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28 January 2013
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Douglas Todd Campbell, Jr., 33, of Meridian, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
According to court documents and Campbell’s admission in court, on January 10, 2012, Campbell, then being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a Springfield .45 firearm and five rounds of .45 ammunition.
The charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and at least three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for April 22, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.
Man Pleads Guilty to Inmate Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Michael William Joseph, III, 53, formerly an inmate at Apalachee Correctional Institution in Sneads, has entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Richard Smaok to forty-one (41) counts of the indictment returned against him in July of last year. The guilty plea was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Joseph pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, twenty-four counts of filing false claims against the government and fifteen counts of theft from the government. As a part of his plea, Joseph admitted to conspiring to file false claims for refunds against the government in the names of inmates incarcerated in Florida Department of Corrections from February 7, 2008 through July 10, 2012. The majority of the false refunds issued as a result of the scheme were directed to a bank account under the control of Michael Joseph or were sent in checks to the residence of Joseph’s mother to be later cashed.
Joseph is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Smoak on March 20, 2013 and faces the following maximum prison sentences: ten years in prison for Count One; five years in prison on each count for Counts Two through Twenty-eight; twenty years in prison for Count Twenty-nine, and ten years in prison on each violation alleged in Counts Thirty through Forty-six.
This prosecution resulted from the collaborative investigative efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida, and the Florida Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.Man from Liberal Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A man from Liberal, Kan., has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. In addition, he was ordered to $188,097 in restitution and fined $20,000.
Sule Braimah, 52, Liberal, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. In his plea, he admitted that in April 2008 he filed a joint tax return falsely reporting that in 2007 he and his wife had a taxable income of $631,166. In fact, he failed to report another $185,229 in income.
Grissom commended IRS Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
Magic Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
BOISE – Christopher Brandon Craner, 32, of Buhl, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of bankruptcy fraud-asset concealment, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Craner was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 8, 2012.
According to the plea agreement, on March 24, 2009, Craner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Simultaneously with the bankruptcy petition, Craner filed a schedule of assets. According to the plea agreement, Craner admitted that between March 24 and May 4, 2009, he knowingly and fraudulently concealed from creditors and the bankruptcy trustee, his interest in a “Ranger Boat Certificate,” which had been awarded to him on March 14, 2009.
Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and at least three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for April 22, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.
The case was investigated by United States Trustee’s Office.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud in Connection with Sovereign Citizen Lien Scheme; Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – Robert Clifton Tanner, age 45, of Mansura, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to mail fraud Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in connection with a scheme to use the mail to assert false claims of indebtedness totalling billions of dollars against judges and others. U.S. District Judge David Sam imposed a 30-month sentence following the guilty plea.
Tanner and Maria Melody Fuentes Cecil Mobo, age 42, of Spanish Fork, Utah, were indicted in August on four counts of mail fraud. The charges alleged they filed or attempted to file liens and claims against judges, attorneys, and others in Utah by mailing documents and filing fictitious judgments and liens that were intended to create an appearance of indebtedness for the judges, attorneys, and others.
As a part of his plea agreement, Tanner admitted that on April 23, 2012, he used the U.S. Postal Service to send a fraudulent document to Utah County as a part of his fraud scheme. The indictment identified the title of the document as a “Petition for Agreement and Harmony in the Nature of a Notice of International Commercial Claim Administrative Remedy.” He admitted that the mailed documents were designed to support false and fraudulent claims which were filed with the Utah County Clerk’s Office.
Federal prosecutors said other state and federal jurisdictions in Louisiana and Utah had agreed to forego additional charges against Tanner as a part of the plea agreement and 30-month sentence.
Mobo faces a Feb. 25, 2013, trial date on four counts of mail fraud.
Local Attorney Pleads Gulty to Federal Fraud ChagesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Stephen B. Evans pled guilty to mail and wire fraud charges involving his failure to pay clients and expenses, and instead keeping client insurance money for himself.
According to court documents, between 2007 and 2012, Evans was a local attorney with a general practice, including the representation of people who were injured or had claims based on contract or negligence where he would enter into a contingent fee arrangement. Mr. Evans would receive a certain percentage of any successful settlement. When he prevailed on behalf of his clients, the insurance company would typically mail a check to Evans at his law firm address, Evans Partnership in St. Louis, payable to Evans and his client, which was deposited into Evans' bank account. On many occasions, he kept funds payable to his client and his client's expenses. The amount of money that Evans defrauded his clients is between $70,000 and $120,000.
STEPHEN B. EVANS, St. Louis County, pled guilty to one felony count each of mail and wire fraud before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. Sentencing has been set for April 26, 2013.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Larry Eugene Green, Jr. 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 25, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, LARRY EUGENE GREEN, JR., a 26-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. GREEN was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 150 months
Special Assessment: $300
Restitution: $13,419.82
Supervised Release: 5 years
GREEN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault on a federal officer, conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and distribute, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On June 5, 2012, members of the United States Marshals Montana Violent Offenders Task Force were in the process of executing an arrest of GREEN with a valid arrest warrant, when GREEN was seen driving a silver Chevrolet Malibu. GREEN attempted to run away as members of the Task Force attempted to box in his car to execute the arrest. GREEN accelerated his car and struck a Deputy United States Marshal's government vehicle, a black Dodge Charger, in the area around the driver's side door, while a Deputy United States Marshal was operating the vehicle. GREEN struck the vehicle in an attempt to inflict harm to stop his apprehension by law enforcement.
GREEN exited the vehicle on foot and members of the Task Force engaged in a foot pursuit. GREEN was apprehended following the foot pursuit and arrested. A firearm was recovered in the floorboard area of GREEN's vehicle on the driver's side. Approximately eleven (11) grams of suspected methamphetamine was recovered on GREEN's person.
A search warrant for GREEN's vehicle was applied for and executed by law enforcement. The search yielded approximately 370 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 156 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and approximately 5 grams of suspected marijuana, and 19 suspected ecstasy tablets. The suspected methamphetamine and suspected cocaine tested positive for the listed compounds using a presumptive field test. A second firearm was also located in the vehicle.
Following the assault on the Deputy U.S. Marshal and the search of GREEN's car, law enforcement discovered that GREEN was part of a larger methamphetamine distribution organization in Yellowstone County. The investigation uncovered that from January 2010 to June 2012, GREEN conspired with others to receive and distribute over 500 grams of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in Yellowstone County.
Additionally, law enforcement learned that during the course of his involvement in the methamphetamine conspiracy GREEN carried a firearm for personal protection and the protection of his drugs, specifically a Phoenix Arms, .22 cal. semi-automatic.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that GREEN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, GREEN 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 conducted by the United States Marshals Montana Violent Offenders Task Force and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Kanawha County man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal possession of a firearm. Scott Allen Perry, 42, of South Charleston, Kanawha County, W.Va., was charged in a one-count indictment in October 2012. Perry admitted that on July 2, 2012, he possessed a shotgun that contained a barrel of less than 18 inches and an overall length less than 26 inches that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Perry faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on April 25, 2013 by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
The investigation was conducted by the South Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is also being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
Justice Department Sues to Permanently Enjoin Florida Tax Return PreparerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed suit today asking the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to permanently bar Torrey Burden from preparing federal tax returns for others. The civil injunction suit alleges that Burden prepares returns through A&L Financial Solutions in St. Petersburg, Fla.
According to the complaint, Burden prepares tax returns using false information in order to reduce his customers’ tax liabilities. Specifically, the government alleges that Burden claims false or overstated deductions and claims tax credits that his customers were not eligible to claim. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has examined 80 returns prepared by Burden and found that 92.5 percent resulted in additional taxes owed. As alleged in the complaint, the IRS projects that the tax loss from the returns prepared by Burden could exceed $1,000,000.
Over the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop tax fraud promoters and dishonest tax return preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website .
Related Materials:
United States v. Torrey Burden, et al.
Complaint (PDF)
Justice Department Signs Agreement with the City of Memphis, Tenn., to Ensure Physical Accessibility for People with Disabilities at Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has reached an agreement with the city of Memphis, Tenn., under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve physical accessibility for people with disabilities at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, home of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis Tigers and Southern Heritage Classic football games.
“Today’s agreement marks a new chapter for historic Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which will permit all spectators, with and without disabilities, to attend college football games – both regular season and bowl games -- at the stadium,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
Under the settlement agreement, Memphis will install a total of 282 wheelchair spaces and an equal number of companion seats around the stadium at Row 25, and in the upper concourses on the home and away sides of the Liberty Bowl. The agreement requires installation of additional wheelchair spaces in seating areas renovated in the future, such as the suites and press boxes. The 282 wheelchair spaces will be dispersed vertically and horizontally throughout the Liberty Bowl, and will provide people in wheelchairs with lines of sight over standing spectators that are comparable to those offered to individuals without disabilities.
