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Monday 3 June 2013
Justice Department Settles Effective Communication Case Against City of New HavenRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the Department of Justice has reached a settlement agreement with the City of New Haven under which the City agrees to implement training and ensure its policies comply with the effective communication requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The City of New Haven voluntarily agreed to enter into the settlement agreement during the Justice Department’s investigation into allegations that the City’s Livable City Initiative failed to effectively communicate with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The ADA requires that “public entities,” such as local governments and police departments, ensure effective communication with qualified individuals with disabilities. The agreement, which covers all departments of the City of New Haven, requires the City to:
- Ensure its policies and practices are nondiscriminatory and provide effective communication for people with communication disabilities, including the provision of sign language interpreters;
- Post a notice of the policies in public areas;
- Train staff on the policies; and
- Ensure that appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters and specifically tactile interpreters, are made available to all individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“We commend the City of New Haven for agreeing to enter into this settlement agreement and for the assurance that critical and effective communication will be provided to persons who are hearing impaired,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “The City’s cooperation in this investigation and its agreement today reflects the City’s strong commitment to keep residents safe and to uphold their civil rights.”
This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ndidi Moses of the District of Connecticut, with the assistance of the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of discrimination can file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office by calling 203-821-3700. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov or by calling the Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Juneau Man sentenced to 30 months in prison and co-conspirator pleads guilty in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a Juneau resident was sentenced in Juneau to federal prison for drug conspiracy.
Joshua River Riley, 37, of Juneau, Alaska, was sentenced May 31, 2013, by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 30 months prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Co-conspirator Bradley Arin Bethel subsequently pled guilty to his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2013.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the charges arose from a joint investigation including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Juneau Police Department-Drug Metro Unit, which were investigating the importation of heroin into Juneau, Alaska.Between October 2012, and continuing through November 2012, Riley and his co-conspirator Bethel conspired to import heroin from Portland, Oregon, to Juneau, Alaska. As part of the conspiracy, Riley contacted other co-conspirators in Oregon to supply heroin to Riley for subsequent distribution in Alaska. Riley and Bethel provided the money to purchase the heroin and Bethel recruited a drug courier and arranged for the courier’s flight to Oregon to pick up the heroin with Riley who had traveled the previous day to Oregon. Bethel provided the courier with a cell phone and programmed the number of Riley in the cell phone for the courier to get in contact with Riley in Oregon. Riley and the courier met in Oregon and Riley provided 106.4 grams of heroin to the courier to transport back to Alaska via commercial air carrier for subsequent distribution.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess emphasized the seriousness of the offense, the need to deter the defendant and others and to provide treatment in the most effective manner for the defendant as reasons for imposing the 30 month prison sentence.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Juneau Police Department - Drug Metro Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Riley and Bethel.Informational: Federal Court ArraignmentRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 31, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:
MACKENZIE RICHARD KEENE JOINER, a 29-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, JOINER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, and 4 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
Informational: Federal Court ArraignmentRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on June 3, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:
WENDELL LESTER WOLF BLACK, SR., a 46-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, WOLF BLACK faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release on each charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
Illinois Man Sentenced to Serve 72 Monthsin Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Presciption Drugs over the InternetRead the Press Release
Michael P. Jackson, 40, of Carmi, Ill., was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to serve 72 months in prison for selling the prescription drug known as Adderall, from 2009 to 2012, to a Florida woman who operated an illegal Internet-pharmacy business. Jackson also was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
According to the Dec. 6, 2012, indictment, defendant Jackson supplied his co-defendant Lina Rodriguez with pills of Adderall, which contains amphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. As defendant Jackson was aware and intended, co-defendant Rodriguez resold the Adderall pills through an Internet business she owned and operated in southern Florida.
“This prosecution aims to curb the sale of dangerous drugs to United States citizens,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. “The controlled substance drugs allegedly sold by the defendants were not dispensed by U.S. licensed pharmacies, and were not prescribed by any physician. Along with FDA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and our other law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect our citizens from unsafe and potentially harmful drugs.”
Jackson pled guilty to the lead count of the indictment on March 11, 2013, which charged him and Rodriguez with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute Adderall. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Jackson agreed not to oppose a judgment against him in the amount of $18,862, as gross proceeds of the offense to which he pleaded guilty. Rodriguez was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment on April 22, 2013.
The case was investigated by the Miami Field Office of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations; the Miami Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Sacramento Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Larsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and Perham Gorji, Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
Hotchkiss Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Detective's Assault RifleRead the Press Release
DENVER – Keaton Bell, age 24, of Hotchkiss, Colorado, pled guilty late last week before Senior U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane to one count of possession of stolen firearms and ammunition, and to one count of possession of machine gun the United States Attorney’s Office, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced. Judge Kane is scheduled to sentence Bell on August 22, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.
According to court documents, including the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, in October 2012, an Eagle County Sheriff’s Office detective and SWAT team member was in Denver undergoing cancer treatment. He lived in Gypsum, Colorado, with his girlfriend, who visited him periodically in Denver during his cancer treatment. The detective’s girlfriend gave her girlfriend permission to stay at the detective’s Gypsum home while the two were in Denver for the cancer treatment. The person staying at the home invited her boyfriend, Keaton Bell, to stay with her in Gypsum.
While Bell and his girlfriend were at the home between October 5 through October 7, 2012, they got into a fight. Bell eventually left, taking the detective’s SWAT equipment, including a machine gun, a hand gun, ammunition and tactical gear, which had been stored in the basement of the home. Some of the equipment and weapons were owned by Eagle County.
At the time the crime was reported, Bell was reportedly in Alberta, Canada, working for a mining company. Officers went to Bell’s home in Hotchkiss, Colorado on November 2, 2012, and were unable to reach anyone. Investigators continued to locate Bell when he responded via text about his location. He then called the officers when he became available. Officers asked for permission to search Bell’s pickup. He granted them permission as along as a family member was present. During the search officers found, among other things, a leg holster for a taser that the Special Operations Unit of the Sheriff’s Office, to which Hall was assigned, uses. Hall confirmed the leg holster was his. Officers then issued a state warrant for Bell’s arrest.
On November 20, 2012, Bell was reported as a suspicious person at a Wal-Mart in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and police were called. The Glenwood Springs Police Department arrested Bell on the Eagle County arrest warrant. Investigators confirmed that Bell stole from Hall a Colt rifle, a Glock, a .380 pistol, magazines, and a suppressor for the rifle. They also found out that once Bell returned from Canada that put the stolen items into his truck.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office obtained a state search warrant for the truck, and found a camouflage-colored rifle case under the driver’s side rear wheel well which contained the following items stolen from Hall’s home: a Colt M4 Commando .223 Fully Automatic Rifle, an EOTech Sight System, a Surefire Light System, a GemTech Halo Suppressor, a Glock 9mm model 26 semi-automatic pistol, and two .223 magazines. They also found the Bersa .380 with holster under the hood and in the engine compartment of the vehicle.
The Colt rifle is imprinted with information that the weapon is fully automatic. Further, the firearm was clean when it was stolen and dirty when recovered, evidencing that it had been fired.
Bell faces up to ten years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the counts that he has pled guilty to.
This case has been investigated by the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer.
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Hombre De Fresno Sentenciado A Prision Por Producir Documentos De Identificacion FalsosRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Esteban Mendoza-Galeno, 44, de Fresno, fue sentenciado hoy por el Juez de Distrito de los Estados Unidos Lawrence J. O’Neill a dos años y tres meses de prisión por producir documentos fraudulentos de identificación del gobierno, anunció el Fiscal Benjamin B. Wagner de los Estados Unidos.
De acuerdo con documentos de los tribunales, entre Febrero y Marzo de 2012, Mendoza-Galeno fabricó y vendió a clientes en Fresno documentos de identificación falsos, tales como tarjetas de seguridad social y tarjetas de residencia permanente, por hasta $120.00 el juego de documentos. El Juez O’Neill aumentó la sentencia de Mendoza-Galeno en base a su posesión de aproximadamente 213 imàgenes de documentos fraudulentos sobre varios artículos de medios electrónicos, incluida la computadora laptop de Mendoza-Galeno y los dispositivos de memoria. Al sentenciar a Mendoza-Galeno, el Juez O’Neill le dijo “Usted es un impostor experimentado.”
Este caso fue el producto de una investigación por parte del Departamento de Investigaciones de Seguridad Interna (HSI por su sigla en inglés) del àrea de aplicación de la Ley de Aduana e Inmigraciones de los Estados Unidos (ICE por su sigla en inglés). El Fiscal Adjunto de los Estados Unidos Christopher Baker impulsó la causa.
Harrisburg Man Involved in Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 120 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Cruz, age 32, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 120 months’ imprisonment and three years’ of supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Conner further ordered the Cruz pay a $1,100 fine.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, as a result of continuous efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dauphin County Drug Task Force the investigation identified cocaine and heroin drug trafficking organizations, which included Cruz and 18 other defendants who were indicted in April 2012.
Investigators found that Cruz was a distributor for a known drug trafficking organization in Harrisburg that used couriers who traveled between Harrisburg and the Boston metropolitan area where the drugs were obtained. Upon returning to Harrisburg, the drugs were repackaged for distribution throughout the area including Cruz’s cousin’s business, D&M Contracting.
