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31 May 2013
Long Island Man Sentenced to More Than 9 Years on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell yesterday sentenced Andrew Beasley (30, Patchogue, NY) to 9 years and 7 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. He is also required to register as a sex offender and serve a 10-year term of supervision, following his release from prison. The court also ordered Beasley to forfeit his computer equipment. He pleaded guilty on January 29, 2013.
According to court documents, Beasley used a Peer to Peer directory to download images and movies of children being sexually abused and exploited. Law enforcement officers conducted a forensic examination of his computers and hard drives and found that Beasley amassed more than 6,400 images and 265 videos depicting children being sexually abused and exploited. Some of these images also contained bestiality and bondage.
This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Myrna Amelia Mesa.
This is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc for more information about internet safety education.
Leicester Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leicester man was convicted today of eight child exploitation charges.
Jason Clark, 31, Leicester, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count each of distribution of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Between October 2010 and October 2011, Clark used a six-year-old minor to produce child pornography, disseminated child pornography on the internet by trading it with other child pornography collectors and by posting it to websites, and possessed child pornography.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 30, 2013. According to the plea agreement, Clark faces between 15 and 30 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and up to a $2 million fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Mark G. Mastroianni, Hampden County District Attorney; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Unit.
Last Defendant Sentenced for Transporting 5,615.5 Pounds of Marijuana from Edinburg, Texas to Louisville, KentuckyRead the Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. The last defendant charged in a conspiracy to sell marijuana transported from Edinburg, Texas to Jefferson County, Kentucky was sentenced in United States District Court this week by Senior Judge Charles R. Simpson III, to 70 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
Luis Salcido-Guzman, was among nine defendants indicted by a federal grand jury meeting in Louisville, on January 19, 2011. Five of the defendants received prison sentences for their role in the conspiracy. Two pleaded guilty to the charges, three were convicted by a federal jury in United States District Court and charges against four defendants were dismissed.
According to information presented in court, around December 15, 2010, the defendants conspired with one another to deliver, by tractor trailer, 5,615.5 pounds of marijuana from Edinburg, Texas, to a warehouse at 1214 Outer Loop, located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Defendant Heraclio Ramos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty and was sentenced on February 2, 2013, to 65 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Heriberto Salcedo-Diaz was convicted at trial of counts one and two and was sentenced on January 23, 2013, to 151 months in prison. Defendant Juan Landeros-Sandoval was convicted at trial on counts one and three and was sentenced on January 23, 2013 to 240 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Alfredo Carrillo-Alvardo, a/k/a Alfredo Carrillo-Alvarado was convicted at trial on counts one and three and was sentenced on January 23, 2013 to 121 months in prison and was the only United States citizen.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert B. Bonar and was investigated by Louisville Metro Police Department.
Justice Department Signs Agreement with the City of West Columbia, S.C. to Ensure Civic Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the City of West Columbia, S.C., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. The agreement was reached under Project Civic Access (PCA), the department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“The ADA is a passport to our nation’s cities for people with disabilities. This agreement ensures that all people have access to West Columbia’s parks and other programs, services and activities,” said Eve L. Hill, Senior Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. “Access to our cities is a basic civil right and the ADA is shaping the way our country and its people think inclusively about themselves and people with disabilities.”
As part of the PCA initiative, department staff, including investigators and architects, survey local government facilities, services and programs across the country. The purpose of the surveying is to identify modifications needed in order for a city to comply with the ADA requirements. The agreements address the steps each community must take to improve access.
Under the agreement announced today, West Columbia will take important steps to improve access for people with disabilities, such as:
• Physically modifying facilities surveyed by the department so that parking, routes into buildings, entrances, service areas and counters, restrooms, public telephones and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities;
• Surveying the city’s other facilities and programs and making modifications where necessary to achieve compliance with ADA requirements;
• Complying with the ADA’s architectural accessibility requirements when the city builds or alters its buildings and outdoor facilities;
• Posting, publishing and distributing notices to inform members of the public of the provisions of the ADA and their applicability to the city’s programs, services and activities;
• Officially recognizing Relay South Carolina telephone service as a key means of communicating with individuals who are deaf, are hard-of-hearing, or have speech impairments and training staff in using the relay service for telephone communications;
• Developing a method for providing information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the city’s accessible services, activities and programs;
• Posting an online policy that its web pages will be accessible, creating a process for implementation and ensuring that all new and modified web pages are accessible; and
• Implementing a comprehensive plan to improve the accessibility of sidewalks and curb cuts throughout the city.Today’s agreement was reached under Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local governments. The agreement requires the remediation actions to be completed within 3 years. The department will actively monitor compliance with the agreement throughout this timeframe.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA, today’s agreement with the city of West Columbia, the Project Civic Access initiative, or the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for state and local governments may access the ADA Web page at www.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).Related Materials:
Settlement Agreement
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with California <br /> Water Agency on Bailout Under the Voting Rights ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with the Yuba County Water Agency, a special district in California, that, if approved by the court, will allow for the district to bail out from its status as a “covered jurisdiction” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt the agency from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The agency covers Yuba County, Calif., which is a jurisdiction subject to Section 5. The agreement is in the form of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, certain covered jurisdictions, determined according to Section 4 of the act, are required to seek preclearance for any changes in voting qualifications, standards, practices or procedures from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, or from the Attorney General, prior to their implementation. Section 4 of the act provides that a covered jurisdiction may seek to “bail out,” or remove itself from such coverage, and therefore be exempted from the preclearance requirements, by seeking a declaratory judgment before a three-judge panel in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. A bailout judgment can be issued only if the court determines that the jurisdiction meets certain eligibility requirements for bailout contained in the statute, including a 10-year record of nondiscrimination in voting-related actions. The act also provides that the Attorney General can consent to entry of a judgment of bailout only if, based upon investigation, the Attorney General is satisfied that the jurisdiction meets the eligibility requirements.
The Yuba County Water Agency filed its bailout action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on March 19, 2013. Agency officials had contacted the Attorney General prior to filing its action, indicating that the agency was interested in seeking a bailout. The agency provided the Justice Department with substantial information, and the department conducted an investigation to determine the agency’s eligibility. Based on that investigation, the department is satisfied that the agency meets the Voting Rights Act’s requirements for bailout.
“In this case, the department carefully evaluated the information provided by the agency, and conducted its own investigation, which has satisfied us that the agency is eligible for bailout,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Matthew Colangelo. “We appreciate the agency’s cooperation in the resolution of this matter.”The consent decree details the legal and factual basis for a bailout determination and, if approved, will grant the agency’s request. The court will retain jurisdiction of the action for 10 years and can reopen the action upon the motion of the attorney general or any aggrieved person alleging conduct by the agency that would have originally precluded the agency from bailing out if it had occurred during the 10 year period preceding entry of the consent decree.
Information about bailout, the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/crt/voting. Complaints may be reported to the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.Justice Department Finds Pennsylvania State Prison’s <br /> Use of Solitary Confinement Violates Rights of Prisoners Under the Constitution and Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department issued a findings letter detailing the results of its investigation into the use of solitary confinement on prisoners with serious mental illness at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Cresson in Cambria County, Pa. The department found that Cresson’s use of long-term and extreme forms of solitary confinement on prisoners with serious mental illness, many of whom also have intellectual disabilities, violates their rights under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Though the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections now intends to close Cresson, many of the prison’s problematic policies and practices relating to the use of solitary confinement appear indicative of what is occurring statewide. For this reason, in its findings letter, the department also notified the governor that the department is expanding the investigation to include all prisons in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to determine whether these other prisons also engage in the unlawful use of prolonged and extreme isolation of prisoners with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Secretary John Wetzel and his staff at the Department of Corrections have fully cooperated during the course of this investigation and the department looks forward to working collaboratively with them in the coming months.
In addition to finding that Cresson routinely resorts to locking prisoners with serious mental illness in their cells for 22 to 23 hours a day, for months or even years at a time, the department also found that Cresson often denies these prisoners basic necessities and subjects them to harsh and punitive conditions, including excessive uses of force. The department concluded that Cresson’s misuse of solitary confinement on prisoners with serious mental illness leads to serious harms, including mental decompensation, clinical depression, psychosis, self-mutilation, and suicide.
The department also found that Cresson came to rely on solitary confinement as a means of warehousing many of its prisoners with serious mental illness because of deficiencies relating to its mental health program. Those systemic deficiencies include a disorganized and fragmented mental health program, marginalization of mental health staff, and disciplinary procedures that result in the punishment of disability-related behaviors and the placement of actively psychotic prisoners into harsh solitary confinement. The department also found an oversight system that does not analyze suicides and other critical data.
“We found that Cresson often permitted its prisoners with serious mental illness or intellectual disabilities to simply languish, decompensate, and harm themselves in solitary confinement for months or years on end under harsh conditions in violation of the Constitution,” said Roy L. Austin Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “These practices have serious public safety consequences because many of these individuals are returned to the community. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Department of Corrections during the expanded investigation to bring an end to these practices.”
“The findings in this case are disturbing and expose a serious disregard for the health and safety of prisoners with serious mental illness,” said David J. Hickton, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “We are dedicated to ensuring that prisoners throughout the Commonwealth are treated humanely and receive the appropriate mental health treatment in an effort to enhance their successful reintegration into the community upon release.”