In addition, Memphis will ensure ADA compliance for concession stands, gates, elevators, suites and press boxes, ramps, and restrooms throughout the Liberty Bowl. Memphis will retain an architect to certify that the city has corrected each ADA violation. Memphis must report its progress to the United States.
Today’s agreement was reached under Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local governments. The Department will actively monitor the city’s compliance with the agreement, which will remain in effect for three years.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at the website www.justice.gov/crt . More information about the ADA and today’s agreement with the City of Memphis can be accessed at the ADA website at www.ada.gov or by calling the toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
Related Materials:
Liberty Bowl Settlement Agreement
Jonesboro Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Lying on Workers Compensation FormsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Curtis Roller, 56, of Jonesboro, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury for 11 counts of wire fraud after obtaining Federal Emergency Management Agency grants and four counts of making false statements on workers compensation forms.
According to the indictment, from Jan. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2010, Roller submitted false information on grant applications he sent to FEMA so Louisiana and Arkansas fire departments he wrote grants for were eligible to receive the funds. Roller is accused of inflating population data, agency coverage areas and numbers of responded calls on the FEMA grant applications. He also is accused of overstating the type of calls responded to, under-reporting the size of budgets and increasing the scope of their needs on the applications.
It is further alleged in the indictment that Roller asked those awarded the FEMA grants to purchase equipment from his two companies, Louisiana Firefighters Services and a vehicle manufacturing company in Smyrna, Ga. It is against FEMA rules and policies for a grant writer to financially benefit from money awarded.
Also as part of the indictment, Roller was accused of not reporting income on his workers compensation form when he filed for benefits from Oct. 29, 2007 to March 28, 2008. At the time, he was employed at the U.S. Postal Service when he filed his claim. He did not report that he was receiving income from his job as a fire chief of the Ward 4 Fire Protection District in the Jonesboro area. He also received income as owner of his fire services and vehicle manufacturing companies.
If convicted, Roller faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both on each count of wire fraud and a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both for each count of false statements.
Roller will appear for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Monroe at a date and time to be scheduled by the Court.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Service/Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl Campbell is prosecuting the case.
Johnson County Man Sentenced on Bank Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Johnson County man has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on bank fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. In addition, he was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
Kevin M. Mahoney, 44, Stilwell, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted he conspired with co-defendant Paul Hartfield and others to make false representations to lenders in order to fraudulently obtain funds from mortgage lenders.
Hartfield owned two businesses: Hart Investments, Inc., and Diamond Mortgage, both in Overland Park, Kan. Kevin Mahoney was a loan officer for Diamond Mortgage.
Hart Investments purchased depressed properties in order to rehabilitate them and sell them at a profit. Hart Investments obtained loans to rehabilitate homes on a “subject to appraisal” basis that allowed the company to withdraw money as rehabilitation progressed. Starting in October 2006, Hartfield stopped rehabilitating houses. Instead, Hartfield, Mahoney and others made false representations to lenders in order to fraudulently obtain loan funds.
Mahoney made false statements on loan applications and submitted them to mortgage lenders to fraudulently obtain loan funds for the following properties: 11339 Sycamore Terrace, Kansas City, Mo.; 3401 Tauromee Avenue, Kansas, City, Kan; 48 Z Lake Shore Drive, Lake Lotawana, Mo.; 58 T Lake Shore Drive, Lake Lotawana, Mo.; 4132 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, Mo.; and 3921 Wyoming Street, Kansas City, Mo.
Co-defendants included: Paul Hartfield, who was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.6 million restitution.
Brian D. Jaimes, who was sentenced to 24 months.
John T. Bradfield, who was sentenced to 15 months.Grissom commended the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the FDIC- Office of Inspector General, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith for their work on the case.
Jacksonville Man Indicted for Operating A Fraudulent Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces today the arrest and unsealing of a federal indictment charging Anderson Scott Hall (48, Jacksonville)with ten counts of mail fraud and ten counts of wire fraud in connection with his operation of a fraudulent investment scheme. If convicted, Hall faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of mail and wire fraud, and fines of up to $5 million. His initial appearance is scheduled today at 2:30 p.m. in Jacksonville before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Morris.
According to the indictment, while working for a national investment services company, Hall operated a sham company (Abaco Securities International, Ltd.), which he held out to be a legitimate international investment company. It is alleged that Hall was the mastermind behind a complex scheme to defraud numerous investors, including Duval County school teachers and administrators. Hall would allegedly induce victim investors into transferring their retirement savings from legitimate life insurance companies and investment companies over to his control. It is further alleged that instead of investing victim investors' funds as promised, Hall would use the funds for his own personal use, including purchasing high value luxury items, and commercial and residential real estate. On occasion, as part of the fraud scheme, Hall would use money taken from new investors to pay earlier investors. In total, Hall allegedly defrauded investors of more than $4 million.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State of Florida's Department of Financial Services and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Devereaux.
Informational: Federal Court ArraignmentsRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on January 25, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:
WAYLON RONALD BURNS, a 35-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and attempted aggravated sexual abuse. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, BURNS faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
WALTER MITCHELL STEWART, JR., a 57-year-old transient, appeared on charges of abusive sexual contact, failure to register as a sexual offender with enhancements, and penalties for registered sexual offenders. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, STEWART faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 30 years, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the United States Marshals Service.
The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hope Mills Man Sentenced for Drug & Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today DEVON LAMAR MARION, 33, of Hope Mills, North Carolina was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever to 168 months imprisonment.
On August 22, 2012, MARION pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than twenty-eight (28) grams of cocaine base (crack), a quantity of powder cocaine and a quantity of marijuana in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A); and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924.
According to the investigation, MARION was a cocaine dealer in the Cumberland County, North Carolina area. As a result of a search warrant executed at his home, MARION was foundto have drugs, a gun, and ammunition in Hope Mills, North Carolina.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted the case.
Hampton Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Christian Johnson, 24, of Hampton, pled guilty today to robbery, as well as possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Johnson was set to begin trial today in Norfolk Federal Court.
Neil H. MacBride, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and James D. Newman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Henry C. Morgan.
Johnson was charged in a superseding indictment returned on September 20, 2012, with three counts of robbery and two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the robbery charge and a mandatory total consecutive sentence of 32 years on the firearm counts when he is sentenced on May 1, 2013 in Norfolk.
In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Johnson admitted to robbing Approved Cash Advance located in Norfolk, on June 21, 2012, and a 7-Eleven store on Kecoughtan Road in Hampton on July 3, 2012. During both robberies he possessed and brandished a firearm. Following the 7-Eleven robbery, Johnson was seen entering a vehicle dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, t-shirt and jeans, and wearing a black ski mask and gloves. A witness followed Johnson’s vehicle and reported it to police. A high speed chase ensued when Johnson failed to yield to law enforcement. Johnson drove across the James River Bridge and began throwing items out of the car on the bridge. The chase ended 30 minutes later when Johnson struck a median, lost control and crashed into several trees. He then fled the scene on foot and was apprehended by the Virginia State Police.
The investigation of this case was led by the ATF’s Washington Field Division, with the assistance of the Norfolk Police Department, Hampton Police Division, Chesapeake Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. Trial Attorneys Louis Crisostomo of the Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Teresa Wallbaum of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, both in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.HPD Officers Arrested for Conspiring to Protect CocaineRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Houston Police Officers Emerson Canizales, 26, of Kingwood, and Michael Miceli, 26, of Humble, have been arrested following the return of an indictment charging conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
Canizales and Miceli were arrested yesterday afternoon as they reported for duty. They are expected to appear in federal court this morning at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy.
The two-count indictment, returned on Jan. 23, 2013, and unsealed upon their arrest, alleges the officers conspired in the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in the Houston area and that they accepted money for the protection service.
Both officers are alleged to have conspired in the possession of cocaine on or about Dec. 26, 2012, and allegedly received a payment of $1000 for the protection they provided.
If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute, each faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million fine. For extortion under color of law (Hobbs Act violation), they could also receive up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, if convicted.
The operation was an effort conducted by Houston Police Department - Internal Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program - Major Drug Squad. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James McAlister.
