Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Monday 9 December 2024
Albany Man Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brian Scott, age 44, of Albany, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine and 100 kilograms of marijuana, and for distributing cocaine.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James; and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Scott admitted that between June 2020 and October 2023, he was a member of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked cocaine and marijuana in the Capital Region and the North Country. Scott admitted that he and a co-conspirator routinely sent drug couriers, whom they referred to as “horses,” between the Capital Region and the North Country to transport cocaine to the North Country and marijuana to the Capital Region. Scott also admitted that he trafficked at least 7 kilograms of cocaine, which he obtained from another co-conspirator, and that he sold over 400 grams of cocaine to another person.
Scott was also ordered to forfeit $4,865 in seized drug money and to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $17,180.
FBI, New York State Police, and HSI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Joseph Hartunian.
18th Street Gang Leader is Ninth and Final Defendant to Plead Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Junior Zelaya Canales, also known as “Terco,” a Queens-based regional leader of the 18th Street gang, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges in connection with his participation in the September 12, 2016 murder of 15-year-old Joshua Guzman in Hempstead, New York. The guilty plea proceeding was held in federal court in Brooklyn before United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez.
Zelaya Canales is the ninth and final defendant to plead guilty under a seventh superseding indictment in connection with a sprawling racketeering conspiracy that also involved the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York; the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco Hernandez in Queens; and multiple shootings and other gang activity. Zelaya Canales’ co-defendants Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, Jose Douglas Castellano, Yanki Misael Cruz Mateo, Israel Mendiola Flores, Yoni Alexander Sierra, Jose Jimenez Chacon, Carolina Cruz and Eric Chavez previously pled guilty. Flores and Chacon were previously sentenced to 425 months’ imprisonment and 269 months’ imprisonment, respectively. At sentencing, each remaining defendant faces up to life imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty pleas.
“Today’s guilty plea marks the end of a sweeping investigation into the violent and disturbing affairs of the 18th Street gang that removed some of the most influential, powerful and ruthless gang leaders and members from city streets across the country,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Together with our law enforcement partners around the nation and the world, my Office will not rest until the scourge of gang violence and senseless loss of life is put to an end. While these guilty pleas cannot undo the grave harm this gang has caused, we hope that it will bring a measure of closure to the victims and their families.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Dallas, the New York State Police, the Kingston Police Department, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Nassau County Police Department, the Hempstead Police Department, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance during the investigation.
Today’s conviction is the latest in a series of recent convictions in this case of leaders, members and associates of 18th Street. According to court filings and proceedings, 18th Street is a well-known and well-established international criminal organization and violent street gang with members and associates residing throughout New York State including Queens and Long Island, and elsewhere throughout the United States including Houston, Texas. 18th Street members regularly engage in murder, attempted murder, assault, extortion, illegal drug and firearms trafficking, false identification document production, witness tampering and money laundering. The defendants occupied various positions within the gang:
- Alfaro Pineda was a national 18th Street gang leader based in Houston, Texas, whose power and control extended across the United States. For example, he collected illicit funds raised by gang members in New York from fees extorted from prostitution brothels and illegal drug trafficking to further promote gang activity, including by providing the money to incarcerated 18th Street members in the United States and in El Salvador. Alfaro Pineda also supplied and trafficked illegal firearms to the gang’s New York-based members.
- Zelaya Canales was a regional 18th Street gang leader based in Queens, New York, whose power and control extended across the New York City metropolitan area.
- Castellano was a senior 18th Street gang member based in Brooklyn, New York, whose influence extended to upstate New York.
- Cruz Mateo was a Queens-based 18th Street gang member.
- Flores was a Kingston, New York-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Sierra was a Queens-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Chacon was a New Jersey-based 18th Street gang member.
- Cruz was a New Jersey-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Chavez was a Queens-based 18th Street gang member.
The defendants committed multiple acts of violence in order to promote and enhance the prestige and reputation of the gang, and to maintain and increase their own membership and status in the gang, including:
September 12, 2016 Murder of Joshua Guzman
In September 2016, Zelaya Canales, then the regional leader of the Shatto Park Locos Sureños (SPLS) sect of 18th Street, ordered that Guzman be killed, in part, because the gang perceived Guzman to have been disrespectful towards 18th Street gang members. In the evening of September 11, 2016, Zelaya Canales dispatched two lower-level gang members to Long Island to lure Guzman out and murder him as part of a demonstration of their allegiance to 18th Street. On September 12, 2016 at approximately 1:03 a.m., the Hempstead Police Department received a ShotSpotter notification of gunshots fired near the intersection of Linden Avenue and Laurel Avenue in Hempstead, New York. A Hempstead Police Department officer and members of Nassau Police Department responded to the location and discovered the body of 15-year-old Guzman near the curb. Guzman was shot once in the back of the head and pronounced dead at the crime scene.
July 9, 2017 Attempted Murder of Rival Gang Members
On July 9, 2017, Zelaya Canales led a shootout in Woodside, Queens, with assistance from at least two additional 18th Street gang members, over a territorial dispute with a rival gang. At approximately 10:35 p.m., NYPD officers responded to the area after numerous calls were made to 9-1-1 concerning multiple gunshots. Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing approximately three to four men run towards Woodhaven Boulevard. After a canvas of the area, police officers recovered nine 9-millimeter shell casings among other evidence.
NYPD subsequently went to Zelaya Canales’s apartment in Queens to execute two arrest warrants unrelated to the shooting. During the execution of the warrants, NYPD recovered a 9-millimeter Ruger with a defaced serial number, 4 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, 56 rounds of .357 magnum ammunition, 34 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition and 23 rounds of .38 ammunition. Subsequent forensic ballistics examination revealed that the Zelaya Canales’s 9-mm Ruger was the same weapon that fired the 9-millimeter shell casings found at the crime scene of the July 9, 2017 shootout in Woodhaven.
September 20, 2017 Assault of John Doe
On September 20, 2017, Chavez, together with another 18th Street gang member, approached an individual (John Doe) on the street and shot him because they believed he was a member of the rival gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). John Doe survived and was treated for a gunshot wound at a local hospital.
October 25, 2017 Murder of Jonathan Figueroa
By October 2017, gang members in New York suspected Jonathan Figueroa, a fellow 18th Street gang member, of cooperating with law enforcement in connection with the investigation of the murder of Guzman. Senior gang members, including Castellano, sought Alfaro Pineda’s authorization to murder Figueroa. Alfaro Pineda’s authorization was sought because Alfaro Pineda had initiated Figueroa into 18th Street in Houston, Texas, and because murdering a fellow gang member required approval from a senior member of the gang, such as Alfaro Pineda. With Alfaro Pineda’s authorization, Castellano activated gang members based in Kingston, New York, and directed them to coordinate with Queens-based gang members to see to Figueroa’s execution. Gang members in Kingston then began digging a grave in Turkey Point State Forest in anticipation of Figueroa’s arrival.
In the late-night hours of October 24, 2017, Cruz Mateo lured and travelled with Figueroa from Queens to Kingston, New York. Upon their arrival in Kingston, they were met by Flores and other 18th Street members and associates who, into the early morning hours of October 25, 2017, brought Figueroa to Turkey Point State Forest, brutally stabbed him to death and buried him in the makeshift grave. Cruz Mateo ordered the murder to be video-recorded—capturing multiple 18th Street members and associates repeatedly stabbing Figueroa, slashing his throat, amputating his ear and dragging his body. In the video, Cruz Mateo stated that Figueroa was being murdered for “being a rat.” Cruz Mateo then sent the video to other 18th Street members as a warning to other gang members who might disrespect the gang or cooperate with law enforcement. Figueroa’s body was discovered in February 2018 by the FBI, along with state and local law enforcement authorities, in a five-foot deep grave in Turkey Point. He sustained more than 100 stab wounds including at least one stab wound to the head that appears to have fractured his skull, and a slash to his throat that ruptured his trachea.
February 2, 2018 Murder of Oscar Antonio Blanco Hernandez
On February 2, 2018, several gang members killed Blanco Hernandez because they believed he was a member of the rival MS-13 gang. Chacon had met Blanco Hernandez weeks earlier through their mutual employer, a New Jersey-based house painting company. On the morning of the murder, Cruz and Chacon picked up Blanco Hernandez at his home in New Jersey under the guise of going to smoke marijuana as friends. Cruz and Chacon drove Blanco Hernandez to Queens where they met 18th Street gang members including Cruz Mateo and Sierra who entered the rear passenger seat of Cruz’s car on opposite sides, sandwiching Blanco Hernandez between them. Cruz drove Chacon, Cruz-Mateo, Sierra and Blanco Hernandez a short distance to a quiet residential neighborhood. Cruz-Mateo, Sierra and Blanco-Hernandez got out of the car and started walking, while Cruz and Chacon stayed behind with the car. After walking for a few minutes, Cruz-Mateo drew a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun and shot Blanco-Hernandez in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Blanco Hernandez’s body was discovered on a residential street in the Jamaica Hills section of Queens. He sustained three gunshot wounds: two gunshots to the torso and one to the head.
* * * * *
This case is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Erin Reid, Margaret Schierberl, Adam Amir and Rebecca Urquiola are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Tareva Torres and Samuel Ronchetti.