The department initiated this investigation in December 2011 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which prohibits a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. During the course of the investigation, the department made additional findings under the ADA. The investigation also provided information to the department that justified an expanded investigation under CRIPA and the ADA.
The expanded investigation will focus on allegations that prisons throughout the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections subject prisoners with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities to prolonged periods of isolation under conditions similar to those found at Cresson. Through this investigation the department will seek to determine whether the other prisons in the Commonwealth engage in a pattern or practice of the inappropriate use of prolonged isolation on prisoners with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities in violation of the Constitution and federal law.
This investigation was conducted by attorneys with the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be partnering again to conduct the expanded statewide investigation. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Jury Finds Ferriday Drug Traffickers Guilty of Meth Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a jury found Maurice T. Smith, 33, and Chavo T. Thomas, 30, both of Ferriday, La., guilty for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States Chief District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. Both defendants face mandatory life sentences.
The trial started Tuesday and ended today with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for an hour and 20 minutes. The jury found that Smith and Thomas conspired with others to travel to California in October 2011 to buy methamphetamine. The defendants were arrested in Brookhaven, Miss., while traveling on a train with 2 pounds of pure methamphetamine intended to be sold in Ferriday.
“We commend the work of the law enforcement agencies who investigated this case,” Finley stated. “They were able to stop this shipment of illegal drugs before it could be sold in the Western District of Louisiana. I also want to thank the prosecutors who tried this case. My office will continue to prosecute these types of cases to the fullest extent of the law.”Smith and Thomas were arrested as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation “Delta Blues” investigation. The FBI-Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of the Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Alexandria Police Department, participated in the investigation. The U.S. Marshals and the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office also participated in the investigation. The Southwest Mississippi Narcotics Task Force, Brookhaven (Mississippi) Police Department and the Lincoln County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office assisted in the defendants’ arrest.
The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr. and Seth Reeg prosecuted the case.Indictment Charges Five Men with Kidnapping Meriden Residents, Robbing Fairfield Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned a 13-count indictment charging TIMOTHY FORBES, 31, of Allentown, Pa.; WILLIAM DAVIS, 25, of Allentown; JEFFREY HOUSTON, 26, of Allentown; CHRISTOPHER GAY, 27, of Bronx, N.Y., and KASAM HENNIX, 39, of Easton, Pa. with kidnapping four Meriden residents and robbing a Fairfield jewelry store of millions of dollars in merchandise in April. The indictment was returned yesterday.
As alleged in previously filed court documents, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 11, at least four men wearing masks and gloves, two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into an apartment on Gravel Street in Meriden, Conn., bound four victims with duct tape and covered their heads with pillowcases, towels and jackets. Three of the perpetrators then forced two of the victims into a victim’s vehicle and drove to Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, Conn., where the two victims worked. At the store, the perpetrators stole jewelry, watches and loose diamonds valued at between four and five million dollars. They then fled in the victim’s car, leaving the two victims bound inside the store.
The indictment charges each of the five defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, four counts of kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery, two counts of interference with commerce through robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by threats and violence, and three counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
DAVIS, HOUSTON, GAY and HENNIX have been detained since their arrests on May 22, and FORBES has been detained since his arrest on state charges earlier this month.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of gemstones, jewelry, watches and more than $127,000 in cash seized from DAVIS, GAY and HOUSTON on May 22, as well as HOUSTON’s vehicle.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of life on each of the kidnapping charges, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each of the interference with commerce charges, and a consecutive term of imprisonment of seven years on each charge of using a firearm during the crime.
The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfield Police Department and Meriden Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Daly also acknowledged the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI in New York and Pennsylvania; the York, Allentown and Bethlehem Police Departments in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy Lee Dayton and Douglas P. Morabito.
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(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Idaho Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Transporting Child Pornography Aboard A Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II yesterday sentenced Gary Lee Reed (47, Blackfoot, Idaho), to 8 years in federal prison for transporting child pornography. Reed pleaded guilty to the charge on February 28, 2013.
According to court documents, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers discovered thousands of images and videos of child pornography on Reed's laptop computer during a secondary inspection of his luggage. At the time of the inspection, Reed was returning to Port Canaveral, Florida, aboard a cruise ship that had recently sailed to the Bahamas.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.
It is another case 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.
Harlan, Iowa Resident Sentenced to 120 Months for Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On May 30, 2013, Jon Monte Rodacker, a 48 year old resident of Harlan, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Robert Pratt to 120 months imprisonment for manufacturing methamphetamine. Judge Pratt also ordered Rodacker to serve a five year term of supervised release following incarceration. On September 5, 2012, Rodacker pled guilty to a charge of manufacturing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the manufacturing of methamphetamine in rural areas in and around Shelby County, Iowa. The investigation revealed that Rodacker was actively producing methamphetamine from as early as July of 2009, up to March 6, 2012, using pseudoephedrine pills purchased in Iowa and Nebraska.
The investigation was conducted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Harlan, Iowa Police Department, Iowa State Fire Marshal, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Former Wichita Investment Advisor Sentenced on Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Wichita investment advisor has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing money he pretended to be investing for clients, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. He was ordered to pay more than $2.2 million in restitution.
Eric Burns, 44, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted he arranged for electronic transactions to take place as part of a scheme to defraud clients.
The transactions included the following:
The transfer of $70,000 on Aug. 20, 2008, from Boston to New York City.
The transfer of $25,000 on July 7, 2010, from Boston to Wichita.
The transfer of $12,000 on Aug. 13, 2010, from Boston to Wichita.
The transfer of $150,000 on Aug. 26, 2010, from Boston to Wichita.
The transfer of $130,000 on June 7, 2011, from Boston to Wichita.On Nov. 8, 2011, the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner suspended Burns’ registration as an investment advisor after receiving a complaint that he misappropriated client funds.
Grissom commended the FBI, the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway for their work on the case.
Former Student Pleads Guilty to Making False 911 Call Concerning Alleged Gunman at UVA-WiseJanuary 23, 2013, Phone Call Led to Campus Lock DownRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – Bryant Alexander Hairston, 20, of Martinsville, Virginia, pled guilty today, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, in Abingdon, to one count of making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch of the United States and one count of making false statements under oath.
On January 23, 2013, Hairston told a 911 dispatcher there was a gunman on the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (“UVa-Wise”) who was trying to get into one of the dormitories. Hairston told the dispatcher that the man had a pistol. The campus was placed on lock down and law enforcement officers from various agencies responded to the scene. Armed officers went door to door through the dormitory searching for the alleged gunman. While the search was ongoing, Hairston made statements indicating he was happy that he had saved the lives of his fellow students. Officers became suspicious of Hairston and questioned him. After some time, Hairston admitted he had made up the story about a gunman because he wanted to look like a hero.
“When Mr. Hairston falsely claimed to have seen a gunman on the campus of UVa-Wise, he instigated an immediate emergency response and caused significant stress among his fellow students and their families,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Upon hearing of his despicable lie, students barricaded themselves in rooms and parents worried their children would become victims of another mass shooting. Hairston created a highly charged and dangerous situation for law enforcement and others. His false report reignited the fear that lingers in our district, which has experienced the awful reality of campus violence in our recent past. Our aggressive pursuit of this case demonstrates our desire to hold accountable those who make false reports to law enforcement."
United States District Judge James P. Jones scheduled the sentencing hearing for September 9, 2013, at the Federal Courthouse in Abingdon. As part of the plea agreement reached in the case, Hairston will make restitution of over $4,000.00 (four thousand dollars) to reimburse the various law enforcement and counseling agencies for their costs in responding to the 911 call and dealing with traumatized students.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the police departments of UVa-Wise, Pound, and Wise; the Wise County Sheriff’s Office; the Virginia State Police; and the Bristol Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Former President of Southbury Synagogue Admits Embezzling More Than $500,000Read the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JODI CHURCHILL, 45, of Orange, waived her right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of mail fraud stemming from her embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a Southbury synagogue.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in November 2010, while serving as the vice president of the Beth El Synagogue in Southbury, CHURCHILL began embezzling funds from the synagogue. In June 2011, CHURCHILL became president of the synagogue and used her new position to open a checking account and a money market account in the name of the synagogue. CHURCHILL was the only signatory on the accounts. Initially, CHURCHILL opened the accounts using the synagogue’s business address in Southbury, but in 2011, she directed the bank to change the mailing address on the accounts to her residence in Orange. Thereafter, all bank statements for accounts were mailed to CHURCHILL’s home address.
Between June 2011 and December 2011, CHURCHILL deposited bank checks totaling more than $300,000 into the accounts. The checks reflected the proceeds of certificates of deposit held by the synagogue that had matured at other financial institutions.
The investigation has revealed that CHURCHILL made more than 60 unauthorized ATM and over-the-counter withdrawals of synagogue funds in amounts ranging from $200 to $5,000. CHURCHILL used embezzled funds to pay school-related expenses for her children, expenses for leasing a horse used by one of her children, vehicle expenses, airline tickets and hotel expenses for personal travel. She also provided stolen funds to a relative.
During the course of this scheme, CHURCHILL embezzled more than $500,000 in synagogue funds.
