Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Wednesday 21 August 2013
Hogsett Announces Arrest of Indianapolis Man on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that David Simpkins, age 25, of Indianapolis, has been charged with producing child pornography involving two young victims. Hogsett said the filing of formal charges comes as his office has launched Operation Community Watch, a new effort which aims to reduce the abuse of Hoosier children through innovative investigative techniques and aggressive prosecution.
“This case represents the kind of collaborative, cross-country investigation that Operation Community Watch is designed to foster,” Hogsett said. “What began as a tip to law enforcement in Boston ended over the weekend with the arrest of this defendant, and the end of his alleged abusive acts against these young victims.”
According to charging documents released today, agents with Homeland Security Investigation in Boston recently discovered a series of images depicting child pornography. Working with Indianapolis-based Homeland Security Investigation special agents, as well as a Carmel police detective assigned to the Hamilton County Metropolitan Crimes Against Children Task Force, those images were traced to Indianapolis. Evidence was allegedly discovered that indicated the images at some point had been distributed by defendant Simpkins.
Subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that two local victims are depicted in these images. The victims are very young children, both under the age of three, and the images indicate the abusive acts took place at a home in Indianapolis where the defendant had on occasion acted as a babysitter for the victims. On August 17, 2013, representatives from the local Homeland Security Investigation Task Force located Simpkins in Muncie, at which time he was arrested and federally charged.
According to Senior Litigation Counsel Steven D. DeBrota, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Simpkins faces decades in prison if he is convicted. In addition, Simpkins also could be sentenced to years of supervised release at the end of his prison term, as well as lifetime registration as a sexual offender.
This arrest comes as Hogsett has announced a comprehensive crackdown on child exploitation in Indiana. Just last year, he launched “Operation Community Watch,” which will allow prosecutors and investigators to use cutting-edge techniques to identify and charge people in Hoosier communities who are engaged in the receipt and trafficking of child pornography materials. In this case, these efforts were facilitated by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a larger nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Hogsett pointed out that in the last Project Safe Childhood reporting year, the Office prosecuted 52 defendants, an increase of 37% over the prior year, and 49 defendants were convicted and sentenced. These are all-time records for the Office.
The greatest measure of the PSC program’s impact, however, is the identification and rescue of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Over the last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully identified more than 120 child victims, including minors in Indiana, numerous places in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and other countries around the world.
Led nationally by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Informations, indictments, and criminal complaints are only a charge and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hogsett Announces Arrest of Evansville-area Postal Worker on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that Floyd M. Thompson, age 59, of Evansville, has been charged with possession and receiving child pornography. The United States Postal Service has confirmed that Thompson started working at the Elberfeld office in 2005 and was recently named postmaster. Hogsett said the filing of formal charges comes as his office has launched Operation Community Watch, a new effort which aims to reduce the abuse of Hoosier children through innovative investigative techniques and aggressive prosecution.
“Through Operation Community Watch, this office and our law enforcement partners are unwavering in our resolve to find and prosecute those who exploit our children,” Hogsett said. “As this case shows, you are not anonymous online – if you engage in this behavior, you will be identified and you will be prosecuted.”
According to charging documents, law enforcement first began their investigation in June 2013, when an undercover member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Indiana Child Exploitation Task Force connected with a computer that was allegedly sharing sexuallyexplicit images depicting young children. After downloading a number of these files from the user, investigators traced the online activity to a home in Evansville.
As a result of this information, a federal search warrant was executed on August 13 at the Evansville home of defendant Thompson. Federal agents interviewed Thompson and took his computer equipment into custody. A preliminary forensic examination of these computers allegedly revealed thousands of images and videos of child pornography depicting young girls between the ages of 3 and 12 years old.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Thompson faces up to twenty years in federal prison if he is convicted. In addition, the defendant also could be sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release at the end of his prison term, as well as registration as a sexual offender.
This arrest comes as Hogsett has announced a comprehensive crackdown on child exploitation in Indiana. Just last year, he launched “Operation Community Watch,” which will allow prosecutors and investigators to use cutting-edge techniques to identify and charge people in Hoosier communities who are engaged in the receipt and trafficking of child pornography materials. In this case, these efforts were facilitated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Evansville Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a larger nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Hogsett pointed out that in the last Project Safe Childhood reporting year, the Office prosecuted 52 defendants, an increase of 37% over the prior year, and 49 defendants were convicted and sentenced. These are all-time records for the Office.
The greatest measure of the PSC program’s impact, however, is the identification and rescue of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Over the last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully identified more than 120 child victims, including minors in Indiana, numerous places in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and other countries around the world.
Led nationally by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Informations, indictments, and criminal complaints are only a charge and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Harrisburg Man Indicted for Crack Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg returned an indictment charging James O. Payne, age 32, of Harrisburg, with crack cocaine trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Payne distributed crack cocaine in Harrisburg and elsewhere from 2011 to February 2013. An investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division, the Dauphin County Office Probation and Parole, and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, revealed his pattern of drug trafficking in the area.
Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Consiglio.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
In this particular case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is life imprisonment and a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
* * * *Fulton County Investment Advisor Convicted of 21 Counts of FraudRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert G. Bard, age 47, of Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, was convicted in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania of 21 counts of fraud-related offenses after a seven-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo. No date was set for sentencing.
Bard was a registered investment advisor and was the owner and operator of Vision Specialist Group (VSG) between December 2004 and August 2009. The jury convicted Bard of defrauding numerous investors by, among other things, misrepresenting the value and make-up of their investment portfolios. Bard executed the scheme by creating phony account statements which significantly inflated the value of the investors’ accounts and included securities that were not owned by the investor. Bard created the phony account statements to conceal over $3 million in losses his clients sustained between 2006 and 2009 as a result of risky and speculative stocks he purchased on their behalf.
Bard also failed to inform his clients that he was terminated from his prior employment as a stock broker for forging customer signatures on financial documents, had received a lifetime ban from the National Association of Securities Dealers and had declared personal bankruptcy in 2005.
Bard faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the securities fraud charge, up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the 14 wire fraud charges, up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the three mail fraud charges, up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the bank fraud charge and up to five years’ imprisonment on the false statements charge, as well as substantial fines and penalties when he is sentenced. Bard was previously held liable for a civil penalty of $2.5 million as well as disgorgement of $450,000 in profits in connection with a prior civil proceeding brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Senior Litigation Counsel Bruce Brandler handled the prosecution.
Fourth Man Admits Involvement in Murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas Jr.Read the Press Release
SAN DIEGO - A 28-year-old Mexican national entered a guilty plea today in federal court in connection with the July 2009 murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, Jr., admitting he was one of three gunmen who lured the agent into a trap to steal his night-vision goggles and then fatally shot him during a struggle.
Marcos Rodríguez-Perez was arrested by Mexican authorities on April 11, 2011, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and was extradited from Mexico on October 13, 2011, escorted by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Rodríguez-Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnaping, robbery of personal property of the United States, and use and carrying of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 58 years in prison.
According to the plea agreement, Rodríguez-Perez admitted that on July 23, 2009, he and four others - Jose Juan Chacon-Morales, Jose Luis Ramirez-Dorantes, Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez, and Emilio Samyn Gonzales-Arenazas - traveled by car and foot to a remote area on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border near Campo, California. All five were carrying firearms and, once at the border, entered into an agreement to rob a U.S. Border Patrol agent of his night vision device.
As Agent Rosas, in uniform and performing his official duties, responded to the area, the defendant entered the U.S. with Castro-Alvarez and Gonzales-Arenazas through a hole in the border fence, while Chacon-Morales and Ramirez-Dorantes remained in Mexico and stood watch. After Agent Rosas exited his vehicle, the defendant, Castro-Alvarez, and Gonzales-Arenazas detained Agent Rosas at gunpoint.
Agent Rosas resisted, and during the ensuing struggle, the defendant, Castro-Alvarez and Gonzales-Arenazas fired multiple shots at Agent Rosas, killing him. The three men “stole Agent Rosas's bag, firearm, handcuffs, and night vision device, among other things…and fled back to Mexico,” the plea agreement said. They rejoined Chacon-Morales and Ramirez-Dorantes, and all five fled the area.
To date, three defendants besides Rodríguez-Perez have pleaded guilty: Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment; Emilio Samyn Gonzalez-Arenazas and Jose Ramirez-Dorantes are scheduled to be sentenced in November. Jose Juan Chacon-Morales remains a fugitive.
Rodriguez-Perez pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge M. James Lorenz. Sentencing was set for November 14, 2013, at 2:00 p.m.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“ICE-HSI”) are jointly investigating Agent Rosas’ murder.
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No. 10CR1793-L-3 Marcos Rodriguez-Perez SUMMARY OF CHARGESConspiracy - Title18, United States Code, Section 371;
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Robbery of personal property of the United States - Title 18, United States Code, Section 2112;
Use and carrying of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence - Title18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)Federal Bureau of Investigation
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security InvestigationsFormer Postmaster Pleads Guilty to Stealing Postal FundsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court, the former postmaster of the Marble Post Office in Itasca County pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the office. On August 20, 2013, Jill Marie Rousse, age 39, of Calumet, pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation of postal funds. Rousse, who was indicted on June 10, 2013, entered her plea before United States District Judge Ann D. Montgomery.
In her plea agreement, Rousse admitted that between August 2011 and October 2012, she stole money from the post office by either taking cash from the cash drawer or issuing money orders in her own name. Rousse also admittedly falsified reports regarding the sale of money orders and postage in order to conceal her theft. An audit of the post office identified shortages totaling $9,031.43 in cash and stamps.
