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25 November 2013
Local Man Sentenced for Faking Military Service and Conducting Phony Raffle to Aid VeteransRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – MATTHEW BUCKINGHAM was sentenced this morning to one year in prison by United States District Judge Henry Autrey.
According to court documents, Buckingham posted an advertisement on Craigslist in January 2013, indicating he was involved with a veterans’ charity identified as "Veterans Aid From All Foreign Wars." His advertisement stated that he planned to hold a raffle on July 4, 2013. Tickets would cost $5 each and he identified raffle awards of "First Prize: $3,000; Second Prize: $2,000; and Third Prize: $1,000." Through the advertisement, Buckingham solicited individuals to help him promote his charitable events, and he provided a contact number. Subsequently, a number of female individuals in the St. Louis area inquired and responded.
Buckingham arranged to meet the individuals who responded at various restaurants and bars in the St. Louis area and introduced himself as "Tyler Matthews." Buckingham claimed to be employed by various government agencies or departments of the United States, including claiming that he served as a United States marine in Afghanistan and Iraq; that he had been injured during the war; and since his return to the United States from overseas, he worked with the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard; including working "undercover" in north St. Louis work infiltrating gangs and otherwise combating crime.Ultimately, Buckingham did not hold a raffle on July 4, 2013, and he distributed no money from the ticket sales to wounded or homeless soldiers, veterans or other military personnel. Buckingham was not, and has never been, employed by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. Similarly, he never served in the United States military or the United States Coast Guard.
Buckingham, St. Louis County, pled guilty in August to one felony count of impersonating a federal agent. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Henry Autrey.
This case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Drake handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.Leader of “La Onu” Found Guilty for Rico Act ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, after five days of jury trial, the leader of La ONU, Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro, aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” was found guilty of drug trafficking and murder charges. Namely, violations to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR), use of firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of firearms by prohibited persons, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The United States District Court Judge José A. Fusté presided over the trial.
The indictment alleged that from in or around 2004, the leaders of different drug points operating in the metropolitan area formed an alliance. This alliance would help them resolve conflicts between the previously rival drug gangs in a way that would not bring about the attention of local and federal authorities, thus ensuring increased profits from drug sales for all and reducing the risk of charges. It is further alleged that the alliance initially worked, but weakened over time. Several housing project gangs became disgruntled with La ONU and sought to break away from the organization. After several conflicts, La ONU broke into two (2) separate rival factions, La ONU and La Rompe ONU (La Rompe). The housing project gangs were split between those belonging to La ONU and La Rompe.
From the time of the split, the goal of La ONU was to maintain control through the use of force over the drug points in their members’ housing projects, and to kill La Rompe members and leaders in order to expand. Members of La ONU who committed murders and other violent acts were given benefits, including weapons, money and the ability to advance within the criminal enterprise. Though unwritten, the general rules followed by members of La ONU included, but were not limited to: 1) no associating with La Rompe members; 2) kill La Rompe members on sight; 3) no killing of other members of La ONU without leadership authorization; 4) no overtaking housing projects/drug points owned by other members of La ONU; and 5) no cooperating with law enforcement. Any violation of these rules was punishable by death of the violator and/or his/her family members.
During the trial, evidence was presented relating to the defendant’s participation in nine (9) murders, all committed in furtherance of the activities of La ONU. These acts are as follows:
- On or about November 12, 2007, in Puerto Rico, defendant Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” and other ONU members shot and killed Orlando Medina-Serrano.
- In October 2008, Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” tortured and killed Isaac Nair Ortiz-Rivera aka Kiki.
- On or about February 19, 2009, in Puerto Rico, defendant Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” and other ONU members killed Ángel Gonzàlez-Villanueva, aka “Chaple.”
- On or about January 5, 2010, in Puerto Rico, defendants Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper”, and others killed Luis Antonio De-Jesús-Pérez.
- On April 2, 2010 Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” participated with ONU members in a drive-by shooting against Puerto Rico Police officers.
- On or about April 8, 2010, in Puerto Rico, Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” ordered ONU members toshoot and killed Victor Vega-Ortega, aka “Victor El Nazi.”
- On or about July 7, 2010, in Puerto Rico, defendant Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” and others shot and killed Puerto Rico Police Officer Blanca De Los Santos-Barbosa and Manuel Medina-Rivera.
- On or about August 8, 2010, in Puerto Rico, defendant Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” and others killed Christian Toledo-Sànchez, aka “Pekeke.” During the course of the murder, Luis Gallardo-Rivera, aka “El Tuerto,” was shot and killed by the rival drug gang.
- On December 6, 2010 Jean Carlos Ramos-Piñeiro aka “Jincho”, “Janyi,” “Casper” ordered the murder of Jose Alberto Casanova aka “Picnic,” “Pata Palo,” and ONU member, because he was believed to have become a rival.
“This conviction demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico to eradicate drug trafficking and violent crimes in Puerto Rico. For many years members of LA ONU intimidated the citizens of the metropolitan area with their violence and drug trafficking,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We are pleased with the jury’s verdict. We will use all the tools at our disposal to take dangerous criminals off the streets of Puerto Rico, until we break their grip on our communities and bring them to justice.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernàndez-Vega and Special Assistant US Attorney Victor Acevedo-Hernàndez.
The defendant is facing a sentence of life in prison. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for February 2014.
Leader of Baltimore Heroin Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Darryl Robinson, age 49, of Baltimore, to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
According to his plea agreement, from January to July 23, 2013, Robinson was a leader and manager of a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin from an open-air drug “shop” in the Poplar Grove neighborhood of Baltimore. Robinson was responsible for coordinating the purchase of narcotics; delivering the narcotics to stash houses throughout Baltimore City; and supervising the street-level dealers who sold heroin to retail customers.
During the conspiracy, Robinson and others conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Clinton J. Fuchs and Scott Lemmon, who prosecuted the case.
La Jolla Resident Sentenced for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that United States District Court Judge M. James Lorenz sentenced La Jolla resident Mark Hagen to serve six months in prison for bankruptcy fraud.
Hagen pleaded guilty to fraudulently concealing assets in bankruptcy proceedings, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), on September 12, 2013. According to Mr. Hagen’s plea agreement, Hagen admitted to knowingly and fraudulently defrauding the Bankruptcy Court and his creditors by hiding and lying about more than $45,000 in federal tax refunds. Specifically, in April 2008, Hagen filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition that was then converted to a Chapter 7 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California. Despite instructions to turn over his tax refunds and questions about their whereabouts, Hagen repeatedly concealed more than $45,000 of tax refunds that he had received from the United States – stating falsely that he had not received any tax refunds during bankruptcy proceedings in May 2009, July 2009, October 2009, and July 2010. In truth, the United States had issued the tax refunds to Hagen in February 2009, and Hagen had endorsed and arranged for the tax refunds to be deposited into a bank account that he controlled in February 2010.
United States Attorney Duffy observed that bankruptcy protection is a privilege afforded to honest individuals who have suffered financial setbacks and not a means to allow the unscrupulous to get out of paying their debts. The United States Attorney=s Office will not turn a blind eye simply because the fraudulently concealed assets are not valued in the millions of dollars. United States Attorney Duffy stated, “Individuals should be put on notice that the bankruptcy process cannot be used to lie to, cheat, and steal from legitimate creditors.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge, Daphne Hearn, commented, "The bankruptcy process is based on the honor system and when used appropriately allows many debtors to get a fresh start. However, when this trust is abused by debtors intentionally making false statements to the bankruptcy court, the FBI will work with the U.S. Attorney's Office and Bankruptcy Trustee to hold them accountable to ensure the public's continued trust in the bankruptcy process."
The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Acting U.S. Trustee Tiffany L. Carroll stated: “Concealing assets in a bankruptcy proceeding is a crime that threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy process and public confidence in that process. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their commitment to combating bankruptcy fraud and abuse.”
CASE NUMBER: 13-CR-3345-L DEFENDANT Mark Hagen SUMMARY OF CHARGESCharge: Concealment of Assets in Bankruptcy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1)
Max. penalties: 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
INVESTIGATING AGENCYFederal Bureau of Investigation
Justice Department Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Alleging H&R Block’s Tax Preparation Website Is Inaccessible to Individuals with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced today that they have moved to intervene in National Federation of the Blind et al v. HRB Digital LLC et al, a private lawsuit alleging disability discrimination by HRB Digital LLC and HRB Tax Group Inc., subsidiaries of H&R Block Inc. In the memorandum and proffered complaint filed by the United States in support of its motion to intervene, the United States alleges that the H&R Block companies discriminate against individuals with disabilities and that their website, www.hrblock.com , is being operated in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), notwithstanding well-established and readily available guidelines for delivering web content in an accessible manner. The motion, attached complaint in intervention and supporting memorandum were filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’ Boston Division.
As alleged in the filings today, H&R Block is one of the largest tax return preparers in the United States. Its companies offer a wide range of services through www.hrblock.com , including professional and do-it-yourself tax preparation, instructional videos, office location information, interactive live video conference and chat with tax professionals, hybrid online and in-store services and electronic filing. Their website, however, is not accessible to many individuals with disabilities and prevents some people with disabilities from completing even the most basic activities on the site.
Today’s filings further state that many individuals with disabilities, including, among others, people who are blind, deaf or have physical disabilities with an impact on manual dexterity, use computers and the Internet with the help of assistive technologies. For example, screen reader software makes audible information that is otherwise presented visually on a computer screen; captioning translates video narration and sound into text; and keyboard navigation allows keyboard input rather than a mouse to navigate a website for individuals with visual, hearing or manual dexterity disabilities. Such technologies have been widely used for some time and there are readily available, well-established, consensus-based guidelines – the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – for making web content accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The complaint in intervention seeks a court order that would ensure that tax services offered through www.hrblock.com are fully and equally accessible to individuals with disabilities. The department also seeks an award of monetary damages for aggrieved individuals, including the two named plaintiffs and a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest.
“The web revolutionizes our lives daily and maximizes our independence in many areas,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “Inaccessible websites of public accommodations are not simply an inconvenience to individuals with disabilities – they deny persons with disabilities access to basic goods and services that people without disabilities take advantage of every day. An inaccessible website can also mean a business loses a customer it never knew it had.”
“We are building an electronic world in which we ever-increasingly live,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts. “All benefit when, as the ADA requires, we build our online businesses, schools and other public spaces in a manner equally accessible to all.”
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations. It also requires public accommodations to take necessary steps to ensure individuals with disabilities are not excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, such as accurate captioning of audible materials and labeling of visual materials.
To find out more about federal disability rights laws, call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD) or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov . ADA complaints, including those involving the inaccessibility of www.hrblock.com , may be filed by email to [email protected] .
Accessible versions of the motion to intervene, proposed complaint to intervene and memorandum in support of the motion can be found at www.ada.gov.
Justice Department Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Alleging H&R Block's Tax Preparation Website Is Inaccessible to Individuals with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz announced today that they have moved to intervene in National Federation of the Blind et al v. HRB Digital LLC et al, a private lawsuit alleging disability discrimination by HRB Digital LLC and HRB Tax Group Inc., subsidiaries of H&R Block Inc. In the memorandum and proffered complaint filed by the United States in support of its motion to intervene, the United States alleges that the H&R Block companies discriminate against individuals with disabilities and that their website, www.hrblock.com, is being operated in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), notwithstanding well-established and readily available guidelines for delivering web content in an accessible manner. The motion, attached complaint in intervention and supporting memorandum were filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’ Boston Division.
As alleged in the filings today, H&R Block is one of the largest tax return preparers in the United States. Its companies offer a wide range of services through www.hrblock.com, including professional and do-it-yourself tax preparation, instructional videos, office location information, interactive live video conference and chat with tax professionals, hybrid online and in-store services and electronic filing. Their website, however, is not accessible to many individuals with disabilities and prevents some people with disabilities from completing even the most basic activities on the site.
Today’s filings further state that many individuals with disabilities, including, among others, people who are blind, deaf or have physical disabilities with an impact on manual dexterity, use computers and the Internet with the help of assistive technologies. For example, screen reader software makes audible information that is otherwise presented visually on a computer screen; captioning translates video narration and sound into text; and keyboard navigation allows keyboard input rather than a mouse to navigate a website for individuals with visual, hearing or manual dexterity disabilities. Such technologies have been widely used for some time and there are readily available, well-established, consensus-based guidelines – the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – for making web content accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The complaint in intervention seeks a court order that would ensure that tax services offered through www.hrblock.com are fully and equally accessible to individuals with disabilities. The department also seeks an award of monetary damages for aggrieved individuals, including the two named plaintiffs and a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest.
“The web revolutionizes our lives daily and maximizes our independence in many areas,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “Inaccessible websites of public accommodations are not simply an inconvenience to individuals with disabilities – they deny persons with disabilities access to basic goods and services that people without disabilities take advantage of every day. An inaccessible website can also mean a business loses a customer it never knew it had.”
“We are building an electronic world in which we ever-increasingly live,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts. “All benefit when, as the ADA requires, we build our online businesses, schools and other public spaces in a manner equally accessible to all.”
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations. It also requires public accommodations to take necessary steps to ensure individuals with disabilities are not excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, such as accurate captioning of audible materials and labeling of visual materials.
To find out more about federal disability rights laws, call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD) or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov. ADA complaints, including those involving the inaccessibility of www.hrblock.com, may be filed by email to [email protected].
Justice Department Charges Minn. Condominium Association, Management Company and Property Manager with Discrimination Against Families with ChildrenRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the homeowner’s association, management company and property manager of a Minnetonka, Minn., condominium complex, alleging that they discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“Families with children should have the same ability to enjoy their homes as all other tenants,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act and ensuring that housing providers do not enact policies that discriminate against tenants or deprive tenants of certain amenities due to their familial status.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, involves the Condominiums of Greenbrier Village, a six-building complex that contains approximately 462 condominium units. The lawsuit alleges that the Greenbrier Village homeowners association, property management company Gassen Company Inc. and Gassen employee Diane Brown adopted and enforced policies that discriminatorily limited or prohibited children from playing in the complex’s common grounds.
This lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by one family with children who lives at Greenbrier Village. After HUD investigated the complaint, it issued a charge of discrimination and the matter was referred to the department.
“Housing providers cannot impose more restrictive policies on families with children or evict them simply because their children leave the unit,” said HUD Acting Assistant Secretary Bryan Greene for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD and DOJ are committed to enforcing the fair housing rights of all people, including families with children.”
The lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting future discrimination by the defendants, monetary damages for those harmed by the defendants’ actions and a civil penalty.
“Each person is entitled to fair treatment under the law, a foundation for all thriving communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John R. Marti of the District of Minnesota. “Unfortunately, families with children may be confronted with discrimination in housing. The Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office will intervene to obtain fair treatment for all Minnesotans.”
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Individ uals who believe they may have been victims of housing discrimination may contact the department at 1-800-896-7743 or by e-mail at [email protected] , or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through www.hud.gov/fairhousing .
The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. The allegations still must be proven in federal court.
Judge Hands Down Prison Term for Fraud Scheme Involving Former Traffic Court JudgeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Lorraine Dispaldo, 58, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for her role in a fraud conspiracy with then-Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge Robert Mulgrew. Dispaldo pleaded guilty to a total of 36 counts including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, filing false personal income tax returns, and bankruptcy fraud. Dispaldo and Mulgrew, who is awaiting sentencing, carried out a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (“DCED”). U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones, II also ordered restitution of $120,865, a $3,600 special assessment and three years of supervised release.