CHURCHILL is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on September 5, 2013, at which time CHURCHILL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
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(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Former Pediatric Nurse Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Distribution and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A former pediatric intensive care nurse from Portland’s Oregon Health & Science University, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to seven years in prison and ten years of supervised release for distribution and receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. BRYAN W. CORBITT, 44, of Washougal, Washington, was arrested on February 16, 2012, following an investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). CORBITT had been sharing sexually explicit images of children over the Internet via a file-sharing program on his computer. Two of the people he chose to share images with were undercover law enforcement agents, each of whom observed thousands of images of child pornography available for sharing on CORBITT’s computer. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said, “These are serious crimes. These children are victimized, and in your spare time, you persisted in victimizing them in your own way. That’s reprehensible.”
“This defendant betrayed the trust of the medical profession and the children and families he cared for in the pediatric intensive care unit,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “He tried unsuccessfully to hide his crime from law enforcement and from his own family. It is fully appropriate that as part of his supervised release he will have to undergo sex offender treatment.”
According to records filed in the case, CORBITT had used “wiping” software on his computer in an effort to hide his interest in child pornography. Nevertheless, a forensic examination of the computer found 65 image files of child pornography from the allocated space of Defendant’s computer, and another 400 or so images of child pornography from the unallocated space. The forensic examination also revealed that CORBITT used a separate media storage device to store additional images and videos of child pornography. That device has not been located. CORBITT had images of young boys with catheters inserted into their penises mixed in among his collection of child pornography, images that were clearly taken in a hospital setting like the one where he worked for ten years. Many of the parents who contacted the case agent after news of CORBITT’s arrest were grieving their children’s deaths; many were parents of severely disabled children. To learn that CORBITT had been arrested and charged with crimes involving the sexual exploitation of innocent victims caused additional anguish.
“It's always disheartening when we arrest someone who was in a position of trust for possession of child pornography,” said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle. “This case is particularly egregious because the defendant, as a pediatric nurse, had a fundamental duty to protect children, but instead he chose to exploit them through his consumption of Internet child pornography. Every day, HSI special agents work tirelessly to seek justice on behalf of child sex abuse victims by tracking down consumers and producers of child pornography.”
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth.
Former Narcotics Task Force Officer Charged with Embezzling Seized MoneyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – Federal prosecutors have charged the former commander of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force with stealing at least $125,000 from suspected drug proceeds seized by the multi-agency task force, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office late Thursday filed a one-count information in U.S. District Court charging JEFFREY LYNN SNYDER, 55, of Carrollton, with the theft from a program that received more than $10,000 in federal benefits within a one-year period. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed a plea agreement with Snyder in which he agrees to enter a guilty plea to the charge. According to the plea agreement, Snyder embezzled the money between June 2010 and June 2012, when he left the task force.
“Most law-enforcement officers serve their communities bravely and honorably each and every day,” Vance said. “Unfortunately, this defendant violated his oath, the law and the public trust he had been granted. That cannot be tolerated. The public must be able to trust its law enforcement officers.”
“Mr. Snyder tarnished the badge he wore and violated the trust of the people of West Alabama,” Schwein said. “This case demonstrates our commitment to enforce the law and hold individuals accountable, regardless of rank, position, or status. Fortunately, this is an isolated incident, and we should recognize the efforts of law enforcement officers throughout the region who continue to risk their lives on a daily basis so that the public can be safe,” he said.
The West Alabama Narcotics Task Force is staffed with officers from the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Northport Police Department and University of Alabama Police Department. It is tasked to investigate all drug crimes in Tuscaloosa County.Snyder was a 29-year member of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, retiring as a captain in December 2012. He was detailed to the narcotics task force in 1989 and became its commander in June 2002, according to his plea agreement.
Task force members periodically seized money suspected to be proceeds of illegal drug transactions and turned the money in to Snyder, who was responsible for depositing the money into bank accounts while condemnation proceedings were pursued through court, according to the plea agreement. Snyder was entrusted to receive the seized money, log it in task force ledger books and deposit it in task force bank accounts.
Snyder began embezzling from the seized funds no later than June 2010. He executed his scheme “by pocketing some or all of the funds seized during various arrests, and then failing to correctly account for those funds,” the plea agreement states.
The agreement between the government and Snyder is a “binding plea agreement” in which both sides agree to an 18-month prison sentence, but the court must still approve the agreement.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Cornelius is prosecuting the case.
Former Employee of Atlantic County, N.J., Timeshare Consulting Firm Admits Conspiring to Defraud Timeshare OwnersRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former employee of The Vacation Ownership Group LLC of Pleasantville, N.J., admitted to conspiring to defraud owners of timeshare properties by offering phony consulting services, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Joseph Saxon, 39, of Brigantine, N.J., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Saxon was previously indicted on this charge.According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Vacation Ownership Group, a/k/a VO Group LLC, had offices in Mays Landing, N.J., and Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and claimed to offer to owners of timeshares consulting services that included cancelling, purchasing and upgrading the timeshares.
In 2010, Saxon started working at the VO Group and was trained by VO Group co-owner Adam Lacerda to call customers using prepared scripts. The defendant called customers and gave them the false impression that he was working for a bank or lending institution. After hearing Saxon’s false representations, some customers sent checks to the VO Group. For example, Saxon falsely told one victim that Saxon was working with the bank that held the victim’s timeshare mortgage and that the bank wanted to settle the loan for a fraction of the price. The victim then mailed a check for $5,925 to the VO Group. Saxon admitted causing more than $120,000 in losses.
On Jan. 23, 2013, co-owners Adam Lacerda, Ashley Lacerda and other members of the VO Group were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and other charges. Additional members of the VO Group were also charged by criminal complaint in April 2012. To date, 12 members of the VO Group have pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. As for the Lacerdas and other defendants who have not been convicted in this case, the charges and allegations against them are merely accusations and they are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The mail and wire fraud conspiracy charge to which Saxon pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss caused by the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents from the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark; and special agents from the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Panella, New York Region, for their roles in the investigation leading to the guilty pleas. He also thanked the N.J. Department of Labor, Benefit Payment Control Unit, for its assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyson M. Oswald and R. David Walk, Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: David S. Rudenstein Esq., Philadelphia
Saxon, Joseph Superseding Information
Former Bank Officer Admits Accepting Bribes in Connection with Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former bank officer today admitted his role in soliciting and accepting bribes in connection with financial transactions, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jose Dominguez, 46, of Newark, N.J., pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with soliciting and accepting bribes as a bank officer in excess of $1,000. Dominguez solicited and accepted corrupt payments of $55,529, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a bank transaction. He entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court.According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 1988 to February 2007, Dominguez was employed as a loan officer at Spencer Savings Bank in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. In 2003, Dominguez was contacted by a bank customer because the customer wanted to refinance some loans with Spencer Savings Bank and wanted to do so without paying significant prepayment penalty fees. Dominguez advised the customer that if the customer made corrupt payments to Dominguez, as the loan officer, the customer could obtain a lower interest rate without paying a prepayment penalty to Spencer Savings Bank.
Between August 2003 and December 2003, Dominguez accepted $55,529.57 in corrupt payments from the customer to influence the requested loan modification. Dominguez also admitted to accepting additional bribes from other bank customers in the amounts of $4,500 and $5,000, respectively.
The bank bribery charge to which Dominguez pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Dominguez also previously pleaded guilty on May 23, 2012, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and bank bribery as a Spencer Savings loan officer in connection with a separate case. Sentencing related to the charges from both cases is currently scheduled for Sept. 19, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zahid N. Quraishi and Vikas Khanna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Thomas Young Esq. Assistant Federal Public Defender, CamdenDominguez, Jose Information
For-Profit School in Texas to Pay United States up to $2.5 Million for Allegedly Submitting False Claims for Federal Student Financial AidRead the Press Release
American Commercial Colleges Inc. (ACC) has agreed to pay the United States up to $2.5 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it violated the civil False Claims Act by falsely certifying that it complied with certain eligibility requirements of the federal student aid programs, the Justice Department announced today.
To maintain eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, for-profit colleges such as ACC must obtain no more than ninety percent of their annual revenues from Title IV student aid programs. At least ten percent of their revenues must come from other sources, such as payments from students using their own funds or private loans independent of Title IV. Congress enacted this “90/10 Rule” based on the belief that quality schools should be able to attract at least a portion of their funding from private sources, and not rely solely upon the Federal Government. The civil settlement resolves allegations that ACC violated the False Claims Act when it orchestrated certain short-term private student loans that ACC repaid with federal Title IV funds to artificially inflate the amount of private funding ACC counted for purposes of the 90/10 Rule. The short-term loans at issue in this case were not sought or obtained by students on their own; rather, the United States contends ACC orchestrated the loans for the sole purpose of manipulating its 90/10 Rule calculations.
“American taxpayers have a right to expect federal student aid to be used as intended by Congress -- to help students obtain a quality education from an eligible institution,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to making sure that for-profit colleges play by the rules and that Title IV funds are used as intended.”
Under the False Claims Act settlement, ACC, a privately-owned college operating several campuses in Texas, will pay the United States $1 million, plus interest, over five years, and could be obligated to pay an additional $1.5 million under the terms of the agreement.“Misuse of taxpayers’ dollars cannot be tolerated – not only for the sake of taxpayers, but especially in the case of innocent individuals who seek to improve their lives through a quality education,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Sarah R. Saldaña.
