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Monday 30 September 2013
Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 18 Years in Prison for Providing Material Support to Al QaedaRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SABIRHAN HASANOFF was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 18 years in prison for providing and attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda associates in Yemen and elsewhere, and for conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda over the course of nearly three years. HASANOFF, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in 2010 and transferred to United States custody, pled guilty in June 2012 to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda. He pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, who also imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Today’s sentence reflects the egregiousness of Sabirhan Hasanoff’s conduct. The defendant not only funneled equipment capable of being used for nefarious purposes and thousands of dollars to al Qaeda operatives abroad, he also travelled to U.S. soil to surveil a major New York landmark for a potential terrorist attack. We will not hesitate to continue, with our law enforcement partners, to pursue individuals engaged in similar behavior, and do what we can to ensure they are brought to justice.”
According to various public filings and sworn statements made by the defendant during proceedings in Manhattan federal court:
From 2007 through late 2009, HASANOFF, supported al Qaeda in a variety of ways. HASANOFF and his co-defendant, Wesam El-Hanafi, sent equipment, including remote-controlled devices capable of use in an explosives attack, to terrorist operatives abroad. In addition, HASANOFF and El-Hanafi together funneled approximately $67,000 to al Qaeda operatives overseas. HASANOFF and El-Hanafi collected some of this money from a third individual who resided in the United States. During this time, both defendants used aliases to disguise the source of their money when making cash donations to their terrorist contacts, and made extensive plans for travel to engage in jihad in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
In August 2008, HASANOFF entered the United States from abroad, travelled to New York City, and performed surveillance on the New York Stock Exchange – all on instructions from overseas terrorists who were considering the location for a possible attack. The information that HASANOFF gathered on the Stock Exchange was then sent to the terror operatives.
In addition to his prison term, HASANOFF, 37, a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, who resided in Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment fee and forfeiture in the amount of $70,000.
El-Hanafi pled guilty in June 2012 to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York-based Joint Terrorism Task Force – which principally consists of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives of the New York City Police Department. Mr. Bharara thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, the Kansas City-based JTTF, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri for their extraordinary assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Cronan, Aimee Hector, Glen Kopp, Michael Lockard, and Brendan R. McGuire are in charge of the prosecution.
Arkansas Man Sentenced for $257,000 Fraud Scheme, Barred from Entering Walmart StoresRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Smack Over, Ark., man was sentenced in federal court today for a $257,000 fraud scheme that involved switching bar codes on products at Wal-Mart stores then selling the products on eBay.
Carlton D. Newsome, 35, of Smack Over, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to 30 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Newsome to pay $257,195 in restitution to Wal-Mart, and barred him from entering any Wal-Mart stores for three years after he is released from prison, while on supervised release.
On March 13, 2013, Newsome pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Newsome purchased embroidery machines from Wal-Mart stores in a dozen states between Dec. 28, 2004, and July 13, 2008. Newsome switched the bar codes from less expensive embroidery machines; for example, putting a bar code from a $78 machine on a $397 machine so that he could purchase the machine at the lower price. Newsome then sold the machines through eBay for several hundred dollars apiece.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William L. Meiners and Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department.
Arizona Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Arson ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Dennis Henry Bainbridge, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., was sentenced on Sept. 26, 2013 to a year and a day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his arson conviction.
Bainbridge was arrested on April 25, 2013 based on a criminal complaint charging him with arson. He subsequently was indicted on that same charge.
Bainbridge pleaded guilty to the indictment on July 10, 2013, and admitted that on March 11, 2013, he maliciously set fire to a vehicle owned by a Navajo woman which was parked near a residence in Shiprock, N.M., which is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation. According to court filings, witnesses saw Bainbridge douse the victim’s vehicle with gasoline and set it on fire. When Bainbridge was arrested after he fled from the scene of the arson, officers found a jug of gasoline and a lighter in Bainbridge’s vehicle.
The case was investigated by the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Farmington office of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.
Friday 27 September 2013
York County Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omar Sierre Folk, age 32, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced Thursday by Senior United States District Court Judge William W. Caldwell to serve 264 months in prison and five years of supervised release for the distribution of crack cocaine and firearms offenses. Folk was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on September 1, 2011, local law enforcement arrested Folk after an attempted sale of crack cocaine. A subsequent search of his residence recovered approximately 144 grams of crack cocaine and a firearm.
Folk was indicted in October 2011 and convicted in August 2012 of distributing of over 280 grams of crack cocaine in and around York County from 2009 to September 2011, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked in conjunction with the York County Drug Task Force and the Pennsylvania State Police in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Consiglio.Westminster Developer Arrested, Charged with Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Westminster man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Worcester with defrauding Colonial Cooperative Bank in Gardner, Mass.
Lance N. Korich, 53, was indicted with four counts of bank fraud.
The indictment alleges that, from 2008 to 2010, Korich applied for four construction loans at Colonial Cooperative Bank in Gardner. In support of those loans, Korich submitted false and fraudulent purchase and sale agreements. In particular, Korich fabricated the names of the purported home buyers and forged their signatures on the purchase and sale agreements.
If convicted, Korich faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karin M. Bell of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office.
The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Week in Review – South BendRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
South Bend, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS:
Alicia Green, 27, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to the felony offense of conspiracy to defraud the United States Department of the Treasury. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 1/3/2014.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
Javier Montoya, of Howe, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 1/3/2014. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
DISPOSITIONS:
Jose Nambo, 32, of Anne, Illinois was sentenced by District Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. to 70 months imprisonment with 4 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to deliver a mixture or substance that contained over five hundred 500 grams of cocaine and/or over 100 kilograms of marijuana.According to documents filed in this case, between May 29, 2012, and July 16, 2012, Nambo was involved with delivering marijuana and cocaine in the Logansport, Indiana area. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
Andre Bradford, 35, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to 41 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of heroin.This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Bend Police Department.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
Week in Review – HammondRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
Hammond, Indiana - The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS:
Eugene Wilson, Sr., 57, of Merrillville, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of wire fraud.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.
Simmuel Mobley, 46, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Jose Montoya, 40, of Summit, Illinois, a defendant in the case US v Ramirez et al., pled guilty before Senior District Judge James Moody to the felony offense of kidnapping.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
DISPOSITIONS:
Wesley King, 42, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 70 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.King has a prior felony conviction for murder, narcotics offenses and reckless driving.According to documents filed in this case, King fired a weapon at an individual who was attempting to burglarize his home.This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gary Police Department.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
Nalon Edmonds, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 18 months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of marijuana.According to documents filed in this case, Edmonds approached individuals as they came to a gas station and attempted to sell marijuana to them. Edmonds, while attempting to sell the marijuana, was in possession of a Taurus .45 caliber firearm. The firearm was fully loaded, with 1 round of ammunition in the chamber. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Indiana University Northwest Police Department.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Jesus Vasquez was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 21 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of cocaine.This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
Monta Oliver, 36, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 27 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine.This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force.This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Armando Salinas.