Cruz pleaded guilty in December 2012 to distributing at least 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride.
Of the remaining 18 defendants, Fremo Santana; Zenaida Arroyo; Eduardo Martinez; Ramon Serrano-Aponte; Angel Cruz; Jorge San Miguel; Jerome Brunson; Heidi Fisher; Eddie Carlo Rodriguez-Melendez; Angel DeJesus; and Richard Eugene Sims are awaiting trial scheduled for August 2013.
Crystal Dee Brunson, Thomas Davenport, Dwayne Lamont Harmon, Edwin Puglia and Harry Ortiz have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Luis Lopez-Melendez and Ralph David Howell remain fugitives.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lebanon County Drug Task Force and the Dauphin County Drug Task Force. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.
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Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.Fort Pierce Man Sentenced on Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, announce today’s sentencing of defendant Jose Antonio Delgado, 46, of Fort Pierce, on charges of unlawful possession of stolen firearms. Delgado had previously pled guilty to possession of a stolen handgun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j) and 924(a)(2). At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Delgado to 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On November 14, 2012, defendant Delgado was arrested by officers of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, after he was spotted carrying a prohibited firearm in public and fled police pursuit into his home in Fort Pierce. Following Delgado’s surrender to the police who surrounded the home, a state search warrant issued for the home. The search resulted in the seizure of two firearms found in Delgado’s home (a .22 caliber TEC-22 short barreled rifle modified with an added stock, and a homemade silencer) as well as the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun Delgado was carrying as he fled police, which was found outside on the ground. According to court records, Delgado had been deprived of the right to possess firearms following previous felony convictions. Judge Moore imposed the maximum sentence under federal law, noting the defendant’s extensive criminal history going back to the age of nine years old.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF, the Fort Pierce Police Department, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Former Prince George’s County, Maryland, Correctional Officer Sentenced to 24 Months for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. sentenced Anthony McIntosh, a former correctional officer at the Prince George’s County Detention Center, in Upper Marlboro, Md., to 24 months in prison for obstruction of justice. McIntosh had entered a guilty plea on Jan. 4, 2013, at which time he admitted that he had obstructed justice by providing false information about the circumstances surrounding the in-custody death of Ronnie White. At the time of his death on June 29, 2008, White was being detained on charges related to the death two days earlier of a Prince George’s County police officer.
McIntosh, 49, of Brooklyn, N.Y., admitted during his guilty plea that he had provided false information in a witness statement he submitted to a police detective investigating White’s in-custody death. McIntosh admitted that he omitted from his witness statement material information that was truthful and included information that he knew was false. Specifically, McIntosh claimed in the false witness statement that another officer had discovered White unresponsive in his single-occupant cell and had then summoned McIntosh to the cell. During his guilty plea, McIntosh admitted that, in actuality, he had been the first correctional officer to find White unresponsive in the cell and that he had failed to call a medical emergency signal as required by the Department of Corrections. McIntosh also admitted that he included in his statement the false claims that he never moved Ronnie White's body and that he “didn’t know what was going on” when his partner told him that White appeared to be unresponsive.
“Instead of lawfully carrying out his duties as a correctional officer, Mr. McIntosh used his official position to obstruct the search for the truth regarding the in-custody death of a pretrial detainee,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Roy L. Austin Jr. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who cross the line and engage in criminal misconduct.”
The case was investigated by the Baltimore Division of the FBI and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Forrest Christian and Trial Attorney Ali Ahmad of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.Former Hells Angels President Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The former president of the Las Vegas chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club has been sentenced to 46 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess 10 kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Duncan.
Paul Seifert, 46, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on May 30, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. Seifert was permitted to self-report to federal prison by Aug. 28, 2013.
Seifert and two others, Keith Hare, 43, and Miguel Macias, 33, were originally charged in November 2011. On May 2, 2008, Macias and Seifert, then members of the Hells Angels, met with an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and agreed to provide security for the undercover agent during a cocaine purchase. Macias and Seifert indicated they had experience providing security for similar transactions, and Seifert indicated he was president of the local Hells Angels chapter. On May 8, 2008, Seifert, Hare, and Macias met the undercover ATF agent at a hotel room in Las Vegas. Other ATF agents and law enforcement officers arrived at the hotel room and posed as sellers for 10 kilograms of cocaine. The undercover ATF agent purchased the cocaine, and the defendants were paid $3,000 for their “work.”
Hare also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 14, 2013. Macias pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and was sentenced on Sept. 12, 2012 to 70 months in prison.Former Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Victimizing Consumers in Timeshare Telemarketing ScamRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Hank Quimby, 35, of Lake Worth, Florida, pled guilty in federal district court on May 31, 2013. The charge arose out of a telemarketing scam which operated in Palm Beach County, Florida that bilked over 22,000 victims of $30 million dollars. Consumers were victimized in all fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, all ten Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territory of Canada. There were at least 54 victims in twenty seven (27) of the thirty eight (38) counties comprising the Southern District of Illinois.
The charge which Quimby plead guilty to states that Quimby was a telemarketer who worked for Creative Vacation Solutions and Universal Marketing Solutions which conducted a telemarketing timeshare resale scheme targeting timeshare owners throughout the United States and Canada. The information alleges that Creative Vacation Solutions and Universal Marketing Solutions falsely represented that they had found buyers for the consumers’ timeshare interests and solicited fees of up to several thousand dollars from each consumer in purported pre-paid closing costs and related expenses. The information alleges that the purported sales did not occur, closings were not scheduled as was often represented, and, in fact, Creative Vacation Solutions and Universal Marketing Solutions did not successfully sell any consumer’s timeshare interest. It is further alleged that Creative Vacation Solutions and Universal Marketing Solutions devoted essentially no resources to marketing their clients’ timeshare interest and simply pocketed the purported closing costs.
Multiple others have been charged in connection with the Creative Vacation Solutions telemarketing scam. On June 30, 2011, Jennifer Kirk pled guilty to a criminal information. She was sentenced on January 9, 2012 to over 16 years in prison and five years’ supervised release. On August 17, 2011, a federal grand jury in East St. Louis charged Steve Folan, Ryan Brazel, and Brian Morris in a multi-count indictment for their involvement in the alleged scheme. Folan, Brazel, and Morris pled guilty. Brazel was sentenced on June 29, 2012 to 121 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. Folan was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. Morris was sentenced to 168 months and five years’ supervised release. Joel Intravaia pled guilty to conspiracy in an information filed on August 19, 2011. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on December 9, 2011. Ralph Johnson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy charges filed in a criminal information on September 8, 2011. He was sentenced on December 16, 2011, to 46 months in prison and two years’ supervised release. On September 21, 2011, Kenneth Foote and Joseph Grizzanti were indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis. On October 7, 2011, each filed a consent to transfer their case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in order to plead guilty to the charges there. On May 11, 2012 in the Southern District of Florida, Foot was sentenced to 60 months in prison and Grizzante to 72 months, respectively. Jeffrey Tracey Fields was charged with conspiracy in a criminal information on October 25, 2011. He filed a consent to transfer his case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in order to plead guilty to the charges there. Fields was sentenced to 101 months in prison. John Thomas Egan pled guilty to conspiracy charges filed in a criminal information on January 6, 2012. Egan was sentenced to 90 months in prison. On January 20, 2012, David Johnson and Erin Todd were indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis. Johnson pled guilty and received 36 months in prison. Todd’s case was tried before a jury in September 2012. Todd was found guilty and sentenced to 42 months in prison. In March 2012, John Robert Eddy, Cloyd James Holmes, Jr., Gino Christopher Marquez, and Donald Myers were indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Eddy pled guilty and received 60 months in prison; Holmes pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing; Marquez pled guilty and received 70 months in prison; and Myers pled guilty and received 30 months in prison. In April 2012, Daniel L. Gregg, Joshua G. Schneidau, and Lacey Marie Stone were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Gregg pled guilty and received 27 months in prison; Schneidau pled guilty and received 60 months in prison; and Stone plead guilty and is awaiting sentencing. In May 2012 Anthony Colon, Troy Dye, Chris Gilkey, Marc Martinangelo, and Robert Santiago were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Colon pled guilty and received 70 months in prison; Dye pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing; Gilkey pled guilty and received 27 months in prison; Martinangelo pled guilty and received 1 year plus 1 day in prison; and Santiago pled guilty and received 20 months in prison. In July 2012 Daniel James Ferrara and Robert Schmucker were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Both Ferrara and Schmucker pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The criminal charges follow an investigation by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Boynton Beach Florida Police Department. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce E. Reppert and Katherine L. Lewis, and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Former Attorney Pleads to Bank Fraud and Defrauding Investors in South African SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Brian Ray Dinning, formerly of Suffolk, Va., pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Dinning faces a maximum penalty of 30 years on the bank fraud charges and 20 years on the wire fraud charges when he is sentenced on October 2, 2013.
Dinning was a tax attorney in Suffolk, Virginia. Dinning’s scheme to defraud involved South African investment opportunities, including land developments, gold and diamond mining operations, and alleged charitable work for the South African tribes. Dinning orchestrated his scheme by soliciting local businessmen who were interested in investing in South Africa, either for charity or return on investments. Dinning promised his investors guaranteed returns on their investments.