Today’s settlement resolves allegations brought by Shawn Clark and Juan Delgado, former directors of ACC campuses in Odessa and Abilene, respectively, under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring an action on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Messrs. Clark and Delgado will receive $170,000 of the $1 million fixed portion of the government’s recovery, and would receive an additional $255,000 if ACC becomes obligated to pay the maximum $1.5 million contingent portion of the settlement.
This case was handled by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas; and the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General and Office of General Counsel.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Clark, et al., v. American Commercial Colleges, Inc., No. 5:10-cv-00129 (N.D. Tex.). The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Florida Corporations and Their Management Sentenced for Trafficking Toys Containing Lead and Smuggling Counterfeit Disney, Marvel and Major League Baseball Merchandise from ChinaRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Vernon Foret, Director Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office, announced today that defendants Hung Lam, 55, and Isabella Kit Yeung, 37, both of Miami-Dade County, and Florida corporations LM Import-Export, Inc. (LM), Lam’s Investment Corp. (LIC), and LK Toys Corporation, (LK) were sentenced for violations regarding the smuggling of hazardous children’s products from China.
Lam was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams to 22 months incarceration, a $10,000.00 fine, three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. LM, LIC, and LK were sentenced to five years’ probation and an $800 special assessment. Yeung was sentenced to one year of probation, a $1,000 fine and $25 special assessment. In addition, a forfeiture judgment and order in the amount of $862,500 was imposed against the defendants. The judgment also ordered the forfeiture of property imported by defendants and seized by the United States.
The sentencing was based on defendant Hung Lam’s earlier guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to traffic and smuggle children’s products, including toys, containing banned hazardous substances, such as lead and small parts, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320. Co-defendant Isabella Kit Yeung pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of submitting a false label country of origin, in violation of 19 U.S.C. §1304(a).
According to the documents filed with and statements made in court, from approximately April 2000 through May 2011, defendants Lam, LM, LIC, and LK conspired to sell and distribute in commerce children’s products imported from China in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. These products allegedly presented the risk of choking, aspiration, and ingestion, and some contained lead above the allowed statutory limits. The defendants imported these products by means of false statements on custom declaration forms. Yeung was charged with the misdemeanor count of importing goods without the required country of origin labeling.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI, CPSC, and CBP. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman O. Hemming, III and Daren Grove.
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.
Fitchburg Gang Member Sentenced for Crack DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Worcester for multiple counts of distributing crack cocaine.
Hector Rodriguez a/k/a Bolo, 33, of Fitchburg, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 170 months in prison, to be followed by 96 months of supervised release. In January 2013, Rodriguez was found guilty following a five-day jury trial of three counts of crack distribution.During the five-day trial, evidence proved that Rodriguez distributed over 70 grams of crack cocaine on October 26, 2011, November 2, 2011 and November 26, 2011 for just under $4,000.
Rodriguez was arrested in January 2011 as part of Operation Red Wolf, a multi-agency investigation targeting gang members involved in drug dealing and firearms distribution in the Fitchburg area. At the time of his arrest in January 2012 Rodriguez was found in possession of a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and small amounts of both crack cocaine and marijuana.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Fitchburg Police Chief Robert A. DeMoura; Webster Police Chief Timothy J. Bent; Dan Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cory Flashner and Mark Grady of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office Unit.
Firearm Safety InitiativeRead the Press Release
BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office has partnered with the Baton Rouge City Constable’s Office, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana Association of Sheriffs, Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, Louisiana District Attorneys Association, and Louisiana’s City Marshals and City Constables Association to develop an initiative to educate youth on firearm safety and awareness.
United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. states, “Our state and local partners are confident that this campaign will be successful in helping to reduce the number of tragic firearm accidents involving our youth that occur simply because of the lack of education and understanding of the dangers and the devastating effects of firearms when they are not handled properly.”
The presentations can be conducted at any community event, summer camp or school camp and will focus on safety and awareness issues as well as instructions on what to do if a firearm is found. The basic philosophy taught is that upon encountering a firearm children should Stop, Don’t Touch, Leave the Area, and Tell an Adult. Presentations are conducted by POST/FBI Firearms Instructors and will utilize props and a ballistic shoot tank for a live fire demonstration.
The current community event schedule includes:
• Saturday, June 1, 2013 (10:00 – 4:00) “Obesity for the Birds” BREC Trail Walk/Community Against Drugs and Violence, Inc. (CADAV) Pre-Juneteenth Community Outreach Festival Howell Place Gym, 7716 Howell Boulevard, Baton Rouge
• Saturday, June 8, 2013 (9:00 – 1:00) Shady Grove First Missionary Baptist Church’s Annual Health Fair 16443 Plank Road, Baker
• Saturday, June 15, 2013 (1:00 – 5:00) Juneteenth Celebration Gus Young Park, 4200 Gus Young Avenue, Baton Rouge
• Saturday, June 29, 2013 (1:00 – 5:00) One Voice One Dream One Team 4th Annual Pack the Park SAIA BREC Park, 855 North Donmoor Avenue, Baton Rouge
• Saturday, July 27, 2013 (7:00 – 12:00) Project R.I.D.E., Inc. Back to School Seminar Louisiana State Fairgrounds, 17200 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge
• Saturday, December 7, 2013 (12:00) Community Against Drugs and Violence, Inc. (CADAV) Christmas Festival Scotlandville Elementary School, Pembroke at 75th Avenue, Baton Rouge
For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Holly Sheets, Victim-Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office, at 225-389-0443.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms LawRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Penn Hills, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Norman Warren, 24, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about Sept. 4, 2012, Warren, being a convicted felon as a result of a prior firearms conviction, illegally possessed a Hi- Point, .380 caliber pistol. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year to possess a firearm.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Sept. 23, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Norman Warren.
Federal Jury Convicts El Paso, Texas Man on Heroin Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – This morning, a federal jury sitting in Santa Fe, N.M., found Francisco Burciaga, 43, of El Paso, Texas, guilty on a heroin trafficking charge after a four-day trial. The jury’s guilty verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the El Paso Division of the DEA, Chief Eric R. Shelton of the New Mexico Motor Transportation Police and Chief Terry Sisneros of the Raton Police Department.
Burciaga was arrested on a heroin trafficking charge on June 24, 2008, after officers found 32 pounds of heroin secreted in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop in Colfax County, N.M. In July 2008, Burciaga was indicted and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. An earlier trial in Nov. 2010 ended in a mistrial and proceedings in the case were stayed during the pendency of an interlocutory appeal.
The retrial of the case began on May 28, 2013, and concluded this morning when the jury returned a guilty verdict against Burciaga on the sole count of the indictment.
The evidence at trial established, on June 24, 2008, a New Mexico Motor Transportation Police officer executed a routine traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Burciaga on Interstate 25 just south of Raton, N.M. When the officer approached Burciaga, who was traveling alone, Burciaga provided a Texas driver’s license and documents reflecting that the vehicle was registered to him at a Phoenix, Ariz., on June 23, 2008, and insured by him on that same day. After the officer explained the traffic violation he observed, Burciaga admitted the violation and agreed to pay the fine.
While talking with Burciaga, the officer noticed a strong chemical odor coming from the vehicle and an air freshener hanging from the vehicle’s rear-view mirror. Together with the vehicle’s recent registration, these observations raised the officer’s suspicions. As a result, the officer asked Burciaga if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. Burciaga responded by saying “you can take a look” and opening the vehicle’s hatchback. Shortly thereafter, a New Mexico State Police officer arrived to assist and noticed fresh tool marks and spray paint on the underside of the vehicle and its back bumper area. The officers then had a narcotics dog inspect the vehicle and vethe dog reacted to the back bumper area of the vehicle.
When the officers removed the back bumper from Burciaga’s vehicle, they found a hidden compartment containing 24 sealed packages containing a white powdery substance. Subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that the packaged contained 14.4 kilograms (32 pounds) of heroin that was 72% pure. The Chief of the Indications and Warnings Section of DEA’s Intelligence Division in Washington, D.C., who testified as an expert, told the jury that the heroin seized from Burciaga was one of the top ten DEA heroin seizures in the United States in 2008 in terms of weight. He also testified that, in Chicago, Ill., where Burciaga intended to deliver the heroin, the conservative retail, or street, value of the heroin in 2008 was at least $2,900,000.
Burciaga testified during the defense case, and claimed that he was unaware of the presence of the heroin in his vehicle and suggested that he was an unwitting carrier.
The jury deliberated approximately 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict against Burciaga.
Burciaga has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2008, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Burciaga faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years. According to court filings, Burciaga’s faces this enhanced penalty because he previously was convicted of a felony drug trafficking crime in a Texas state court in 1996.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA, the New Mexico Motor Transportation Police and the Raton Police Department, with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon K. Stanford and C. Paige Messec.
Fairbanks Man sentenced to 36 months prison in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a man from Fairbanks, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for his role in an Anchorage and Fairbanks drug conspiracy.
