Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 26 November 2024
Lawrence County Resident Sentenced for Role in Puerto Rico/Western Pennsylvania Region Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 37 months of incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating a federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Luis Rivera Otero, 37.
According to information presented to the Court, Rivera Otero was a member of an organized drug trafficking group that obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine via United States Postal Service parcel from Puerto Rico and then sold them in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere as part of an ongoing drug trafficking conspiracy. Specifically, Rivera Otero was responsible for retrieving five parcels containing cocaine and then delivering them to a co-conspirator in return for payment.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to Rivera Otero’s conviction in this case in close collaboration with the Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Castle City Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Department of Agriculture, Union Township Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Lawrence County is one of six western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Maine to Ensure Children with Behavioral Health Disabilities Can Live at HomeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement to resolve its lawsuit alleging that Maine violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. by unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in psychiatric hospitals, residential facilities and a state-operated juvenile detention facility.
“This agreement reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ensuring that children with disabilities can live at home surrounded by the love and support of their families rather than isolated away in facilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We know that too many children with behavioral health disabilities end up in juvenile justice settings or in out-of-home placements, often in different states far from their families, disrupting their lives in ways that can cause permanent harm. Under this agreement, more children will have access to community-based services and in-home behavioral health services so that they can grow up surrounded by family and loved ones.”
“Mainers with disabilities, particularly children, must be able to access the critical services they need in their homes and within their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “Maine’s geographical expanse is a treasure, but children with behavioral health disabilities cannot be needlessly limited to accessing necessary services and supports in facilities away from their families. This agreement prioritizes Maine’s children and ensures the availability of crucial services to allow them to pursue their greatest potential and ease the emotional toll on their caregivers.”
The department sued Maine in September, following a thorough investigation and a public letter of findings notifying Maine of the violation. The lawsuit alleged that Maine limited families’ access to needed behavioral health services for their children to live in the community. These services can include assistance with daily activities, behavior management and individual or family counseling. Community-based behavioral health services also include crisis services that can help prevent a child from being institutionalized during a mental health crisis. Absent these services, Maine children with disabilities would enter emergency rooms, come into contact with law enforcement and remain in institutions.
The agreement resolves the department’s allegations and requires Maine to make significant improvements to ensure children with behavioral health disabilities can receive the services they need in the community, including:
- Help hundreds of children remain with their families or foster families with the services they need to avoid emergency department stays and institutions;
- Help children move out of institutions, including the Long Creek juvenile detention facility, and instead receive services at home, if their needs can be met there and they and their families want them to be at home;
- Identify children with behavioral health disabilities and timely furnish them the full range of services they are eligible for at home;
- Provide children with care coordination designed so that children with the most intense behavioral health disabilities can be successful at home;
- Address any current or future workforce shortages of community-service providers. This includes providing payment rates and support for community providers to enable children they serve to return to or remain at home long-term;
- Improve oversight of community providers and monitor desired outcomes and timeliness of services; and
- Provide prompt mobile crisis interventions to help children avoid entering emergency departments or law enforcement contact.
The parties have agreed that the federal district court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement and that an independent reviewer will evaluate the state’s compliance.
Enforcement of the ADA’s Integration Mandate Nationwide
This agreement is the most recent example of the Civil Rights Division’s enforcement of the ADA’s “integration mandate”—that is, the right to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate. The Division has worked to enforce the integration mandate to address the segregation of people with disabilities in all its varied forms. For example, a 2023 agreement with Alameda County, California, provides relief to adults with mental health disabilities facing a similar dearth of services that resulted in their admission to emergency departments and jails. The Division has also won court-ordered relief for children with physical disabilities who were unnecessarily segregated in nursing homes in Florida. Florida is now required to provide those children the services they need to move out of nursing facilities. And last month, the Division secured an agreement with Colorado to ensure adults unnecessarily segregated in its nursing facilities have meaningful opportunities to live at home. The Civil Rights Division’s enforcement of the integration mandate has brought change across the country for people with disabilities of all ages and those who have been segregated from their communities.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Those interested in finding out more about the ADA may visit www.ada.gov.
Members of the public may report possible civil right violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
View the settlement agreement here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Florida Restaurant Group to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with Anna Maria Oyster Bar Inc., a restaurant group based in Bradenton, Florida. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that the restaurant group routinely discriminated against lawful permanent residents when checking their permission to work in the United States.