Jon Erik Lilly, 28, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to 144 months imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of receipt of child pornography.According to a Complaint filed in this case, a Hammond Police Department officer, while working off duty at Morton High School, was made aware of a situation involving a male teacher, later identified as Lilly, having a sexual relationship with a female student.During a subsequent investigation, law enforcement conducted a search of Lilly’s residence and found multiple hundreds of sexually explicit images of at least 10 different females, five or more of who were identified as former students. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Hammond Police Department.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.
Diontria Frazier, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, a defendant in the case US v Harris et al., was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 1 day credit for time served, 3 years supervised release and restitution jointly and severally with all defendants after pleading guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to commit fraud with identification documents.According to documents filed in this case, the defendants obtained the account and personal information of individuals in over 21 states and fraudulently added their names to the victims’ accounts in an account takeover scheme. The defendants either utilized their own names or utilized aliases with the accounts which had been taken over. They purchased gift cards, Postal Money Orders, and made numerous retail purchases with the fraudulently obtained credit cards throughout Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Georgia. They also made cash withdrawals on the accounts and utilized the convenience checks associated with the accounts at various financial institutions located in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Throughout the criminal conduct, the defendants would also mail gift cards, Postal money orders, and U.S. currency from Indiana and Wisconsin to Georgia. This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.
Week in Review – Fort WayneRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
Fort Wayne, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEA:
Kameron Kutzli, 22, of Dunkirk, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey to the felony offense of retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant. Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has not been set.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives .This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
Juan Corona, 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey to the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has not been set.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation .This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller Lowery.
Tyson Allen, 26, of Bluffton, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey to the felony offense of retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant. Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 14 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has not been set.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives .This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Geller.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Wayne County Man Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit Sons of Anarchy MerchandiseRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ryan Breen, 33, of Savannah, N.Y., who was convicted of selling counterfeit items from the popular FX Network Television series "Sons of Anarchy," was sentenced to five months in prison and five months home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay $5,394.15 in restitution to Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment Group, the producer and exclusive owner of the Sons of Anarchy TV series and its logos.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James C. Spero.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Fauzia K Mattingly, who handled the case, Breen was identified as the owner and operator of various web sites which offered for sale over the Internet customized counterfeit t-shirts and goods using the Sons of Anarchy trademark without the permission of Fox. The defendant's web sites were seized by federal agents as part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at combating intellectual property theft.Wakpala Man Charged with Second Degree Murder and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wakpala, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Stoney End of Horn, age 25, was indicted on September 17, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William A. Gerdes on September 24, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
End of Horn is alleged to have assaulted the victim in September of 2008 near Wakpala. The 2008 assault resulted in a closed head injury to the victim, who later died as a result of the injury.
The charges are merely an accusation and End of Horn is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.
End of Horn was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement Positions
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the Southern District of Illinois.
The grantee in this area was the Village of Cahokia in the amount of $125,000.00, to allow for the hiring of an additional police officer.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said United States Attorney Wigginton.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.gov.
United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. Announces Tulsa Police Department Awarded $1.25 Million DOJ GrantRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr., in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced a funding award for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
In the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Tulsa Police Department was awarded $1,250,000 to fund 10 new law enforcement positions.
“Community policing emphasizes proactive measures intended to address the factors that give rise to crime and disorder. Our law enforcement officers are the first line of defense against crime and keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing this grant which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission. I have congratulated Tulsa Chief of Police Chuck Jordan on receiving this award to support his commitment to community policing in the City of Tulsa.”
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.s. Department of Justice Announces $1,712,344 in Grants to Maryland Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement Positions
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the District of Maryland.
The grantees and amount awarded include:
Baltimore Police Department awarded $1,250,000 to hire 10 officers;
Town of Bladensburg awarded $125,000 to hire one officer;
Hagerstown Police Department awarded $250,000 to hire two officers;
Seat Pleasant Police Department awarded $87,344 to hire one officer.“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
“Keeping our children safe from violent crime, drugs and gangs is of critical importance,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “These grants will help provide communities with the resources to improve school safety.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Government Intervenes in False Claims Lawsuit Against Pinnacle BankRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office has intervened in a lawsuit against Pinnacle Bank (Pinnacle) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming according to U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Crofts. The whistleblower lawsuit was originally filed in May 2012 by Hospitality Management, Inc., under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when they believe that someone has submitted false claims for government funds. The complaint alleges that Pinnacle made false statements to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding a loan under the SBA’s “504 Loan Program.”
Background of the 504 Loan Program
The 504 Loan Program is designed to provide small businesses with long-term financing to cover a portion of the cost to acquire major fixed assets. The loans are funded by the sale of debentures guaranteed by the United States. Financing of 504 Loan Program projects typically consists of (1) a contribution from the borrower covering approximately 10 percent of the project costs; (2) a loan obtained from a Certified Development Company and assigned to the SBA, covering approximately 40 percent of the project costs and certain administrative costs, collateralized by a second lien on the project property; and (3) a loan secured from a private sector lender covering the remainder of the project costs (approximately 50 percent) and collateralized by a first lien on the project property. If a borrower defaults on a 504 loan, the United States must expend taxpayer dollars to repurchase the debenture used to fund the loan pursuant to the guarantee, effectively buying the bad debt. Because of this risk, the 504 Loan Program requires that participating banks must make certain certifications to the SBA regarding the financial condition of the borrower before the government will approve the loan and guarantee the debenture.
Specifics of the Lawsuit
According to the complaint, Pinnacle Bank, which had provided the Columbine Group, LLC, (developer of the hotel) with an interim construction loan for the AmericInn Lodge and Suites located in Laramie, Wyoming, falsely certified to the SBA that at the time of closing on permanent financing for the project: (1) it had no knowledge of any un-remedied substantial adverse change in Columbine’s financial condition since the date of the application for the SBA loan, (2) Columbine was current on its payments to Pinnacle and not otherwise in default of the loan, and (3) Pinnacle had disclosed to the SBA all material information know to it. Columbine later defaulted on its loans and the United States was required to repurchase the debenture pursuant to its guarantee.
The False Claims Act permits the government to recover three times its damages plus civil penalties. The private plaintiffs who bring these claims are entitled to receive a share of any funds recovered through the lawsuit. The government has asked the court for 30 days to file its own complaint stating the United States’ allegations.