Gang Member Sentenced for Assault in Dodge City Racketeering CaseRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A member of a Dodge City street gang targeted in a federal racketeering case has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for assaulting what he thought were members of a rival gang, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Humberto Ortiz, 20, Dodge City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. In his plea, Ortiz admitted that on Aug. 27, 2011 in Dodge City, he and other gang members assaulted what they thought were members of the Sureno street gang. At the time, Ortiz was a member of Los Carnales Chingones, a street gang in Dodge City associated with the Norteno street gang. He was accompanied by members of the Diablos Viejos, who also were associated with the Norteno gang.
During a confrontation at a party at 703 9th Avenue in Dodge City, Ortiz and four associates accused the victims of being Surenos, which the victims denied. When a fight began, two victims were stabbed. One of the victims received life-threatening injuries and was flown to a hospital in Wichita for treatment.
In his plea, Ortiz admitted that while he was an associate of the Nortenos the gang was engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise that employed acts of violence including murder and robbery to protect and expand the gang’s operations.
Co-defendants awaiting trial include Jason Najera, 28, Dodge City; Fabian Neave, 25, Dodge City; Jesus Torres, 28, Dodge City; and Jose Neave, 23, Dodge City. They were among 23 defendants indicted in May who were charged under the federal RICO Act (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.) The indictment marked only the second time federal prosecutors in Kansas have filed charges under RICO and VICAR (Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering).
Grissom commended the Dodge City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.Ft. Washakie Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Christopher A. Crofts announced today that on January 25, 2013, David Dewey Washakie, a 32-year-old enrolled Eastern Shoshone from Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, appeared in Federal District Court for sentencing before United States District Judge Clarence A. Brimmer on a single count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Washakie received 46 months of imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $8,688.50. The charge stemmed from an assault which occurred on November 7, 2012, on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Four Defendants Arrested for Operating “Pill Mill”Read the Press Release
Owners, Office Manager, and Doctor Charged with Illegally Selling and Distributing Large Quantities of Narcotics
ATLANTA – Four individuals have been indicted for illegally selling and distributing prescriptions for opiate-based narcotics and other controlled substances to addicts and drug dealers under the guise of a pain clinic in the Lilburn, Georgia area. Larry Webman, 64, and Randy Webman, 59, two brothers and the pain clinic owners; Dara Webman, 29, an office manager and the daughter of Randy Webman, all believed to be from Hollywood, Florida; and Dr. George Williams, 45, of Duluth, Georgia, were indicted and arrested on federal drug and distribution charges, and with unlawfully distributing drugs near a school. The clinic is adjacent to Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia. Larry Webman and Randy Webman are also separately charged with maintaining a place for distributing drugs. A federal grand jury indicted the defendants on January 22, 2013.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Unscrupulous doctors illegally exploiting their license to prescribe controlled substances represent an increasing source of deadly illicit drugs in our communities. The storefronts from which these criminal enterprises operate threaten the safety of our children and the security of our neighborhoods. This office, and our law enforcement partners, remains committed to combatting prescription drug abuse and its related criminal activity in our district.”
Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division stated, “The dispensing of addictive prescription pain medication under the guise of a doctor’s care, as occurred in this investigation, is not about the good of the community or an individual’s specific health needs; it is about greed. Make no mistake; those involved in “pill mill” activity are in fact drug dealers.”
“The IRS not only enforces the nation’s tax laws, but we also work in conjunction with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug distribution operations occurring in our neighborhoods,” stated Special Agent in Charge, Veronica Hyman-Pillot. “IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to provide its financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice.”
“Our top priority in 2012 was to assist and work in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Internal Revenue Service in closing down this illegal enterprise that operated just yards from a high school housing over 3,000 students each school day. We don’t want them or any other type of illegal operation in our town whose sole mission was to pour poison into our community. I am proud of the energy and commitment by all of our partners who were steadfast and dedicated in removing this cancer from our streets and increasing our quality of life in our city,” said Bruce Hedley, Lilburn Police Chief.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information that will be presented in court: Since no later than February 2012, Larry Webman and Randy Webman have been operating an illegal enterprise, variously known as Premier Medical Management, Inc.; Premier Pain Management, Inc.; Premier Pain Management; and Premier Pain Management and Physical Therapy, located at 3993 Lawrenceville Highway, Suite 110, Lilburn, Georgia. Dr. George Williams was the clinic’s prescribing physician, routinely prescribing controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice and without legitimate medical purposes. Dara Webman worked at the clinic as an office manager handing out these prescriptions to customers in exchange for cash payments ostensibly collected for office visits.
The indictment charges that Larry Webman and Randy Webman managed and controlled the clinic. Though neither has any medical training, they often directed Dr. Williams’ decisions with respect to prescribing controlled substances. The clinic saw as many as 60 customers a day, each paying between $250 and $350 a visit, and almost always leaving with a prescription for controlled substances, which often included oxycodone, a highly addictive painkiller. Dr. Williams typically saw a customer only at the initial visit, at which time he conducted a brief examination. On return visits, a customer rarely saw Dr. Williams but was able to obtain additional prescriptions for controlled substances, pre-signed by Dr. Williams, directly from the office manager, Dara Webman. Almost all customers paid cash, and Larry Webman and Randy Webman personally oversaw the collection of the clinic’s receipts.
The clinic’s customers regularly traveled long distances to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances. Most hailed from outside the state, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. The clinic did not adhere to an appointment schedule, causing customers to park at the clinic’s entrance areas early in the morning before the clinic opened.
The indictment alleges that the clinic constituted a drug distribution operation that generated huge cash receipts. The indictment seeks forfeiture of all property used in and derived from the criminal enterprise. It also seeks forfeiture of Dr. Williams’ license to practice medicine.
Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Lilburn Police Department.Special Assistant United States Attorney Ajay Gupta is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Assaulting A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Dwight Rank, age 25, of Fort Thompson, South Dakota appeared before US Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on January 24, 2013 and pled guilty to the Superseding Information that charged him with Assaulting a Federal Officer. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year of imprisonment, $100,000 fine, or both; 1 year of supervised release and 1 additional year of supervised release upon revocation; $25.00 to the Victim Assistance Fund. Restitution may also be imposed.
On January 7, 2012 Rank was driving erratically and was observed by a BIA officer crossing the center line twice and the right fog line twice. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to make a traffic stop. Rank stopped his vehicle in the middle of BIA Road 5 and then accelerated and began to drive away. Rank made a U-turn and struck the officer's vehicle before fleeing the scene.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case. Rank was released on bond pending sentencing on April 3, 2013.
Fort Thompson Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute A Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Ryan Scott, age 26, of Fort Thompson, South Dakota appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on January 25, 2013 and pled guilty to the Indictment that charged him with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both; a period of supervised release of at least 2 years up to life and 2 additional years of supervised release upon revocation; $100 to the Victims' Assistance Fund. Restitution may also be imposed.
The charge stems from an incident on February 25, 2011 where a vehicle with Ryan Scott, along with another person, had gone into the ditch. When deputies arrived at the scene and spoke with the individuals, they detected a strong odor of marihuana and searched the vehicle discovering a bag containing over one pound of marihuana.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Police Department. Assistant US Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case. Scott was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing on March 27, 2013.
Former President of SEIU Local Found Guilty of Stealing Tens of Thousands of Dollars from Union and Failing to Report IncomeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Tyrone Ricky Freeman, the former president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Locals 6434 and 434-B, was convicted late this afternoon of federal charges of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the union that represents home healthcare workers.
Freeman, 43, who is currently residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of four counts of mail fraud, seven counts of embezzlement and/or theft of labor union assets, one count of making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution, and two counts of subscribing to a false tax return.
The evidence presented during a 10-day jury trial showed that Freeman pilfered money from SEIU Locals 6434 and 434-B by diverting reimbursement payments from a public-sector union that had close ties to the SEIU locals. Freeman collected $2,500 per month from Local 6434 and the California United Homecare Workers (CUHW), which was established in 2005 by SEIU and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees to represent public sector employees working in the homecare industry in California. From the beginning of 2007 through the summer of 2008, Freeman concealed from the Local 6434 Executive Board and the CUHW Executive Board that he was receiving payments of $2,500 per month in addition to the regular salary that he received from Local 6434.
Freeman also used a Local 434-B credit card to pay $8,105 in personal expenses he incurred during a 2006 trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, which included expenses related to Freeman’s wedding ceremony.