Between 2005 and 2012, Dinning received over $2.5 million in investments and charitable donations to his numerous limited liability corporations (LLCs). Dinning’s bank records reveal that shortly after the investment checks and wires were deposited into one of his LLC bank accounts, Dinning would immediately use the money to pay for personal expenses, such as a down-payment and subsequent mortgage payments on his new home; alimony/child support payments to his ex-wife; payments for credit cards balances; payments to disgruntled former investors; and payments to his wife and family members. Dinning would periodically travel with his investors to South Africa to evaluate their investments. As a result of these trips, several investors realized they had been defrauded and either asked for a return of their investment and/or filed lawsuits against Dinning. Dinning eventually left the area after losing or settling several lawsuits, as well as losing his home in Suffolk. Nevertheless, Dinning continued to recruit other victims in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Canada and Europe.
In early 2012, Dinning became aware of the federal investigation concerning his projects and in May 2012, the defendant fled the United States and went to Toronto, Canada with his Canadian spouse. Dinning was indicted in June 2012 on 25 counts of wire fraud.
Dinning was indicted in September 2012, for defrauding Village Bank of Midlothian in 2005 and 2006. In late 2005, Dinning purchased a 2005 Mercedes ML 500 and then obtained a $40,000 auto loan from Village Bank. He filed for a new Virginia title that showed no liens on the car. In May 2006, the defendant sold the car to his father in Pennsylvania for $26,000. Dinning and his father showed this transaction as a gift, with the father and Dinning writing an affidavit of gift. In May 2006, the defendant applied for a home mortgage of $828,000 with Village Bank. Dinning falsified his mortgage application claiming $250,000 in income (he had been fired by his former employer, Trident, Inc., in Northern Virginia, in January 2006); he provided the bank falsified 2004 and 2005 tax returns; and misled the bank regarding his alimony or child support. Village Bank’s losses were approximately $223,000 on the two loans.
Dinning eventually was extradited from Canada on December 20, 2012, and was held for pretrial detention pending trial. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen W. Haynie and Elizabeth M. Yusi 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.Foreign National Sentenced on Firearms, Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
Emilio Barrios-Cortez, 38, a citizen of Mexico, who most recently resided in Madison, Illinois, was sentenced to prison on June 1, 2013, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Barrios-Cortez, who had previously entered a plea of guilty on December 10, 2012, to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien (Count 1), and Entry Into the United States Without Inspection (Count 2) was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a special assessment of $110. The Court also ordered that the firearm possessed by Barrios-Cortez be forfeited to the United States. The sentencing Court entered a Judicial Order of Removal, which will require Barrios-Cortez to be deported from the United States following the service of his sentence.
Barrios-Cortez was arrested on August 23, 2012, when federal agents went to a residence in Madison to attempt to arrest two individuals who had been charged as a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. Agencies participating in that investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), U.S. Marshal Service, the Granite City Police Department, Fairview Heights Police Department, the Collinsville Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County (Missouri) Police Department, the St. Charles County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Although those two individuals were not located at that time, agents did locate a sawed-off shotgun, which further investigation revealed had been possessed by Barrios-Cortez. In addition, according to the Stipulation of Facts filed with the Court at the time of the plea, Barrios-Cortez admitted to agents that he was an illegal alien who entered the country in October 2002 near Douglas, Arizona.
This case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Randy G. Massey.
Five Charged with Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in Death, Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. – An indictment that charges five individuals with conspiracy to distribute heroin was unsealed this afternoon upon initial court appearances of three of the defendants in custody: Monta Y. Anderson, 35; Diondre P. Harris, 23; and, Walter Nealy IV, 36, made their initial appearance in federal court this afternoon. Harris, of Peoria, Ill., and Nealy previously of New Orleans, now residing in Peoria, were arrested on Sat., June 1; Anderson was already in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Two other defendants charged in the indictment, Leland D. Jones, 34; and Latanya R. Anderson, 37, both of Chicago, remain at large.
The charges are the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation announced today by U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis, Central District of Illinois. The DEA task force worked cooperatively with the Peoria Police Department, Illinois State Police, and members of the Tazewell County Major Crimes Task Force and the Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group to investigate the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tate Chambers is prosecuting the case in the Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division.
The indictment, which charges the defendants with a single count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, alleges that from about May 2010 to the present, the five defendants conspired to distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin. Further, the indictment alleges that as a result of this conspiracy, death and serious bodily injury resulted from use of the heroin.
If convicted, for the offense of conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin, the statutory penalty is 10 years to life in prison; if a defendant has one or more prior felony drug convictions, the penalty is 20 years to life in prison; with two or more prior felony drug convictions, the statutory penalty is life in prison. If it is found that death or serious bodily injury resulted from the use of the heroin, the penalty is a mandatory 20 years in prison to life sentence.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.Felon with Loaded Firearms and Heroin Pleads Guilty to Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A felon who possessed loaded firearms and heroin at his Huntington residence pleaded guilty today to federal charges, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Obadiah Pacely, 45, of Huntington, sold heroin to a confidential informant working in cooperation with law enforcement on February 25, 2013. Following the heroin transaction, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on Pacely’s Huntington residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Pacely fled the residence. The defendant was apprehended a short time later by police. A law enforcement search of Pacely’s residence revealed a loaded pistol, a loaded revolver, one .22 caliber rifle and heroin located in the defendant’s bedroom.
Pacely was previously convicted in November 1987 in the 31st Circuit Court, St. Clair County, Michigan of felony delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance. Pacely was also previously convicted in January 2001 in the Court of Common Pleas, Lorain County, Ohio of felony grand theft of an automobile. He did not have his rights to possess a firearm restored.
Pacely faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on August 26, 2013 by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Huntington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is in charge of the prosecution.
The matter is being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
Federal Jury Finds Meriden Police Officer Guilty of Using Unreasonable Force, Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found Meriden Police Officer EVAN COSSETTE, 26, guilty of one count of using unreasonable force and one count of obstructing a federal investigation by preparing a false report. The trial before United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton began on May 28 and the jury returned its verdict this afternoon after deliberating for less than three hours.
According to evidence at trial, on May 1, 2010, COSSETTE and another Meriden Police officer responded to a reported hit-and-run incident. After identifying “P.T.” as the driver likely involved in the hit-and-run incident, the officers placed him under arrest. COSSETTE transported P.T. to the Meriden Police Department and escorted a compliant and handcuffed P.T. from the squad car to the holding cell. Once inside the holding cell, COSSETTE firmly shoved a retreating P.T., causing him to fall backward and strike his head on a cement cell bench. P.T. suffered a 12-centimeter gash to the back of his head and lost consciousness. P.T. was then transported to the hospital for treatment.
COSSETTE obstructed justice by making false and misleading statements, as well as material omissions, in his report relating to the arrest and processing of P.T. in order to cover up and create a false justification for his assault upon P.T.
“We thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful consideration of the evidence,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “Our system of justice cannot tolerate abuses by police officers, and today’s verdict helps preserve the integrity of a profession that is entrusted with protecting our liberties as well as our safety.”
“As law enforcement officers, we are measured by a higher standard because we are both sworn and privileged to uphold the United States Constitution,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz. “We must meet that standard with unfailing integrity and honor. Those who cannot meet that essential standard should not be wearing a badge. While there is no joy in today’s guilty verdict, we know that justice has been served.”
Judge Arterton has scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2013, at which time COSSETTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul H. McConnell and David E. Novick.
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[email protected]Federal Inmate Admits Escaping from Renewal CenterRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of escape from custody, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Alfonso Evans, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on Sept. 29, 2012, Evans escaped from federal custody at the Renewal Center in Pittsburgh, while serving a 39-month term of incarceration for a previous federal conviction for conspiracy and identity theft in 2010.
Judge McVerry scheduled the sentencing for Sept. 12, 2013. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five 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 United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Alfonso Evans.
Dutschke Indicted in Ricin Letters CaseRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi, announce:
James Everett Dutschke, age 41, of Tupelo, Mississippi, has been charged as a defendant in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury sitting in the Northern District of Mississippi. The indictment charges Dutschke with one count of knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a weapon, to wit: ricin, and with attempting to do the same, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 175(a) (if convicted on this charge, Dutschke faces maximum possible penalties of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years of supervised release); one count of threatening the President of the United States by mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871 (maximum penalties of 5 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release); two counts of threatening others by mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 876(c) (maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release); and one count of falsifying, concealing and covering up by trick, scheme and fraudulent device, material facts, to impede the investigation of threatening letters containing ricin, in an effort to make it appear that someone else had sent the threatening letters, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001 (maximum penalties of 5 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release). A copy of the Indictment is attached.
Dutschke is expected to appear in the United States District Court in Oxford, Mississippi, on Thursday, June 6, 2013, before U. S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander. The indictment is a charge and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The indictment resulted from a cooperative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Mississippi and Memphis Joint Terrorism Task Forces, the United States Secret Service, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, the U. S. Capitol Police, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, assisted by the following state and local agencies: Mississippi National Guard 47th Civil Support, Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office, Corinth Police Department, Tupelo Police Department and Booneville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Marshall Alexander, Chad Lamar and Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi, and Andrew Sigler of the Department of Justice, National Security Division.Dubuque Man Sentenced to over 23 Years' Imprisonment for Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Methamphetamine Lab Caused Fire at House Occupied by Sleeping Child
A man whose house caught fire from an illegal methamphetamine lab was sentenced today to more than 23 years in federal prison.