For her crime, Rousse faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Judge Montgomery will determine her sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lola Velazquez-Aguilu.Former Postal Service Employee Sentenced for Stealing MailRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Dale Richmond, 59, of Williamson, N.Y., who was convicted of mail theft and mail tampering, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay a $7,500 fine by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. In addition, the defendant was ordered to make restitution to the victims of his crime in the amount of $7,807.25.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who handled the case, stated that Richmond worked as a mechanic for the United States Postal Service in the Rochester Logistics and Distribution Center. While working there, the defendant rifled through mail looking for scrap gold, jewelry, rare coins and other small items of value. Richmond stole and then sold the items at a local pawn shop for more than $30,000.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Lapina.Former Navy Sailor Convicted of Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Robert Patrick Hoffman II, 40, of Virginia Beach, Va., was convicted today by a federal jury of attempting to provide classified information to individuals who he believed to be representatives of the Russian Federation.
Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John P. Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Charles T. May, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement.
Hoffman faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on December 2, 2103.
Hoffman was indicted on May 8, 2013, in a one-count superseding indictment charging him with attempted espionage. According to court records and the evidence at trial, Hoffman is a U.S. citizen born in Buffalo, N.Y., who served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy until his retirement on Nov. 1, 2011. While serving in the Navy, Hoffman held security clearances that granted him access to classified and national defense information relating to programs and operations in which he participated. Even though he repeatedly signed agreements to not disclose that sensitive information, on Oct. 21, 2012, he passed classified information to what he believed to be the Russian Federation. Hoffman in fact, delivered the information to the FBI, which was conducting an undercover operation.
This case was investigated by the FBI and NCIS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Krask and Alan M. Salsbury, and Trial Attorney Heather M. Schmidt of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.Former Navy Sailor Convicted of Attempted EspionageRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Robert Patrick Hoffman II, 40, of Virginia Beach, Va., was convicted today by a federal jury of attempting to provide classified information to individuals who he believed to be representatives of the Russian Federation.
Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John P. Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Charles T. May, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement.
Hoffman faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on December 2, 2103.
Hoffman was indicted on May 8, 2013, in a one-count superseding indictment charging him with attempted espionage. According to court records and the evidence at trial, Hoffman is a U.S. citizen born in Buffalo, N.Y., who served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy until his retirement on Nov. 1, 2011. While serving in the Navy, Hoffman held security clearances that granted him access to classified and national defense information relating to programs and operations in which he participated. Even though he repeatedly signed agreements to not disclose that sensitive information, on Oct. 21, 2012, he passed classified information to what he believed to be the Russian Federation. Hoffman in fact, delivered the information to the FBI, which was conducting an undercover operation.
This case was investigated by the FBI and NCIS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Krask and Alan M. Salsbury, and Trial Attorney Heather M. Schmidt of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.Former Marine Sentenced to 54 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Nearly $41,000 in Restitution for Running Elaborate Fraud Scheme to Obtain Financial Help to Play on PGA TourRead the Press Release
Defendant Concocted Convincing Story That He Was a Wounded Combat Veteran
DALLAS — Michael Duye Campbell, 30, was sentenced this afternoon, by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, to 54 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $40,993 in restitution for running a fraudulent scheme to obtain financial assistance so that he could play professional golf, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña.
Campbell pleaded guilty in March 2013 to one count of mail fraud. According to documents filed in the case, Campbell served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000 to 2004; he never deployed overseas and was never injured, severely or otherwise, in combat. Nonetheless, he began representing himself as a Marine combat veteran who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As part of his elaborate scheme, Campbell falsely told others that while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq, his unit was attacked when an improvised explosive device (IED), or bomb, detonated. He told others that members of his unit died in the explosion and that he awoke from his serious injuries months later at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He claimed that he couldn’t speak, and that when he did regain his speech, he stuttered. He also claimed that he suffered short-term memory loss from his TBI.
Campbell told numerous individuals that his doctor suggested that he take up golf to help with his rehabilitation for his combat injuries. Campbell also created a website and obtained a promotional video recording to further his scheme — all to obtain financial help to play in the PGA.
Campbell was convincing in his story. He met famous people who supported charity golf tournaments for wounded warriors and convinced them to write stories on his behalf and provide him access to expensive golf schools and golf courses. All of this provided Campbell with opportunities to continue his scheme, defraud others and afford him opportunities to search out endorsement contracts for golf apparel and equipment.
In fact, it was during this process that Campbell learned of the Troops First Foundation and Operation Proper Exit. These charities provide opportunities for severely-injured service members to return to the location where they sustained their injury and, instead of being medically evacuated, provide them the opportunity to walk to the aircraft and climb the ramp. Campbell participated in Operation Proper Exit VIII, co-sponsored by the USO, in December 2010. He was flown from DFW to Dubai and then provided military transportation for the remainder of the trip. Even though Campbell was neither a combat veteran nor a wounded warrior, he made the trip, which cost thousands of dollars.
Campbell deceived other charities including Operation Homefront and Counter Valor by making continued material false statements in furtherance of his scheme to defraud. He obtained many things of value from them including automobile payments, automobile insurance payments, utilities, room and board, transportation, living expenses and golf tournament entry fees. Likewise, Campbell deceived Vola LLC (an athletic apparel and footwear company located in Richardson, Texas) and Golf Technology Xtreme, Inc. (GTX) (a manufacturer of golf clubs), by obtaining, and attempting to obtain golf clothing, equipment, money and other things of value from them.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
Former Manager of Local Title Company Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – ELIZABETH GLOSEMEYER, St. Louis County, pled guilty to raiding the company’s escrow account to fund operations during the time she was the manager of Lenders Guarantee Title Company of St. Louis.
According to court documents, the escrow account consisted of clients’ money and was to be used only for clients’ real estate transactions. Glosemeyer doctored financial records to cover up her raiding of the escrow account from Lenders’ underwriters. In the summer of 2012, an audit uncovered Glosemeyer’s scheme and Lenders went out of business soon thereafter. Due to the deficit in the escrow account Glosemeyer created, at least one transaction in excess of $200,000 had to be closed with the underwriters’ funds. She appeared before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Sentencing has been set for November 15, 2013.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine or both. Restitution is also mandatory. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Former Judge Abel Limas Gets 72 Months in Prison for Taking BribesRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Former 404th State District Judge Abel Corral Limas has been ordered to prison following his conviction for racketeering, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Limas pleaded guilty March 31, 2011.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Limas a total sentence of 72 months in federal prison. At the hearing, additional testimony was presented concerning the impact suffered by victims with one victim testifying there was “outrage and shock at the magnitude of the corruption.” Limas admitted to the court that his conduct was “not a mistake, it was intentional” and he had destroyed the public’s view of the local judiciary. Limas was further ordered to pay restitution of approximately $6,777,270.50 and will serve a term of three years of supervised release following completion of the prison sentence. An additional amount of $257,300 was ordered forfeited as proceeds derived from the offense.
“It critical to our court system that justice is administered fairly and without any undue influence,” said Magidson. “This case and the sentencing today serves as a reminder that this behavior will not be tolerated in the Southern District of Texas. We will continue our efforts against public corruption and will pursue prosecution in these matters when identified to us by our partner law enforcement agencies.”
Limas, 57, a life-long resident of Brownsville, practiced criminal and family law in south Texas during the late ‘80s and the ‘90s before assuming the judgeship of the 404th District in 2000. Limas served as judge for eight years - retiring in December 2008. Thereafter, he was associated with the law firm of Rosenthal & Watson, an Austin firm, as “of counsel.”
At the time of his guilty plea, Limas admitted his part in use of the office of judge of the 404th District Court as a criminal enterprise to enrich himself and others through extortion. Limas accepted money and other consideration from attorneys in civil cases pending in his court in return for favorable pre-trial rulings in certain cases, including a case involving a helicopter crash at South Padre Island in February 2008. Limas specifically admitted to receiving $8,000 in May 2008, a payment described as eight “golf balls,” for favorable rulings.
Evidence also showed Limas participated in a series of meetings with attorneys Marc Garrett Rosenthal and Jim Solis in the summer of 2008 during which they planned and negotiated the terms of Limas’ employment as an “of counsel” attorney with the firm. During those meetings, Rosenthal promised Limas an advance of at least $100,000 as well as a percentage of attorneys’ fees earned in the helicopter crash case in return for favorable rulings on the case. Limas’ employment arrangements were confirmed in calls on Aug. 28, 2008, between Limas and his wife and son. Limas was expecting to be “cut in” on 10% of the settlement/judgment of the helicopter crash case pending in his court and the $100,000 advance. On Dec. 31, 2008, Limas received a check for $50,000 payable from the Rosenthal & Watson Law Firm. On Jan. 2, 2009, Limas received a check for $50,000 from Solis.
In October 2009, the helicopter case settled for approximately $14 million and Limas received approximately $85,000 from the Rosenthal & Watson Law Firm approximately two months later.
To date, a total of eight defendants have entered guilty pleas to related violations in the FBI’s four-year public corruption investigation, including Jose Santiago “Jim” Solis, former Texas State Representative; local attorney Jose “Joe” Valle; former Cameron County District Attorney’s Office investigator Jaime Munivez; Jose Manuel “Meme” Longoria; Armando Pena and his wife, Karina. Three others - attorneys Ray Roman Marchan, Marc Garrett Rosenthal and former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos were found guilty of public corruption-related charges involving their association with Limas after separate jury trials. Marchan was previously sentenced to 42 months imprisonment, which was vacated upon his death. Solis was sentenced Aug. 2, 2013, to 47 months, while Rosenthal and Villalobos will be sentenced Sept. 23 and Oct. 15, 2013, respectively.