Freeman also stole money from Local 6434 by routing funds through another entity closely aligned with the union – the Long Term Care Housing Corporation (LTCHC), which was a not-for-profit corporation organized in 2004 for the purpose of developing affordable housing for members of Locals 6434 and Local 434-B. The indictment alleges that Freeman took nearly $17,000 from Local 6434 in June 2008 by requesting the Local 6434 Executive Board to make payments to LTCHC without disclosing to the Executive Board that Freeman would then divert those funds to himself.
The false statement charges relate to lies that Freeman told to Countrywide Bank when he told a bank representative that Local 6434 paid for his personal American Express credit card debt and the monthly lease payments for his Land Rover.
Freeman was also found guilty of subscribing to false tax returns in 2006 and 2007 when he failed to report approximately $63,000 in income he received during those tax years.
“This was a case about abuse and betrayal,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Freeman abused his position as leader of the SEIU, and he betrayed the hardworking people whose interests he was supposed to represent.”
Each count of mail fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Each count of making a false statement to a federal insured financial institution carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Each count of embezzlement and/or theft of labor union assets carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of subscribing to a false tax return carries a statutory maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Freeman is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Audrey B. Collins on April 22.
The case against Freeman was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards; the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and IRS - Criminal Investigation.
Release No. 13-015
Former Needham Attorney Sentenced in Connection with Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON - An attorney formerly practicing in Massachusetts and now living in New York was sentenced today for his participation in a mortgage fraud scheme involving a 24-unit building in Dorchester.
Sean Robbins, 39, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Patti B. Saris to eight months in home confinement as a condition of three years of probation and ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution. In September 2012, Robbins pleaded guilty to 24 counts of misprision of felony.In December 2006 and January 2007, Robbins was an associate attorney employed by, Marc Foley, a lawyer operating a law firm in Needham. At Foley’s direction, Robbins participated in a scheme to defraud lenders who funded mortgages for individuals to purchase condominium units in a building in Dorchester. HUD-1 Settlement Statements fraudulently represented to lenders that down payments and other expenses were collected from buyers at the closings, when in fact, none of the funds aggregating $449,000 were collected from buyers. Robbins, knowing that his employer was engaged in the mortgage fraud, conducted a number of the closings, concealed the crimes and failed to report them to authorities.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit and Veronica M. Lei of Ortiz’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Former Mayor of Cudahy Sentenced to Federal Prison for Taking Bribes from ‘Medical Marijuana’ BusinessmanRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The former mayor of the City of Cudahy was sentenced this afternoon to one year in federal prison for taking cash bribes in exchange for supporting the opening of a “medical marijuana” store in the city.
David Silva, 62, the then-mayor of Cudahy and an elected member of the city council, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Manuel Real.
“Mr. Silva sold the integrity and authority of the mayor’s office for his own personal gain,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Elected officials are expected to obey the law. When they don’t, those officials should expect to go to prison.”
Bill Lewis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Office, stated: “Today’s sentencing serves as evidence that corrupt practices by public officials who use their power to get rich quick and abuse the trust of their constituents will not be tolerated. The FBI will continue to investigate alleged corrupt offenders and work toward restoring reliable services to the citizens they’re expected to serve.”
Angel Perales, 44, who ran the Code Enforcement Division of the Cudahy Community Services Department and who was involved in the bribery scheme, was sentenced by Judge Real two weeks ago to probation.
A third person who took bribes from an FBI informant – Osvaldo Conde, 51, who was a member of the Cudahy City Council, and who accepted two separate bribe payments – is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Real on February 25.
According to an affidavit filed in this case: “On the afternoon of February 28, 2012, following weeks of bribe solicitations and related discussions, made during recorded meetings and telephone calls, Conde, Silva and Perales met an FBI confidential informant at the El Potrero nightclub in Cudahy, California. The three Cudahy city officials accepted a total of $15,000 cash as bribe payments. Later that evening, Conde met the confidential informant to receive an additional $2,000 cash as a bribe.”
The 143-page affidavit describes an investigation in which federal law enforcement agents recorded a number of conversations in which the Cudahy city officials explain that the Cudahy City Council planned to approve only one or two permits for marijuana stores in Cudahy. According to the affidavit, Perales sought to broker an arrangement between an FBI informant and city officials in which the informant would make cash payments in exchange for the officials supporting a request for one of the permits.
Prior to a meeting with Conde and Silva at a Pico Rivera restaurant, Perales instructed the informant how he should broach the topic of paying the bribes, and later instructed the informant on how to present the bribes, specifying that the payments should be in cash only, according to the affidavit.
“A government official’s use of political power for illegitimate personal financial gain undermines public confidence in government generally and fosters a belief that those elected to govern – and privileged to serve – are above the law,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo filed in Silva’s case. “This is particularly true when an abuse of power is committed a high-ranking public official such as defendant.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Release No. 13-012
Former Maryland Loan Officer Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kenneth H. DiPasquale, 37, of Morgantown, W.V., pleaded guilty on Jan. 25, 2013, to conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his role in fraudulent mortgage loan transactions, including the sale of his own home to a buyer whose identity he had stolen and to whom he “sold” the property for a nearly $320,000 profit.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Debra Evans Smith, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Gary Barksdale, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
DiPasquale faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years on the identity theft charge when he is sentenced on May 10, 2013.
According to court records, DiPasquale was employed in 2007 as a loan officer at Citywide Mortgage, a mortgage lender located in Landover, Md. DiPasquale used that position to process loans based on false and fraudulent information, including for borrowers who had not even applied for loans and who had no idea their names and identities had been used as the borrowers in the transactions. In particular, when DiPasquale had trouble selling his own home in Bowie, Md., in October 2007, he stole the identity of an individual living in Arlington, Va., and “sold” this victim his house at a nearly $320,000 profit. The transaction involved fraudulent loan documents and an associate playing the role of the buyer at closing. The victim had no idea the property had been purchased in his name until the loans defaulted, the lenders came collecting, and the homeowner’s association sued the unsuspecting victim for unpaid dues.
Co-defendant Lyle C. Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy and identity theft charges on Nov. 8, 2012, and will be sentenced on Feb.15, 2013.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul J. Nathanson and Chad Golder are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.Former Hershey Resident Sentenced for Adulteration of Medical DevicesRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William Joseph Zinnanti, age 44, of Mountain View, California, was sentenced today, in Harrisburg, to four months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William W. Caldwell for introducing adulterated medical devices into interstate commerce in violation of Federal Food and Drug laws.
According to information presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Terz, from 2005 to 2007, while residing in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Zinnanti was the President and Owner of a business known as Zinnanti Surgical Design, LLC, which manufactured a medical device known as the Bayonet Electro-Surgical Pencil. The device was sold mainly to hospitals. Surgeons used this device to cut and cauterize tissue surrounding the patient's thoracic vertebrae to allow access to the thoracic disk space during back surgery.
The surgical pencils were adulterated because the methods, facilities, and controls Zinnanti used for the manufacture, packing, and storage of the product did not comport with current good manufacturing practice to ensure that the devices were safe and effective and in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Zinnanti acted with the intent to defraud and mislead the FDA with regard to the manufacturing procedures he had in place.
Zinnanti was charged in May 2012 and pleaded guilty in June 2012.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, after questions surrounding the sterility of the device came to light in 2006, a nationwide and international recall was instituted. Anyone seeking further information regarding the recall should contact the FDA Division of Small Manufacturers International and Consumer Assistance at 1-800-638-2041.This investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted with the assistance of FDA's Office of Chief Counsel.
Former Florida Department of Transportation Employee Pleads Guilty in Bribery and Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Tina Moore a/k/a Tina Pollard (55, Daytona Beach) pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and money laundering. Moore is facing a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Moore was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 2, 2012.
According to her plea agreement, Moore was a Right of Way Agent with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and was responsible for assisting people and businesses displaced by FDOT projects. One of Moore's assigned projects involved the acquisition of properties for the purpose of widening Interstate 4. One of the businesses displaced by that project was MLA Furniture, which was located on Garland Avenue, in Orlando. Moore used her position to solicit and obtain bribes and rewards from the owners of MLA Furniture, in return for assisting MLA Furniture in continuing to remain at the Garland Avenue location. Moore knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to the FDOT for the relocation expenses of MLA Furniture. In total, she received $30,000 in bribes, consisting of $20,000 in checks and $10,000 in cash.
On March 29, 2012, Jonathan Aubrey Jenkins, one of the owners of MLA Furniture, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2013. Jenkins faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Former Federal Prison Guard Guilty of Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A former federal correctional officer pled guilty in US District Court on January 28, 2013, for filing false tax returns, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Attillah Ruffin, 42, waived her right to be indicted by the Grand Jury and pled guilty to an Information.