The Defendant:
JUNIOR ZELAYA-CANALES, also known as “Terco”
Age: 28
Jamaica, New YorkCo-Defendants Previously Convicted:
WALTER FERNANDO ALFARO PINEDA, also known as “Clever”
Age: 45
Houston, TexasYANKI MISAEL CRUZ MATEO, also known as “Yenki Misael Cruz Mateo,” “Yankee Mateo,” “Doggy” and “Wino”
Age: 25
Jamaica, New YorkISRAEL MEDIOLA FLORES, also known as “Chapito” and “Sinaloa”
Age: 29
Kingston, New YorkYONI ALEXANDER SIERRA, also known as “Arca,” “Arc Angel” and “Wasson”
Age: 26
Jamaica, New YorkJOSE JIMENEZ CHACON, also known as “Little One”
Age: 26
New Brunswick, New JerseyCAROLINA CRUZ, also known as “La Fiera”
Age: 31
Elizabeth, New JerseyJOSE DOUGLAS CASTELLANO, also known as “Chino”
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkERIC CHAVEZ, also known as “Lunatico”
Age: 25
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-139 (S-7) (HG)
Friday 6 December 2024
York Resident Charged with Distributing and Possessing Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of York, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Israel Washington, 33, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Washington distributed material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor on March 31, 2022, and April 6, 2022, and possessed such material on March 7, 2024.
The law provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years of imprisonment on each of the distribution charges and up to 10 years of imprisonment on the possession charge. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney William Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wire fraud, extortion indictment highlights dangers of elder fraudRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chinese national has been indicted for his role in a multi-state scheme that swindled more than $1 million by targeting senior citizens.
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, Receiving the Proceeds of Extortion, and Possession of Controlled Substances, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This indictment uncovers a financially devastating scheme that targeted seniors up to 92 years old. It represents just a fraction of the multitude of victims of elder fraud each year in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting vulnerable citizens from the predation of scam artists.”
Originally indicted in September, the superseding federal indictment returned in December by the Southern District Grand Jury alleges that Cheung was part of a conspiracy that targeted elderly victims in multiple cities including Savannah and Pooler, Georgia; Naples, Florida; and Cleveland, Tennessee. The conspirators initially contacted seniors through phone calls or pop-up messages on their computers, falsely claiming that the victim’s computer or financial accounts had been compromised.
The conspirators, claiming to provide assistance to the seniors, then persuaded the elderly victims to withdraw large sums of money, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars to deliver to a conspirator for safekeeping by a government agency. Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to pick up approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler.
As discussed in court documents and testimony, Cheung is a previously deported Chinese national illegally present in the United States. He currently is being held in federal custody awaiting further court proceedings.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), in 2023, victims older than age 60 represented the largest single age group targeted by fraud, losing more than $3.5 billion – an almost 11 percent increase from 2022, with more than $92 million in losses to senior victims in Georgia alone. The average dollar loss of each elderly victim was nearly $34,000. Significantly, law enforcement officials believe the amount of fraud is significantly higher than reported because many victims are embarrassed or afraid to report the crime.
Scams commonly targeting older adults include:
- Government imposter fraud, in which individuals falsely claim to represent a government agency such as Social Security, the Internal Revenue Service, Medicaid, or local, state, or federal law enforcement, contact a person to “warn” them of alleged suspicious activity and take possession of money or other items of value from the victim for “safekeeping”;
- Tech support scams, with telemarketers claiming to help “hacking” victims, or notifying the victim of false lottery winnings or other prizes; and,
- Romance scams, in which scammers use dating sites, social networks, or chat rooms to contact older adults and build online relationships so the scammer can persuade the victim to send them money.
To avoid falling victim to these and other scams, the Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative advises potential victims and their caregivers to:
- Accept computer or other technical support only from known, trusted individuals or from a person you’ve hired for that purpose;
- Scammers falsely claim you must act immediately; before taking any action to purportedly help a grandchild or other relative or friend, check with that person or that person’s relation by phone to validate the request;
- If a caller claims to be from an established organization such as a charity or law enforcement, look up the number of the organization independently and call them to verify the request;
- Consider it a red flag if the caller insists on secrecy. Never allow anyone to discourage you from seeking information, verification, and counsel from family or friends before making any financial transaction;
- The federal government will never call you on the phone to ask for personal information or to threaten you;
- Do not send money, gift cards, or wire transfers to anyone you’ve met only online; and,
- Do not click on links sent to you in unsolicited emails or text messages.
Those who believe they have been, or who may know, victims of elder fraud are asked to call 911 in an emergency, or contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Educational resources on elder fraud and abuse are available online at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Pooler Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Matthew A. Josephson.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Sentencing in Shiprock Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Pine Hill man has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for a fatal stabbing of John Doe in 2023 during a gathering in Shiprock, New Mexico.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Kirtie Cohoe, 48, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally stabbed John Doe during a gathering at a relative's home in Shiprock, New Mexico. During an altercation in the relative’s kitchen, Cohoe lost self-control and attacked Doe with a knife.
After the incident, Cohoe fled the scene on foot, taking the weapon with him. The Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations (NDCI) and the FBI found John Doe deceased at the home with multiple stab wounds. Cohoe was later apprehended in nearby woods, where he was found with blood on his clothing. The knife was recovered near Cohoe’s wallet, and DNA analysis later linked Cohoe to the knife's handle. Cohoe has admitted to causing John Doe's death.
Upon his release from prison, Cohoe will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Simonton Statement on Methamphetamine SentencingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Leigha Simonton today released the following statement in response to The Dallas Morning News' December 2024 methamphetamine series:
Federal judges, prosecutors, and agents work each day to do justice, which includes protecting our North Texas communities from defendants who seek to spread methamphetamine throughout our region. As they tackle headline-grabbing drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine – a drug disproportionally trafficked by armed white supremacist gang and cartel members – continues to wreck lives. Research shows the methamphetamine mortality rate has increased 50-fold over the past decade as more traffickers mix meth with other drugs, and that Texas has the second-highest number of meth users in the United States. North Texas in particular has a plethora of interstate highways running north-to-south and east-to-west, and for decades we have seen meth and other deadly substances come to and through our cities at an alarming rate not seen in most of the rest of America.
Understanding the toll of methamphetamine, federal officials work doggedly to hold traffickers accountable, exhibiting leniency where appropriate. But importantly, each case – and each defendant – is different. The high sentences specifically cited by The News were impacted by various circumstances not mentioned in the articles: At least one defendant outright admitted to membership in the white supremacist gang Aryan Circle, while others worked with Mexican drug cartels like Los Zetas and others. Several lied on the stand, not only about their involvement in methamphetamine trafficking, but about where certain cash came from, the purpose of certain drug paraphernalia, their general knowledge of the drug, and even conversations they’d had with attorneys. One defendant even placed online advertisements for “ice skating,” common parlance for traffickers exchanging meth for sex during drug binges.
Calculating average methamphetamine sentences in North Texas, comparing them to meth sentences nationwide, exploring certain evidentiary standards, and even probing the fairness of the sentencing guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, are well within the bounds of objective journalism. But labeling federal judges and prosecutors “accomplices,” as if they are involved in something nefarious when in fact they are sincerely committed to justly applying the law and taking account of all the facts involved in a particular case, is misleading and offensive. While the press certainly retains the freedom to critique our system of justice, it remains the best system the world has ever known. That system, and our rights, crumble without the noble efforts of our federal Judges and Assistant United States Attorneys. I am proud to stand with them.
Twenty-Five Charged in Connection with Multi-State Fentanyl and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Twenty-five individuals have been charged in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and cocaine with activity that spanned across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Over 2.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, 300 grams of cocaine, six firearms and approximately $400,000 was seized during the investigation.
“Communities across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are safer today because of this takedown that dismantled a sophisticated and large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in plain sight. We allege that these defendants exploited addiction for personal profit and with full knowledge that the drugs they were peddling could be lethal. They allegedly raked in $20,000 a day at the expense of the lives and safety of people suffering from drug addiction,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case should send an unmistakable message: together with our federal, state and local partners, we will not allow drug traffickers to profit while our communities suffer, and we are committed to disrupting these criminal enterprises.”
“Fentanyl and cocaine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of Massachusetts. The DEA will continue to work each day alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing deadly drugs in order to profit while endangering the lives of others."