U.S. Department of Justice Awards GrantsFor Public Safety in Eastern District of MichiganRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., and U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, announced funding awards for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The grantees and amounts awarded include:
CITY # OF OFFICERS ESTIMATED AWARD AMOUNT
City of Detroit 10 $1,884,390
City of Flint 6 $1,119,897
Harper Woods PD 1 $ 174,972
City of River Rouge 1 $ 125,000
Waterford Township 2 $ 250,000
Attorney General Eric Holder said, “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
In addition to the COPS grants, the Department of Justice, through its Office of Justice Programs, will award $1.5 million to Wayne County in the form of a Justice Assistance Grant – of which the City of Detroit will receive roughly $1 million. The majority of these funds will be used to purchase law enforcement technology and equipment to bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement operations.
Additionally, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Justice Department will award $100,000 to the Michigan Department of Corrections. This funding will support the Detroit Reentry Center Project – assisting with the release of parolees in Wayne County, and helping to contain future prison growth. These goals are in line with the “Smart on Crime” initiative Attorney General Holder announced last month, which is designed to improve public safety, reduce recidivism, redirect criminal justice spending, and ensure fair and appropriate sentences – along with other positive outcomes.
Further, through the Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the City of Detroit was awarded more than $170,000 which will allow the city to continue its work as part of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.Lastly, the Detroit Police Department’s Detroit AmeriCorps Urban Safety Bike Watch will receive $49,998 as part of the 2013 Community Policing Development Awards.
“We in the Eastern District of Michigan are grateful that the U.S. Department of Justice is providing funding to help address our public safety challenges,” said U.S. Attorney McQuade.U.S. Attorney’s Office Receives $500,000 Grant to Help Oakland Police Department Curb Gangs and Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND – The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $500,000 grant to the Northern District of California to support the Oakland Police Department under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
The BJA, a component of the Office of Justice Programs in the Department of Justice, awarded $5.1 million in PSN grants to sixteen communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, applied for and received a $500,000 competitive grant award to assist the Oakland Police Department in curbing gangs and reducing gun violence. This was the only PSN award made in California and was one of only sixteen awards made from nearly seventy applications in a national competition. Grants ranged in size from $150,000 to $500,000. Only six awards of $500,000 were made in the country.PSN is a strategy for combating gun violence and gang crime that builds on the latest research, community partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach and accountability. As part of the PSN program, the U.S. Attorney and federal partners work side-by-side with local and state law enforcement and others to tailor a PSN strategy to fit the unique gun and gang crime problems in a community. The program’s effectiveness is based on the cooperation of local, state and federal agencies engaged in a unified approach led by the U.S. Attorney.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to combating violent crime in the City of Oakland continues with vigor. Every day Federal law enforcement works hand-in-hand with the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to target perpetrators of gang, drug, and gun violence. The U.S. Marshal’s fugitive apprehension efforts, the ATF’s Operation Gideon, the DEA and the U.S. Secret Services’ takedown of the Burnout Family Mafia, the FBI’s Operation Red Dawn, which targeted members of the Nuestra Familia, and Project Safe Schools, which subjected peddlers of drugs near elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to significant sentences, are but a handful of recent collaborative operations,” stated U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag. “PSN looks at the entire spectrum of violence in a community from prevention, intervention, suppression, enforcement, and re-entry. Today’s new grant of $500,000 is well-deserved and will substantially assist the City of Oakland in expanding upon a comprehensive violence reduction and prevention program,” added Ms. Haag.
This particular grant will assist the City of Oakland in coordinating the many entities that are needed in creating and maintaining an effective violence reduction strategy that focuses on the small group of serious offenders that drive the majority of the violence in Oakland. This grant provides funding for a full time senior level manager tasked with coordinating all of the necessary pieces for a proven violence reduction strategy that employs partnership among enforcement agencies, community leaders and the clergy to achieve near-term community-wide reductions in shootings.
The 16 awardees and districts are: California Emergency Management Agency (Northern District of California); Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (Northern District of Ohio); Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (Northern District of Illinois); Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (Western District of Washington); Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (District of Maryland); Safe City Commission (Northern District of Texas); City of Chattanooga Comprehensive Gang Task Force (Eastern District of Tennessee); New Mexico Department of Public Safety (District of New Mexico); Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance (Western District of Wisconsin); City of Omaha, Neb. (District of Nebraska); Justice Grants Administration (District of Columbia); Hoyleton Youth and Family Services (Southern District of Illinois); City of Memphis (Western District of Tennessee); state of Maine (District of Maine); Public Safety Grant Administration Office (District of Rhode Island) and City of Erie Police Department (Western District of Pennsylvania).
The Northern District of California received $500,000 from the PSN program in 2012. Those grant funds went to the City of Salinas to implement a Violence Interrupter Program operated through a local non-profit, Second Chance.
More information on President Obama’s plan to reduce gun violence is available at: www.whitehouse.gov/issues/preventing-gun-violence
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov
U.S. Attorney, Doj Announce Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the District of Connecticut.
The grantees and amount awarded include:
City of Bridgeport $2,247,250
Farmington Police Department $125,000
City of Hartford $1,794,000
Norwich Police Department $500,000In addition to these COPS funding awards, earlier today the Justice Department announced that the Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will provide $150,000 in Fiscal Year 2013 funding to the Town of Newtown to fund two positions to ensure school safety, such as school resource officers.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department’s latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“Protecting our children and maintaining our schools as a safe and enriching learning environment are critically important, and I am pleased to join the Attorney General, the COPS Office and BJA in announcing these grants,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “This funding will help provide Bridgeport, Farmington, Hartford, Newtown and Norwich with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission.”
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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[email protected]U.S. Attorney William C. Killian Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement Positions
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Attorney William C. Killian, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
The grantees and amount awarded include: $112,282 to the City of Clinton; $1,000,000 to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department; and $439,077 to the Johnson City Bureau of Police.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said U.S. Attorney Killian.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement Positions
United States Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the Southern District of Florida.
The Southern District of Florida has been awarded grants totaling $8,118,029 to the following Police Departments and/or their respective municipalities for the hiring of police officers: Ft. Pierce Police Department, Hendry County Sheriff's Department, Key West Police Department, City of Lauderdale Lakes, Metropolitan Dade County, Miami Gardens Police Department, City of Miami, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Police Department, the City of Opa-Locka, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, and the City of West Palm Beach.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission.”
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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.
U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement PositionsSpokane – United Sates Attorney Michael C. Ormsby, in conjunction with the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the Eastern District of Washington. The following grantees each received an award in the amount of $125,000: Asotin City Police Department; Garfield County Sherriff's Department; the City of Quincy; and the Spokane Police Department.
"In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children."
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
"Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission," said U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby.
"The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues," said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. "Funding from this year's program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety."