Ruffin admitted falsifying her personal income tax returns each tax year from 2005-2010. During that time period she defrauded the US Government out of $22,108 by claiming false dependents, false child care expenses, false unreimbursed employee expenses, and false residential energy credits. Ruffin also admitted to fraudulently obtaining a larger tax refund by using an inapplicable filing status by claiming to be a “head of household” when her filing status should have been “single.” Ruffin admitted that these crimes occurred while she was employed as a law enforcement officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The crime of filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release upon release from prison. However, the United States Sentencing Guidelines must be applied to the case and considered by the Court during sentencing. Ruffin will be sentenced on May 17, 2013.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
Former East Hampton Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
January 28, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Securities Investigations (HSI) Boston, announced that RICHARD D. HENDRICKS, 32, of Ashford, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Breen Burns in New Haven to 121 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for child sexual exploitation offenses. HENDRICKS was formerly employed as a computer teacher at the East Hampton Middle School in East Hampton, Conn.
“This solemn but important prosecution revealed that the defendant, a middle school teacher, paid for and viewed live webcasts showing the sexual abuse of children overseas, and voyeuristically photographed and videotaped female students in his classroom,” said U.S. Attorney Fein. “His criminal behavior represents an extreme violation of trust, which we at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement investigative partners, are committed to combatting.”
“The receipt and of possession of child pornography by a teacher is one of the most heartbreaking violations of trust imaginable,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Foucart. “We have an obligation to ensure that individuals who hold positions of trust in our community are held accountable for their actions. Today’s sentence is a stern reminder about the consequences awaiting those who use the Internet to sexually exploit innocent children.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, a national HSI investigation revealed that HENDRICKS purchased Internet access to live sex shows involving minors from approximately October 2009 to April 2010. The abusive shows originated in the Philippines.
On June 6, 2011, HSI agents seized two laptop computers, one desktop computer and two external hard drives from HENDRICKS’s residence. Subsequent forensic evaluation revealed that HENDRICKS used his computer to receive numerous images and video files of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12, and images portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.
Investigators also discovered numerous images and videos of HENDRICKS’ students at East Hampton Middle School. While many of the pictures were related to HENDRICKS’ duties as yearbook advisor, investigators discovered that HENDRICKS secretly took voyeuristic photos and videos of female students in his classroom. He also manipulated some of these images to enhance their visibility, and used a software program to attempt to visualize the private areas of clothed girls.
During the course of the investigation, parental notification was made when investigators identified children who HENDRICKS secretly photographed or video recorded. With parental consent, agents conducted dozens of forensic interviews of the children.
HENDRICKS has been detained since his arrest on June 9, 2011. On January 19, 2012, he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
This matter was investigated Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the East Hampton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ray Miller and Deborah Slater.
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.
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(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Former Chicago Police Officer Charged with Attempted Extortion of Tow Truck Driver and Selling Guns to FelonRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former Chicago police officer was charged today with attempting to extort a cash bribe to steer business to a tow truck owner and also with selling three firearms to the same towing operator, who is also a convicted felon. The defendant, ALI HALEEM, was charged as part of Operation Tow Scam, a federal investigation of past bribery and extortion involving police officers and towing operators in several Chicago police districts.
Haleem is the 11th Chicago police officer to be charged in the corruption probe since 2008. So far, seven officers and three civilians, including two tow truck drivers, have been convicted. Charges are pending against three other officers who were charged last fall.
Haleem, 45, of Chicago, a police officer from 1994 to 2012, was assigned to the 8th District, also known as Chicago Lawn. He was assigned to desk duty after being confronted by law enforcement authorities in 2008 until he resigned last September. He was charged with one count of attempted extortion and two counts of selling firearms to a convicted felon in a criminal information that was filed today. No date has been set yet for his arraignment in U.S. District Court.
The charges were announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
According to the charges, between March 13 and 20, 2008, Haleem attempted to extort Individual A, who owned a towing business, and who unbeknownst to Haleem was cooperating with law enforcement at the time.
On Dec. 11, 2007, Haleem allegedly sold a .32 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol to Individual A, knowing that Individual A was a convicted felon. On March 13, 2008, Haleem allegedly sold a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol to Individual A, knowing that Individual A was a convicted felon. The indictment seeks forfeiture of the three firearms.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Donovan.
Attempted extortion carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while each count of delivering a firearm to a convicted felon carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and all three counts carry a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that the charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Information
Former Bank VP Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former Senior Vice President and loan officer at Pierce Commercial Bank was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in the collapse of the bank, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. SHAWN L. PORTMANN, pleaded guilty September 18, 2012, to Conspiracy to Make False Statements in Loan Applications and to Make False Statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and one count of Making a False Statement in Loan Applications. At sentencing U. S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle called it a fraud on multiple layers that “escaped detection because it involved people at every level participating in the fraud.”
“Shawn Portmann’s greed destroyed dreams, ruined careers and defrauded millions from taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “He now will face the consequences of the damage he did to so many. The depth of his fraud helped bring down a bank, and haunted innocent homeowners whose communities were degraded with vacant, foreclosed homes and a precipitous decline in property values.”
According to the facts in the plea agreement, between 2004 and 2008, PORTMANN and other members of the conspiracy submitted false documents within various loan documents and applications. They falsified information about the borrowers’ qualifications as well as their intention to reside in the homes being financed. A review of a sample of conventional and HUD loans showed that PORTMANN and his co-conspirators closed over 300 loans with false and fraudulent documents and information. More than half of this sample of loans have defaulted or otherwise caused loss, causing an estimated loss of more than $10 million to Pierce Commercial Bank, secondary investors and HUD/FHA. Court records detail multiple false statements included in loan documents regarding an applicant’s employment, income, and intention to reside in the property. Pierce Commercial Bank was closed by regulators in November 2010. Pierce Commercial Bank received $6.8 million from Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in January 2009. This money was never repaid.
“Portmann’s greed resulted in the loss of the entire $6.8 million in TARP funds invested in Pierce Commercial Bank, directly contributed to the bank’s failure, and caused additional, significant financial losses for other TARP banks,” said Christy Romero, Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP). “Most importantly, the consequences of Portmann’s mortgage fraud scheme will have a lasting impact on the community, which relies on local banks such as Pierce Commercial to serve as the mainstay for lending to its businesses and citizens. I want to praise the work of U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan and our other law enforcement partners for their commitment to fighting fraud related to TARP.”
Although this sentencing does not erase the financial and emotional harm caused by Mr. Portmann to numerous victims—spanning homeowners harmed by the artificially inflated housing market to innocent bank employees who lost their jobs—I hope that they receive a measure of relief knowing that this unscrupulous predator is facing justice for his actions,” said Laura M. Laughlin, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Seattle office. “The FBI and its partners remain committed to investigating criminal activity underlying the broader financial crisis. This case sends a message to all those who exploit others for personal gain: fraud in the mortgage industry is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
“Mortgage fraud has done a lot of damage to our communities and to our individual concept of the American Dream,” said Kenneth J. Hines, the Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in the Pacific Northwest. “This sentencing is a reminder of the serious consequences of mortgage fraud, and of the relentless pursuit that the IRS and our law-enforcement partners are making to hold accountable people whose greed got the better of them.”
“The sentence handed down today is proof positive to anyone who uses the US Mail to commit mortgage fraud: If you are a purveyor of fraudulent mortgage schemes and you use the US Mail, you will be caught and you will serve time in federal prison,” said Bradley Kleinknecht, Inspector in Charge US Postal Inspection Service.
Seven other defendants in this case have already been sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the fraud.
This case was brought as part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the HUD Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Internal Revenue Service Office of Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Werner and Arlen Storm.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts North Texas Men in $2.6 Million Stolen Refund Identity Theft Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DALLAS — A federal grand jury in Dallas has returned an indictment charging Tonderai Sakupwanya and Reminico Zhangazha each with one count of conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud stemming from a federal income tax refund identity theft scheme they ran from May 2009 through May 2012. Sakupwanya is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Horan. U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas made today’s announcement.
Sakupwanya, aka “Pound, Webster Rice, Floyd Roberts and Floyd Robbins,” is presently in federal custody, having pleaded guilty in October 2012 to an Information, filed in the Northern District of Texas, charging false use of a passport. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for that conviction; sentencing is set for March 18, 2013.