The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and have been apprehended. Six defendants remain at large and remain under seal:
1. Yulial Cuello-Reynoso a/k/a “Sonny,” 33, of Leominster;
2. Yordania Abel Rivera a/k/a “Mommy,” 33, of Leominster;
3. Jorge Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a Yeison Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a “Jason” a/k/a “Libreta” a/k/a Yeikel Perez-Tejeda, 24, of Boston;
4. Rafael Concepcion a/k/a “Menor,” 34, of Boston;
5. Alinson Joel Ortiz Arias, 32, of Boston;
6. Axel Brea Baez, 25, of Boston;
7. Denly Soto-Tejeda, 25, of Manchester, N.H.;
8. Yeiron Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a “Boli,” 28, of Boston;
9. Alberto Gonzalez, 36, of Boston;
10. Luis Guerrero, 25, of Lawrence;
11. Mariela Cuello Reynoso, 30, of Boston;
12. Elisbania Tejeda-Soto a/k/a “Lisbania,” 25, of Boston;
13. Rubert Adrian Jimenez a/k/a “Soga,” 24, of Boston;
14. Adrian Suncar-Gonzalez, 38, of Boston;
15. Johangel Mejia-Hernandez, 22, of Boston;
16. Francisco Tavarez Contreras, 43, of Boston;
17. Santo Franco-Sanchez, 42, of Brookline;
18. Carlos Abel Rivera, 34, of North Smithfield, R.I.; and
19. Anthony Cuoco, 43, of Barnstable.According to the charging documents, in March 2022, law enforcement began an investigation into a large-scale drug dispatch service operating in and around Boston. Over the course of the investigation, undercover drug purchases and intercepted communications established that the defendants allegedly distributed fentanyl and cocaine throughout eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Specifically, it is alleged that the drug trafficking organization is led by Yulial Cuello-Reynoso, who operated a drug customer order telephone and employed distributors and stash house operators to process, store and distribute narcotics. The organization allegedly distributed approximately $20,000 worth of drugs per day and maintained multiple stash locations simultaneously. The organization also allegedly employed a color-coding system to differentiate between the drugs (fentanyl, crack cocaine and powder cocaine) it sold and frequently concealed drugs in socks within the engine compartments of cars driven by distributors. Some of the defendants openly discussed the dangers of the drugs they were distributing. For example, when referring to drug customers, Tejeda-Soto allegedly stated in an intercepted call, “Those people like the stuff that kills them.” During the course of the investigation, over 2.3 kilograms of fentanyl and 300 grams of cocaine was seized. In addition, approximately 12 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, six firearms and approximately $400,000 was seized during searches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Levy, DEA Acting SAC Belleau and Michael Cox, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police; The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in the investigation. Special assistance was provided by the Arlington and Medford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Admit to Drug Trafficking in Monongalia CountyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three individuals admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking organization that supplied large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to North Central West Virginia.
Those who entered pleas are:
- James People, II, 28, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, who pled guilty to the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Jeffrey Marsh, 45, of Morgantown, West Virginia, who pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and
- William Durnall, 60, of Elkins, West Virginia, who pled guilty to the distribution of methamphetamine;
Durnall also pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in a separate case.
According to court documents, the three defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization, responsible for large-scale distribution in and about North Central West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Magistrate Michael John Aloi presided.
Texas Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Marco Godinez, age 36, of Houston, Texas, to 60 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. The Court further sentenced Godinez to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on November 8, 2022, Godinez was pulled over by an Iberville Parish law enforcement officer for a traffic violation. He voluntarily consented to a search of his vehicle after being advised that he would receive a traffic warning violation. During the search of Godinez’s truck bed, officers found five kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jene C. Clayton.
Telemarketer Sentenced for $67M Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $67 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Goyos, 38, of West Palm Beach, was employed at a call center that engaged in deceptive telemarketing calls targeting thousands of Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians. Goyos managed the so-called “doctor chase” division of the call center, which contacted the primary care physicians of targeted Medicare beneficiaries and tricked these medical providers into ordering medically unnecessary genetic tests based on medical paperwork that the call center created. For example, Goyos directed call center employees to falsely represent to providers that the Medicare beneficiaries were “mutual patients” who had requested these genetic tests and that the beneficiaries had medical conditions justifying genetic testing, when neither statement was true.
Goyos and his co-conspirators then used those doctors’ orders to submit claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests. The results of these tests often were not sent to the Medicare beneficiaries’ primary care physicians and were not used in the treatment of the beneficiaries.
In total, between May 2020 and July 2021, Goyos and his co-conspirators submitted over $67 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $53 million.
In October 2023, a jury convicted Goyos of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Nine additional Florida residents were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Daniel M. Carver, 38, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
- Thomas Dougherty, 42, of Palm Beach, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
- John Paul Gosney Jr., 42, of Parkland, was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.
- Galina Rozenberg, 42, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Michael Rozenberg, 61, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Ethan Macier, 25, of Boynton Beach, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
- Louis “Gino” Carver, 33, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
- Ashley Cigarroa, 32, of North Lauderdale, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
- Timothy Richardson, 31, of Lantana, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Andrew Tamayo, along with former Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Klco, Marx Calderon, and Sandra Dermici for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. HHS-OIG and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services work collaboratively as Strike Force partners to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Telemarketer Sentenced for $67M Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI — A Florida man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $67 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Goyos, 38, of West Palm Beach, was employed at a call center that engaged in deceptive telemarketing calls targeting thousands of Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians. Goyos managed the so-called “doctor chase” division of the call center, which contacted the primary care physicians of targeted Medicare beneficiaries and tricked these medical providers into ordering medically unnecessary genetic tests based on medical paperwork that the call center created. For example, Goyos directed call center employees to falsely represent to providers that the Medicare beneficiaries were “mutual patients” who had requested these genetic tests and that the beneficiaries had medical conditions justifying genetic testing, when neither statement was true.
Goyos and his co-conspirators then used those doctors’ orders to submit claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests. The results of these tests often were not sent to the Medicare beneficiaries’ primary care physicians and were not used in the treatment of the beneficiaries.
In total, between May 2020 and July 2021, Goyos and his co-conspirators submitted over $67 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $53 million.
In October 2023, a jury convicted Goyos of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Nine additional Florida residents were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy:
Daniel M. Carver, 38, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
Thomas Dougherty, 42, of Palm Beach, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
John Paul Gosney Jr., 42, of Parkland, was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.
Galina Rozenberg, 42, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
Michael Rozenberg, 61, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
Ethan Macier, 25, of Boynton Beach, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Louis “Gino” Carver, 33, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Ashley Cigarroa, 32, of North Lauderdale, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
Timothy Richardson, 31, of Lantana, was sentenced to two years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Klco, Marx Calderon, and Sandra Dermici for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture. Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Andrew Tamayo, along with former Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. HHS-OIG and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services work collaboratively as Strike Force partners to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
###
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison After Girlfriend’s Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced a man who was caught with a gun after a violent attack on his girlfriend to 12 years in prison.
On July 11, 2022, Justin L. Collins took his then-girlfriend’s phone and cash and refused to let her out of the car during an argument. When she tried to get out, Collins threatened her at gunpoint, his plea agreement says. He punched her in the face and pistol-whipped her before driving her to a park where his sister and another woman assaulted her.
During the resulting investigation, when St. Louis County Police Department officers found Collins and approached the car he was driving, Collins attempted to run away, but was caught and arrested. Police found a 9mm handgun in plain view between the driver's seat and center console in the vehicle. Collins is a felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm.
Collins, now 31, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in January to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
South Hampton Roads drug trafficker sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, from June 2020 to January 2021, Adam Donley Greenberg, aka Adam Brandon, 39, obtained methamphetamine for redistribution from Michael Wade Kozak, 57, who resided in the Atlanta area. Kozak used FedEx to ship meth from Georgia to Greenberg in Virginia, and Greenberg used Cash App and other means to pay Kozak. Greenberg and Kozak used a social media app to communicate and arrange shipments and payments.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Greenberg received a meth parcel from Kozak through FedEx at an apartment in Norfolk. On Nov. 14, 2020, narcotics detectives with the Chesapeake Police Department located Greenberg among several individuals in room 616 at a hotel in Norfolk and took him into custody on an outstanding warrant. During a search of the room, the police discovered 85.24 grams of meth hidden behind a wall painting.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-88.
Second Member of Multi-State Gas Pump Skimming Device and Fuel Theft Ring Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Luis Edel Trujillo Pena (29, Miami) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pena faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count and a minimum penalty of 2 years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count, and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendants defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Pena and his co-conspirators worked together to install skimmers on gas pumps at gas stations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida, including the Florida Panhandle. The conspirators used the skimmers to illegally obtain credit and debit card account numbers connected with the purchase of fuel by customers at the gas pump. Using the account numbers stolen by the skimmers, Pena and his co-conspirators made counterfeit credit and debit cards. Pena then distributed the counterfeit credit and debit cards to his co-conspirators to purchase large amount of diesel fuel.
During the conspiracy, Pena and others drove vehicles that contained a fuel bladder system. This system allowed the conspirators to fake pumping gas into the vehicle’s gas tank when in fact the diesel fuel was being pumped into the fuel bladder system. Analysis by law enforcement of fuel purchases, vehicle tracker data, gas station video surveillance, and real time surveillance of the conspirators determined that Pena and other conspirators drove to multiple gas stations throughout Northern Florida. After obtaining the gas, Pena directed the conspirators to offload the stolen fuel into 9,500-gallon tanker trucks at a fuel yard. The stolen fuel was then sold to a gas station associated with one of the co-conspirators.
Deonelky Tabares Cid (36, Tampa) previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, four counts of wire fraud, six counts of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft for his role in this case. He is pending sentencing.
Deyvis Hernandez (37, Miami), Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa (32, Miami), and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo (38, Jacksonville) are set for trial in January 2025.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, U.S. General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Salamanca man arrested, charged with attempted production of child pornography and attempting to have sex with a 12-year-old girlRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jack Sherlock, 55, of Salamanca, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted production of child pornography and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Franz M. Wright, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on November 7, 2024, the Salamanca Police Department contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and advised that a Pennsylvania-based citizens group engaged in undercover chats with Sherlock, who had initiated sexual communications with a Facebook account controlled by the citizens group purporting to belong to a 12-year-old female living in Salamanca. During these communications, Sherlock stated that he wanted the 12-year-old to send him nude images and had expressed a desire to meet in person to engage in sexual activity.