“It is unlawful for employers to reject valid documents from lawful permanent residents and require them to present a specific document because of their citizenship status when checking their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Unnecessary and discriminatory obstacles in the onboarding process can harm those who wish to lawfully participate in our economy and deprive employers of their talents.”
After conducting an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that Anna Maria Oyster Bar had required a specific document — a Permanent Resident Card — from a worker to prove her citizenship status, even though she had already presented sufficient proof of her permission to work. IER also found that the restaurant group’s treatment of this worker was part of a larger practice of requesting documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security, typically Permanent Resident Cards, from lawful permanent residents to prove their citizenship status, which lasted from at least March 1, 2023, to at least Sept. 1, 2023.
U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, those granted asylum or refugee status and other non-U.S. citizens with permission to work may legally work in the United States if they can prove their identity and permission to work.
As explained in the department’s new fact sheet, lawful permanent residents (sometimes referred to as “green card holders”) can use different types of documentation to prove their permission to work. The Immigration and Nationality Act (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. Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the worker.
Under the terms of the settlement, Anna Maria Oyster Bar will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring.
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.
IER’s website has more information on lawful permanent residents’ rights under the INA and how employers can avoid unlawful discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work. 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.
Jamestown man pleads guilty to meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Brooks, 35, Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 97 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that on February 8, 2021, Jamestown Police officers responded to Brooks’ residence on Bush Street for a report of a possible assault and initiated an investigation into a burglary/assault. Subsequently, officers executed a search warrant at Brooks’ residence and recovered suspected marijuana, $6,500, scales, packaging material, a sword, and approximately 357 grams of methamphetamine.
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.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson.
# # # #
Jamestown man going to prison for his role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Timothy Snyder, 44, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 100 grams or more of heroin, was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Snyder was a drug trafficking associate of Rocco Beardsley. As a part of Beardsley’s drug trafficking organization, Snyder, a manager and supervisor, sold, stored, and packaged drugs; kept drug ledgers; collected money; and coordinated with co-conspirators to sell methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl. In May 2019, Snyder and his wife were stopped by the Jamestown Police Department and their vehicle was searched. Law enforcement recovered $8,400 in cash, which was drug proceeds to be turned over to Rocco Beardsley.
Rocco Beardsley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
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.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
# # # #
Hanson Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Dogfighting ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hanson man pleaded guilty today to possessing dogs at his Massachusetts home for participation in a dogfighting venture.
John D. Murphy, 51, pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 27, 2025. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
“Mr. Murphy’s actions represent the calculated cruelty and inhumanity that dogfighting embodies – a barbaric practice that exploits and harms animals for entertainment and profit. Today’s conviction brings an end to Mr. Murphy’s reign of brutality and sends a clear message: dogfighting is a federal crime, and those who engage in this inhumane conduct will face justice,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case marks the first time federal criminal charges have been brought in the District of Massachusetts under the Animal Welfare Act, underscoring the seriousness of these crimes and our commitment to holding those who engage in this abhorrent conduct accountable. We urge anyone with knowledge of animal fighting or abuse to come forward and report it.”
“Dogfighting is a sadistic crime which subjects animals to cruel mistreatment for entertainment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We commend the investigators and prosecutors who worked collaboratively to bring this case to justice.”
In 2021, Murphy was identified discussing dogfighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dogfighting target. A subsequent search of his Facebook accounts revealed Murphy’s years-long involvement in dogfighting. Murphy communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook where they discussed the results of dogfights, injuries sustained by fighting dogs, as well as breeding dogs. Murphy also belonged to private dogfighting Facebook groups used to share fight results, buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information on training and conditioning fighting dogs, among other things.
Photos and videos found on Murphy’s Facebook account showed a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting as well as a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand. Videos from his account showed pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to different treadmill-like devices that dogfighters commonly use to physically condition dogs for dogfights. One of the videos depicted a live raccoon caged in front of the carpet mill, to serve as a stimulus for the pit bull-type dog to run faster and harder.