Dispaldo helped orchestrate the scheme to fraudulently receive and misuse Pennsylvania state grant funds awarded to non-profit groups. Between 1996 and 2008, the DCED awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to two community groups with which Mulgrew and Dispaldo were associated. DCED awarded approximately $397,000 in grants to the Community to Police Communications (“CPC”) to be used to purchase communications equipment for the police and to purchase materials to secure vacant lots and buildings for the protection of the police. Dispaldo signed the CPC grant contracts with DCED. Between 1997 and 2007 DCED also awarded approximately $460,000 in grants to the Friends of Dickinson Square (FDS”) to be used for the maintenance of Dickinson Square, at 4th and Tasker Streets, and the surrounding neighborhood. Dispaldo’s codefendant, Mulgrew, signed the FDS grant contracts with DCED.Dispaldo admitted that the grant contracts she submitted misrepresented how the funds would be used. She admitted that, instead of using grant funds exclusively for materials and equipment, as agreed, she instead paid tens of thousands of dollars in CPC and FDS grant funds to Mulgrew’s relatives and associates, including the teenage sons of his friends, and to the State Representative’s life-long friends. Dispaldo wrote over $104,000 of the almost $180,000 in impermissible payments made to persons for neighborhood revitalization “work.” While there were several decent gardens built, some trees planted and much landscaping material purchased, for the most part the activities undertaken primarily served as a “constituent service” clean-up-the-neighborhood-arm for the Representative’s benefit, easy money for favored friends and relatives, a summer make-work program to benefit the teenage sons of Mulgrew’s neighborhood and childhood friends, and some work on private property.
To mask the fact that grant funds were being used improperly, Dispaldo falsified her five
CPC “close out” reports sent to DCED by concealing most of the $104,000 in payments she made to persons from CPC funds and FDS funds during 2005 through September 2010. At times, Dispaldo submitted to DCED inaccurate IRS forms 1099, which document payments to persons, and at other times failed to prepare the forms, as required by law. Dispaldo also improperly paid almost $13,000 in CPC funds to the Representative’s office cleaner and improperly used $4,600 in CPC grant funds over the years to pay for her personal cell phone.To conceal the improper payments Dispaldo made to persons, she also submitted to DCED staggering numbers of duplicate phone invoices. For example, she sent in $91,500 worth of receipts in the close-out report for the third grant in the amount of $90,000, but $41,640 of those receipts were already sent in with either the first or second grant close-out reports. In the fourth close-out report, Dispaldo sent in $87,394 in receipts to satisfy the $50,000 grant, but $46,156 of those were previously sent to the state.
Dispaldo filed false personal income tax returns for tax years 2006 through 2009, and concealed her true income for 2008 and 2009 in a 2010 bankruptcy filing.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Gray.UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525In 61st Year of DOJ Awards Program, Attorney General Holder Recognizes Department Employees and Others for Their ServiceRead the Press Release
Attorney General Eric Holder recognizes 270 Justice Department employees for their distinguished public service today as part of the 61st Annual Attorney General Awards program. In addition, 53 other individuals, including federal employees and civilians, are also honored for their work. These annual awards recognize department employees and other individuals for their dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission.
“Despite significant challenges, evolving threats, and unprecedented budgetary difficulties, these dedicated employees have exemplified the very best of what it means to serve the American people,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “Over the past year, each of them has gone above and beyond the call of duty to carry out the Justice Department’s critical mission and protect our fellow citizens. Some of these remarkable men and women have placed their own lives at great risk in order to save others. All of these employees and their families have made tremendous sacrifices in the name of public service. I am proud, and humbled, to count them as colleagues. And I congratulate them on this prestigious and well-deserved recognition.”
Attorney General Holder bestows the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service – the department’s highest award – to two teams this year. The awards are given to teams involved in the defense of the Affordable Care Act and the prosecution of companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is presented to the following team for its successful defense of the Affordable Care Act, a landmark piece of legislation. With high stakes and a staggering volume of work to be done, this team withstood intense pressure and showcased superb litigation skills in drafting the law’s defense to constitutional challenges and lawsuits.
From the Civil Division Federal Programs Branch recipients include: Jennifer D. Ricketts, Director; Sheila M. Lieber, Deputy Director; Brian G. Kennedy and Joel McElvain, Senior Trial Counsels; and Eric Beckenhauer, Michelle R. Bennett, Ethan P. Davis, Kimberly Herb, Tamra T. Moore, Scott A. Risner, Justin M. Sandberg, Eric Richardson Womack and Kathryn L. Wyer, Trial Attorneys. From the Appellate Staff of the Civil Division, recipients include: Mark B. Stern and Michael S. Raab, Appellate Litigation Counsels; Alisa B. Klein, Appeals Counsel; and Samantha L. Chaifetz, Anisha Dasgupta and Dana Kaersvang, Trial Attorneys. From the Office of the Solicitor General, recipients include: Edwin S. Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, and Joseph R. Palmore, Trial Attorney. From the Office of Legal Counsel, recipients include: Leondra R. Kruger, Deputy Assistant Attorney General. From the Appellate Staff of the Tax Division, recipients include: Gilbert S. Rothenberg, Section Chief; Francesca Ugolini, Attorney; and Teresa E. McLaughlin, Reviewer.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is also presented to the following team that dedicated itself to the historic prosecution of BP in connection with the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster and its aftermath. From the Deepwater Horizon Task Force, recipients include: John D. Buretta, Director and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division (former); Avi Gesser, Deputy Director and Counsel to the Chief of the Fraud Section (former); and Derek A. Cohen, Deputy Director and Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section (former. From the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Rohan A. Virginkar, Trial Attorney, and Katelynn Loughnane, Paralegal. From the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, recipients include: Colin L. Black, Trial Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, recipients include Scott M. Cullen, Assistant U.S. Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, recipients include: Richard R. Pickens II, Assistant U.S. Attorney. From the New Orleans Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Sandra M. Zulli, Supervisory Special Agent; Kelly C. Bryson, Michael R. Forrester, J.R. Smith, and Jeffrey T. Wright, Special Agents; Barbara G. O’Donnell, Special Agent (retired); and Darrell W. Hill, Intelligence Analyst.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism recognizes an extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. One award is presented this year.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism goes to a team of federal, state and local law enforcement officers involved in the apprehension of a dangerous fugitive on Feb. 29, 2012 in Cambridge, Md. The 30-minute gun battle that ensued with the fugitive injured a member of the team, who ultimately was saved by the courageous efforts of his colleagues. After the team member was injured, his colleagues urged him to jump out of a window, where he was quickly rescued and taken to a police vehicle. During the firefight, the injured detective also managed to protect the fugitive’s girlfriend from the ensuing gunfire. From the Investigative Operations Division of the U.S. Marshals Service, recipients include: Barry S. Boright, Supervisory Inspector, and Brian P. Sheppard, Inspector. From the Maryland State Police, recipients include: Christopher Snyder, Senior Trooper. From the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, recipients include: Thomas Funk, Detective. From the Salisbury Police Department, recipients include: Milton Rodriguez, Detective. From the Cambridge Police Department, recipients include: Christopher Flynn and Antoine Patton, Detectives; Justin Todd, Sergeant; and Joseph Jones, Private First Class.
The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity pays tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi, whose career as an attorney, law professor, dean and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the department. This year, the award is presented to Ronald A. Cimino, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Matters in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division.
Cimino, through his nearly 40-year career, has enabled the government to achieve successful results in many important criminal tax cases, each time demonstrating himself to be a primer criminal litigator and senior manager. Over the course of his service to the department, Cimino has mentored and inspired countless attorneys, and is held in the highest regard within the tax community.
The Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the Department and have demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication throughout their careers. This year’s award is presented to Daniel L. Koffsky, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Koffsky is honored for his exceptional contributions to OLC, the department, and the rest of the Executive Branch, including especially the sharing of his expertise across an extremely wide range of legal topics. A living repository of OLC’s precedents and practice, Koffsky has brilliantly served the department and his colleagues. He is a lawyer with the utmost integrity and judgment.
The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement is an honorary award granted to recognize state and local law enforcement officials who have made significant contributions to cooperative law enforcement endeavors. This year’s award is presented to Timothy J. Johnstone, Executive Director of the Sacramento Regional Threat Assessment Center of the Central California Intelligence Center, for his development of the office’s “Fusion Center” model in the Eastern District of California. With his leadership, more than 250 law enforcement agencies over 88,000 square miles and 34 counties have been able to communicate effectively with one another on key law enforcement planning matters.
The Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service is the top public service award granted by the Department of Justice, and is designed to recognize the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the department in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This year’s award is presented to Ernie Allen, President and Chief Executive Office (former) of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Allen, who served from 1984 until 2012 at the Center, is awarded for his leadership in circulating millions of photos of missing children and increasing the organization’s recovery rate from 62 percent in 1990 to 97 percent today.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Justice Department’s second-highest award for employee performance. The recipients of this award exemplify the highest commitment to the department’s mission. Ten awards are presented this year to individuals and teams.
One award is presented to Richard Zayas, Special Agent in the Special Operations Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Special Agent Zayas displayed exemplary performance in the creation of Operation Gideon, an undercover operation designed to use ATF agents to reduce violent crime and target firearms. Special Agent Zayas directed numerous undercover operations that resulted in 200 defendants being referred for federal prosecution and more than 100 firearms being seized.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is also presented to a team for its extraordinary work in implementing the President’s conclusion that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and warrants heightened scrutiny. This dedicated team of litigators and staff showed a deep understanding of the law and sound strategic vision in litigating matters ranging from bankruptcy to federal benefits and immigration.
From the Civil Division Office of Immigration Litigation, recipients include: Jeffrey S. Robins, Assistant Director; Aaron S. Goldsmith, Senior Litigation Counsel; and Timothy M. Belsan and Jesi J. Carlson, Trial Attorneys. From the Appellate Staff of the Civil Division, recipients include: Robert E. Kopp, Director (retired); Michael Jay Singer, Assistant Director; and August E. Flentje, Helen L. Gilbert, Adam C. Jed, and Benjamin S. Kingsley (former), Trial Attorneys. From the Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division, recipients include: Arthur R. Goldberg, Assistant Director; Christopher R. Hall and Jean Lin, Senior Counsels; Steven Y. Bressler and W. Scott Simpson, Senior Trial Counsels; and Judson O. Littleton, Trial Attorney. From the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, recipients include: Matthew S. Nosanchuk, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General (former). From the Appellate Staff of the Civil Rights Division, recipients include: Holly Thomas, Trial Attorney, and Sharon M. McGowan, Trial Attorney (former). From the Office of the Attorney General, recipients include Jenny R. Mosier, Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Attorney General. From the Office of Legal Policy, recipients include: Lamar W. Baker, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (former), and Steven B. Siger, Chief of Staff. From the Office of the Solicitor General, recipients include Pratik A. Shah and Eric J. Feigin, Trial Attorneys. From the Office of the General Counsel for the Executive Office for the U.S. Trustees, recipients include: Lisa A. Tracy, Deputy General Counsel.The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also is presented to a team of attorneys for their outstanding investigation and litigation in United States v. Wells Fargo Bank. Their efforts led to a settlement of $234 million, including compensation for more than 38,000 African-American and Hispanic borrowers nationwide who were systemically steered into subprime mortgage products or charged higher prices because of their race or national origin. From the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, recipients include Eric I. Halperin, Special Counsel for Fair Lending. From the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division, recipients include Steven H. Rosenbaum, Chief; Jon M. Seward, Deputy Chief; and Elizabeth Parr Hecker, Holly C. Lincoln and Coty R. Montag, Trial Attorneys.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also goes to a team recognized for their successful investigation and prosecution of Colonial Bank/Taylor, Bean and Whitaker. Within weeks of the cooperation of an insider familiar with the conspirators’ actions during the financial crisis, this dedicated team of prosecutors and federal agents executed search warrants that ultimately led to an indictment returning only 11 months later for wire and securities fraud. From the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Patrick F. Stokes, Deputy Chief, Robert A. Zink, Trial Attorney, Brigham Q. Cannon and Charles D. Reed, Trial Attorneys (former), and Jennifer Z. Gindin, Paralegal Specialist (former); From the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Jeannette M. Gunderson, Acting Assistant Deputy Chief. From the Appellate Staff of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Kirby A. Heller, Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, recipients include: Charles F. Connolly, Chief of the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit (former); Paul J. Nathanson, Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Lisa K. Porter, Paralegal Specialist. From the Operational Technology Division of the FBI, recipients include: W.L. Scott Bean III, Section Chief. From the Washington Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: John M. Gardner, Special Agent, and Scott J. Turner, Special Agent (retired). From the Office of Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, recipients include: Peter C. Emerzian, Deputy Inspector General of Investigations; Paul G. Conlon, Supervisory Special Agent; Timothy A. Mowery, Senior Special Agent; and Kari E. Meyer and David A. Mosakowski, Special Agents. From the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, recipients include: C. Ed Slage, Special Agent in Charge. From the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, recipients include: John T. Crawford, Senior Special Agent.
Also being awarded with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their outstanding and historic achievement in successful investigation and prosecuting GlaxoSmithKline is a team of attorneys nominated for their exceptional creativity, determination and perseverance in resolving the largest health care fraud settlement in department history. The $3 billion civil and criminal resolution will significantly deter future pricing misconduct and future fraud by pharmaceutical companies who withhold important safety information about their products and seek to manipulate the marketplace. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, recipients include: Sara Miron Bloom, Brian Pérez-Daple, Amanda Strachan, Susan G. Winkler and Edwin G. Winstead, Assistant U.S. Attorneys. From the Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division, recipients include: David A. Frank and Patrick Jasperse, Trial Attorneys. From the Civil Fraud Section of the Civil Division, recipients include: Andy J. Mao and Jamie Ann Yavelberg, Assistant Directors; and Charles J. Biro, Natalie A. Priddy, Douglas J. Rosenthal, Lisa Katz Samuels and Jeffrey A. Toll, Trial Attorneys.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also is presented to a team responsible for the successful investigation and conviction of Jared Lee Loughner, an Arizona man who attempted to assassinate Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others at a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz. In the wake of this tragedy, the team demonstrated skill, professionalism and compassion in dutifully carrying out their responsibilities. Due to the team’s efforts, Loughner was sentenced to serve seven consecutive life terms and an additional 140 consecutive years in prison. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, recipients include: Wallace H. Kleindienst, Senior Litigation Counsel; Mary Sue Feldmeier, Beverly K. Anderson, Christina M. Cabanillas and Bruce M. Ferg, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Shawn M. Cox, Victim Witness Coordinator; Delores J. Arter and Mary-Anne Estrada, Victim Witness Specialists; Thomas J. Jefferson, Victim Witness Specialist (former); Wendy A. Dolph, Supervisory Legal Assistant; Celeste Maniscalco, Legal Assistant; and Sylvia Romero, Appellate Paralegal Specialist. From the Tucson Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Tony M. Taylor Jr. and Alan P. Misiaszek, Special Agents.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also goes to a team involved in the successful investigation and prosecution of public officials in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, effectively ending the reign of a corrupt regime in the state’s largest county. This team proved at several trials that a County Commissioner orchestrated a decade-long racketeering conspiracy that involved almost 20 separate schemes and more than 100 bribes. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, recipients include: Antoinette T. Bacon, Henry DeBaggis, Nancy L. Kelley, Sharon L. Long, Robert J. Patton, Justin J. Roberts, Ann C. Rowland and Bernard A. Smith, Assistant U.S. Attorneys. From the Cleveland Division of the FBI, recipients include: Gregory D.L. Curtis, Melissa L. Fortunato, Raymond Michael Massie, Kirk P. Spielmaker and William M. Werner, Special Agents. From the Wilmington Resident Agency of the FBI, recipients include: Christine C. Oliver, Special Agent. From the Internal Revenue Service of the U.S. Department of Treasury, recipients include: Kelly D. Fatula, Special Agent.
