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Wednesday 9 January 2013
Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments in Plano, TexasRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsPLANO, Texas –A federal grand jury returned multiple indictments today charging individuals with separate federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Tuan Truong, of Plano, Texas, has been indicted for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stevan A. Buys.
Vincente Botello-Segundo, 31, of Dallas, has been indicted for illegally entering the United States after having been deported and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by ICE/HSI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stevan A. Buys.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Federal Grand Jury in Fort Wayne Returns IndictmentRead the Press Release
Fort Wayne, INCThe United States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, returned the following Indictment on December 18, 2012:
Troy A. Ditiway, 26, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged in a single count Indictment with possession of one or more matters containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on or about September 20, 2012. The Indictment also seeks for the forfeiture of a computer and a thumb drive. This charge was filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Wayne 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##Federal Grand Jury Charges Fort Worth Man with Unlawful Possession of A Firearm and Fraudulent Production of an Identification DocumentRead the Press Release
DALLAS — A federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment late yesterday charging Azeez Ahmed Al-Ghaziani with one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and one count of fraudulent production of an identification document. Al-Ghaziani, 30, of Fort Worth, Texas, has been in custody since his arrest in October 2012 by officers with the Hurst Police Department. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
The indictment alleges that on October 2, 2012, Al-Ghaziani, an unlawful user of, and addicted to, a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol and a Hawk Industries 12-gauge shotgun. It further alleges that on the same date, Al-Ghaziani produced fraudulent U.S. military and U.S. government identification badges that appear to have been issued by, or under the authority of, the United States.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, officers with the Hurst Police Department were contacted on October 2, 2012, about a suspicious truck that was parked behind a strip center on Grapevine Highway in Hurst. When officers arrived and looked through the truck’s windows, they noticed two gun carrying cases. Officers determined that Al-Ghaziani was the vehicle’s owner, but after all efforts failed to locate him, and because law enforcement believed the vehicle may have been used for military law enforcement purposes, officers decided to enter the unlocked truck to locate contact information for the owner and safeguard any firearms that might be in the truck.
Inside, officers located a duffle bag that contained fraudulent identification badges, an unloaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, chrome tape that appeared to have been used to mimic the appearance of a microchip on the identification badges, three Department of Defense (DoD) vehicle registration decals and zip-lock type bags commonly used in the distribution of illegal narcotics. An unloaded 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition for the shotgun and a magazine containing approximately 12, .40 caliber rounds were also found in the truck.
Al-Ghaziani was questioned after officers noticed him exiting a dry-cleaning business that he said he owned in the strip center. Officers obtained a state search warrant for the business and seized additional fraudulent U.S. military and U.S. government identification badges and other items including plastic badge holders containing fraudulent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) credentials; DoD military credentials, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a laptop computer and thumb drive.
An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, the firearm count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the production of identification documents count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation is being conducted by the Hurst Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Errin Martin is in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Employee Charged with Accessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
An employee of the Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with accessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. THOMAS JOSEPH BARRETT, 49, of Lynnwood, Washington was taken into custody at his place of work. Search warrants were executed at his home and workplace. BARRETT is employed as Senior Case Technician. SSA immediately placed BARRETT on indefinite leave. BARRETT will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:30 today.
According to the complaint filed in the case, SSA obtained evidence of inappropriate internet use by BARRETT during work hours in November 2012 and immediately initiated an investigation. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) investigated BARRETT’s computer use, reviewing his internet history and examining his computer’s hard drive. The analysis produced evidence that BARRETT had viewed child pornography using the computer. In addition, some of the website analysis revealed that BARRETT had accessed news stories about the penalties for possessing and distributing child pornography. According to SSA, SSA’s network and data were never compromised.
Accessing child pornography with intent to view is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigation and the Washington State Patrol.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson and Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth. Mr. Wilkinson is an attorney with the Social Security Administration specially designated to prosecute cases in federal court.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte man charged with Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on January 8, 2013, by US District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Matthew Dupris, age 24, was sentenced to 13 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.
Dupris was indicted for the above charge by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2012. The charge stems from an incident occurring on March 8, 2012, in which Dupris assaulted a federal officer after being detained on suspicion of driving under the influence. Dupris was placed under arrest after failing the sobriety tests. At the detention facility, Dupris swung at an officer, hitting him in the face with his fists. The officer suffered a concussion as a result of the assault.
The investigation was conducted by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Services, and Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Dupris was immediately turned over to the custody of the US Marshal.
Detroit Man Sentenced Following Federal Weapons ConvictionRead the Press Release
A Detroit man was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by David McCain, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Jerry Burton, 31, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and will serve two years of supervision following his release from federal prison. Burton pleaded guilty last October and was sentenced by Judge Nancy G. Edmunds on January 8, 2013. The court noted that Burton’s numerous previous convictions demonstrated that he was a continuing danger to the community.
During the guilty plea and in memoranda and argument submitted to the court at sentencing, the evidenced showed that ATF agents identified Burton as someone who had expressed an interest in illegally selling firearms in Detroit. On January 4, 2012, Burton sold an assault rifle to an undercover agent and an undercover Detroit Police Office. The semi-automatic rifle was fully functional and capable of accepting a magazine that holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Burton also sold the undercover officers two 30-round, large capacity magazines, one of which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said: “We are committed to removing dangerous weapons from the hands of felons and from those engaged in illegal gun sales. We believe that removing illegal guns from our streets will help reduce our intolerably high homicide rate.”
McQuade praised the work of the Detroit Police Officers and ATF agents, demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and professionalism in their aggressive and thorough investigation of the case.
Darvell Hall Sentenced to 7 Years for Filing False Tax Returns and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
DARVELL HALL, age 32, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Sarah Vance to seven (7) years for making false claims to an agency of the United States and Wire Fraud, announced United States Attorney Dana Boente. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Vance ordered HALL to pay full restitution in the amount of $317,389. HALL was also ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, HALL prepared, and caused to be prepared, taxes for individuals located throughout the New Orleans metropolitan area without their knowledge or authorization. To do this, HALL obtained personal information, including the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number, of individuals without their knowledge or permission, and he used this information to file unauthorized tax returns in the names of these individuals. Many of these individuals were either minors or incarcerated at the time the tax returns were filed. The individuals did not know HALL and did not authorize HALL to prepare or file a tax return using their name or on their behalf. HALL prepared and filed with the Internal Revenue Service, approximately forty-eight (48) United States Individual Tax Returns from March 2009 through in or about March 2011 resulting in an attempted loss to the Government of approximately $317,389. When preparing those forty-eight (48) tax returns, HALL included a variety of false statements and information designed to qualify the returns for various credits and refunds. HALL arranged to have the refunds electronically deposited into bank accounts under his control. He neither informed the individuals for whom he was filing tax returns that he was filing such returns, nor shared any of the refund with the individuals.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.
Daniel Thomas Morrow Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on January 9, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, DANIEL THOMAS MORROW, a 57-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing.
MORROW to a term of:
- Prison: 120 months
- Special Assessment: $ 200.00
- Supervised Release: 8 years
MORROW was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Law enforcement developed a confidential source from Yakima, Washington, who could distribute methamphetamine in the Billings area. Around September 24, 2011, Cassandra Seal contacted the source and wanted to purchase methamphetamine. Communication between the two continued up until October 14th. Seal and the source set up a deal for half a pound of methamphetamine where half would be paid for and the other half would be fronted. Seal told the source she could sell the fronted four ounces in a few hours and come back with the cash.
On October 14, 2011, the source arrived in Laurel for the drug transaction.
Phone calls were exchanged and Seal arrived at the motel with MORROW and Ali Khan. The individuals talked for a while until the methamphetamine was displayed. Seal stated she had $7,000 cash on her for the deal. MORROW took the meth and spoke about the quality. MORROW poured the methamphetamine out of the bag and onto a plastic tray to further inspect it. Khan assisted him in getting the tray ready to pour the methamphetamine onto. MORROW and Khan then looked at and talked about the quality of it. Law enforcement entered the room and all three individuals were taken into custody.
As Khan was patted down, two semiautomatic handguns were located concealed on his person. One was in a shoulder holster, and it had a loaded magazine and a bullet in the chamber; the other one was in his sweatshirt pocket, and it had a loaded magazine.
MORROW, Khan and Seal conspired with each other to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Seal and Khan pled guilty to federal crimes. Seal has been sentenced and Khan is awaiting sentencing.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MORROW will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MORROW does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
Dallas Woman Admits Embezzling at Least $3.4 Million from Women’s Southwest Federal Credit Union (WSFCU)Read the Press Release
Theresa Portillo Was Chief Executive Officer at the Now Defunct WSFCU
DALLAS – Theresa Portillo, 44, of Dallas, pleaded guilty late yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver to a felony Information charging one count of embezzlement of funds from a credit union, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Portillo faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine and restitution. In addition, according to the terms of the plea agreement, Portillo voluntarily agrees to forfeit several parcels of real estate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as well as personal property and a timeshare in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Portillo will remain on bond pending sentencing, which is set for May 10, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn.