During a search of Murphy’s Hanson residence in June 2023, numerous items associated with possessing dogs for participation in an animal fighting venture were found including:
- Flirt poles, used to entice a dog to chase a stimulus;
- Spring poles, used to build a dog’s jaw strength and increase aggression;
- Several treadmills, slat mills, and carpet mills, used to condition dogs to build stamina and muscle;
- A jenny mill, used to develop a dog’s endurance and musculature by enticing the animal to run on a circular track;
- Rabbit training scent for dogs;
- Break sticks, used to force a dog’s bite onto another dog’s body open, specifically at the termination of a fight or while training;
- A dog bite sleeve;
- Disposable skin staplers, used to attempt to close wounds resulting from dogfights;
- Several types of steroids and painkillers;
- Fertility medications and a breeding stand, used to restrain female dogs during breeding;
- Printouts of fighting dog pedigrees; and
- Dog fighting literature, DVDs, and/or CD-ROMs.
In March 2024, the United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against 13 pit bull-type dogs, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Mass., that were possessed for participation in an animal fighting venture. Pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, animals involved in violations of 7 U.S.C. § 2156 are subject to forfeiture to the United States. In September and October 2024, the Court ordered all dogs be forfeited to the United States. The dogs are currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) being cared for by a USMS-contractor.
To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
The charges of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture each provide for a sentence of up to five 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.
U.S. Attorney Levy; ENRD AAG Kim; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Karen L. LoStracco, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston and Acton Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office and Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Section, are prosecuting the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit for the District of Massachusetts, and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
Ghanian Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Two-Million Dollar International Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – On November 26, 2024, Wigbert Bandie, 34, currently of Accra, Ghana, was sentenced to 63 months by United States District Judge, the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Bandie will be on supervised release for three years. Bandie was also ordered to repay $2.18 million in restitution to the 11 victims in this case.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bandie pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1343.
According to the filed court papers, Bandie, along with members of the conspiracy, assumed false identities on social media, dating websites, and other internet-based platforms in a scheme to trick primarily elderly victims into entering friendships and romantic relationships. Bandie then played various roles in exploiting those connections to convince individuals to send them money via wire, check, U.S. mail, and package delivery services.
As part of the conspiracy, romance scammers or “handlers” posed as potential friends or romantic partners and entered online relationships with unwitting victims, many of whom were elderly. The relationships usually developed quickly through social media contact, text messages, email, and phone calls. Once the victim was clearly engaged in the scam, the scammer would begin to ask for emergency financial assistance or dupe victims into non-existent investment opportunities. If the victim sent money, the scammer would ask for increasingly larger amounts of financial assistance. There were victims throughout the United States who each lost amounts ranging from several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. For example, one victim who resided in the Eastern District of Tennessee lost over $280,000 to this scheme over the course of several months.
Other co-conspirators functioned as “money mules” in the conspiracy. That is, they worked in conjunction with other members of the conspiracy to move the financial proceeds of the scams from the United States overseas through bank wire transfers or through the mail.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne H. Sullivan represented the United States.
###
Georgia Tax Preparer Guilty of Filing $3 Million in Fraudulent ReturnsRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A tax preparer who admitted to filing more than $3 million in fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients is facing up to 30 years in prison for her crime.
Jessica Crawford, 33, of Athens, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false income tax returns before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on Nov. 22. Crawford faces a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2025, in Athens. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Jessica Crawford was an unscrupulous return preparer who allowed greed to cloud her judgement and neglect her responsibilities to help clients prepare and file a true and correct tax return,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Crawford is not representative of most tax preparers who provide honest services to their clients. Taxpayers are urged to choose their tax preparer carefully, especially before tax season begins in January to have time to shop around. It is important to know that the responsibility for the information contained on the tax return is that of the taxpayer.”
"Jessica Crawford lied and took advantage of funds designed to help those who were truly in need during the pandemic," said FBI Atlanta's Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who defrauds taxpayers."
According to court documents and statements made in court, FBI agents investigating a multi-state unemployment benefit scheme conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic discovered text messages between individuals involved in the scheme and Crawford, a tax preparer with Crawford Tax Services in Athens. Crawford filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits on behalf of those individuals, who had created fake businesses or submitted false information to fraudulently obtain benefits. In return, Crawford received a percentage of the ill-gotten gains.
As part of the continuing investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) agents executed an undercover operation at Crawford’s business in April 2022. The undercover agent (UA) met Crawford to have taxes prepared, and Crawford asked if the UA did anything on the side. At first, the UA responded no, but Crawford said that expenses could be deducted if he did, and the UA said he mowed an aunt’s lawn sometimes, to which Crawford said that was good enough. The UA did not provide any income or expense amounts, but Crawford created a Schedule C business for landscaping on the UA's federal income tax return based solely on that interaction. Crawford prepared a Form 1040 and filed electronically, including a fictitious Schedule C loss of $19,373, and claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a Child Tax Credit (CTC), and Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, which were affected by the fraudulent Schedule C loss. As a result, the UA’s return claimed a fraudulent federal income tax refund of $12,359.