Rory Lee Zirkelbach, age 43, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 28, 2013, guilty plea to one count of manufacturing methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a protected location following a prior felony drug conviction.
The evidence at a prior detention hearing showed that on May 31, 2012, Zirkelbach attempted to make methamphetamine on the second floor of his residence on Jackson Street in Dubuque. The methamphetamine lab caught fire. A passing bus driver stopped his bus in front of the house and yelled at a neighbor standing on the front porch that the house was on fire. The neighbor reentered her half of the burning house to rescue her sleeping minor child. During the investigation of the fire, officials found the remnants of the methamphetamine lab which caused the fire. This residence was within 1,000 feet of Fulton Elementary School and Comiskey Park, both protected locations. Zirkelbach was convicted in 1998 of possession with intent to deliver amphetamine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
Zirkelbach was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Zirkelbach was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $40,803.64 in restitution for damages resulting from the fire. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Zirkelbach is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Dubuque Drug Task Force consisting of officers from the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 13-1001.
Doctor Convicted in Kickback Scheme <br /> Involving a Philadelphia HospiceRead the Press Release
A federal jury sitting in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania convicted Eugene Goldman, M.D., 55, of Philadelphia, of one count of conspiring to violate the anti-kickback statute and four counts of violating the anti-kickback statute in relation to his role in a kickback scheme arising from his employment as the Medical Director at Home Care Hospice Inc. (HCH), announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The evidence at trial proved that from approximately December 2000 until approximately July 2011, Goldman served as the medical director for HCH and regularly referred Medicare or Medicaid patient beneficiaries to HCH. HCH was a for-profit business in Philadelphia that provided hospice services for patients at nursing homes, hospitals and private residences.
In December 2000, Goldman and one of the co-owners of HCH entered into a written contract to create the false appearance that all payments to Goldman from HCH were for services rendered in Goldman’s capacity as medical director for HCH, when in fact the large majority of payments from HCH to Goldman were illegal payments for the referral of Medicare and/or Medicaid patients to HCH. From January 2003 to October 2008, Goldman received approximately $263,000 in illegal payments for patient referrals. In January, February and March 2009, Goldman was captured on tape receiving kickbacks for patient referrals.
Goldman faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of conviction when he is sentenced on Sept. 9, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno. The conviction will result in the mandatory exclusion of Goldman from participation in any federal health care program, and he also faces the possible loss of his medical license.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne B. Ercole and Trial Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Doctor Convicted in Kickback Scheme Involving A Philadelphia HospiceRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury has returned guilty verdicts against Eugene Goldman, M.D., 55, of Philadelphia, on one count of conspiring to violate the anti-kickback statute and four counts of violating the anti-kickback statute in relation to his role in a kickback scheme arising from his employment as the Medical Director at Home Care Hospice Inc. (HCH). U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 9, 2013.
The evidence at trial proved that from approximately December 2000 until approximately July 2011, Dr. Goldman served as the medical director for HCH and regularly referred Medicare or Medicaid patient beneficiaries to HCH. HCH was a for-profit business in Philadelphia that provided hospice services for patients at nursing homes, hospitals and private residences.
In December 2000 the defendant and one of the co-owners of HCH entered into a written contract to create the false appearance that all payments to Goldman from HCH were for services rendered in Goldman’s capacity as medical director for HCH, when in fact the large majority of payments from HCH to Goldman were illegal payments for the referral of Medicare and/or Medicaid patients to HCH. From January 2003 to October 2008, Goldman received approximately $263,000 in illegal payments for patient referrals. In January, February and March 2009, Goldman was captured on tape receiving kickbacks for patient referrals.
The maximum penalty for each count is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a three year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The conviction will result in the mandatory exclusion of Dr. Goldman from participation in any federal health care program.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne B. Ercole and Trial Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525District Man Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder While Armed in 2011 Slaying in Northwest Washington-Victim, 19, Was Shot Four Times in an Attempted Robbery-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rashid Caviness-Bey, 20, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of charges stemming from a murder that took place during an attempted armed robbery in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Caviness-Bey was found guilty by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of charges of second-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license in the slaying of 19-year old Osman Al-Akbar. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2013.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 17, 2011, at about 1:30 a.m., Mr. Al-Akbar bicycled toward his home after visiting his girlfriend’s house. As he was riding home, he talked on his cell phone with his girlfriend. At the same time, Caviness-Bey and two teenagers emerged from Girard Park near the 2600 block of University Place NW. They carried two guns and dressed in a manner to conceal themselves.
Mr. Al-Akbar encountered Caviness-Bey and the two teenagers in the 2600 block of University Place NW, where they tried to rob him. During the encounter, Mr. Al-Akbar was shot three times in the back. After he fell to the street, dying, he was shot a fourth time in the face with a second gun. Mr. Al-Akbar died in the street next to his bicycle and personal belongings, which were scattered around him.
Caviness-Bey and the teenagers fled after the shooting. One of the teenagers and Caviness-Bey fled into a dead-end alley behind an apartment building at the corner of 15th and Fuller Streets NW. Along the way, witnesses saw them discard the clothing they had worn to conceal themselves during the robbery. One of the witnesses also spotted them with a gun. The witness alerted the police to the alley that Caviness-Bey and the teenager ran into. The police found Caviness-Bey and the teenager hiding at the bottom of a basement stairwell. Nearby, the police found the two guns used to kill Mr. Al-Akbar. The police also found the discarded clothing in the alley and in the trash receptacles near the alley.
In announcing the guilty verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives of the Criminal Investigations Division, crime scene officers, and the Third Police District of the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Park Police. He also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ortwein (now with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan), who secured the indictment in the case; Criminal Investigator Durand Odom; Jelahn Stewart, Michael Hailey, David Foster, Marcia Rinker, Melissa Milam, and Christina Principe, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; Kimberly Smith, William Henderson, and Leif Hickling of the Litigation Technology Unit, Paralegal Specialists Marian Russell and Ethel Noble; the supervisors of the Appellate Division; and Librarian Lisa Kosow. Finally, he praised the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana L. Fulton who tried the case.
13-193DRUG AND VIOLENT CRIME SWEEP NETS NEARLY 30 ON AND AROUND THE YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION(Correction)Read the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Add: the P.A.N.T. (Partners Against Narcotics Traffickers),
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Arizona Safe Streets Task Force, the P.A.N.T. (Partners Against Narcotics Traffickers), the Yavapai County Drug Task Force, and the Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Police Department led this coordinated enforcement action. They received significant operational assistance from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office; the Cottonwood Police Department; the Camp Verde Marshals Office; Arizona Department of Public Safety; the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Coconino County METRO Drug Task Force.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2013-044_Yavapai-ApacheTakedown(Corrected)
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/azCrownpoint Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Arising Out of the Deaths of Three IndiviudalsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Brendan Harry, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Crownpoint, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to an indictment charging him with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The charges to which Harry pleaded guilty arise out of a single motor vehicle crash that occurred on March 31, 2012, near Borrego Pass, N.M., on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Three individuals who were passengers in the vehicle died as a result of injuries they sustained during the crash. A fourth passenger suffered serious bodily injuries. All four victims were members of the Navajo Nation. During today’s plea hearing, Harry admitted that he was driving while intoxicated and caused the death of three of his passengers and serious injury to a fourth passenger when he crashed the vehicle.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Harry will be sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Harry remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.
Cedar Grove Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Prison for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Michael Barrett Roberts, 40, of Cedar Grove, TN, was sentenced today to 140 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III.
As revealed in the indictment and during today’s sentencing hearing, on March 2, 2012 law enforcement officers received information that methamphetamine was being manufactured at Michael Roberts’ home located in Cedar Grove, TN. Roberts’ grandmother was the owner of the house, and she consented to allow law enforcement to search her home.
In the upper part of the house, where Roberts lived, investigators noticed a wall between the bathroom and the bedroom that had loose paneling and missing trim. Hidden inside this wall was a sawed-off Winchester 12 gauge shotgun that had a barrel less than 18 inches long. The overall length of the firearm was less than 26 inches. The serial number on the weapon was obliterated, and the weapon was not registered as required by federal law.
Roberts pleaded guilty on December 6, 2012 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge J. Daniel Breen ordered Roberts to serve two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Hall represented the government.Cabell County Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Cabell County man was sentenced to one year and two months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal firearm possession. Kenneth Richard Nance, 43, of Barboursville, W.Va., previously pleaded guilty in March to possession of a firearm by a person subject to a domestic violence protection order. On December 7, 2011, Nance possessed a Raven .25-caliber pistol.
At the time Nance possessed the firearm, he was subject to a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) issued by the Family Court of Cabell County, West Virginia. Nance knew that the DVPO was in effect at the time he possessed the firearm in December 2011. The defendant also knew it was illegal to possess a firearm or ammunition while the DVPO was in effect.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the ATF, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Johnston handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
Bosnian National Extradited to Stand Trial for Murder and TortureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The United States has extradited Sulejman Mujagic, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a resident of Utica, New York, to stand trial in Bosnia for charges relating to the torture and murder of one prisoner of war and the torture of another during the armed conflict in Bosnia.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian of the Northern District of New York, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton made the announcement.