According to documents filed in the case, from 2001 to October 2012, while employed at the credit union, including the time she served as its Chief Executive Officer, Portillo used deception to fraudulently obtain at least $3,421,000 from 18 different financial institutions in connection with her sale of several certificates of deposits (CDs). She used online services to contact several financial institutions interested in purchasing CD accounts at the credit union.
When a financial institution was willing to purchase a CD, Portillo gave the financial institution wiring instructions to send the purchase funds to a JP Morgan Chase account in the name of the credit union. Portillo used this Chase account to enable the embezzlement because she knew that credit union officials thought the account was inactive; the account wasn’t recorded on the credit union’s general ledger; and she had sole control of the account. Portillo also concealed her theft of stolen credit union funds by opening a separate credit union account using a false and fictitious name. Portillo avoided detection of the scheme by writing checks using this fictitious name to disburse stolen credit union funds.
After the financial institutions wired funds into the Chase account, Portillo fraudulently disbursed and used these embezzled and stolen credit union funds to purchase motor vehicles, real property and jewelry for her personal use, as well as for family and friends. She also used embezzled funds to pay credit card bills, fund vacations, pay family medical expenses and remodel houses.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis is in charge of the prosecution.
Dallas County Man Sentenced for East Texas Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 43-year-old Mesquite, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Harold Dickens pleaded guilty on Mar. 19, 2012 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.
According to information presented in court, up until May of 2011, Dickens conspired with others to acquire methamphetamine for distribution in East Texas. Dickens admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of more than 150 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Dickens and six others were indicted on Nov. 2, 2011 and charged with drug trafficking offenses. Matthew Dean Willis was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on June 12, 2012. David Christopher Wheeler and Raelene Dawn Ferguson were each sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on July 16, 2012. Terri Rhea Young was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on July 23, 2012. One additional co-defendant is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kilgore Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.
Colchester Man Charged with Possessing Fake U.S. Marshals Service BadgeRead the Press Release
January 9, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN W. CARROLL, 42, of Colchester, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with the unauthorized possession of an imitation United States Marshals Service badge.
The criminal complaint alleges that, on October 9, 2012, CARROLL possessed a fake U.S. Marshals Service badge that was substantially similar to an authentic badge, and two fake U.S. Marshals Service identification cards.
CARROLL was arrested this morning. Following his arrest, he appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven and was released on a $10,000 bond.
If convicted of the charge, CARROLL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of six months and a fine of up to $5,000.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service and state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Anjna R. Kapoor and Assistant United States Attorney David E. Novick.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the U.S. After DeportationRead the Press Release
January 9, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESUS ROJAS-REYES, 22, a citizen of Mexico recently residing in Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to six months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States following his deportation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, ROJAS-REYES has been deported from the United States to Mexico on three prior occasions. In September 2011, he illegally reentered the United States through Arizona. On November 14, 2011, ROJAS-REYES was arrested by the Norwalk Police Department on a charge of unlawful restraint.
ROJAS-REYES, who has been detained since his arrest, pleaded guilty to the state charge on September 5, 2012. On September 6, 2012, he waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
This case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hal Chen.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
January 9, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS GONZALEZ-VALDOVINOS, 45, a citizen of Mexico recently residing in New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States following his deportation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, GONZALEZ-VALDOVINOS was deported from the United States to Mexico after he was convicted of state sexual assault and narcotics offenses. In 2000, GONZALEZ-VALDOVINOS illegally reentered the United States without first obtaining the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or his successor, the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, to reapply for admission into the United States.
GONZALEZ-VALDOVINOS has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on March 27, 2012. On August 30, 2012, he waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
This case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hal Chen.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Christopher J. Lindsey Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on January 4, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, CHRISTOPHER J. LINDSEY, a 45-year-old resident of Helena, was sentenced to a term of:
- Probation: 5 years
- Special Assessment: $100.00
- Forfeiture: $288,000.00
LINDSEY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premises.
The investigation was conducted by the following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies: the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection-Border Patrol, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These federal agencies were assisted by local High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces, the Northwest Drug Task Force, the Kalispell Police Department, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Great Falls Police Department, the Cascade County Sheriff's Office, the Central Montana Drug Task Force, the Billings Police Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Dillon Police Department, the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office, the Park County Sheriff's Office, the Bozeman Police Department, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, the Belgrade Police Department, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, the Helena Police Department, the Lewis & Clark Sheriff's Office, and the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force - Miles City.
Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Woman Across State Lines for ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Montell Williams, of Chicago, pleaded guilty today in Hammond, Ind., to violating the Mann Act by transporting a woman across state lines for the purpose of having her engage in prostitution. Williams was indicted on Oct. 4, 2012 and indicted on additional charges on Dec. 13, 2012.
According to court documents, Williams admitted that on several occasions between June 2011 and Feb. 5, 2012, Williams drove an adult woman across state lines from Indiana to Illinois so that she could engage in prostitution.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing has been set for April 25, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano.
“The guilty plea of Mr. Williams brings justice to the young woman who fell victim to his scheme and was led into prostitution at his hands,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We are committed to combating human trafficking and prosecuting those who sexually exploit vulnerable women for financial benefit.”
"The FBI is the lead agency for investigating violations of federal civil rights and human trafficking is one of our top civil rights violation priorities. Through partnerships with our local, state, federal and international law enforcement partners, we investigate human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Our goal is to ensure the safety of victims and that those involved in this systematic abuse and degradation are brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Jones, FBI Indianapolis.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Gary Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Koster, Civil Rights Division Special Litigation Counsel John Richmond, and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Amanda Gregory.
Cherokee County Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in East TexasRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 44-year-old Alto, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Kerry Wayne Griffin pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2012, to conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute over 15 kilograms or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
According to information presented in court, from 2008 to June 20, 2012, Donald Dixon, a.k.a. “Black”, Cedrick Fowler, a.k.a. “C” and “C-Murder”, Kerry Wayne Griffin, a.k.a. “Big Boy”, Omar Paunetto, Jose Angel Bustillos, Michael John Pereira, Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. “Arod”, Darius Thorn, a.k.a. “Bs” and “Beez”, Tremaine Smith and Anthony Fowler conspired to traffic cocaine and crack cocaine throughout East Texas.
Griffin's role in the organization was to acquire powder cocaine from Dixon, and then redistribute the cocaine and cocaine base through others. Griffin and Thacker first began obtaining cocaine from Dixon in 2008, and in 2009 Griffin became the source of supply for C. Fowler. C. Fowler utilized the assistance of Stevenson, Thorn, A. Fowler, and Smith in the subsequent distribution of cocaine and cocaine base. Federal agents learned of the drug trafficking activity and conducted an extensive investigation of Griffin and his associates. On May 25, 2012, investigators executed an arrest and search warrant at Griffin’s residence and seized approximately $18,450 in cash as well as three firearms.
On June 20, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging 10 defendants, including Griffin, with drug trafficking violations.
This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nacogdoches Police Department, and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Baylor Wortham.
Canton Man Charged with Producing, Distributing and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
January 9, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging MICHAEL CRAWFORD, 35, of Canton, with one count of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
CRAWFORD was arrested today. Following his arrest, he appeared before United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport. CRAWFORD is detained pending a hearing that is scheduled for January 14.
The indictment alleges that, between September and December 2011, CRAWFORD produced depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and then distributed the images. The indictment also alleges that CRAWFORD received visual depictions of other minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted of the charge of production of child pornography, CRAWFORD faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. The charges of distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarala V. Nagala and Anastasia E. King.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
[email protected]Canadian Citizen Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Consumers Purchasing Pharmaceuticals OnlineRead the Press Release
A Canadian citizen was sentenced to four years in prison today for his role in a scheme to defraud consumers purchasing pharmaceuticals online, the Justice Department announced. Andrew J. Strempler was also ordered to pay a forfeiture of $300,000 and a fine of $25,000. A restitution hearing was set for February 26, 2013.
In October 2012, Strempler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with his role as owner and president of Mediplan Health Consulting Inc., a Canadian company that also operated under the name RxNorth.com. RxNorth was an Internet, mail and telephone order pharmacy, through which Strempler and others marketed and sold prescription drugs to residents of the United States.
According to court documents, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised Strempler in a 2001 letter that his prescription drug sales would be illegal in the United States if the drugs were not FDA approved. The FDA letter explained that the FDA approves drugs based on evidence that they are safe and effective, and that the quality of drugs from foreign sources could not be assured.
Strempler and his co-conspirators unlawfully enriched themselves by selling prescription drugs to individuals in the United States, falsely representing that RxNorth was selling safe prescription drugs in compliance with regulations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Strempler obtained the prescription drugs from various other source countries without properly ensuring the safety or authenticity of the drugs. In fact, some of the drugs sold by Strempler included counterfeit drugs.