On November 20, 2024, investigators took over the Facebook account from the citizens group and engaged in conversation with Sherlock. During the conversation, an investigator, posing as the 12-year-old girl, stated that a “cousin,” also a 12-year-old girl, was with her. The investigator then sent Sherlock a link to a Facebook account for the “cousin.” Sherlock accepted and soon began a sexually oriented conversation with the “cousin.” He asked for sexually explicit images and planned to meet in person to have sex. On December 4, 2024, Sherlock was arrested as he attempted to meet up with the 12-year-old girl.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the HSI Buffalo Office at 716-945-2330.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Salamanca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jamie Deck, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Romanian National Involved in 2007 Connecticut Home Invasion Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEFAN ALEXANDRU BARABAS, 38, a citizen of Romania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a 2007 Connecticut home invasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court in this case and related cases, shortly before midnight on April 15, 2007, Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu, wearing masks and brandishing knives and facsimile firearms, entered a home in South Kent, Connecticut. The intruders bound and blindfolded two adult victims and injected each with a substance the intruders claimed was a deadly virus. The intruders ordered the victims to pay $8.5 million or else they would be left to die from the lethal injection. When it became clear that the victims were not in position to meet the intruders’ demands, the intruders drugged the two residents with a sleeping aid and fled in the homeowner’s Jeep Cherokee.
The stolen Jeep Cherokee was abandoned the next morning at a Home Depot in New Rochelle, New York. On April 21, 2007, an accordion case washed ashore in Jamaica Bay. The content of the case included a stun gun, a 12-inch knife, a black plastic Airsoft gun, a crowbar, syringes, sleeping pills, latex gloves, and a laminated telephone card with the South Kent address of the victims.
In 2010, an investigator from the Connecticut State Police connected a partial Pennsylvania license plate, seen by a witness near the victims’ estate on the night of the crime, to a car owned by Michael N. Kennedy. Kennedy had formerly shared an address with Emmanuel Nicolescu, who had been employed by the victim. The investigator then discovered that the data for the cell tower near the New Rochelle Home Depot contained a call by a phone number registered to Emmanuel Nicolescu, minutes after the Jeep was abandoned. Shortly after that, investigators from the State Police and FBI gathered Emanuel Nicolescu’s DNA and found that it partially matched a sample from the Jeep’s steering wheel.
As to the accordion case, investigators learned that Kennedy’s father was a professional accordion player, and witnesses later identified the knife in the accordion case as a gift given to Emanuel Nicolescu by his father-in-law.
The investigation revealed that Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy worked with Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu to commit the crime. Barabas’ co-conspirators planned the home invasion, which included the research and purchase of implements necessary for the crime, such as two-way radios, stun guns and imitation pistols. On the night of April 15, 2007, Kennedy drove Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Nicolescu to a location near the South Kent home, and then picked them up the following morning in New Rochelle at the location where the intruders abandoned the stolen Jeep.
Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, Alexandru Nicolescu, and Kennedy fled the U.S. during the investigation. Emanuel Nicolescu returned to the U.S. and was arrested in Illinois in January 2011. Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy were charged by indictment in February 2011, and Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu were charged by indictment in November 2012.
Barabas was a fugitive until his arrest in Hungary on August 16, 2022. On June 18, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
Barabas has been detained since his arrest.
On March 22, 2012, a jury in New Haven found Emanuel Nicolescu guilty of attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On August 17, 2012, he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment.
Alexandru Nicolescu was arrested on November 14, 2013, in the United Kingdom. On January 8, 2016, he pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 15, 2019, he was sentenced to 121 months of imprisonment.
Kennedy, also known as Nicolae Helerea, a dual citizen of Romania and the U.S., voluntarily returned to the U.S. from Romania and, on November 5, 2012, pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 4, 2016, he was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and New York City Police Department. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and law enforcement authorities in Hungary and the United Kingdom for their assistance in this case.
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
Rochester man arrested, charged for having sexual relations with 12-and 14-year-old sistersRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ahmed Yaqoob, 24, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 30 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 18, 2024, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Town of North Collins, to follow up on a report concerning the rape of a minor. The investigation determined that a 12-year-old (victim 1) began communicating with Yaqoob on October 17, 2024, through the dating application “Pure.” Yaqoob and victim 1 made arrangements to meet at the victim’s residence in North Collins. When Yaqoob arrived, the victim and her 14-year-old sister (victim 2) got into Yaqoob’s vehicle. The complaint states that Yaqoob drove both girls to the area of Zoar Valley Road in the Town of Concord, where Yaqoob had sexual relations with victim 1 and victim 2. Investigators believe Yaqoob recorded the sexual activity on his cell phone. On October 24, 2024, investigators searched Yaqoob’s cell phone and recovered two videos that had been recorded and deleted from the device on their respective dates and times. The videos included the victims engaged in sexual relations with Yaqoob.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the FBI Buffalo Office at 716-856-7800.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Ravenel Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Derrick Santell Brown, 33, of Ravenel, was sentenced to 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 12, 2023, an officer with the Goose Creek Police Department conducted a traffic stop on an SUV for having an inoperable headlight. Immediately upon stopping in a nearby parking lot, Derrick Brown, the defendant, and sole occupant, exited the vehicle. After a brief interaction with the officer, Brown fled the traffic stop. He was apprehended by another officer about 300 yards away. Brown had more than $10,000 in cash, 43 grams of marijuana split in two bags, and two cell phones on his person. A search of the car revealed an AK-47 style firearm with an extended magazine containing 48 rounds.
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Brown to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Goose Creek Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.
###
Portsmouth sailor pleads guilty to receiving child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former U.S. Navy sailor pled guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, from January 11, 2023, to March 23, 2023, Gabriel Benjamin Hester, 27, who at the time was an active-duty service member stationed in Portsmouth, uploaded seven files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
On Aug. 22, 2023, investigators with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) executed a Command Authorized Search and Seizure for Hester’s cellphone aboard the USS John Warner Barge. On Aug. 25, 2023, NCIS executed a search warrant for Hester's phone. NCIS recovered 206 pictures and 62 videos of CSAM and 71 images of child erotica. An additional 60 files of CSAM were recovered from the Snapchat folder "my eyes only."
The search of Hester's phone revealed that Hester received, purchased, traded, and distributed CSAM using the Telegram messaging app. For example, on April 27, 2023, Hester asked another Telegram user, "You have cp?" and requested to exchange files. Hester then sent two videos of CSAM and asked, "Bueno?" Hester then received three CSAM videos and thanked the sender. Hester followed by asking the user in Spanish if he had more CSAM videos. Hester sent two more CSAM videos and asked the user to trade. Hester received four more CSAM video files.
Hester is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-127.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on December 5, 2024, to 30 months of probation and ordered to pay $95,100 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) on a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on William Moriarty, 72, of Pittsburgh’s Central Northside neighborhood.
According to information presented to the Court, Moriarty was employed and received income during the period August 2010 through May 2018 from a home healthcare company owned by a family member while also receiving disability benefits from the SSA. He repeatedly failed to inform the SSA of his employment, ensuring his receipt of at least $95,100 in disability payments to which he was not entitled.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Moriarty.
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Large-Scale Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Dante Webb, 43, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl; 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine base; and a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine. Webb also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute various quantities of controlled substances.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 3, 2022, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responded to a residence in Pittsburgh, from which Webb fled upon law enforcement’s arrival. After learning that Webb stored both controlled substances and firearms in the residence, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence, resulting in the seizure of digital scales, cellular phones, firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a safe from a closet, which contained a garbage bag of packaged controlled substances. Law enforcement seized over 26,000 glassine bags (each generally considered a single dose) from Webb’s residence, which contained mixtures of fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl. Officers also seized packaged cocaine and crack.
In addition to the controlled substances, law enforcement seized eight firearms from the residence, some of which were loaded with attached extended magazines. Two of the firearms were Polymer 80 pistols, which are untraceable due to the lack of a serial number. A forensic scientist examined the firearms and determined that one of these pistols only operated as a fully automatic firearm. Many of the firearms were easily accessible from a duffle bag located under a bed in the residence, and they were recovered in close proximity to the safe containing the packaged controlled substances. Prior to the seizure, Webb was twice convicted of aggravated assault related to shootings in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 7, 2022, law enforcement located and attempted to arrest Webb in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh. Webb again fled from police, running in and out of traffic. After falling while jumping a low wall, Webb was arrested, with a search incident to arrest upon Webb’s person and a bag in his possession resulting in the seizure of approximately $6,000, a digital scale, an owe sheet, a flip phone, and packaged controlled substances. The glassine bags seized from Webb bore similar markings to the bags recovered from Webb’s safe on June 3, 2022, and a search of Webb’s phone revealed numerous photographs of Webb posing with large amounts of cash and multiple firearms inside his residence.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. The maximum sentence for the drug trafficking crime committed on June 3, 2022, is not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. The maximum sentence for possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime is not less than five years and up to life in prison, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the crime of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, the maximum sentence is up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the drug trafficking crime committed on June 7, 2022, the maximum sentence is up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Judge Ranjan ordered Webb remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Justin E. Lewis are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Webb.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of five counts of Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Jeremy Crow, age 31, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on each count and ordered to pay a total of $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for the five convictions. The prison sentences and periods of supervision were ordered to be served concurrently.
Crow was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in September of 2024.