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis Announces Hiring Grant for Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss - U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), announced a funding award granted today to the Moss Point Police Department for the hiring of two additional officers. The estimated value of the award is $157,316.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Durkan Announces Critical Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced today that five police departments in western Washington have been awarded Department of Justice grants to fund additional officers under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The Seattle Police Department received the largest grant – $1.25 million – for ten officer positions. Auburn Police Department received $625,000 to fund five police positions. Pierce County, Port Angeles and Sequim each received $125,000 to fund the salary and benefits of one police officer. This year the grants are particularly focused on those departments developing school safety programs.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it’s clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department’s latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
“Every additional cop on the streets helps community safety. These grants focus on needs identified by communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “We know that 10 new officers in Seattle will help fight crime in troubled areas. And for some of our smaller communities, such as Sequim, the addition of one officer who can focus on school safety can improve the lives of hundreds of young people.”
In addition to the COPS grants to fund personnel, the Tacoma Police Department also received $43,344 to fund its at-risk youth project.
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom Announces Hiring GrantsFor Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the District of Kansas.
The grantees and amount awarded include:
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department: $105,631
Leavenworth Police Department: $125,000
Lenexa Police Department: $125,000
Ottawa Police Department: $125,000
City of Tonganoxie: $115,870
City of Valley Center: $95,011.“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Announces Hiring Grants for School Safety Officers in BethlehemRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the Bethlehem Police Department. The Department is being allotted $625,000 for the hiring of five school resource officers.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions. Bethlehem will hire one resource officer for the high school and four officers for the middle school.
“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said Zane David Memeger.“Bethlehem is a safe city because we make safely a priority,” said Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. “The additional police officers in our schools will help ensure our dedication to public safety, as well as increase our interaction with the students in our schools in partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District.”
“We take the safety and security of our children very seriously,” said Bethlehem Police Chief Craig Finerty. “Being awarded this grant will help us improve our commitment to our community by giving us the ability to assign School Resource Officers to our schools.”
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525U.S. Attorney Announces Hiring Grants for Jacksonville and Jonesboro Police DepartmentsRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK – U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyer, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), announced today funding awards for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
The amount awarded to grantees include: $118,975 to the Jacksonville Police Department and $500,000 to the Jonesboro Police Department.
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years. Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans.
“In these challenging economic times, it is vital to our communities to keep our police presence strong,” stated Thyer. “These DOJ grants provide much needed funding to the Jacksonville and Jonesboro Police Departments to do just that. Employing new officers and/or keeping them on the job helps these departments better serve their citizens. Additionally, my office depends on our partnership with local law enforcement agencies to help bring criminals to justice. It’s impossible to put a dollar value on the peace and safety provided to each of us every day by the commitment of these men and women. I commend Jacksonville and Jonesboro Police Departments for their dedication and congratulate them on their grant awards.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Announces Hiring Grant to City of Reno for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
-Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement Positions-
RENO, Nev. – Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for Nevada, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), is pleased to announce that today the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a grant of $750,000 to the City of Reno for the hiring of six law enforcement officers.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance and I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden.“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety Officers Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement PositionsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the District of Oregon. The grantees and amount awarded include:
$125,000 Junction City, Oregon 1 Officer
$375,000 City of Medford, Oregon 3 Officers
$125,000 Sutherlin Police Department 1 Officer
$157,320 City of Winston, Oregon 1 Officer
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“When I convened the "Call To Action Summit" on combatting gun violence, we identified school resource officers as a crucial piece of ensuring our children are safe when they go to school," said U.S. Attorney, Amanda Marshall. "I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission,”“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES $3.8 MILLION IN HIRING GRANTS FOR ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Critical Law Enforcement PositionsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, today announced $3.8 million in law enforcement hiring grants statewide, including about $1 million in the Northern District of Alabama.
The police and sheriff's departments in North Alabama receiving $999,839 in COPS grants are the Etowah County Sheriff's Department, $261,734; Heflin Police Department, $107,300; Jasper Police Department, $218,420; Pell City Police Department, $223,626; and Talladega Police Department, $188,759. In addition, statewide, the Alabama Department of Public Safety is to receive $1,875,000 and the Mobile Police Department $926,993.
"In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children."
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
"Keeping our children safe when they go to school is of critical importance," Vance said. "I am pleased to join the Attorney General and the COPS Office in announcing these grants, which will help provide our communities with the resources needed to accomplish this, and other vital law enforcement missions," Vance said."The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues," said Joshua Ederheimer, acting director of the COPS Office. "Funding from this year's program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety."
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community-policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
With this year's grants in North Alabama, the Etowah County Sheriff's Department is awarded the salaries of three officers, the Heflin Police Department receives one, and the Jasper, Pell City and Talladega police departments each receive salaries for two officers, Vance said.
Across Alabama, the Department of Public Safety has been awarded salaries for 15 officers, and the Mobile Police Department has received funding for 10 officers.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Two South Dakota Men Plead Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Two men who crossed state lines to commit sex acts with a minor pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Mensur Malik, age 22, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was convicted of one count of transporting a minor across a state line with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Salim Issa, age 22, from Sioux Falls, was convicted of one count of traveling across a state line for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.At a plea hearing on September 23, 2013, Malik admitted that, in July 2012, he transported a minor female from Iowa to South Dakota with the intent to engage in sexual activity with her. At a plea hearing on September 13, 2013, Issa admitted that, in July 2012, when he and Malik traveled from South Dakota to Iowa, he intended to have sex with the minor female.
Sentencings before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after presentence reports are prepared. Both Malik and Issa remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Malik faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for 5 years to life following his imprisonment. Issa faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and supervised release for 5 years to life following his imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Clear Lake, Iowa, Police Department, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 13-3024.
Two Miami-area Residents Indicted for Alleged Roles <br /> in $190 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Two Miami-area residents were indicted in connection with their alleged participation in a $190 million Medicare fraud scheme.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Steinbach of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Office of Investigations Miami Office made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed.
Mayelin Santoyo, 28, and Jose Martin Olivares, 36, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive illegal health care kickbacks, and two counts of receiving health care kickbacks. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction.
According to the indictment, the scheme that Santoyo and Olivares allegedly participated in lasted from approximately February 2006 to October 2010. The scheme was orchestrated by the owners and operators of American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and its management company, Medlink Professional Management Group Inc. (Medlink). ATC and Medlink were Florida corporations headquartered in Miami. ATC operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness, in seven different locations throughout South Florida and Orlando. Both corporations have been defunct since their owners were arrested in October 2010.