The IRS completed a statistical review of 1,261 total tax returns filed by Crawford in tax years 2020 and 2021. Of those, the IRS determined that Crawford fraudulently filed tax returns on behalf of clients which resulted in losses to the IRS exceeding $3 million from falsely claimed Form 7202 credits for sick leave and family leave, tax credits and dependent care credits.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS-CI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers and Criminal Chief Leah E. McEwen are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Fresno Man Sentenced for Embezzling over $1.5 Million from His Employer in Nearly Decade-Long SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Gabriel Ruiz De Chavez, 47, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to two years and nine months in prison for a multiyear embezzlement scheme and ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
In July 2024, Ruiz De Chavez pleaded guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2004 to 2020, Ruiz De Chavez worked as an operations manager for a Fresno-based trucking company. Between 2012 and 2019, Ruiz De Chavez used his position to generate fake invoices, purportedly created by genuine vendors for goods and services. He presented these fake invoices and corresponding checks made out to the real vendors with his employer’s signature. He would then deposit the checks into his own personal bank account.
Once in his personal bank account, Ruiz De Chavez used the funds to pay for personal expenses including credit card payments, cash withdrawals, mortgage payments, vacations, and car loans. He was able to continue the scheme without notice because of the trusted position he held at the company. Ruiz De Chavez created more than 600 fake invoices and checks, causing $1,561,000 to be transferred into his account from his employer.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Founder of U.S. Freight Forwarding Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Illegally Export Goods from the United States to Prohibited Chinese CompaniesRead the Press Release
Richard Shih, 77, the founder and former chief executive officer of a California-based international logistics and freight forwarding company with offices in Grapevine, Texas, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate export laws by shipping goods to Chinese companies on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List.
According to court documents, as of September 2018, Shih’s U.S. company had an existing business relationship with Chinese freight forwarder Seajet Company Limited (Seajet). In September 2018, Seajet and its Chinese co-owner were both added to the Entity List for engaging in activities that were contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, to include unlawfully procuring and diverting U.S.-origin items to North Korea. In addition, in June 2021, Hisiang Logistics Company Limited (Hisiang) was added to the Entity List as an alias for Seajet. Hisiang is the Chinese transliteration of Seajet. As a result of being added to the Entity List, a specific license was required to export goods from the United States to Seajet, its co-owner, and Hisiang. Nonetheless, between September 2018 and May 2022, Shih and others at his company continued to transact with and export items to Seajet and its affiliates.
Specifically, between September 2018 and May 2022, Shih’s company conducted more than 1,000 shipments of items from the United States to Seajet and its alter-ego Hisiang. During that time period, Seajet’s co-owner and his affiliated businesses, including Hisiang, transmitted 34 international wire transfers to accounts held by Shih’s company. The company used the funds to pay various expenses on the transactions, such as air carriers and trucking companies, while retaining a portion of the funds as profit.
Shih and his company knew that Seajet and its co-owner were on the Entity List and that Hisiang was established as an alias for Seajet. For example, Seajet’s co-owner notified Shih by email that Seajet had changed its name to Hisiang for purposes of its international business but that “[t]here is nothing else changed such as company address, structure and policy etc.” Shih then forwarded the email to ten of his employees, copying Seajet’s co-owner and several Seajet employees.
In addition, federal officials repeatedly educated Shih’s company about the Entity List and related laws. In December 2018, after Seajet and its co-owner were added to the Entity List, a BIS official visited Shih’s company to discuss the prohibition against exporting items to Seajet, because it was on the Entity List. Yet, company records from the time revealed that it had used an account code assigned to Seajet for a shipment to Hisiang. In November 2020, another BIS official reached out to Shih’s company and received a list of foreign persons and companies with which Shih’s company would not do business. Yet, the company’s list did not include Seajet, its co-owner, or Hisiang.
Shih pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, which carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch announced the case.
The FBI and BIS are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney David J. Ryan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
Former New Hampshire Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud Against Bedford Women’s CareRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former New Hampshire woman pleaded guilty in federal court to charges arising out of her defrauding her prior employer, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Elizabeth Morse, 55, currently of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges. U.S. District Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for February 26, 2025.