On December 22, 2023, a 911 call was placed by an unknown caller in a residential area of Pine Ridge. Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety was dispatched to the area. A lone tribal officer arrived on scene and observed Crow and an unknown female with apparent facial injuries. The officer made contact with Crow, who was observed to have uncontrollable movements and believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The officer attempted to detain Crow, who immediately resisted and assaulted the officer by pushing him backwards. Crow then jumped into the police vehicle and was going to drive off until the officer jumped in and pushed the ignition switch to off. Crow was forcibly removed from the police vehicle and actively resisted law enforcement’s efforts to detain him. After numerous commands, Crow was eventually tased, but the tasing did not entirely subdue Crow. A bystander noticed the officer was struggling to detain Crow and called for backup for the officer. Additional officers arrived on scene and during the process of handcuffing Crow, the original officer was bit on his right bicep. After securing Crow into the backseat of the patrol car, Crow spat on a female officer. Crow was eventually taken to jail. Two days later, on December 24, 2023, a corrections officer attempted to provide food and a drink to Crow. When the cell door opened, Crow rushed through the door forcing his way out. Crow resisted attempts by the corrections officers to capture him and bit two corrections officers on their hands.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pike County Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Jonancy, Ky., woman, Sasha Adkins, 37, was sentenced on Thursday, to 135 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to her plea agreement, on June 16, 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 360 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 28 grams of fentanyl, $4,975 in cash, and 12 firearms, from Adkins’ residence. Adkins possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute the drugs.
Under federal law, Adkins must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –
Pediatric Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing thousands of images and videos of minors, including some 12 years old and younger, engaging in sexually-explicit activity.
“Parents entrusted their children to Kim for pediatric care, while unbeknownst to them, he was amassing thousands of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our Office is committed to prioritizing the prosecution of sexual predators who exploit and abuse children and to achieving a measure of justice for families impacted by these horrific sex crimes.”
“This case is particularly disturbing because it is an example that child predators come from all walks of life,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing demonstrates that no person is above the law. Regardless of employment, wealth, or social status, the FBI will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading and possession of child pornography.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: An FBI investigation of Paul Kim resulted from a broader investigation into a commercial sexual exploitation ring which advertised and sold child pornography on several online platforms. FBI Special agents identified Kim as one of the suspected purchasers of the material.
In December 2023, the agents executed a search warrant for Kim and his residence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, seizing approximately 30 electronic devices. The agents located about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child sexual assault material on these devices. Several videos in Kim’s possession depicted prepubescent girls forced to engage in sexual acts with adult males or objects.
Paul Bogeun Kim, 31, of Sandy Springs, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to three years, two months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was convicted of possession of child pornography, after he pleaded guilty to the charge on August 23, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. prosecuted the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Operator of Sober Homes Pleads Guilty to Fraud Schemes Involving Sober Home Client, Mortgage Fraud and Mass Save Program and COVID-19 Business LoansRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The operator of numerous sober homes in Massachusetts, who also operated insulation companies receiving funds through the Mass Save Program, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his involvement in four different fraud schemes involving sober homes in the Greater Boston area, the Mass Save Program, mortgage lenders and a federal loan program that assisted businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Daniel Cleggett, 38, of Kingston, formerly of Braintree and Quincy, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy; one count of conspiracy to make false statements to a mortgage lending business (mortgage fraud conspiracy); 25 counts of wire fraud; six counts of unlawful monetary transactions (money laundering); and three counts of making false statements to a mortgage lending business. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2025. Cleggett was arrested and charged in March 2023 along with co-conspirator Nicholas Espinosa.
Espinosa pleaded guilty to his role in the fraud schemes on Oct. 3, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2025.
Cleggett was the founder of the sober home business A Vision From God LLC (AVFG). Established in November 2016, AVFG owned and operated sober homes in Boston, Wakefield, Quincy and Weymouth under trade names including Brady’s Place, Lakeshore Retreat and Lambert House. Espinosa managed the day-to-day affairs of Cleggett’s sober home business.
Cleggett, Espinosa and a sober home client entered into a conspiracy to defraud a New York-based family trust that was paying for the client’s room and board at Brady’s Place, located in Quincy. Specifically, Cleggett and Espinosa overcharged the family trust for room and board by up to $12,500 per month by submitting false and fraudulent invoices to the family trust. Cleggett and Espinosa would then issue “refund” checks to the client in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
From approximately October 2019 to December 2021, Cleggett personally, and through straw purchasers including Espinosa, purchased the three residential properties in Weymouth and Boston to use as sober homes. Cleggett, Espinosa and others submitted false information and fraudulent documentation including falsely representing that the three properties were intended to be purchased as primary residences when, in reality, each was intended to be a sober home.
In addition to the sober home business, Cleggett operated numerous insulation contracting companies that participated in the Mass Save Program: Green Save Energy Corporation; Environmental Construction Objective Inc. (ECO); Green Giants, LLC; and Insulation Situation, LLC. Mass Save is a Massachusetts public/private partnership sponsored by gas and electric utility companies that funds energy conservation projects and improvements via energy efficiency funds charged to Massachusetts residents’ utility bills. Specifically, Green Save and ECO received millions of dollars for residential insulation work from a lead vendor company under the Mass Save program. From 2018 through mid-2021, Green Save and ECO fraudulently billed the vendor company for required permits that were not actually obtained. Green Save and ECO were ultimately terminated from participating in the lead vendor company’s program in June 2021, and Cleggett was banned from participating in the Mass Save program. In response to this, Cleggett, Espinosa and other co-conspirators formed Insulation Situation and Green Giants to enter as new lead vendors with the same company under straw owners. As a result, Cleggett obtained a total of $954,443 in payments from the company to Green Giants and Insulation Situation, despite him being banned from participating in the Mass Save program.
Additionally, on April 1, 2020, Cleggett submitted three Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to the Small Business Administration for AVFG, the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship and Green Save. Cleggett obtained a total of $794,900 in EIDL loans and advances. In the applications, Cleggett falsely denied involvement in illegal activity despite his involvement in the sober home wire fraud scheme and the mortgage fraud scheme involving one of his Weymouth sober homes. Cleggett’s Sole Proprietorship EIDL application was false because the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship did not exist. Despite certifying that EIDL proceeds would only be used for “working capital” for the entity seeking the loan, Cleggett used tens of thousands of dollars from the funds to pay for personal expenses including EZ-Pass bills, gym membership fees, pet expenses, airline tickets, car rentals, vacation trips to Yellowstone, Montana and Aruba, and thousands of dollars in hotel resort stays for Cleggett and his girlfriend – which included spa fees as well as a wine and caviar dinner, among other expenses. Cleggett also used Green Save EIDL funds for $37,997 in wedding expenses.
The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false statements to a mortgage lending business provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Kingston, Randolph and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Oldsmar Man Pleads Guilty to Producing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse and AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Justin Ryan Culmo (40, Oldsmar) has pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child sexual abuse material, one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, one count of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count of production of child sexual abuse material that is an adapted or modified depiction of a minor. Culmo faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Culmo produced child sexual abuse imagery involving children as young as infants and toddlers, and produced thousands of images of child sexual abuse using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Culmo possessed approximately 85,00 images of child sexual abuse material, 845 videos of child sexual abuse material, and 8,500 AI-generated images of child sexual abuses.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nine Eastern District of New York Employees and One Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Receive the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) Director's AwardRead the Press Release
Seven Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), a Public Affairs Officer, a Victim Witness Specialist, and a former AUSA from the Eastern District of New York, were among those recognized by the Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) as recipients of the 39th Annual Director’s Awards.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated: “I am filled with pride and admiration for the honorees whose outstanding work has furthered the mission of our Office and the Department of Justice through aggressive, fair, and compassionate enforcement of the law, and dedication to crime prevention and reentry initiatives.”
EOUSA Director Stephanie Hinds stated: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to all the award recipients. This recognition is a testament to your hard work, tireless dedication, and unwavering commitment for advancing the Department of Justice’s mission.”
Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney – Civil Division
AUSAs David Cooper and Dara Olds are recognized for their exceptional work defending the government’s interest in Campos, et al. v. Kijikazi. The case involved the Social Security Administration’s response to the global pandemic and the continuation of benefits for those in the Supplemental Security Income program.
Superior Performance by a Litigative Team – U.S. v. UBS Securities LLC et al.
AUSAs Michael Castiglione, Richard Hayes, Edward Newman, Bonni Perlin and former AUSA Melanie Speight, together with AUSAs Austin Hall and Andres Sandoval from the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agents Joseph Della Penna and Ines Cabral with the Federal Housing Finance Agency—Office of Inspector General, are recognized for reaching a $1.435 billion settlement to resolve claims that UBS made misrepresentations to investors in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. The settlement redressed UBS’s fraudulent conduct and serves to deter similar conduct in the future.
Superior Performance in Prevention and Reentry Activities
In support of the Office’s commitment to rehabilitation, community reintegration and reducing recidivism, the Reentry Team of AUSA Nomi Berenson, Public Affairs Officer Danielle Blustein Hass and Victim Witness Specialist Gladian Rivera guided the 2023 launch of the Eastern District’s Reentry Initiative. The groundbreaking initiative includes establishing the RAISE court, which is short for Reentry Assistance and Initiatives Supporting Everyone. Presided over by the Honorable LaShann DeArcy Hall, this court helps to provide resources to formerly incarcerated federal inmates identified as being at the highest risk of violence and recidivating. The team also conducts quarterly forums at Brooklyn House, the local federal Residential Reentry Center, in which returning citizens share their post-prison reentry experiences and service providers advise of available reentry services. In addition, the team has hosted reentry simulations for the Office and outside organizations to improve community understanding of the challenges encountered by individuals returning to society after incarceration.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorney’s offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny.