Strempler caused prescription drugs from foreign countries to be shipped to a facility that Strempler operated in the Bahamas. Prescription orders made through RxNorth were then filled at the Bahamas facility, with labels on the vials and drug cartons stating they had been filled by RxNorth in Canada. Strempler then used indirect routes involving multiple countries to ship packages with prescription drugs from the Bahamas to individuals in the United States. Shipments mailed from the Bahamas, containing packages addressed to individuals in the Southern District of Florida, included counterfeit prescription drugs.
“Internet websites that illegally sell potentially substandard, counterfeit or otherwise unsafe pharmaceuticals, pose a real threat to consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “The sentence handed down today serves as an effective deterrent to those who would peddle counterfeit pharmaceuticals—particularly those drugs trafficked over the Internet.”
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Counterfeit prescription drugs sold through the internet pose a serious health hazard to consumers in the United States. These drugs can be adulterated, ineffective and unsafe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to assisting the FDA enforce regulations to protect American consumers from these unsafe drugs.”
“FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, working in concert with the United States Attorney’s Office and other foreign and domestic government agencies, will protect the public health by aggressively targeting those responsible for counterfeiting prescription drugs,” said David W. Bourne, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “This case highlights that even when complex criminal networks engage in such illegal activities on a global scale from a foreign-based location, without regard for risk to human life, they are still held accountable for their actions in the United States. We commend the United States Attorney’s Office in Miami and our international law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in connection with the investigation and subsequent prosecution of this case.”
U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez presided over the sentencing.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Roger J. Gural of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Nathan Sabel of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Chief Counsel. The case was investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.
To learn more about safely buying medicines over the Internet, consumers should consult FDA’s BeSafeRX campaign at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/BuyingMedicinesOvertheInternet/default.htm.
Canadian Citizen Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Consumers Purchasing Pharmaceuticals OnlineRead the Press Release
Former Owner of Online Pharmacy Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and David W. Bourne, Special Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office, announced today’s sentencing of Andrew J. Strempler, of Canada. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Strempler to 48 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud consumers purchasing pharmaceuticals online. Strempler was also ordered to pay a forfeiture of $300,000. A hearing to determine the amount of restitution has been scheduled for February 26, 2013.
In October 2012, Strempler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with his role as owner and president of Mediplan Health Consulting Inc., a Canadian company that also operated under the name RxNorth.com. RxNorth was an Internet, mail and telephone order pharmacy, through which Strempler and others marketed and sold prescription drugs to residents of the United States.
According to court documents, the FDA advised Strempler in a 2001 letter that his prescription drug sales would be illegal in the United States if the drugs were not FDA approved. The FDA letter explained that the FDA approves drugs based on evidence that they are safe and effective, and that the quality of drugs from foreign sources could not be assured.
Strempler and his co-conspirators unlawfully enriched themselves by selling prescription drugs to individuals in the United States, falsely representing that RxNorth was selling safe prescription drugs in compliance with regulations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Strempler obtained the prescription drugs from various other source countries without properly ensuring the safety or authenticity of the drugs. In fact, some of the drugs sold by Strempler included counterfeit drugs.
Strempler caused prescription drugs from foreign countries to be shipped to a facility that Strempler operated in the Bahamas. Prescription orders made through RxNorth were then filled at the Bahamas facility, with labels on the vials and drug cartons stating they had been filled by RxNorth in Canada. Strempler then used indirect routes involving multiple countries to ship packages with prescription drugs from the Bahamas to individuals in the United States. Shipments mailed from the Bahamas, containing packages addressed to individuals in the Southern District of Florida, included counterfeit prescription drugs.
“Counterfeit prescription drugs sold through the internet pose a serious health hazard to consumers in the United States,” said Wifredo A. Ferrer, I.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “These drugs can be adulterated, ineffective and unsafe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to assisting the FDA enforce regulations to protect American consumers from these unsafe drugs.”
“Today’s sentencing should send a clear message to anyone who operates an online pharmacy that sidesteps the FDA protections and defrauds consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Consumers need to be aware that prescription drugs purchased online may be counterfeit, substandard, or unsafe.”
“FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, working in concert with the United States Attorney’s Office and other foreign and domestic government agencies, will protect the public health by aggressively targeting those responsible for counterfeiting prescription drugs,” said David W. Bourne, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA-OCI’s Miami Field Office. “This case highlights that even when complex criminal networks engage in such illegal activities on a global scale from a foreign-based location, without regard for risk to human life, they are still held accountable for their actions in the United States. We commend the United States Attorney’s Office in Miami and our international law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in connection with the investigation and subsequent prosecution of this case.”
Mr. Ferrer thanked the FDA-OCI for its work in this investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Roger J. Gural of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Nathan Sabel of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. To learn more about safely buying medicines over the Internet, consumers should consult FDA’s BeSafeRX campaign at www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/BuyingMedicinesOvertheInternet/default.htm
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.
Camden County, N.J., Man Admits Conspiring to Distribute 13 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Was Free on Bail Pending State Murder Charges at the Time
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, N.J. man today admitted attempting to purchase 13 kilograms of cocaine for distribution in and through New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jamal Herrin, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an Information charging him with one count of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The investigation into Herrin began in April 2012, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Herrin – who was on bail pending state murder charges – was interested in purchasing large quantities of cocaine. Herrin admitted that he negotiated the purchase of 13 kilograms of cocaine and amassed more than $325,000 to purchase the cocaine.Herrin faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert G. Koval in Newark; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office; the Rowan University Police Department; the Winslow Township Police Department; the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office; and local law enforcement agencies in support of the Camden division of the Philadelphia-Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas task force.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson M. Oswald of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
13-019
Defense counsel: Brian J. McMonagle Esq., Philadelphia
Herrin Information
Business Manager Sentenced for Tax Evasion in $257,000 Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for tax evasion related to unreported income from the theft of more than $257,000 from her employer.
Christine Diane Todd, 37, of Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey to 15 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Todd to pay $318,938 in restitution.
Todd was employed as the branch credit manager for Major Brands, Inc., in Columbia. Todd, who pleaded guilty on Nov. 28, 2011, admitted that she engaged in a scheme to defraud Major Brands and its customers from January 2003 to October 2006.
In her position as credit manager, Todd’s duties included processing payments that were received from customers, including both cash received from truck drivers and/or salesman and checks that were received in the mail. Todd admitted that she stole a portion of the cash received from the customers, totaling $257,688 over the four-year period.
Todd pleaded guilty to making an income tax return that falsely reported her income in 2005. Todd’s 2006 income tax return did not report $100,832 that she embezzled from Major Brand Foods in 2005.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.
Buffalo Man Sentenced for Selling Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that DeShawn McLorn, 39, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of conspiring to distribute OxyContin pills, was sentenced by Chief District Judge William M. Skretny to 57 months in prison.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who handled the case, in 2009 and 2010, McLorn distributed approximately 1,000 Oxycontin tablets at a location on Strauss Street in Buffalo. The defendant obtained these tablets from codefendant Michael McCall who was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role on January 8, 2012.
McLorn was arrested along with 33 others following a long-term investigation into the widespread illegal sale of prescription drugs in the City of Buffalo and its eastern suburbs. All 34 defendants have been convicted and McLorn is the final defendant to be sentenced.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian R. Crowell, New York Field Division, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Gehen, and the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gerald Gill.
British Businessman Christopher Tappin Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aiding and Abetting the Illegal Export of Defense ArticlesRead the Press Release
In federal court in El Paso this morning, 66-year-old British businessman Christopher Tappin of Orpington, Kent, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for attempting to export to Iran a special component of the Hawk Air Defense Missile announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Dennis Ulrich, El Paso.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge David Briones ordered that Tappin pay an $11,357.14 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.
“In this case, Mr. Tappin admitted his role in trying to facilitate the shipment of specialized batteries to Iran. These batteries are used to make Hark missiles operational, and Mr. Tappin admitted that he submitted false shipping documentation to circumvent U.S. export control regulations. Those who violate federal law for monetary gain, and in the process put the national security of the United States and its allies at risk, will face prosecution and punishment for their callous disregard for the public’s safety,” said United States Attorney Robert Pitman.
On November 1, 2012, Tappin appeared in federal court, reversed his original not-guilty plea and admitted culpability in the scheme. Tappin pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the illegal export of defense articles and by doing so, waived his right to appeal his conviction or challenge the sentence handed down in this case.
By pleading guilty, Tappin admitted that from December 2005 to January 2007, he knowingly aided and abetted others, including his Cyprus-based business associate Robert Frederick Gibson and Portland, OR, resident Robert Caldwell in an illegal attempt to export Zinc/Silver Oxide Reserve Batteries to Iran. These particular batteries, a special component of the Hawk Air Defense Missile, are designated as a defense article on the U.S. Munitions List and require a license or written authorization from the U.S. State Department for export from the United States.
