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24 April 2013
Lynchburg Woman Sentenced on Theft of Government Property ChargesRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA -- a 54-year-old Lynchburg woman, who previously pleaded guilty to hiding income from the Social Security Administration, was sentenced yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg.
Teresa Gayle Helms, 54, previously waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. Yesterday in District Court, she was sentenced to six months incarceration and six months of home confinement. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $78,696 to the Social Security Administration, $1,124 to Medicaid and $24,759 to Medicare.
“Programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are important safety nets that protect the health and safety of many Americans,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “When criminals like Ms. Helms steal from these programs, this office will bring them to justice.”
Helms previously admitted to stealing more than $104,800 in public money by concealing the fact that she worked as the owner and manager of two Lynchburg-area Adult Erotica stores while receiving Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Lynchburg Police Department, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day is prosecuting the United States.
Lubbock Man Charged in Federal Complaint with Robbing Credit UnionRead the Press Release
LUBBOCK, Texas — Jeffrey Hensley, 42, of Lubbock, Texas, was arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with robbing the Alliance Federal Credit Union in Lubbock. Hensley is set for an initial appearance tomorrow morning in Amarillo, Texas, before United States Magistrate Judge Clinton Averitte. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
According to the complaint filed, on September 14, 2012, Hensley entered the First United Bank in Lubbock and presented a note to the teller that stated, “DON’T MAKE ME SHOW MY WEAPON.” The teller gave the money to Hensley, who put the money in a black bank bag, and he exited the bank.
On December 8, 2012, Hensley entered the Plains Capital Bank in Lubbock and walked up to the teller carrying a dark-colored bank bag. He handed the teller a note that stated, “Fill the bag with all the money in the drawer – if I have to show my weapon i will use it – you have 15 seconds!!” The teller handed Hensley a stack of bills and he took the cash and exited the bank.
On February 13, 2013, Hensley entered the Alliance Federal Credit Union in Lubbock, walked up to the teller and handed the teller a note and a pink-colored small cosmetic bag. The teller handed the bills to Hensley and he exited the bank. He was observed by a witness driving out of the bank parking lot in a small to mid-size white sport-utility vehicle.
On February 14, 2013, law enforcement authorities received a tip that an individual matching the description of the bank robber was named Jeff, and that he lived in an apartment at 1907 66th Street in Lubbock and drove a white sport-utility vehicle. Another tip was received on March 6, 2013, from an individual that stated the bank robbery suspect was named Jeffrey and that he drove a white four-door older model Toyota 4 Runner and lived in a house at 8608 Avenue X. A subsequent investigation revealed that Hensley resided in an apartment at 1907 66th street before moving to 8608 Avenue X. On April 22, 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at Hensley’s residence and he was arrested. Afterwards, according to the complaint, Hensley admitted to robbing the three banks in Lubbock.
A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this offense, however, Hensley faces a maximum statutory penalty of not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a $250,000 fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.
Louisville Fugitive and Former Owner of Jet Medical Supplies Charged with Health Care Fraud and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
– Added To Most Wanted List
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The former owner of Jet Medical Supplies, LLC, was charged by a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, on five counts of wire fraud, five counts of health care fraud, and ordered to forfeit all property and gross proceeds derived from the offenses, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. Jorge Jesus Cubillo Fernandez, a fugitive from the law, also, was added to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Most Wanted Fugitives list.
According to the April 17, 2013 indictment, Fernandez, age 43, purchased Jet Medical on May 27, 2010. Jet Medical was a durable medical equipment supply company located at 12700 Shelbyville Road in Louisville. After purchasing the company, Fernandez began submitting claims to Medicare for payment. The indictment alleges that, from May 2010 until at least February 2011, Fernandez fraudulently requested payment from Medicare, via a carrier, and payment was received via electronic funds transfers from Medicare for items, benefits, services, and products that were never provided.
The investigation revealed that a number of billings were submitted by Jet Medical for beneficiaries whose unique Medicare beneficiary number had been compromised. The majority of claims submitted by Jet Medical allegedly used a unique beneficiary number, which had been associated with fraud by another provider. Further, the investigation revealed that Jet Medical, through Fernandez, billed for items, benefits, products, supplies, or services purportedly provided to beneficiaries located outside Kentucky. However, interviews with the Medicare beneficiaries determined that they did not receive the items or services for which Jet Medical had billed Medicare.
If convicted at trial, Fernandez faces a maximum sentence of 150 years in prison, a fine of $2,500,000 and three years of supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During Fiscal Year 2011, health care fraud enforcement actions by the Justice Department and HHS recovered nearly $4.1 billion in cases involving fraud on federal health care programs. The OIG Most Wanted Fugitives Web site continues to garner national and international attention and greatly assists in helping to capture fugitives charged with defrauding Federal health care programs and stealing millions of taxpayer dollars. The Most Wanted Fugitives Web site features an online tip form and a hotline number for individuals to report fugitive-related information to OIG in English or Spanish, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Most Wanted Fugitives list can be accessed at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives.
Local Priest Indicted on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - A federal grand jury returned an indictment late this afternoon charging FATHER WILLIAM F. VATTEROTT, of St. Louis, Missouri, with possession of child pornography between June 2010 and June 2011. He is expected to appear in federal court to answer the indictment later in the week or early next week.
U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan noted that the St. Louis Archdiocese cooperated with the investigation.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, this charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and an investigator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.Local Man Pleads Guilty to Oil Spill FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Arturo L. Molina, 35, of the Fort Walton Beach area, pled guilty today to a single count federal indictment charging him with wire fraud in connection with claims filed related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The guilty plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
As a part of the plea, Molina admitted to electronically submitting a Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) form to obtain funds that he claimed were lost due to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The GCCF was tasked with receiving and processing all claims by individuals and businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon spill. To seek payment from the GCCF for damages incurred as a result of the oil spill, an individual or business was required to complete a GCCF Claim Form. Molina originally claimed he suffered $14,400.00 in lost earnings as an employee for a construction company in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
In support of his false claim, Molina provided documents to the GCCF. His submissions included what purported to be valid paychecks from “A & M Professional Framing, Inc.” Molina also submitted to the GCCF a Full Review Final Payment form for a loss he claimed to have incurred in the amount of $19,800.00. Molina submitted W-2 forms and a partial 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form for 2010. These forms claimed that Molina earned business income, yet there were no supporting documents attached and they did not appear to be fully executed. Based on these false claims, the GCCF made payment to Arturo L. Molina in the amount of $13,900.00.
Molina was eventually interviewed by investigators regarding his GCCF claims. He admitted he was paid by “A & M Professional Framing, Inc.” only in cash, which contradicted the paychecks submitted with his original claim. Further, he conceded that he was not a legal resident of the United States and did not have a permit to lawfully work in this country. In reality, the investigation revealed that none of the paychecks submitted with Molina’s claim were ever actually issued to him from the bank account provided in his claim. Furthermore, the W-2 forms submitted contained multiple social security numbers and, pursuant to review by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, they are not legitimately linked to Molina. The tax forms submitted by Molina in support of the claim were also fraudulent.Sentencing for Molina is set before Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers on July 5, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Molina faces up to twenty years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for this wire fraud conviction.
The indictment results from an investigation by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg is prosecuting the case.
Local Man Pleads Guilty in Welfare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Pittsburgh-area resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Mahmoud Al-Rifai, 43, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from on or about Jan. 12, 2012, and continuing to on or about July 25, 2012, Al-Rifai filed a fraudulent online application with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare which resulted in the receipt of benefits to which he was not entitled.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Aug. 22, 2013. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 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(s) and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mahmoud Al-Rifai.
Little Eagle Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Emily Rose Yellow Earrings, age 49, of Little Eagle, South Dakota appeared before U.S. Magistrate William D. Gerdes on April 19, 2013 and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged her with Assault By Striking, Beating and Wounding and Simple Assault. The maximum penalty on each count upon conviction is 6 months imprisonment, a $5,000 fine or both, and a $10 assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.
The conviction stems from an incident during the early morning hours of March 6, 2010 when the Defendant was attending a social gathering. Also present at the gathering was the victim and the Defendant's brother, who had previously been in a relationship. The Defendant became upset because she was under the mistaken belief that her brother and the victim had been in an argument earlier in the evening. The Defendant spoke to the victim, became enraged, and struck the victim on top of the head. A struggle ensued and the victim was again struck by the Defendant in the face.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for July 10, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.
Legislator's Administrative Aide Pleads Guilty in FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA - Lorraine Dispaldo, 58, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty today to 30 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of filing false personal income tax returns, and one count of bankruptcy fraud. Dispaldo was charged in September 2012, along with then-Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge Robert Mulgrew, in an indictment alleging a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (“DCED”). U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones, II, scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 16, 2013.