Limas 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 investigation has been conducted by the FBI with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Brownsville Police Departmentand Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Southern District of Texas Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Michael Wynne and Oscar Ponce are prosecuting this case. The cases against Villalobos and Rosenthal are being prosecuted under the direction of the Western District of Texas by AUSAs Wynne and Greg Surovic.
Former Joplin Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Related to Tornado BenefitsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Joplin, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a wire fraud conspiracy following the May 22, 2011 tornado.
John L. Williams, 31, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Joplin, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charge contained in a June 11, 2013, federal indictment.
According to today’s plea agreement, Williams engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area in Joplin. The not-for-profit corporation administered a rental assistance program, the Missouri Housing Trust Fund Disaster Relief Program. This program disbursed funds to landlords who rented to clients who had been displaced by natural disasters, including the May 22, 2011 tornado that struck Joplin.
Williams, who was not a landlord or property manager of Economic Security Corporation clients, conspired with others to submit fraudulent applications for rental assistance. Williams assisted in the scheme by serving as a purported landlord on two fraudulent applications for rental assistance, and also by accompanying other check recipients to the bank to cash their checks, in order to collect the proceeds of the fraud.
The Economic Security Corporation issued two rental assistance checks to Williams totaling $3,050. The total financial loss from the wire fraud conspiracy totaled $8,565.
Under federal statutes, Williams is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Disaster Fraud Hotline
Anyone with information about disaster fraud related to the Joplin tornado should call the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721, the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131, or the FBI’s Joplin office at 417-206-5700.
Former Finance Director of the Flood Team LLC Sentenced on Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – RUTH JACKSON was sentenced to 34 months in prison for embezzling over $50,000 by diverting checks and funds payable to The Flood Team, LLC. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $50,000.
The Flood Team LLC provides remediation and restoration services related to water damage. In August 2011, Ruth Jackson was hired as Director of Finance for the business. In that capacity, Jackson had responsibility for a variety of matters relating to the books, records and finances of The Flood Team LLC. Jackson's responsibilities included paying bills, preparing deposits and managing various bank accounts.
According to court documents, Jackson secretly kept an old corporate account open and hidden from the owner of the business. Between November 2011 and late April 2012, Jackson embezzled over $50,000 by diverting checks and funds payable to The Flood Team LLC into the secret account, then wrote checks to herself which she cashed at various locations in the area.
Jackson, St. Louis, MO, pled guilty in January to one felony count of bank fraud. She appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge John Ross.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sunset Hills Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.Former Chairman and Ceo of Skagit County Community Bank Pleads Guilty in Connection with False Information Provided to Bank RegulatorsRead the Press Release
The former Chairman and CEO of Summit Bank, a Skagit County community bank, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to Making a False Entry in a Report of an Insured Bank, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. JAMES E. BISHOP, 70, of Mount Vernon, Washington pleaded guilty to a criminal charge filed last week. In his plea agreement BISHOP admits that between 2009 and 2011, BISHOP and his son, who was the bank president, concealed from regulators the mounting number of loans that were in default. Summit bank was ultimately closed by state regulators and sold in May 2011. Under the terms of the plea agreement, BISHOP must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 12 and 41 months or both sides can withdraw from the plea agreement. Sentencing is scheduled before Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman on November 15, 2013.
“Our economy depends on every bank following the rules. Banking rules protect individual depositors as well as our financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “These defendants – both experienced bankers – took a myriad of steps to hide the true financial condition of Summit Bank from federal and state regulators.”
According to the records filed in the case, in 2005 JAMES E. BISHOP became CEO of Summit Bank and Chairman of Summit Bank’s Board of Directors. His son, James E. Bishop II, served as President of the bank, and both were significant shareholders in the bank. James E. Bishop II has also been charged in the case. The younger BISHOP served as president of Summit Bank from 2005-2011. According to the statement of facts in the plea agreement, the bank was required to file various reports with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) disclosing the loans the bank had made and the status of the loans. In his plea agreement BISHOP admits that between 2009 and 2011, he caused the bank to undertake financial transactions related to past due loans, which concealed the overdue loans in the quarterly reports that went to the FDIC, essentially hiding millions of dollars in loans that were past due, and causing the bank to appear financially healthier than it actually was. For example in one report on June 30, 2010, the Bank reported past due loans of approximately $6 million in outstanding loans, payments on which were past due for 30 or more days. In truth, the bank had at least $13 million in outstanding loans, payments on which were past due for 30 or more days.
“When we put our money in a bank, we also place our trust in those who operate it,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Laura M. Laughlin of the FBI Seattle office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those who would violate that trust.”
“We are pleased to join our law enforcement colleagues and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in announcing this guilty plea,” said Wade Walters, Special Agent in Charge of the Western Region FDIC Office of Inspector General. “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of the banking industry and are especially concerned when bank insiders abuse their positions of trust and attempt to deceive the regulators. It is fitting punishment that Mr. Bishop will be imprisoned, fined, and prohibited from participation in the affairs of any federally insured financial institution going forward.”
As part of a civil enforcement agreement entered with the FDIC, which is incorporated into the plea agreement, BISHOP will pay $300,000 to the FDIC and agree to a lifetime prohibition from participating in the conduct of the affairs of any federally insured financial institution.
James E. Bishop II is scheduled for a plea hearing on September 5, 2013.
The case was investigated by the FDIC Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) and the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Diggs.Former Camp Pendleton Marine Captain Pleads Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that a former U. S. Marine Captain admitted to submitting tens of thousands of dollars in false lodging receipts to the Marine Corps and the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2009 to 2011. At the time, Captain Shawn A. Joyce was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Joyce had initially been discharged from active duty in October 2008, entered the Marine Corps reserves, and thereafter sought and obtained orders placing him back on active duty at Camp Pendleton. Under certain circumstances, reservists who are called to active duty become eligible for a housing reimbursement benefit during the term of their active duty, in addition to the basic allowance for housing that they receive. Joyce exploited this housing reimbursement benefit by falsely claiming reimbursement for rent that he never paid. Specifically, in 2009 and 2010, Joyce falsely claimed to be paying rent up to $4,030 per month for an address in Solana Beach. In 2011, Joyce falsely claimed to be paying rent of $3,700 per month for an address in Fountain Valley.
In order to conceal and disguise the fraud, Joyce submitted false rental receipts to the Marine Corps and created a fake email address in the name of his former landlord at the Solana Beach address. This email address was then used without his former landlord’s knowledge or consent to facilitate the fraud.
In his plea agreement, Joyce also admitted to devising a separate scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs of tens of thousands of dollars. Under federal law, a servicemember receiving VA disability benefits is not entitled to simultaneously receive active duty compensation. To avoid this type of “double payment,” service members (who receives VA disability benefits) are required to advice the VA when they receive orders placing them on active duty. Despite this regulation, Joyce failed to advise the VA and continued to receive VA disability benefits to which he was not entitled. Compounding the loss, Joyce contacted the VA from time to time trying to increase the amount of his improper disability payments.
Joyce pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud. He acknowledged defrauding the Defense Department of $48,740 (count one) and the VA of $41,862 (count two). In his plea agreement, Joyce agrees to pay restitution in the full amount of the losses.
United States Attorney Duffy stated, “With our nation’s military budget being strained to the breaking point, fraud that drains funds needed by the U. S. Marine Corps and our veterans, will not be tolerated.”
“The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs aggressively investigates fraudulent receipt of VA benefits in order to preserve these benefits for those entitled to them,” said VA Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Quentin Aucoin.
The case has been assigned to U. S. District Judge John A. Houston. The next scheduled court appearance is November 18, 2013 for sentencing.asdf
DEFENDANT Case Number: 13cr3063-JAH Shawn A. Joyce SUMMARY OF CHARGESCount 1: Wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 - Maximum penalties: 20
years in prison, $250,000 fine, term of supervised release of three years, restitution, forfeiture, and $100 special assessment.Count 2: Wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 - Maximum penalties: 20 years in prison, $250,000 fine, term of supervised release of three years, restitution, forfeiture, and $100 special assessment.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIESDepartment of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
Naval Criminal Investigative ServiceFormer Camden Town Manager Pleads Guilty to Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt announced that former Camden Town Manager James O. Plumley, III, age 62, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit mail fraud before United States District Court Judge Richard G. Andrews. Plumley’s guilty plea stems from his role in a kickback scheme that he orchestrated to unlawfully defraud the State of Delaware of over $200,000 in years 2004 through 2008. Plumley’s partner in the scheme – William P. Mahon, of W.P. Mahon, Inc., a contractor in Wilmington – also pleaded guilty today.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn A. Weede and Jennifer L. Hall. For further information, please contact Public Information Officer Kimberlynn Reeves at (302) 573-6277, ext. 16287.
From facts disclosed at the plea hearing, Plumley was employed at Roofing Resources, Inc., in 2004 through 2008 and was responsible for assisting the State of Delaware’s Division of Facilities Management (“DFM”) select qualified contractors to repair and maintain roofs at state-owned facilities. Plumley used this position to steer roofing contracts to Mahon. In return and at Plumley’s direction, Mahon inflated his project bids by a specified amount, which he later deposited into Plumley’s checking account as a kickback after the DFM paid him for the job. Over the course of the scheme, the FBI was able to identify $204,000 in kickbacks that Plumley received from Mahon – money that Plumley and Mahon agreed to repay to the State of Delaware pursuant to their plea agreements.
This case was made possible through substantial cooperation by the Camden Police Department – including Chief of Police William E. Bryson and Captain Gary Melvin – who conducted the initial investigation of Plumley and provided the FBI with a strong foundation for its case here.