Jerry Wormley, 34, a/k/a, “Two-Tone,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Wormley received a sentence of 36 months prison, three years supervised release, and agreed to pay a $24,000 money judgment to the United States. Wormley had previously pled guilty to an indictment charging him and his co-conspirators with one count of drug conspiracy.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, Wormley was a member of a drug trafficking organization in Anchorage and Fairbanks that between 2009 and February 2012, sold powder cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone pills in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Wormley sold cocaine in Fairbanks and he would purchase larger quantities of cocaine from other members of the conspiracy and then redistribute the cocaine in Fairbanks. Wormley also acted as a courier for other members of the conspiracy, transporting cocaine from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
Wormley and other members of the conspiracy attempted to conceal their drug trafficking by claiming they were involved in a legitimate business, specifically that they were “artists,” employees, or promoters of concerts. Members of this conspiracy would record rap and hip hop songs, post videos on Youtube.com, and perform local shows in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Much of their music glorified the lifestyle of selling illegal narcotics and committing other crimes. The lavish and extravagant lifestyle portrayed in their music and videos was supported by their sales of illegal narcotics. Wormley had no record of serious or consistent employment since dropping out of high school in 1996, but claimed ownership of a fledgling music promotion company called JG Productions in Fairbanks. This company had previously been a part of one minor concert promotion in Fairbanks, but it was clear Wormley’s sole source of income for many years was the distribution of cocaine in Fairbanks.
Prior to imposing a sentence, Judge Beistline noted that selling drugs poisons the community and he characterized Wormley as a “nice guy drug dealer”. Judge Beistline further acknowledged the community and family support Wormley had received prior to sentencing, but criticized the choices the defendant had made to distribute cocaine in the community.
Wormley was indicted along with 13 other members of the conspiracy located in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Christopher Anderson was previously sentenced to 14 months prison on November 2, 2012, DeMarr Moultrie was sentenced to 40 months prison on May 1, 2013 and Jeraelyn Hill was sentenced to 66 months prison on May 28, 2013. Donnell Johnson, Joshua Mustovich, Mihla Hall, Antonio Fleming, Dalon Johnson, Tevoris Carter, Rock Phelps, Emma Shine, and Brent Gunnels have pleaded guilty for their roles in connection with the conspiracy and await sentencing. Terrance Fleming has a pending trial scheduled in August 2013.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Anchorage Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wormley.
Eagle Butte Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute A Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Terry Flying By, age 51, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on May 29, 2013 and pled guilty to Count II of the Indictment that charged him with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is not more than 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both; a mandatory 2 years of supervised release; an additional year of supervised release upon revocation; and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge stems from an incident wherein Cheyenne River law enforcement conducted a vehicle stop and learned from the driver that he had purchased marijuana from a residence in Eagle Butte. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement searched the residence and found marijuana along with other drug paraphernalia. Flying By admitted to the selling of marijuana in his home.
The investigation was conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.
Flying By was released on bond pending sentencing which has been set for August 19, 2013.
Drug Dealer and Armed Career Criminal SentencedRead the Press Release
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Travis Lokey, age 32, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced on May 30, 2013, by the Honorable Clay D. Land, District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia in Columbus, Georgia. Judge Land sentenced Mr. Lokey to seventeen and one-half (17 ½) years in prison for distribution of crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 41(b)(1)(B)(iii), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e).
In entering his plea of guilty to Count One of the Superseding Information, Mr. Lokey admitted that on May 10, 2011, he distributed over twenty-eight (28) grams of crack cocaine to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, Mr. Lokey entered a guilty plea to Count Two of the Superseding Information, admitting that on October 27, 2011, he was stopped for a speeding violation which revealed that he had a suspended driver’s license. During a search by an officer with the Columbus Police Department, a Charter Arms model Undercover.38 Special caliber revolver was found in Mr. Lokey’s right front pants pocket.
As a result of Mr. Lokey’s prior convictions, he faced a sentence of five (5) to forty (40) years for the distribution of crack cocaine and a sentence of fifteen (15) years to life for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as mandated by the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 (which requires a mandatory minimum of fifteen years (15) years to life for individuals with three prior convictions for either drug trafficking crimes or crimes of violence).“When repeat offenders are taken off the streets it is a win for us all, and in this case especially for the people of Columbus,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. 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.
Department of Justice Releases First Report to Congress on Indian Country Investigations and ProsecutionsRead the Press Release
Report to Congress Shows Increased Federal Prosecutions on Oregon’s Indian ReservationsPORTLAND, Ore. – The Department of Justice released today a report to Congress entitled Indian Country Investigations and Prosecutions that provides a range of statistics related to federal law enforcement operations in Indian Country in 2011 and 2012. The report, which is based on data compiled by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the FBI, shows a 54 percent increase in Indian Country criminal prosecutions nationally since Fiscal Year 2009.
“Across the country, U.S. Attorneys have been focused on fighting crime in Indian Country and reinforcing the bond between federal and tribal law enforcement, which also strengthens the faith that people have in their criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This report on federal law enforcement efforts in Indian Country is beginning to show the fruits of this labor with an increase in Indian Country cases prosecuted in federal courts over the past three years, but we have more work to do. The department will continue in its commitment to working with our tribal partners to build safe, sustainable, and healthy communities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”
“While the numbers are gratifying, they are only a small part of the story. What we are most proud of is the way tribal leaders and Justice Officials have worked together in recent years to find and implement responses to violent crime in Indian Country,” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. “From the passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA); the Violence Against Women Act; and inter-agency collaboration in both prevention and enforcement, we have come a long way. Here in Oregon, I am especially proud of the way our office has worked to not only fight crime, but also to provide technical expertise, training, consultation, and prosecution resources to assist tribes in exercising their law enforcement, sentencing, and jurisdictional authority. We have a proud tradition of honoring our trust responsibility to Oregon Tribes. From the country’s first tribal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program at Warm Springs to the nation’s first tribal court sentencing to the Bureau of Prisons under the provisions of the TLOA by the Umatilla Tribe, our partnerships with tribes have paved the way for significant improvements to public safety in Indian Country. I am confident that we will continue to blaze new trails to ensure that reservations in Oregon are safe places for children and families.”
In Oregon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has the responsibility to prosecute major crimes on the Burns-Paiute Indian Reservation, the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The report shows that in 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon prosecuted 31 Indian Country cases and declined 17 cases, for a declination rate of 35%. In 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon prosecuted 50 Indian Country cases and declined 9 cases, for a declination rate of 15%. Cases were declined for numerous reasons, such as the suspect being prosecuted in tribal court instead of federal court, or the lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with a federal prosecution.
Major crimes in Indian Country are investigated jointly by tribal law enforcement officers and FBI agents. The number of Indian Country prosecutions in Oregon has increased significantly in the past two years due to partnerships between tribal and federal law enforcement officers. For example, in Warm Springs, a Multi-Disciplinary Team of social workers, tribal prosecutors, tribal detectives, FBI agents, and federal prosecutors meet monthly to review and evaluate ongoing child abuse investigations. Additionally, a lawyer from the Umatilla Indian Reservation was commissioned last year as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute federal crimes and help coordinate joint tribal-federal investigations of major crimes. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall travels annually to consult with leaders from all nine of Oregon’s Tribal Nations to listen to their concerns about public safety in their communities. Ms. Marshall also serves on the Attorney General’s Native American Advisory Committee and chairs the Juvenile Justice in Indian Country Working Group.
Read the entire report at http://www.justice.gov/tribal/tloa-report-cy-2011-2012.pdf
Read more about the Justice Department’s efforts to increase public safety in Indian County at http://www.justice.gov/tribal/accomplishments.html
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NICHOLAS EVANS, 34, of Norwalk, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 8:00 p.m. on August 23, 2012, EVANS was pursued and then arrested by Bridgeport Police at a residence on Washington Avenue after he discarded a 9mm pistol that was loaded with six rounds of ammunition. The firearm had an obliterated serial number.
EVANS was previously convicted of narcotics and firearms offenses, and of violating a protective order. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
EVANS has been detained since his arrest. On February 1, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
This matter was investigated by the Bridgeport Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa Richards.
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(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Brothers Who Made 'Contributions' to Orthodox Jewish Organizations Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion After Taking Secret Refunds from GroupsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two brothers who made tens of thousands of dollars of contributions to charitable organizations operating under the umbrella of a New York-based orthodox Jewish group known as Spinka pleaded guilty today to tax fraud for taking tax deductions for contributions that were refunded by the non-profits.
Alan Goldstein, 78, and David Goldstein, 74, both of the Hancock Park district of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge John F. Walter. Alan Goldstein pleaded guilty to one count of subscribing to a false income tax return and one count of tax evasion. David Goldstein pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion.
According to court documents, the Goldsteins each entered into an arrangement under which they would make contributions to Spinka charitable organizations -- including Yeshiva Imrei Yosef, Mosdos Hachesded, Central Rabbinical Seminary, and Kollel Ner A’Avrohom – and in return agents of Spinka would secretly refund 90 percent of the contributions through various third parties. In addition, agents of Spinka would mail charitable contribution receipts for the full amounts of the contributions.According to plea agreements filed in federal court, in 2005 and 2006, Alan Goldstein made $135,000 in contributions to charitable organizations operating under the Spinka umbrella. Alan Goldstein accepted kickbacks equaling 90 percent of his contributions on these Spinka-related contributions. Similarly, for the same two years, David Goldstein made $145,000 in contributions to Spinka-related entities, and he received 90 percent of the money back through kickbacks. David Goldstein received $356,400 in kickbacks on behalf of himself and his brothers.