Also awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service are members of a team that demonstrated exemplary performance in Operation Red Coalition, an investigation into Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Iran who attempted to hire a Mexican drug dealer to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. The team’s dedicated service helped to foil the elaborate plan coordinated in part by members of the highest levels of the Iranian government. From the Houston Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Christopher G. Raia and O. Robert Woloszyn, Special Agents; Kenneth S. Smith, Intelligence Analyst; and Patricia Swagerty, Forensic Accountant. From the Detroit Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Matthew Aken, Special Agent. From the Washington Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Thatcher P. Mohajerin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge. From the Security Division of the FBI, recipients include: Luis G. Ortiz, Supervisory Special Agent. From the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, recipients include: April Yufeng Qian and Liane K. Roach, Intelligence Analysts. From the Baghdad Attaché for the International Operations Division of the FBI, recipients include: James F. Walsh Jr., Supervisory Special Agent. From the Office of the General Counsel of the FBI, recipients include: John B. O’Keefe, General Attorney. From the Houston Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), recipients include: James R. Thornton and Nathaniel C. Fountain, Special Agents. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, recipients include: Edward Y. Kim and Glen A. Kopp, Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Also awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is Dean C. Sovolos, Special Agent in the New York
Field Office of the FBI. Special Agent Sovolos is nominated for his role as a program manager on the New York Field Office Counterterrorism squad for the United Kingdom (UK) portfolio. The UK is widely deemed to be one of the most important international partners in fighting terrorism, and the United States’ relationship with the UK serves as a model for other European nations. Moreover, Special Agent Sovolos has worked to disrupt terrorist cells and enhance the FBI’s relationship with the UK. He manages a caseload of more than 15 investigations and has advanced matters of significance to the United States.The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also goes to the team responsible for ensuring that the department sustained its clean financial audit opinion. This opinion matters as it demonstrates to the American taxpayers that the department’s finances associated with a $28 billion budget are sound. In the face of shrinking resources and avenues to conduct audit reviews and evaluate internal controls, the team was able to design and deploy many cost saving initiatives that did not jeopardize the outcome of the audit. From the Quality Control and Compliance Group of the Financial Staff in the Justice Management Division, recipients include: Stephanie A. Irby, Assistant Director; Yolanda Little, Deputy Assistant Director; Vu C. Truong, Supervisory Computer Specialist; and Lauren M. Webster, Accountant. From the Financial Statements Group of the Finance Staff of the Justice Management Division, recipients include: Valerie D. Grant, Assistant Director; David M. Bethea, Deputy Assistant Director; and Jerri N. Jones, Accountant.
The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice. Two awards are presented this year.
The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to the team that investigated organized drug crime in Florida and had a far reaching impact, from Miami Dade and Broward Counties to Colombia, Mexico, Amsterdam, Spain and Greece. Due to the highly competent nature of their undercover investigations, several drug “kingpins,” operating abroad to complicate prosecutorial efforts, were foiled and their operations crippled, preventing thousands of kilograms of cocaine and other drugs from becoming available. From the Miami Field Division of the DEA, recipients include: Daniel G. Escobar, Group Supervisor; and Scott G. Meisel, Christopher C. Goumenis, Victoria J. Metker, Kirk L. Johnson, and Kristine E. Kibble, Special Agents. From the North Miami Beach Police Department, recipients include: William Beauparlant, Sergeant, and Sergio Diaz, Task Force Agent. From the North Bay Village Police Department, recipients include: John Costa, Task Force Agent. From the Coconut Creek Police Department, recipients include: Kevin Vernetti, Sergeant.
Another Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to John Jaehnig, Senior Inspector of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Investigative Operations Division, for going above and beyond the call of duty to bring justice to those wanted for the kidnapping and murder of two witnesses in a shooting trial. After leads began to diminish, Senior Inspector Jaehnig’s investigative efforts narrowed down the search for the two kidnapped women and he ultimately developed information which led authorities to a Detroit city park on March 28, 2012, where the young ladies’ remains were recovered. His investigative measures also led to an additional suspect who had been hired to commit these crimes. His efforts resulted in the conviction of all five defendants involved.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country recognizes extraordinary efforts by department employees who demonstrate the department’s commitment to fighting crime in Indian Country. This award is being presented to a team of dedicated department attorneys and staff who fought to combat violence against Native American women. Due to their exceptional work, tribes will be able to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators of domestic violence in Indian Country for the first time in decades. This system-wide change in Indian Country will hold accountable all perpetrators of domestic and dating violence against women regardless of race or tribal affiliation.
From the Office of the Associate Attorney General, recipients include: Samuel Hirsch, Deputy Associate Attorney General. From the Office of Violence Against Women, recipients include: Virginia S. Davis, Deputy Director for Policy Development and Communication; Lorraine P. Edmo, Deputy Director for Tribal Affairs; and Jennifer E. Kaplan, Supervisory Attorney-Advisor. From the Appellate Staff of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Richard A. Friedman, Appellate Attorney. From the Office of Legal Education in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, recipients include: Leslie A. Hagen, National Indian Country Training Coordinator. From the Office of the Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Justice Programs, recipients include: Eugenia Tyner-Dawson, Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs. From the Office of Public Affairs, recipients include: Wyn Hornbuckle, Public Affairs Specialist. From the Office of Tribal Justice, recipients include: Tracy S. Toulou, Director, and Gaye L. Tenoso, Deputy Director. From the Office of Legislative Affairs, recipients include: Rita Aguilar, Attorney-Advisor (former). From the Office of Legal Counsel, recipients include: Zachary Price, Attorney-Advisor (former).The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements that have significantly improved operations and productivity, or reduced costs.
John Ely, a Management and Program Analyst in the Office of Security and Technology of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is awarded the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Management for his outstanding work and research into new security technologies, as applied in the correctional environment. His dedication in researching and implementing these new technologies has led to increased safety and protection of staff, inmates and the public. Ely's skill in fostering partnerships with law enforcement experts, technologists, and equipment manufacturers has benefitted the department and federal prisons, ensuring that they remain on the forefront of any developments and advancements in correctional security and employee safety.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology recognizes outstanding achievements in applying information technology to improve operations and productivity, reduce or avoid costs and solve problems. This award is presented to one team this year.
The team awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology led the adoption of a next generation case management system for the FBI. In late 2010, when the Information Technology Branch Sentinel Agile Team assumed responsibility for the new system, it had minimal workflow capability. Upon their successful efforts, the system was fully implemented in July of 2012 and became the FBI’s case management system of record. Due to their dedicated service to the FBI, the system reduces the time it takes to serialize a case and dramatically shortens the time necessary to share information between field offices, agents and intelligence analysts. With the critical nature and complexity of today’s threats, this new management system enables the FBI to coordinate case information across the globe and is one of the most sweeping technological contributions to its mission in the agency’s history.
From the Denver Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Nathan Burrows and Dorian Deligeorges, Special Agents. From the Las Vegas Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Scott M. Baugher, Special Agent. From the Charlotte Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Ronald L. Godfrey, Special Agent. From the Los Angeles Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Nathaniel Le, Supervisory Special Agent. From the Sacramento Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Tiffany Kelley Martin, Special Agent. From the Directorate of Intelligence, recipients include: Debra McDougall, Supervisory Intelligence Analyst. From the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, recipients include: Timothy P. Bell, Supervisory Special Agent. From the Information Technology Services Division of the FBI, recipients include: Michael J. Malinowski, Assistant Section Chief. From the Information Technology Management Division of the FBI, recipients include: Caryl T. Tallon, Unit Chief, and Robert T. Blake, Special Assistant. From the Information Technology Engineering Division of the FBI, recipients include: Erich Wiederhold, Supervisory Special Agent; Kevin Matthew Tunks, Supervisory Information Technology Specialist; and Susan Dawn High and Michael R. Kenney, Information Technology Specialists.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions towards protecting U.S. national security. Two awards are presented this year.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to the team that successfully convicted Mahamud Said Omar, after a nearly five-year investigation into men traveling from Minneapolis to Somalia to join the foreign terrorist organization al-Shabaab. This dedicated team of attorneys and agents crippled this recruitment program and convicted eight defendants responsible for its administration. Their efforts also resulted in cooperation from several witnesses, which provided the United States with a significant window into the activities of al-Shabaab’s leadership and the foreign fighters under their direction.
From the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division (NSD), recipients include: William M. Narus, Trial Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, recipients include: LeeAnn K. Bell, Charles J. Kovats, Jr. and John F. Docherty, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; and W. Anders Folk, Assistant U.S. Attorney (retired). From the Minneapolis Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Earl Kent Wilson, Supervisory Special Agent; and Michael N. Cannizzaro Jr., Karie A. Gibson, Jeffrey T. Moniz, Patrick M. Rielly, Harry M. Samit, Kiann Vandenover and Scott L. Zimmerman, Special Agents. From the U.S. Department of the Army, recipients include: Corrine M. Tullos, Special Agent. From the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, recipients include: Bradley A. Otremba, Task Force Officer and Investigator.
Another team receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is a team that investigated and prosecuted Khalid Ali Aldawsari, who attempted to construct a powerful improvised explosive device to target high profile locations, including the residence of a former President of the United States. With extensive coordination and technical expertise, Aldawsari was convicted after a jury trial and sentenced to life in prison for his actions.
From the Counterterrorism Section of the NSD, recipients include: David P. Cora, Trial Attorney, and Pamela J. Hall, Legal Administrative Specialist. From the Office of Intelligence of the NSD, recipients include: Robert J. Lloyd, Supervisory Attorney-Advisor, and Charles E. Luftig, Attorney-Advisor. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, recipients include: Linda C. Groves and Denise Williams, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Jeffrey R. Haag and Matthew Kacsmaryk, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; and Clyde Richard Baker, Assistant U.S. Attorney (retired). From the Dallas Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Kevin L. Gentry, Kathryn A. Hughes, Michael N. Orndorff and Loretta Smitherman, Special Agents. From the Laboratory Division of the FBI, recipients include: W. Mark Whitworth, Supervisory Special Agent, and Robert F. Mothershead II, Supervisory Chemist. From the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, recipients include: R. David Collins, Unit Chief, and Michael Bonsiewich, Intelligence Analyst. From the Office of the General Counsel of the FBI, recipients include: Sunjeet Singh Randhawa, General Attorney.
The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. This year’s recipient is a team of department staff who provided an exceptional Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program in the Richmond Field Office of the FBI that worked towards achieving diversity and inclusion in the FBI. Each member of this program team volunteered and commendably balanced their full-time jobs with the additional EEO program duties. In 2012, the EEO committee acknowledged every federally recognized observance with educational events meant to inspire communication and raise awareness of cultural differences amongst employees. This feat is remarkable considering the field office operates without a budget for EEO programming and all costs for the events were borne through the generosity of employees and committee members. From the Richmond Field Office of the FBI, recipients include: Antoinette L. Allen, Administrative Officer; Christopher A. Thurston, Operational Support Technician; Hannah Bradley Gray, Intelligence Analyst; Freddie Hornedo, Information Technology Specialist; and Tijwana L. Simmons, Secretary.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support in the Paralegal Category goes to the Land Acquisition Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s (ENRD) Betty R. Wilson, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist. For almost 40 years, Wilson has been an integral part of every federal eminent domain case brought on behalf of the United States. Without her tireless work and dedication, the ENRD Land Acquisition Section would not have been as successful in accomplishing critical land acquisitions, such as the Border Fence Initiative, vital military training, environmental preservation and development of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by an administrative employee or secretary. This year, the award goes to four recipients, two in the Administrative category and two in the Secretarial category. The Administrative category awardees include, Mary Sipe, Security Specialist for the Security and Emergency Planning Staff of the Justice Management Division; and Donna Gale Wright, Administrative Officer in the Memphis Regional Office of the U.S. Trustee Program. The Secretarial category awardees include: Estelle Brown, Secretary in the National Courts Section of the Commercial Litigation Section of the Civil Division; and Shanedda L. Bogan, Staff Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the ENRD.
The Claudia J. Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility recognizes a Department of Justice attorney who has made significant contributions in the area of professional responsibility by successfully handling a sensitive and challenging professional responsibility issue in an exemplary fashion and/or leading efforts to ensure that department attorneys carry out their duties in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. This year, the award goes to Robin C. Ashton, Counsel in the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Ashton is awarded for her tireless and dedicated efforts to ensure that department attorneys and agents maintain and are held accountable to the highest standards of professional responsibility. Through skillful and creative management, she has enabled OPR to reduce its backlogged investigations and inquiries while producing thorough, well-reasoned reports of its investigations.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. This year’s recipient is Varudhini Chilakamarri, Trial Attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division. In less than one year, Chilakmarri has provided exceptional dedication to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and has effected significant institutional changes that have fostered more coordinated, timely, and accurate responses to FOIA requesters. The policies she has enacted have ensured that department leadership offices are well-informed about the department’s FOIA requests and has improved the Office of Information Policy’s ability to facilitate coordination between components where needed.
The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate, and prosecute fraud, white-collar crimes, and official corruption. Awards are presented to two teams this year.
An award is presented to the team that spearheaded an investigation into a local law enforcement entity that was engaging in a high volume of anti-money laundering operations without required federal oversight. As a result, this team facilitated the department’s recovery of approximately $1.2 million in Equitable Sharing Program funds from that law enforcement entity. From the Investigations Division of the Miami Field Office of the Office of the Inspector General, recipients include Matthew L. McCloskey, Special Agent. From the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Gene Patton, Assistant Deputy Chief.
Also receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention is the team leading efforts to prosecute tax refund fraud committed through identity theft, which victimizes unsuspecting, law-abiding citizens and steals billions of dollars from the government. This team brought great expertise and energy to the prosecution of individuals and groups who commit these crimes by pushing for long prison sentences that serve as a strong deterrent for would-be future offenders. From the Southern Region of the Criminal Enforcement Section of the Tax Division, recipients include: Larry J. Wszalek, Assistant Chief; and Michael C. Boteler, Charles M. Edgar Jr., Justin K. Gelfand, and Jason H. Poole, Trial Attorneys. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, recipients include: Todd A. Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety recognizes outstanding achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. The award recognizes the significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the department in the accomplishment of these programs. This year’s award is to a team of individuals responsible for a collaborative effort to reduce youth violence in New York City. This team founded the Saturday Night Lights program led by the Juvenile Justice and Reentry Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The partnership of this program with local law enforcement and social service agencies helps reduce youth violence and increase high school graduation rates of students in Manhattan, N.Y.