Former Bookkeeper for Spencer, W.va.-based Oil and Gas Company Admits to Major Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
Rosalie Seabolt stole more than $800,000 from Kimco, Inc.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A former bookkeeper for a Spencer-based oil and gas company who admitted embezzling more than $800,000 from her employer pleaded guilty today to a federal charge, announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin. Rosalie J. Seabolt, 59, of Spencer, W.Va., pleaded guilty to mail fraud before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. in Charleston. Seabolt was employed at Kimco, Inc. and its related company, Roy G. Hildreth and Son, Inc. (“Hildreth”), for more than 25 years. During her employment at Kimco, Seabolt eventually became the company’s bookkeeper.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, “Having nearly a million dollars wiped out of a bank account can create distress for practically any business, but it's especially significant to a small business. That's why my office has focused on investigating and prosecuting cases like these, to protect small businesses and to send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated in this district."
From approximately September 9, 2000 and continuing through December 24, 2012, during her employment at Kimco, Seabolt wrote numerous unauthorized checks to herself from the company’s bank account. During the scheme, Seabolt deposited and cashed these checks at her personal credit union. To prevent Kimco from discovering the unauthorized checks, Seabolt misleadingly indicated in Kimco’s books that the unauthorized checks were made to Hildreth as a business expense.
From at least 2000 through 2012, Poca Valley Bank mailed monthly bank statements to Kimco that included check images. Seabolt, who was in charge of reviewing the monthly bank statements, altered the statements by covering up the check images that revealed unauthorized checks she had written to herself. Also during the scheme, Seabolt destroyed portions of original bank statements the company had received from the bank.
On January 10, 2013, Seabolt told police that she had defrauded Kimco. In total, Seabolt took approximately $815,693.27 of monies from the company.
Seabolt faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced on November 21, 2013.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the West Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith George Thomas is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia’s Business Protection Initiative. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced the Business Protection Initiative in November 2010. Business protection is a primary initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that focuses on prosecuting individuals who defraud West Virginia businesses.
Former Albuquerque Fireman Sentenced to Thirty Months in Federal Prison for Structuring Drug Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Steve Chavez, 33, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction for structuring currency transactions to avoid a reporting requirement. The court also ordered Chavez, who was a fireman with the Albuquerque Fire Department at the time he committed the offense, to forfeit the sum of $182,000 to the United States.
Chavez’s sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit of the El Paso Field Division of the DEA, Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, and Dawn Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation.
Chavez was arrested in Jan. 2012, on a 29-count federal indictment charging him and 14 co-defendants with drug trafficking, money laundering and currency structuring offenses. The indictment charged Chavez and his 14 co-defendants with participating in a drug trafficking organization led by Homer Varela (Varela DTO) that distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in New Mexico between May 2011 and January 2012. The indictment also charged Chavez with currency structuring and using a communications device to facilitate drug trafficking crimes. The indictment included provisions seeking forfeiture of property constituting, or derived from proceeds obtained from the defendants’ illegal drug trafficking and financial crimes.
In April 2013, Chavez pleaded guilty to a currency structuring charge and admitted that between July 2011 and Aug. 2011, he structured currency transactions for the purpose of avoiding federal reporting requirements for deposits and withdrawals involving more than $10,000. According to his plea agreement, Chavez committed this crime by making 37 cash deposits and withdrawals over a 55-day period as part of a pattern of illegal activity. In his plea agreement, Chavez admitted that the purpose of his structured deposits and withdrawals was to avoid reporting requirements and thus conceal his association with Varela and his support of the Varela DTO. Chavez also admitted brokering cocaine transactions for the Varela DTO and “cleaning” its drug money by structuring financial transactions. According to the plea agreement, in Nov. 2011, Chavez attempted to broker a 20 kilogram cocaine transaction for the Varela DTO. Chavez has been in federal custody since April 2013.
In Jan. 2013, Varela pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to launder money and money laundering. In July 2013, Varela was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.
An additional six of Chavez’s co-defendants have entered guilty pleas. Another six co-defendants have entered not guilty pleas to the indictment and are pending trial. The 14th co-defendant, Manuel Villa-Mayorquin, has not been apprehended and is considered a fugitive. The charges in the indictment against the seven co-defendants who have not pleaded guilty are only accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment in this case was the result of a multi-agency investigation into a major drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating out of the Albuquerque metropolitan area that was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) program. OCDETF 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.This case was investigated by DEA, IRS and FBI with support from the New Mexico State Police, the Albuquerque Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by the OCDETF & Gangs Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former Accounting Firm Partner Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Stealing Nearly $4 Million in Client PaymentsRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CRAIG B. HABER, a former partner of a global accounting firm, pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to stealing nearly $4 million in client payments intended for the firm. HABER pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Craig Haber committed a flagrant fraud against his accounting firm and its clients by directing millions of dollars in payments intended for the firm to his personal bank accounts. With his plea today, he joins the ranks of disgraced financial professionals who put their own interests before the organizations and clients they were supposed to serve.”
According to the Complaint, the Information, and statements made in court:
From 1993 through July 2012, HABER was a partner at a global accounting firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that provided a variety of auditing, accounting, and tax preparation services to businesses and individuals in the United States and abroad (the “Accounting Firm”). HABER worked at the Accounting Firm’s office in New York, New York, and provided tax preparation and advisory services.
The Accounting Firm’s bills to clients ordinarily included payment instructions directing clients to pay the firm by wire transfer or by sending checks to its headquarters in Chicago. However, on multiple occasions from 2004 through July 2012, HABER instead provided instructions to his clients directing them to send checks to him at the Accounting Firm’s New York, New York office.
Upon receiving those checks, HABER deposited a number of them into a bank account that he had opened in the name of a sham business whose name was very similar to the name of the Accounting Firm. After depositing the clients’ checks into that account, HABER then transferred the money from that account to two personal bank accounts which he used to pay various personal expenses, including mortgage payments for his residence in New York, New York.
HABER stole a total of nearly $4 million in client payments.
HABER, 59, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Castel on December 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Facciponti is in charge of the prosecution.
Haber, Craig Information
Federal Jury Convicts Truck Driver in Undocumented Person Transportation CaseRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Miguel A. Granadeno, of Carthage, Mo., has been convicted of conspiracy to transport and the transportation of undocumented persons, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The verdict was returned less than an hour ago following a three-day trial.
During trial, the jury heard testimony that on April 18, 2013, Granadeno was caught at the I-35 Border Patrol Checkpoint north of Laredo with six undocumented persons hidden in his tractor. Four were found stuffed inside a storage compartment under the bed in the sleeper area of the tractor, one was crunched in a small closet above a refrigerator and the last person was lying in a cavity the length of the tractor above the driver’s head.
The undocumented persons were illegally crossed into the United States outside of McAllen and taken to a house where a number of people were staying, according to evidence presented in court. On April 18, 2013, the six people were driven from the McAllen area to a Walmart in Laredo where Granadeno met them and hid them in various places throughout his tractor. He then drove to the checkpoint.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña, who presided over the trial, will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Granadeno faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Granadeno was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in conjunction with the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher S. Coker and Elizabeth R. Rabe prosecuted the case.
Fairview Heights Man Pleads Guilty in Heroin Case Involving Overdose Deaths and Courthouse FigureRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today that Douglas W. Oliver, 47, of Fairview Heights, IL, pled guilty on August 21, 2013 to charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin, and Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises.
Oliver is scheduled to be sentenced in United States District Court in East St. Louis, IL, on December 13, 2013. Deborah Perkins, Oliver’s mother and codefendant, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2013. Perkins pled guilty on August 1, 2013.
Oliver and his mother, Perkins, have also agreed to forfeit the residence they once shared at 20 Kassing Drive in Fairview Heights, IL.
During his change of plea hearing, Oliver acknowledged that he had given heroin to both Jesse Williams and Jennifer Herling shortly before each died.
Williams visited Oliver at 20 Kassing Drive on an unknown date in March 2012. Oliver and Perkins have both admitted that Williams died after ingesting heroin in their home, and that they arranged for her body to be transported to East St. Louis, where police discovered her remains approximately two weeks after her death. Williams, also known as “Jesse James,” was 30 years old when she died.
Williams visited Oliver at 20 Kassing Drive on an unknown date in March 2012. Oliver and Perkins have both admitted that Williams died after ingesting heroin in their home, and that they arranged for her body to be transported to East St. Louis, where police discovered her remains approximately two weeks after her death. Williams, also known as “Jesse James,” was 30 years old when she died.
Herling died of a heroin overdose while visiting Oliver at 20 Kassing Drive during the night of September 28-29, 2012. Herling was 20 years old when she died.
A Stipulation of Facts filed at the time of Oliver’s plea indicates his dealings with a person identified in the St. Clair County Courthouse investigation.
When Oliver is sentenced, he will face a sentence of not less than 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
The investigation which resulted in the convictions of Oliver and Perkins was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fairview Heights Police Department, the Madison and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Departments,MEGSI, and by many other local law enforcement agencies.
The case is assigned to United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton and Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.
Dresden Businessman Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Craig Elliot Woodward, 48, of Dresden, TN, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III.
# # # #
The indictment alleges that on or about January 4, 2013, Woodward, the owner of Clockwork Screen Printing and Graphics in Dresden, knowingly distributed computer image files using a computer connected to the internet. These image files depicted a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The indictment further alleges that on or about May 5, 2013, Woodward possessed two laptop computer containing image files of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the children depicted in the files were less than 12 years old.
If convicted, Woodward faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Following his sentence, Woodward could be under supervised release for the rest of his life.
The case was investigated by the FBI office in Jackson, the Dresden Police Department, the Martin Police Department and the Cookesville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Ireland is representing the government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources."