Both defendants filed their respective 2005 and 2006 tax returns claiming the inflated contribution amount for the purpose of tax fraud. Consequently, the tax loss to the government was $45,961 with respect to Alan Goldstein, and $46,531 with respect to David Goldstein, according to the plea agreements.
Spinka is a religious group within Orthodox Judaism that operated a variety of charitable organizations, contributions to which could be tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Code. Prior to the Goldsteins, 16 other defendants pleaded guilty to charges arising from an investigation of kickbacks provided by Spinka charitable organizations to wealthy contributors.
The Goldsteins are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Walter on August 19, 2013. At sentencing, Alan Goldstein faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison and a fine of $500,000. David Goldstein faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. In addition, each defendant may be ordered to pay full restitution for the tax loss, which is estimated to be $55,145 for Alan Goldstein and $70,039 for David Goldstein.
The investigation and prosecution of the Goldsteins was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Release No. 13-076
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 325 Months’ Imprisonment for Child Exploitation and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Micheal Ledee, a 30-year-old Brooklyn resident, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 325 months following his conviction for conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and receipt of child pornography. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, at the U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York.
The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.
The trial established that the defendant used Yahoo! Instant Messenger to direct the mother of a nine-year-old girl to molest her daughter while he watched the abuse live via a webcam. The government’s evidence included chat logs, the testimony of two computer forensic experts, a Yahoo! software engineer, as well as the minor victim. In determining the sentence, Judge Garaufis considered, among other things, the nature of the crimes and the impact on the victim’s life.
Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the New York Field Office of the FBI, the agency responsible for leading the government’s investigation.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tiana A. Demas, Hilary Ley Jager, Taryn Merkl, and Tyler Smith.
The Defendant:
MICHEAL LEDEE
Brooklyn, New York
Age: 31Boise Man Admits Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Images Involved Minors Younger than Six Years Old
BOISE – Jason Lloyd Schaber, 40, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distributing sexually explicit images of a minor between 2010 and 2012, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
According to the plea agreement, the investigation into Schaber's activities began in April 2012, after Boise police were contacted by a person who saw a Craigslist advertisement offering a young child for sex. Investigators worked with Craigslist and Google to trace the ad to Schaber in mid-May, according to reports, and on May 31, 2012, Boise police investigators executed a search warrant at Schaber's home. Schaber was arrested at that time and has been in custody since.
The plea agreement states that Schaber produced 26 sexually explicit images and videos of female minor(s) who were less than six years of age, and that he distributed child pornography he had produced himself or that he had obtained from the Internet, via email to at least 16 other individuals. The images and videos depicted actual and simulated intercourse, oral sex, and the lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic area of the minors, according to the plea agreement. According to the plea agreement, Schaber will forfeit assets directly traceable to the offense or used in the commission of the offense, including computers, hard drives, video cameras and storage media.
The charge of sexual exploitation of children by producing child pornography is punishable by not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in prison. The charge of distribution of child pornography is punishable by not less than five years and not more than 20 years in prison. Each count is punishable by a minimum term of five years up to lifetime supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Sentencing is set for August 13, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
Members of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated the case, including investigators from the Boise Police Department, the Ada County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Technical assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the High Technology Investigative Unit at the U.S. Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” For more information about registered sex offenders in Idaho, visit www.isp.idaho.gov/sor_id/.
Batt Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
BOISE – Kyle Alan Batt, 27, of Caldwell, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to a federal indictment charging him with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. According to court documents, deputies with the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office found Batt hiding with a gun early in the morning on October 24, 2012, a short time after two Canyon County Sheriff’s deputies were shot and injured. When deputies found Batt hiding, he shot himself in the head. Batt was originally charged by complaint and taken into federal custody in November 2012. The indictment was filed on December 11, 2012.
According to the plea agreement, Batt admitted that on October 23, 2012, he knowingly possessed a Beretta .40 semiautomatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. At the time Batt possessed the pistol he had previously been convicted, on May 14, 2004, in Boise County, Idaho, of possession of a controlled substance, a felony crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison; the charge of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number is punishable by up to five years in prison. Both charges are each punishable by up to three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. Batt agreed to forfeit the firearm he unlawfully possessed.
Sentencing is set for August 13, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge, at the federal courthouse in Boise.
“Today’s plea is an important step in ensuring that this defendant cannot present a threat to any member of our community, including our law enforcement community,” said Olson. “Deputy sheriffs face uncertain dangers every day as they seek to keep us safe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies to ensure that those who seek to harm officers engaged in their duties receive swift and certain justice.”
The case was investigated by the Nampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Batt is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
Bank Teller's Alleged Theft from Customer Accounts Leads to Criminal ChargesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Brandon Jewell-Wright, 25, of Philadelphia, PA was charged today by information with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, bank fraud and aiding and abetting bank fraud announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the information, between January and September 2007, Jewell-Wright, working as a teller for Wachovia Bank, made computer inquiries into the accounts of Wachovia customers for the purpose of determining the balances in their accounts and the account holder’s date of birth and social security number.
The information further alleges that Jewell-Wright obtained the addresses, social security numbers and account bank balances for some of Wachovia’s customers which he then sold for cash to another conspirator. The information charges further that the conspirator, and others unknown to the United States Attorney, prepared counterfeit corporate checks payable to the victimized bank customers. The checks were presented to tellers at various Wachovia Bank Branches in Philadelphia for either deposit, followed by a withdrawal, or for cashing. The checks were honored based on bogus identification presented by the check presenter and the balances in the accounts of the Wachovia customers for whom the checks had been made payable. The fraud loss resulting from Jewell-Wright’s alleged scheme is estimated at $255,087.04.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 155 years in prison, restitution, a fine of up to $5.250 million dollars, a special assessment of $600 and three years of supervised release.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.
Click here to view the indictment
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Baltimore Police Officer Accused of Working for Heroin DealerRead the Press Release
Officer Ashley Roane Arrested for Federal Drug, Gun and Identity Fraud Crimes
U.S. Attorney Calls Allegations “Appalling Violation of Public Trust”
Baltimore, Maryland - Baltimore Police officer Ashley Roane, age 25, of Pikesville, Maryland, has been charged with helping a heroin dealer by providing armed, uniformed security for drug transactions; offering advance notice of search warrants; and using police databases to check for informants. In addition, Roane and her roommate, Erica Hughes, also age 25, of Pikesville, have been charged with aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme in which Roane used a police database to obtain the names of victims to be used to obtain fraudulent tax refunds. The criminal complaint was filed on May 28, 2013, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the defendants.
The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.
“The allegations represent an appalling violation of the public trust by an officer who took an oath to serve the public but used her police powers to serve herself,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “The complaint alleges that Officer Ashley Roane agreed to help a drug dealer find a safe place to sell heroin in Baltimore and provide early warnings before police executed search warrants, that she provided armed security for drug deals while in uniform in her patrol car, and that she checked a police database to identify informants. In a separate identity fraud scheme, she allegedly used a police database to obtain names, birth dates and social security numbers that could be used to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS.”
“This case was discovered and investigated by members of a joint Baltimore Police and FBI anti-corruption task force and re-emphasizes my commitment to rooting out corruption within the Baltimore Police Department," said Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts. My message to the people of our city is we are not finished - we will continue to relentlessly target corruption and misconduct among the ranks. A special note of thanks to all the police officers, agents and prosecutors for their assistance with this investigation and their continued support.”
According to the criminal complaint, on February 26, 2013, a confidential source provided information regarding alleged criminal activity being conducted by Baltimore Police officer Ashley Roane and her roommate Erica Hughes. The confidential source advised law enforcement that in the Fall of 2012, Roane had spoken to the source regarding drug trafficking and had told the source that if the source, whom Roane believed was a large scale heroin trafficker in Baltimore, wanted to sell drugs in the area where she patrolled, Roane would provide the source with a location that is not heavily concentrated with police. Additionally, Roane told that source that she could provide the source with information regarding police activity, specifically when and where drug search warrants would be executed.
The criminal complaint alleges that Roane provided assistance and protection to the confidential source in the source’s alleged drug trafficking. For example, on March 28, 2013, the criminal complaint alleges that Roane conducted a criminal check of one of the source’s alleged associates, to see if that person was an informant or cooperator with the Baltimore Police Department. According to the complaint, Roane agreed that she would tell the confidential source if the person were an informant so that the source would not engage in a drug transaction with that person. Further, the criminal complaint alleges on the on April 30, 2013, while in uniform, armed with her service firearm, and in a marked Baltimore Police Department vehicle, Roane provided protection while the confidential source conducted a narcotics transaction involving a kilogram of heroin. The confidential source allegedly paid Roane $500 for her protection and Roane agreed to provide such protection again in a future narcotics transaction involving multiple kilograms of heroin.
According to the criminal complaint, Hughes and Roane believed that the confidential source also worked as a tax preparer and they provided the personal information of more than 30 individuals, including names, dates of birth and social security numbers, to the confidential source to prepare and submit false tax returns to the IRS in order to obtain fraudulent tax refunds. The criminal complaint alleges that Roane obtained the personal information from law enforcement databases through her position as a Baltimore Police officer.