Zhangazha, aka “Boss Remy,” “Martin V. Masters and Roy Daniel Black,” is presently in federal custody in the Eastern District of Texas, where he has pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in the use of a passport. According to the factual resume filed in that case, Zhangazha is a citizen of Zimbabwe, with permission to temporarily reside in the U.S.
The indictment, returned last week in Dallas, alleges that Sakupwanya and Zhangazha conspired together, and with others, to commit mail fraud and wire fraud to obtain approximately $2.6 million in federal income tax refunds by electronically filing multiple fraudulent income tax returns containing stolen personal identification information.
As part of the stolen identity refund fraud conspiracy, according to the indictment, the defendants obtained personal identifying information from other persons without their knowledge or authorization. They also obtained electronic filing identification numbers “EFIN” that were assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to professional tax preparers. To further the conspiracy, according to the indictment, using fraudulent identification, the defendants rented private mail boxes to establish mailing addresses and established bank accounts at various financial institutions to receive the fraudulently obtained tax refunds.
The indictment alleges the defendants prepared fraudulent income tax returns by using the stolen identities and used false income and withholding information to produce a purported tax refund. They then electronically filed the fraudulent returns which resulted in approximately $2.6 million in fraudulently obtained funds to be deposited into bank accounts they controlled. According to the indictment, they withdrew the cash and used it for their personal use and enjoyment.
A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the indictment includes a forfeiture allegation which would require the defendants, upon conviction, to forfeit to the U.S. any proceeds traceable to the offense, including approximately $105,000 seized in May 2012 from Zhangazha’s vehicle, his apartment and a residence on Spring Mountain Drive in Plano, Texas.
In September 2012, the Department of Justice announced a new directive to further the efforts of the Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to respond quickly and effectively to fight stolen identity refund fraud.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Stokes is in charge of the prosecution.
Fayetteville Mine Safety Trainer Sentenced to 3 Years’ Probation for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that a Fayetteville man was sentenced on Jan. 24 to three years’ probation for cocaine distribution. Gerald Wayne Hopkins, 52, of Fayetteville, Fayette County, W.Va., a mine safety instructor, admitted that on February 1, 2012, he sold 2.94 grams of cocaine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement authorities. Hopkins further admitted that the illegal transaction took place at his Fayetteville residence, where he conducted his mine safety training courses.
The Court also ordered Hopkins to pay a $500 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the West Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
FCI Petersburg Inmate Sentenced to Life for Advertising Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Philip Michael Sebolt, 32, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Va., was sentenced to life in prison today for advertising child pornography.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia; and Gary Barksdale, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge John A. Gibney.
Sebolt was convicted at a bench trial on Sept. 13, 2012, of one count of advertising child pornography. According to the evidence presented at trial and court documents in the case, in February 2010, while searching the property of an inmate who was being released from FCI Petersburg, prison officials intercepted dozens of envelopes Sebolt was attempting to smuggle out of the prison. Fifteen of the envelopes were addressed to individuals in foreign countries and contained a flyer Sebolt created soliciting the production of child pornography. The flyer contained detailed instructions on the type of pictures the defendant sought and included a pay scale listing how much money Sebolt would pay for a photograph depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to the flyer, Sebolt would pay more money for photographs that depicted children engaged in more severe sexually explicit conduct. The back of the flyer contained pictures of nude children, as well as sketches of children's genitalia in various positions.
Prison officials discovered the nude pictures and sketches in Sebolt's cell, and an expert handwriting analysis confirmed that it was highly probable that Sebolt created the flyer. At the time of the offense, Sebolt was serving a 30-year sentence for advertising child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. He also has two prior convictions for predatory criminal sexual abuse of a child from Illinois.
The case was investigated by officials at FCI Petersburg and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Wu and Special Assistant United States Attorney Tommy Johnstone of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte woman convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer was sentenced on January 24, 2013 by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Charmagne Means, age 27, was sentenced to 6 months probation, a $150 fine, a $25 special assessment, and a letter of apology to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Police officers.
Means was indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2012. She pled guilty to the charge on October 29, 2012.
The conviction stems from an incident on June 3, 2011 when the Defendant did not obey repeated orders by law enforcement officers to stop as she and her co-defendant ran toward officers who were arresting another individual. She was intercepted by an officer and physically resisted arrest.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Law Enforcement Services. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Seiler prosecuted the case.
Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte woman convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer was sentenced on January 24, 2013 by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Delanita LaClair, age 49, was sentenced to 3 years probation, a $300 fine, a $25 special assessment, 40 hours of community service, and a letter of apology to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Police officers.
LaClair was indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2012. She pled guilty to the charge on January 24, 2013.
The conviction stems from an incident on June 3, 2011 when the Defendant did not obey repeated orders by law enforcement officers to stop as she and her co-defendant ran toward officers who were arresting another individual. She was intercepted by an officer and physically resisted arrest.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Law Enforcement Services. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Seiler prosecuted the case.
Eagle Butte Man Pleads Guilty to Simple Assault of MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Raymond Uses The Knife, a/k/a Yamni Uses The Knife, age 21, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota appeared before US District Judge Roberto A. Lange on January 23, 2013 and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged him with Simple Assault of a Minor.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year of custody, a $100,000 fine, restitution, and a $25 Special Assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund. The conviction arose from an incident in Eagle Butte in August of 2011 when Uses The Knife assaulted a minor under the age of 16.
The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 12, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing.
Dupree Man Sentenced on Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Dupree man convicted of Simple Assault was sentenced on January 25, 2013 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno. Elton Lone Eagle, Sr., age 31, was sentenced to time served and a $10 special assessment.
Lone Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 15, 2012. He pled guilty to a Superseding Information charging Simple Assault on January 25, 2013.
The charge stems from an incident in June of 2012 when the Defendant and another assaulted the victim causing minor bruises and swelling to the victim's face and eyes.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley prosecuted the case.
Drug Conviction Results in Lengthy SentenceRead the Press Release
On January 25, 2013, a Williamson County resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court on a one-count indictment, charging conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Christopher D. Norris, 30, of Pittsburg, was sentenced to 216 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and fined $400. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Norris was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The offense occurred between 2010 and January 2012 in Williamson, Jackson, and Franklin Counties. Norris provided pseudoephedrine pills to others for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Norris was also involved in a home invasion/theft of anhydrous ammonia. At sentencing, the district court determined that Norris was responsible for the manufacture of 840 grams of methamphetamine. The district court also found that Norris used violence during the offense. Norris was classified as a Career Offender. Three co-defendants have pled guilty to their role in the methamphetamine conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. One co-defendant has pled not guilty and is awaiting jury trial. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department, Marion Police Department, Illinois State Police, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
District Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery and Assault– Defendant Attempted to Stab Two People Who Tried to Stop Him-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Marlon DeShan Perkins, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 11 years and two months in prison for robbing a woman while armed with a knife and for attacking two people who tried to help her, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Perkins pled guilty in November 2012 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of robbery while armed with a knife and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced by the Honorable Patricia A. Broderick. Upon completion of his sentence, Perkins will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 5, 2012, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the victim and her six-year-old child were walking in an alley off the 100 block of Morse Street NE when Perkins approached them and brandished a knife. Perkins lunged at the victim with the knife, demanding her purse and threatening to kill her. In fear for her life, the victim dropped her purse. Perkins picked up the purse and fled down the alley. Two people attempted to intervene, and Perkins attempted to stab both of them before getting away.
The Metropolitan Police Department canvassed the area and found Perkins with the victim’s purse in his hands.
In a second unrelated case, Judge Broderick sentenced Perkins today to an additional 180 days in jail for a weapons offense. In that matter, in June 2012, Perkins entered a woman’s home in Southeast Washington and assaulted her. He tried to take a cell phone from her, and during the struggle, Perkins hit her in the hand with a knife, causing a small laceration.
In announcing today’s sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, which investigated the case. He also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Truong, who conducted the sentencing hearing in the case.
13-028District Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison, Led Failed Scheme to Deceive A Federal Judge– Was Attempting to Obtain A $3 Million Default Judgment in Civil Lawsuit -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - David Copeland-Jackson, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to five years in prison on federal charges in two cases, including one in which he plotted to deceive a federal judge into awarding him a $3 million default judgment in a civil lawsuit.
Copeland-Jackson, a convicted sex offender, was attempting to win the judgment in a defamation suit against one of his victims. The plot was unraveled and he never got the money.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; Debra Evans Smith, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office; Steven Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, and Gary R. Barksdale, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Copeland-Jackson pled guilty in February 2011 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and perjury for attempting to carry out the ruse. In a separate, unrelated scheme that involved $62,440 in student financial aid, Copeland-Jackson pled guilty to mail fraud.