According to the factual basis filed in this case, which Tappin admitted was truthful and accurate, Tappin
knowingly violated U.S. law by obtaining the specialized batteries under false pretenses. Tappin engaged in phone and email communications with an undercover federal agent to discuss payment and delivery
arrangements. In October 2006, Tappin wired approximately $25,000 from a London financial institution to a bank account in the United States as payment for five of the specialized batteries. Using false shipping documentation, Tappin arranged for the transfer of the batteries to the United Kingdom without an export license through his specifically designated freight forwarders in violation of export control regulations.During the investigation, Tappin even agreed to reimburse the undercover agent for $5,000 in fines purportedly being assessed against him by U.S. Customs authorities after they had seized the shipment of batteries.
Tappin, admittedly, also caused Caldwell to travel to San Antonio in January 2007 to take delivery of the
batteries, ensure that they were shipped to him (Tappin) and to pay the undercover agent $5,000 for the current fines. Tappin, in court, acknowledged that his anticipated profit from the transaction was $11,357.14.“Protecting our national security is one of HSI’s highest priorities,” said Dennis A. Ulrich, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “And this sentence is the result of more than six years of tenacious investigative work by HSI special agents, who were relentless in their efforts to prevent U.S. military products from being illegally exported and falling in the hands of our adversaries.”
In 2007, Gibson and Caldwell were sentenced to 24 months and 20 months, respectively, in federal prison for their roles in the scheme.
U.S. Attorney Pitman also commended HSI for investigating this matter as well as the United States Marshals Service and British authorities for their assistance during the extradition process.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg McDonald prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Bismarck Man Sentenced on Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Bismarck, North Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault and Assault by Striking, Beating or Wounding was sentenced on January 8, 2013, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno. Harlan J. Fisher, age 44, was sentenced to 12 months in custody and a $20 special assessment.
Fisher was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2012. He pled guilty to a superseding information on January 8, 2013. The conviction stems from an incident on June 2, 2012, when Fisher unlawfully assaulted the victim by striking the victim in the mouth and also on top of her head, causing injury.
This case was investigated by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley prosecuted the case.
Fisher was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
Arthur Dion Longee Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 9, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, ARTHUR DION LONGEE, a 25-year-old resident of Poplar, appeared for sentencing. LONGEE was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 24 months
- Special Assessment: $ 100.00
- Supervised Release: 10 years
LONGEE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual abuse of a minor.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
During the evening of July 15, 2011, the victim went to the powwow in Poplar. While at the powwow, the victim sent a text message to LONGEE to see if there was a party occurring. The victim left the powwow to meet up with LONGEE and a few friends. At the party, the victim drank liquor and became pretty drunk. At one point, a fight broke out and the victim left the house with LONGEE as the morning sky started to get lighter. They walked to LONGEE's grandmother's house.
The next thing the victim remembered was waking up to LONGEE having sex with her. She told him to stop several times and finally he did. LONGEE then received a phone call from the police and he told the victim someone had turned him into the cops. He told the victim to shower and wash up good, and threw a towel at her.
Prior to the sexual assault, the victim's mother called the police to report her daughter was missing. An officer learned the victim had been last seen potentially with LONGEE. Officers went to LONGEE's house, and at one point, the victim peaked out the window and saw the police outside. But, LONGEE would not let her leave. The victim was later able to leave the house and told her mother she had been sexually assaulted.
A sexual assault examination was completed at the hospital and law enforcement collected physical evidence. The FBI Laboratory analyzed the swabs taken from LONGEE and it was determined that the victim was the major female contributor of DNA to this sample.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LONGEE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LONGEE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.
Andover Man Indicted for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Boston - An Andover man was indicted today on child pornography charges.
William S. Thomas, 64, was charged in an indictment with seven counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that on various dates in 2011, Thomas knowingly received films depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The items were seized from Thomas’ home during the execution of a federal search warrant in September 2012.
If convicted, Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison on the receipt of child pornography charges and up to 10 years in prison on the possession of child pornography charge. Thomas also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $500,000 fine on each count.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Chief Brian J. Pattullo of the Andover Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Alabama Businessman Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Paying BribesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Huffman Earl Monk, 52, Brookwood, Ala., pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and paying bribes to a U.S. Coast Guard Transportation Officer.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Otis E. Harris, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region; and Michael P. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Monk was indicted on May 23, 2012, by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and paying bribes to a public official. Monk faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced before Judge Mark S. Davis on April 24, 2013.
“In two years, Mr. Monk paid out more than $220,000 in bribes to Dunn in exchange for receiving over-priced and false shipping contracts,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Rooting out criminals who abuse the public’s trust strengthens the integrity of – and our confidence in – the government’s procurement process.”
“As a steward of public funds, the Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center holds its members and contracting partners to high standards of conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Harris. “We will continue to work closely with Coast Guard units and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and deal appropriately with threats to the integrity of the contracting process wherever they may occur.”
According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Monk was the owner and operator of 12 fright brokerage companies that were headquartered in a single office in Brookwood, Ala. Many of Monk’s freight brokerage companies contracted with Department of Defense Transportation Command (TransCom) to ship military-related freight. Nathan Allen Dunn was an active duty U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Petty Officer assigned as a Transportation Administrator at the Surface Forces Logistics Center in Norfolk, Va. Dunn’s primary duty was to coordinate the shipping of large freight such as boats, trailers, generators, etc. between USCG bases located throughout the United States. Dunn utilized the TransCom automated system to bid out and then contract the shipments with authorized freight brokerage companies
In September 2009, Monk traveled to Norfolk to meet with Dunn and told him that in exchange for Dunn issuing USCG freight contracts to Monk’s freight companies, Monk would kickback a percentage of the profits to Dunn. Dunn agreed to Monk’s offer and, shortly thereafter, the Monk began offering monetary bribes to Dunn by providing him with debit cards linked to several of Monk’s business bank accounts. In order to inflate the profits Monk and Dunn would make from each contract Monk encouraged Dunn to fraudulently manipulate various data entered into the TransCom computer system in order to artificially inflate the price of the shipping contracts Dunn steered to Monk’s companies. Monk and Dunn also engaged in creating false shipping contracts for shipments that did not exist, and thereafter awarding the contract and profits to one or more of Monk’s companies. Since no freight was actually being shipped pursuant to these false contracts, the USCG payments to Monk was all profit, resulting in Dunn also receiving a larger kickback from Monk. Over a two-year period, Monk paid out over $220,000 in bribe payments to Dunn. The total fraud loss to the United States based on these fraudulent military shipping contracts was over $1 million.
The military has recently implemented a number of internal changes to TransCom’s computer systems to enhance the integrity of the bidding and contracting process used by Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security Transportation Officers.
This investigation was brought as part of the Hampton Roads Procurement Fraud Initiative, a collaboration of defense investigative agencies, Inspectors General, and law enforcement dedicated to strengthening the integrity of the federal procurement system.This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office, with the cooperation and assistance of the Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen W. Haynie and V. Kathleen Dougherty are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.Adrien John Matuck Sentenced in U.S. District CourtRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 7, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ADRIEN JOHN MATUCK, a 26-year-old resident of Poplar and an enrolled member of the Hualapai Tribe in Arizona, appeared for sentencing. MATUCK was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: Life
- Special Assessment: $100.00
- Restitution: $6,677.00
- Supervised Release: 5 years
MATUCK was sentenced after a federal district court trial in which he was found guilty of first degree murder. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Kris A. McLean prosecuted the case for the United States.
At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.
During the evening of August 6, 2011, and into the early morning hours of August 7, 2011, in Poplar, MATUCK met up with a few other people, including R.B.,the victim.
At one party during the night, MATUCK, who is a former Marine, grabbed a man around the neck with his hands. MATUCK yelled he had killed a bunch of people while in the Marines while he lunged at this man.
Sometime around 4 a.m. on August 7, 2011, MATUCK, M.V., L.S., and J.W. went to J.W.'s car. The victim was passed out in the backseat of the car. M.V. told the victim to get up, and in response, the victim slapped M.V. MATUCK became angry and punched the victim.
Due to the commotion, J.W. stopped the car and MATUCK got out of the passenger seat. L.S., M.V., and the victim also got out of the car. The victim punched MATUCK a few times in the face. M.V. walked away from the car and would not come back. MATUCK's nose bled from the punches he received from the victim and he pulled off his shirt to wipe his face. He pointed his finger at the victim and said, "I'm going to get you." He further added, "I'm a Marine, I know how to kill."
J.W., L.S., MATUCK, and the victim got back into the car and drove to J.W.'s trailer. L.S. and J.W. fell asleep soon thereafter. The victim sat in a recliner chair and also fell asleep, which left MATUCK as the only person awake in the trailer.