Roane faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for possession of a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Roane and Hughes face a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. The defendants will be detained pending an initial appearance which will be scheduled for Monday, June 3, 2013, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Peter M. Nothstein, who is prosecuting the case.
Armed Career Criminal SentencedRead the Press Release
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Charles Solomon Glover, age 48, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced on May 30, 2013 in Columbus, Georgia by the Honorable Clay D. Land, District Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Mr. Glover was sentenced to seventeen and one-half
(17 ½) years imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e).In entering his plea of guilty to Count One of the Superseding Information, Mr. Glover admitted that on August 3, 2011, he possessed eight (8) firearms in connection with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Mr. Glover admitted that during a traffic stop for driving with a suspended license, a large quantity of narcotics was found in his possession. At a later date, a search was also conducted at a business registered in Mr. Glover’s name and his residence which yielded additional illegal drugs and firearms.
Mr. Glover’s prior convictions for burglary, several felony drug trafficking crimes, as well conspiracy to commit murder resulted in Mr. Glover facing a sentence of fifteen (15) years to life for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as mandated by the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 (which requires a mandatory minimum of fifteen years (15) years to life for individuals with three prior convictions for either drug trafficking crimes or crimes of violence).
“Repeat offenders like Mr. Glover, need to be in prison for a long time, and as we continue to pursue these cases, that is exactly where they are going to find themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
This case was investigated by the Metro Narcotics Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. 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.
Allegheny County Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Make Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Elizabeth, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to make counterfeit United States currency and making counterfeit United States currency, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Justin S. Holliday, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
Holliday was charged with two counts alleging conspiracy and the making of counterfeit currency during the period June 21, 2012 through June 24, 2012.
Judge Hornack scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2013, at 9:30 am. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both for Holliday. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Justin S. Holliday.
30 May 2013
Wyoming Men Charged with First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Christopher A. Crofts announced today that on May 29, 2013, Alan Brown, 61, and his brother Vernon Lee Brown, 54, both Northern Arapaho Tribal Members, appeared in federal court on an Indictment charging them with one count of First Degree Murder and Aiding and Abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111, 1153 and 2. The charges against Alan and Vernon Lee Brown stem from an incident that occurred on or about May 6, 2006, which resulted in the death of Tad Paul Barnson, 47, who was originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, but resided in and around Riverton, Wyoming at the time of his death. Alan and Vernon Lee Brown are Wind River Indian Reservation inhabitants, but are not believed to have any permanent residence. This crime is alleged to have occurred on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Alan and Vernon Lee Brown are facing a potential of life imprisonment or the death penalty, and could be ordered to pay restitution, a fine and special assessment.
Wasilla Man sentenced to 48 months in prison for drug and firearms convictionRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska- U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a man from Wasilla, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage yesterday for drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kevin Ricker, 49, from Wasilla, Alaska, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason. Ricker received a sentence of 48 months in prison and five years of supervised release after having previously pled guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of drug conspiracy and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, in July 2012, Ricker facilitated the distribution of 15.7 grams of actual methamphetamine in exchange for $2,900.00. Later in July 2012, Ricker planned to facilitate another similar sale of methamphetamine but was apprehended by law enforcement. On July 31, 2012, while engaged in the drug conspiracy, Ricker was in possession of a Ruger .40 caliber revolver and he had previously been convicted of several crimes punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Ricker’s co-defendant in the indictment, Albert Maifea, was sentenced by Judge Gleason earlier in May 2013, to 84 months prison and five years supervised release for his role in the drug distribution conspiracy.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Alaska State Troopers, the Anchorage Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ricker.
Washington Man Facing 15 Years to Life in Prison for Drug, Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, a resident of Washington, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal firearms and narcotic laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Richard Brown, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts - two narcotics counts and one firearms count - before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in August 2009, and then again on Sept. 18, 2009, Brown distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. In addition, in August 2009, Brown, who has prior felony convictions, possessed a firearm. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for Sept. 18, 2013 at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of between 15 years to life in prison, a fine of $4,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Richard Brown.
Virginia Man Sentenced to Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
For Possession of Child PornographyWASHINGTON - Kevin Boteler, 56, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to two years in prison on a federal charge of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Boteler pled guilty to the charge in December 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan. Upon completion of his prison term, Boteler will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Aug. 16, 2012, Boteler contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had entered a social network site. On Aug. 16 and Aug. 17, 2012, Boteler engaged in online e-mail and instant message conversations with the undercover officer, whom Boteler believed was the father of a child. During this period of time, Boteler arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the minor. Boteler, however, backed out prior to meeting the undercover officer. During the course of their conversations, Boteler sent the undercover officer seven images of pre and post-pubescent female children posing nude. In addition, Boteler sent the undercover officer one video of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. Project Safe Childhood is 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 U.S. 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 those who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-189
Union County, N.J., Woman Who Drove Getaway Car During Bank Robbery Sentenced to 54 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, N.J., woman who admitted serving as the getaway driver during the July 12, 2012, bank robbery of Unity Bank located at 1230 Bound Brook Road (Route 28) in Middlesex, N.J., was sentenced today to 54 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Teresa Webb, 42, of Plainfield, N.J., previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Kevin McNulty to an Information charging her with one count of bank robbery. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 31, 2012, Claude Williams, 61, of Elizabeth, N.J., was charged by Complaint with six counts of bank robbery and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In the course of those robberies, Williams would generally send an accomplice into the bank to case it shortly before he entered to commit the robbery.
Before the July 12, 2012, robbery, Webb entered the Unity Bank twice without doing any banking. A short while later, an unarmed, off-duty police officer allegedly observed Williams leave the bank, get into the rear of the getaway car, and crouch down. After noting the license plate number, the officer followed the car. Webb, who was driving the getaway car, attempted to elude the officer.
After Webb’s unsuccessful attempt to elude the officer, Williams got out of the car and pointed his gun at the officer, forcing her to leave the scene without apprehending Williams and Webb.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Webb to five years of supervised release. The charges against Williams are pending.U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark with the investigation leading to the arrest. He also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutors Office and the Middlesex Borough, Piscataway, Clifton, Metuchen, North Plainfield, and Plainfield police departments for their work in this case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Bruce S. Rosen Esq., Toms River, N.J.
13-221Two Men Charged with Conspiracy to Bribe Agent of Local Government in Connection with Program Receiving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
ZUHAIR AMEER HAMED, age 40, and JIHAD HATEM HAMAD, age 27, both residents of Gretna, Louisiana, were charged today with Conspiracy to Bribe an Agent of Local Government in Connection with a Program Receiving Federal Funds in a one-count Bill of Information, announced U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente. Mr. Boente commended the local public official identified in court documents as Public Official A for reporting to law enforcement the facts which led to the opening of the investigation, and for cooperating in the investigation.
According to court documents, JIHAD HAMAD was the owner and operator of a convenience store located in Harahan, Louisiana, who was seeking a permit allowing the sale of wine and hard liquor at his store. ZUHAIR HAMED assisted in the efforts of JIHAD HAMAD to obtain the liquor permit. Public Official A, the Chief of Police of the City of Harahan, repeatedly stated that he would oppose the issuance of such permit because the convenience store was located within 300 feet of a church.
According to court documents, in March 2012, JIHAD HAMAD offered to have a contribution made to the public official’s campaign committee in exchange for his statement of no objection to the application for the liquor permit. ZUHAIR HAMED then met several times with the public official, discussed the liquor permit, and offered to make payments in cash, by blank money order, or by business checks to the official’s campaign. In May and June of 2012, JIHAD HAMAD gave ZUHAIR HAMED $3,000 to be used to make payments to the public official. ZUHAIR HAMED then paid the public official a total of $3,000 in two payments, one in cash, and one by means of a check drawn on the account of a business related to ZUHAIR HAMED’s family member, on which check the payee was blank. He also agreed to make additional payments to the public official in the future.
If convicted, ZUHAIR AMEER HAMED and JIHAD AMEER HAMED face a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Boente reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant U. S. Attorney Eileen Gleason.
(Download Bill of Information )
Two Fitchburg Gang Members Sentenced in Crack Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Fitchburg men were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Worcester for distributing crack cocaine.
Shawn McWhorter a/k/a Kaeshaun, 40, of Fitchburg, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 220 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. Junior Barclay a/k/a Mouse, 30, of Fitchburg, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. In March 2013, both men were found guilty after a jury trial in U.S. District Court. McWhorter was convicted of three counts of crack cocaine distribution and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Barclay was convicted of two counts of crack cocaine distribution and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.During the four day trial, evidence proved that McWhorter distributed crack cocaine on July 26, 2011 and that McWhorter and Barclay together conspired to and did distribute crack cocaine on August 5, 2011 and August 25, 2011. McWhorter and Barclay were arrested in January 2011 as part of Operation Red Wolf, a multi-agency investigation targeting gang members involved in drug dealing and firearms distribution in the Fitchburg area.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Fitchburg Police Chief Robert A. DeMoura; Webster Police Chief Timothy J. Bent; Dan Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cory Flashner and Mark Grady of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office Unit.