“This extradition is the result of close cooperation between the U.S. and Bosnian authorities to bring alleged perpetrators of war crimes and torture in Bosnia to justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman.
“Through the coordinated efforts of many law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, Sulejman Mujagic will stand trial in a Bosnian court for the alleged murder of an unarmed soldier and the torture of a second soldier,” said United States Attorney Hartunian. “This case is a reflection of our steadfast commitment to support the rights of crime victims - wherever they are.”
“For the families who lost loved ones during the Bosnian war, justice has been a long time coming, but they can take some comfort in knowing that those responsible for this tragedy are now being held accountable for their crimes,” said ICE Director John Morton. “I applaud the outstanding work by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in upstate New York, ICE's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and our partners at the Department of Justice and Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. Thanks to their efforts, Sulejman Mujagic will now face justice for his actions. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our country does not serve as a safe haven for human rights violators and others who have committed heinous acts.”
Mujagic is being extradited to Bosnia to be tried for war crimes committed on or about March 6, 1995, during the armed conflict that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Bosnia has alleged that Mujagic, then a platoon commander in the Army of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, summarily tortured and executed a disarmed Bosnian Army soldier and tortured a second soldier after the two prisoners had been captured by Mujagic and his men.
In response to the Bosnian government's request for extradition pursuant to the extradition treaty currently in force between the United States and Bosnia, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint in U.S. federal district court on Nov. 27, 2012, and HSI special agents arrested Mujagic the next day in Utica, New York, for purposes of extradition.
On April 2, 2013, the federal district court in the Northern District of New York ruled that Mujagic was subject to extradition to Bosnia to stand trial for the murder and torture of the two unarmed victims. On May 31, 2013, Mujagic was delivered to Bosnian authorities and removed from the United States. The Office of the Cantonal Prosecutor of the Una-Sana Canton in Bihac is handling Mujagic's prosecution in Bosnia.
Mujagic entered the United States in July 1997 and obtained status as a lawful permanent resident in March 2001. Mujagic does not retain U.S. citizenship.
This case was investigated by HSI Buffalo, with assistance from the ICE Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and INTERPOL Washington. The case was handled by Trial Attorneys Ivana Nizich and Jay Bauer of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman of the Northern District of New York. The extradition was handled collaboratively with Criminal Division Trial Attorneys Ken Harris, Marcus Busch and Terry Schubert of the Office of International Affairs.
The case was a result of the close cooperation between the U.S. and Bosnian authorities, particularly the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Una-Sana Canton in Bihac, Bosnia.
Bosnian National Extradited <br /> to Stand Trial for Murder and TortureRead the Press Release
The United States has extradited Sulejman Mujagic, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a resident of Utica, N.Y., to stand trial in Bosnia for charges relating to the torture and murder of one prisoner of war and the torture of another during the armed conflict in Bosnia.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian of the Northern District of New York and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton made the announcement.
“This extradition is the result of close cooperation between the U.S. and Bosnian authorities to bring alleged perpetrators of war crimes and torture in Bosnia to justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman.
“Through the coordinated efforts of many law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, Sulejman Mujagic will stand trial in a Bosnian court for the alleged murder of an unarmed soldier and the torture of a second soldier,” said U.S. Attorney Hartunian. “This case is a reflection of our steadfast commitment to support the rights of crime victims – wherever they are.”
“For the families who lost loved ones during the Bosnian war, justice has been a long time coming, but they can take some comfort in knowing that those responsible for this tragedy are now being held accountable for their crimes,” said ICE Director Morton. “I applaud the outstanding work by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in upstate New York, ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and our partners at the Department of Justice and Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. Thanks to their efforts, Sulejman Mujagic will now face justice for his actions. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our country does not serve as a safe haven for human rights violators and others who have committed heinous acts.”
Mujagic is being extradited to Bosnia to be tried for war crimes committed on or about March 6, 1995, during the armed conflict that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Bosnia has alleged that Mujagic, then a platoon commander in the Army of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, summarily tortured and executed a disarmed Bosnian Army soldier and tortured a second soldier after the two prisoners had been captured by Mujagic and his men.
In response to the Bosnian government’s request for extradition pursuant to the extradition treaty currently in force between the United States and Bosnia, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint in U.S. federal district court on Nov. 27, 2012, and HSI special agents arrested Mujagic the next day in Utica for purposes of extradition.
On April 2, 2013, the federal district court in the Northern District of New York ruled that Mujagic was subject to extradition to Bosnia to stand trial for the murder and torture of the two unarmed victims. On May 31, 2013, Mujagic was delivered to Bosnian authorities and removed from the United States. The Office of the Cantonal Prosecutor of the Una-Sana Canton in Bihac is handling Mujagic’s prosecution in Bosnia.
Mujagic entered the United States in July 1997 and obtained status as a lawful permanent resident in March 2001. Mujagic does not retain U.S. citizenship.
This case was investigated by HSI Buffalo, with assistance from the ICE Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and INTERPOL Washington. The case was handled by Trial Attorneys Ivana Nizich and Jay Bauer of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman of the Northern District of New York. The extradition was handled collaboratively with Criminal Division Trial Attorneys Ken Harris, Marcus Busch and Terry Schubert of the Office of International Affairs.
The case was a result of the close cooperation between the U.S. and Bosnian authorities, particularly the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Una-Sana Canton in Bihac, Bosnia.
Bassett Man Pleads Guilty to Breaking into Post OfficeRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, VIRGINIA -- An 18-year-old Bassett, Va., man pled guilty this morning to breaking into a Henry County Post Office and causing close to $20,000 worth of damage.
Matthew Fitzgerald, 18, of Bassett, Va., pled guilty this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Danville to one count of willfully committing a depredation against property of the United States, specifically the Fieldale Post Office.
“Mr. Fitzgerald caused major damage to the Fieldale Post Office and for that he has been justly held accountable,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “My hope is that restitution will be ordered in this case to cover the cost of the defendant’s destructive behavior.”
According to evidence presented at today’s guilty plea hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day, Fitzgerald admitted that on April 18, 2013 he broke into the Fieldale Post Office located in Henry County and damaged property inside.
Fitzgerald has admitted to breaking windows, glass, damaging computers, discharging a fire extinguisher, throwing more than 1,000 keys on the floor and breaking florescent light tubes. In all, Fitzgerald caused $19, 309 in damages.
At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Attorney Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Role in Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSEPH KRIZ, 50, of Wilton, was sentenced on Friday, May 31, by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a Fairfield County mortgage fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, KRIZ practiced as a real estate attorney and was a licensed mortgage broker. Beginning in approximately 2005, KRIZ partnered with William A. Trudeau, Jr. to purchase, develop and sell properties by defrauding banks and mortgage lenders. As part of the scheme, Trudeau, KRIZ and others submitted false mortgage loan applications to financial institutions to obtain mortgages on various properties in Fairfield County in order to develop and sell the properties for profit, and to pay off debts owed to “hard money” lenders from whom they had previously obtained high interest loans. The mortgage applications, which included false income information and omitted the mortgage applicants’ true indebtedness, caused the financial institutions to issue mortgage loans on properties that Trudeau, KRIZ and their co-conspirators would not have otherwise been qualified to purchase, allowing the applicants to qualify for mortgages that far exceeded their ability to repay the loans.
Through this scheme, Trudeau, KRIZ and others fraudulently obtained more than $4 million in mortgage loans to purchase six properties in Westport and Newtown. To date, mortgage lenders have lost more than $1.9 million.
In addition, KRIZ stole approximately $3.5 million from his IOLTA account in order to service the various loans he and his co-conspirators had taken to secure the properties.
Trudeau also defrauded private lenders of a total of more than $1 million.
On August 4, 2008, KRIZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of fraud in loan and credit applications, and one count of mail fraud.
KRIZ cooperated with the investigation and testified at Trudeau’s trial. On October 9, 2012, a jury found Trudeau guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud. On February 12, 2013, Trudeau was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rahul Kale and Christopher Schmeisser.
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[email protected]Atlanta Crack Cocaine Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that an Atlanta man pleaded guilty in federal court in Huntington to distribution of crack cocaine. Jaron Dontae Reed also known as “Ron Ron,” 24, stopped by the Smokin’ Aces store that was located in Huntington and sold crack cocaine to undercover agents working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Reed sold crack cocaine on three separate occasions at the former Smokin’ Aces store in August and September 2010.
Reed sold a total of 67 grams of crack cocaine to undercover agents who were working at the Smokin’ Aces store.
Reed faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced on September 3, 2013 by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Huntington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of a yearlong undercover operation that targeted illegal drug and firearm crimes in the Huntington area. The operation was led by the ATF and assisted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Huntington Police Department, and various other law enforcement agencies. It was announced to the public in March 2011 after a grand jury returned indictments against 55 defendants.