Dispaldo, who was an administrative aide to an unnamed Pennsylvania State Representative at the time, helped orchestrate a scheme to fraudulently receive and misuse Pennsylvania state grant funds awarded to non-profit groups. Between 1996 and 2008, the DCED awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to two community groups with which Mulgrew and Dispaldo were associated. DCED awarded approximately $397,000 in grants to the Community to Police Communications (“CPC”) to be used to purchase communications equipment for the police and to purchase materials to secure vacant lots and buildings for the protection of the police. Dispaldo signed the CPC grant contracts with DCED. Between 1997 and 2007 DCED also awarded approximately $460,000 in grants to the Friends of Dickinson Square (FDS”) to be used for the maintenance of Dickinson Square, at 4th and Tasker Streets, and the surrounding neighborhood. Dispaldo’s codefendant, Mulgrew, signed the FDS grant contracts with DCED.Dispaldo admitted that the grant contracts she submitted misrepresented how the funds would be used. She admitted that, instead of using grant funds exclusively for materials and equipment, as agreed, she instead paid tens of thousands of dollars in CPC and FDS grant funds to Mulgrew’s relatives and associates, including the teenage sons of his friends, and to the State Representative’s life-long friends. Dispaldo wrote over $104,000 of the almost $180,000 in impermissible payments made to persons for neighborhood revitalization “work.” While there were several decent gardens built, some trees planted and much landscaping material purchased, for the most part the activities undertaken primarily served as a “constituent service” clean-up-the-neighborhood-arm for the Representative’s benefit, easy money for favored friends and relatives, a summer make-work program to benefit the teenage sons of Mulgrew’s neighborhood and childhood friends, and some work on private property.
To mask the fact that grant funds were being used improperly, Dispaldo falsified her five
CPC “close out” reports sent to DCED by concealing most of the $104,000 in payments she made to persons from CPC funds and FDS funds during 2005 through September 2010. At times, Dispaldo submitted to DCED inaccurate IRS forms 1099, which document payments to persons, and at other times failed to prepare the forms, as required by law. Dispaldo also improperly paid almost $13,000 in CPC funds to the Representative’s office cleaner and improperly used $4,600 in CPC grant funds over the years to pay for her personal cell phone.To conceal the improper payments Dispaldo made to persons, she also submitted to DCED staggering numbers of duplicate phone invoices. For example, she sent in $91,500 worth of receipts in the close-out report for the third grant in the amount of $90,000, but $41,640 of those receipts were already sent in with either the first or second grant close-out reports. In the fourth close-out report, Dispaldo sent in $87,394 in receipts to satisfy the $50,000 grant, but $46,156 of those were previously sent to the state.
Dispaldo also pled guilty to filing false personal income tax returns for tax years 2006 through 2009, and pled guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud for concealing her true income for 2008 and 2009 in her 2010 bankruptcy filing.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Gray.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525Leaders in Broadway Document Mill Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Nine Defendants Operated a Document Mill in the 200 Block of South Broadway in Baltimore and Sold Thousands of Fraudulent Government Identification DocumentsBaltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Roberto Morales-Perez, a/k/a “Piza,” age 27, of Baltimore to 6 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to a operate a document mill in the 200 block of South Broadway in Baltimore (the “Broadway Territory”), and selling fraudulent government identification documents manufactured as part of the conspiracy.
On April 23, 2013, Judge Quarles sentenced the brother of Morales-Perez, Ivan Altamirano-Perez, a/k/a “Elmer,” age 33, also of Baltimore, to 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised for conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud and misuse of immigration documents, social security fraud, and identification document fraud, in the same scheme.
Moralez-Perez and Altamirano-Perez are Mexican nationals in the country illegally and face deportation upon the completion of their sentences.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.
“Document fraud poses a severe threat to national security and puts the security of our communities at risk because it creates a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States,” said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William Winter. “This investigation resulted in the dismantlement of a document fraud criminal organization based out of Maryland and the arrest of its leaders. Homeland Security Investigations will move aggressively to investigate and bring to justice those who potentially compromise the integrity of America's legal immigration system.”
According to their plea agreements and other court documents, responsibility for manufacturing identity documents – including permanent resident cards and social security cards - rotated among various individuals. From June 2008 through May 2010, Morales-Perez and Altamirano-Perez received the income from manufacturing the identity documents. Beginning in May 2010 and continuing until their arrests, the Perez brothers shared the territory and income with Miguel Reyes-Ontiveros (collectively, the Operators). The location of the manufacturing operation changed frequently to avoid detection.
In addition to manufacturing the documents, the Operators sold the documents themselves or through salesmen. The defendants used a group of at least 10 individuals to sell and distribute the fake identity documents. The documents were offered for sale and distributed in and around the 200 block of South Broadway in Baltimore.
According to their plea agreements, the salesmen solicited individuals in the Broadway territory to purchase the fake identification documents, either in person or by distributing business cards. The salesman would negotiate a price with the buyer, usually between $130 and $160, and obtain a picture and the information which the buyer wanted on the identification card. The salesman would then call in the order to the Operator who was working that week. The completed identity document would subsequently be provided to the salesman to be sold to the buyer.The defendants manufactured and sold 9,990 fraudulent identification documents for which they received approximately $1.68 million.
All nine defendants have pleaded guilty in this case. Miguel Reyes-Ontiveros, age 42, of Baltimore, one of the document mill operators, was previously sentenced to 57 months in prison. All of the defendants are in the U.S. illegally and face deportation upon the completion of their sentences.
A defendant in a related case, Victor Lopez Escamilla, was convicted by a jury of manufacturing and trafficking in counterfeit identity document, social security number cards, and immigration identity documents and was sentenced to 97 months in prison.
Anyone who has information on this type of fraud may contact ICE via its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by visiting www.ice.gov/tips.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised HSI Baltimore and the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation, and thanked the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service - Washington Field Office; the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Investigation and Security Services Division; and the Baltimore County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Tamera L. Fine and Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.
Kewa Pueblo Man Sentenced to Sixteen Years in Federal Prison for Second Degree Murder Conviction - Accessories after the Fact also Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Adrian Chavez, 24, a member and resident of Kewa Pueblo, was sentenced earlier today to 192 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his second degree murder conviction. His co-defendants, Derrick Chavez, 26, and Myron Garcia, 24, also members and residents of Kewa Pueblo, were sentenced for their convictions for being accessories after the fact to second degree murder. Myron Garcia was sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and Derrick Chavez was sentenced to 66 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, Carol K.O. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, and DuWayne W. Honahni, Sr., Special Agent in Charge of District IV of BIA’s Office of Justice Services.
Adrian Chavez pleaded guilty in June 2012, to killing Nevin Garcia, a 20-year-old member of Kewa Pueblo, with a machete on Oct. 21, 2009. Also in June 2012, Derrick Chavez and Myron Garcia entered guilty pleas to being accessories after the fact and admitted helping Adrian Chavez bury Nevin Garcia’s remains.
According to court filings, the BIA learned about Nevin Garcia's murder when Adrian Chavez turned himself into the Kewa Pueblo Tribal Office on the night of Oct. 21, 2009. Investigation revealed that, earlier that evening, Adrian Chavez, Nevin Garcia, Derrick Chavez and Myron Garcia were drinking alcoholic beverages on a plot of land located within Kewa Pueblo that had a mobile home and camper trailer. While Derrick Garcia and Myron Chavez were inside the trailer, Adrian Chavez and Nevin Garcia began arguing. As Myron Garcia came out of the trailer, he saw Adrian Chavez strike Nevin Garcia in the face with a machete. Derrick Chavez came out of the trailer shortly thereafter. Nevin Garcia was unresponsive after he was struck with the machete. Derrick Chavez and Myron Garcia assisted Adrian Chavez in removing Nevin Garcia's clothing, wrapping him in a plastic tarp, and placing him in the back of a pickup truck. The three men then drove to a location a short distance from the mobile home and trailer and buried Nevin Garcia’s remains.
Adrian Chavez has been in federal custody since his arrest in Oct. 2009, and Myron Garcia and Derrick Chavez have been in federal custody since their arrests in Jan. 2009.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto D. Ortega.
Justice Department Releases Updated Protocol to Improve Standards for Responding to Rape and Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Attorney General Eric Holder today announced a revised version of the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations (SAFE Protocol, 2d.) The SAFE Protocol is a voluntary best practices guide to conducting sexual assault medical forensic examinations protocols. These suggested practices will promote high-quality, sensitive, and supportive exams for all victims of rape and sexual assault.
The SAFE Protocol is based on the latest scientific evidence and provides recommendations to standardize the quality of care for sexual assault victims throughout the country. By promoting thorough, sensitive evidence collection, the SAFE Protocol can improve the criminal justice response to rape and sexual assault to increase offender accountability.
“The SAFE protocol is crucial to our efforts to end sexual violence,” said Attorney General Holder. “It is our responsibility to ensure that victims feel comfortable coming forward. The SAFE Protocol helps us coordinate and improve our response when these courageous individuals do seek help from first responders including nurses, doctors, advocates, law enforcement, and prosecutors.”
In the nine years since the protocol was initially released in 2004, there have been substantial forensic medical advancements. This revised edition of the protocol maintains the same commitments of standardization and quality as the first SAFE Protocol, but is updated to reflect current technology. It also increases the emphasis on victim-centered care and includes additional information reflecting changes from the Violence Against Women Act of 2005.
Research shows that programs with trained examiners, such as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) or Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs), using modern standards like those in the SAFE Protocol significantly increase evidence collection and investigation in sexual assault cases. Better evidence collection results in significantly higher prosecution rates, convictions, and guilty-pleas. The SAFE Protocol also helps SANEs and other medical professionals conduct exams that are sensitive, dignified, and reduce trauma.