The Honorable Judge Richard J. Leon sentenced Copeland-Jackson in both cases. Upon completion of his prison term, Copeland-Jackson will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $62,440 in restitution and forfeiture.
Copeland-Jackson has been detained since July 9, 2009, when he was arrested on the conspiracy charge. That matter was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Peter J. Brandel Sr., 74, of Mansfield, Ohio, and Copeland-Jackson’s co-conspirator in the obstruction-of-justice scheme, also has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and perjury. He is awaiting sentencing by Judge Leon.
According to the Statement of Offense filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Court, Copeland-Jackson was convicted in Ohio in 2000 on charges of gross sexual imposition against two 14-year-olds. After serving three years in an Ohio prison for the offense, Copeland-Jackson was paroled to his hometown, Washington, D.C., and ordered not to have any contact with the victims of his earlier crimes.
However, while on parole, in June 2007 Copeland-Jackson filed a $3 million defamation suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against one of the two victims, a male identified in the Statement of Offense only as “J.C.”
The lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle. Rather than serve J.C. with a copy of the lawsuit, as required, Copeland-Jackson filed a false affidavit with Judge Huvelle. The affidavit - signed by Brandel - claimed that J.C. had been served with the suit. Without J.C.’s knowledge, for more than a month, Copeland-Jackson then filed numerous pleadings for himself, as plaintiff, and for J.C., as defendant, in the case.
On Aug. 8, 2007, Judge Huvelle awarded a $3 million default judgment against J.C. to Copeland-Jackson. The judge took this action after receiving a document, purportedly from J.C., in which J.C. admitted the allegations in the lawsuit and consented to the judgment.
Judge Huvelle was unaware that Copeland-Jackson had gone to prison in Ohio for the very acts that were the supposed subject of the defamation lawsuit. The Ashland County prosecutor in Ohio subsequently alerted the judge that Copeland-Jackson was on parole for having molested J.C. when he was a minor. At that point, Judge Huvelle immediately vacated the default judgment and set a hearing on the matter for Aug. 16, 2007.
According to the Statement of Offense, at the hearing, Brandel testified falsely under oath that he had served a copy of the Copeland-Jackson lawsuit on J.C.
The mail fraud scheme took place between 2005 and 2009. Copeland-Jackson fraudulently obtained $62,440 in federal student financial aid by enrolling three relatives and five former inmates in college courses at online universities and then collecting their student aid checks. That case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, and the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Copeland-Jackson falsified certain material information about the individuals purportedly entitled to the financial aid. He falsely listed his own address as that of the phony student, thus causing the student aid checks to be mailed directly to his apartment in the District of Columbia.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Acting Assistant Director in Charge Smith, Special Agent in Charge Anderson and Inspector in Charge Barksdale commended the Special Agents and Postal Inspectors who investigated the cases.
They also praised those who worked on the matters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jamasee Lucas, Paralegal Specialists Diane Hayes and Tasha Harris and former Paralegal Specialist Mary Treanor. Finally, they acknowledged the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Mitzelfeld, who investigated and obtained an indictment in the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Haray, who prosecuted the case.
13-029District Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Arranging for Sexual Contact with A MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Patrick Henderson, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 14 months in prison for arranging for a sexual contact with someone he believed to be a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Debra Evans Smith, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Henderson pled guilty in October 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of arranging for a sexual contact with a real or fictitious child. He was sentenced by the Honorable Gladys Kessler. Following completion of his prison term, Henderson will be placed on 10 years of supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
According to the government's evidence, on Nov. 21, 2011, Henderson contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had entered a social network site. Over the next several days, Henderson engaged in online and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, whom he believed had access to an under-aged boy from Virginia. During this period of time, Henderson arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the boy.
On Nov. 30, 2011, Henderson traveled from his apartment, to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Acting Assistant Director in Charge Smith and Chief Lanier praised the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Julieanne Himelstein, who prosecuted the case.
13-030Court Authorizes IRS to Seek Records from UBS Relating to U.S Taxpayers with Swiss Bank AccountsRead the Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Kathryn Keneally, the Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Steven T. Miller, the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) today announced that U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III entered an order authorizing the Internal Revenue Service to issue a summons requiring UBS AG (“UBS”) to produce information about U.S. taxpayers who may hold accounts at the Swiss bank Wegelin & Co. (“Wegelin”) and other banks based in Switzerland to evade federal income taxes. Specifically, the IRS summons seeks records of Wegelin’s United States correspondent account at UBS, which will allow the United States to determine the identity of the U.S. taxpayers who hold or held interests in financial accounts at Wegelin and other Swiss financial institutions that used Wegelin’s UBS account. Wegelin pled guilty in Manhattan federal court on January 3, 2013, to conspiring with U.S. taxpayers and others to hide more than $1.2 billion in secret Swiss bank accounts and to conceal the income they generated from the IRS. As part of its guilty plea, Wegelin agreed to pay approximately $20 million in restitution to the IRS and an additional $22.05 million criminal fine. In addition, Wegelin also agreed to a civil forfeiture of $32 million, $16.2 million of which was seized and forfeited by the Government from Wegelin’s correspondent account with UBS in Stamford, Connecticut (the “Correspondent Account”) in April 2012.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “This summons is the latest step in our efforts to identify and prosecute U.S. taxpayers who think they can evade their legal responsibility to pay taxes by secreting their money away in anonymous off-shore accounts at Wegelin and other banks, and to recover the hundreds of millions of dollars that is owed to the IRS. Wegelin’s recent guilty plea for facilitating this conduct – the first such plea by a Swiss financial institution - made it possible for us to take this step and our work continues in earnest.”
Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division said: “The Department of Justice will use all means available, and there are many, to pursue U.S. taxpayers who continue to attempt to evade their tax obligations by using foreign bank accounts. This John Doe summons is just one of many actions that we are taking. The world is shrinking, and time is running out for taxpayers to come into voluntary compliance before either the IRS or the Justice Department finds them.”
Steven T. Miller, IRS Acting Commissioner said: “The summons provides an important tool to help with international tax enforcement efforts and detect U.S. taxpayers hiding offshore accounts to evade taxes. This effort reflects a long-term strategy by the IRS and Justice Department to break through international bank secrecy and protect our nation's taxpayers.”
According to the Government’s Indictment and forfeiture Complaint:
Wegelin and at least two other Swiss banks used Wegelin’s Correspondent Account to covertly launder U.S. taxpayers’ funds from their undeclared accounts in Switzerland. As set forth in the papers filed with the district court, the IRS has reason to believe that these funds were transferred in a manner designed to reduce the risk of detection by U.S. authorities, so that the account holders could continue to avoid paying taxes due and owing to the IRS.
In this action, the Court granted the IRS permission to serve what is known as a “John Doe” summons on UBS. The IRS uses John Doe summonses to obtain information about possible tax fraud by individuals whose identities are unknown. This John Doe summons directs UBS to produce records identifying U.S. taxpayers with accounts at Wegelin and other Swiss banks that used Wegelin’s Correspondent Account. Wegelin has admitted that certain of its U.S. taxpayer clients were maintaining accounts at Wegelin in order to evade their U.S. tax obligations.
Federal tax law requires U.S. taxpayers to pay taxes on all income earned worldwide. U.S. taxpayers must also report foreign financial accounts if the total value of the accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. A deliberate failure to report a foreign account can result in a penalty of up to 50 percent of the amount in the account at the time of the violation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Tax and Bankruptcy Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie N. Kuehler is in charge of this case.
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Signed Order
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Notice of Petition
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Memo of Law in Support of Petition
Kiger Declaration
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Exhibit A - S1 Indictment
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Exhibit B - Forfeiture Complaint
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co Exhibit C - Plea Agreement
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co. Exhibit D - Guilty Plea Transcript
U.S. v. Wegelin & Co Exhibit E - SummonsConnecticut Rmbs Trader Charged with Securities Fraud, Defrauding Tarp ProgramRead the Press Release
January 28, 2013David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Christy Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned a 16-count indictment charging JESSE C. LITVAK, 38, of New York, N.Y., with securities fraud, Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) fraud and making false statements to the federal government. The indictment alleges that LITVAK, while a registered broker-dealer and managing director at Jefferies & Co., Inc., engaged in a scheme to defraud customers on residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trades. LITVAK’s victims are alleged to have included numerous investment funds, including six funds that the Department of Treasury established in 2009, as part of the federal government’s response to the financial crisis.