Y.H. and her son, G.G., live down the alley from J.W.'s trailer house. They heard their dog barking around 7 a.m. that morning. Y.H. looked out the window and saw MATUCK walking west and cut across their yard. Y.H. told G.G. what she observed. G.G. looked out the window and observed MATUCK go to the house next door and pull a piece of a gray shirt from his right pocket. He placed this piece of shirt under a stone rain gutter. MATUCK then asked the next door neighbor for kool-aid when she looked outside. MATUCK continued to walk through the neighborhood and stopped by another house until he got into a fight and was told to leave sometime around 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, L.S. and J.W. began to wake up in J.W.'s trailer. MATUCK was not in the trailer when they both woke up. The victim was still in the recliner and looked like he was passed out. L.S. yelled at the victim to get up. The back door opened and MATUCK came inside. J.W. asked MATUCK where he had been and MATUCK replied, "I don't know, I was upstairs." L.S. and J.W. did not know what MATUCK meant by that statement because the trailer was only one story. MATUCK then laid down on a mattress positioned on the living room floor in front of the recliner where the victim sat. L.S. went over to the victim and grabbed his face. The victim felt cold to L.S.'s touch and she observed his tongue was sticking slightly out with saliva dripping from his mouth. J.W. checked for a pulse and did not feel anything and he called 911.
Medical personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Y.H. called the police when she learned MATUCK was a suspect in the victim's death. G.G. recovered the piece of shirt from beneath the rain gutter and Y.H. placed the evidence in a plastic bag. Investigators observed the piece of gray shirt was actually rolled into the shape of a ligature.
An autopsy revealed the victim died of a ligature strangulation. An instrument was
It appeared the ligature was tightened from behind, and pulled up and to the left of the victim's head. Petechial hemorrhages about the victim's eyes and lips indicated pressure was applied to the victim's neck for a period of at least 30 seconds.
The FBI laboratory analyzed a piece of fabric from the top rear of the recliner where the victim was found. MATUCK could not be excluded as a potential minor contributor of DNA to the fabric. The piece of shirt turned over by Y.H. was analyzed, as well. MATUCK and the victim could also not be excluded as potential contributors to of DNA to the fabric.
A carpet sample was taken from the floor behind the recliner. Yellow nylon carpet-type fibers that exhibited the same microscopic characteristics and optical properties as the fibers from this sample were found on MATUCK's shirt and shorts collected from him at the jail, as well as on fabric from the top of the recliner. These same fibers were also found on the shirt and plastic bag provided by Y.H.
The crime took place within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MATUCK will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MATUCK does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.
18th Street Gangmember Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Racketeering Offenses Related to Fatal Shooting of 23-Day-Old InfantRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A member of the 18th Street criminal street gang was sentenced today to life in federal prison for his conviction on racketeering offenses arising out of the September 2007 shooting of a street vendor near MacArthur Park that resulted in the murder of a 23-day-old infant.
Javier Perez, 35, received the life prison sentence from United States District Judge Dean D. Pregerson. There is no parole in the federal system.
Perez was one of four defendants – all of whom were members or associates of the Columbia Lil’ Cycos (CLCS) clique of the 18th Street gang – who were found guilty of federal racketeering offenses last May.
The three other defendants found guilty after last May’s trial are: Eduardo Hernandez, 35; Vladimir Iraheta, 31; and Leonidas Iraheta, 31. Judge Pregerson is scheduled to sentence those defendants on January 24 and 25.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the CLCS used violence and intimidation to control narcotics distribution in an area adjoining MacArthur Park in the Westlake District of Los Angeles. Under the orders of CLCS leadership, narcotics suppliers and street dealers paid “rent” – typically a percentage of proceeds from the sale of narcotics – in exchange for permission from the CLCS to sell narcotics in the gang’s territory. Those who paid rent received the exclusive authorization to sell narcotics in CLCS territory, as well as protection from rivals. Street vendors operating in CLCS Organization territory also were required to pay rent to the organization in order to be allowed to sell their wares near MacArthur Park. Evidence presented at trial showed that the CLCS Organization made tens of thousands of dollars a week through its collection of rent. The failure or refusal to pay rent and otherwise follow the gang’s rules would result in retribution, including acts of violence.
A street vendor who refused to make a $50 rent payment to the CLCS was targeted to be killed by members of the gang in a shooting on September 15, 2007. The man survived despite being shot four times, but a 23-day-old infant sleeping in a stroller next to the vendor was struck and killed.
Shortly after the failed attempt to murder the vendor and the resulting death of the child, CLCS Organization leaders ordered the kidnaping and murder of the shooter in order to make amends with the Mexican Mafia. The shooter was thereafter taken to Mexico by Javier Perez – who had been released from prison only 10 days before – and other CLCS gangsters, under the false pretense that the shooter would hide out from the police there. Once in Mexico, the shooter was driven to a remote area where he was strangled and his lifeless body was thrown over a cliff. Unbeknownst to the would-be killers, the shooter survived the attempt on his life. The CLCS associate who assisted Perez in strangling the shooter was convicted in state court and sentenced to life without parole.
The four convicted at trial were among 43 members and associates of the CLCS Organization who were charged in a 2009 federal racketeering indictment that alleged acts of violence, narcotics distribution, money laundering and various violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR). The charged defendants included local criminal defense attorney Isaac Guillen, who laundered more than $1.3 million in drug and extortion proceeds on behalf of the CLCS Organization and Mexican Mafia member Francisco "Puppet" Martinez. Guillen is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Pregerson tomorrow.
Thirty-seven of the defendants named in the indictment have been convicted in either federal or state court. The remaining six defendants are fugitives.
The CLCS racketeering case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Release No. 13-004
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Woman Pleads Guilty to Failure to File Federal Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A woman who failed to file a federal tax return for tax years 2005 through 2008 pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City.
Elaine Ubben, from Stratford, Iowa, was convicted of one count of willfully failing to file a tax return for tax year 2008.
In a plea agreement, Ubben admitted that she worked for Stratford Mutual Telephone Company and served as the bookkeeper for her husband’s business from 2005 through 2009. Ubben further admitted that she and her husband were required to file a tax return for each tax year between 2005 and 2008 because of the income the couple made from her job and her husband’s business. Ubben admitted she was responsible for filing tax returns for the couple and she knew she was required to file a return for each year, but she willfully and intentionally failed to do so. For the years 2005 to 2008, the Ubbens owed over $120,000 in federal income taxes.
“IRS Criminal Investigation directs its efforts at the portion of American taxpayers who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty to voluntarily file income tax returns. The term voluntary compliance means that each of us is responsible for filing a tax return when required and for determining and paying the correct amount of tax,” said Tanya Brewer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.
Sentencing before United States Magistrate Judge Leonard Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ubben faces a possible maximum sentence of one year imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a $25 special assessment, and one year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 12-3056.
Williamsburg Men Sentenced for Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Patrick Dubois, 57, and Glenn Dubois, 36, of Williamsburg, Va., were sentenced Monday. Patrick Dubois received 152months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and Glenn Dubois received 192 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On December 15, 2011, search warrants were executed at five locations in James City and York counties which located significant evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing. Glenn and Patrick Dubois admitted to buying pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and in fact manufactured methamphetamine over the course of 2011.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Both Glenn and Patrick Dubois pleaded guilty on May 3, 2012, to possessing precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamines.According to court documents, a total of nine individuals were involved in the manufacturing of methamphetamine over five different properties in Williamsburg and York County. They went together to purchase pseudoephedrine at multiple locations over an extended period.
The following individuals involved previously pled guilty:
- David Black, 56, scheduled for sentencing on 2/1/13;
- Richard Savage, 65, sentenced to 70 months;
- Mitchell Jacobs, 56, scheduled for sentencing on 1/28/13
- Lori Dennis, 31, sentenced to 66 months;
- Amy Savage, 44, sentenced to 70 months;
- Sheri Black, 56, scheduled for sentencing on 2/1/13;
- Heidi McMahon, 48, scheduled for sentencing on 2/27/13.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
This case was investigated by the Drug enforcement Administration and the Virginia State Police Tri-Rivers Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Two Charged with Violating Federal Gun LawsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Ridgway, Pa., and a resident of Johnsonburg, Pa., have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The five-count indictment named Francis Anthony Milliard, 55, and David Allen Blashaw, 55, as defendants.
According to the indictment, Milliard and Blashaw entered into a conspiracy for Milliard to possess firearms while being a convicted felon and Blashaw aided Milliard in the crime by storing and providing firearms to Milliard. Blashaw is charged with providing firearms to a convicted felon and possession of firearms by a drug user.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both for each defendant. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.