Two Co-Conspirators Sentenced in E. Idaho Drug CaseRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Two more members of an Eastern Idaho methamphetamine trafficking organization were sentenced today to serve federal prison sentences, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. The defendants appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
- Samuel Nevarez-Ayon, 26, a Mexican national formerly living in Rexburg, was sentenced to 292 months in prison for his leadership role in the conspiracy. In addition, the Court ordered a $4,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and the forfeiture of $500,000. He pleaded guilty to the charge of continuing criminal enterprise on December 19, 2012.
- Nicolas Levi Olsen, 30, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Olsen was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment. He pleaded guilty to an information on January 24, 2013.
Eight co-defendants were sentenced in March and April on related drug trafficking charges. Ricardo Garcia Lopez, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 235 months in prison; Alberto Abarca, of Idaho Falls, to 130 months; Rafael Ignacio Guerrero, a Mexican national, to 42 months; Antonio Javier Mendoza, of Shelley, Idaho, to 96 months; Fabiola Esmerelda Marin Castro, a Mexican national, to 36 months and ordered to forfeit $83,575 and two vehicles; and Daniel Quiroz, a Mexican national, to 78 months. Abel Garcia, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to one month in prison for making a false statement to a bank. Ana Rosa Valdez-Ceja, of Shelley, was sentenced to two years’ probation for money laundering.
Three co-defendants from Idaho Falls are set for sentencing on September 10. Juan Ortiz, Jr., 28, and Isidoro David Herrera, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine; Everado Tapia Torres, Jr., 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
The final defendant, Guadalupe Meraz, of Madera, California, is a fugitive.
According to the plea agreements, from June 2005 through January 2012, a group of individuals centered around Nevarez-Ayon entered into a conspiracy to possess and distribute in excess of 50 grams of actual methamphetamine in the Idaho Falls area. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Nevarez-Ayon admitted that he distributed methamphetamine to other individuals on at least three occasions during this same time period and directed activities of various co-defendants. In addition to distributing methamphetamine, several defendants laundered proceeds from the sale of the methamphetamine, and made false loan applications to local banks to further the laundering of money. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants obtained in excess of $500,000 from the distribution of methamphetamine.
“Justice is well served by Nevarez-Ayon’s prison sentence of more than 24 years,” said Olson. “For years, he was the pivot point in wholesale methamphetamine trafficking in eastern Idaho. This successful investigation and prosecution demonstrate that federal, state and local law enforcement in Idaho will work together to remove those who bring this dangerously addictive drug to our communities.”
The charges are the result of a nine-month investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), including the Idaho State Police, Bonneville County Sheriff's Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Rexburg Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Other federal agencies participating in the OCDETF program include the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
Two Bessemer Men Indicted for Trafficking Counterfeit ApparelRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted two Bessemer men for trafficking in counterfeit clothing, accessories and shoes in the Birmingham area, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr.
JOHNNIE HILL JR., 59, and MOUSSA ADAMOU, 43, are charged in separate and unrelated indictments filed in U.S. District Court. Hill also is charged as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, a Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Violating criminal laws that protect copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets is considered theft of intellectual property.
“Copying someone else’s product in order to make a profit is theft,” Vance said. “Those who traffic in counterfeit goods harm legitimate retailers, as well as the consumers who purchase the substandard merchandise,” she said. “The Department of Justice and my office are working hard to protect American businesses and consumers from the damaging effects of intellectual property crime.”
“Criminals who sell counterfeit products don’t pay taxes that go to supporting healthcare, paving roads and providing other vital government services,” Parmer said. “They are parasites on the legitimate businesses that drive our economy and cost American workers their jobs.” Parmer oversees a five-state area of responsibility for HSI that includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Hill is charged with selling counterfeit goods through a store on Warrior Road in Birmingham from February 2011 to March 2013. Count 1 of the indictment charges that Hill trafficked in handbags, wallets, clothing, scarfs, belts, hats, shoes and glasses bearing counterfeit marks or logos for companies including Louis Vuitton Malletier, Nike, LaCoste, Ralph Lauren Polo, Gucci, Coggi, Ed Hardy, Coach, Michael Kors, Prada, Gianni Versace, Chanel, True Religion Jeans and New Era.
The indictment also charges that Hill possessed the 9mm semi-automatic pistol on March 14, 2013, after having previously been convicted of four felonies in state court – first degree robbery, first degree theft of property, promoting prison contraband and trafficking in marijuana – between 1985 and 1997.
The indictment against Adamou charges him with selling counterfeit goods from a tent on Ninth Avenue North in Bessemer in September 2012. Adamou trafficked in handbags, purses, clothing and shoes bearing counterfeit marks or logos for companies including Louis Vuitton Malletier, Nike, LaCoste, Ralph Lauren Polo, Gucci, Coggi, Rocawear, Coach, Michael Kors, Dolce, Tory Burch, Apple Bottom, Phat, True Religion Jeans and the NFL.
Trafficking in counterfeit goods carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.HSI investigated both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Whisonant Sr. is prosecuting the cases.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent and it will be the government’s responsibility to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.Trussville Man Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted a Trussville man in connection with a scheme to collect millions of dollars from the Internal Revenue Service on false tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and IRS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot.
The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges NORMAN JAMES SECOR, 66, with filing or aiding in the filing of 12 false income tax returns and supporting documents between June 2008 and February 2009. Secor knew that he and the other taxpayers were not entitled to the $5.2 million in refunds he claimed, according to the indictment. Each false tax return contained a claim that money had been earned by the taxpayer and withheld by various financial institutions during the tax year and that the taxpayer was entitled to refund of those withholdings from the IRS, according to the indictment. No such earnings or withholdings had actually occurred.
Among the 12 false returns, Secor filed two in his name, totaling $1.5 million. The remaining 10 requested refunds totaled more than $3.7 million, according to the indictment.
If convicted, Secor could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the 12 counts of making false claims against the government.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent and it will be the government’s responsibility to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Aiding and Abetting Murder of Sells ManRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Johnny Davis Antonio, Jr., 22, of Sells, Ariz., was sentenced on May 29, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgensonto 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Antonio pleaded guilty on March 21, 2013, to second degree murder, aiding and abetting.
This case involved the August 2009, beating to death of a 37 year old man by Antonio, then 18 years old, and an accomplice. The victim was walking during early morning hours on Aug. 10, 2009, in an open area in Sells on the Tohono O’odham reservation, when he came upon Antonio and his accomplice who proceeded to assault the victim with their fists and a piece of wood. The victim died from blunt force trauma to his head.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.CASE NUMBER: CR-11-4234-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2013-043_AntonioFor more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Statement of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on the Sentencing of Manssor Arbabsiar for Conspiring with Iranian Military Officials to Assassinate the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United StatesRead the Press Release
“Manssor Arbabsiar was an enemy among us – the key conduit for, and facilitator of, a nefarious international plot concocted by members of the Iranian military to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States and as many innocent bystanders as necessary to get the job done. And but for the vigilance of our FBI and DEA partners, his plot, and the unspeakable harm it would have caused, may well have come to fruition, which is exactly why our commitment to using every resource we have to root out, prosecute and punish people like Arbabsiar, who act as emissaries for our enemies, remains unflagging.”
St. Charles Parish Tax Preparers, Cathy Ross Vinnett and Lashanda Ruth Vinnett, Indicted by Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
CATHY ROSS VINNETT, 46, and her daughter, LASHANDA RUTH VINNETT, 29, of Destrehan, Louisiana, were indicted today for conspiracy to defraud the United States and, specifically, the Internal Revenue Service, announced U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.
According to court documents, CATHY VINNETT opened the D&C Tax Service (“D&C”) in 2006 and in 2008 the VINNETTS created River Parish Tax Professionals (“River Parish”). River Parish was established by LASHANDA and CATHY VINNETT for the purpose of filing fraudulent tax returns using the First-Time Homebuyer Credit (“FTHBC”). The FTHBC was available for people who purchased a new home between April 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009. Since this was a refundable tax credit, a filer did not have to have any federal tax withholdings for that year in order to claim a tax refund. For the period alleged in this indictment, the VINNETTs, through their company River Parish, filed approximately 311 tax returns resulting in $1.8 million dollars in refunds. Of those 311 returns that were filed, 237 or 76% of the returns claimed the FTHBC.
The VINNETTs face a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
U. S. Attorney Boente reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by special agents from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Strike Force Chief and Assistant U. S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.
(Download Indictment )
Sneads Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court for Manufacturing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA– Donyel James Fitts, 28, of Sneads, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to three criminal charges relating to the production of child pornography.
During the plea hearing, Fitts admitted that, on June 21, 2012, he persuaded and coerced a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct, so that he could photograph the minor. He also admitted that, on two occasions in October 2012, he videotaped a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, as a part of his plea agreement, Fitts admitted that he took videos and photographs of himself engaged in sex acts with a 4-year-old child.
Fitts is currently scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on August 21, 2013, in Panama City. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, followed by a term of five years to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh said, “Protecting children from these horrific crimes is a top priority of the Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney’s Office. Our prosecutors will continue to actively investigate and charge those persons who victimize our children in this manner.”
This case was investigated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Littleton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.