The indictment was returned on January 25, 2013, and LITVAK was arrested at his home this morning by SIGTARP agents.
This prosecution has been brought in coordination with the RMBS Working Group, and relates to alleged fraud committed against the government in response to the financial crisis through the pooling and sale of RMBS. The RMBS Working Group is a joint federal and state initiative created last year to investigate those responsible for misconduct contributing to the financial crisis. RMBS were pools of mortgages deposited into trusts and then sold as securities to investors who were to receive a stream of income from the mortgages packaged in the RMBS.
“As alleged, the defendant defrauded six funds established by Treasury and funded principally with government bailout money,” said U.S. Attorney Fein. “Illegally profiting from a federal program designed to assist our nation in recovering from one of our worst economic crises is reprehensible. I commend SIGTARP for its diligent work on this ongoing investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our RMBS Working Group partners are committed to investigating fraud and abuse that helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis, as well any fraud related to the government’s response to the crisis.”
“As most Americans tried to keep their heads above water during the financial crisis, Jesse Litvak is charged with trying to profit from the taxpayer-funded bailout known as TARP,” said Special Inspector General for TARP Christy Romero. “The charges paint a picture of Litvak shamelessly lying to dupe the Government into overpaying for mortgage securities with bailout funds. Today’s charges should stand as a warning to all who target bailout money: We will work with our partners to uncover and stop bailout crime, and to investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible. I want to commend United States Attorney David Fein for his commitment to fighting TARP-related crime.”
As detailed in the indictment, in 2009, the U.S. Department of Treasury began the Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program (PPIP), in response to the financial crisis, using more than $22 billion of bailout money from TARP to restart the trading market for certain kinds of RMBS, among other troubled securities. Over 100 firms applied to manage one of the nine PPIP funds established under the program, each of which received between $1.4 billion and $3.7 billion of bailout money from TARP to invest alongside private capital.
According to the indictment, LITVAK was a senior trader and managing director at Jefferies & Co, Inc. (“Jefferies”), a global securities and investment banking firm headquartered in New York. Jefferies also has a trading floor in Stamford, Conn., where LITVAK and other members of its Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities trading group worked. The indictment alleges that LITVAK engaged in a scheme to defraud based on two different types of misrepresentations. In certain transactions, LITVAK misrepresented the RMBS seller’s asking price to the buyer, or misrepresented the buyer’s price to the seller, keeping the difference between the price paid by the buyer and the price paid to the seller for Jefferies. In other transactions, LITVAK misrepresented to the RMBS buyer that bonds held in Jefferies’ inventory were being offered for sale by a fictitious third-party seller invented by LITVAK, which allowed LITVAK to charge the buyer an extra commission that Jefferies was not entitled to.
Through these schemes, it is alleged that LITVAK defrauded six PPIP funds and multiple private investment funds of a total of more than $2 million.
The indictment charges LITVAK with 11 counts of securities fraud, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, one count of TARP fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and four counts of making false statements to the federal government, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.
The case is assigned to United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven.
Today’s announcement is part of the ongoing efforts of President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force’s RMBS Working Group, a federal and state law enforcement effort focused on investigating fraud and abuse in the RMBS market that helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis. The RMBS Working Group, which is chaired by Attorney General Eric Holder, brings together more than 200 attorneys, investigators, analysts and staff from dozens of state and federal agencies including the Department of Justice, ten U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Federal Reserve Board’s Office of Inspector General, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and more than ten state Attorneys General offices around the country.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Francis and Eric Glover.
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 RMBS Working Group is led by five co-chairs: Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Lanny Breuer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart Delery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado John Walsh, Director of Enforcement for the SEC Robert Khuzami and New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The RMBS Working Group Coordinator is Matthew Stegman. For more information about the RMBS Working Group and the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, please visit: www.stopfraud.gov.
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(203) 821-3722 [email protected]Chester Woman Sentenced on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
On January 25, 2013, a Randolph County resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court on methamphetamine related charges, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.
Penelope J. Reed, a/k/a “Penny Warren,” 38, of Chester, IL, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, and fined $400. On September 13, 2012, a jury convicted Reed of one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and three counts of possessing pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The offenses occurred between September, 2006, and October, 2011, in Randolph, Jackson, and Williamson Counties. Evidence at trial and sentencing established that Reed was involved with others in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Reed purchased pseudoephedrine pills for others to use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Reed also allowed her Chester residence to be used for the manufacture of methamphetamine. At sentencing, the district court found that Reed was responsible for over 230 grams of pseudoephedrine. Seven co-conspirators have previously been sentenced for their involvement in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Two co-conspirators have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Police Department, Murphysboro Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Robinson Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
The case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.
Cherry Creek Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Contact with A MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Scott Ray Marrowbone, age 36, of Cherry Creek, South Dakota appeared before US District Judge Roberto A. Lange on January 25, 2013 and pled guilty to Count II of the Indictment that charged him with Sexual Contact with a Minor. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 2 years of custody, a $250,000 fine, or both, and at least 5 years of supervised release up to life; and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The conviction arose from an incident that occurred between May 2005 and October 2007 when Marrowbone sexually assaulted a female minor near Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Mikal Hanson.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 15, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing.
Blackfoot Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
POCATELLO –Kendall Perry, 21, of Blackfoot, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Pocatello to involuntary manslaughter, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
Perry, an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 23, 2012, on one count of involuntary manslaughter. According to the indictment, on June 30, 2012, Perry, who was intoxicated, was operating a 1999 GMC Yukon with gross negligence, causing a roll-over accident near the intersection of Philbin and Sheepskin Road that resulted in the death of Cullen Fightsover, a passenger in the vehicle.
An accident reconstructionist said the vehicle was traveling at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone. Perry ran a stop sign, went through the intersection and then lost control and rolled into a field, ejecting the three occupants from the vehicle. Fightsover was life-flighted, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Perry admitted drinking hard liquor and beer and admitted smoking marijuana in the hours before the crash. Perry admitted he was “buzzed” from the alcohol he had consumed.
The charge is punishable by up to eight years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for April 29, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Banks Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., announced that ERICK BANKS, age 31, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty today before Chief United States District Court Judge Brian J. Jackson to one count of conspiracy to traffic a child in the commercial sex trade. BANKS faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment, five (5) years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. The sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
At today’s hearing, BANKS admitted that on or about January 27, 2011, he enticed the victim, a 15 year old girl, to engage in acts of prostitution. Several days earlier, on or about January 20, 2011, the victim ran away from a Baton Rouge home for teenage girls. BANKS placed several ads on an online service often utilized by those in the commercial sex trade. BANKS used the moniker “Sinsational” or “Blonde Bunny” to describe the victim in the ads. BANKS instructed the victim how to engage in telephone conversations with potential customers and how to determine if a customer was a law enforcement officer.
On or about January 27, 2011, in five separate transactions, the victim engaged in sexual activity in exchange for money. Each of these transactions were coordinated by BANKS and occurred in a hotel in Baton Rouge. The victim was paid approximately $1,200 to $1,800, all of which she gave to BANKS.
U.S. Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., stated, “We will continue to be committed to uncovering and prosecuting anyone despicable enough to traffic young teenage victims in the commercial sex trade. We appreciate the strong work of the FBI in this case, and we also commend the Middle District Human Trafficking Task Force for its efforts in educating law enforcement and the public in general about combatting this heinous crime.”
This investigation was conducted by FBI Special Agent Teneka Harris and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frederick A. Menner, Jr. and Susan Amundson.
Baltimore Immigration Judge Participates in Naturalization CeremonyRead the Press Release
BALTIMORE --Immigration Judge Phillip T. Williams from the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Baltimore Immigration Court, delivered the keynote speech and administered the oath of allegiance to approximately 75 candidates during a naturalization ceremony at the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore, Md., on Jan. 25, 2013. The Baltimore District Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, hosted the ceremony.
Biographical Information
Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Judge Williams in March 1995. Judge Williams received a bachelor of arts degree in 1978 from Temple University, a master of arts degree in 1981 from Howard University, and a juris doctorate in 1986 from Howard University School of Law. From 1997 to 2008, he was an assistant chief immigration judge. From 1995 to 1997, he served as an immigration judge in New York. From 1987 to 1995, Judge Williams was an attorney with Maggio & Kattar in Washington, D.C. From 1984 to 1986, he worked as a District of Columbia pre-trial services officer. Judge Williams is a member of the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania Bars.
- EOIR -
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR’s immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.
Executive Office for Immigration Review