Twenty Year Prison Sentence for Moskop AffirmedRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on January 8, 2013, the sentence of former Belleville resident Edward Lynn Moskop, 64, was affirmed by a panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Moskop had plead guilty to mail fraud and money laundering after it was discovered that he had run a Ponzi scheme for decades, during which he stole more than $1.4 million dollars (net) from twenty-six victims. The Seventh Circuit found that: “. . . Moskop was running a Ponzi scheme and converted more than $2.4 million from clients who believed he was investing their money in securities. Moskop advertised fictitious investment products and deceived his clients about the status of their money by creating false investment receipts and tax statements. He also continued to sell insurance policies, but often pocketed his clients’ premium payments instead of sending them to the carriers. When Moskop could not dissuade clients who wanted to liquidate their investment accounts, he made “lulling” payments drawn from funds provided by other clients; those outgoing payments totaled almost $1 million, leaving Moskop with roughly $1.4 million.”
The case was argued, personally, by United States Attorney Wigginton at sentencing in the District Court and before the Seventh Circuit, which, in its opinion, noted, “. . . the government’s arguments in aggravation, rather than parroting upward adjustments in the guidelines, focused on three grounds that the Sentencing Commission has encouraged district courts to consider when evaluating the adequacy of a within range prison term.”
“I will continue to pursue every avenue in my ongoing fight to get as much restitution for these victims as is possible,” noted United States Attorney Wigginton. “Through his thievery, Mr. Moskop imposed a financial death penalty on his victims. By law, I will try to get every penny that I can back to these innocent victims.”
The investigation of the scheme was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State of Illinois Securities Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement. The criminal case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Wigginton and Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine L. Lewis and Michael J. Quinley.
People who believe they have been a victim of securities fraud should contact the Illinois Securities Department at 1-800-628-7937. If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax laws, you may report this activity by contacting the local Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation office at (618) 622-2160, or by mailing information to: Internal Revenue Service, Fresno, CA 93888.
Three Indicted in Connection with Odessa-based Firearms Straw Purchasing and Trafficking InvestigationRead the Press Release
Federal authorities last night arrested the remaining defendant, Odessa, TX, resident Brian Connell, age 28, charged in connection with a firearms straw purchasing and trafficking investigation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion.
Connell, who was arrested in Roswell, NM, as well as former Odessa residents Miguel Angel Compean, age 32, and his wife, Michelle Compean, age 27, are charged in a ten-count federal grand jury indictment returned last month with conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Miguel Compean is charged with four counts of providing fraudulent or fictitious information while purchasing a firearm, one count of making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm (straw purchasing) and, two counts of aggravated identity theft; Connell, two counts of making false statements in the acquisition of a firearm (straw purchasing); and Michelle Compean, one count of providing fraudulent or fictitious information while purchasing a firearm.
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to surreptitiously purchase approximately 100 firearms, including AK-47 style rifles and pistols, from various firearms dealers in Odessa, Fort Worth, Dallas, Brenham and Mesquite, TX, in order to smuggle them from the United States into Mexico during a 13-month period beginning in December 2011. The indictment alleges that Miguel Compean recruited his wife, Michelle, and Brian Connell to purchase firearms on his behalf. The indictment also alleges that Miguel Compean illegally purchased firearms for himself by using a relative’s name, date of birth and social security number; and, that Michelle Compean and Brian Connell both made false statements on ATF Form 4473 at the time of a firearm purchase claiming to be the actual buyer. Furthermore, Miguel Compean allegedly paid Connell $300 for each firearm that Connell straw purchased and gave to Compean.
Connell remains in federal custody awaiting transfer to the Midland Division of the Western District of Texas. Beginning at 9:00am tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Counts in Midland, Miguel Compean, who has been in state custody on unrelated charges, is scheduled to have his arraignment/detention hearing; Michelle Compean, who was arrested last month in Greenville, is scheduled to have her initial appearance/arraignment. No trial date has been scheduled.
Upon conviction, defendants face up to five years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge; up to five years in federal prison for each charge of providing false information while purchasing a firearm; up to ten years in federal prison for each charge of making false statement during a firearms purchase (straw purchasing); and, a consecutive two years in federal prison for each charge of aggravated identity theft.
This case was investigated by ATF agents. Assistant United States Attorney Will Tatum is prosecuting this
case on behalf of the Government.An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Three Convicted for Unlawful Manufacturing of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men and one woman, all of Corpus Christi, have entered guilty pleas to charges relating to their unlawful manufacture of AK-47 type firearms, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
Michael Yarbrough, 22, Ashley Yarbrough aka Ashley Phillips, 24, and Stephen Atkinson, 29, were indicted in July 25, 2012, and arrested shortly thereafter. Set for trial next week, Michael and Ashley Yarbrough entered their guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos just a short time ago. Atkinson previously entered a plea of guilty in September 2012.
Michael Yarbrough and Atkinson were convicted of one count of unlawful manufacturing of firearms between Jan. 1, 2011, and July 2012. Michael Yarbrough also pleaded guilty to one count of transferring firearms knowing that a felony was to be committed. Ashley Yarbrough entered a plea of guilty to one count of making a materially false statement to federal agents regarding the gun activity going on at her residence.
This investigation began on Aug. 15, 2011, with the discovery of an AK-47 manufacturing business at a residence during the execution of an arrest warrant by United States Marshals in Corpus Christi. At that time, deputies encountered several individuals employed by Michael Yarbrough at a Corpus Christi residence. After agents obtained a search warrant, several fully assembled AK-47 firearms were seized along with multiple handguns, gun parts and firearms in various stages of completion. Agents also discovered duffle bags full of fully assembled AK-47 firearms, ammunition magazines and bandoliers. None of the seized firearms had serial numbers and none of the individuals present has a Federal Firearms License.
Agents have also uncovered a great deal of information regarding Michael Yarbrough and the people he employed to build AK-47 firearms for him. Agents discovered Michael Yarbrough sold fully assembled AK-47 firearms with no serial numbers in McAllen, at least 11 of which have been traced in Mexico by the unique tool markings on the firearms and other unique identifiers.
Michael Yarbrough faces up to 10 years imprisonment for transferring the firearm knowing that a felony was to be committed and five years on the manufacturing conviction. Atkinson and Ashley Yarbrough each face a potential penalty of up to five years imprisonment. Sentencing is set for April 3, 2013. Michael and Ashley Yarbrough have both agreed the forfeiture of 74 firearms, which are also the subject of a civil lawsuit pending in the Southern District of Texas.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation leading to the criminal charges was conducted in Corpus Christi lead by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Corpus Christi Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, the Nueces County Probation Department and the United States Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie K. Hampton.
Tax Fraud - Carr SentencedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jack Ray Carr of Baton Rouge, La., was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in federal prison for one count of corruptly interfering with the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws, four counts of filing false income tax returns, and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return, the Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) announced. Additionally, Carr was sentenced to one year of supervised release.
On June 20, 2012, following a three-day jury trial in the Middle District of Louisiana, Carr was convicted on all six counts. The evidence at trial established that Carr, a home inspector, threatened violence against a federal agent, filed false documents and tax returns with the IRS, and attempted to pay his tax debt with fraudulent bonds, fictitious money orders, and a fake check. On three successive personal income tax returns, Carr falsely reported that his and his wife’s income was “$0.00,” despite earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in total during the 2001, 2002, and 2003 tax years. In 2009, on two tax returns, Carr falsely reported more than $100,000 of federal income tax withholdings based on fictitious IRS Forms 1099-OID attached to the tax returns that Carr filed in his own name and in the name of his wife. In doing so, Carr claimed more than $150,000 of fraudulent tax refunds from the U.S. government.
Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, thanked the special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation and TIGTA, who investigated this case. Assistant Attorney General Keneally also thanked Tax Division Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand and Jason Poole who prosecuted this case.
Tammy Dickinson Sworn in as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Dickinson was nominated by President Obama in July 2012 and confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 1, 2013. She took the oath of office late yesterday from U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, the former U.S. Attorney.
“I’m honored to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri,” said Dickinson. “I would like to thank President Obama, Congress, and especially Senators McCaskill and Blunt for their support.
“As a career state prosecutor, I look forward to working with my colleagues and law enforcement partners at the federal level,” Dickinson said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has earned the respect of our community and a reputation for pursuing justice and enforcing the law without prejudice. I will strive to uphold that proud tradition.”
As U.S. Attorney, Dickinson is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Western District of Missouri, which includes Kansas City, St. Joseph, Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield. She oversees a staff of 127 employees, including 64 attorneys and 63 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Dickinson, a Kansas City, Mo., native, has been a trial attorney her entire legal career. She has been the Chief Trial Assistant for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office since 2002 after working as an assistant prosecutor in that office beginning in 1998.
Dickinson received her J.D. in 1998 from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law and her B.A. in 1989 from Webster University. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.Statement of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on the Sentencing of Former Bronx City Councilman Larry SeabrookRead the Press Release
“Councilman Larry Seabrook sacrificed the public trust on the altar of greed. He was a flagrant and serial abuser of City Council discretionary funds in a far too familiar New York tale of corruption. Today’s sentence finally vindicates the interests of the constituents whose trust he so casually violated by his fraud. We remain committed to making those who are corrupted by power pay the price, and the public can expect more arrests of politicians who have not learned this lesson.”