Armed Robbers Receive Federal SentenceRead the Press Release
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced MELVIN KENNETH CABRAL, 20ofJacksonville, North Carolina, and LYNDON DUNHAM, 24, of Green Cove Springs, Florida, for their respective roles in an armed robbery. CABRAL was sentencedto 141 months imprisonment followed by 5 years supervised release. DUNHAM was sentenced to 125 months imprisonment followed by 5 years supervised release. A third defendant, Dallas Holmes, was sentenced on November 1, 2011 for his role in the robbery.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on October 24, 2012. On January 14, 2013, CABRAL and DUNHAM each pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and to using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to the investigation, on January 9, 2011, CABRAL, DUNHAM, and Holmes robbed the Checkers Drive-In restaurant in Jacksonville, North Carolina as the employees were in the process of closing for the night. DUNHAM acted as the getaway driver and dropped off CABRAL and Holmes near the restaurant. CABRAL and Holmes, wearing masks and armed with a shotgun, approached an employee at an exterior bathroom door behind the restaurant. The employee was forced into the bathroom at gunpoint, where CABRAL and Holmes tied his hands together before escorting him to a side door to gain entry to the restaurant. Holmes stayed back as CABRAL followed the employee into the restaurant. Inside, CABRAL brandished the shotgun and directed two employees to a corner of the restaurant. CABRAL then ordered the assistant manager to open the safe, and threatened to shoot another employee if the assistant manager refused. The assistant manager opened the safe and handed cash to CABRAL who, along with Holmes, fled the area on foot.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan prosecuted the case.
Sunday 2 June 2013
Press Advisory - Joint News Conference - New Telephone Lottery Scam Epidemic in North DakotaRead the Press Release
May 24, 2013BISMARCK, ND – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and United States Attorney Tim Purdon will hold a joint news conference to discuss state and federal efforts to combat a sudden increase in telephone lottery scams. This spring has seen a marked increase in reports of North Dakotans being victimized by these scams, which often target the elderly or other vulnerable members of our community.
When: North Dakota Attorney General’s Office 600 East Boulevard Ave, 1st floor Bismarck, ND Who: North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem North Dakota United States Attorney Timothy Purdon F.B.I. Special Agent in Charge Chris Warrener United States Postal Inspection Team Leader Kate Nichols North Dakota Consumer Protection Director Parrell Grossman U.S.A.O. Criminal Chief Clare Hochhalter
Attorney General Stenehjem and United States Attorney Purdon will be joined by representatives of federal and state enforcement agencies.
Saturday 1 June 2013
Winchester Woman Convicted of Providing over 15 Firearms to FelonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Brita Lanette Jackson, 51, of Winchester, Va., was convicted today following a June 4, 2013, bench trial on charges of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and conspiracy to aid and abet a convicted felon in the possession of firearms.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division made the announcement after the verdict was pronounced by United States District Judge James C. Cacheris.
Jackson faces a maximum penalty of ten years of incarceration when she is sentenced on September 20, 2013.
Jackson was indicted on March 27, 2013, by a federal grand jury on charges of making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm and conspiracy to aid and abet a convicted felon in the possession of firearms. According to court records and evidence at trial, Jackson was observed by ATF agents on May 24, 2012, as she purchased an AK-47 style assault pistol from a firearms dealer in Manassas, Virginia. Jackson had indicated on official paperwork that the firearm was for her, but she in fact intended to transfer the weapon to a convicted felon that accompanied her to the store. Federal agents discovered an additional firearm, ammunition, and evidence of several firearms purchases during a search of Jackson’s residence in Winchester, Virginia. The firearms included high-capacity handguns and a Cobray Mac-11 pistol. Jackson admitted that she purchased between 15 to 20 firearms on behalf of the same convicted felon and that she did not know how that felon was utilizing the firearms.
This case was investigated by ATF’s Washington Field Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz is 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.Virginia Beach Resident Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Timothy Thomas Robinson, 33, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for possession of child pornography.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Robinson pleaded guilty on March 21, 2013. According to court documents, Robinson was originally convicted for child pornography violations by the City of Norfolk in 2005. Robinson again was convicted for similar violations in Norfolk in 2007. In January 2012, the Virginia Beach Police Department arrested Robinson for subsequent probation violations, and he was found to be in possession of numerous images of child pornography which he downloaded with his cellular phone from the Internet.
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.This case was investigated by the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted 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.
Texas Man Enters Plea Agreement for Threatening to Bomb Islamic Center in Murfreesboro, TennesseeRead the Press Release
Javier Alan Correa, 25, of Corpus Christi, Texas pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Nashville today to obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs, announced David Rivera, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger sentenced Correa to five years probation and ordered that the first eight months be spent in home detention. Correa must also submit to drug testing and substance abuse monitoring, and enroll in an adult education program.
According to the plea agreement, Correa admitted that on September 5, 2011, he called on a cellular phone from Corpus Christi, Texas, to the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and left a threatening, explicative-ridden voice message saying, amongst other things, “On September 11, 2011, there’s going to be a bomb in the building.“
Correa told the Court that on the night of September 5, 2011, he had been home alone and drinking beer and that while watching a program on CNN entitled “Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door,” he became enraged and placed the threatening call to the mosque in Murfreesboro.
This case was investigated by the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Blanche B. Cook and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Adriana Vieco.
Owner of PCI Construction Company Sentenced to 24 Months for Bank Fraud and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Andy Persaud, 40, of Ashburn, Va., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding the Bank of Georgetown by obtaining a $1,000,000 line of credit on the basis of false documentation, and for obstructing justice by destroying and falsifying evidence in response to an investigative subpoena issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General. Persaud was also ordered to pay over $720,000.00 in restitution.
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.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Brian D. Miller, General Services Administration (GSA) Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Claude M. Hilton
Persaud pleaded guilty on March 14, 2013. According to court documents, Persaud, who founded and owned PCI construction company, submitted fraudulent documents on multiple occasions to the Bank of Georgetown in order to obtain increased lines of credit and loans on that line of credit. Persaud went so far as to completely fabricate unpaid invoices related to PCI government contracts as collateral for the loans. In certain instances, moreover, PCI submitted government contract invoices to the Bank of Georgetown before PCI was actually awarded the contract. These false and fraudulent invoices, submitted at Persaud’s direction, caused the Bank of Georgetown to suffer more than $700,000 in actual losses.
In addition to his bank fraud, Persaud separately obstructed justice in connection with a GSA investigation into whether Persaud and PCI had violated the Federal False Claims Act in its government contracting practices. In response to an administrative subpoena, Persaud once again provided altered and fabricated documents—this time in attempt mislead government investigators. For example, Persaud instructed his employees to submit falsified job cost estimates and subcontractor proposals, and he personally added handwritten notes to some of the documents in an attempt to hide his unlawful government contracting practices that were the subject of the investigation. Despite knowing that the documents he submitted to the GSA were fabricated, Persaud falsely certified to the GSA that he and PCI had complied with the subpoena.
This case was investigated by GSA Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Connolly and Chad I. Golder prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Joint Federal-State-Local Law Enforcement Action: Operation “Spring Clean” - 17 Search Warrants and 6 Arrests Related to Crimes Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – From February 19, 2013, to April 22, 2103, federal, state, and local law enforcement in Richmond, Va. and surrounding counties, executed 17 search warrants and made six arrests in an operation known as “Spring Clean.”
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey C. Mazanec, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Richmond Division; Timothy J. Heaphy, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Chief Ray J. Tarasovic, City of Richmond Police Department; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police; Colonel Thierry Dupuis, Chesterfield County Police Department; Colonel David R. Hines, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Douglas A. Middleton, Henrico County Police Division; Chief Timothy J. Longo, Charlottesville Police Department; Special Agent in Charge John P. Torres of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; Inspector in Charge Keith A. Fixel, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Charlotte Division; and Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General’s Office, made the announcement after the multi-month operation was executed. Operation “Spring Clean” focused on the interdiction of crimes against children; specifically child pornography and child enticement type offenses.
Operation Spring Clean arose out of cooperative effort among multiple law enforcement agencies in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. Investigations into the sexual exploitation of children committed via the internet and facilitated through technology have increased each year. As a result of this increase, two taskforces have formed over the years, the FBI Child Exploitation Taskforce (CETF) and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce. It is through these two taskforces that federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have formed partnerships and collaborated on these predatory internet investigations.
While conducting an investigation into the distribution of child pornography initiated by the City of Richmond Police Department, multiple targets were identified, within the greater Richmond metropolitan area, as distributing a large quantity of prepubescent child pornography depicting children ranging from infancy to 11 years of age. The sheer number of targets was concerning, as was the age of the children in the material they were distributing. After these incredibly troubling revelations, it was decided that the best course of action was to combine the efforts of the ICAC Taskforce and the FBI CETF in order to target these offenders, as well as others located across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Spring Clean became the name of the operation as law enforcement “cleaned,” or apprehended, a large number of alleged internet predators that would have normally taken months to accomplish, but through this coordination, was able to be done in a matter of days.
The following law enforcement agencies participated in the operation:
- Charlottesville Police Department
- Chesterfield County Police Department
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Richmond Division
- Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
- Henrico County Police Division
- Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Richmond Division
- City of Richmond Police Department
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Charlotte Division
- Virginia State Police
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia
- The Virginia Attorney General’s Office
Search warrants were executed in the following localities: Bath, Chesterfield, Clifton Forge, Hanover, Henrico, Prince George, Richmond, and Weyers Cave.