“The SAFE Protocol helps ensure that victims will be cared for with compassion and respect when they turn to hospitals for help,” said Bea Hanson, Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). “This not only improves outcomes for victims, it strengthens criminal cases. We are working to develop a comprehensive response to rape and sexual assault. One element of this is the President’s 2014 budget that includes $20 million to address the backlog of rape kits.”
The revised SAFE Protocol reflects the many important improvements that can help increase the quality of the services victims receive. The updated protocol has increased information on populations with special needs, such as victims with limited English proficiency; victims with disabilities; American Indian and Alaska Native victims; victims in the military; and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender victims. It also has expanded information on topics such as drug and alcohol facilitated sexual assault, pregnancy, confidentiality and alternative reporting procedures.
The SAFE Protocol is not a requirement for any federal grant funding. Adherence to the protocol is not mandatory with the exception of the recently released Department of Defense Instruction on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures. In addition, to comply with the department’s National Standards to Prevent, Detect and Response to Prison Rape, correctional facilities that are responsible for investigating allegations of sexual abuse in their facilities must use a protocol that is adapted from or otherwise based on the SAFE Protocol or similarly comprehensive and authoritative protocols developed after 2011.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women and one in 71 men have been raped in their lifetimes, and nearly 1.3 million women in the U.S. are raped every year. More than one in four American Indian or Alaska Native women have been raped. Sexual assault and rape are pervasive crimes that threaten the safety of all communities. The SAFE Protocol is an important step forward in the Department of Justice’s efforts to end sexual violence.
OVW, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing 22 federal grant programs, OVW often undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. More information is available at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.
The SAFE Protocol is accessible at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service website at: www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ovw/241903.pdf.
Jury Convicts Joplin Man of Disaster Fraud in Failed Attempt to get Tornado BenefitsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Joplin, Mo., man has been convicted in federal court of disaster fraud and making false statements to FEMA in a failed attempt to get federal disaster benefits following the May 22, 2011 tornado.
Scott Bradley Olsen, 58, of Joplin, was found guilty on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 of both counts contained in an April 3, 2012 federal indictment.
Olsen originally filed for disaster assistance on May 26, 2011, claiming a Joplin residence was his secondary residence where he stored property that was damaged in the tornado, but FEMA found him ineligible for disaster assistance. After being denied, Olsen twice submitted documents to FEMA in an attempt to prove that the property was his primary residence. Olsen was again denied assistance on July 27, 2011.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple, ending a trial that began Monday, April 22, 2013.
Under federal statutes, Olsen is subject to a sentence of up to 35 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, the FBI and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.
Disaster Fraud Hotline
Anyone with information about disaster fraud related to the Joplin tornado should call the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721, the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131, or the FBI’s Joplin office at 417-206-5700.
Jury Convicts Columbia Man of Two ArsonsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today for two arsons that damaged a building on the Stephens College campus in Columbia and the Ellis Library at the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Christopher Curtis Kelley, 27, of Columbia, was found guilty of both counts contained in a June 27, 2012 federal indictment.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Kelley deliberately set fires at 10 different locations inside the Ellis Library, which is the main library at the University of Missouri, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2011. Some of the fires didn’t take or caused minimal damage, while other fires caused significant damage. Kelley also vandalized property at the library, including computer monitors, security cameras and windows. Human feces and urine were found on top of one of the study desks. The overall cost to repair the damage to the library was estimated between $750,000 and $1 million.
Photos taken from the library’s security cameras were distributed to the media and the college community. Law enforcement officials received several telephone calls in response from individuals who identified Kelley. At about noon on the same day as the arson, Kelley turned himself in to the University of Missouri Police Department.
During the investigation into the Ellis Library arson, law enforcement officers recovered stolen computer equipment at Kelley’s residence that had been taken from Stephens College during an earlier arson on that campus.
Kelley was also convicted today of starting a fire in a classroom of the Audrey Webb Child Study Center on the Stephens College campus at approximately 4 a.m. on May 18, 2011. Firefighters responded to a small fire inside a classroom and heavy smoke in the building. There was moderate smoke damage in the basement area directly below the classroom.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for two hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, April 22, 2013.
Under federal statutes, Kelley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole on each of the two counts, up to 40 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the University of Missouri Police Department, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Columbia, Mo., Fire Department, the Stephens College Security Department, the University of Missouri Ellis Library Security Department, the U.S. Department of Education and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Jury Convicts Bay Area Man of Knowingly Receiving Stolen PropertyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO - Alexander Kosmin was convicted of one count of Receiving Stolen Property that had Traveled in Interstate Commerce by a federal jury yesterday, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. The guilty verdict followed a five day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer.
The evidence at trial showed that Kosmin, 23, formerly of San Jose, California, knowingly received stolen cellular telephones, including iPhones, that had been fraudulently ordered on AT&T and Verizon online customer accounts. The customer accounts were unlawfully accessed online. Orders in the names of other persons were placed on the accounts and shipped to locations that did not correspond with the addresses of the true customers on the accounts. In connection with the fraudulent orders, the defendant arranged to have the stolen cellular telephones sent to various hotels in the Bay Area from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. When Kosmin picked up the stolen cellular telephones he used numerous false names and presented false identity documents in those names. The jury found that the value of the stolen cellular telephones was $5,000 or more. After receiving the stolen cellular phones, Kosmin sent the phones to a co-conspirator in Russia, who has not yet been identified, or sold the cellular phones using Craigslist. After selling the stolen phones, Kosmin, using his name and false names, wired half of the proceeds back to his co-conspirator in Russia.
The investigation began after AT&T contacted the National Cyber Forensic Training Alliance (NCFTA) regarding fraudulent orders on customer accounts. The NCFTA referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Kosmin was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 26, 2012. He was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and one count of Receiving Stolen Property that had Traveled in Interstate Commerce. Kosmin was acquitted, upon motion to the Court, of the Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud count in the indictment.
Kosmin was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal following his conviction. The sentencing hearing in this matter is scheduled for July 10, 2013, before Judge Breyer in San Francisco. The maximum statutory penalty for Receiving Stolen Property that had Traveled in Interstate Commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2315 is 10 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years supervised release, and restitution. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Michelle Kane and Denise Barton are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Denise Oki and Legal Assistants Janice Pagsanjan, Rayneisha Booth, and Elizabeth Garcia. The prosecution is the result of a 7 month investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(Kosmin Filed indictment )
Individuals Charged with Unlawful Sale of Cocaine Base, Cocaine, Heroin and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted Nathaniel Clark, 29, Tommy Eugene Clark, a/k/a Boo, 26, Kayla Renee Combs, 23, all of Niagara Falls, and Raysean Clark, a/k/a TP, a/k/a Tadpole, 27, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, heroin and oxycodone. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40, a fine of $5,000,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary C. Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the charges stem from an investigation into the trafficking of cocaine and cocaine base in the Western New York area from the Cleveland, Ohio area. The defendants sold these controlled substances in the Cities of North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, and Buffalo, and other areas within Erie and Niagara Counties.
The defendants made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio. Defendants Nathaniel Clark, Tommy Eugene Clark and Raysean Clark are being detained pending further proceedings. Kayla Renee Combs was released on conditions.
The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Brian R. Crowell, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, the Niagara County Drug Task Force and the Niagara County Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff James Voutour, and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Randy Szukala.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Indictment: Airman at McConnell Claimed She Was Commuting from ArizonaRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas Air National Guard senior airman who was assigned to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita is charged with fraudulently collecting more than $50,000 in travel reimbursements by claiming she lived in Arizona while she was working at McConnell, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Eledria J. Bradley, 28, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of wire fraud. An indictment alleges that Bradley was a member of the Kansas Air National Guard and she lived in Wichita in February 2009 when she received orders to prepare for deployment with the U.S. Air Force effective April 11, 2009.
The indictment alleges Bradley accessed her file via virtual MPF, an online personnel system in which military members can access and change their personal information, and changed her residential address from Wichita to Chandler, Ariz. The change of address placed her outside the commuting distance for McConnell Air Force Base. As a result she received lodging and per diem benefits to which she was not entitled from April 11, 2009, to April 23, 2011, totaling $54,992.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Air Force - OSI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Oluwafunminiyi A. Adetunji, Wichita, Kan., is charged with four counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of credit card fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2010 and 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
The indictment alleges Adetunji fraudulently used names and credit card numbers belonging to other people to purchase a big screen television, a laptop computer and gold coins.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: Two years consecutive to the underlying sentence on each count.
Credit card fraud: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Michael M. Smith, 24, Wichita, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March 2013 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: Unlawful possession of a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of ammunition: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $10,000.
Possession with intent to distribute marijuana: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: A penalty of not less than five years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000.The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.
Edward Garcia, Jr., 31, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 13, 2013, in Finney County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Garden City Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.Justin L. Wolke, 30, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 9, 2013, in Hutchinson, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Hutchinson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Tori Scieneaux, 43, Montclair, Calif., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 2.5 kilograms of heroin. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 15, 2013, in Trego County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is investigating.