Spokane Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison and Paid $75,000 to the U.S. Marhsal Service for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Spokane - Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of
Washington, announced that William Roberts, age 64, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced
today after having previously pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography. United
States District Court Judge Rosanna Peterson sentenced Roberts to a 5 year term of
imprisonment to be followed by a life term of court supervision after he is released from Federal
prison. In addition, Roberts paid $75,000 to the United States Marshal's Service in lieu of
forfeiting his residence.According to information disclosed during the court proceedings, in February of 2011,
an FBI Internet undercover investigation discovered that Roberts was sharing images of child
pornography with other individuals, via the Internet, using a peer to peer file sharing program.
On April 6, 2011, FBI Special Agents executed a federal search warrant at Robert's residence in
Spokane, Washington. The FBI agents discovered that Roberts had downloaded child
pornography beginning as early as September of 2003. Although Roberts had installed file
wiping software on his computer, the FBI was able to forensically find in excess of 600 images
of child pornography on the computer. The images included depictions of minors under the age
of twelve and of sadistic and masochist activity. Roberts had transported the images via the
Internet and utilized his residence to facilitate the crime.Michael C. Ormsby stated, "Prosecuting child pornography crimes is particularly
important for the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Washington. The
public should understand that my Office and FBI are committed to investigating and
prosecuting aggressively child pornography crimes in this District. Indeed, in addition to jail
time, the appropriate punishment in child pornography crimes may include, as it did in this case,
a significant monetary payment in lieu of forfeiture of a defendant's residence. "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. The Project Safe Childhood (PSC) Initiative has five major components:
- Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue child victims;
- Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
- Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
- Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and
- Community awareness and educational programs.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For
information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."This investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Stephanie J.
Lister, an Assistant United States Attorney and PSC Coordinator for the Eastern District of
Washington.CR-11-00174-RMP
Southern Illinois Resident Sentenced for Federal Unemployment Insurance Program FraudRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Herman Peterson, 58, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced on January 3, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Division, for defrauding the unemployment insurance program. The District Court sentenced Peterson to 30 days in jail to be followed by a 3 year term of supervised release. Peterson will spend the first 6 months of his supervision on home confinement with electronic monitoring, as well. Peterson also was ordered to repay $15,700 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and to pay a $100 special assessment.
“Lying and cheating to receive unemployment compensation is a crime,” said United States Attorney Wigginton. “Those who defraud the unemployment insurance program undermine support for an important public program and hurt and insult every law-abiding citizen of Southern Illinois, particularly as public programs face economic crises. I will continue to place a high priority on pursuing those who steal from the United States Treasury.”
At the time of his guilty plea, Peterson admitted to being employed between November, 2008, and January 2010, while also filing for and receiving unemployment insurance benefits. In order to receive the benefits, Peterson admitted that he had to certify, approximately every two weeks, to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) that he was ready, willing, and able to work. He also had to verify that he was actively seeking work. Peterson was supposed to inform IDES of any income he received during the certification period, however, but he did not report that he was working and did not report the income he earned to IDES, instead choosing to collect both wages and benefits simultaneously.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Katherine L. Lewis.
Southern Illinois Resident Sentenced for Federal Unemployment Insurance Program FraudRead the Press Release
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Ontonio Jennings, 37, formerly of Granite City, Illinois, was sentenced on January 4, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois for defrauding the unemployment insurance program. The District Court sentenced Jennings to 10 months in jail to be followed by a 2 year term of supervised release. Jennings was also was ordered to repay $5,796 in restitution (this figure represents the amount of restitution outstanding after other restitution payments were considered) to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and to pay a $100 special assessment.
“Lying and cheating to receive unemployment compensation is a crime,” said United States Attorney Wigginton. “Those who defraud the unemployment insurance program undermine support for an important public program and hurt and insult every law-abiding citizen of Southern Illinois, particularly as public programs face economic crises. I will continue to place a high priority on pursuing those who steal from the United States Treasury.”
At the time of his guilty plea, Jennings admitted to being employed at various times between December 2008 and May 2010 while also filing for and receiving unemployment insurance benefits. In order to receive the benefits, Jennings had to certify, approximately every two weeks, to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) that he was ready, willing, and able to work. He had to verify that he was actively seeking work. Jennings was supposed to inform IDES of any income he received during the certification period, but he did not report that he was working and did not report the income he earned to IDES, instead choosing to collect both wages and benefits simultaneously. In total, Jennings received $24,337 in unemployment insurance payments to which he was not entitled. Additionally, Jennings was on supervised release for an unrelated matter while committing this crime. This led to the revocation of his supervised release in August 2012, and he was sentenced to an additional year and a day in prison for the violation. Jennings’ term of imprisonment in this case will not begin until after he has served his sentence for the supervised release violation.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Katherine L. Lewis.
South Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Failing to Disclose Income from Swiss Bank Accounts and Agrees to $21 Million PenaltyRead the Press Release
Mary Estelle Curran of Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to filing false tax returns for tax years 2006 and 2007, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced.
According to court documents, Curran, a U.S. citizen, maintained undeclared bank accounts at UBS AG in Switzerland and a bank in Liechtenstein, which she inherited from her husband in 2000. The accounts at UBS AG were held in the names of nominee foreign entities, including the Flognet Foundation and Norega Investment. The account earned income each year, which Curran failed to report on her 2001 through 2007 individual income tax returns.
According to the plea agreement, Curran’s conduct caused a tax loss to the government of approximately $667,716. The value of all undeclared foreign financial accounts owned or controlled by Curran exceeded $42 million in 2007. In order to resolve her civil liability for failure to report her foreign bank accounts, Curran has agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of 50 percent of the high balance of the accounts, which is $21,666,929.
“The Justice Department continues to pursue those who hide income and assets from the IRS through the use of nominee businesses and offshore bank accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General Keneally. “U.S. taxpayers who fail to come forward in the voluntary disclosure program risk prosecution and substantial fines, as this case demonstrates.”
“U.S. citizens who seek to avoid their tax obligations by hiding income in undeclared bank accounts abroad should by now be fully on notice that they will be held accountable for their actions, both civilly and criminally,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo A. Ferrer. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to helping the IRS enforce our nation’s tax laws.”
“Offshore accounts can no longer be used to hide from the IRS and avoid paying the fair amount of tax,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation is aggressively pursuing tax cheats – both domestically and internationally. We owe it to every American taxpayer to use all lawful means to identify and prosecute both those who evade their taxes and those who assist them in evading their tax obligations.”
Curran faces a potential maximum prison term of six years. A sentencing date has not been set.
Assistant Attorney General Keneally and U.S. Attorney Ferrer thanked Special Agents of IRS - CI, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Senior Litigation Counsel Mark F. Daly and Trial Attorney Michelle M. Petersen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Lanigan, who prosecuted the case.
South Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Failing to Disclose Income from Swiss Bank Accounts and Agrees to $21 Million PenaltyRead the Press Release
Mary Estelle Curran of Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to filing false tax returns for tax years 2006 and 2007, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced.
According to court documents, Curran, a U.S. citizen, maintained undeclared bank accounts at UBS AG in Switzerland and a bank in Liechtenstein, which she inherited from her husband in 2000. The accounts at UBS AG were held in the names of nominee foreign entities, including the Flognet Foundation and Norega Investment. The account earned income each year, which Curran failed to report on her 2001 through 2007 individual income tax returns.
According to the plea agreement, Curran’s conduct caused a tax loss to the government of approximately $667,716. The value of all undeclared foreign financial accounts owned or controlled by Curran exceeded $42 million in 2007. In order to resolve her civil liability for failure to report her foreign bank accounts, Curran has agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of 50 percent of the high balance of the accounts, which is $21,666,929.
“U.S. citizens who seek to avoid their tax obligations by hiding income in undeclared bank accounts abroad should by now be fully on notice that they will be held accountable for their actions, both civilly and criminally,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo A. Ferrer. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to helping the IRS enforce our nation’s tax laws.”
“The Justice Department continues to pursue those who hide income and assets from the IRS through the use of nominee businesses and offshore bank accounts,” said Assistant Attorney General Keneally. “U.S. taxpayers who fail to come forward in the voluntary disclosure program risk prosecution and substantial fines, as this case demonstrates.”
“Offshore accounts can no longer be used to hide from the IRS and avoid paying the fair amount of tax,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation is aggressively pursuing tax cheats – both domestically and internationally. We owe it to every American taxpayer to use all lawful means to identify and prosecute both those who evade their taxes and those who assist them in evading their tax obligations.”
Curran faces a potential maximum prison term of six years. A sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. Attorney Ferrer and Assistant Attorney General Keneally thanked Special Agents of IRS - CI, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Senior Litigation Counsel Mark F. Daly and Trial Attorney Michelle M. Petersen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Lanigan, who prosecuted the case.