From the New York Field Division of the DEA, recipients include: Wilbert L. Plummer, Associate Special Agent in Charge, and Michael Abraham Jr., Special Agent. From the New York County District Attorney’s Office, recipients include: Cyrus R. Vance Jr., District Attorney; Chauncey Parker, Executive Assistant District Attorney for Crime Prevention Strategies; Estelle Strykers, Director; and Joselinne Minaya, Supervisor. From the Community Affairs Bureau of the New York City Police Department, recipients include: Philip Banks, Chief, and Kevin O’Connor, Assistant Commissioner for Juvenile Justice. From the New York City Housing Authority, recipients include: John Rhea, Commissioner. From Pro Hoops Inc., recipients include: Ross Burns, Director. From AllStarr Volleyball, recipients include: Reilly Starr, Managing Director. From the Police Athletic League, recipients include: Alana Sweeny, Executive Director. From the Henry Street Settlement, recipients include: Greg Rideout, Deputy Program Officer for Youth Services and Workforce Development. From the Supportive Children Advocacy Network, recipients include: Lew Zuchman, Executive Director. From Children’s Village, recipients include: Tonyna McGhee, Assistant Vice President and Director.
The Cubby Dorsey Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Wage Grade System Employee recognizes extraordinary performance and contributions by wage grade system employees, including laborers, mechanics and skilled craft workers. One award is presented this year to Anthony Thomas Naumoff, Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor, in the Facilities and Logistics Services Division of the FBI. Naumoff is awarded for his responsibility to all around-the-clock mission critical facility operations at the FBI’s headquarters building. When a potentially devastating leak threatened the operations of critical infrastructure, Naumoff quickly solved the issue and prevented a major failure of communications that would have threatened the FBI’s day-to-day mission.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes exceptional performance and notable accomplishments towards the department’s mission by an employee with fewer than five years of federal career service. Recipients include: Colleen Melody, Trial Attorney for the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division; James M. Crotty, Intelligence Research Specialist in the Intelligence Division of the DEA; Timothy C. Perry, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California; and Ashley Lauren Hall, Victim Specialist in the New Haven Field Office of the FBI.
The John Marshall Awards are the Department of Justice’s highest awards offered to attorneys, for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Thirteen awards in nine categories are presented this year.
The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is presented to attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin for their extraordinary work to secure justice in United States v. Cates, a matter involving the sexual assault of a victim by an individual using his enforcement authority as a Milwaukee police officer. Seizing on the defendant’s inconsistent statements, the team of attorneys established that the victim had been truthful about the event. After a hotly contested trial, the jury convicted the defendant for raping the victim, and sentenced him to serve 24 years in prison. From the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, recipients include: Saeed Mody, Trial Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, recipients include: Mel S. Johnson, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is also presented to a team of attorneys from the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Texas and the District of Columbia for the successful prosecution of Allen Stanford, a perpetrator of one of the largest white collar crimes in history. The tenacity and skill of this team of attorneys directly led to a 110-year prison conviction for devastating the lives of over 30,000 victims in a fraudulent scheme that cost the perpetrator’s investors more than $7 billion in losses. Over the course of two hard-fought jury trials, this team’s work ethic and meticulous attention to detail proved successful in finding justice for these victims. From the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division, recipients include: Jeffrey A. Goldberg and William J. Stellmach, Deputy Chiefs, and Andrew H. Warren, Trial Attorney. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, recipients include: Jason S. Varnado, Senior Litigation Counsel; Kristine E. Rollinson, Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Gregg J. Costa, Assistant U.S. Attorney (former). From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, recipients include: Kondi Kleinman, Assistant U.S. Attorney and former Trial Attorney for the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.
The John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation was awarded to members of the team that successfully negotiated the consent decree that will lead to the reform of the New Orleans Police Department after months of intense negotiation and a long history of civil rights violations within the NOPD. The team worked for nearly three years to address the problems within the NOPD, resulting in a consent decree that was the broadest ever entered by the department to correct a police pattern or practice authority. These efforts worked to ensure that law enforcement agencies respect the civil rights of all individuals. From the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, recipients include: Roy L. Austin, Deputy Assistant Attorney General. From the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, recipients include: Christy E. Lopez and Shaheena A. Simons, Deputy Chiefs; and Emily A. Gunston, Corey M. Sanders and Jude J. Volek, Trial Attorneys. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, recipients include: Stephen C. Parker, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Another John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation is awarded to an attorney from the department’s Office of International Affairs, Mary D. Rodriguez. In little more than a decade, Rodriguez has transformed the United States? extradition relationship with Mexico from a hit-or-miss effort in which a mere dozen fugitives were extradited in 2000, to a record 115 fugitives in 2012 returned to the United States to face trial in federal and state courts. In those years, which ultimately saw the extradition of nearly 800 defendants to the United States, Ms. Rodriguez, tackled every challenge, secured landmark decisions in the Mexican Supreme Court, and met every setback with greater determination to succeed. In each case she used her experience as a federal prosecutor, as well as her deep knowledge of Mexican law and political structures, to solve legal problems and overcome bureaucratic inertia to capitalize on the law enforcement cooperation that emerged in Mexico.
The John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation is presented to the Deputy Chief of the Capital Case Section of the Criminal Division, Gwynn “Charlie” Kinsey, for his exceptional contributions to pursuing capital punishment in the most significant violent crime cases handled by department prosecutors. With more than 22 years of experience in capital matters, his holistic approach to providing guidance to federal prosecutors requires extraordinary commitment and persistence. While being asked over the past two years to significantly increase the amount of litigation-related guidance he provides to federal prosecutors, Kinsey also continues to shoulder his policy and protocol review responsibilities on behalf of the department. His work has substantially contributed to the strong partnership between the Criminal Division and the United States Attorney’s Offices, and the result of this collaboration has been the successful prosecution of numerous significant violent crime cases.
The John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation is also presented to Michael K. Baker, Georgia Garthwaite, Michael J. Krainak and Erika B. Kranz, Trial Attorneys in the Land Acquisition Section of the ENRD. This team of attorneys is awarded for their devotion to acquiring land for critical military training, including of approximately 2,560 acres within the El Centro Naval Air Facility for training use. After months of extensive discovery, motion practice, and expert witness preparation, the landowners agreed to an almost unprecedented settlement whereby they accepted only $300,000 more than the United States? initial deposit, and nearly 85 percent less than their own final valuation. The landowners originally valued the property and mining interests at several hundred million dollars and then settled at $1.5 million based on the hard work, dedication and successful investigation and negotiation by these award recipients. During these times of significant financial concerns, the nominees played a vital role in ensuring the Navy obtained property needed for military training, while also saving the government millions of dollars.
The John Marshall Award for the Handling of Appeals is presented to Alexander P. Robbins, a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section of the Tax Division. Robbins is awarded for his extraordinary service to the department for representing the government on tax matters before the Supreme Court and other appellate and district courts. He has handled the most difficult tax matters for the department, including successfully advancing the application of the required records doctrine to grand jury subpoenas issued in international tax cases.
This year’s John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice is presented to a team of attorneys for their outstanding work in developing the department’s tribal eagle feathers enforcement policy. This team created the first-ever formal department policy statement addressing the ability of members of federally-recognized Indian tribes to possess or use eagle feathers. The awardees coordinated and worked closely with tribal groups to balance the interest of tribes with the enforcement interests of the department and wildlife laws. From the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the ENRD, recipients include: Ethan G. Shenkman, Deputy Assistant Attorney General. From the Indian Resource Section of the ENRD, recipients include: S. Craig Alexander, Chief. From the Law and Policy Section of ENRD, recipients include: Karen M. Wardzinksi, Chief; Amber Blaha, Assistant Chief; and Stacy R. Stoller, Trial Attorney. From the Environmental Crimes Section of the ENRD, recipients include: Stacy H. Mitchell, Chief, and Elinor Colbourn, Assistant Chief. From the Office of Tribal Justice, recipients include: Christopher Brent Chaney, Deputy Director (former).
The John Marshall Award for Preparation or Handling of Legislation is awarded to Nathan A. Forrester, an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of Legal Counsel. In his role as editor of published Office of Legal Counsel opinions, he is clearing away the publication backlog. In addition, his self-initiated work in compiling, analyzing, and producing a volume of OLC opinions from 1934-1977 is making an important historic contribution. Forrester deftly and fairly supervises the other Attorney-Advisers in the Office who look to his example and wisdom for guidance in their own work. Despite a massive workload, his work is always of the highest quality and his love of the Constitution and its history makes him a model of government lawyering.
The John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture is presented to Daniel H. Claman, Assistant Deputy Chief for the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division. Claman is nominated for his exemplary work in implementing the Department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative and using civil forfeiture actions to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption. He is a leader in the forfeiture of foreign corruption, and in the return of those ill-gotten gains to the victims of these crimes.
The John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution recipient is L. Misha Preheim, Senior Trial Counsel in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division, for his work in resolving the disputes of military personnel who were challenging the Department of Defense’s decision to award only one-half separation pay upon their discharge from the military pursuant to the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. Preheim spearheaded the drive to resolve this case and brokered a framework that provided for payment to a large number of former service members who, without Preheim’s efforts, were likely to wait a substantial period of time for relief through the courts or military review boards.
The John Marshall Interagency Cooperation in Support of Litigation Award goes to Luke B. Marsh, Chief Trial Attorney for the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, for his work in addressing schemes to manipulate LIBOR interest rates. Marsh is nominated for his exceptional assistance to the department in the high-profile investigations and prosecutions of individuals, multi-national banks and other financial institutions engaged in wide-ranging and complex schemes to manipulate LIBOR and other benchmark interest rates affecting trillions of dollars of loans, mortgages and complex financial products worldwide. He has been one of the lead prosecutors on this matter from the inception of the investigations, and was responsible for investigating more than 20 banks and hundreds of individuals involved in the scheme.
Also awarded the John Marshall Interagency Cooperation in Support of Litigation Award is a team of attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their exemplary partnership in supporting the district’s violent crime reduction initiative. This team is responsible for prosecuting more than 500 individuals as part of an effort to target violent criminals and halt the surging murder rate in Puerto Rico. From November 2011 until December 2012, the team achieved an almost perfect conviction rate, and the targeted areas of San Juan, Bayamon, Caguas, Carolina and Ponce have seen a combined decrease in the number of homicides of 25 percent, amounting to 150 fewer murders when compared to the murder rate in 2011. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, recipients include: Victor O. Acevedo, Max Perez-Bouret, Amanda C. Soto, Maria L. Montanez and Kelly Zenón, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Huntington Man Gets Federal Prison Time for Selling HeroinRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A 40-year-old man was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison today for selling heroin to a police informant, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Michael Duane Dixon, of Huntington, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin in August.
On August 27, 2012, Dixon was contacted by a confidential informant working in cooperation with the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force to arrange a heroin transaction. After speaking by telephone, Dixon and the informant met at a predetermined location in the vicinity of 11th Avenue and 22nd Street in Huntington. Dixon sold five grams of heroin to the police informant in exchange for $1,000.
In addition, Dixon is responsible for selling oxycodone, crack cocaine and heroin on May 31, 2010 and September 4, 2012.
The Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers in communities across the Southern District.
Houston Woman Indicted for Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Simone Nicole Gary, 35, of Houston, has been arrested following the return of a 35-count indictment alleging multiple counts of mail fraud, Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The sealed indictment, returned Nov. 20, 2013, was unsealed today upon her arrest. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Hanks at 2:00 p.m.
The indictment alleges that between July 2009 and August 2012, Gary used the name and personal identifiers such as the Social Security number of another individual to obtain employment at Houston area medical clinics. She then allegedly submitted fraudulent applications to the American Kidney Fund for grants to patients to assist with the dialysis treatments. The American Kidney Fund then sent grant checks to Gary who then allegedly used the funds for her personal benefit.The indictment alleges 27 counts of mail fraud, two counts of Social Security Fraud and six counts of identity theft.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison on each count of mail fraud as well as up to five years imprisonment for each count of Social Security fraud. For the aggravated identity theft, she faces an additional two years on each count, upon conviction, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 fine if convicted.
The indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture of $55,191.53.
The case was investigated by Secret Service and Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Braddock.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Hamburg Woman Sentenced for Role in Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Sheri L. Becirovic, 47, of Hamburg, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government, was sentenced to time served by Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny. The defendant has been in prison for 12 months. Becirovic was also ordered to pay $24,341.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant obtained the social security numbers of seven family members and friends. Becirovic provided those numbers, in addition to her own social security number, to a co-conspirator, Clifton Jackson, who used them to file fraudulent tax returns for the tax year 2011.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Toni M. Weirauch, and the United States Postal Inspection Service under the direction of Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge, Boston Division.Gunman Exiled to 32 Years in Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
Admitted to Murdering Two Men in Furtherance of a Drug Conspiracy
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Kyle Stevens, a/k/a Cappo, age 23, of Remington, Maryland, today to 32 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for discharging a gun, thereby killing Keith Ray, a/k/a Keithy.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
According to his plea agreement, on September 21, 2007, Stevens fatally shot Keith Ray, in a wooded area off the 600 block of Wyman Park Drive in Baltimore. The body was found under a pile of logs a few days later on September 25. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Ray died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Stevens also admitted to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and oxycodone and that, in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, on January 24, 2006, Stevens used a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun to murder James Wright, a/k/a Ronnie Mo; and a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun to murder Keith Ray.
Mr. Rosenstein praised the FBI, ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Robert R. Harding and Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Possessing 216 Stolen Social Security ChecksRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Terry Ulysses Morris, 50, of Lithonia, Ga., was sentenced Wednesday, November 20, 2013 by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing stolen U.S. mail. He pleaded guilty July 30, 2013.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, authorities pulled over Morris’ vehicle during a traffic stop on January 18, 2012, as he was driving eastbound on Interstate 10 through Calcasieu Parish. A strong odor of marijuana prompted authorities to ask Morris if they could search the vehicle. Authorities found two sacks containing 216 U.S. Treasury checks that had not been cashed. The checks were from Social Security Administration accounts with Georgia addresses. The face value for the checks totaled $144,920. Morris admitted that he traveled to Houston to find someone to cash or buy the checks. He could not find buyers because the checks were so old that most of the intended recipients had requested that replacement checks be issued. Morris was driving back to Georgia when he was stopped in Calcasieu Parish.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Calcasieu Anti-drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.
Four-Time Baltimore Felon Exiled to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of A GunRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Kentwan Russell, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Blake enhanced Russell’s sentence upon finding that Russell is an armed career criminal based on three previous drug convictions. Russell has been detained since his arrest on federal charges on September 15, 2011.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts.According to information presented to the Court, on December 15, 2010, Baltimore Police detectives went to a residence in Baltimore to locate Russell, who had an open arrest warrant for burglary. Officers found Russell in the home and twice ordered Russell to raise his hands above his head. Russell refused to comply, so the officers employed a taser. As they did so, the officers saw a silver handgun in Russell’s waistband. Russell attempted to run away, but was placed under arrest and the gun - a 9mm handgun, loaded with five rounds – was recovered.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case.
Four Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. Four defendants in Wichita have been sentenced in a mortgage fraud case, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
All four defendants pleaded guilty and admitted co-defendant Manjur Alam recruited them to take part in a fraudulent scheme to obtain mortgage loans. Manjur devised the scheme to defraud lenders by falsifying loan applications and supporting documents.