Shawn Steele, 53, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2011 and 2012 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million on the crack cocaine charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the cocaine charge. The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Ryan O’Malley, 26, Pittsburg, Kan., and Alexandria Pierce, 23, Pittsburg, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 53.5 pounds of marijuana, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Oct. 31, 2011, in Crawford County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge, and a penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Darrin Walker, 48, Wichita, Kan., and Angela Johnson, 50, Wichita, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone. In addition, Walker is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 15, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $500,000.The Wichita Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Fidel Guerra-Monjaraz, 42, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 15, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.Ideal Man Indicted for Failure to Register as A Sex Offender and False StatementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Ideal, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and False Statement.
Loren Running Horse, age 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 22, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years’ in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; life of supervised release; and a $100 Special Assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge is merely an accusation and Running Horse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers is prosecuting the case.
Running Horse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Georgia Man Indicted for Tax Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Defendant Filed Over 5,000 False Claims for “Stimulus Money”
ATLANTA – Mauricio Warner has been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing the identities of thousands of individuals to file federal tax returns claiming over $6 million in bogus refunds.
“This defendant and identity thieves like him steal millions in taxpayer dollars every year,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “We have seen a decided trend in identity thieves turning to phony IRS refunds instead of more traditional credit card fraud schemes, and have allocated increased resources to reverse this trend. Our office will continue to protect the citizens of this district, bring fraudsters to justice, and return the stolen money to the U.S. Treasury.”
“Identity thieves are becoming more devious, creative, and conniving,” stated Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “They steal our identities, steal government money, and prey upon innocent citizens. These criminals must be and will continue to be pursued in order to obtain justice for the victims as well as justice for our nation.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: From approximately January 2011 to April 2012, Warner, 37, of Smyrna, Ga., allegedly filed over 5,000 false tax returns using the names and social security numbers of unsuspecting victims. Victims were told they could submit an application for a “stimulus payment” or “Free Government Money” by providing their names and social security numbers. It is alleged that in some instances, he used toll-free telephone numbers to collect victims’ personal identifying information. Warner then used the victims’ names and social security numbers to claim millions of dollars in fraudulent refunds. The victims did not know tax returns were being filed in their names.
Additionally, the United States has seized seven bank accounts controlled by Warner that contain $4,185,455.31 in funds believed to be derived from or involved in this scheme.
Warner was arraigned in front of United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker yesterday on the charges. The indictment charges 16 counts of wire fraud, 16 counts of aggravated identity theft, 16 counts of filing false claims, and 2 counts of money laundering. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, each false claim count carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, and each money laundering count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The aggravated identity theft charges carry at least one mandatory two-year consecutive sentence to any other sentence imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000. The United States is also seeking the forfeiture of all funds derived from or involved in this scheme.
In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. If you believe you may be a victim of tax return-related identity theft please contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490, extension 245 (Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. local time).
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Thomas J. Krepp are prosecuting the case.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
Galveston Resident Sent to Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas – Aurelio J. Ariaz, 27, has been ordered to prison for more than eight years following his conviction of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Ariaz entered a plea of guilty to the charge on Nov. 14, 2012.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gregg Costa handed Ariaz a total federal prison term of 97 months. The sentence will be immediately followed by a term of 15 years on supervised release during which he must comply with a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet. He will also have to register as a sex offender and must pay $2,000 in restitution.
The investigation began when in 2011 when officers with the U.S. Secret Service and Pearland Police Department both downloaded videos and images containing child pornography from a computer later found to be located at the residence of Ariaz in Galveston.
Agents executed a federal search warrant on Oct. 14, 2011, at which time Ariaz indicated he knew why they were at the residence. Ariaz admitted to using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download child pornography for approximately two years, that he possessed nearly 500 images and videos and that they would be in his file sharing program. Ariaz also said most of images would be of boys 12-13 years old but that he may have some as young as 7-8 years old. A Dell computer and an HTC MyTouch cell phone were seized at that time.
A forensic exam was conducted which resulted in the discovery of approximately 852 images and 519 videos of child pornography. Forensics agents found at least 10 images of child pornography had been downloaded using the file sharing program as late as Oct. 1, 2011. These images depicted prepubescent and pubescent males in a lascivious display of their genitals.
The charges against Ariaz were the result of an investigation conducted Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service and Pearland Police Department in conjunction with the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Ariaz was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Stabe, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."Frederick Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr. sentenced Emil Moldovan, age 40, of Frederick, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for possessing child pornography. Judge Quarles also ordered that upon his release from prison, Moldovan must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to his plea agreement, on June 28, 2011 an undercover internet investigation identified an image of child pornography being downloaded from a computer at Moldovan’s address. A search warrant was executed at Moldovan’s residence and law enforcement seized computers and storage media containing over 600 videos and images of child pornography. The depictions included images of children under 12 engaged in sexual conduct, including sadistic conduct and other depictions of violence.
Moldovan stated that he had been downloading child pornography and since his internet service was too expensive, he had cancelled it and was connecting to the internet via an open wireless connection he located in his neighborhood.
Moldovan had previously been convicted in January 2007 in Frederick County Circuit Court of distributing and promoting child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the "resources" tab on the left of the page.
This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HSI Baltimore and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.
Fort Myers Man Indicted in Federal Court for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Dominique Lamar Williams (36, Fort Myers) with two counts of distributing cocaine. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count. Williams has been detained pending the disposition of the charges.
According to the indictment, on two different occasions Williams sold cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, to an undercover Lee County Sheriff's Office detective. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, which includes members from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, and the Fort Myers Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.
Former Portland Police Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Child Porn CaseRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - A former Portland Police Bureau Officer was sentenced to five years in federal court today for receiving child pornography. Scott Edward Elliott, 51, pleaded guilty, admitting that in the fall of 2009, he received several images of child sexual abuse during a yahoo chat session. Several of those images involved infants, and children under the age of 8 subjected to masochistic sexual contact by adult males. According to the prosecutor, Assistant U. S. Attorney Kelly Zusman, Elliott’s chat logs reveal that he “enthusiastically” received the images, and asked for more.
Elliott was arrested in March of 2011 as the result of an on-line, undercover operation in which a Multnomah County detective posed as an underage girl in a romance chat room. Elliott spent several months engaging in online sexual conversations with the detective posing as the girl, and he encouraged her to watch him on a webcam and to sexually stimulate herself while she did so. Eventually, Elliott tried to arrange a meeting, and he urged the girl to send him a nude photo of herself. He was arrested shortly thereafter, and officers discovered a thumb drive in his pocket that contained images of child sexual abuse. State charges were eventually dismissed in lieu of the federal prosecution. Elliott voluntarily agreed to resign from the Portland Police Bureau, and he has remained in federal custody since his arrest. In imposing sentence, Judge Anna J. Brown noted Elliott’s “long, decorated service as a Portland officer,” and commented that he had done everything he could to “atone” for his conduct. Elliott will serve a five-year term of supervised release after his prison term, and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the INTERCEPT Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Zusman handled the prosecution of the case.
Former Freeport Man Convicted of Witness RetaliationRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A former Freeport, Ill. man was convicted late yesterday of witness retaliation by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford following a two-day jury trial. DAMON RUCKER, 36, was found guilty of causing bodily injury to a witness on Dec. 20, 2012, with intent to retaliate against the witness for testifying against Rucker in federal court.
According to the indictment and evidence at trial, Rucker was initially convicted in federal court in Rockford on July 31, 2012, having pled guilty to a drug trafficking crime. A co-defendant, who also pled guilty in that case, agreed to cooperate with the government and testified against Rucker during Rucker’s sentencing hearing.
On Dec. 20, 2012, Rucker, with intent to retaliate against the co-defendant for testifying, slammed the witness’s head against a concrete wall while both were in custody. At the time, the victim was in the process of being transported to a different jail and was in hand and leg shackles. Rucker was not shackled at the time.
Rucker faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, in addition to a term of supervised release of up to 5 years following his imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in federal court in Rockford.
The conviction was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Marshals Service and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott R. Paccagnini and John G. McKenzie.
Former Freeport Man Convicted of Witness RetaliationRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A former Freeport, Ill. man was convicted late yesterday of witness retaliation by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Rockford following a two-day jury trial. DAMON RUCKER, 36, was found guilty of causing bodily injury to a witness on Dec. 20, 2012, with intent to retaliate against the witness for testifying against Rucker in federal court.
According to the indictment and evidence at trial, Rucker was initially convicted in federal court in Rockford on July 31, 2012, having pled guilty to a drug trafficking crime. A co-defendant, who also pled guilty in that case, agreed to cooperate with the government and testified against Rucker during Rucker’s sentencing hearing.
On Dec. 20, 2012, Rucker, with intent to retaliate against the co-defendant for testifying, slammed the witness’s head against a concrete wall while both were in custody. At the time, the victim was in the process of being transported to a different jail and was in hand and leg shackles. Rucker was not shackled at the time.
Rucker faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, in addition to a term of supervised release of up to 5 years following his imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in federal court in Rockford.
The conviction was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Marshals Service and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott R. Paccagnini and John G. McKenzie.
Former Employee Charged with Embezzling over $700,000Read the Press Release
ATLANTA - Late Tuesday a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment of DeMarco Doxie adding 26 counts of wire fraud relating to theft from his former employer. He was first indicted last month on 21 counts of mail fraud.