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.
Sentencing of Two eBay RICO DefendantsRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL-- United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown announced that Kevin Demps, a Detroit, Michigan resident, and Andrew Valentino Wilson, an Atlanta, Georgia area resident, were sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge William Steele for a conspiracy to commit a RICO violation. Demps received a sentence of 50 months and Wilson received a sentence of 21 months. Both were ordered to pay restitution.
Demps and Wilson previously entered guilty pleas to the conspiracy charge and admitted their involvement in stealing electronics from retail stores. Both admitted some of the stolen electronics were subsequently sold on eBay.
The cases arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service and were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah Griffin.
Robstown Career Offender Heads to Federal Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Rene Olivarez, 45, of Robstown, has been sentenced as a career offender for more than 15 years for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Kingsville, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Olivarez pleaded guilty Sept. 6, 2012.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Olivarez a 188-month sentence followed by five years of supervised release. Co-defendant Daniel Cano, 32, of Kingsville, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced federal prison for 57 months.
Authorities became aware of the activities of Olivarez and Cano when members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Unit discovered 2.92 kilograms of cocaine, $37,521 and 164 live marijuana plants in Cano’s Kingsville residence while executing a fugitive arrest warrant on Jan. 24, 2012.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted that the career offender sentencing enhancement and the nearly 16-year sentence was appropriate based on the repetitive nature of Olivarez’s three prior drug trafficking offenses (which spanned approximately 20 years) and promotes respect for the law. Olivarez has been in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Preston.
Pine Ridge Man Guilty of Sexually Abusing A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Benjamin Leonard, age 57, of Pine Ridge, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 21, 2012, and pled guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The Magistrate Judge is expected to recommend Leonard’s plea be accepted by the District Court. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.
Between June and August 2010, near Pine Ridge, Leonard engaged in a sexual act with a child under the age of 16. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 2, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending acceptance of this plea and sentencing.
Petersburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a Petersburg resident was sentenced in federal court in Juneau to 12 years in federal prison for the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
On January 7, 2015, Tye Leif Petersen, 46, a resident of Petersburg, Alaska, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess. Upon completion of his prison term, Petersen must complete a 25 year term of supervised release.
Petersen was sentenced to 144 months (12 years) in prison for a count of distribution, receipt, and possession of sexual explicit images and videos of children. Many of images were of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The sentences are to run concurrently.
According to Assistant U. S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, Petersen, who had no criminal record, worked as the Director of Maintenance for the Petersburg School District. Petersen had distributed, received, and possessed over 2,000 images and 39 videos that included children under the age of twelve and material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct. Petersen, in his position as Director of Maintenance, surreptitiously took pictures of children at the local high school and in the community of Petersburg. Petersen also obtained additional images from electronic media in the school’s lost and found, and on school-issued computers where Petersen recovered images using a software recovery program to obtain deleted images from the computers. Petersen then used those images to trade for child pornography on a Russian website that is solely used for the distribution and receipt of child pornography.
In ordering Petersen’s sentence, Judge Burgess noted the seriousness of the underlying offense and that Petersen’s actions were a “betrayal of trust” and “a level of betrayal and breach of trust that goes beyond what happens in most cases.” Judge Burgess further stated that the images the defendant took and used to trade for child pornography are “out there on the internet, forever.” Judge Burgess further noted the need to deter the defendant and others, the need to protect the public from the defendant, and the need to provide treatment for the defendant as reasons for the sentence imposed.
Ms. Loeffler commends the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Petersburg Police Department joint investigation of this case.
This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing Project Safe Childhood (PSC) initiative which was launched to increase federal prosecutions of sexual predators of children, and to reduce the number of Internet crimes against children including child pornography trafficking. As a part of PSC, the United States Attorney’s Office has teamed with state and local agencies and organizations to increase law enforcement presence on the Internet, and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators. For additional information on the PSC initiative, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.Pair Charged in A $1 Million I.D. Theft and False Income Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Fred Alverson
Public Affairs OfficerCOLUMBUS, OHIO -- A federal grand jury here has indicted Jose Luis Martinez, 46, of Columbus, Ohio, and Mercedes Emelinda-Silie, 40, of Grove City, Ohio charging them both with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States government by obtaining and negotiating U.S. Treasury checks representing purported tax refunds; 39 counts of converting U.S. monies to their own use; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses; one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business; and eight counts of identity theft.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Darryl Williams, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; and Dugan T. Wong, Assistant Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced the indictment that was returned today.
The indictment alleges that between February 2010 and December 2012, Martinez and Emelinda-Silie conspired together and with others primarily in New York state to illegally use their business checking accounts here in Columbus in order to cash fraudulently procured IRS income tax refund checks. The indictment charges that fraudulent tax returns were filed with the IRS seeking refunds in the names of persons living in Puerto Rico whose identities had been stolen. The IRS mailed the fraudulently obtained refund checks to addresses typically in the Bronx and other New York sites where they were stolen from the mail. In addition, the endorsements on the false refund checks allegedly were forged.
Martinez and Emelinda-Silie allegedly cashed at least $638,730.81 in fraudulent income tax refund checks through their San Isidro Cargo business account, and another $125,506.88 in purported income tax refund checks through Grini’s Salon business checking account.
Martinez and Emelinda-Silie allegedly provided check-cashing services even though neither of them, nor their business, was licensed in Ohio to operate as a check-cashing facility.
In addition, the indictment charges that between June 2010 and February 2011 Martinez and Emelinda-Silie converted 39 specific IRS tax refund checks totaling approximately $245,661.80 that the IRS had mailed to addresses primarily in New York.
The indictment further alleges that between June 2010 and November 2011 Martinez and Emelinda-Silie knowingly used stolen identities of eight individuals in relation to their conversions of government funds.
Conspiracy to cash bogus IRS refund checks refunds is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each conversion of government money as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each identity theft is punishable by a two-year term of imprisonment in addition to any other prison terms that may be imposed in this case.
The defendants will be summoned to appear before Judge Gregory L. Frost for arraignment.
“Identity theft is a despicable crime that victimizes honest taxpayers and causes immense hardship,” said Darryl Williams, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation has made investigating refund fraud and identity theft a top priority.”
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Brown is representing the United States in this case that is being investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Northview Heights Felon Gets 10 Years for Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch imposed the sentence on Gregory Izear Corbin a/k/a G-World, 32.
According to certified court records, the defendant was previously convicted of firearm, drug-dealing, terroristic threats, escape and theft-type charges. On Oct. 28, 2010, Pittsburgh Police observed an individual named Coley Davis drinking from an open container of alcohol in public, in violation of a city ordinance. Defendant Anthony White was with Davis and was observed shoving his hands into his sweatshirt where an unnatural bulge was located. Police asked White to remove his hands and saw him to be in possession of a (stolen) gun. Corbin was also present and had a large object in his sweatshirt. A pat-down revealed it to be the pistol listed in the Indictment, loaded with ammunition. White was sentenced to 46 months federal imprisonment on Sept. 6, 2012.
On July 17, 2011, witnesses stated that Corbin was observed breaking into a vehicle. When confronted by the victim, who was on crutches, Corbin allegedly used a silver 9mm semi-automatic pistol to rob, shoot and pistol whip his victim and then fled the scene on foot while shooting at others. The assault and robbery charges from that incident are scheduled for trial before Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos on March 11, 2013. On July 21, 2011, Corbin was located in a residence and arrested. The two silver pistols and ammunition listed in the Indictment were located in that residence. They included a bloody 9mm pistol found with his belongings and a disassembled .22 pistol. After the .22 was assembled from just the parts present, it and the 9mm were both found to be operable. The 9mm was used in five additional shootings between Feb. 15, 2011 and June 18, 2011.
In essence, the lab identified the blood on the 9mm as Corbin's, since the probability of randomly selecting an unrelated individual exhibiting a DNA profile common to the bloodstain on the pistol and Corbin's DNA sample is approximately 1 in 157 X 10 to the 15th power. This number is more than all of the people who have ever been on the planet combined.
ATF experts determined that the three firearms are not antique, that the ammunition and firearms were not manufactured in Pennsylvania and that all of them affected interstate and/or foreign commerce.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bloch considered the seriousness of the offenses and the defendant's extensive criminal background.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Corbin.
Newark Man Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of A Semiautomatic PistolRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man with prior felony convictions was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a semiautomatic pistol, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Clarence Noel, 50, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to an Information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Walls imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
On Sept. 24, 2011, Noel knowingly possessed a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special, model CS45, in Newark. Noel was found with the pistol after previous felony convictions.In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Noel to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Donald J. Soranno, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Newark Police Department, the N.J. State Police and the acting Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, for their important roles in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lorraine S. Gerson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Peter Carter Esq., Federal Public Defender’s Office, Newark