Those sentenced Monday were: Christopher Ginyard, 27, Wichita, two years supervised release and $40,000.
Henry Pearson, Jr., 29, Wichita, two years supervised release and $56,000 restitution.
Henry Pearson, Sr., Wichita, two years supervised release and $55,180 restitution.
Bruce Dykes, 45, Wichita, two years supervised release and $14,872 restitution.Ginyard, Dykes and Henry Pearson, Sr., each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Henry Pearson, Jr., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
Henry Pearson, Sr., made a false statement that he would live in the property he was buying. In fact, he rented it to a third party. Based on the false statements, Lehman Brothers Bank wired $138,330.55 to Lawyer's Title escrow for the purchase of 8431 Hildreth in Wichita.
Henry Pearson, Jr., submitted a false verification of rent and a false letter of credit and made a false statement that he intended to live in the property at 1510 N. Market in Wichita. When the home was eventually foreclosed on, the bank suffered a loss of $56,000.
Christopher Ginyard falsely identified two employments in his loan application and made a false statement that he intended to live in the property at 2050 Santa Fe in Wichita. Based on the false statements, First Tennessee Bank made a payment of $72,865.75 to Kansas Secured Title=s escrow account.
Bruce Dykes obtained an $80,285 loan from First Horizon Home Loans through First Tennessee Bank that was based on a false loan application. Alam submitted a false verification of rent, a false letter of credit and a false loan application to obtain Dykes’ loan.
Co-defendant Manjur Alam, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, is set for sentencing Jan. 27.
Co-defendant Steven Pelz, who pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, is set for sentencing Dec. 16.Co-defendant Janice Young is awaiting sentencing
Grissom commended the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Finance Agency - OIG, the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.
Former United Airlines Flight Attendant Sentenced to Federal Prison for Making Bogus Bomb Threats Aimed at His Former EmployerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES -- A German national who used to work for United Airlines was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for making false bomb threats against flights operated by the international air carrier.
Patrick Cau, who is also known as Patrick Kaiser, 40, of Dallas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II.
Cau pleaded guilty in August to one count of false information and hoaxes. While Cau pleaded guilty to one felony count, in a plea agreement filed in federal court, he admitted making eight bomb threats against United from October 2012 through January 2013.
In the first phone call, on October 4, 2012, Cau used a pay phone near his home to call an internal United crew scheduling number and state that a United flight from London to Los Angeles would be bombed later that day. Cau made the subsequent calls to 911 from pay phones in Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas and Seattle, with all of the calls stating that a specific United flight would be bombed.
As a result of the hoaxes, multiple law enforcement agencies were forced to respond to the bomb threats made by Cau. These law enforcement responses included evacuating people from the targeted airplanes; towing the aircraft to a safe area; searching and re-screening passengers, baggage and cargo; and searching the aircraft by human, canine and other detection methods.
As a direct result of Cau’s threats, United experienced substantial disruption to its business operations and services, including cancellation of and delays to flights, transfer of aircraft, and significant inconveniences to United passengers. Judge Wright today ordered Cau to pay $304,495 in restitution to United and $8,838 to reimburse the Los Angeles Police Department for expenses incurred as a result its response to the bomb threats.
The case against Cau was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Los Angeles Airport Police.
Release No. 13-135
Former Postal Employee SentencedRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama - Arthur Darby, Jr., 31 years old, of Montgomery, AL was sentenced last week for entering the Main Post Office in Montgomery with a gun and opening fire, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. At the time of the shooting, Darby was employed with the Post Office. Senior United States District Judge W. Harold Albritton sentenced the former Postal employee to 10 years and one day in federal prison.
In June of this year, Darby pled guilty to attempted assault, discharging a firearm in furtherance of the attempted assault, and possession of a firearm in a federal facility. Court documents established that on December 1, 2011, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Darby, a part-time mail handler at the Main Post Office located at 6701 Winton Blount Blvd. in Montgomery, AL, went to work and opened fire on two postal employees. Thankfully, no one was hit from the shots fired by Darby. Law enforcement immediately responded and apprehended Darby.
“People should be safe when going to the post office,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck. “My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those to jeopardize the safety of those workers and patrons at the post office. I hope this sentence sends a message that this criminal behavior will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Postal Inspectors investigate a wide variety of crimes in our mission to protect the security of the U.S. Postal Service, but none of them are more important than protecting the lives of postal employees,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss, of the Houston Division. “The Montgomery Police Department and a team of U.S. Postal Inspectors were on the scene quickly and decisively, helping to close the incident without loss of life. This sentencing brings further closure and sends out the message that violence affecting the security of the U.S. Postal Service can carry severe consequences for the criminal.”
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Montgomery Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan R. Redmond.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617Former New Jersey Man Charged in $18 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A former Monmouth County, N.J., man was arrested today on a charge that he operated an $18 million Ponzi scheme involving victims from New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Louis J. Spina, 56, formerly of Colts Neck, N.J., and now living in Miami, Fla., was charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois H. Goodman in Trenton federal court for an initial appearance.
According to the complaint:
Between August 2010 and November 2013, Spina collected $18 million from 28 investors. Spina allegedly represented to the investors that he would invest their funds through his business, LJS Trading LLC, using algorithmic computer software, and that the investors would receive guaranteed monthly rates of return ranging from 9 to 14 percent. Spina commingled all of the investor funds together in one bank account. He only transferred $8 million of the investor funds to a trading account, which he then lost in unsuccessful trading. He allegedly used the remaining $10 million to pay the investors’ monthly interest payments, to return portions of some investors’ principals, and to pay for his own personal expenses, including car purchases/payments, luxury apartment rental payments, and a $400,000 donation to a private university.
The wire fraud count with which Spina is charged is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Mottola, for the investigation leading to today’s arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.13-450
Spina Complaint
Former Lewiston Attorney Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Buffalo, N.Y. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Timothy Toohey, 66, of Lewiston, N.Y., who was convicted of receiving money stolen from an Indian Tribal Organization, and filing a false tax return, was sentenced to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $540,000 to the Seneca Nation of Indians and $62,821 to the Internal Revenue Service.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., who handled the case, stated that Toohey’s convictions arose as a result of the disbarred attorney's involvement in an effort to build a golf course in the Town of Lewiston. According to Kennedy, in April of 2002, Old Creek Development (OCD) was formed as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) by attorney Michael Dowd. Dowd was partners in OCD with two other individuals who together owned vacant land in the Town of Lewiston, and the primary reason that the LLC was formed was to develop a golf course on that land. While OCD initially sought to enter into an agreement with the Town of Lewiston to develop a municipal golf course, that effort did not succeed. At that point, the defendant decided to become involved by offering to bring together OCD (as seller) and the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) (as the purchaser) of the golf course site. To that end, Toohey contacted, inter alia, both Dowd (who was acting on behalf of OCD) and Bergal Mitchell, who was then the Vice Chairman of the Seneca Gaming Corporation (SGC) Board of Directors. The SGC is an entity which is wholly owned by the SNI. On February 19, 2005, the Tribal Council of the SNI passed a resolution related to the purchase of the land in Lewiston for a golf course. That resolution authorized the Seneca Niagara Falls Gaming Corporation (SNFGC), an entity wholly owned by the SGC, to acquire the land for the golf course for a purchase price which was "not to exceed $2.1 million."
In pleading guilty, Toohey admitted that during the course of the negotiations leading up to the sale of the property from OCD to the SNFGC, he and Bergal Mitchell entered into an unlawful agreement whereby each would, unbeknownst to SNI, receive a portion of the sale proceeds received by OCD from SNI. The defendant further admitted that both he and Bergal Mitchell undertook affirmative measures to conceal from members of the SNI Tribal Council, SGC and/or the SNFGC their interest in the transaction, including the fact that they were each personally going to receive a portion the sale proceeds.
According to Kennedy, the investigation revealed that after paying its expenses, OCD, on February 15, 2006, paid a total of roughly $1,400,000 for the six total parcels it obtained from the two property owners and the Town of Lewiston. On that same day, OCD conveyed title to the six parcels it had obtained to the SNFGC in exchange for $2,100,000. Of the sales proceeds received by OCD, Toohey, during 2006, received approximately $202,000, while Bergal Mitchell received approximately $248,000. In addition, Mitchell's wife Rachel received an additional $90,000. The tax conviction against Toohey resulted from his failure to report the $202,000 he received in the transaction as income on his 2006 tax return.
Immediately prior to sentencing Toohey, Judge Arcara set a date of June 17, 2014, for trial of the pending Indictment against Mitchell for his role in the transaction.
The conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Brian P. Boetig, Special Agent in Charge and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Toni M. Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge.
Former Las Cruces Middle School Basketball Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Erik Bilal Khan, 33, of Las Cruces, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in Albuquerque federal court to federal child pornography charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, Special Agent in Charge Dennis A. Ulrich, II, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, Texas, and Chief Richard S. Williams of the Las Cruces Police Department.
Khan pleaded guilty to a four-count superseding indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and attempted production of child pornography. The guilty plea was entered under a plea agreement that permits Khan to appeal from the district court’s order denying his motion to suppress the evidence obtained from his residence as the result of a search warrant.
Khan was employed as a basketball coach at a Las Cruces middle school when he was arrested on child pornography charges in May 2012, after law enforcement officers executed a state district court search warrant at Khan’s residence and seized computer and computer-related media from Khan’s bedroom that contained images and videos of child pornography. In Nov. 2012, Khan was indicted and charged with distributing, receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A superseding indictment filed in July 2013 added an attempted production of child pornography charge.
In his plea agreement, Khan admitted that from May 2009 to May 2012, he knowingly distributed images and videos of child pornography images. He also admitted knowingly receiving images and videos of child pornography from March 2008 to May 2012. Khan further acknowledged that he knowingly possessed child pornography between July 2008 and May 2012. Finally, Khan admitted that from Sept. 2009 to May 2010, he attempted to persuade a person he believed to be a minor male to produce child pornography for his (Khan’s) use. Khan communicated with the person by email and sent him videos and images of child pornography to induce him to produce child pornography images of himself. Khan committed these crimes in Dona Ana County, N.M.
Khan has been in federal custody since his arrest in May 2012 and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Khan faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison on the distribution and receipt of child pornography charges. Khan also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the possession of child pornography charge, and a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison on the attempted production of child pornography charge. Khan will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.
Khan also will be required to serve a term of supervised release to be determined by the court and pay restitution to the victims of his crimes as ordered by the court. Khan’s plea agreement also requires him to forfeit 66 computers, computer-related media, cellular telephones, cameras, and other electronic media seized from his residence in May 2012.
Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough praised the prosecutors and investigators who worked on the case. “Thanks to the in-depth work of the HSI agents and Las Cruces officers and the excellent litigation of the prosecutors handling this case, Erik Khan faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison for his heinous crime of trafficking in child pornography.”
“HSI special agents work diligently every day to put predators, such as this defendant, behind bars,” said Dennis A. Ulrich, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in El Paso, Texas. “Together with our state and local law enforcement partners, we continue committed to stop predators in their tracks, so that they no longer pose a threat to the most vulnerable members of our community – our children. Ulrich oversees HSI operations in the state of New Mexico and west Texas. He cautions young people to be especially cautious as to the types of images they produce of themselves and forward to others on their cellular phones.
“The Las Cruces Police Department has had a good working relationship with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and this case is a direct result of those strong ties. We are pleased to see the adjudication of this case, and will continue to work with HSI in an effort to keep our community safe,” said Chief Richard I. Williams of the Las Cruces Police Department.
The case against Kahn was investigated by the HSI, the Las Cruces Police Department and the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Lizarraga of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office and Trial Attorney Ravi Sinha of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Weisman is handling the related forfeiture proceedings.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s 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 exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also received support from the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, whose mission is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 64 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Former Huntington Housing Services Administrator Admits to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Defendant Patricia Howard stole more than $20k belonging to housing program that provided essential resources for disabled and homeless persons
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A former administrator with Huntington Housing Authority (“HHA”) pleaded guilty today in federal court to orchestrating an embezzlement scheme that took thousands of dollars belonging to a housing grant program intended to assist disabled and homeless persons, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Patricia Howard, 58, pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an organization receiving federal benefits. She was charged in a one-count indictment in August 2012.
As a former administrator with the Huntington Housing Authority (“HHA”), Howard handled the agency’s Shelter Plus Care Program (“Shelter Care”). Shelter Care was established and funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) to provide housing services to disabled and homeless persons.
Howard set up and administered accounts for disabled and homeless persons as well as landlords who participated in the housing program. In August 2011, Howard created a fictitious Shelter Care landlord account using the name Lawrence Green. Howard used the fictitious account name, a variation of her personal Social Security Number and a false address to link the Shelter Care landlord account to her personal checking account and illegally withdraw monies for her personal use. From August 2011 until August 2012, Howard knowingly embezzled a total of more than $23,000 from HHA.
Howard, who is currently being held on unrelated state fraud charges, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced on February 24, 2014 by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
The HUD Office of Inspector General, the FBI and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is handling the prosecution.
Former Erie High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ERIE, PA. – An Erie resident pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws related to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
David Montgomery pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge David Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that while Montgomery was employed as a teacher at Collegiate Academy in Erie, Pa., he made numerous videos and images that depicted him engaged in sex acts with a minor male. Montgomery also took sexually explicit photos of the boy. Montgomery’s illegal sexual contact with the victim began when the boy was approximately eight and the criminal conduct concluded when the boy was approximately 14 years old. Montgomery gained access to the boy by paying for his travel to Erie from the victim’s residence outside of Pennsylvania. Montgomery and the victim also traveled together outside Pennsylvania on several occasions. Montgomery also took sexually explicit photos of another minor male who was approximately eight when the photos were taken. Montgomery also possessed numerous items of other child pornography.
Judge Cercone did not set a date for sentencing. The law provides for a total sentence of 80 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Montgomery remained detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Erie County Detectives Bureau, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Montgomery.
Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $5.1 Million from Non-ProfitMoney Stolen over Eight-Year Period; Non-Profit Alerted Authorities Upon Discovery of the SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ephonia M. Green, 44, of Upper Marlboro, Md., pled guilty today to federal charges stemming from her embezzlement of more than $5 million from her former employer, the Association of American Medical Colleges, a non-profit corporation.
The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Green pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions. The Honorable Beryl A. Howell scheduled sentencing for Feb. 28, 2014.
As part of the plea agreement, Green agreed to criminal forfeiture and restitution in the amount of roughly $5.1 million. Under the voluntary federal sentencing guidelines, she faces between 41 and 51 months of incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, from Jan. 5, 1998, through July 15, 2013, Green was employed by the Association of American Medical Colleges as an administrative assistant. The association, located in Washington, D.C., represents all of the accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada and is responsible for administering the Medical College Admission Test or MCAT.
Green’s duties included processing invoices from the association’s vendors. Separately, Green owned a bridal shop in Upper Marlboro, Md. that conducted business under the name Fabulous Concepts Inc. or FCI.
From July 15, 2005, through July 1, 2013, Green created and submitted false invoices to the Association of American Medical Colleges in the name of three entities – The Brookings Institution, FCI, and the University Health System Consortium, also known as UHC. In doing so, she was seeking payment for services that were never provided and without the association’s knowledge that Green would be the actual recipient of the payments.