“While entrusted with an important position in his company, this defendant took advantage of and violated his employer’s trust, using his position to embezzle money on a routine basis over a long period of time,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “People who brazenly steal from their employers in this manner should expect to be held accountable.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Doxie, 43, of Peachtree City, Ga., served as the Corporate Environmental Health & Safety Manager for Ennis Paint (currently known as Ennis-Flint). Ennis, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, manufactures and sells a variety of road marking and pavement surface treatments. Doxie worked at a facility Ennis maintains in Atlanta.
During more than four years of his employment, from June 2007 through August 2011, Doxie used Outlook Environmental & Safety Solutions, LLC - a sham business that he created and owned - as his main vehicle to systematically embezzle large sums of money from Ennis. Beginning in June 2007, Doxie created and submitted fictitious invoices for environmental work that Outlook had supposedly performed for Ennis. Doxie knew the work had not been performed and that there were no Outlook employees. Ennis was never informed that Doxie was the actual owner of Outlook, and would never have paid the invoices had it known.
The superseding indictment further charges that Doxie also defrauded Ennis by using an American Express Corporate Card issued by Ennis that was supposed to be used for Ennis’ expenses. Doxie used the American Express company credit card to make payments to Outlook even though Outlook had not performed any work for Ennis. Ennis paid the monthly bill on Doxie’s Corporate American Express card. Ennis would not have approved the payments had it known that Doxie was the true owner of Outlook.
In total, Doxie received more than $700,000 from Ennis as a result of his fraud schemes.
The indictment charges 21 counts of mail fraud and 26 counts of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Glenn D. Baker is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
Fitness Club Owner Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Christian Tarantino, the owner of Synergy Fitness clubs on Long Island and New York City, was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his role in the murders of three men between 1994 and 2003. The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Joanna Seybert, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, at the United States Courthouse in Central Islip, New York.
The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George C. Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office.
Today’s proceeding marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), and New York City Police Department (NYPD). Following jury trials in 2011 and 2012, Tarantino was convicted of participating in an armored car robbery in June 1994 during which a 47-year-old guard was shot and killed; orchestrating the August 1994 murder of an associate in that robbery, whose body Tarantino dumped from a boat several miles off the coast of Long Island; and, conspiring to murder a long-time confidant, who had threatened to take evidence of the first two murders to the FBI.
On June 23, 1994, Tarantino, Louis Dorval, and two others ambushed guards of the Mid-Island Check Cashing company as they delivered cash to a business in Syosset, New York. As Tarantino and his associates handcuffed one guard, Dorval shot and killed Julius Baumgardt in the back of the head as he lay face down on the pavement. Six weeks later, when federal law enforcement sought to arrest Dorval on charges in an unrelated racketeering indictment, Tarantino lured Dorval to his own death and with the help of others stuffed Dorval’s body in a plastic tool trunk that he then dumped at sea. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel pulled Dorval’s body out of the Atlantic several days later, but the investigations into both killings remained open.
In 2000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and NCPD, began to gather DNA evidence from several individuals. FBI forensic examiners subsequently found a match between Tarantino’s mitochondrial DNA and a hair fragment recovered six years earlier by the NCPD from a getaway car abandoned near the scene of the Baumgardt murder. The investigation also led to the arrest of an associate of Tarantino, who pled guilty in 2001 to engaging in a racketeering murder conspiracy to kill Dorval.
The collection of DNA evidence also led Tarantino’s long-time confidant, Vincent Gargiulo, to secretly tape-record a September 2000 conversation with Tarantino in an apparent effort to secure evidence that would prevent Tarantino or others from falsely implicating Gargiulo in either the Baumgardt or Dorval murders. In that recording, Tarantino implicated himself in both the Baumgardt murder and the killing and disposal of Dorval’s body. In 2003, Gargiulo revealed the existence of the recording to Tarantino and others and threatened to make the tape available to the FBI if he was not compensated for businesses losses. Thereafter, Garguilo wrote the FBI a letter offering to produce a tape that would prove Tarantino’s guilt in the two 1994 killings. However, before the FBI obtained the tape, Tarantino hired a Synergy Fitness gym employee to kill Gargiulo for $35,000. On the morning of August 18, 2003, as Gargiulo walked to work at a construction site Manhattan, that employee approached his victim and fired a single shot from a .22 caliber target pistol into the bridge of Gargiulo’s nose. Gargiulo was pronounced dead a short time later in Bellevue Hospital.
Several months later, Gargiulo’s tape recording was anonymously mailed to the homicide detectives of the NYPD. Analysis by the FBI’s forensic audio lab in Quantico, Virginia, confirmed its authenticity, and at the subsequent trials, juries heard Tarantino admit to his role in the armored car robbery and the subsequent dumping of Dorval’s body at sea.
In May 2011, a jury convicted Tarantino of participating in the murders of Julius Baumgardt and Louis Dorval, but failed to reach a verdict on the Gargiulo murder charges. Following a retrial, in May 2012, a second jury convicted Tarantino of conspiracy to murder Gargiulo to obstruct justice. Each of the counts of conviction carried mandatory life terms of imprisonment.
“For almost a decade, Christian Tarantino was a one man crime spree, engaging in armed robbery, murder, and murder conspiracy to cover his tracks. He controlled his confederates the old-fashioned way - by murdering them. As this investigation and prosecution demonstrate, law enforcement will never halt its efforts to ensure that murderers are brought to justice,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Tarantino thought that human life was his to take. He will now spend the rest of his life contemplating the just results of his actions.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the Nassau County Police Department, the New York City Police Department, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Department of Corrections, Office of the Inspector General, for their assistance.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos stated, “Because he ruthlessly took the lives of three others, Tarantino will spend the rest of his life behind bars. One victim was an innocent man doing his job, murdered in cold blood during a robbery. One was a robbery confederate of Tarantino whom he killed for fear of cooperation with the government. The third victim was also killed to silence him, when he threatened to expose Tarantino. This murderous conduct has been met with stern justice.”
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Miskiewicz, Sean C. Flynn, and Carrie N. Capwell.
The Defendant:
CHRISTIAN GERALD TARANTINO
Age: 46Final Defendant Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Houston businessman Tony David Maldonado, 33, of Houston, has pleaded guilty in relation to a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders of more than $22 million in loans, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen L. Morris and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cruz. Three others have already been convicted in the scheme, including attorney and former mortgage loan officer Buffy Marie Lawrence, Houston businessman Walter Ryan Macapaz and attorney and former title company escrow officer Lisa Carol Ross.
All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Ross, 51, of Missouri City, was convicted in August 2012, while Lawrence, 41, and Macapaz, 35, both of Houston, pleaded guilty last Friday, April 19.
All were indicted in 2011 for a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders. The conspirators used fraudulent documents to help borrowers qualify for mortgage loans to purchase condominium units in the Commerce Towers building located on Main Street in downtown Houston as well as residential homes in the Houston area. The documents had false and misleading information about the borrowers’ income, assets, liabilities, employment status, bank deposits, rental payments, intent to use properties as a primary residence and source of funds used to close the real estate transactions.
Lawrence and Macapaz admitted they knowingly arranged for borrowers to submit the false documents to mortgage lenders in order to obtain loans, while Maldonado has now admitted he knowingly created some of the false documentation.
U.S. District Judge Gray Miller, who accepted all the pleas, has sentencing for Maldonado, Lawrence and Macapaz are set for Sept. 13, 2013. Lawrence, Macapaz and Maldonado were permitted to remain on bond pending their hearings. Ross is currently in custody on unrelated state charges where she will remain pending sentencing in this case by Judge Miller on May 17, 2013. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI, IRS-CI, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and Houston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney John Lewis is prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Omaha Man Who Pointed Laser at AircraftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Michael A. Smith, age 30 of Omaha, was convicted today by a federal jury for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. Smith was arrested after having been identified as the person using a laser pointer to strike Abel 1, the Omaha Police Department’s helicopter unit. The helicopter patrol had received a report in the early morning hours of July 11, 2012, that a Southwest Airlines flight scheduled for landing in Omaha had been struck by someone using a laser pointer. Abel 1 responded and was struck by a laser beam seconds after becoming airborne while heading in the direction provided by the Southwest pilot. As Abel 1 approached the area of 152nd Street in Northwest Omaha, the cockpit of Abel 1 was repeatedly struck by the laser to the point of causing the pilots of Able 1 to be distracted and temporarily blinded from the refraction of the laser beam. After being struck as many as six to seven times by the laser the pilots of Abel 1 were able to narrow the area from which the beam was coming. They then sought ground support from a Deputy Douglas County Sheriff who was able to locate Michael A. Smith in his back yard. Smith was actively aiming the laser pointer in the direction of the area where Abel 1 was hovering when contacted by the Deputy.
The case was tried in front of United States District Judge John Gerrard. Judge Gerrard set the sentencing of this matter for July 22, 2013. Smith was ordered detained by the United States Marshal’s pending sentencing. Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000.00 fine.
In addition to the air patrol units of the Omaha Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the case was also investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Federal Inmate Indicted for Escaping from PrisonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS—Recently in federal court, an inmate who last month escaped from the Federal Prison Camp in Duluth was indicted after being apprehended following six days on the run. On April 22, 2013, Michael Joseph Krzyzaniak, age 64, of Minneapolis, was indicted on one count of escape from custody.