According to statements in court and from the public record, the defendant was a long-time employee of Bedford Women’s Care Associates (“BWCA”), a Bedford, NH-based medical group practice that specialized in Obstetrics & Gynecology until its closure in early 2023. Starting in 2020, the defendant became BWCA’s office manager and handled the processing of payroll through a third-party servicer. Taking advantage of the trust placed in her as office manager, defendant manipulated the payroll processes at BWCA, logging into the third-party servicer and changing her rate of pay to a higher amount than what she was entitled to. The defendant obtained these ill-gotten gains pursuant to the scheme over the course of approximately three years.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $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. Through her plea agreement, defendant has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $168,366.66.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
###
Former NOPD Sergeant Guilty of Six Counts of Wire Fraud for Double Billing and Billing for Time Not WorkedRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TODD F. MORRELL (“MORRELL”), age 57, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to six (6) counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and the New Orleans Fair Grounds, an entity that paid him to provide off-duty police details.
According to court documents, MORRELL was a NOPD Sergeant with NOPD’s Special Operations Division, serving both on a Tactical Platoon and the Bomb Disposal Unit. He supplemented his NOPD income with security-oriented secondary employment (i.e., “police details”) while off-duty, including a detail with the New Orleans Fair Grounds Neighborhood Patrol (“Fair Grounds Patrol”). The Fair Grounds Patrol was created by city ordinance to enhance police service around the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racecourse. The Fair Grounds Patrol consisted of two patrol cars operating 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, with one off-duty NOPD officer per car. MORRELL signed annual certifications attesting to his understanding of NOPD policies, including the secondary employment policy , and acknowledging that he would “actively monitor my hours” and would “not engage in activities or personal business which would cause them to neglect or be inattentive to duty.”
Notwithstanding these annual certifications, on numerous occasions between early 2017 and November 30, 2021, MORRELL submitted and certified timecards to NOPD and time sheets to the Fair Grounds Patrol,falsely claiming to have been on duty (for NOPD) and on detail (for the Fair Grounds Patrol) when, in actuality, MORRELL was not present for duty. Instead, MORRELL engaged in personal, recreational activities unrelated to his work duties. Often, MORRELL was engaged in recreational race car driving in Avondale, Louisiana, and Austin, Texas, while claiming to be on duty and on detail. Additionally, MORRELL “double billed” NOPD and the Fair Grounds Patrol by submitting time sheets to both entities reflecting that he was working for both entities simultaneously. The six counts to which MORRELL pled guilty, are representative examples of his scheme. These counts related to individual payments MORRELL received for submitting false and fraudulent time sheets for on duty and secondary employment shifts while a part of the Fair Grounds Patrol. The various dates he falsely claimed to work that constituted the six counts were: July 1, 2019, December 21, 2020, January 23, 2021, March 13, 2021, March 14, 2021, April 25, 2021, April 30, 2021, and October 23, 2021.
“When anyone commits fraud, our office will vet, investigate, and if warranted, prosecute,” stated United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. “By pleading guilty today, Mr. Morrell admitted that he violated the public’s trust in his agency and position. This investigation exemplified the strong partnership that exists between our office, the FBI, and the New Orleans Office of Inspector General.”
"Mr. Morrell abused his position of trust with this community and his role as a leader in the police department when he chose to steal from NOPD," said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. "His actions served as a horrible example for other officers, but today's plea serves as a promise that the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office will pursue every single case to ensure justice is served. We thank the New Orleans Inspector General's Office for their assistance in bringing this misconduct to light."
For each count, MORRELL faces up to twenty (20) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing before Judge Zainey has been scheduled for February 25, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Brittany L. Reed also of the Public Integrity Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Former Manchester Man and Sex Offender Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for the Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Manchester man and convicted sex offender was sentenced today in federal court for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
James Aubuchont, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 57 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On June 13, 2024, Aubuchont pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.
“A violent sex offender possessed two firearms and enough ammunition to equip a small militia,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Today’s significant sentence demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to ensuring that felons who possess firearms face swift consequences for their repeated disregard of the law.”