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
District Man Sentenced to 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
For Shooting That Killed One Teenager
And Wounded Another in Northwest Washington
-Attack Took Place on Memorial Day of 2011-WASHINGTON - Eugene A. Kelly, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 67 years in prison on charges of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and related offenses stemming from the shooting of two teenagers in Northwest Washington on Memorial Day of 2011, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Kelly was found guilty of the charges in April 2013, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the senseless cycle of violence that is far too common in our city,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “In a foolish attempt to avenge his brother’s murder, Eugene Kelly shot two innocent fifteen-year-old boys, killing one of them. Kelly’s inexplicable decision to kill a child did nothing to bring back his brother or to honor his brother’s memory. That terrible decision will instead result in Kelly spending the rest of his life behind bars. We hope that this lengthy sentence sends the message that there is nothing good that comes from perpetuating the cycle of violence.”
According to the government’s evidence, on May 30, 2011, at about 10:15 p.m., the victims, two 15-year-old boys, were walking home in the 1400 block of New Jersey Avenue NW. As they were walking, Kelly opened fire and shot both teenagers. Isaiah Harris was killed by a single gunshot wound to his body. The surviving victim was shot in the leg.
Just before the shooting, Kelly, who was riding a small trick bike, had stopped to talk to a neighborhood acquaintance. The defendant mentioned his brother’s 2008 murder, and stated his belief that someone from the nearby 5th and O Streets neighborhood was responsible. Kelly announced that someone was going to pay for his brother’s murder, and said that he was going to retrieve a gun. He then retrieved a gun by a nearby dumpster and rode east on P Street toward New Jersey Avenue. Seconds later, the defendant fired multiple times, targeting the two teens.
The victims did not know Kelly and had no knowledge of or involvement in the 2008 murder of his brother. They were simply walking from the area of 5th and O Streets NW.
During a search warrant of the defendant’s home two days later, law enforcement officers found a small trick bike that matched the witnesses’ descriptions of the bike used by the shooter, as well as ammunition consistent with the type used in the murder. In addition, an FBI expert in historical cell site analysis determined that the defendant’s phone was used in the vicinity of the murder within 15 minutes of the murder.
Finally, on Sept. 14, 2011, a guard at the District of Columbia Jail found a note taken from an inmate during a routine morning check. The note, signed by Kelly with his jail identification number, provided a witness’s name and address, and identified members of the witness’s family. A handwriting expert from the FBI concluded that Kelly wrote the note.In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, which were involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case. U.S. Attorney Machen also expressed appreciation to Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Ethel Noble, Victim /Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Joseph Calvarese, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ortwein, who indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer A. Kerkhoff and Holly R. Shick, who tried the case.
13-285
District Man Sentenced to 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
For Shooting That Killed One Teenager
And Wounded Another in Northwest Washington
-Attack Took Place on Memorial Day of 2011-WASHINGTON - Eugene A. Kelly, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 67 years in prison on charges of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and related offenses stemming from the shooting of two teenagers in Northwest Washington on Memorial Day of 2011, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Kelly was found guilty of the charges in April 2013, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the senseless cycle of violence that is far too common in our city,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “In a foolish attempt to avenge his brother’s murder, Eugene Kelly shot two innocent fifteen-year-old boys, killing one of them. Kelly’s inexplicable decision to kill a child did nothing to bring back his brother or to honor his brother’s memory. That terrible decision will instead result in Kelly spending the rest of his life behind bars. We hope that this lengthy sentence sends the message that there is nothing good that comes from perpetuating the cycle of violence.”
According to the government’s evidence, on May 30, 2011, at about 10:15 p.m., the victims, two 15-year-old boys, were walking home in the 1400 block of New Jersey Avenue NW. As they were walking, Kelly opened fire and shot both teenagers. Isaiah Harris was killed by a single gunshot wound to his body. The surviving victim was shot in the leg.
Just before the shooting, Kelly, who was riding a small trick bike, had stopped to talk to a neighborhood acquaintance. The defendant mentioned his brother’s 2008 murder, and stated his belief that someone from the nearby 5th and O Streets neighborhood was responsible. Kelly announced that someone was going to pay for his brother’s murder, and said that he was going to retrieve a gun. He then retrieved a gun by a nearby dumpster and rode east on P Street toward New Jersey Avenue. Seconds later, the defendant fired multiple times, targeting the two teens.
The victims did not know Kelly and had no knowledge of or involvement in the 2008 murder of his brother. They were simply walking from the area of 5th and O Streets NW.
During a search warrant of the defendant’s home two days later, law enforcement officers found a small trick bike that matched the witnesses’ descriptions of the bike used by the shooter, as well as ammunition consistent with the type used in the murder. In addition, an FBI expert in historical cell site analysis determined that the defendant’s phone was used in the vicinity of the murder within 15 minutes of the murder.
Finally, on Sept. 14, 2011, a guard at the District of Columbia Jail found a note taken from an inmate during a routine morning check. The note, signed by Kelly with his jail identification number, provided a witness’s name and address, and identified members of the witness’s family. A handwriting expert from the FBI concluded that Kelly wrote the note.In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, which were involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case. U.S. Attorney Machen also expressed appreciation to Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Ethel Noble, Victim /Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Joseph Calvarese, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ortwein, who indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer A. Kerkhoff and Holly R. Shick, who tried the case.
13-285
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – On August 19, 2013, Paul Kramer, age 43, of Granger, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge James E. Gritzner to 90 months in prison for wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Judge Gritzner also sentenced Kramer to five years of supervised release following incarceration.
From 2006 through 2009, Kramer knowingly used his mortgage company, Kramer Mortgage, and his real estate closing company, Iowa Closing and Escrow, to defraud multiple lenders out of over $1 million. Kramer executed the fraud, in part, in connection with a real estate development company, LDF. Kramer and the members of LDF, including Lane Anderson, orchestrated straw sales of thirteen properties to another LDF member, Shannon Flickinger. LDF was the true buyer but LDF could not qualify for financing for the purchase of the properties because the company already had too much debt. Flickinger was used as a straw buyer to obtain the financing to purchase the additional homes. At Kramer’s direction and with Kramer’s oversight Kramer Mortgage submitted loan applications in which Flickinger was named as the buyer despite the fact that Kramer knew that LDF was the true buyer. With Kramer’s knowledge, Flickinger’s income was grossly inflated in the applications in order to qualify him for the loans. After Flickinger’s fraudulent loan applications were approved, the straw sales were closed at Kramer’s mortgage company with Kramer’s knowledge. Kramer closed the sales despite the fact that Flickinger paid no down payments for any of the properties, contrary to the documentation that was provided to the lenders.
Kramer defrauded one particular bank by intentionally concealing the sales of properties that had been pledged to the bank as collateral for a $4 million line of credit for Kramer. After the sales of multiple properties in which the proceeds were owed to the bank, Kramer kept the proceeds and used them to pay his own personal or business expenses. Kramer also pledged several properties to more than one bank, without the banks’ knowledge, to obtain additional loans. Kramer’s activities resulted in the primary bank suffering significant losses and also left many homeowners unable to sell or refinance their homes because they did not have clear title to their properties. Some homeowners were threatened with foreclosure due to Kramer’s activities.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
(Download Press Release )
Defendants Sentenced in Tax Refund Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
DALLAS — Today, Shaunthina Daniel Rushing was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 56 months in federal prison, following her guilty plea in March 2013 to one count of conspiracy to file false claims. Her co-conspirator, Tommy Dean Turner, was sentenced in June 2013 to 36 months in federal prison; he pleaded guilty in February 2013 to the same offense. In addition, Judge Solis ordered that Rushing and Turner pay, jointly and severally, $365,626 in restitution. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
According to factual resumes filed in the cases, Rushing and Turner conspired together and with others to file approximately 50 fraudulent tax returns that resulted in more than $400,000 in false claims. The returns included Forms 5405, representing that the taxpayers were entitled to claim a First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (FTHTC) under the provisions of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.
That refundable tax credit could be claimed if a person purchased a main home in the U.S. after April 8, 2008, and before December 1, 2009, and if the person (and spouse, if married) did not own any other main home during the previous three years of the date of purchase. Qualifying taxpayers who purchased a home between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2009, could claim up to $8,000 as the FTHBC.
Rushing and Turner admitted, according to the factual resumes filed in the case, that they caused bank accounts to be opened to receive the fraudulent tax refund checks, obtained and disbursed the proceeds among themselves and others and maintained detailed records and logs that identified the fraudulent tax returns, the money received and the disbursement of proceeds.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Nicholas Bunch and DOJ Trial Attorney Robert Kemins prosecuted.
Controller of Stamford Company Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Embezzlng More Than $3.4 MillionRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that THOMAS J. TUREY, 64, of Norwalk, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling more than $3.4 million from his employer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, TUREY served as the controller for a market research company located in Stamford. As controller, TUREY’s responsibilities included aggregating the company’s monthly revenue and expense results, managing the company’s accounts receivable, performing financial analysis and reporting, and overseeing the company’s bookkeeper. TUREY also was responsible for the company’s general ledger and was in charge of conducting the company’s bank reconciliations. Between August 2005 and January 2013, TUREY embezzled approximately $3,462,435 from the company by writing checks to himself and to a fictitious entity for his personal benefit, and depositing those funds into bank accounts he controlled. TUREY made numerous false entries in the company’s books and records to conceal this scheme.
The majority of the embezzled funds were subsequently transferred into TUREY’s online brokerage account.