Nicaraguan National Indicted for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FRANDER ULISES ESPINOZA-RUGAMA (“ESPINOZA-RUGAMA”), age 27, a native of Nicaragua, was indicted on December 5, 2024 for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson Model SW9VE, nine-millimeter handgun. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations officers for violating immigration laws.
If convicted, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DARNELL DOUCET (“DOUCET”), age 26, was charged on December 5, 2024, in a four-count indictment, with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.
DOUCET is charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. He is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 3 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). He is charged in Count 4 with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, on September 24, 2024, DOUCET possessed cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana with the intent to distribute those substances, and possessed four firearms in furtherance of that drug-trafficking crime: a Zastava Model ZPAP92, 7.62 caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Glock Model 27, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Glock Model 48, nine-millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol.
As to each of the drug trafficking charges in Counts 1 and 2, DOUCET faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Count 4, he faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Stalking JournalistsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to harass and intimidate two journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). The harassment and intimidation of the victims included the vandalism – on five separate occasions – of the victims’ homes and the home of one of the victims’ parents with bricks, large rocks and red spray paint.
Keenan Saniatan, 36, of Nashua, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2024, Saniatan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce. Saniatan was charged in June 2023 along with co-conspirators Tucker Cockerline and Michael Waselchuck. In September 2024, Saniatan, Cockerline and Waselchuck were indicted by a federal grand jury along with a fourth New Hampshire man, Eric Labarge.
In March 2022, an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson, identified in the charging document as Subject 1. Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge – who is a close personal associate of Subject 1 – Saniatan, Cockerline and Waselchuck agreed to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members.
Saniatan was responsible for vandalizing two homes connected to the NHPR journalists in April 2022, at Labarge’s request. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Saniatan spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door of Victim 2’s home in Concord, N.H. He also threw a large rock at the exterior of the home. That same evening, Saniatan threw a softball-sized rock through an exterior window and spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front of Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H. Separately, and at Labarge’s request, Cockerline and Waselchuck vandalized Victim 1’s home, a home where Victim 1 used to reside and Victim 1’s parents’ home using bricks and red spray paint in three separate incidents in April and May 2022.
In November 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Labarge to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Earlier this year, Cockerline and Waselchuck received prison sentences of 27 months and 21 months, respectively. Each sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, New Hampshire Police Departments, the Melrose, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Nashville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison on Weapons and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Terrence Devol London, II, 34, of Nashville, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee. London was convicted by a federal jury in March 2023 of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and controlled substances offenses.
In 2018, London was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, on federal drug and weapons charges. After being released from federal custody, London repeatedly violated the terms of his supervised release, including by cutting off an electronic monitoring device and leaving home confinement. When Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested London, they found him in possession of a loaded firearm, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and over $9,000 in cash.
“The prosecution of those under court supervision who re-offend are among our highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “Offenders like London, like those we prosecute under Operation Bond Watch, need to know that if they are already on court supervision and don’t respect the law, they will be held accountable and there will be serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Gallatin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rascoe Dean and Nicholas J. Goldin prosecuted the case.
# # # # #
Myrtle Beach Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.2M Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. —Troy Benjamin Bittner, 55, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that from November 2020 to December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bittner was employed as a general manager at the Carolina Pines RV Resort in Conway. During that time, when it was not uncommon for guests to cancel reservations, he fraudulently generated $828,516.00 in customer refunds that were neither authorized nor requested by guests for completed reservations. After generating the fraudulent refunds, Bittner then wired the refunds to his personal bank accounts. Bittner also stole cash from the Carolina Pines RV Resort’s cloud-based point-of-sale system and documented it as refunds. In addition, in both 2020 and 2021, Bittner electronically filed with the IRS a Form 1040 in which he substantially understated his total income for calendar years 2020 and 2021, resulting in a total tax loss of $281,727.00.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Bittner to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Bittner was ordered to pay a total of $1,219,894.72 in restitution.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
###
Multiple Federal Grants Awarded to Central Illinois Communities to Enhance Public SafetyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice has announced Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grants to several agencies and communities in Central Illinois.
The Department awarded a $1,000,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program grant to Marshall, Putnam, and Stark counties to support a multi-county program: Reaching Rural: Rural Roads to Recovery Program. The program is designed to develop a collaborative, research based, and multi-care level community-based program for individuals affected by substance-use disorder. Subrecipients include Maitri Path to Wellness, the Henry and Stark County Health Department, and The Society of Growth Inc.
The Department awarded over $400,000 in Justice Assistance Grants (JAGs) to fund multiple law enforcement agencies in Central Illinois, including $86,228 to the Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department, and Champaign County Sheriffs Office; $53,178 to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office and Danville Police Department; $58,510 to the Decatur Police Department; $49,719 to the Moline and Rock Island Police Departments; $11,482 to the Pekin Police Department; $33,963 to the Bloomington and Normal Police Departments and McLean County Sheriff’s Office; and $121,391 to the Springfield Police Department and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. The grants will fund a wide variety of projects and initiatives designed to combat violent crime.
“These funds allow area agencies to expand on the excellent services they provide to their communities.” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for its continued support of the Central District of Illinois.”
BJA is a leading source of federal funding to state, local and tribal governments, offering the critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution; indigent defense; courts; crime prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; planning; evaluation; technology improvement; crime victim and witness initiatives; mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams; and implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives including but not limited to mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection order programs.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Prison for Smuggling over 200 Machinegun Conversion Devices and Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 5, 2024, Demario Robinson (age: 22) was sentenced to 88 months (7 years, 4 months) in prison for smuggling machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The court record reflects that between July 11, 2022, and June 5, 2023, Robinson bought and caused to be imported at least 202 MCDs, commonly referred to as “switches.” This quantity of MCDs, of which approximately 59 were recovered, represents one of the largest MCD distribution schemes uncovered in Wisconsin to date. MCDs convert ordinary pistols into fully automatic weapons, making the weapons more lethal, more difficult to control, and illegal. Robinson then sold these MCDs to others in the greater Milwaukee area.
According to Milwaukee Police Department records, fully automatic gunfire incidents in the City of Milwaukee have substantially increased between 2020 and 2023:
Robinson was arrested on June 20, 2023, after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents intercepted a package sent from China containing 47 MCDs that Robinson arranged to have delivered to his residence in Milwaukee. A search warrant was then executed at Robinson’s residence during which law enforcement recovered a stolen Glock 19 handgun containing a fully loaded 30 round extended magazine and an MCD, thus constituting an illegal machine gun. A second package intended for delivery to Robinson which contained an additional 10 MCD’s was also intercepted by law enforcement. Additionally, Robinson’s prior felony drug conviction at the time precluded him from possessing any firearm.
At sentencing, United States District Judge Joseph P. Stadtmueller noted that Robinson’s sale of MCDs in Milwaukee increased the danger posed by firearms in our community. He further advised that the sentence should serve to deter Robinson and others in the community from selling and possessing these illegal devices, including those with relatively minor criminal records.
“The dangerousness and lethality of ‘switches’ and similar conversion devices in our community cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting offenders involved in the importation and distribution of these devices. Along with our federal, state, and local partners, we will dedicate whatever resources are needed to stop the spread of these deadly and illegal devices.”
"Machinegun conversion devices pose a real danger to our communities. One pull of the trigger is no longer just one bullet, it could be 15 rounds in one second,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI, in collaboration with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners is unwavering in its commitment to disrupting the illegal use of these devices and holding individuals like Mr. Robinson accountable. The safety and well-being of Wisconsin residents remains our highest priority.”
“The sentencing of Robinson underscores the grave consequences of smuggling machinegun conversion devices and possessing a firearm as a felon. MCDs are extremely dangerous weapons that significantly increase firearms’ lethality and potential for harm. The illegal trafficking and possession of such devices pose a severe threat to public safety and the well-being of our communities,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “This case serves as a stark reminder that law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue those who endanger our citizens through their reckless and unlawful behavior."
“This investigation demonstrates the positive impact the Milwaukee Police Department can have through collaboration with our law enforcement partners. Working together allows us to effectively utilize intelligence and resources to help keep our community safe”, said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department – Special Investigations Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bill Roach and Mike Schindhelm.
###
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
414-297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Miami Jury Finds Federal Detention Center Inmate Guilty of Assaulting Bureau of Prisons GuardRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Nov. 26, a federal jury found Orel Valdespino Fernandez, 41, guilty of assaulting a corrections officer working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and causing bodily injury.
On May 5, Valdespino was an inmate at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Miami, being held pre-trial for a crime he ultimately pled guilty to committing. That afternoon, the victim, who was a BOP lieutenant, was doing rounds in Valdespino’s unit to ensure rule compliance. The victim noticed that Valdespino was not complying with a rule, so he instructed Valdespino to follow the rule from outside Valdespino’s cell. When Valdespino refused to do so, the victim entered Valdespino’s cell to verbally counsel him about the rule.
While inside Valdespino’s cell, the victim held out his arm to establish a safe distance from Valdespino while turning his head to have a prison orderly standing behind him translate the reason for the instruction to Valdespino. As the victim did so, Valdespino struck the victim’s arm and then repeatedly struck the victim in the face. A struggle ensued that only ended after one officer pepper sprayed Valdespino and another officer entered the cell to help the victim secure Valdespino. As a result of this assault, the victim sustained a facial injury that left his jaw misaligned as well as a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery and has prevented him from working since.