Those arrested during the operation include:- Brian McMahon Connell, 47, of Chesterfield, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Connell was indicted on three federal charges of distribution of child pornography and is scheduled to stand trial in United States District Court in Richmond, Virginia on July 8, 2013.
- Robert Warren Louis Kropp, 26, of Colonial Heights, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Kropp pleaded guilty on May 7, 2013, to the federal charge of coercion and enticement of a minor. He will be sentenced in United States District Court in Richmond, Virginia on August, 2, 2013.
- Guy Matthew Lotz, 28, of Weyers Cave, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Lotz was indicted on a charge of distribution of child pornography in the Western District of Virginia. He is scheduled to stand trial on this federal charge on August 12, 2013.
- Harry Lee Palmquist, Jr., 45, of Chesterfield, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Palmquist was indicted on three federal charges of distribution of child pornography. He is scheduled to stand trial in United States District Court in Richmond, Virginia on July 16, 2013.
- William Michael Stravitz, 48, of Richmond, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Stravitz pleaded guilty to three state felony distribution of child pornography charges. He will be sentenced in Richmond Circuit Court.
- Brent Thomas Wilson, 31, of Midlothian, Virginia. Subsequent to his arrest, Wilson was charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography by the Chesterfield Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to appear in Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in September 2013.
Criminal complaints, arrests, and indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to More Than $100,000 in Rosetta Stone Software PiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Christopher M. Adkins, 36, of Aurora, Ill., pleaded guilty today to felony criminal copyright infringement, in connection with his sale of counterfeit copies of Rosetta Stone language-learning software.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee.
Adkins’s sentencing has been scheduled for September 13, 2013, when he will face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to court documents, over more than three years, Adkins sold more than $100,000 in copyright-infringing computer software. He sold the software through the Internet website Learningpartners.mybisi.com operated from his home in Aurora.Adkins admitted that he downloaded pirated versions of Rosetta Stone language-learning products, including Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Italian, German, and Korean, and then would copy the programs onto compact discs; he would then sell the discs to online customers for prices more than 50 percent of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for legitimate product. Mr. Adkins admitted he made at least $100,000 as part of his scheme.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office.
Senior Counsel Thomas Dougherty of the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and Assistant United States Attorney Jay Prabhu prosecuted 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 http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.Four Detained, Six Firearms Seized in Alleged Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Four men have been arrested on federal drug charges and ordered detained, and six firearms including a suspected automatic weapon were seized by federal, state and local law enforcement agents and officers in connection with a fifteen-month multi-agency investigation initiated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into the alleged trafficking of cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and a synthetic drug termed “Molly.” Law enforcement also seized additional amounts of drugs and cash, and discovered an alleged marijuana grow in the home of an individual with a medical marijuana caregiver card authorized by the State of Rhode Island.
According to an affidavit in support of criminal complaints and search warrants filed with the U.S. District Court, the investigation initiated by ATF and investigated jointly with DEA, and assisted by agents and officers from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police and Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick Police Departments determined that the conspiracy was allegedly responsible for a significant quantity of drugs allegedly being trafficked to other drug dealers and to drug users. One of the defendants arrested is an alleged member of a street gang.
The investigation and arrests were announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Eugenio A. Marquez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of ATF; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in New England; United States Marshal Jamie A. Hainsworth; Colonel Steven G, O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Chief Colonel Marco Palombo, Jr; Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King; Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.; and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen M. McCartney.
Arrested and ordered detained on Friday by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judges Patricia A. Sullivan and Lincoln D. Almond on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; distribution of controlled substances; and use of a telephone to commit drug offenses were:
- Salee Yang, 29, of Pawtucket, the primary target of investigation. During the investigation, an undercover ATF Agent allegedly purchased a total of 137.1 grams of heroin, 235 grams of cocaine powder, 392.1 grams of crack cocaine, 471.7 grams and 112 pills consisting of a synthetic powdered drug termed “Molly,” and 100 Ecstasy pills directly from Yang for a total of $61,025. A handgun was seized from Yang. Yang’s Pawtucket residence was among the locations searched by law enforcement.
- Eric Negron, 48, of Pawtucket, according to information presented to the court, a supplier of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine to Yang. Negron’s residence and a barber shop in Providence where he is employed were among the locations searched by law enforcement.
- Peter Lietar, 37, of Pawtucket allegedly supplied Ecstasy and a synthetic drug termed “Molly” to Yang. During a search of Lietar’s residence, law enforcement discovered an alleged marijuana grow which was in the process of being harvested. According to information presented to the court, Lietar, who had previously been convicted of armed robbery in Massachusetts, held an expired Rhode Island medical marijuana card and valid Rhode Island medical marijuana caregiver card. A handgun and a rifle were seized from Lietar.
- Stanz Hun, 25, of Cranston, who, according to information presented to the court, was a customer of Yang and who allegedly operated his own drug trafficking business. It is alleged that Yang is a member of the 4/5th Mafia and PSB street gang. Law enforcement agents seized from Yang a suspected automatic weapon, two handguns, $600 in cash, and a small amount of marijuana. Hun’s residence was among the locations searched by law enforcement.
A criminal complaintis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan
To assist the media and the public, a glossary of federal judicial terms and procedures is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101/
Contact: 401-709-5357
[email protected]
Friday 31 May 2013
York Man Sentenced to over 87 Years’ Imprisonment for Armed Robbery of Three BanksRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tristan Green, age 28, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to a 1030-month (85 years, 8 months) term of imprisonment for the armed robbery of three banks and must pay $217,178.45 in restitution. Judge Conner also ordered that Green serve 24-months imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release relating to an earlier conviction.
In addition to Wednesday’s prison sentence, Green was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on April 4, for a separate armed bank robbery at the Fulton Bank in Etters, Pennsylvania.
Green will serve a total of 117 years and 10 months in prison.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on November 14, 2007, Green, and co-defendants, Nijul Alexander, Jami Shabazz and Jamael Stubbs robbed the Sovereign Bank, 1442 Bannister Street, York, PA. On September 20, 2007, Green and Alexander robbed the Heritage Valley Credit Union, 777 Kings Mill Road, York, PA; and on December 6, 2007, Green and Alexander also robbed the Sovereign Bank, 519 South 29th Street, Harrisburg, PA. Each bank was robbed at gunpoint.
In January 2012, the four defendants were indicted. Alexander and Shabazz both pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. In January 2013, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Green and Stubbs on armed robbery charges.
Stubbs was also sentenced Wednesday to a 154 month term of imprisonment, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Capital City Safe Streets Task Force; the Pennsylvania State Police; and the West Manchester, Spring Garden and Harrisburg City Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.Woman Sentenced for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Nicole Bogan, age 39, of Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Clay D. Land, United States District Judge in Columbus, Georgia, on May 30, 2013 for health care fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 1347(a)(2). After entering a plea of guilty to health care fraud, Judge Land sentenced Ms. Bogan to ten (10) months to serve in a federal prison followed by three (3) years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $87,355.00 to American Family Life Assurance Corporation (AFLAC), and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00.
In entering a plea of guilty to Count One of the Information, Ms. Bogan admitted that between the dates of October 12, 2009, and February 9, 2012, she fraudulently collected $87,355.00 from American Family Life Assurance Corporation ( AFLAC). During the relevant time period, Ms. Bogan submitted numerous fraudulent claim forms on a cancer policy as well as a disability policy relating to medical expenses and missed work stemming from a purported bout with cancer. As part of her plea, Ms. Bogan admitted that she never, in fact, had cancer and had lied about having the disease in order to collect payments to which she was not entitled from American Family Life Assurance Corporation (AFLAC).
“As we continue to prosecute health care fraud cases, we are forcing defendants like Ms. Bogan to pay for their crime and rooting out fraud one defendant at a time” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Crawford Seals.Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.
Woman Indicted for Aiding the Escape of an Inmate from Federal PrisonRead 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
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A woman who is alleged to have aided the escape of a man from a federal prison in Morgantown has been indicted and arrested.
JAMIE ANGEL CLAYTON, age 39, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested on Thursday pursuant to an Indictment charging her with aiding the escape of a convicted drug trafficker from the Federal Correctional Institution in Morgantown, West Virginia.
According to United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II, CLAYTON is alleged to have aided Eugene Cobbs in escaping from the prison last month. Prior to his escape, Cobbs had been serving a 151 month sentence for conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Cobbs, who is still on the run, was charged in the same indictment with “Escape.” CLAYTON appeared before a federal magistrate judge and was remanded to custody
pending a detention hearing.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and
is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service.The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Speaks to Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School StudentsRead the Press Release
Alexandria, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley visited with Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School students last week in Alexandria, La. Ms. Finley was the featured speaker at an event held on the evening of May 24, 2013 for young women who are members of “Girls With Purpose” and their mothers. The Mother and Daughter Tea of Excellence marked a successful year of membership and school involvement for the girls in attendance.
Girls With Purpose is a mentoring group for young women who attend Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School. The group meets weekly and promotes the values of a good education and self-esteem. Dr. Norvella Williams, the Principal of Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School, started the organization to encourage young girls to stay focused, excel academically, attend college and make good career choices.