On May 23, 2013, TUREY pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Judge Hall ordered TUREY to pay full restitution to the victim company.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul A. Murphy.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Conspirators Sentenced to 84 Months and 55 Months for Fraud Conspiracy in the “birth of Innocence” Movie ProjectRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that this week the two men convicted of conspiring to commit fraud in connection with the “Birth of Innocence” movie project were sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss, in Rutland. On August 19, Louis J. Soteriou, 56 of Middlebury, Connecticut, was sentenced to prison for 84 months. On August 21, Malcolm (“Mac”) Parker, 56 of Addison, Vermont, who cooperated with the criminal investigation, was sentenced to prison for 55 months. Both men were allowed to self-report to prison on a date set by the Court.
In papers filed with the Court the United States explained that for the decade ending in 2009, Parker raised more than $28 million from hundreds of people by leading them to believe they were investing in Parker’s production of a movie entitled “Birth of Innocence.” Less than $1 million of that money was spent toward the creation of a movie, which remains unfinished. In contrast, approximately $4 million was sent to Soteriou who spent large sums of money on various luxuries, including more than $100,000 on hotel stays in Telluride, Colorado. Parker supplied Soteriou with this money despite telling investors it would be used toward the movie production. In Court the government estimated that Parker received approximately one-fourth the amount of criminal proceeds received by Soteriou.
The federal criminal investigation was conducted by agents from the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Attorney Tristram Coffin also recognized the significant work that was done to discover and stop this fraud in late 2009 by the State of Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (then known as the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration).
Soteriou was represented by Stephen Barth, Esq. Parker was reprsented by John Pacht, Esq.
Collin County Men Guilty in Foreclosure Rescue/Drug Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas – Two Collin County, Texas men have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a combination foreclosure rescue and drug distribution scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
Jarrod Williams, 34, and Julius Williams, 43, both of McKinney, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos L. Mazzant.According to information presented in court, from February 2007 to June 2012, Jarrod Williams, Julius Williams, and co-defendant, Charles Williams, controlled and operated Applied Investment Strategies, Inc. (AIS), which marketed itself as a foreclosure rescue service offering assistance to homeowners at risk of foreclosure. However, once a homeowner detained AIS, the defendants fraudulently used the customer’s personal identification information to prepare and send false military orders to banks and lending institutions in order to claim relief from foreclosure under the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act. AIS would then lease out the home and collect rental payments for AIS’ benefit. The scheme involved approximately 38 homes throughout North Texas and also extended to interfering in the repossession of automobiles. After at least one of the fraudulently-acquired properties was vacated, Charles Williams, Christopher Carter and Sean Harrell turned it into a marijuana grow operation that housed approximately 1,300 marijuana plants that were intended for distribution. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 11, 2012, charging the defendants with federal violations.
Jarrod Williams and Julius Williams both face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. Charles Williams, 38, of McKinney, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2012, to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. He faces up to 20 years on the fraud charges and between 10 years and life on the drug charge. Sean Harrell, 37, of Dallas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and faces from 10 years to life at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.
Christopher Carter, 33, of Leicester, England, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison on Apr. 12, 2013, for conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shamoil T. Shipchandler.
Coeur D'Alene Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Kalum McPhedran, 29, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to unlawfully possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. McPhedran was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene on February 20, 2013.
According to the plea agreement, McPhedran admitted that on January 15, 2013, he unlawfully possessed a Remington 12 gauge shotgun, knowing that he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction in 2010 for possession of a controlled substance. McPhedran will forfeit the firearm he unlawfully possessed.
The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for November 13, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.
The case was investigated by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force (NIVCTF). NIVCTF members include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, Bonner County Sheriff's Office, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police. The NIVCTF investigates a myriad of violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault and drug trafficking.
The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.
Calvin Carter Sentenced to 106 Months in Federal Prison for Cocaine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Aug. 20, 2013, Calvin Carter, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced to serve 106 months in prison, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge. Upon his release from prison, Carter will be subject to supervised release under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years.
Carter pleaded guilty in August 2012 to possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of the trafficking of cocaine. Because he possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, he faced a minimum 60 month sentence, up to life, in prison for the firearm charge alone.
The investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Carter was initiated by members of the Johnson City Police Department. During a traffic stop, Carter was found to be in possession of over 27 grams of crack cocaine. In addition, officers located a loaded Smith & Wesson .44 magnum revolver. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted in the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Regalia represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.
British Man Convicted in 2009 Hammer Attack on College CampusRead the Press Release
-Defendant Fled United States for Four Years After Assault -WASHINGTON Mohammed Niazi, 45, of the United Kingdom, was found guilty by a jury yesterday of charges arising from a hammer attack on a George Washington University student in a campus bathroom, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Niazi was found guilty by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, and carrying a dangerous weapon. The Honorable Stuart G. Nash scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2013.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 9, 2009, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Niazi entered Duques Hall, located at 2201 G Street in Northwest Washington. He entered a men’s bathroom on the second floor and began striking the victim in the back of the head with a metal hammer. The victim attempted to defend himself against Niazi, who continued the attack inside a foyer located between the hallway and the main bathroom. As the victim stumbled out of the bathroom bleeding, students rushed to his aid. Niazi fled down the stairs and out of the building.
Detectives with the George Washington University Police Department and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department obtained images of the suspect from security video taken in Duques Hall and issued a campus-wide e-mail alert. A response to the alert led police to a coffee shop nearby where Niazi had been seen shortly before the attack. Using security video and credit card transaction records from the coffee shop, police were able to obtain Niazi=s name and his Virginia driver=s license photo.
The day after the attack, Niazi purchased an airline ticket to London and fled the country the following day. On April 4, 2013, Niazi was apprehended when he tried to travel through Panama and was returned to the United States to face charges.
U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department, the George Washington University Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. U.S. Attorney Machen also commended the work of Paralegals Allison Gregory Daniels, Victim Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. Finally, he commended former Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Scruggs, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Sroka, who indicted and tried the case.
13-283
###Bowie County Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking & Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTEXARKANA, Texas – A 44-year-old Texarkana, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Keith Glenn Harris pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline M. Craven.
According to information presented in court, on July 21, 2012, Harris possessed approximately 1,610 grams of actual methamphetamine and a handgun in his vehicle. He was being paid to travel to Dallas and transport the methamphetamine to Texarkana for distribution. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Oct. 3, 2012, charging Harris with federal violations.
Harris faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby.
Amherst Man Arrested, Charged with Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Charles Jones, 40, of Amherst, N.Y., was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of up to $8,000,000 or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Opanga, who is handling the case, stated that on August 20, 2013, law enforcement officers pulled over a vehicle in the City of Buffalo. According to the complaint, the defendant was lying down in the backseat in an attempt to avoid police detection. Officers searched the car and discovered the suspect. During subsequent searches of a nearby business and residence, officers recovered quantities of cocaine and marijuana and approximately $16,000 in cash.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. Jones is being held pending a detention hearing on August 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Curtis Caylor, 60, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to receipt of a visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Caylor was arrested on Dec. 20, 2012, based on an indictment charging him with three counts of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. The indictment alleged that Caylor received child pornography on three occasions in Sept. 2011 and that he possessed child pornography in Jan. 2012, in Bernalillo County.
During today’s proceedings, Caylor entered a guilty plea to Count 2 of the indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography. In his plea agreement, Caylor acknowledged that investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (New Mexico ICAC Task Force) executed a search warrant at his residence on Jan. 12, 2012 and seized computers and computer-related media. The search warrant was issued based on an undercover investigation by the New Mexico State Police that began in June 2011, and targeted individuals who possessed, received and distributed child pornography. The investigation revealed that an IP Address which was subscribed to Caylor’s residence was being used to download child pornography images and videos through a peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
Caylor also acknowledged that a forensic examination of his computers and computer-related media by HSI and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensic Lab revealed thousands of images and videos consistent with child pornography. Caylor also acknowledged that HSI sent more than 1000 of these images and 600 of those videos to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the NCMEC has issued a preliminary report indicating they include 154 videos of 48 children who have been identified as child pornography victims and have been rescued.
At sentencing, Caylor faces a prison sentence of not less than five years and not more than 20 years. He also will be required to register as a sex offender. Caylor remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Caylor will forfeit his computers and computer-related media.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of HSI, the Online Predator Unit of the NMSP, the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory and other members of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlyn E. Rees 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which 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 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.
Alabama Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Thomas Monroe Lee, 40, of Gadsden, Alabama, was sentenced today to serve 121 months in federal prison for using the Internet in an attempt to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Evidence presented during a three day trial in April 2013 proved that, on June 14, 2012, law enforcement officers posed as a 14-year-old boy named Skylar and responded to an advertisement entitled “Last call!!!! – m4m – 1840 (PCB/Laguna beach),” which had been posted under the “Casual Encounters” link on Craigslist. Over the next 48 hours, Lee engaged in email chats and text messages with Skylar that were sexual in nature. Subsequently, Lee drove to a location where he had arranged to meet Skylar and transport him back to his residence to engage in sexual activity. Once Lee arrived at the location, officers from various law enforcement agencies arrested him for attempted online enticement of a child.
Lee was also sentenced to a fine in the amount of $1,000, a $100 special monetary assessment, and a 7-year term of supervised release, which he will be required to serve upon completion of his sentence.
In announcing the sentence, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, credited the success of this prosecution to the joint efforts of the agencies participating in the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department.
Ms. Marsh said, “The internet is a dangerous place, and we are determined to protect and provide justice to victims of internet crime.” She added, “Adult predators who seek to harm our children will be pursued and prosecuted by our office in cooperation with our law enforcement partners.”
“This man drove across state lines for the sole purpose of engaging in sexual relations with a child he believed to be 14 years old,” said Shane Folden, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa. “Our joint law enforcement efforts have successfully put this man behind bars for the next 10 years where he can no longer prey on innocent children.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Risinger.30 People Linked to Two Southern California Drug Transportation Networks Indicted on Federal Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
Rings Allegedly Smuggled Drugs into U.S. in Hidden Compartments
LOS ANGELES -- Thirty alleged members of two drug trafficking organizations that operated across Southern California have been indicted on federal narcotics charges following an investigation into the importation of cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States.