Through this fraudulent scheme, Green embezzled approximately $5.1 million from her employer. Although the association received federal program funds each calendar year, none of the money that was embezzled came from federal program funds.
The Brookings Institution is a private, non-profit policy organization based in Washington, D.C., and UHC is an alliance of academic medical centers and hospitals. Green is not affiliated with either entity. Green’s bridal shop, FCI, was never entitled to receive any money from the association. For the false invoices in the name of The Brookings Institution and UHC, Green registered similar trade names with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and then opened bank accounts in those names.
“This part-time wedding planner created bogus businesses and phony bank accounts to defraud her nonprofit employer out of more than $5 million,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Her lucrative and long-running scheme came crashing down when her employer discovered her deception and informed law enforcement. She now faces years in prison as a result of the millions she stole for her own self-indulgence that were initially intended to benefit educational programs.”
“Today, Ms. Green admitted her participation in a scheme to defraud her employer for her own personal gain,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “The FBI remains committed to investigating those who hide behind financial fraud schemes and to working to protect employers from the damages caused by these deceptive scams.”
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave thanked the Association of American Medical Colleges for promptly reporting its discovery of the embezzlement to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in July 2013, and for its full cooperation with the investigation that followed. U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave also commended the investigative work of agents and analysts of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Finally, they praised the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Corinne Kleinman, Deputy U.S. Marshal Wayne Rollock, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zia Faruqui, who is working on forfeiture issues, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Johnson, who is prosecuting the case.
13-407Former Durable Medical Equipment Company Owner Sentenced for Defrauding MedicareRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Emeka Daniel Orji, 43, of Richmond, has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution following his conviction for conspiracy to commit and committing health care fraud, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Orji pleaded guilty July 29, 2013.
Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes handed Orji a sentence of 48 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the Medicare program.
During his plea, Orji admitted that between January 2006 and March 20, 2008, he agreed with Aghaegbuna "Ike" Odelugo, of Supar Land, to split the profits of a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. Orji opened the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company Spectrum Foundation Inc. and obtained a Medicare provider number. He admitted he worked with Odelugo and, through Spectrum, submitted approximately $4.4 million in false claims to Medicare and received payments totaling approximately $1.5 million.Orji said that most items billed to Medicare and Medicaid, including “Artho kits” and power wheelchairs, either were not delivered at all, not medically necessary, not prescribed by a physician or upcoded from what was actually delivered. The items in the kit primarily consisted of a double shoulder brace, a lower back brace, left and right elbow braces, left and right wrist braces, gloves, left and right knee braces, left and right ankle braces and left and right foot braces. While Medicare may cover some of the items in this kit individually based on medical necessity, they are not recognized nor authorized to be provided as a kit. At Spectrum, approximately 96% of the items billed were the Artho Kits and lymph edema pumps, 3% were power wheelchairs and accessories and the remainder was various other DME.
In addition, several of the items were upcoded ‑ that is, the item billed to Medicare is paid at a higher rate than the actual item delivered. The upcoding was most prevalent in the back braces and heating pads. Using Spectrum, Orji and Odelugo submitted approximately $700,000 in claims to Medicare for the thoracic lumbar sacral orthotic brace - a full torso, rigid clamshell brace. If a beneficiary received any lumbar brace, it was usually a small flexible neoprene brace.
Orji admitted Odelugo obtained Medicare beneficiary information by paying recruiters, then created paperwork and patient files to give the appearance of a valid claim. Odelugo electronically filed the claim with Medicare or Medicaid and sent the patient files to Orji. Spectrum submitted 157 claims for dead beneficiaries. The Medicare money was then split between Orji and Odelugo with 25% going to Orji and 75% going to Odelugo. In total, Orji received approximately $375,000.
Odelugo also pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year to 72 months in prison.
Orji was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The criminal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by agents of the United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Al Balboni.
Former Credit Union Loan Officer in Midland Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Auto Loan ScamRead the Press Release
In Midland this morning, 41-year-old Michael Ross Franco of Midland was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a loan scheme in which a Midland credit union sustained losses in excess of $4 million announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent In Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.
In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Robert A. Junell ordered that Franco pay $4,122,532.19 restitution to the bank and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.
According to court records, Franco worked as a loan officer with My Community Federal Credit Union from May 22, 2006, until October 22, 2008. During that time, Franco knowingly issued approximately 487 fraudulent auto loans totaling in excess of $7 million. The fraudulent auto loans, which Franco approved, contained information which overstated or misstated the customer’s income, the customer’s debt-to-income ratio and/or the customer’s credit score. Franco, admittedly, accepted over $29,000 in kickbacks from co-conspirators for his role in the scheme.
On November 27, 2012, Franco pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Co-defendants Raymond Holguin, Jr., operator of Motor City, an auto dealership in Odessa, TX, and Gustavo Pizarro, General Sales Manager at Motor City have each pleaded guilty to the same charge and are awaiting sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2014.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney V. LaTawn Warsaw.
Former Branch Manager at Manhattan Bank Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Assisting Leader of International Sportsbook with Structuring Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RONALD UY pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to assisting Illya Trincher, a leader of an international sportsbook with ties to Russian-American organized crime, with structuring financial transactions. Trincher previously pled guilty in Manhattan federal court in connection with his leadership role in the operation of a high-stakes illegal sports gambling business. UY was charged in April 2013 along with 33 other alleged members and associates of two Russian-American organized crime enterprises in an indictment that included racketeering, money laundering, extortion, and various gambling offenses. UY pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Ronald Uy consorted with Illya Trincher, a leader of a high-stakes gambling operation with ties to Russian-American organized crime, and broke the law when he aided Trincher in concealing the enterprise’s ill-gotten gains. But thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, Uy, like the 18 others before him, has admitted his guilt and now stands convicted.”
According to the Indictment, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s guilty plea:
Trincher and co-defendant Hillel Nahmad ran a high-stakes illegal gambling business that catered primarily to millionaire and billionaire clients. Their business utilized several online gambling websites that operated illegally in the United States to generate tens of millions of dollars of sports bets each year. UY was a branch manager at a bank in Manhattan (the “Bank”). UY assisted Illya Trincher on several occasions in structuring deposits at the Bank so as to avoid triggering reporting requirements at the bank.
UY, 33, of Queens, New York, faces a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Furman on March 27, 2014, at 3:00 p.m.
UY is the 19th defendant in this case to plead guilty. The defendants who have pled to date have agreed to forfeit, in total, more than $66,000,000.00. The following defendants previously pled guilty and await sentencing:
- Bryan Zuriff pled guilty to gambling charges on July 26, 2013;
- William Barbalat pled guilty to gambling charges on August 14, 2013;
- Kirill Rapoport pled guilty to gambling charges on August 16, 2013;
- Edwin Ting and Justin Smith pled guilty to gambling charges on September 4, 2013;
- Dmitry Druzhinsky and David Aaron pled guilty to gambling charges on October 4, 2013;
- Alexander Zaverukha pled guilty to gambling charges on October 10, 2013;
- Nicholas Hirsch pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud on October 16, 2013;
- Anatoly Shteyngrob pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering on October 17, 2013;
- Yugeshwar Rajkumar pled guilty to gambling charges on October 18, 2013;
- Stan Greenberg pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on October 22, 2013;
- Arthur Azen pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means on November 5, 2013;
- Hillel Nahmad pled guilty to gambling charges on November 12, 2013;
- Vadim Trincher pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 14, 2013;
- Eugene Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 14, 2013;
- Anatoly Golubchik pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 15, 2013; and
- Illya Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 15, 2013.
The charges against the remaining defendants who have not pled guilty are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harris M. Fischman, Joshua A. Naftalis, Peter Skinner, and Kristy J. Greenberg of the Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Wilson and Christine Magdo of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit are responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
U.S. v. Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, et al. Indictment
Former Branch Manager at Manhattan Bank Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Assisting Leader of International Sportsbook with Structuring Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RONALD UY pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to assisting Illya Trincher, a leader of an international sportsbook with ties to Russian-American organized crime, with structuring financial transactions. Trincher previously pled guilty in Manhattan federal court in connection with his leadership role in the operation of a high-stakes illegal sports gambling business. UY was charged in April 2013 along with 33 other alleged members and associates of two Russian-American organized crime enterprises in an indictment that included racketeering, money laundering, extortion, and various gambling offenses. UY pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Ronald Uy consorted with Illya Trincher, a leader of a high-stakes gambling operation with ties to Russian-American organized crime, and broke the law when he aided Trincher in concealing the enterprise’s ill-gotten gains. But thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, Uy, like the 18 others before him, has admitted his guilt and now stands convicted.”
According to the Indictment, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s guilty plea:
Trincher and co-defendant Hillel Nahmad ran a high-stakes illegal gambling business that catered primarily to millionaire and billionaire clients. Their business utilized several online gambling websites that operated illegally in the United States to generate tens of millions of dollars of sports bets each year. UY was a branch manager at a bank in Manhattan (the “Bank”). UY assisted Illya Trincher on several occasions in structuring deposits at the Bank so as to avoid triggering reporting requirements at the bank.
UY, 33, of Queens, New York, faces a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Furman on March 27, 2014, at 3:00 p.m.
UY is the 19th defendant in this case to plead guilty. The defendants who have pled to date have agreed to forfeit, in total, more than $66,000,000.00. The following defendants previously pled guilty and await sentencing:
- Bryan Zuriff pled guilty to gambling charges on July 26, 2013;
- William Barbalat pled guilty to gambling charges on August 14, 2013;
- Kirill Rapoport pled guilty to gambling charges on August 16, 2013;
- Edwin Ting and Justin Smith pled guilty to gambling charges on September 4, 2013;
- Dmitry Druzhinsky and David Aaron pled guilty to gambling charges on October 4, 2013;
- Alexander Zaverukha pled guilty to gambling charges on October 10, 2013;
- Nicholas Hirsch pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud on October 16, 2013;
- Anatoly Shteyngrob pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering on October 17, 2013;
- Yugeshwar Rajkumar pled guilty to gambling charges on October 18, 2013;
- Stan Greenberg pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on October 22, 2013;
- Arthur Azen pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means on November 5, 2013;
- Hillel Nahmad pled guilty to gambling charges on November 12, 2013;
- Vadim Trincher pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 14, 2013;
- Eugene Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 14, 2013;
- Anatoly Golubchik pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 15, 2013; and
- Illya Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 15, 2013.
The charges against the remaining defendants who have not pled guilty are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harris M. Fischman, Joshua A. Naftalis, Peter Skinner, and Kristy J. Greenberg of the Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Wilson and Christine Magdo of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit are responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
East St. Louis Man Indicted for Armed Robbery of Ferguson T.V. and Satellite ShopRead the Press Release
Case Is Part of United States Attorney’s Armed Robbery Initiative
An East St. Louis, Illinois, man was indicted on November 20, 2013, by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis, for the armed robbery of the Ferguson Television and Satellite shop located in Caseyville, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. This case, and others like it, are all part of the Metro East Armed Robbery Initiative announced a few months ago by United States Attorney Wigginton.
Phillip T. Smith, 28, was charged in Count 1 of the Indictment with “Hobbs Act Robbery,” which makes it a crime to obstruct, delay, or affect interstate commerce by robbery, or to commit an act of violence against a person in furtherance of such a robbery. “Robbery” is defined in the statute as the “unlawful taking or obtaining of personal property from the person . . . of another, against his will, by means of actual or threatened force or violence, or fear of injury, immediate or future, to his person . . . .” Additionally, Smith was charged in Count 2 of the Indictment with possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence – that is, the robbery charged in Count 1. Finally, Smith was charged in Count 3 of the Indictment with possession of ammunition by a felon.
The Indictment states that Smith, “while in the Ferguson Television and Satellite shop -- a business engaged in interstate commerce -- pointed a handgun at J.F., the owner of said shop, demanded money from her, and by means of a firearm, shot her as she delivered United States currency to him in response to his demand.”
An Indictment is merely a statement of the charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The maximum penalties that can be imposed for the robbery count are up to twenty years in prison, or a $250,000 fine, or both, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The charge of possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm charge in furtherance of a federal crime of violence carries an additional minimum ten years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence that the court may impose. The court may also impose a maximum fine on the firearms count of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100. The maximum penalties that can be imposed for the charge of possession of ammunition by a felon are ten years in prison or a $250,000 fine, or both, and three years of supervised release, as well as a $100 special assessment.
Smith is in custody following an investigation by the Caseyville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen B. Clark.
De Leon Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Matthew Anthony Cosimini (40, De Leon Springs) to six and a half years in federal prison for armed bank robbery. Cosimini pleaded guilty on August 29, 2013.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2013, Cosimini conspired with another individual (Robert Gordon Shaw) to rob a Regions Bank in Sanford, Florida. During the course of the robbery, they displayed a fake explosive detonation device, passed a note to a bank teller demanding money, and indicated that an explosive had been placed inside the bank. While committing the offense, Shaw and Cosimini also possessed a semiautomatic pistol with ammunition.
After Shaw passed the demand note and displayed the detonation device, the bank teller handed Shaw approximately $14,098 in bank funds. Shaw and Cosimini fled in a stolen vehicle as responding officers from the Sanford Police Department pursued them. During the pursuit, Shaw caused damage to both a police vehicle and a civilian's vehicle. Police officers apprehended Shaw and Cosimini approximately one mile from the bank and recovered the semiautomatic handgun and detonation device from the stolen vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that the detonation device was a hoax and that there were no explosives inside the bank. The investigation also determined that Cosimini and Shaw had planned to rob the bank together.
Shaw pleaded guilty to his role in the offense on August 1, 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2014.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Sanford Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.
Curry County Quartet Indicted on Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking, Money Laundering and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Last week, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging four alleged members of a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating out of Curry County, N.M. The indictment was unsealed after the arrests of Michael Montoya, 35, and Dianna Hernandez-Trujillo, 22, of Clovis, N.M., and Alexander J. Page, 26, of Tucumcari, N.M., during a multi-agency law enforcement operation on Nov. 22, 2013. The fourth defendant, Brian F. Acuna, 22, is in state custody on unrelated charges, and will be transferred to federal custody to face the charges in the indictment.
The indictment was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, Special Agent in Charge Dawn Mertz of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation, Lt. Michael Reeves of the Curry County Drug Task Force, Curry County Sheriff Matt Murray, Chief Steve Sanders of the Clovis Police Department, and New Mexico State Police Chief Pete N. Kassetas.
The six-count indictment, which alleges narcotics trafficking, money laundering and firearms crimes, is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Curry County Drug Task Force, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and Clovis Police Department that began in Aug. 2011. Officers seized and obtained approximately seven kilograms of methamphetamine during the investigation. They also seized approximately $104,446.00 in cash while executing a search warrant during Friday’s law enforcement operation.
Count 1 of the indictment charges all four defendants with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Curry County and other places in New Mexico from Oct. 2007 through Nov. 2013. Counts 2 through 4 charge Montoya with distributing methamphetamine in Curry County in Oct. 2011, Montoya, Acuna and Hernandez-Trujillo with distributing methamphetamine in Cibola County in March 2012, and Montoya and Page with distributing methamphetamine in Socorro County in Nov. 2012. Count 5 charges Montoya with money laundering for allegedly using more than $59,000.00 in drug proceeds to purchase real estate in Clovis, and Count 6 charges Acuna with using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
The maximum penalty for a conviction on each of the four methamphetamine trafficking counts is imprisonment for not less than ten years or more than life and a $10,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for a conviction on the money laundering count is ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the penalty for a conviction on the firearms count is a five year term of imprisonment to run consecutive to any other term prison sentence imposed on the related drug trafficking crime. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This morning Hernandez-Trujillo entered a not guilty plea to the indictment and was released pending trial under conditions including pretrial services supervision. Montoya and Page are scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court in Roswell, N.M., tomorrow.