The indictment alleges that Santoyo and Olivares served as patient brokers who provided ineligible patients to ATC in exchange for kickbacks in the form of checks and cash. The amount of the kickback was based on the number of days each recruited patient spent at ATC. Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services and who attended treatment programs that were not legitimate PHPs so that ATC could bill Medicare for the medically unnecessary services. According to court filings, to obtain the cash required to support the kickbacks, the co-conspirators laundered millions of dollars of payments from Medicare.
ATC, Medlink, and various owners, managers, doctors, therapists, patient brokers and marketers of ATC and Medlink have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial. In September 2011, ATC owner Lawrence Duran was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in orchestrating and executing the scheme to defraud Medicare.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Anne P. McNamara and Robert A. Zink of the Fraud Section.
Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.Two Miami-Area Residents Indicted for Alleged Roles in $190 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Two Miami-area residents were indicted in connection with their alleged participation in a $190 million Medicare fraud scheme.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Steinbach of the FBI’s Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Office of Investigations Miami Office made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed.
Mayelin Santoyo, 28, and Jose Martin Olivares, 36, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive illegal health care kickbacks, and two counts of receiving health care kickbacks. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction.
According to the indictment, the scheme that Santoyo and Olivares allegedly participated in lasted from approximately February 2006 to October 2010. The scheme was orchestrated by the owners and operators of American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and its management company, Medlink Professional Management Group Inc. (Medlink). ATC and Medlink were Florida corporations headquartered in Miami. ATC operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness, in seven different locations throughout South Florida and Orlando. Both corporations have been defunct since their owners were arrested in October 2010.
The indictment alleges that Santoyo and Olivares served as patient brokers who provided ineligible patients to ATC in exchange for kickbacks in the form of checks and cash. The amount of the kickback was based on the number of days each recruited patient spent at ATC. Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services and who attended treatment programs that were not legitimate PHPs so that ATC could bill Medicare for the medically unnecessary services. According to court filings, to obtain the cash required to support the kickbacks, the co-conspirators laundered millions of dollars of payments from Medicare.
ATC, Medlink, and various owners, managers, doctors, therapists, patient brokers and marketers of ATC and Medlink have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial. In September 2011, ATC owner Lawrence Duran was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in orchestrating and executing the scheme to defraud Medicare.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Anne P. McNamara and Robert A. Zink of the Fraud Section.
Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $5 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
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.
Three Time Convicted Felon from Nicholasville Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, KY - Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stuart L. Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Barry Waldrop, Nicholasville Police Chief and Kevin Corman, Jessamine County Sheriff, jointly announced today that a man with several prior felony convictions was sentenced for a firearm offense.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves sentenced 35 year-old Troy Lee Mellott to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. Under federal law, convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms.
Judge Reeves enhanced Mellott’s sentence because Mellott’s criminal history classified him as an “armed career criminal.” Defendants become armed career criminals when they are convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm after having convictions for three or more violent felonies or serious drug offenses. Because Mellott is an armed career criminal, he was subject by law to the minimum statutory sentence of 15 years to up to life imprisonment.
Mellott admitted that on December 10, 2012, he unlawfully possessed a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol that he pawned at a pawn shop in Nicholasville, KY.
Mellott pleaded guilty to the charges in June of 2013.
Under federal law, Mellott must serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years following the completion of his prison term.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee R. Hawkins and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hayne.
Three Sentenced in Connection with 2011 New Year Day Robbery and Killing on Red Lake Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, three individuals were sentenced for their roles in the murder of a couple on the Red Lake Indian Reservation on New Year’s Day 2011. United States District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced David John Martin, age 46, of Columbia Heights, to 160 months in prison on one count of robbery; and Kevin John Needham, age 21, of Red Lake, to 90 months in prison on one count of robbery. Yesterday, Terin Rene Stately, age 25, also of Red Lake, was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of aiding and abetting robbery.
On January 15, 2013, Martin and Needham were charged in a superseding indictment. Martin was convicted on March 12, 2013, and Needham pleaded guilty on February 26, 2013. Stately was indicted on August 16, 2012, and pleaded guilty on November 15, 2012.
On June 21, 2013, their co-defendant Geshik-O-Binese Martin, age 30, of Red Lake, was sentenced to life in prison on two counts of murder in the first degree, two counts of murder in the second degree, and one count of robbery. He was also convicted on March 12, 2013.The trial evidence proved that on January 1, 2011, Craig David Roy and Darla Ann Beaulieu were killed while money and illegal drugs were stolen from Roy’s reservation residence. The bodies of Beaulieu and Roy were found in the remains of the house, which was destroyed by fire on that same day. Autopsies determined that the victims were killed as a result of multiple stab wounds and not the fire itself.
In his plea agreement, Needham admitted that he agreed to travel with Stately, the Martins, and another co-defendant to Roy’s residence, the intention being to take money and cocaine by force. Among other things, Needham admittedly stood in the driveway of the Roy residence during the robbery.
In her plea agreement, Stately admitted driving the group to and from the Roy residence and waiting in the vehicle during the robbery. She also admittedly knew of the plan to rob Roy.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the State Fire Marshal. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deidre Y. Aanstad and Nathan P. Petterson.
Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.The Justice Department Awards $6.8 Million to Northern Ohio for Crime Enforcement and PreventionRead the Press Release
The U.S. Department of Justice gave more than $6.8 million to fight crime in Northern Ohio this month, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Today, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Dettelbach announced funding awards for the Northern District of Ohio, to be used to hire additional police officers and school resource officers.
The grantees, the additional officers to be hired and the grant amount, which includes salary and benefits for officers to three years, are as follows:
Akron, 10 officers, $1.25 million.
Austintown, 2 officers, $250,000.
Canton, 7 officers. $851,949.
Cleveland, 10 officers. $1.25 million.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, 4 officers, $499,000.
Lima, 1 officer, $125,000.
Mansfield, 4 officers, $849,844.
Toledo, 10 officers, $1.25 million.
Warren, 2 officers, $250,000.
Additionally, the Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium was awarded $500,000, which will be used for data analysts and improved technology. NOVCC is made up of the eight largest departments in Northern Ohio – Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo and Youngstown – and are engaged in intelligence-led policing efforts.
Earlier this month, the Department also awarded $1 million to fund crime prevention and enforcement efforts in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood on Cleveland’s southeast side. The money will be used over three years to pay for crime prevention programs, training for felons returning for prison, as well as the continuation V-GRIP gun suppression initiative, in which federal agents work with Cleveland police to arrest people who illegally possess firearms.
“Today, the Justice Department is proud to support the brave and innovative men and women fighting and preventing crime in Northern Ohio,” Dettelbach said. “For people listening to those who would indiscriminately shrink or simply shut down the federal government, today’s grants, which support cops on the street and crucial crime prevention, is a reminder of the valuable role the federal government plays.”