The indictment alleges that on March 30, 2013, and continuing through April 5, 2013, Krzyzaniak was an escapee from the Federal Prison Camp in Duluth. He was serving a 151-month sentence for a 2012 conviction in the District of Minnesota for wire fraud and tax evasion. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the current case, Krzyzaniak was present for a prisoner count at 4:00 p.m. on March 30. However, he was not present for the prisoner count at 10:00 p.m. On April 5, law enforcement officials apprehended him at a hotel in Burnsville.
If convicted, Krzyzaniak faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, which may be tacked onto the sentences he is already serving. All sentences would be determined by a federal district court judge.This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich.
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.
Federal Grand Jury in Fort Wayne Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Fort Wayne, INCThe United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, returned the following Indictments on April 24, 2013: Trey Jackson, 24, and Deangelo Copeland, 36, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana were charged in 2 counts of a 3 count Indictment with armed bank robbery and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on or about April 15, 2013, and Nicole Andrews, 35, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was charged in 2 counts of a 3 count Indictment with armed bank robbery and accessory after the fact on or about April 15, 2013. These charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northeast Indiana Federal Bank Robbery Task Force and the Fort Wayne Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
Matthew Lester Vanschoick, 28, and Michael Clayton Bure, 26, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana, were charged in a single count Indictment with bank robbery on or about October 28, 2011. This charge was filed as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northeast Indiana Federal Bank Robbery Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
##END##Executive Recruiter David Nosal Convicted of Computer Intrusion and Trade Secret ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO - David Nosal, an executive recruiter based in San Francisco, was convicted of all charges in a six-count Indictment by a federal jury today, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
The jury found that Nosal had conspired to gain unauthorized access to the computer system of his former employer, the executive search firm Korn/Ferry International, and to illegally obtain trade secrets belonging to Korn/Ferry. The jury also found Nosal guilty of three substantive computer intrusions in April and July 2005, and two substantives trade secret offenses that occurred in April 2005. The guilty verdict followed a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Edward M. Chen.
Evidence at trial showed that Nosal, 55, of Danville, entered into an agreement with other Korn/Ferry employees in 2004 to take confidential and proprietary materials from Korn/Ferry’s computer system to be used in a new business that Nosal intended to establish with those individuals after he left Korn/Ferry’s employment in late 2004. The evidence showed that two of those employees downloaded large numbers of “source lists” (essentially, targeted lists of candidates developed by Korn/Ferry for the purpose of filling particular positions at particular client-companies) prior to their own departures from Korn/Ferry. Thereafter, those two employees used the Korn/Ferry log-in credentials of another conspirator who was still employed at Korn/Ferry to download additional source lists and other information from Korn/Ferry’s computer system in April and July 2005 for use in Nosal’s new business.
The trial in this case occurred after remand from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had affirmed then-District Court Judge Marilyn H. Patel’s pre-trial dismissal of several computer intrusion counts.
Nosal was initially indicted by a federal grand jury on April 10, 2008. The government obtained superseding indictments on June 26, 2008 and February 28, 2013. In the most recent superseding indictment, Nosal was charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of unauthorized access to a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication, one count of unauthorized downloading and copying of trade secrets, and one count of unauthorized receipt and possession of stolen trade secrets. Nosal was found guilty on all six counts of this indictment.
The sentencing of Nosal is scheduled for September 4, 2013 before Judge Edward M. Chen in San Francisco. The maximum statutory penalty for the conspiracy charge in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 and the unauthorized access charges in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(4) is five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. The maximum statutory penalty for the trade secret charges is 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle F. Waldinger and Matthew A. Parrella and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Jenny C. Ellickson are the attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rayneisha Booth, Elise Etter, Beth Margen, and Hui Chen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Eugene Ecstasy Dealer Sentenced to Four Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore. – Walter Thomas Swartz, 29, of Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced On April 23, 2013, to 48 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methylenedioxymethamphetamine, more commonly known as ecstasy or MDMA, and using the mail to distribute proceeds of that unlawful activity.
In April 2012, investigators served a search warrant at Swartz’ home in Eugene and seized two and half pounds of ecstasy powder, 24 ecstasy pills, three pounds of dry psilocybin mushrooms, 27 grams of cocaine, four and half pounds of marijuana, a shotgun, a pistol and a mailed package containing $16,000 in cash.
The return address on the package containing the $16,000 led investigators to a man in Colorado who Swartz met ten years earlier while both attended college in Oregon. The man admitted mailing the $16,000 and mailing up to $10,000 in cash on at least five previous occasions, all at Swartz’ direction. The cash involved in the transactions was forfeited. Swartz is a 2007 graduate of the University of Oregon, with a Bachelor degree in Environmental Science and Environmental Geography.
Chief United States District Judge Ann Aiken presided over the case and during sentencing reprimanded defendant Swartz for creating more casualties for society by distributing illegal drugs. She also ordered Swartz to perform 300 hours of community service after completion of his four year prison sentence.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration worked with state and local police on the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William “Bud” Fitzgerald prosecuted the case.
Ernest Blackmon Sentenced to 30 Months for Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
ERNEST BLACKMON, age 25, a resident of Chalmette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan after he pleaded guilty to one-count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente. In addition to 30 months of incarceration, BLACKMON received three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to court documents, the New Orleans Police Department stopped a vehicle for numerous traffic violations during a low speed car chase on December 3, 2011, in New Orleans. During the police encounter, BLACKMON, who was the driver of the vehicle, was found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson, model SW40VE, .40 caliber pistol. His passenger, Jonathan Frank, was also found to be in possession of a firearm, has been convicted as a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 46 months incarceration. Federal gun charges are still pending against the back seated passenger, Wayne Handy.
Court records revealed that BLACKMON was convicted on or about August 18, 2008, for the possession of crack cocaine, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, a felony punishable by more than one year of incarceration. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm by both state and federal law.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.
Eight Charged with Unlawful Taking of Migratory Birds and Lacey Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that seven individuals from South Dakota and one person from Minnesota have all been charged with the Unlawful Taking of Migratory Birds and Lacey Act Violations by an Information filed on March 25, 2013.
The individuals include:
• Jaron Anderson, age 22, Brookings
• Ben Burgess, age 29, Sioux Falls
• Nicholas Connor, age 20, Winfred
• Aaron Eich, age 28, Sioux Falls
• Scott Nenaber, age 34, Alpena
• Chris Paclik, age 21, Brookings
• Travis Vacek, age 32, Sioux Falls
• Austin Lueck, age 21, Lane Benton, Minnesota
Seven of the defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on April 18, 2013 and pled not guilty to the charge. Nenaber made his initial appearance on April 19, 2013. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, or both; 1 year of supervised release and an additional year of supervised release upon revocation. Restitution and a $25 special assessment may also be ordered.
The charge is merely an accusation, and they are all presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the cases.
All eight were released on bond pending trial, which has been set for June 25, 2013.
East Tawas Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A 47-year old East Tawas man pleaded guilty to willfully filing a false tax return for 2007, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
Ms. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
According to court records, during 2006 through 2009, Paul Galea was the manager and owner of G’s Pizzeria & Deli of East Tawas He gave incorrect information to his tax return preparer, underreporting his gross receipts, causing both his business tax returns and the personal tax returns to be false.
In addition, Galea admits that by failing to report all of the gross income during 2006 – 2009 he caused a tax loss to the United States in the amount of more than $80,000.
Galea entered the guilty plea in United States District Court before United States Magistrate Judge Charles E. Binder
"As filing season comes to an end this case serves as a reminder that it is important to note that those who do not file accurate returns and pay their fair share of taxes face severe consequences, in fairness to the vast majority of business owners that abide by the law," said Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez.
Galea’s guilty plea will be considered by United States District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. If the plea is accepted Judge Ludington will sentence Galea at a hearing tentatively scheduled for August 1, 2013 at 3 pm.. The maximum penalty for filing a false tax return is imprisonment for not more than three years and a $250,000.The investigation of this case was conducted by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Haviland.
Detroit Home Health Company Employee Pleads Guilty for Role in Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
An employee of Detroit medical service companies that fabricated patient visit notes and other documents as part of a $24 million home health care fraud scheme pleaded guilty today for her role in the conspiracy, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade, Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley III of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office.
Dana Sharma, 30, of Detroit, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise Hood in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Sharma worked at purported home health companies, including First Choice Home Health Care Services Inc. and Reliance Home Care LLC, where she and other conspirators agreed to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for home health services. Court documents reveal that, among other things, Sharma organized and maintained company patient files, knowing that these files contained falsified patient visit notes that created the false impression that home health care had been provided to patients. Sharma admitted that she knew that these documents would be used by these companies to submit claims to Medicare for home health services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided.
Court documents allege that between January 2007 and May 2012, Sharma’s conduct caused home health companies to submit claims to Medicare for services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided, which in turn caused Medicare to pay these companies approximately $923,286.
At sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 1, 2013, Sharma faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney William G. Kanellis and Deputy Chief Gejaa Gobena of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. It was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
Contractors Sentenced for Paying Bribes to Former Broward County Traffic Director of EngineeringRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Marlies T. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, announced that Anthoneel Allen, 40, of Wellington, FL, and James Hashim, 50, of Plantation, FL, were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit bribery in programs receiving federal funds, highway fraud, mail fraud, extortion under color of official right, and tax fraud, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, before the Honorable Judge James A. Cohn. Allen received a sentence of 60 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $15,000 fine, and a forfeiture judgment of $3,000,000 was ordered. As stated at the sentencing, Allen has already paid $814,000 to the government with respect to the forfeiture. Hashim received a sentence of 36 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $15,000 fine, and a forfeiture judgment of $3,000,000 was ordered.
Allen and Hashim were charged in connection with a scheme wherein they paid bribes to Jihad El Eid, who was the Director of Traffic Engineering in the Division of Public Works in Broward County. As stated at the sentencing, the bribes paid by Allen and Hashim helped them secure approximately $26,000,000 in contracts from Broward County in which they obtained approximately $6,500,000 in benefits.
According to the documents previously filed with the court, Hashim and Allen admitted that beginning in the fall of 2006 through 2010, they provided to Jihad El Eid more than $150,000 in cash, a 2003 Ford Taurus, and a job at Southeast Underground Utilities (SUU) for Wael El Eid (a relative of Jihad El Eid) in order to curry favor with Jihad El Eid. In return, Jihad El Eid helped SUU obtain work on multi-million dollar projects initiated by the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division, including the Signalization and Street Light Installation (SSLI) contract, a contract to make installations and do repair work of the street lights and traffic equipment in Broward County; the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS Project), a federally-funded project, which required the contractor to install an integrated traffic control system which entailed laying hundreds of thousands of feet of underground cable and conduit in order to synchronize traffic flow within Broward County; and the Video Detection Contract (VDC), which required the contractor to install video detection cameras in various intersections in Broward County in order to improve traffic flow. Jihad El Eid also assisted SUU concerning billing, specification and inspection matters that resulted in SUU being overpaid by at least $3,000,000.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, IRS-CI, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, in connection with the investigation of this matter. Mr. Ferrer would also like to recognize the assistance provided by the Broward County Office of the County Attorney, the Broward County Professional Standards Section, the Federal Highway Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the employees of the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan.
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.
City Woman Sentenced for Social Security Disability FraudRead the Press Release
Oklahoma City – ANTIGANEE TRIPLET, 39, from Oklahoma City, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Robin J. Cauthron to serve five years’ probation and pay $13,155.51 in restitution for defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) to receive disability benefits to which she was not entitled, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to Court records and information from the plea and sentencing hearings, Triplet claimed she was disabled and received SSA disability benefits from January of 2009 through January 2012. Triplet reported to SSA she was not employed during this time period when, in fact, she was working and earning income at several jobs.
Triplet was charged on January 8, 2013, and pled guilty on January 23, 2013, to illegally receiving Social Security disability benefits she was not entitled to receive. Judge Cauthron ordered Triplet to serve five years’ probation and pay $13, 155.51 in restitution to SSA.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Maxfield Green.
City of Miami Police Officer Harold James SentencedRead the Press Release
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Manuel Orosa, Chief, City of Miami Police Department, announced that Harold James, former City of Miami police officer, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola to fifteen (15) months imprisonment, as to each Count of the two-count Information, to be followed by two (2) years supervised release. The imposed sentence stems from charges of extortion under color of official right, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a).
The FBI, working in conjunction with the City of Miami Police Department, initiated an investigation after receiving information that City of Miami police officers were facilitating illicit gambling activity taking place at Player’s Choice, a barber shop located in Miami.
In April 2012, during the course of the investigation, James met with and took a cash payment from a cooperating source for providing security at the gambling establishment. It was at this meeting that James was told of another illicit operation. James agreed to participate in the second scheme and agreed to take cash for his involvement.
On five separate occasions, James provided protection for a courier who he believed was cashing fraudulent government checks at the check cashing store. He did so, while in full uniform and while driving his marked City of Miami Police Department vehicle. James, in an effort to further facilitate the criminal activity, notified the cooperating source when there would be law enforcement activity in the area of the check cashing store. In exchange for providing security of the courier who was purportedly cashing fraudulent government checks at the check cashing store, James took receipt of approximately $800 cash.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The criminal conduct of this officer and other public officials undermines the public trust. This sentence sends a message to all public officials who commit crime that they are not above the law.”
“Law enforcement officers are in a position of public trust and therefore must be held to a high standard,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami. “James violated that trust and was brought to justice in large part due to the dedication and commitment of the members of the Miami Area Corruption Task Force and the City of Miami Police Department.”
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Public Corruption Task Force, and the City of Miami Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin W. Waugh.
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.
California Man Indicted for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a California man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child.
Thomas Tatar, age 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 15, 2012. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 22, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years’ in custody, 5 years of supervised release; and a $100 Special Assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge is merely an accusation and Tatar is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Maher is prosecuting the case.
Tatar was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Brookline Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding State Welfare DepartmentRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Kamil Al-Rifai, 56, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from on or about Feb. 9, 2012, and continuing to on or about Jan. 14, 2013, Al-Rifai defrauded the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare when he misrepresented that his dependent mother was residing at his home in his application for benefits.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Aug. 22, 2013. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 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(s) and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kamil Al-Rifai.
Bismarck Man Sentenced to Serve 15 Years for Possession of Firearm & Ammunition by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on April 24, 2013, Jamie N. Nilsen, 28, Bismarck, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Nilsen pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 30, 2012.
Judge Hovland sentenced Nilsen to serve 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Nilsen was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.
During the early morning hours of April 25, 2012, Nilsen was engaged in an argument with a female at her residence in Bismarck, N.D. Nilsen brandished and discharged a .45 caliber handgun during the dispute in the garage of the girlfriend’s residence. Nilsen broke through the front door and entered the residence, still possessing the gun. At approximately 3:10 a.m., the Bismarck Police Department responded to a 911 call from the residence. Upon the arrival of the police, Nilsen entered a car with the gun and refused to comply with officer commands. The SWAT team and hostage negotiator came to the scene. At 6:54 a.m., Nilsen gave up the gun and surrendered.
Nilsen was prohibited from possessing a firearm by virtue of his seven prior felony convictions, including an aggravated assault conviction and two burglary convictions in 2004. Due to the fact that three or more of these convictions were “violent felony” convictions, the offense carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Bismarck Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler prosecuted the case.
Binghamton Area Man Sentenced for $594,000 Theft and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney, Richard S. Hartunian, announced that William P. Stiles, 43, of Deposit, Broome County, New York, was sentenced today in United States District Court to twenty four weekends of incarceration, and five years supervised release for the felony crimes of wire fraud and tax evasion.
Stiles was chief operating officer and part owner of Aeden Waterford, Inc. (AWI), a payroll and human services company located in the city of Binghamton. Stiles stole more than $500,000 from approximately 100 business clients of AWI between November, 2005, and November, 2010. The money stolen by Stiles was supposed to be used by Stiles to pay client employment withholding taxes, but instead was deposited by Stiles into Stiles’ personal bank accounts. Stiles used the funds stolen from AWI clients for his own personal benefit. Stiles further admitted he evaded income taxes due on the stolen money.
In addition to home confinement and supervised release, District Court Judge Thomas J. McAvoy ordered Stiles to pay $64,466.00 in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, and $529,607.29 in restitution to the victims of his crime.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the Federal - Bureau of Investigation, Binghamton Resident Office, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Bank Official Charged with Embezzling Funds, False Entry in Bank RecordsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bank embezzlement and false entry in bank records, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The two-count indictment named Diana Phillips, 39, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Phillips was an Assistant Branch Manager and Head Teller at First National Bank. Over a period of roughly three years, Phillips embezzled approximately $129,318.38 from the bank by processing fictitious general ledger transactions and making cash-in deposits into an account owned by a family member. The defendant then transferred money from the family member's account into accounts controlled by her and/or her husband.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Valeska Receives Award for Service to Victims During National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama - Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Valeska was honored for outstanding service to crime victims in an awards ceremony hosted by the Wiregrass Angel House V.O.C.A.L. on April 23, 2013, announced George L. Beck, Jr., United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. This award was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeska for his unwavering support and demonstrated commitment on behalf of children, victims and law enforcement.
This award was presented in conjunction with the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-27. This year’s theme, “New Challenges. New Solutions,” celebrates the spirit that will advance the progress these heroes achieved. It also captures the spirit and highlights the need for us to assist and serve each and every victim in need of hope and help.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is deeply committed to assisting victims of federal crimes, ensuring they are afforded their rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, protecting them from further harm, and helping them reshape their futures,” said U.S. Attorney George Beck, Jr. “This week is a time to raise awareness about the rights and needs of crime victims, the challenges victims face in the recovery process, and the positive impact of those who provide services and support to victims.”
The Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), enacted in 2004, grants victims in federal criminal proceedings certain enforceable rights, including the right to be reasonably heard at public court proceedings and to receive full and timely restitution as provided by law. The Middle District of Alabama has a dedicated Victim Witness Unit that serves federal crime victims across the District’s 23 counties. Members of this unit notify victims of significant case events through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Victim Notification System (VNS). Such notice enables victims to participate in court proceedings and make their voices heard. According to Department of Justice Statistics, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the U.S. Attorneys’ offices provided notice of over 12.2 million case events, including notices regarding criminal charges filed, plea hearings, bond hearings and sentencing hearings.