In announcing the indictment Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough said, “I am proud of being part of an operation that is a significant step in improving public safety in Curry County. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue our relentless pursuit of meth trafficking rings that operate in our communities throughout New Mexico.”
“Methamphetamine, as Friday’s law enforcement action demonstrates, is not just a big city problem in New Mexico. Even our rural communities can be victimized,” said Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “The FBI is committed to working closely with our federal, state and local partners to investigate and disrupt drug trafficking organizations, no matter where they are. I would like to thank the FBI Special Agents involved in this case, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, the New Mexico State Police, the Curry County Sheriff's Office, Clovis Police Department and the Curry County Drug Task Force.”
“Laundering illegal drug profits is essential to any narcotics organization. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to provide our financial expertise while working alongside our law enforcement partners with the common goal of dismantling drug trafficking operations,” said Dawn Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation.
Lt. Michael Reeves of the Curry County Drug Task Force added, “Friday’s arrests would not be possible without the consistent, cooperative, effort among local, state and federal agencies over the course of many years. The citizens and law enforcement officers battling illegal drugs in our area have a stake in this case, and contributed to this case. The arrest of Michael Montoya, and the dismantling of this methamphetamine trafficking organization, will contribute to better quality of life in our community.”
“For many years, drug traffickers have been a scourge to our community by supplying and trafficking large quantities of illicit drugs,” said Curry County Undersheriff Wesley Waller. “The damage these individuals have inflicted is immeasurable. The arrests of Michael Montoya and his alleged criminal organization are a culmination of the extensive and undying efforts by numerous dedicated narcotics investigators in the Clovis area, and a joint action by city, county, state and federal law enforcement. ”
“I am pleased to see our Federal Partners and the Metro Drug Task Force Agents working in collaboration in identifying and solving the crimes associated with a large narcotics trafficking network,” said Clovis Police Chief Steve Sanders. “After a long, intense and thorough investigation, this will no doubt have a large impact on the narcotics crimes here in Clovis and Curry County. I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication and relentless efforts to ensure this network is dismantled, thus making our communities safer places to live, work and play in.”
“The New Mexico State Police actively participate in federal, county, and municipal initiatives that result in safer communities for our residents,” said New Mexico State Police Chief Pete N. Kassetas. “The New Mexico State Police supports soft and hard measures to prevent the purchase, manufacture, distribution, of methamphetamine; and any other method to combat this illicit drug from the dangers it presents to our New Mexico communities.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Roswell office of the FBI, the Albuquerque office of IRS Criminal Investigation, Curry County Drug Task Force, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and Clovis Police Department, with assistance from the Portales Police Department, Socorro County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA and the ATF office in Los Angeles. In addition to the investigating agencies already identified, the following law enforcement agencies participated in Friday’s law enforcement operation: the Albuquerque offices of the FBI and DEA, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation leading to the indictment in this case was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.
Covington Man Awaits Sentence for Defrauding Internet CompaniesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, KY - Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, jointly announced today that a Covington man will be sentenced in March of next year for defrauding two internet companies out of thousands of dollars.
Melvin Dietz, Jr., 39, will be sentenced on March 14, 2014 for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Dietz faces a mandatory two year sentence on the aggravated identity theft count and maximum of 20 years on the wire fraud offense.
Dietz pleaded guilty on November 19 and admitted that on or about January 2011 through December 2011, he devised a scheme to defraud two online internet companies, WeBuyUsedCisco.com and Teksavers.com, both of which purchase used Cisco computers and equipment.
Dietz executed his scheme by using PayPal, which is a global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. During this time, Dietz set up approximately fourteen PayPal accounts using alias identities. Shortly before or after he created an account, he contacted one of these companies and fraudulently offered to sell them certain Cisco items by misrepresenting that he possessed them.
Through email, he used an alias identity and negotiated a price with a representative of the company for the Cisco equipment. At Dietz’s direction, the company transferred payment to one of the PayPal accounts that Dietz had set up using the same or a different alias identity. Thereafter, Dietz cut off communication and never sent the equipment.
Dietz acknowledged he used or attempted to use the money in his PayPal accounts to purchase items on line from various online retail businesses or remove the money from his alias PayPal accounts in other ways. The money transferred by WeBuyUsedCisco.com to Dietz’s PayPal accounts as a result of his fraud totaled approximately $21,846.25. The amount of money transferred by Teksavers.com to Dietz’s PayPal accounts as a result of his fraud totaled approximately $50,240.
In committing this crime, Dietz knowingly used, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person, during and in relation to the wire fraud count, in that he used that individual’s social security number to obtain a prepaid Visa card. Dietz used the card to authenticate the account with PayPal for the purpose of furthering his scheme to defraud Teksavers.com.
eBay Incorporated initiated the investigation with law enforcement and fully cooperated with the FBI and the Covington, KY., Police department who prepared the case for prosecution.
Civil Division Chief Retires from U.S. Attorney’s Office After 31 Years of Public Service with the Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Iannotti, Civil Division Chief at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, has announced his retirement after 31 years of public service with the Department of Justice. Mr. Iannotti, a Rhode Island native and Dean’s List graduate of the University of Rhode Island in 1979 and the New England School of Law in 1983, began his career in 1982 as a summer law assistant with the U.S. Attorney’s Office while still attending law school. Mr. Iannotti was named an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1984 and Civil Division Chief in 2009.
Recognized by the Department of Justice as one of its foremost experts in the field of asset forfeiture, Assistant U.S. Attorney Iannotti was a key figure in the forfeiture by Google, Inc. of $500 million for illicitly accepting ads from rogue foreign pharmacies. $230 million of the forfeited funds were distributed to state and local law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island that participated in the investigation.
Other notable cases in which Assistant U.S. Attorney Iannotti played a key role in the forfeiture of millions of dollars of assets were the Stephen Saccoccia money laundering case and the case against Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer, GeneScience.
In the Saccoccia case, $6 million in assets as well as 83 bars of gold buried in the rear yard of a Cranston, R.I., home were seized from Saccoccia, a former coin dealer convicted of laundering drug trafficking proceeds for the Columbian drug cartels, and forfeited to the Government. In the GeneScience matter, a precedent setting case, $2.7 million was forfeited to the Government by GeneScience, for trafficking Human Growth Hormone in the United States.
In recognition of his expertise in the field of asset forfeiture, Assistant U.S. Attorney Iannotti was detailed to the Department of Justice in Washington in May 2007 where he served for more than two years as the Asset Forfeiture/Money Laundering Coordinator at the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. In addition, Assistant U.S. Attorney Iannotti taught asset forfeiture law and procedures to various members of the law enforcement community.
In addition to his lengthy list of accomplishments as a civil attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney Iannotti successfully prosecuted numerous criminal cases in the U.S. District Court.
“Mike Iannotti has served the people of Rhode Island with distinction for more than 30 years,” U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said. “Though he had many areas of expertise, he was truly one of the Department’s foremost experts in asset forfeiture, and was responsible for the return of millions of dollars to law enforcement agencies across the state. He has been a source of great strength to me during my tenure as United States Attorney, and his commitment to the work of this Office, and his talent and experience, will be sorely missed.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Rhode Island and the Department of Justice,” said Michael P. Iannotti. “I leave the U.S. Attorney’s Office with a feeling of accomplishment in public service, which would not have been possible had it not been, in part, for the many outstanding public servants I served alongside of for the past thirty years.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Iannotti’s last day with the United States Attorney’s Office will be November 29, 2013.
Contact: 401-709-5357
[email protected]Cannonball Man Sentenced for Domestic Assault by a Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on Nov. 25, 2013, Samuel B. Silk Jr., 42, Cannonball, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of domestic assault by a habitual offender. Silk pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 11, 2013.
Judge Hovland sentenced Silk to three years and seven months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Silk was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.
On Jan. 17, 2013, Silk assaulted a woman, which resulted in the woman suffering a fractured jaw and extensive bruising to her leg. At the time, Silk had at least two previous convictions for domestic violence offenses in Standing Rock Tribal Court.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Standing Rock Agency, with the assistance of the Standing Rock Tribal Prosecutor’s Office and the Standing Rock Tribal Court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme prosecuted the case.
Buyer Beware - That's the Message Consumers Should Keep in Mind While Shopping OnlineRead the Press Release
With Cyber Monday approaching, consumers should educate themselves to prevent fraud, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announce today.
Joining McQuade in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Marlon Miller, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit and Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Detroit.
“Cyber Monday,” the year’s busiest online shopping day, occurs each year following the Thanksgiving weekend. Cyber Monday brings with it the risk of fraud. Consumers sometimes lose their money, receive counterfeit merchandise or become victims of credit card fraud.
United States Attorney McQuade stated, “Like all technology, online shopping offers benefits and risks. Online shopping offers convenience and information for comparison shopping, but consumers should do their homework before sharing credit card information online.”
ICE Special Agent in Charge Miller stated, "It's especially critical around the holiday shopping season that consumers act as the first line of defense to protect themselves from losing their hard earned money by being ripped off," said Miller. "There are three basic principles consumers should consider to avoid being victims of scams-for both in-person retail and online shopping: price, location and quality. Substandard quality, prices far below retail, and goods being sold at suspicious websites or at locations not ordinarily associated with a particular brand should set off red flags to the consumer."
FBI Special Agent Paul M. Abbate stated, “Online consumers should be extra vigilant in their Internet purchases and activity during the holiday season. The FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) see significant increases around Cyber Monday, and thereafter, in online scams. Fraud schemes are often associated with products or gift cards being sold for dramatically reduced prices; ‘one day only’ websites, offering sales on high-demand items; and ‘phishing’ emails, text messages, or phone calls that purport to come from established and well-known retailers, seeking shoppers to verify credit card numbers, bank accounts, or detailed personal information. These and other suspicious offers or communications are utilized by criminals as traps amidst the convenience of the online shopping environment. The FBI and IC3 (at www.ic3.gov) offer tips to help avoid being a victim of these and other cyber scams, particularly during the holiday season.”
Here are some tips the FBI suggests for protecting yourself from online fraud.
- Purchase merchandise only from reputable sellers.
- Obtain a physical address and phone number rather than a post office box, and call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
- Send an email to the seller to make sure the email address is active.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau in the seller’s area.
- Inquire about returns and warranties.
- Be wary of overseas sellers, who may not be subject to recourse by U.S. law enforcement.
- Don’t judge a company by its website. Impressive-looking websites can be set up quickly.
- Use a credit card for purchases rather than a money order or personal check if your credit card company allows you to dispute charges if something goes wrong.
- Shop around to educate yourself about the price range for the item; if the deal is too good to be true, it probably isn’t legitimate.
Of course, despite a consumer’s best efforts, sometimes fraud still occurs. If you are a victim of an internet crime, you may report it at the Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, a partnership of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, at www.ic3.gov . Also visit, http://www.iprcenter.gov/WebsiteFraudRedFlagTipSheet_12412.pdf/view for additional information.
Buffalo Pair Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned a nine-count indictment charging Kenneth White, 37, of Buffalo, N.Y., with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and sex trafficking of a minor, and interstate transportation for commercial sex. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000 both. In addition, Caitlin Connelly, 29, also of Buffalo, was charged with conspiring with White to engage in sex trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who is handling the case, stated that the according to the indictment, between 2004 and December, 2012, White and Connelly conspired to cause five victims to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, and a combination of such means, would be used to cause the five victims to engage in those commercial sex acts. White also was charged with sex trafficking of a minor victim. In addition, White was charged transporting some of the victims out of New York State to engage in commercial sex acts.
Kenneth White was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. He is being held pending a detention hearing on November 26 at 3:15 p.m. Caitlyn Connelly will be arraigned on November 26 at 2:00 p.m.
The Indictment is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Brian P. Boetig, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Office, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Toni M. Weirauch.
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.Bricktown Gang Member Sentenced to 420 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Jarrell Williams Held Accountable for Multiple Shootings and the Murder of Anthony Ford
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –
RICHARD S. HARTUNIAN, United States Attorney, Northern District of New York, announces that JARRELL WLLIAMS, age 23, of Syracuse, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Syracuse to 420 months imprisonment for his role in conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity through his membership in the Bricktown Gang, a violent street gang operating on the streets of Syracuse.
As part of his plea, WILLIAMS admitted that the Bricktown Gang operated within the City of Syracuse from at least 2000 through the present and that members of the Bricktown Gang: (1) maintain a specific geographic territory within the City of Syracuse in which only gang members can sell crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana; (2) protect that exclusive crack distribution territory with violence if necessary; (3) obtain drugs from suppliers in New York City and elsewhere; (4) project a very violent attitude and respond to violence with violence in order to preserve their stature in the gang community; (5) on occasion use hand signs, wear blue colored bandanas and have tattoos, all of which are intended to signify their gang membership; (6) use criteria such as willingness to use violence, ability to sell drugs, and familial connections to determine membership; and (7) routinely carry and use firearms in connection with their gang activity.
WILLIAMS also admitted to, and was held accountable for, multiple acts of violence he committed on behalf of the Bricktown Gang including the fatal shooting of Anthony Ford in the 1600 block of East Fayette Street, Syracuse. A female who was with Ford at the time was shot in the head but survived. WILLIAMS shot Ford and the female victim because he mistakenly believed Ford to be involved in a gang when in fact Ford was not part of any gang. This shooting occurred a mere three hours after WILLIAMS shot an East Side gang member in the back as part of an ongoing war between the Bricktown and East Side gangs.
This prosecution resulted from a long-term investigation conducted by the Syracuse Gang Violence Task Force, which is comprised of agents and detectives from the following agencies: the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, the New York State Troopers, the United States Marshals Service and the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (Syracuse Office). The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Further questions or inquiries may be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney, John M. Katko, who is handling the case, at (315) 448-0672.
Bank Robber Ordered to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The third of four convicted in the armed bank robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank in September 2012 has been ordered to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Stanley Snowden, 40, of Houston, pleaded guilty June 28, 2013.
Today, U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon sentenced Snowden to 87 months for his role in the aggravated bank robbery as well as an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm during commission of the crime. The sentences are to be served consecutively for a total of 171 months in federal prison.
On Sept. 26, 2012, at approximately 9:45 a.m., the Wells Fargo Bank on Fulton Street in Houston was robbed by Snowden and two others - David Wilson Holiday, 35, of Houston, and Alvin Theotis Snowden, 41, of Houston - wearing masks and bandanas. Stanley Snowden and Alvin Snowden were armed with semiautomatic pistols.
Holiday and Alvin Snowden jumped over the teller counter demanded that the bank employees lay down on the ground, while Alvin Snowden pointed his weapon at them. Alvin Snowden took the bank manager to the vault and demanded money and Holiday took one of the bank employees to her teller drawer.
Stanley Snowden controlled the lobby area, during which time he assaulted an elderly female customer by throwing her to the ground and pointing his pistol directly at her as she lay on the floor of the bank.