“Removing violent offenders, especially those with a history of sex crimes, from our communities is critical to ensuring public safety,” said James M. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division “This case highlights the dangers posed by violent individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and ammunition. ATF and our partners remain committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
Aubuchont has an extensive criminal record spanning three decades. In July 2023, a state warrant was issued for Aubuchont’s arrest. Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2023, near the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter in the White Mountains. During a recorded jail call, Aubuchont asked his then-romantic partner, Rebecca Aubuchont, to retrieve his two “fishing rods” from the campsite, including one that “we got from VJ, remember the one you bought?” Three days later, law enforcement recovered a rifle and pistol from Aubuchont’s campsite, along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The rifle had been purchased from a firearms dealer operated by an individual with the first and middle initials V.J.
During that recorded call, Aubuchont had also asked Rebecca Aubuchont to remove some of his property, which he called “garbage,” from the jail. The “garbage” was a damaged cell phone with an intact Micro SD card containing over 1,300 images and 140 videos of child sex abuse materials, some of which depicted Aubuchont himself assaulting a minor. He is currently serving a separate state sentence of 33 years to life for aggravated felonious sexual assault of two minors, possession of child sex abuse images, and manufacturing child pornography.
On July 2, 2024, Rebecca Aubuchont pleaded guilty to straw purchasing one of the firearms for Aubuchont. Rebecca Aubuchont is currently scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Tiffany A. Scanlon prosecuted the case.
###
Federal Way man indicted for kidnappingRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 24-year-old Federal Way, Washington man will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle today following his indictment for kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Daniel Lopez was indicted by the grand jury on November 6, 2024. Lopez was arrested in Texas and has been in state custody on charges originally filed in King County Superior Court. Lopez is indicted for the October 13, 2024, kidnapping of an Auburn, Washington woman. The woman was abducted at gunpoint from her home and ultimately was found safe in Guatemala.
According to records filed in the case, the woman’s husband reported her missing on October 14, 2024, after arriving home and finding her belongings at their apartment. Two witnesses reported seeing the woman leaving with two men, one of whom was carrying a firearm. This man was subsequently identified as Lopez. Lopez was initially identified based on surveillance video from across the street showing vehicles in the apartment complex parking lot. Officers then reviewed traffic camera pictures to obtain license plate information and ultimately determined Lopez was a registered owner of one of the vehicles.
Lopez was ultimately traced to Houston, Texas and was arrested on October 19, 2024, at a hotel.
The victim was identified by immigration authorities in southern Mexico and was transported to Guatemala where she has family members.
Law enforcement is working to determine any other coconspirators in the kidnapping scheme.
Kidnapping is punishable by up to life in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Auburn Police Department and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Federal Prisoner Arrested for Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Brandon Ejae Elliot (34, Tampa) on a criminal complaint charging him with second-degree murder. If convicted, Elliot faces up to life in federal prison.
According to court records, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. During a lockdown at the prison, other inmates heard fighting and yelling coming from Elliot’s cell. When prison staff opened the cell, they found Elliot’s cellmate unresponsive with multiple puncture wounds to his body. The victim was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. An investigation revealed that Elliot had multiple scratches on his body that were consistent with the victim attempting to fight off the attack. Staff members also located a sharp metal object in Elliot’s cell. Another inmate told investigators that Elliott had talked to him through an air vent after the attack and had admitted to killing the victim.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This case is being prosecuted by Hannah Nowalk.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to More Than 14 Years in Prison for Carjacking Vehicles at Gunpoint in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to fourteen and a half years in prison for carjacking multiple vehicles at gunpoint in Chicago.
On a single afternoon in April 2018, EARRIOUS MOORE stole three cars, attempted to steal two others, and shot two people during a series of crimes in Chicago. In the final attempted carjacking, a victim sitting in a Mercedes-Benz in the 1400 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood was shot in the back of the shoulder and subsequently treated at a hospital. Moore ran from that vehicle and was apprehended by Chicago Police officers in the lobby of a nearby building.
Moore, 30, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking, attempted carjacking, and firearm charges. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo imposed the sentence on Friday during a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“The violence and terror the defendant wrought on the victims of his carjacking spree will likely never be forgotten by his victims and those who witnessed these appalling events,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.