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Ten Indicted in $200 Million International Credit Card Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Ten individuals who allegedly participated in one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever charged by the Justice Department now face a 25-count indictment charging additional crimes, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Nine of the defendants charged in the indictment unsealed today were previously charged by complaint in February 2013 in connection with the scheme, which allegedly caused more than $200 million in losses. A 10th defendant, Amar Singh, is charged for the first time in this indictment. The complaint charged 18 defendants with bank fraud conspiracy, alleging their participation in a scheme to fabricate more than 7,000 false identities to obtain tens of thousands of credit cards. Many of those defendants have since pleaded guilty to related charges. The indictment announced today adds wire fraud charges against seven of the defendants with pending cases.
The charged defendants are as follows:
Name
Age
Residence
Counts Charged
Status
59
Iselin, N.J.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
15,16, 22- wire fraud
detained
Ijaz Butt
54
Hicksville, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
17,18,19- wire fraud
detained
Khawaja Ikram
40
Staten Island, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
20, 21, 23- wire fraud
bailed
Azhar Ikram
40
Howard Beach, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
14, 24, 25- wire fraud
detained
Vinod Dadlani
50
Lyndhurst, N.J.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
2, 3, 9,10- wire fraud
bailed
Vijay Verma
46
Iselin, N.J.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
4, 6, 11- wire fraud
bailed
Tarsem Lal
74
Iselin, N.J.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
5, 7, 8, 12,13- wire fraud
bailed
Habib Chaudhry
45
Valley Stream, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
at large
Muhammad Naveed
36
Flushing, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
at large
Amar Singh
62
Floral Park, N.Y.
1- bank fraud conspiracy
at large
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The scheme involved a three-step process. The defendants would make up a false identity by creating fraudulent identification documents and a fraudulent credit profile with the major credit bureaus. Then they would pump up the credit of the false identity by providing false information about that identity’s creditworthiness to those credit bureaus. Finally, they borrowed or spent as much as they could, based on the phony credit history, but did not repay the debts – causing more than $200 million in confirmed losses to businesses and financial institutions.
The scope of the criminal fraud enterprise required the conspirators to construct an
elaborate network of false identities. Across the country, the conspirators maintained more than 1,800 “drop addresses,” including houses, apartments and post office boxes, which they used as the mailing addresses for the false identities.
The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge, and each of the wire fraud charges, carries
a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI’s Cyber Division, under the
direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark; postal inspectors, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates; and special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Mottola. He also thanked the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, for its role in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel V. Shapiro and Zach Intrater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit and Barbara Ward of the office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit in Newark.The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.stopfraud.gov.
13-394
Defense counsel:
Babar Qureshi: Samuel Deluca Esq., Jersey City, N.J.
Ijaz Butt: Kenneth Kayser Esq., Livingston, N.J.
Khawaja Ikram: Neil Duffy III Esq., Union, N.J.
Azhar Ikram: Steve Zissou Esq., Bayside, N.Y.
Vinod Dadlani: Patrick Papalia Esq., Hackensack, N.J.
Vijay Verma: Gerald Krovatin Esq., Newark, N.J.
Tarsem Lal: Paul Condon, Esq. Jersey City, N.J.Qureshi, Babar et al. Indictment
Teacher Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - William Villemez has been sentenced to five years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.
“Child pornography is a horrendous crime that involves the sexual abuse and exploitation of the most innocent members of society,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “It is particularly distressing when a teacher purchases and downloads child pornography. Thanks to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, this teacher will no longer be around students but will be going to federal prison.”
“Postal Inspectors are charged with protecting the U.S. mail from illegal use. As long as criminals use the U.S. mail to exploit children, the Postal Inspection Service will continue to make these types of investigations a top priority,” said Keith Morris, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division.
“Crime against children continues to be a top priority for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We are committed to work with our federal law enforcement counterparts and bring to justice those who exploit children,” said Vernon M. Keenan, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Between July 2008 and March 2011, Villemez ordered 32 DVD’s containing images of child pornography and child erotica from a website based outside the United States. He spent more than $750 for those DVD’s. Law enforcement traced those orders to Villemez’s home in Smyrna, Ga. During the execution of a search warrant in October 2012, agents found that Villemez had not only purchased the DVD’s but had also downloaded child pornography onto his computer. During the period that he was receiving DVD’s in the mail and downloading computer images of child pornography, Villemez taught drama and dance to middle-school students at Pace Academy in Atlanta.
Villemez, 30, of Acworth, Ga., has been sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was convicted on these charges on April 19, 2013, after he pleaded guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Cobb County Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Paul R. Jones and Brent A. Gray prosecuted the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
Swanton Man Indicted for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Timothy Keevan, 48, of Swanton, Vermont, was charged in a single-count indictment with accessing images of child pornography with the intent to view them, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Keevan pleaded not guilty to the charge when arraigned on September 24, 2013. At that hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy denied the government’s motion for detention and released Keevan on conditions.
According to court records and proceedings, Keevan, an operations support technician with U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service who works in the shipping and receiving warehouse in St. Albans, Vermont, used a work-issued computer to access websites that displayed images of child pornography. Keevan’s activities were discovered because his computer, like all government issued computers, was continually monitored for non-work related or other inappropriate activity. The computer was confiscated and the images of child pornography were discovered on it.
If convicted of the child exploitation charge, Keevan faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of five (5) years, and up to a lifetime term, of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence in the event of conviction would be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. United States Attorney Tristram J. Coffin stated that the indictment is an accusation only and that Keevan is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney Coffin commended the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory K. Null for the Northeast Region, the Vermont State Police, the United States Secret Service, and the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in conducting the investigation of Keevan.
The prosecution of Keevan is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Masterson. Keevan is represented by David McColgin of the Federal Defender’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Coffin noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice=s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney=s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Sterling Husband and Wife Indicted for DMV Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jose Calderon and Noemi Barboza, both 42 and of Sterling, Virginia, were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday on conspiracy and bribery of an employee of a state agency receiving federal assistance.
Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement.
Calderon and Barboza face a maximum penalty of ten years if convicted.
According to the indictment, from September 2007 to July 2010, the defendants solicited cash payments from undocumented aliens in return for helping them secure DMV documents for which they were not eligible. After the defendants collected cash from ineligible applicants, they provided a DMV employee a portion of the money to induce her to falsely verify that the ineligible applicants had produced documentation necessary to establish eligibility for issuance of the requested DMV documents. The defendants also accompanied ineligible applicants to the DMV Service Center located at the Fair Oaks Mall and directed them to the DMV employee who had accepted bribes.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca H. Bellows is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Any person who believes they may have information regarding public corruption in the Northern Virginia area is encouraged to call the FBI’s Northern Virginia Public Corruption Hotline at 703-686-6225.