The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on August 8, was unsealed this morning after law enforcement authorities arrested seven defendants named in the indictment.The indictment is the result of a 20-month investigation involving federal wiretaps and conducted under the auspices of the Southern California Drug Task Force/High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The investigation, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, was called Operation “Mountain Top” and charges many of the defendants in conspiracies to distribute narcotics and to import drugs from Mexico.
During the course of Operation Mountain Top, authorities seized approximately 92 pounds of methamphetamine and 50 kilograms of cocaine.
The indictment names 30 defendants, some of whom have not been completely identified (hence, some are known as “FNU” or “LNU” – First/Last Name Unknown). The defendants are:
Nicolas Santana Zuniga, 43, of Mexico, who allegedly operated one of the drug transportation rings;
Mayra Zarate Ruelas, 37, of Mexico, who allegedly assisted Zuniga;
Raul Cervera, of Mexico, who allegedly operated the second drug transportation network;
Marco Antonio Quiroga, 51, of Mexico, who allegedly assisted Cervera by storing narcotics smuggled from Mexico;
Karine Elizabeth Barajas, 35, of Loma Linda, who allegedly smuggled narcotics into the United States for Zuniga’s network and who was arrested this morning;
Luis Mendiaz Deniz, 57, of Mira Loma, who allegedly assisted Zuniga by receiving and delivering narcotics smuggled from Mexico and who was arrested this morning;
David Lopez Hernandez, 28, of Loma Linda, who allegedly transported smuggled narcotics for Zuniga’s network and who was arrested this morning;
FNU LNU, known as “Pajaro,” a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used both Zuniga’s and Cervera’s networks to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Hipolito Gutierrez Nunez, 45, of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Zuniga’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
FNU LNU, aka “Benito,” of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Zuniga’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Elias LNU, of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Cervera’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
FNU LNU, known as “Polo,” of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Cervera’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Joel LNU, of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Cervera’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Idania LNU, aka “Guera,” of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Zuniga’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Joel Olivares, of Mexico, a Mexico-based drug trafficker who allegedly used Zuniga’s network to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.;
Octavio LNU, of Mexico, who allegedly assisted Cervera by coordinating the transportation of smuggled drugs to transporters;
David LNU, of Mexico, who allegedly assisted Cervera by coordinating the transportation of smuggled drugs to transporters;
Jose Cruz Gonzalez-Cordova, 55, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Zuniga’s network;
Rosa Venia Felix, 44, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Zuniga’s network;
Marcelino Meza Zamora, 56, of Los Angeles, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Zuniga’s network;
Julio Cesar Velazquez, 33, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Zuniga’s network;
Ladis Anthony Martinez, 25, of San Bernardino, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Zuniga’s network and who was arrested this morning;
Carlos Alfonso Marroquin-Flores, 35, of Mexico, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s network and who was arrested this morning as he crossed the international border into the United States;
Jose Ricardo Garcia Vazquez, 26, of Mexico, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s organization;
Mayra Alejandra Sandoval, 23, of Long Beach, who allegedly assisted a drug transporter working for Zuniga’s network and who was arrested this morning;
Cristian Ruben Ayala, 26, of Mexico, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s network;
Edgar Antonio Luna Hernandez, 32, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s network;
Victor Manuel Munoz, 30, of Hawaiian Gardens, who allegedly assisted Hernandez by storing smuggled drugs in his residence and who was arrested this morning;
Scott Daniel Mercado, 21, of San Diego, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s network; and
Bonny Santos Portillo, 25, who is believed to be a resident of San Diego, who allegedly transported smuggled drugs for Cervera’s network.
Those arrested this morning will be arraigned on the indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles (although Marroquin-Flores will make his first court appearance this afternoon in San Diego).
If they are convicted of the charges in the indictment, each defendant would face a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison.An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Operation Mountain Top is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the DEA, and the Torrance Police Department. A number of agencies affiliated with HIDTA assisted in today’s law enforcement operations, including U.S. Immigration and Custom
Release No. 13-106
Tuesday 20 August 2013
Woman Arrested for Voting Multiple Times in 2012 RunoffRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Sonia Leticia Solis, 54, has been charged with voting more than once in connection with the 2012 primary runoff election held in Cameron County on July 31, 2012, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
The indictment, returned under seal Aug. 13, 2013, was unsealed today following her arrest by federal authorities in Fort Worth. Solis, formerly of Brownsville, will make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton in Fort Worth at 2:30 this afternoon and is expected to be ordered to Brownsville in the near future.
The indictment alleges Solis was a resident of Brownsville during the 2012 runoff election. At that time, she allegedly cast five votes by absentee ballot in the names of five different individuals.
If convicted, Solis faces a possible federal prison sentence of up to five years and could be ordered to pay a maximum $10,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bill Hagen.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.Winchester Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced that Kenneth D. Broncheau, 48, of Winchester, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 30 years in prison for second degree murder and using a firearm in a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also sentenced Broncheau to five years of supervised release following his prison term and fined him $2,000. He pleaded guilty to the charges on May 29, 2013.
According to the plea agreement, Broncheau admitted that on the evening of June 21, 2012, he intentionally shot and killed his mother, Carol Haskell, at their residence located on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Broncheau fired two shots from a Savage Arms .243 rifle; the first bullet missed Haskell, the second struck her in the torso causing a mortal injury. Broncheau then retrieved a container of gasoline from a shed located on the property and returned to the residence. According to the plea agreement, Broncheau poured gasoline on the victim’s body and set it afire. A neighbor responding to the screams and gunshots removed the rifle from Broncheau’s hands. Broncheau was taken into custody by law enforcement shortly thereafter and has remained in custody since that time.
“Mr. Broncheau well deserves the significant sentence imposed by the court,” said Olson. “His intentional, senseless acts took his mother's life. This office, along with federal and tribal law enforcement, are committed to ensuring public safety in Indian Country.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nez Perce Tribal Police, Idaho State Police, and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney's Office and the IRS Presents More Than $119,000 to 26th Judicial District Attorney from Proceeds of Forfeiture CaseRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that the Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office and the IRS presented more than $119,000 to 26th Judicial District Attorney Schuyler Marvin as part of the successful completion a U.S. Attorney’s Office forfeiture case.The 26th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is receiving half of the $240,000 in U.S. Currency found during a traffic stop. The defendants charged in the case were prosecuted on criminal charges in state court, but the forfeiture of the U.S. Currency was pursued in federal court.
According to forfeiture case documents, Louisiana State Police troopers pulled over a vehicle Feb. 12, 2012, during a routine traffic stop. After obtaining permission to search the vehicle, they found more than $200,000 in the air intake compartment and in a suitcase in the trunk. Further investigation led to the discovery of about $40,000 hidden in the headliner of the vehicle.
After further investigation, it was discovered that Kelman Hernandez Cortorreal, who was driving the vehicle, and Cesar Maldonado and Ramon Reyes, who were passengers in the vehicle, were part of a scheme where they cashed fraudulent tax refund checks. They were traveling back to Pennsylvania after obtaining cash for refund checks in Houston, Texas.
“This case serves as an example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies work together successfully,” Finley said. “The defendants in this case were caught in the act of transporting money that was obtained through smuggling and filing fraudulent tax refunds. I want to thank all law enforcement agencies who were involved in this case.”
“IRS appreciates the outstanding working relationship that we enjoy with the local law enforcement agencies,” stated Special Agent in Charge Gabriel Grchan, IRS Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to work together to make crime a little less lucrative in our community.”
“I would like to commend the work of the State Police and all law enforcement agencies involved in this case,” Marvin stated. “Their efforts halted an illegal scheme that cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.”
The IRS, 26th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ramsay C. McCullough brought the forfeiture action on behalf of the United States.West Palm Beach Gang Associate Sentenced as Armed Career Criminal for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), announce that Narces Benoit, 37, a documented gang associate from West Palm Beach, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. to 180 months (15 years) in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.
On February 15, 2013, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit and SWAT Team executed a residential search warrant in West Palm Beach, Florida. At the scene, agents discovered Benoit in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol, cocaine, methamphetamine and a bag containing individually packaged baggies of marijuana.
A federal grand jury indicted Benoit on March 21, 2013, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In May 2013, Benoit pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of federal gun laws
Benoit was sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act, which provides a sentencing range of fifteen years to life for individuals who have been convicted of federal gun crimes and have at least three prior felony convictions for crimes of violence and/or serious drug offenses.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF and PBSO. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Waterloo Man Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William, J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ronald Beaton, 68, of Waterloo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations conducted an undercover investigation and discovered that a user of an Internet Protocol address was sharing child pornography files using file-sharing software. The Internet Protocol address was assigned to the defendant and his residence on West Main Street in Waterloo. A search warrant was executed and agents found video files depicting child pornography on the defendant’s computer.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part Special Agents from BeatoImmigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, James C. Spero.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2013 before Judge Siragusa.Two Donora Women Plead Guilty in Stolen Credit Card ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two Donora residents pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Kayla Doree Willis, 22, and Takeisha Lynn Martin, 22, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.
In connection with the guilty plea, the defendants admitted accepting UPS packages containing stolen credit cards, which were later used to purchase merchandise.
Judge Diamond scheduled Willis' sentencing for Dec. 10, 2013 at 10 a.m., and Martin's sentencing for Dec. 10, 2013 at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF), conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Willis and Martin. The WPFCTF was established as a collaborative, multi-agency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partnering in this effort are the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Canton Men Charged for Role in Large Marijuana Shipment Destined for ClevelandRead the Press Release
Two Canton men were charged in U.S. District Court with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana following the seizure of a semi tractor-trailer loaded with about 1,700 pounds of marijuana destined for Cleveland, law enforcement officials said.
