), punishable by not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyle E. Waters
TOMMY LOUIS TAYLOR, age 35, of Muskogee, OK
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
The Indictment alleges that on or about December 19, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, the following firearm, to-wit: one H&R .32 caliber revolver, bearing serial number BA021273, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The charges are in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney D. Edward Snow
DEJA MONET PHILLIPS, age 18, of Houlka, MS
BRANDON JEVAR PITTMAN, age 32, of Calhoun City, MS
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
The Indictment alleges that on or about March 6, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants, did knowingly possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The charges are in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2, punishable by not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years imprisonment and up to a $5,000,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyle E. Waters
JACKIE DALE BRUMLEY, age 44, of Noble, OK
STEVEN D. CARR, age 43, of Walnut Shade, MO
MARGARET CASEY, age 45, of Checotah, OK
SCOTT WESLEY DUNCAN, age 38, of Oklahoma City, OK
CORNELL TYLEIZ HARVEY, age 29, of Oklahoma City, OK
SUNNY ANN MARTINEK, age 38, of Norman, OK
MICHAEL A. METZKER, age 36, of Checotah, OK
MICHAEL W. METZKER, age 58, of Checotah, OK
DEREK PARK, age 31, of Checotah, OK
LACEY RENEE PARK, age 30, of Checotah, OK
SHAWNA VANZANT, age 33, of Henryetta, OK
Drug Conspiracy
The Indictment alleges that from in or about April 2003 to on or about April 15, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants, knowingly conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The charges are in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 8411(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2, punishable by not less than 10 years and up to a $10,000,000.00 fine.
Assistant United States Attorney Shannon L. Henson