FCI Schuylkill Inmate Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possession of A WeaponRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shaquill Morris, age 34, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. to 24 months’ incarceration for being a federal inmate in possession of a weapon.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Morris was an inmate housed at the Federal Correctional Institution at Schuylkill on July 26, 2024, when a corrections officer noticed that he was using a cellphone. Upon search of Morris, he was also discovered to be in possession of two shanks. Morris’s sentence was run consecutively to a 216 month sentence he previously received in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
# # #
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un grupo de restaurantes de la Florida que resuelve acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo con Anna Maria Oyster Bar Inc., un grupo de restaurantes con sede en Bradenton, Florida. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que el grupo de restaurantes discriminó de forma rutinaria a los residentes legales permanentes al verificar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
«Es ilegal para un empleador rechazar documentos válidos de residentes permanentes legales y requerir que presenten un documento específico debido a su estatus de ciudadanía a la hora de comprobar su permiso para trabajar», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Los obstáculos innecesarios y discriminatorios en el proceso de incorporación pueden dañar a aquellos que desean participar legalmente en nuestra economía y privar a los empleadores de su talento».
Después de llevar a cabo una investigación basada en la queja de un trabajador, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés), de la División de Derechos Civiles, concluyó que Anna Maria Oyster Bar había requerido un documento específico, una tarjeta de residente permanente, de una trabajadora para demostrar su estatus de ciudadanía, a pesar de que ya había presentado suficientes pruebas de su permiso para trabajar. La IER también descubrió que el tratamiento de esta trabajadora por parte del grupo de restaurantes formaba parte de una práctica más amplia de solicitar documentos emitidos por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, normalmente tarjetas de residencia permanente, de residentes permanentes legales para demostrar su condición de ciudadanía, que duró desde al menos el 1 de marzo del 2023 hasta al menos el 1 de septiembre del 2023.
Ciudadanos de los EE. UU., nacionales de los EE. UU., residentes permanentes legales, aquellos con asilo o estatus de refugiado y otros no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. que disponen de permiso para trabajar pueden trabajar legalmente en los Estados Unidos si pueden demostrar su identidad y permiso para trabajar.
Como se explica en la nueva hoja informativa del Departamento, los residentes legales permanentes (a veces denominados «titulares de tarjetas verdes») pueden utilizar diferentes tipos de documentación para demostrar su permiso para trabajar. La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) prohíbe a los empleadores solicitar documentos específicos o innecesarios por motivos de la ciudadanía, el estatus migratorio o la nacionalidad de origen de un trabajador. Los empleadores deben permitir que los trabajadores presenten cualquier documentación aceptable que los trabajadores mismos elijan y no pueden rechazar documentación válida que parezca razonablemente genuina y relacionada con el trabajador.
Conforme los términos del acuerdo, Anna Maria Oyster Bar pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión por parte del Departamento.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
El sitio web de IER tiene más información sobre los derechos de residentes permanentes legales en virtud de la INA y cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación ilegal al verificar el permiso para trabajar de alguien. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito o visualizar una presentación a la carta o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico desde la IER.
Eastern Panhandle Residents Admit to Roles in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three individuals have admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking organization that sold large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Eastern Panhandle.
Andrew Ross Hose, age 40, from Bunker Hill, West Virginia pled guilty to the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Bradley Allen Lopp, age 35, also of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, and Marilynn Hope Baker, age 27, of Shanks, West Virginia, pled guilty to conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hose was the organizer of the drug trafficking conspiracy, distributing drugs to others for sale and selling from his home. Lopp and Baker were distributors, selling drugs in Berkeley, Hampshire, and Morgan Counties.
Hose faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Lopp and Baker each face up to 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
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 Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Five Years and Eight Months for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Devin Dolphus, age 25, was sentenced on November 20, 2024, to five years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition was also ordered.
Dolphus was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024, and pleaded guilty on August 27, 2024.
On March 1, 2024, Dolphus was found passed out in a running vehicle at a gas station in New Underwood. As officers made contact with Dolphus they found him to be disoriented, with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and hand tremors. A search of the vehicle recovered a Bushmaster model XM15-E2S rifle and two magazines, marijuana, pills, syringes with methamphetamine residue, and other drug related items. At the time of his arrest Dolphus tested positive for THC and methamphetamine. Dolphus is prohibited from possessing firearms because he was previously twice convicted of federal firearm convictions in 2019 and 2021.