United States Attorney Finley spoke to the girls and their mothers about her job as the chief law enforcement officer for the district and her local connection. Finley was born in Pineville and spent her formative years in the Cenla area, attending St. Frances Cabrini School and Pineville High School. She discussed challenges that all young people face. She encouraged the girls to reach for the stars and shared with them that if they work hard, make good grades and stay focused, they are bound to succeed.
“I am honored to be invited to speak to these young women,” Finley said. "My life has been filled with great teachers and mentors. This organization should be commended for their efforts to steer these young ladies in the right direction. I always try to meet with young people and encourage them to dream big and remind them that there is not anything they can’t do. We all can do a little to try to be positive influences. These children have so many distractions; anything that I can do or say to help them focus and assist these great educators, I am more than happy to do so.”
Week in Review – South BendRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
South Bend, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS:
Damar S. Howell, 38, of Michigan City, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of knowingly possessing a firearm in and affecting interstate or foreign commerce. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. Sentencing has been set for 9/4/2013 09:00 AM in US District Court - South Bend before Judge Robert L Miller Jr. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
Miguel Perez, 44, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of knowingly distributing cocaine. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Sentencing has been set for 9/4/2013 01:00 PM in US District Court - South Bend before Judge Robert L Miller Jr. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
Christina Glen, 43, of La Porte, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of theft of government property. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Department of Labor. Sentencing has been set for 9/5/2013 01:00 PM in US District Court - South Bend before Judge Robert L Miller Jr. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.
Pedro Caldera-Pacheco, 41, of South Bend, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein to the felony offense of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Magistrate Nuechterlein is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea. Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Sentencing has been set for 9/4/2013 09:00 AM in US District Court - South Bend before Judge Robert L Miller Jr. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Grimmer.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
DISPOSITIONS:
Keith Galassi, 33, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert L Miller, Jr. to serve 3 years of probation with $19,110 in restitution after pleading guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property. This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Brook.
David J. Oldham, 43, of La Porte, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. to serve 27 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of destruction of digital images and videos containing child pornography with the intent to impair their integrity or availability for official proceedings. According to documents filed in this case, Oldham reinstalled the operating system software on his computer in order to destroy evidence of child pornography. Law enforcement computer forensic officials were still able to recover 73 images and 7 movie file fragments which were child pornography from Oldham’s computer. This case resulted from an investigation by members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the United States Secret Service and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Maciejczyk.
Laef Wade, 40, of Macy, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert L Miller, Jr. to 37 months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of knowingly using a communication facility in causing or facilitating another felony. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.
Week in Review – HammondRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
Hammond, Indiana - The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS:
Daniel Roman, 22, address unknown, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.Sentencing has been set for 8/27/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Allen Evens, 24, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.Sentencing has been set for 9/4/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Kenneth Robinson, 35, of Illinois, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offense of health care fraud.Sentencing has been set for 12/17/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Berkowitz.
Sammy Earl Jones, 30, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.Sentencing has been set for 7/24/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Justin Tiggs, 29, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty before District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to the felony offense of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.Sentencing has been set for 8/14/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Joseph Jamal Smith, 20, of Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty before Senior District Judge James Moody to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas McGrath.
Roman Perez, 41, of Crown Point, Indiana, pled guilty before Chief Judge Philip Simon to the felony offenses of making false statements on a tax return and making false statements in a bankruptcy proceeding.Sentencing has been set for 11/14/13.This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Benson.
DISPOSITIONS:
Justin Sullivan, 26, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge James Moody to 30 months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.According to documents filed by the government in this case, Sullivan has multiple convictions, including a narcotics conviction and an offense for a domestic dispute. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Kolar.
Richard Hawkins, 29, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge James Moody to 51months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to documents filed by the government in this case, Hawkins has 3 felony convictions and 8 misdemeanor convictions.In less than a 10 year period, the defendant was convicted of the following: maintaining a common nuisance, a felony, in 2003; theft, a misdemeanor, in 2003; leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor, in 2003; resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor, in 2003; escape, a felony, in 2006; battery, a misdemeanor, in 2006; domestic battery, a misdemeanor, in 2008; operating while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, in 2008; resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor, in 2011; operating a vehicle while suspended, a misdemeanor, in 2011; and dealing in cocaine, a felony, in 2012. Additionally, the defendant has continuously violated his probation in the majority of his criminal cases. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Rufus Williams, 32, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge James Moody to 51months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.According to documents filed by the government in this case, Williams has an extensive adult criminal history.In 2001 he was convicted of misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon for possessing a firearm at a time when he was not on his own land, abode, or fixed place of business. In 2006, the defendant was convicted of the misdemeanor failure to stop after an accident resulting in non-vehicle damage and misdemeanor driving while suspended with prior conviction.In 2006, the defendant was convicted of the violent misdemeanor of battery.In 2006, the defendant was also conviction of the felony of auto theft and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.In 2006, the defendant was also conviction of the felony of residential burglary and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and 2 years mandatory supervised release. In 2009, the defendant was convicted of misdemeanor retail theft. Lastly, the defendant also has a 2009 misdemeanor conviction for carrying a weapon without a license. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
Manolo Lopez-Ramirez, 27, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge James Moody to 27months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.According to documents filed by the government in this case, Lopez-Ramirez was arrested by U.S. Customs in 2011 for fraud and was under deportation proceedings when arrested.This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives HIDTA Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Porter County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
Douglas Bryant, 33, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to 2 years of supervised release to include 6 months of home detention and restitution of $8,062.19 after pleading guilty to the felony offenses of conspiracy to defraud the United States and social security fraud.This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service-Office of the Inspector General.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.
Roy Cast, III, 31, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by Senior District Judge James Moody to 51months imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.According to documents filed by the government in this case, Cast was convicted of attempted robbery while armed with a handgun of an Arby’s restaurant located in Merrillville, Indiana. The defendant was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on the defendant’s residence and recovered firearms, marijuana and cash. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Padilla.
Week in Review – Fort WayneRead the Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton
www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993
Fort Wayne, Indiana —The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in Federal Court:
PLEAS:
Sergio Alvarez-Arellano, 26, of Warsaw, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B Cosbey to the felony offense of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Gellar.
Demarcus White, 31, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Roger B Cosbey to the felony offense of felon in possession of a firearm.Magistrate Cosbey is recommending that the district court accept the tendered guilty plea.Parties have 10 days in which to object to the magistrate judge’s recommendation. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Gellar.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
DISPOSITIONS:
Russell F Cowherd, 34, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Theresa L Springmann to serve 70 months imprisonment with 2 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lovita Morris-King.
Warren Man Arraigned on Federal Indictment Brought Following Alleged Armed Confrontation with R.I. State PoliceRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Daniel Ferro, 50, of Warren, R.I., arrested by Rhode Island State Police on May 24, 2013, after allegedly confronting two state troopers with a loaded shotgun, was arraigned in federal court in Providence on Thursday on an indictment charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Ferro was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 29, 2013.
The incident allegedly occurred when State Police troopers went to Ferro’s residence to speak with him regarding an ongoing federal law enforcement and Rhode Island State Police investigation into alleged threats and harassment allegedly directed at a former employer.
Ferro’s indictment and arrest was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, Robert L. Panella, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Region of the Department of Labor - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and Kevin M. Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
According to information presented to the court, Rhode Island State Police troopers went to Ferro’s residence on May 24, 2013, to speak with Ferro as part of ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor- Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the State Police into harassment, threatening communications and frivolous complaints Ferro allegedly directed toward a former employer. The employer fired Ferro in September 2011.
According to information presented to the court, when troopers arrived at Ferro’s residence, they observed Ferro’s car outside the house, a television was on inside the home, and a dog was inside the house. The troopers knocked on the front door, identified themselves as police and displayed their badges. Ferro failed to answer the door.
The troopers then knocked on a side door and various windows, repeatedly identifying themselves as police and stating they wanted to speak to Ferro. After about 5 minutes, Ferro allegedly let the dog out and emerged in the doorway allegedly holding a loaded shotgun. Ferro was ordered by a trooper to drop the gun. Ferro allegedly ignored the command and retreated into the house. The troopers retreated, took cover, and contacted Warren Police for backup. Ferro surrendered when Warren Police arrived on the scene, and a loaded 12 gauge shotgun was seized.
At arraignment before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A Sullivan, a not guilty plea was entered on Ferro’s behalf. Mr. Ferro was released on conditions which include home detention with electronic monitoring, mandatory mental health treatment, and a no – contact order which prohibits Ferro from making any contact with his former employer.
According to court records, Ferro was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon in Rhode Island state court in 1994.
An indictmentis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Felon in possession of ammunition is punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison; 3 years supervised release; and a fine of $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter is being investigated by United States Department of Labor- Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Rhode Island State Police, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Warren Police Department.
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[email protected]Wanblee Man Sentenced for Possession of A Controlled Substance with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wanblee, South Dakota man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute was sentenced on May 16, 2013 by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Clifford Wayne Richards, Jr., a/k/a Beaver, age 56, was sentenced to 3 years' probation, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and 300 hours of community service.
On September 16, 2012, Richards conspired and intentionally distributed more than 50 kilograms or more of marijuana in South Dakota. Richards pled guilty to the charge on December 18, 2012.
This case was investigated as part of Operation Eagle Eye, a controlled substances investigation conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. McBride prosecuted the case.