U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman is scheduled to sentence Valdespino on Feb. 14, 2025, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case with assistance from BOP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Keller and Ilana Malkin prosecuted the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20318.
###
Miami Importer Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Evade U.S. Tariffs on Chinese-Made Truck TiresRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Today, Hector Samuel Esquijerosa, 52, a resident of Miami, pled guilty for his participation in a conspiracy to smuggle merchandise into the United States by means of false and fraudulent invoices presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency in charge of collecting import duties.
According to court documents, between September 2018 and January 2023, Esquijerosa owned and operated two Miami-based companies in the business of importing tractor-trailer truck tires into the United States, Production Tire Company and Premier Trade Corporation. In court, Esquijerosa admitted that he conspired with others, including brokers, suppliers and wholesalers of truck tires located in China, Canada and the United Kingdom to evade anti-dumping and countervailing duties, or tariffs, applicable to truck tires manufactured in China that his companies illegally imported into the United States and sold to customers in the Southern District of Florida and elsewhere.
In order to conceal the true origin of the imported truck tires, Esquijerosa and his co-conspirators caused the Chinese-origin truck tires to be transshipped to the United States through third countries, including Canada and Malaysia. Esquijerosa and his co-conspirators would then file, or cause to filed with CBP, documents that falsely and fraudulently represented that the Chinese truck tires originated in countries other than China. In many instances, Esquijerosa and his co-conspirators created two sets of invoices—one that falsely and fraudulently undervalued the truck tires and was presented to CBP for calculation of the appropriate duty, and the second that reflected the actual value of the truck tires. The scheme resulted in a loss of revenue to the United States in excess of $1.9 million.
Esquijerosa pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. A sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 24, 2025. Esquijerosa faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP’s Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee Jimenez is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling the forfeiture of assets in the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20436.
###
Marion County Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Joseph Raymond Morin (51, Ocala) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Morin entered a guilty plea on September 5, 2024.
According to documents and evidence presented in court, between May 3 and June 26, 2024, Morin communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The child, however, was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. Morin engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent. Ultimately, Morin was arrested when he traveled to a pre-determined location in Marion County to meet with the fictitious minor to engage in sexual activity. Morin has a lengthy criminal history, including a prior federal conviction for a firearm offense.
“Today’s sentence serves as a stark reminder that Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting children from online predators,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners at all levels, are dedicated to working tirelessly to rescue children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mahto Man Found Not Guilty of AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mahto, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury following a three-day federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on December 4, 2024.
Raymond Webb, age 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023.
The charges related to an alleged incident that occurred on September 17, 2023, in rural Mahto, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain serious crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced this week to 8 years and 3 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
“Mr. Bobbitt earned every day of his eight plus year federal prison sentence,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “With a criminal history of felony convictions in nine state court cases dating back to 2001, his removal from the community benefits all citizens. I commend LMPD and the ATF for their continuing work in policing our Western District communities and making them safer for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”
According to court documents, Jaron Bobbitt, 39, was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing an Anderson Manufacturing, AM-15, multi-caliber pistol, and ammunition. On November 13, 2023, Bobbitt led officers on a foot chase through residential areas while armed with the AM-15 multi-caliber pistol. He repeatedly placed the officers’ lives in danger by pointing the weapon at them while running and was only apprehended after being struck by an officer forced to fire his weapon. Bobbitt was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On November 9, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property.
On November 9, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree.
On January 16, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of escape in the second degree.
On August 31, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property, theft of identity of another without consent, and criminal mischief in the second degree.
On April 29, 2011, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of felon in possession of a handgun.
On June 17, 2004, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, cocaine and tampering with physical evidence.
On June 17, 2004, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property.
On May 7, 2004, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property, receiving stolen vehicle, and tampering with physical evidence.
On December 3, 2001, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree and receiving a stolen vehicle.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Kent, Washington man sentenced to three years in prison for illegally purchasing and trafficking more than 130 firearmsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A South King County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison for his purchase of more than 130 firearms in a “straw purchaser” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dion Jamar Cooper, 33, of Kent, Washington was arrested in April 2023, following an investigation by Seattle Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez asked Cooper, “Do you understand the damage that has been done in the community?... If people engage in straw purchasing and distribute the firearms in our community, or any community, there will be a serious consequence that follows.”
“Even as Mr. Cooper has awaited sentencing, we are finding additional crime guns linked to his straw purchasing activity,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Fifty-four of the guns Mr. Cooper purchased have been recovered and connected to crimes such as armed robberies; two bank robberies; several carjackings and assaults; numerous drive-by shootings; numerous other shots-fired incidents; and at least one homicide.”
According to records in the case, the investigation began in late January 2023, with the assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley. The victim was able to flee in her car. Police found a firearm in her vehicle that had been dropped by one of the assailants. A check of the firearm revealed it had been purchased by Dion Jamar Cooper on December 10, 2022. That recovery led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) to check Cooper’s purchase history. Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021. Further investigation put the number of guns purchased at 133. Meaning more than 70 guns are still out in the community likely possessed by those who are legally prohibited from having firearms.
During March and April 2023, agents surveilled Cooper as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. Agents identified De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, 33 of Federal Way, Washington, as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he purchased the firearms. Phillips is prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms due to convictions for distribution of heroin (2014) and convictions for illegal firearms possession and two counts of assault (2009). Surveillance of the two revealed Cooper turning the firearms over to Phillips who stored them in his residence. Last month Phillips was sentenced to seven years in prison.
In February 2024, Cooper pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms, one count of straw purchasing firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms.
In asking for a sentence at the top of the guidelines range, Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg noted that Cooper was the “largest known straw purchaser of firearms in the history of the Western District of Washington…. According to the ATF analysis, all of the… crime guns were recovered from persons who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, either because they were convicted felons and/or were underage juveniles. This is not surprising, given the nature of straw purchasing offenses…. Notably, several of the recovered crime guns had very short “time-to-crime” periods (the amount of time between the firearm purchase and its recovery at a crime scene). These recovery periods included some as short as two days and others of six days, seven days, and eight days. This reflects that Cooper was purchasing firearms and turning them over to people who nearly immediately used them to commit violent crimes.”
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
KC Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm.
Keith T. Mims, also known as “C-Murder,” 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Mims was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.
On May 30, 2024, Mims pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Mims was approached by St. Joseph, Mo., police officers as he was walking on Belle Street in St. Joseph on Jan. 25, 2022. Mims ran from the officers, who engaged in a foot pursuit, resulting in Mims being tackled and placed in handcuffs. An officer searched Mims and found a loaded Bryco Arms .22-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number in Mims’s back pocket. The officer also searched a bag Mims was carrying, which contained 4.18 grams of pure methamphetamine, .45 grams of crack cocaine, and 10 pills.
Mims told the arresting officers that he knew it was illegal for him to have a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. Mims said he needed the firearm for protection, and that he would “rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.”
According to court documents, Mims has multiple convictions for possessing firearms and trafficking in narcotics and has spent the vast majority of the last 35 years either incarcerated or under a criminal justice sentence.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth W. Borgnino and Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, and the Sugar Creek, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department Statements on U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Ruling in TikTok, et al. v. GarlandRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statements from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on today’s ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in TikTok, et al. v. Garland:
“Today’s decision is an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to collect sensitive information about millions of Americans, to covertly manipulate the content delivered to American audiences, and to undermine our national security,” said Attorney General Garland. “As the D.C. Circuit recognized, this Act protects the national security of the United States in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution. The Justice Department is committed to defending Americans’ sensitive data from authoritarian regimes that seek to exploit companies under their control.”
“We welcome today’s decision,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “This ruling confirms that the law Congress passed — and the Justice Department’s work to defend it — have never been about restricting free speech but rather breaking the ties that bind TikTok to the regime in Beijing. This law protects Americans from the national security risks posed by the current ownership of TikTok in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution.”
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Healthcare Facility Services Provider to Resolve Citizenship Status Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with Pennsylvania-based HCSG East LLC and its parent company, Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG), a nationwide provider of housekeeping, laundry and food services for healthcare and nursing facilities. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that HCSG discriminated against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States when hiring at its Siler City, North Carolina, location, and engaged in unfair practices concerning work authorization documents because of a worker’s status as a non-U.S. citizen.
“Employers cannot erect unlawful discriminatory barriers to work that exclude entire categories of workers with permission to work in the United States, based on citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold employers accountable when they violate our nation’s federal civil rights laws.”
After conducting an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that HCSG discriminated against a worker by refusing to honor her valid document showing her permission to work because of her citizenship status. IER’s investigation also determined that HCSG had a policy of unlawfully refusing to hire certain workers who had permission to work but were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents — such as persons granted asylum or refugee status by the federal government — at its Siler City location from at least February 2022 to at least December 2022.
Under the settlement, HCSG will pay a civil penalty to the United States, and provide backpay to an affected worker. The agreement also requires HCSG to train its personnel on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)’s requirements, revise its employment policies, broadly recruit workers, avoid unnecessary English-language requirements in its job ads and be subject to departmental monitoring. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin when checking permission to work.
IER is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. This law prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination in recruitment, hiring and employment eligibility verification on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Sign up for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Healthcare Facility Services Provider to Resolve Citizenship Status Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with Pennsylvania-based HCSG East LLC and its parent company, Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG), a nationwide provider of housekeeping, laundry and food services for healthcare and nursing facilities. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that HCSG discriminated against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States when hiring at its Siler City, North Carolina, location, and engaged in unfair practices concerning work authorization documents because of a worker’s status as a non-U.S. citizen.