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.Statement of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on the Charges in U.S. V. Joseph Hunter, Et Al.Read the Press Release
“The bone-chilling allegations in today's Indictment read like they were ripped from the pages of a Tom Clancy novel. The charges tell a tale of an international band of mercenary marksmen who enlisted their elite military training to serve as hired guns for evil ends. Three of the defendants were ready, willing and eager to take cold hard cash to commit the cold-blooded murders of a DEA agent and an informant. Thanks to the determined, skillful and intrepid efforts of the DEA's Special Operations Division, an international hit team has been neutralized by agents working on four continents.”
Six Indicted for Arson, Insurance Fraud Scheme, Independence Couple also Charged with Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy. One of the conspirators has also been indicted separately, along with his wife, in a conspiracy to illegally possess firearms.
USA v. Stamps, et al
Joshua Stamps, 26, of Independence, Mo., his mother, Randy Stamps, 55, John Stanley Wayne, 30, Michael Smith, 26, and Luis Esquivel, 48, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Roy Richard, 32, of Wichita, Kan., were charged in a 19-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.
The federal indictment alleges Joshua Stamps led an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy between 2007 and 2013 in which he bought houses, insured them for more than they were worth, had them burned and made insurance claims on the burned houses. Stamps and his co-conspirators allegedly bought, insured, and burned five houses in Kansas City, Mo. The total actual loss to insurance companies in the scheme was $434,938, while the total intended loss was almost $1.2 million.
According to the indictment, Stamps bought houses costing from $6,500 to $15,000, using Randy Stamps and Smith as straw owners for three of the houses. Other co-conspirators helped commit the arsons and/or acted as tenants so the properties could be classified as rentals. Stamps and his co-conspirators then insured the houses for much more than the purchase price, the indictment says, in amounts from $88,000 to $307,000. Stamps and his co-conspirators allegedly made false statements on the insurance applications, claiming that the houses were rented and/or occupied, that there were valuable contents in the houses, and that the houses had been renovated. Stamps, Wayne, and other co-conspirators allegedly 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.
In addition to the conspiracy, Joshua Stamps is charged with five counts of using fire to commit a federal crime, four counts of arson, four counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering.
John Wayne is also charged with Joshua Stamps in two counts of using fire to commit a federal crime and two counts of arson. According to the indictment, Wayne’s pants were on fire as he ran from the arson at 4901 Agnes, so he took them off and left them in the street. Michael Smith is also charged with Joshua Stamps in one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Richard is also charged with wire fraud. Randy Stamps is also charged with mail fraud. Luis Esquivel is also charged with wire fraud.
USA v. Stamps, Loyd
Joshua Stamps and his wife, Candice Loyd, 28, were charged in a separate and unrelated three-count indictment that was also returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013.
The federal indictment alleges that Stamps and Loyd, who were not married at the time, participated in a conspiracy to illegally possess two firearms from June 2, 2008, to April 9,2013. The purpose of the conspiracy was for Loyd to obtain firearms for Stamps, who could not legally own firearms due to his felony conviction.
The indictment alleges that Loyd bought a Taurus 9mm pistol on June 2, 2008. When Kansas City police officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Stamps and Loyd, the indictment says, they found the Taurus 9mm pistol as well as a Ruger .40-caliber pistol inside a safe in the children’s bedroom. Loyd initially claimed to be the owner of the firearms, according to the indictment. Loyd did not have a combination to the safe, the indictment says, and eventually told police that Stamps had access to the safe and the combination to the safe. When officers forced the safe open, they recovered the two firearms and ammunition.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. In addition to the conspiracy, Stamps and Loyd are each charged in two counts of the indictment with aiding and abetting each other for Stamps, who has a prior felony conviction, to possess a firearm.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.Sex Offender Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register in R.I.Read the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jorge Mercado, 43, a convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison, the maximum sentence under the advisory federal sentencing guidelines, for failing to register as a sex offender when he moved from Florida to Rhode Island in January 2012, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and United States Marshal Jamie A. Hainsworth.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Mercado to serve 5 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. Mercado pleaded guilty on January 9, 2013, to violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to information presented to the court, in January 2002, Mercado pleaded guilty in Massachusetts state court to assaulting a child 14 or older. Based on the conviction, Mercado was obligated to register under SORNA and to keep his registration up-to-date, including any change of address in another state or jurisdiction.
According to information presented to the court, between July 2007 and August 2011, Mercado appropriately registered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, but failed to register with Rhode Island law enforcement when he moved to Rhode Island in January 2012. Mercado was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Task Force and Narragansett Police in November 2012.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.
SORNA provides a comprehensive set of federal standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States through the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs. Additionally, SORNA requires registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school, and to make periodic in-person appearances to verify and update their registration information.
Contact: 401-709-5357
[email protected]San Angelo, Texas, Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison on Federal Child Pornography ConvictionRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas — James Arthur Abney, 53, of San Angelo, Texas, was sentenced this morning, by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, to 46 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release, following his guilty plea in June 2013 to one count of possession of child pornography. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in the case, while Abney resided in Ballinger, Texas, he used cell phones to search the Internet for images of child pornography. He saved images of child pornography on his cellphones and downloaded some of the images onto his computer’s hard drive.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Ballinger Police Department and the Runnels County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy prosecuted.
Russell Leroy Miller Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on September 27, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, RUSSELL LEROY MILLER, a 70-year-old resident of Big Fork, was sentenced to a term of:
Probation: 5 years
Special Assessment: $100
Restitution: $3,218
Fine: $10,000
MILLER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of child pornography.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
As part of an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigation, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations obtained a search warrant for MILLER's residence in Big Fork.
On February 23, 2012, the search warrant was served. When interviewed, MILLER admitted using peer-to-peer file sharing programs. MILLER admitted he downloaded files containing child pornography. He also admitted that he saved the files to various CDs and external hard drives. He disclosed search terms which were indicative of search terms used to locate child pornography files.
MILLER's computers and media were forensically analyzed. The examiner located video and image files which depicted children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The files were created between February 26, 2002, and February 22, 2012.
The investigation was conducted by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Rose City Dentist Arrested for Refusing to Pay His TaxesRead the Press Release
A Rose City dentist was arrested and arraigned yesterday in federal court on an indictment charging him with one count of evasion of payment of federal income taxes, one count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements to the IRS, 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.
Arrested was Carter White Rae, of Rose City, Michigan.