Notification of significant case events leads to increased victim participation in court proceedings. Court accompaniment helps ensure that victim participation in court proceedings is meaningful as Victim-Witness personnel can answer questions and explain the federal judicial process.
In addition to notification and court accompaniment, the Middle District of Alabama’s Victim Witness Unit provides essential services to victims, such as making referrals for counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court to provide support and guidance during the proceedings. These services provide tools victims need to reshape their futures.
Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617Antioch Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Conspiring to File False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Charleszetta Brown, a/k/a Candice Taylor, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $318,000 for conspiring to file false tax returns United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez announced.
Brown pleaded guilty on December 19, 2012, to conspiring to file false claims in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 286. According to her plea agreement, beginning in June 2008, Brown participated in a scheme to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS by filing false tax returns. Brown knew the returns were false when she filed them because the individuals whose names appeared on the tax returns did not supply the information used to prepare the returns. Brown admitted that, in many instances the person whose name appeared on the return did not give permission to have the tax return filed at all. In order to carry out the scheme, Brown used her own bank account as well as bank accounts of others involved in the scheme to receive the fraudulent refunds. When the fraudulent tax refund was issued by the IRS, the money would be withdrawn by the account holder who split the proceeds with Brown.
As part of the scheme, Khendria Williams and Sparkle Jernigan supplied names for use in the false filings. The names were sent through text messages to Brown’s phone. In addition, Clexton Ward obtained names to use on the false tax returns as well as names of individuals whose bank account information could be used to receive the false refunds.
On April 17, 2012, Brown, 43, of Antioch, was indictment by a federal grand jury. She was charged with conspiracy to file false claims.
On Aug. 10, 2011, Jernigan, 33, of Pittsburg, Calif., was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $31,786.
On Feb. 15, 2012, Williams, 36, of Pittsburg was sentenced to 4 months in prison and 4 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $17,600 in restitution.
On March 13, 2013, Ward was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $318,000 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman and Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles Parker are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the IRS-CI.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Kenneth Jerome Blackmon Jr., a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today to 51 months in prison, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.
In January 2013, Blackmon pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. According to court documents, Blackmon was involved in a scheme to use stolen identities to file false federal income tax returns with the IRS. He admitted to acquiring names and Social Security numbers, to using that identity information on false tax returns, and to directing fraudulent tax refunds onto debit cards. Blackmon also admitted to possessing at least 15 Social Security numbers for the purpose of obtaining fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS.
In addition to prison time, Blackmon was ordered to pay $197,839 in restitution to the IRS and to serve three years of supervised release following his release from federal custody.
Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division Kathryn Keneally and U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck Jr., commended the efforts of IRS – Criminal Investigation special agents in investigating the case, Tax Division Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand and Jason Poole in prosecuting the case, and the Alabama Department of Pardons and Paroles and the Gwinnett County, Ala., Sheriff’s Department in Georgia in assisting federal authorities with the investigation.
Alabama Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stolen Identity Refund FraudRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama - Kenneth Jerome Blackmon Jr., a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
In January 2013, Blackmon pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. According to court documents, Blackmon was involved in a scheme to use stolen identities to file false federal income tax returns with the IRS. He admitted to acquiring names and Social Security numbers, to using that identity information on false tax returns, and to directing fraudulent tax refunds onto debit cards. Blackmon also admitted to possessing at least fifteen Social Security numbers for the purpose of obtaining fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS.
In addition to prison time, Blackmon was ordered to pay $197,839 in restitution to the IRS and to serve three years of supervised release following his release from federal custody.
Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division Kathryn Keneally and United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck, Jr., commended the efforts of IRS – Criminal Investigation special agents in investigating the case, Tax Division Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand and Jason Poole in prosecuting the case, and the Alabama Department of Pardons and Paroles, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department in Georgia and the United States Marshal Service in assisting federal authorities with the investigation.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-76172013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week “new Challenges: New Solutions”Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Dana J. Boente announced that in celebration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, an information fair will be held at the New Orleans Healing Center on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The New Orleans Healing Center is located at 2371 St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans, LA. Federal and local agencies participating in the fair are the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Service, the New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Representatives of each agency will be present to provide information about the rights of crime victims and to distribute written information to the public. There is no charge to attend the information fair. Video presentations concerning the theme, “New Challenges: New Solutions,” and an overview of the criminal justice system also will be presented.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week began on April 21, 2013. It honors victims of crime and celebrates our nation’s progress in advancing their rights. This year’s theme, “New Challenges: New Solutions,” celebrates the vision behind that progress and the goal of providing needed services to all victims of crime. The vision that launched the victims’ rights movement emerged more than 30 years ago. Then, as now, crime victims endured physical and emotional wounds, financial burdens, an often hostile criminal justice system, and an alarming public tendency to blame them for the crimes against them. Often victims were excluded from courtrooms, treated with disrespect by officials, and afforded few rights. Crime victims then began organizing to confront these challenges and to promote fair, compassionate, and respectful responses to victims of crime.
Since the 1980s, the nation has made dramatic progress in securing rights, protections, and services for victims of crime. Every state has enacted victims’ rights laws, and the state constitutions of 32 states have victims’ rights amendments. All states have victim compensation funds, and more than 10,000 victim service agencies have been established throughout the country. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice, supports a range of programs for crime victims, and seeks to extend those services to those who are underserved.
Despite the progress, there still is much to do. Victims’ rights are not universally recognized by law and often the laws recognizing those rights are not enforced vigorously. Only a fraction of victims receive crime victim compensation, which is usually limited to victims of violent crime. Less than 50 percent of crimes are reported, and fewer than 20 percent of victims receive needed services. The victim services system is fragmented and uncoordinated, and agencies are struggling to provide needed services in the face of budget cuts. Still, victim advocates have not lost their resolve and continue to advocate for novel solutions to the challenges of according victims their rights.
2013 Crime Victim's Rights WeekRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to Assistant Jackson County Prosecutor Alison Dunning for her work on behalf of protecting children.
Today’s award ceremony was part of an annual event hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and VictimNet, a coalition of victim service providers and others committed to meeting the needs of crime victims in Jackson County, in conjunction with the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme, “New Challenges, New Solutions,” celebrates the spirit that will advance the progress these heroes achieved. It also captures the spirit and highlights the need for us to assist and serve each and every victim in need of hope and help.
“I have been a prosecutor the majority of my legal career, and I have seen first-hand the devastating effect crime has on victims and the need to ensure the rights of victims are respected,” Dickinson said. “I applaud those who work every day to ensure that the voice of the victim is heard at every stage in the legal process, in the hospital, in the police station and in the courtroom.
“We can’t turn back the clock to erase the tragedy suffered by victims of crimes,” Dickinson said in presenting the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award to Dunning. “What we can do – what we are committed to doing – is to pursue justice on their behalf. This award is intended to be a small reminder of both the value of justice and the pain shared by victims of crime.”
Dunning has devoted most of her 15-year career as a prosecutor to seeking justice on behalf of child victims. Most recently, Dunning was responsible for the successful prosecution of Matthew Nelson, an elementary school teacher in Grain Valley, Mo., who was convicted of 16 felony counts of statutory sodomy and child molestation. On March 13, 2013, Nelson pleaded guilty to all charges involving 11 child victims. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2013.
“I know first-hand the difficulty of investigating and prosecuting these types of cases,” Dickinson said. “It takes an enormous amount of courage and dedication to prosecute child victim cases. It is heart-breaking enough to deal with adult victims of crimes, but when it comes to the most vulnerable victims, our children, it becomes even more horrendous.”
The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year during the local observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in protecting children from exploitation. The award was presented to Dunning in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Anna Rhea, Kipper’s mother, participated in today’s presentation.
“By honoring these two young crime victims whose deaths profoundly touched us all,” Dickinson said, “we pay our respects to all victims of crime, as well as recognizing those who work diligently to prevent and bring justice to those who exploit children.
“Just as the Kipper and Kemp cases highlight the need to protect children from criminals who prowl our highways and neighborhoods,” she added, “Matthew Nelson’s case reminds us that child predators can be anywhere, even in our children’s schools.”
Today’s event at the KC Live Stage in the Power and Light District also featured comments from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and Nathan Ross, a child abuse survivor and child welfare system advocate.
The event showcased a variety of art created by youth who participate in the MyARTS program, which serves at-risk teens. The event also included a showcase of various local victim service providers and a victims’ memorial walk led by the Kansas City Mounted Patrol.
The Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), enacted in 2004, grants victims in federal criminal proceedings certain enforceable rights, including the right to be reasonably heard at public court proceedings and to receive full and timely restitution as provided by law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a dedicated Victim/Witness Unit that serves federal crime victims across the district’s 66 counties. Members of this unit notify victims of significant case events through the Department of Justice’s Victim Notification System (VNS). Such notice enables victims to participate in court proceedings and make their voices heard. Victim/Witness personnel accompany victims to court hearings and trials to ensure that victim participation in court proceedings is meaningful and to answer questions and explain the federal judicial process.
In addition to notification and court accompaniment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Unit provides essential services to victims, such as making referrals for counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court to provide support and guidance during the proceedings. These services provide tools victims need to reshape their futures.
Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.
The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award
Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after her car broke down on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.