“Employers cannot erect unlawful discriminatory barriers to work that exclude entire categories of workers with permission to work in the United States, based on citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold employers accountable when they violate our nation’s federal civil rights laws.”
After conducting an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that HCSG discriminated against a worker by refusing to honor her valid document showing her permission to work because of her citizenship status. IER’s investigation also determined that HCSG had a policy of unlawfully refusing to hire certain workers who had permission to work but were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents — such as persons granted asylum or refugee status by the federal government — at its Siler City location from at least February 2022 to at least December 2022.
Under the settlement, HCSG will pay a civil penalty to the United States, and provide backpay to an affected worker. The agreement also requires HCSG to train its personnel on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)’s requirements, revise its employment policies, broadly recruit workers, avoid unnecessary English-language requirements in its job ads and be subject to departmental monitoring. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin when checking permission to work.
IER is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. This law prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination in recruitment, hiring and employment eligibility verification on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites.
###
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 5 was:
Artemus Lavelle Brock, 35, of Bozeman, on charges of coercion and enticement to travel to engage in prostitution and transportation for prostitution. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brock faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Brock was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-35.
Appearing on Dec. 3 was:
John Doe AKA Jose Alfredo Collazo Nadal, of Billings, on charges of false statement in application of a passport. If convicted of the most serious crime, Doe faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Doe was detained pending further proceedings. The Diplomatic Secret Service conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-156.
Appearing on Nov. 26 was:
Cody Lloyd Smith, 41, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Smith faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Smith was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-165.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
XXX
Honduran National Indicted for Reentry of Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALEX SAUL HERNANDEZ-PEREZ (“HERNANDEZ- PEREZ”), age 33, a native of Honduras, was indicted on December 5, 2024 for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, HERNANDEZ- PEREZ, an illegal alien, was found in St. Bernard Parish on or around October 21, 2024. He had previously been deported to Honduras on June 13, 2019.
If convicted, HERNANDEZ-PEREZ faces up to two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Honduran National Indicted for Misuse of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FRANCIS OSORIO CANALES (“OSORIO CANALES”), age 44, of Honduras, was indicted on December 5, 2024 for misuse of a social security number in order to obtain employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
If convicted, OSORIO CANALES faces up to five years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the ICE Enforcement Removal Office, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit in in charge of the prosecution.
Former Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Pandemic Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Richard Hebert, Jr., age 57, of Harvey, Louisiana, to 84 months in federal prison following his conviction for making a false statement to a bank in connection with numerous fraudulent applications that he filed to obtain funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Court further sentenced Hebert to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay $2,450,639.93 in restitution to the United States Small Business Administration. Previously in the investigation, the United States seized a significant share of the proceeds from the offense, as well as a residence in New Orleans, and three vehicles, including a 2013 Ghost Rolls Royce, a Lexus ES 350, and Ford F-250.
According to court documents, between April of 2020 and July of 2020, Hebert submitted at least 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of seven different companies to five different banks seeking more than $4.2 million in PPP loan funds, that were designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On these applications, Hebert made false representations regarding his businesses and their operations. In support of these fraudulent applications, Hebert created false tax forms and other documents, which included the real personal identifiable information of people to facilitate his crime. Hebert’s pandemic fraud scheme caused a loss of more than $2.4 million.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe stated, “This strong sentence is a testament to the significant crime that this former law enforcement officer committed. Hebert was trained to serve and protect but instead he took advantage of a government safety net program to line his own pockets during the worst pandemic in over a century. Prosecuting pandemic fraud is a high priority for our office and we will continue to use every resource available to investigate and prosecute those who commit this type of crime. I want to commend our prosecutors and the team of agents for their diligent work in bringing this defendant to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica M.P. Thornhill, who also serves as the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crime Unit, M. Patricia Jones, who also serves as the Appellate Chief, and Brad Casey.
Anyone with information about allegations of pandemic fraud can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Chief Executive Officer of Grand Rapids Investment Firm Sent to Federal Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
Gifford “Chip” Cummings, Jr. also was ordered to repay $5,755,477 to victims
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Gifford “Chip” Cummings, Jr., age 61, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and $5,755,477 in restitution for executing a scheme to defraud investor clients at Red Oak Capital.
“Mr. Cummings deliberately cheated investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Financial fraud is a serious problem, and my office will not hesitate to prosecute fraudsters whose schemes inflict devastating financial harm on legit businesses and honest investors.”
Cummings pleaded guilty to executing a scheme to defraud while serving as President and CEO of a Grand Rapids, Michigan investment firm. Cummings put $5 million of client money in an unauthorized investment in December 2019. The investment immediately began to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in value. When his business partners learned of the secret investment, they demanded that Cummings retrieve the money and return it to the firm.
Instead of doing so, Cummings submitted altered account statements to make it appear that his unauthorized investment was performing better than it was to hide the mounting losses. Cummings also created a fake document purporting to show that he had sought the return of the investors’ money when in fact he had not. Ultimately, the firm was able to recoup only $761,522.90 of its initial investment. During the firm’s investigation of Cummings’ crime, it was discovered that he also failed to repay a $1,350,000 debt. Cummings made it appear as though the debt had been repaid when in truth, he had deposited that money into a bank account he controlled.
“Today's sentencing of Gifford (Chip) Cummings, a former executive at a Michigan-based investment firm, highlights the FBI's unwavering commitment to addressing both financial and cybercrimes, especially those perpetrated by individuals in positions of trust,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “This case, involving wire fraud, unauthorized investments, and illegal access to computer networks, resulted in millions of dollars in losses. The investigation, spearheaded by the Detroit Field Office Cyber Task Force and the Grand Rapids Resident Agency, was crucial in securing a successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. The FBI remains steadfast in pursuing justice and safeguarding Michigan communities from those who exploit their trusted positions.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davin Reust and Chris O’Connor prosecuted it.
# # #
Former Assistant Dean Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Million-Dollar Embezzlement from Essex County Graduate SchoolRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former assistant dean of an Essex County graduate school was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in prison for defrauding her former employer of more than $1.3 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Teresina DeAlmeida, 59, of Warren, New Jersey and her co-conspirators, Rose Martins, 44, of East Hanover, New Jersey, and Silvia Cardoso, 61, of Warren, NJ, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in Newark federal court.
“The defendant abused her position of trust as an assistant dean to orchestrate an elaborate embezzlement scheme for more than a decade. In doing so, she and her co-conspirators stole more than $1.3 million intended to benefit the school and its students. My office is committed to relentlessly prosecuting those who commit financial frauds.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“By choosing to utilize her position for illicit profit, Teresina DeAlmeida chose to enrich herself first and serve the students of the University last,” stated Jenifer L. Piovesan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “Financial fraud like this will not be tolerated and IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out and investigate these financial crimes.”
“Trust is an intangible thing, a faith that people who have access to large sums of money won't steal it. DeAlmeida took funds meant for students at the university and did so for more than a decade,” FBI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Nelson I. Delgado said. “Students and most average citizens cannot see into finances of institutions, to question where it's going and why it's missing. The FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners have the tools to investigate wrongdoing and hold accountable those who don't think anyone will notice $1.3 million is missing.”
“I am proud of the contribution of OIG Special Agents in holding former Assistant Dean DeAlmeida accountable for her criminal actions. Her willful diversion and theft of funds that were intended for the school and its students was completely unacceptable,” said John Carlo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Federal education funds.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between 2009 and July 2022, DeAlmeida, Martins, and Cardoso conspired to fraudulently misappropriate more than $1.3 million from their former employer, a graduate school of a university in Essex County, New Jersey. During the scheme, DeAlmeida was an assistant dean responsible for financial functions, and Martins served as her assistant. Cardoso, DeAlmeida’s sister, was also employed by the graduate school in a support staff role.
The defendants used a variety of methods to defraud the university. For instance:
• Beginning in 2009, DeAlmeida directed a graduate school vendor to pay Martins and Cardoso as though they worked for the vendor, even though they did not perform any services. DeAlmeida and Martins then caused the vendor to submit false invoices to the graduate school over the course of approximately four years to reimburse the vendor for the amounts fraudulently paid to Martins and Cardoso.
• From 2010 through 2022, DeAlmeida and Martins directed graduate school vendors to order hundreds of thousands of dollars of gift cards and prepaid debit cards the co-conspirators used for their personal benefit, and then to submit fraudulent invoices to the school purporting to be for goods and services that were never provided. The co-conspirators also misused DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from the school’s bookstore. DeAlmeida routinely fraudulently approved these charges and Martins forged the signatures of other employees on internal approvals.
• In 2015, Martins opened a shell entity called CMS Content Management Specialist LLC. Although CMS never rendered any services to the graduate school, Martins submitted, and DeAlmeida approved, fraudulent invoices totaling more than $208,000.
• The co-conspirators also used DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal purchases. For example, DeAlmeida and Martins used the card to make over $70,000 in purchases at an online retailer shipped directly to their homes, including woman’s shoes, smart watches, and bed linens. DeAlmeida and Martins fraudulently altered certain receipts before submitting them to the school for payment.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced DeAlmeida to 2 years of supervised release and ordered restitution of approximately $1,397,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Internal Revenue Services, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark; and special agents of the Department of Education, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge John Carlo with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.