According to court records, Rae refused to pay his United States and the State of Michigan taxes from 2001 to 2011. Rae sought to avoid paying taxes by various means, including using the employer identification number (EIN) of the former owner of the dental practice run by Rae. He also opened and used a business bank account using the name and the EIN of the former owner of the practice. He closed his personal bank account, and used the business bank account, cash and money orders to pay his personal expenses. Rae attempted to trick the IRS by characterizing payments to his wife as “payroll” expenses. His wife rarely worked for his dental business; in fact she lived in a different state. Rae further attempted to relieve himself of his tax burden by filing bankruptcy.
The defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years on both counts one and three, and a maximum term of up to 20 years on count two of the indictment. The defendant face fines of $250,000 on all counts. The actual sentence imposed, if convicted, would depend on a number of factors, including the advisory sentencing guidelines.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bay City.
Randolph County Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
On September 26, 2013, Joshua D. Kennedy, 22, of Chester, Ill., was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton on a one-count second superseding indictment charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
Kennedy, who had previously pled guilty to the methamphetamine offense, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and fined $300. The offense occurred between January 2011, and January 2013, in Perry, Jackson, and Randolph Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Kennedy was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, Kennedy obtained over 95 grams of pseudoephedrine for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Others also provided Kennedy with pseudoephedrine pills to use to cook methamphetamine. Eight co-defendants have previously been sentenced for their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Five co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Percy Police Department, Murphysboro Police Department, Sparta Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Bank Rip-OffRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Eric Young, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Young and co-conspirator Calvin Johnson ran a scheme in which they hired individuals to open bank accounts, made phony deposits, and made withdrawals from the accounts knowing there were insufficient funds. The defendants defrauded the banks of more than $250,000 between December 2011 and August 2012.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno ordered Young to pay restitution to TD Bank in the amount of $268,656.56, serve three years of supervised release, and pay a $200 special assessment. Johnson is awaiting sentencing. Both defendants pleaded guilty.
The case was investigated by the Bensalem Police Department and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Murray.UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charge Related to the Kensington Towers ProjectRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul announced today that Chris Coseglia, 27, from Ohio, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara, to one charge of being an accessory after the fact to a false statement under the Clean Air Act. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of $125,000 or both.
Assistant U. S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was employed by JMD Environmental, Inc. (JMD) as an air sampling technician and a project monitor, and was certified by the New York State Department of Health to conduct asbestos project monitor and air sampling duties. From June 9, 2009 to January 11, 2010, co-defendants Johnson Contracting of WNY, Inc. (Johnson Contracting), Ernest Johnson, and Rai Johnson, conducted asbestos abatement activities at six buildings at the Kensington Towers Apartment Complex in Buffalo. During the abatement process, co-defendant Rai Johnson created daily project logs to document the progress at Kensington Towers. The logs are documents required to be maintained under the Clean Air Act.
At the conclusion of the abatement for building B-2 by Johnson Contracting, Rai Johnson wrote in his daily project log that all material containing asbestos had been removed from the boiler room, when in truth, all asbestos had not been removed. Thereafter, on August 25, 2009, the defendant conducted a visual inspection of the boiler room at building B-2 and issued a satisfactory visual inspection, when in truth, the defendant was aware that all asbestos had not been removed. In doing so, the defendant acted as an accessory after the fact to the false statement made by the Johnson defendants.
This is the second defendant to plead guilty as part of the Kensington Towers asbestos abatement project. In addition to Ernest and Rai Johnson, other charged defendants include JMD project monitors Evan Harnden, and Brian Scott; and current and former public officials responsible for certifying the project’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including Donald Grzebielucha, William Manuszewski, and Theodore Lehmann. The defendants are expected to go on trial October 22, 2013 before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-In-Charge, Vernesa Jones-Allen; Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Brian P. Boetig; Special Agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Cary Rubenstein; and Investigators of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, BECI, under the direction of Captain David Bennett. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Department of Labor, Asbestos Control Bureau.Sentencing is scheduled for February 13, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
Oakland, California, Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Conspiracy and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Alfonso Hayden, 44, of Oakland, California, pled guilty in federal district court, in East St. Louis, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and attempted money laundering, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Hayden is scheduled for sentencing on January 15, 2014. He faces a potential sentence of 5 years in prison for marijuana conspiracy and a fine of up to $250,000, not more than 2 years of supervised release after his prison term, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. He also faces a potential sentence of 20 years in prison for attempted money laundering, a fine of up to $500,000, not more than 3 years of supervised release after his prison term, and a mandatory assessment of $100.
Court proceedings revealed in April 2010, DEA agents began investigating Hayden as the supply source of marijuana and cocaine between December 2009 and June 2010 for a drug distribution business in operation since the early 2000s, in Eagle Park, in Madison County, Illinois. To date, twenty-eight other members of the organization have been convicted and sentenced.
Evidence in support of the indictment was obtained in an investigation which was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. Participating agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal Service, the Granite City Police Department, Fairmount City Police Department, Collinsville Police Department, Pontoon Beach Police Department, Park Hills (Missouri) Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, and the Illinois State Police. This case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.
Northern Michigan Residents Charged in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Four residents of northern Michigan have been charged with participating in a drug trafficking organization, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
A ten-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Bay City on Wednesday, charging four individuals with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack and heroin along with related charges.
Named in the indictment were:
Tradvis Demarr Williams, 33, of Cheboygan,
Paul Allen Anderson, 31,
Rachel Lee Winslow, 29, of Cheboygan, and
Kimberly Ann Turcott, 26, of Charlevoix.The charges follow an investigation conducted during the past several months by the Michigan State Police Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement ("MSP SANE") team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On Thursday, the MSP SANE team executed arrest warrants and search warrants at several locations.
Members of the conspiracy are alleged to have transported or arranged for the transportation of kilogram quantities of cocaine, crack and heroin from Detroit to the Cheboygan County area over the course of the conspiracy, where they delivered the drugs to other distributors and end-users in northern Michigan. Members of the conspiracy are also charged with wiring drug proceeds to individuals in Detroit for the purchase of additional drugs.
The case is being prosecuted by the Bay City branch of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman Announces Hiring Grants for Law Enforcement and School Safety OfficersRead the Press Release
Funds Will Hire School Resource Officers and Fund Critical Law Enforcement Positions
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), today announced funding awards for the District of New Jersey.
The grantees and amount awarded include:
Recipient
Total Officers Awarded
Estimated Award Amount
5
$625,000
Bridgeton, City of
3
$375,000
Camden County Police Department
10
$2,262,950
Paterson, City of
10
$1,672,510
Westampton, Township of
1
$125,000
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department’s latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
Overall the COPS Office funded awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.
“In a time of diminished resources, it is more important than ever that we do all we can to ensure public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “Local law enforcement often is required to hold the front line while taking the most painful cuts. I am pleased to join in announcing the Justice Department’s support of these departments and the admirable job their officers are doing to protect our communities.”
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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