Charged are Ray Sanchez, 46, and Andy Fagan, 29, both of Canton.
According to an affidavit filed in the case:
Sanchez contacted a counterpart in Texas this month and arranged for a large amount of marijuana to be shipped to Ohio. The next day, Fagan sent $20,000 by Federal Express to the Texas connection, which law enforcement officers suspected related to the shipment of marijuana from Texas to Cleveland.
Sanchez then indicated the marijuana would arrive on Aug. 15.On the morning of Aug. 15, law enforcement officials learned that the shipment of marijuana was intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations agents when the semi crossed the border at Laredo, Texas. The semi contained 1,718 pounds of marijuana hidden in recycling equipment and addressed to Fagan in Ohio.
Sanchez and Fagan were subsequently arrested.
The case is being investigated by a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency Task Force comprised of members of the Cleveland Division of Police, Independence Police Department, Broadview Heights Police Department, Brooklyn Police Department, Brook Park Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. The Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force also assisted. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros.
A charge is not evidence of guilty. A person is considered innocent until proven guilty and it is the government’s burden to prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is ongoing.
Timber Lake Woman Convicted of Misprision of A FelonyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Stephanie Vandervier, age 28, of Timber Lake, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on August 19, 2013, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged her with Misprision of a Felony.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 3 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; 1 year of supervised release; and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction is the result of a January 6, 2013, late night break-in at the Chatter Box Corner Café and Bar, a downtown business in Timber Lake, South Dakota. Vandervier had knowledge of the burglary, provided transportation to her co-defendant from the scene of the burglary, and concealed the same from tribal and federal law enforcement officers. She did not, as soon as possible, make known the same to a judge or other person in civil authority.
The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 19, 2013. The defendant was released pending sentencing.Timber Lake Woman Convicted of Misprision of A FelonyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Stephanie Vandervier, age 28, of Timber Lake, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on August 19, 2013, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged her with Misprision of a Felony.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 3 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; 1 year of supervised release; and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction is the result of a January 6, 2013, late night break-in at the Chatter Box Corner Café and Bar, a downtown business in Timber Lake, South Dakota. Vandervier had knowledge of the burglary, provided transportation to her co-defendant from the scene of the burglary, and concealed the same from tribal and federal law enforcement officers. She did not, as soon as possible, make known the same to a judge or other person in civil authority.
The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 19, 2013. The defendant was released pending sentencing.Three Individuals Facing up to 40 Years Imprisonment on Crack Cocaine ConvictionsRead the Press Release
1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-7725 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs SpecialistFollow us on Twitter @NDWVnews
Nine Others Appear for Pleas and Sentencings
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II
announced that the following individuals recently appeared in Federal Court in Martinsburg.MICHAEL SHAVER PAYTON, age 28, and DEHAVEN DARNELL CRAIG, age 28, of Martinsburg, entered pleas of guilty to “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of 44.1 Grams of Crack Cocaine,” on February 15, 2013, in Martinsburg. PAYTON and CRAIG, who are in custody pending sentencing, face at least 5 and up to 40 years imprisonment and a
$2,000,000 fine.MARTIN C. FELDER, age 34, of Frederick, Maryland, entered a plea of guilty to “Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 28 Grams of Crack Cocaine.” FELDER, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces at least 5 and up to 40 years imprisonment and a
$2,000,000 fine.AKEYLAH HUMPHREY, age 24, of Martinsburg, a co-defendant of PAYTON and CRAIG, entered a plea of guilty to “Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine” on February 15, 2013, in Martinsburg. HUMPHREY, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
DERRICK STANFORD SPENCER, age 35, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to “Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine.” SPENCER, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
JOHN ANDREW REDMAN, age 33, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to the “Distribution of Crack Cocaine.” REDMAN, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
CARLOS EDWARD CAREY, age 33, of Martinsburg, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment to be followed by six years of supervised for the “Distribution of Crack Cocaine within 1,000 Feet of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.” CAREY was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.
RONALD PAUL LAWSON, age 34, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment to be followed by six years of supervised release for “Distribution of Crack Cocaine within1,000 Feet of the Winchester Avenue Elementary School.” LAWSON, who is free on bond, will self-report to the designated Federal institution.
The PAYTON, CRAIG and HUMPHREY case, and the REDMAN, CAREY and LAWSON cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod J. Douglas. The FELDER and SPENCER cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti.
These cases were investigated by the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.
DANIELLE OSTROWSKI-JONES, age 23, of Chestertown, Maryland, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for the “Transfer of Stolen Firearms.” OSTROWSKI-JONES, who is free on bond, will self- report to the designated Federal institution. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
JOHN SHINGLER, age 48, of Westernport, Maryland, was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release for “Conversion [theft] of Government Property.” SHINGLER, who is free on bond, will self-report to the designated Federal institution. This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police-General Services Administration.
The OSTROWSKI-JONES and SHINGLER cases were prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti.MATTHEW WERHOFF, age 55, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to “Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud.” WERHOFF, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 4 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
CASSANDRA PUGH, age 30, of Hagerstown, Maryland, entered a plea of guilty to “Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud.” PUGH, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 4 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine
The WERHOFF and PUGH cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Perri and were investigated by the Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General.
Steven Prewit Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge in MidlandRead the Press Release
Midland resident and land surveyor Steven Leonard Prewit, age 54, faces up to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty this afternoon to the possession of unregistered silencers in violation of National Firearms Registration requirements, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan.
Appearing this morning before United States Magistrate Judge David Counts in Midland, Prewit admitted to illegally possessing eight (8) unregistered firearms silencers. According to court records, a search by the ATF and FBI of both his home and a ranch near Balmorhea on May 2, 2013, uncovered the silencers as well as a number of fully automatic machine guns and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Specifically, Prewit possessed eight (8) firearms silencers, eighteen (18) fully automatic machine guns, one (1) short barreled rifle and four (4) IEDs; all of which were unregistered. All eight of the unregistered firearms silencers did not have serial numbers or manufacturer’s markings as required.
The investigation into Prewit began in March of this year when ATF and FBI agents received information that Prewit was in possession fully automatic machine guns, firearms silencers and IEDs. An FBI undercover employee was on the ranch with Prewit in both March and April of 2013 when he saw Prewit in possession of multiple fully automatic machine guns, silencers and IEDs. Prewit admitted to the FBI undercover employee that none of the weapons, silencers and/or IEDs was registered to him and that he knew they should have been.
Under Title 26, United States Code, Chapter 53, any individual who possesses a machine gun, destructive device, or firearm silencer is required by federal law to register the firearms and/or devices with the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) National Firearms Act Branch (NFA). The applicant must complete and have approved an ATF Form 4: Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of the Firearm and pay a tax. After the application is approved, the firearm may be transferred and the applicant will be entered into the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
In exchange for Prewit’s guilty plea today, the government has agreed to dismiss counts one and two which involved the possession of the machine guns and explosive devices. Prewit will remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing later this fall. Assistant United States Attorney LaTawn Warsaw is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
St. Landry Parish School Board Member Convicted on Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today a federal jury found St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy Richard Sr., 51, of Opelousas, La., guilty of taking bribes for his vote in favor of a former candidate for St. Landry Parish Superintendent. United States District Judge Richard T. Haik presided over the trial.
On August 20, 2013, after a two-day trial, a jury found Richard guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and two counts of bribery after deliberating for about an hour. Based on witness testimony and documents admitted into evidence, Richard was shown to have conspired with fellow St. Landry Parish School Board member John Miller, 72, of Opelousas, to receive bribe money from former school board superintendent candidate Joseph Cassimere in return for their support. During July, August and September of 2012, Richard and Miller had a number of private meetings with Cassimere where they negotiated price and payment from Cassimere in exchange for their favorable individual votes as school board members in support of Cassimere’s candidacy for superintendent. At the same time the screening process for the superintendent position was ongoing and by the week of September 16, 2012, five applicants had been publicly named. The final vote was scheduled for September 26, 2012.
The defendants met with Cassimere on September 24, 2012 at the Quarters Restaurant in Opelousas and received $5,000 each in return for their votes. They made it clear that Cassimere had also secured their services, efforts, influence and due diligence to secure the votes of other members of the school board for Cassimere’s candidacy. Richard added that Cassimere could also recoup his $10,000 bribe by adding that amount to his salary request. Richard and Miller instructed Cassimere on how to make and justify a meritorious salary request above the amount listed for the superintendent’s salary as advertised. This conversation of September 24, 2012 had been under FBI video and audio surveillance. After the defendants exited the restaurant, they were confronted by the FBI who recovered the $5,000 payments. Miller was indicted on October 24, 2012 and resigned from his position as a school board member July 28, 2013. Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery July 1, 2013.United States Attorney Finley stated, “This case was about illegally selling votes. Quincy Richard was thinking about himself, not about the children, the community or the school system. The jury listened to the witnesses, reviewed the evidence and justice was served. Without citizens who come forward, bribery like this would corrode our public servants. This is a great step for the School Board. I hope they can now move forward and take care of the educational work that needs to be addressed for the people of Opelousas.”
“The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate any public corruption undermining critical government institutions that support children such as our public school systems,” said Michael J. Anderson, FBI Special Agent in Charge, New Orleans Division.
Richard faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years in prison for the conspiracy to commit bribery count. He also faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for each bribery count. Miller faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bribery. Sentencing dates have not been set.The FBI-Alexandria Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Education-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.