After the robbery, the three men exited the bank and entered a Chevrolet Impala, driven by Anthony D. Brown, 40, of Houston, who drove the others to the bank prior to the robbery. All were apprehended a short time later, at which time a .32 caliber pistol, a 9mm pistol and money stolen from the bank were recovered from the vehicle.
The three others also pleaded guilty. Alvin Snowden received a total sentence of 319 months, while Brown will serve 92 months in federal prison. Holiday will be sentenced next month.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force, which is comprised of personnel from the FBI, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting the case.
Amherst Man Pleads Guilty to Filing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Marc Walker, 53, of Amherst, N.Y., pleaded guilty to filing a false claim against the United States before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant filed federal tax returns for the tax years 2007 through 2011. Walker fraudulently overstated the amount of tax payments withheld from his wages and as a result claimed that he was entitled to tax refunds totaling $46,278 for those years. In fact, the defendant had requested that only minimal amounts of money be withheld from his earnings as payments towards his federal tax liability. As a result of the criminal conduct, Walker received federal tax refunds totaling $23,692 to which he was not entitled. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant agreed to make restitution to the federal government and cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service in a civil tax proceeding.
The conviction is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Toni M. Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2014, before Judge Skretny.Alien Found at Search Location Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
DENVER – Hector Diaz, age 49, of Colombia, was charged Friday in what was a sealed Criminal Complaint with one count of being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm, federal, state and local law enforcement authorities announced. Diaz is scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Denver this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer, where he will be advised of his rights and the charges pending against him.
According to an affidavit in support of the Criminal Complaint, on November 21, 2013, Drug Enforcement Administration agents, in partnership with several state and local law enforcement agencies, executed 16 federal search warrants pursuant to a single ongoing criminal investigation. Diaz, an alien who is lawfully in the United States, was present at one of the search locations, a residence in Cherry Hills Village. While concluding the security sweep of the residence, agents and officers found 5 assault rifles, one shotgun and 5 handguns, as well as a large cache of ammunition.
If convicted of being an alien in possession of a firearm the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS CI), the Denver Police Department (DPD), and other state and local law enforcement agencies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is assisting with this portion of the investigation.
A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing a federal felony offense has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
The charges in the Complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Robbing Bank of Albuquerque Branch in May 2013Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Richard Sedillo, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced earlier today to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his bank robbery conviction.
Sedillo was arrested on May 30, 2013, based on a criminal complaint charging him with bank robbery, and subsequently was indicted on the same charge on June 12, 2013. According to the indictment, Sedillo robbed the Bank of Albuquerque branch located in the Albertson’s Supermarket at 10131 Coors Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, on May 30, 2013.
On Aug. 26, 2013, Sedillo entered a guilty plea to the indictment. In his plea agreement, Sedillo admitted that on May 30, 2013, he approached a bank teller at the Bank and handed the teller a note that “told the teller to hand me money or else I would shoot.” After the teller gave money to Sedillo, Sedillo left the Bank.
Court records reflect that the teller observed Sedillo get into a truck and provided the truck’s license plate number to law enforcement authorities. That information led to Sedillo’s arrest later that day as well as the recovery of most of the money taken by Sedillo during the bank robbery.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Messec.Alabama's Immigration Law Permanently Blocked in Justice Department LawsuitRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM—The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama entered its final judgment today in United States v. Alabama, resolving the Justice Department's constitutional challenge to Alabama's immigration law, H.B. 56, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery of the Department's Civil Division announced.
The judgment permanently prohibits Alabama from enforcing seven provisions of H.B. 56 that were designed to affect virtually every aspect of an unauthorized immigrant's daily life, from employment to housing to transportation to entering into and enforcing contracts. The challenged provisions also threatened to impose significant burdens on federal and state agencies, diverting their resources away from dangerous criminal aliens and other high-priority criminal activity.
"The federal government has been making the nation safer by aggressively prosecuting and deporting criminal aliens in record numbers, and it has done so with the cooperation of our sheriffs and police departments," Vance said. "But H.B. 56 diverted the attention of our state and local partners from violent criminals to ordinary families. The law forced parents to uproot their sons and daughters from their home, and it punished immigrant children for exercising their constitutional right to go to school. Today's decision marks a return to common-sense immigration law enforcement."
"Our system demands that our nation speak with one voice on matters of foreign affairs and immigration policy," Delery added. "In striking down these provisions of H.B. 56, the district court and the Eleventh Circuit have reaffirmed that federal law precludes a patchwork of immigration laws of the type that interferes with federal enforcement, foreign policy, and the rights of lawfully present aliens."
Today's judgment follows the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit declaring the enjoined provisions unconstitutional because they impermissibly conflicted with federal immigration law and undermined federal immigration-enforcement efforts. An additional provision of the Alabama immigration law, requiring immigration-status verification of school children, was permanently enjoined in a parallel lawsuit by private plaintiffs, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Ala. et al. v. Governor of Ala. Today's judgment also dismisses challenges to three other provisions of the Alabama immigration law, although the Justice Department would be able to file a new challenge if the implementation of those provisions raised legal problems.
22 November 2013
Zeta Commander “Taliban” Facing Trial in the U.S.Read the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - Ivan Velasquez-Caballero, aka “Taliban” and “50” has been extradited to the U.S. and made his initial appearance this morning in federal court in Laredo, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. He is set for an arraignment and detention hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2013.
Velasquez-Caballero, 43, of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been in custody in Mexico since Sept. 26, 2012, when he was arrested in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He was extradited under the treaty between the United States and Mexico and arrived in Laredo on Nov. 21, 2013.
The charges against him stem from a Feb. 17, 2010, superseding indictment charging the defendant and 33 others with 47 counts alleging drug conspiracy, kidnapping conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to kidnap and murder U.S. citizens in a foreign country, use of juveniles to commit a violent crime, accessory after the fact, solicitation, as well as substantive money laundering, drug trafficking and interstate travel in aid of racketeering charges.
Specifically, Velasquez-Caballero is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a $4 million fine for the drug conspiracy as well as a $250,000 fine and up to 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy.
Of those originally charged in relation to the case, 15 have been convicted and sentenced with two receiving life sentences. In addition, four others have also been convicted in separate indictments resulting from the same investigation.
The indictment was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dubbed Operation Prophecy conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Laredo Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, Webb County District Attorney's Office and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance with the extradition.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Wyoming Woman Charged with Assault on A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Christopher A. Crofts announced that on October 21, 2013, Marion Joyce Kills Enemy, a 24-year-old Northern Arapaho Tribal Member, was charged in an information with one count of assaulting a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1). The charge against Ms. Kills Enemy stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 2, 2012 on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Ms. Kills Enemy is facing a potential of up to one year of imprisonment, and could be ordered to pay restitution, a fine, and special assessment. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian of Affairs.
Wilkerson P. Phillips, Sr. Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Helena, on November 21, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, WILKERSON P. PHILLIPS, SR., a 50-year-old resident of Louisiana, was sentenced to a term of:
- obation: 5 years
- ecial Assessment: $100
PHILLIPS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to the acquisition of controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, and deception.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
PHILLIPS was a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist ("CRNA") working on a contract basis at the Fort Harrison Veterans Affairs Medical Center ("VAMC") acute care medical-surgical facility. At that facility, much of the anesthesia care is provided by CRNAs under the supervision of staff anesthesiologists and surgeons.
CRNAs are able to access prescription medications for use in patients' pre-, post-, and inter-operative care through the use of the "Omnicell" automated drug-dispensing machine. The Omnicell provides a secure method of storage, and requires staff to authenticate and record the removal, return, waste, and inventory of the stocked medications, which include multiple Schedule II and III controlled substances such as hydromorphone, fentanyl citrate, and ketamine.
PHILLIPS used his access to the Omnicell to withdraw certain prescription drugs associated with his CRNA responsibilities for patient anesthesia care. In May and June 2011, PHILLIPS was diverting prescription medications from the Fort Harrison VAMC for his own unauthorized use. Investigators discovered and seized physical evidence from the VAMC and from PHILLIPS' person, car, and hotel room, including used syringes, vials that contained controlled substances, and other drug paraphernalia. The drugs corresponded to items that were unaccounted for in PHILLIPS' Omnicell transaction records. On June 15, 2011, PHILLIPS admitted to diverting drugs for his own use and described in some detail how he obtained the drugs from the Omnicell system.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General.
West Palm Beach Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Prison FOr Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Szilard Pop (33, West Palm Beach) yesterday to 41 months in federal prison for mail fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $703,693.00, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
Pop pleaded guilty on September 5, 2013.
According to court documents, beginning in June 2012, law enforcement in multiple states began receiving reports from victims of an Internet scam relating to the sale of automobiles and vehicles on websites frequently used by American and Canadian citizens. Victims responded to Internet advertisements and communicated with Pop, or one of his co-conspirators, via telephone and email to agree upon a price. Pop or a co-conspirator would then direct the victim to complete the transaction using an online escrow service that would purportedly hold the victim's money until the victim received and accepted the vehicle. The victim would request a wire transfer from his or her bank to the bank account provided by the escrow service and then responded to Pop or one of his co-conspirators that the wire transfer had been completed. Once Pop was notified of the completed wire transfer, he would then go to the receiving bank and use counterfeit identification to wire a portion of the victim’s funds to bank accounts in Europe. Pop would then withdraw the majority of the funds remaining in the account and the victim would never receive the vehicle purchased and lost all of the money put towards the vehicle.
Pop registered two fraudulent corporations: Global Auto Center and United Group Center, both in Florida, and both using assumed names. He would then open accounts at multiple banks in the names of these entities, also using his false identities. Further, he applied for and received mail boxes at locations such as UPS stores, again using false identities.
Based on complaints from victims, in June 2012, law enforcement officials located two fraudulent corporations connected to Pop - Global Auto Center, LLC and United Group Center, LLC. To further the scheme, Pop used false identities to establish mail locations and bank accounts for these entities. The investigation determined that Pop defrauded in excess of 15 victims and received over $700,000 in fraudulent proceeds as part of his scheme.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.
West Haven Woman Admits Making Bomb Threats Against Connecticut CourthousesRead the Press Release
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Deirdre Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JENNIFER CHIRICO, 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to making bomb threats against courthouses in Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the morning of March 8, 2013, CHIRICO and another individual placed a total of seven anonymous threat calls to courthouses, law enforcement agencies and media outlets, all claiming that bombs had been deployed and were going to explode that morning at one or more courthouses in Connecticut. All seven calls mentioned or described the Waterbury Superior Court as either the one location, or as one of multiple locations, where bombs were about to explode.
The investigation, which included analysis of the originating phone numbers of the calls and previous police reports associated with the phone numbers, pointed to CHIRICO as a suspect. A review of the Waterbury court docket records for March 8, 2013, disclosed that CHIRICO had been scheduled to appear at a hearing that day in a pending criminal case. Investigating agents then located and interviewed CHIRICO, who confessed to making the bomb threat calls and explained that she had done so to cause court delays and thereby avoid being late for her own court appearance.
CHIRICO was arrested on May 17, 2013. Today, she pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously conveying false information.
Judge Hall has scheduled sentencing for February 19, 2014, at which time CHIRICO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry K. Kopel.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Week in Review – South BendRead the Press Release
South Bend, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
DISPOSITIONS:
Harold Snyder, 20, of Bremen, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein to 6 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor offense of obstructing the mail.According to documents filed in this case, during November and December of 2012, Snyder was a mail carrier and stole gift cards and cash from the mail. 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 Jesse Barrett.
Tyran Lenard, 24, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Jon E. DeGuilio to 24 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.According to documents filed in this case, while investigating a domestic dispute, law enforcement officers discovered firearms in Lenard’s possession.Lenard has a 2011 conviction involving false statements and two misdemeanor convictions involving criminal conversion and resisting law enforcement. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
Adam Snyder, 28, of Warsaw, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 60 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of child pornography. According to documents filed in this case, in February 2013, Snyder used a peer-to-peer system known as Frostwire to download numerous images and videos that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Snyder had been downloading the material for years. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the United States Secret Service and the Kosciuscko County Sheriff’s Office.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Maciejczyk.
Melvin Hillman, 77, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced by District Judge Jon DeGuilio to 2 years of supervised probation after being found guilty of the felony offense of impersonating foreign diplomats, consuls, or officers, wrongful use of government seals and instruments and receipt of a counterfeit government seal. According to documents filed in this case, in October 2011, local law enforcement pulled over a van with suspicious license plates. Police stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Hillman.Hillman led police to believe he was a foreign diplomat from the country of Mu’ur Republic, a country which was determined to be non-existent. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ken Hays.
Week in Review – HammondRead the Press Release
Hammond, Indiana - The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
INDICTMENTS: November 20, 2013
Octavio Casas-Garcia, 45, of Hammond, Indiana, was charged with illegal re-entry after removal for a felony conviction.This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Benson.
Mark Bartell, 27, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives HIDTA Task Force.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
November 21, 2013
Schickell Best, 25, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gary Police Department.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Jermel Washington, 37, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with possession of an unregistered short barreled shotgun.This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gary Police Department.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Carmalita Stewart-Cannon, 47, of Gary, Indiana, was charged with distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gary Police Department.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Nathan Huey-Dingle, 32, of South Bend, Indiana, was charged with 2 counts of sex trafficking by threats of force and 2 counts of transporting across state lines with the intent to engage in prostitution.This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
PLEAS:
Shanise Kelley, 30, of Michigan City, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of mail fraud.Sentencing has been set for 2/13/14.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.
Joshua Mijares, 34, of Griffith, Indiana, pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of unlawful re-entry after a previous formal deportation.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Stewart.
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:
Yohinnest Herrod, 23, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to one day, considered time served, and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of making false statements in the purchase of three firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer.This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Jeffrey Youngheim, 47, of Portage, Indiana, and Richard Loveless, 52, Gary, Indiana, defendants in the case US v Chandler et al., were sentenced by District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen this week.Youngheim and Loveless both pled guilty to the felony offense of wire fraud.Youngheim was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.Loveless was sentenced to15 months of imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release and a $50,000 fine. According to documents filed in this case, Youngheim participated in a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme designed to unjustly enrich himself and his business partner Loveless (among others) to the detriment of neighboring homeowners in Gary, Indiana and taxpayers generally. Individuals who were recruited to buy most of the houses sold in the scheme were first-time home buyers with little practical experience in the field of real estate and with limited to no familiarity with the Gary, Indiana real estate market. Nearly everything said to induce buyers to buy these houses was a lie. They were told the houses were good investments when in fact they were in disrepair. They were told the houses would be rehabilitated when in fact few, if any, of the necessary repairs were actually completed.Little effort was made to keep the promises after the first month or two of mortgage payments had been made. Youngheim and Loveless, and/or a trust held for the benefit of their joint business, Property Liquidators, Inc., owned five of the 25 properties sold in the scheme. This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.
Carlos Canales, 34, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by Chief Judge Philip Simon to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of distribution of cocaine.According to documents filed in this case, Canales conducted several drug related transactions with several individuals over a one year period.This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacqueline Jacobs.
Week in Review – Fort WayneRead the Press Release
Fort Wayne, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEA:
Rickey James. Sr., 55, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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. 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 Tina Nommay.
Keana Davis, 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger Cosbey to the felony offense of distribution of crack cocaine.Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Wayne Police Department.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.