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 Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Dolphus was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
Durham Man Charged with Cyberstalking Members of LGBTQ+ CommunityRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Durham man with cyberstalking five victims. One of the charges alleges that the harassment began in 2016 and continued through this year. The indictment further alleges that the defendant, David Ryan Winters, targeted the victims due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
According to the indictment, Winters, age 38, sent electronic and text messages to the victims, and, in some cases, people close to them, attempting to intimidate and harass the victims. Winters, if convicted on all counts, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
This indictment and prosecution is a result of the work of the Civil Rights Team launched by U.S. Attorney Michael Easley in 2022, which prioritizes the investigation and prosecution of civil and criminal cases involving civil rights, such as gender or sexual identification, religion, race and national origin, the protection of voter rights, disability rights or access, and discrimination in housing, healthcare, lending, employment, and education. In 2023, the office added two new dedicated civil rights prosecutors to the team.
The EDNC Civil Rights Team has pursued numerous matters this year arising from cyberstalking and threats targeting victims for their membership in protected groups. Earlier this month, an Alabama man was indicted for cyberstalking a local woman allegedly targeting her because of her sexual orientation. In May, a California man was arrested after making threats targeting multiple entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues located in North Carolina, while residing in California at the time the threats were made.
“Everybody has an equal right to live, work, worship, and love in America” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We won’t tolerate those who threaten, stalk, or use violence just because they don’t like how somebody else lives. Everybody is treated equally and fairly under the law and we won’t normalize violence and intimidation. Our Civil Rights Team is squaring off against threats and hate-fueled violence of any kind and not slowing down.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of cyberstalking, you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement or the FBI.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Raleigh and Durham Police Departments, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the cases and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel is prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Detroit-Based Cocaine and Heroin Trafficker Sentenced to 110 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Joseph Michael McNoriell, also known as Mike X, of Detroit, 43, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. McNoriell was found guilty on April 18, 2024, after a three-day jury trial.
“Mr. McNoriell helped traffic illegal street drugs across our state, which eventually made it into our neighborhoods – these poisons destroy lives and devastate communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We will never prosecute our way out of this problem, but we will continue our work to dismantle the regional-level supply lines that distribute drugs across Michigan.”
The evidence at trial showed that McNoriell worked with other individuals to deliver two kilograms of cocaine from southeast Michigan to Lansing. On June 2, 2022, McNoriell used a female drug courier driving a different car and followed her in his car to deliver two kilograms of cocaine. McNoriell was unaware that investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and troopers with the Michigan State Police (MSP) anticipated the delivery and seized the two kilograms of cocaine from the courier’s car. A photograph of the seized kilograms of cocaine is provided below:
“This investigation emphasizes the mission of the DEA: combatting criminal drug networks like the one Mr. McNoriell was involved in,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “Along with our local, state and federal partners, we will relentlessly pursue individuals and organizations who prioritize greed and profit over human lives.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Michigan State Police, Lansing Police Department, and Holland Department of Public Safety. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and LaToyia T. Carpenter.
# # #
Delaware County Man Pleads Guilty to Migrant Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Cesar David Martinez-Gonzalez, 39, of Chester, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh in connection with a conspiracy to help smuggle and encourage and induce dozens of migrants from South America to enter the United States illegally so that he could profit from their labor.
The object of the conspiracy, for the personal financial gain of Martinez-Gonzalez and others, was to illegally smuggle citizens of South American countries into the United States across the U.S.-Mexico border, and to encourage and induce them to enter the United States.
Martinez-Gonzalez fronted money to “coyotes” in Mexico who guided migrants across the Rio Grande and through holes in the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and provided them with information to give to Customs and Border Protection so that they could be released—on parole—to his residences. Martinez-Gonzalez then paid for airplane flights to bring the migrants to Philadelphia, and, once they arrived, transported them to houses in and around Chester, Pa.
At this point, Martinez-Gonzalez and his associates would impose upon the migrants thousands of dollars in “debts” owed to him, which the migrants would have to pay off through working long hours at low-paying jobs and forfeiting half of their wages to the defendant. Martinez-Gonzalez also helped the migrants obtain false identification and low paying jobs. The debts imposed by the defendant were well in excess of what it cost to get the individuals to Chester and house them there.
Martinez-Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2025. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 120 years in prison.
“Martinez-Gonzalez took advantage of vulnerable migrants for his own financial benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “He induced them to come to the United States, then imposed thousands of dollars of so-called ‘debts,’ which they had to repay through weeks or months of labor. My office and our partners will continue to target these human smugglers, who both prey on disadvantaged populations and flout our country’s immigration laws.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, HSI, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara A. Solow, Louis D. Lappen, Eileen Castilla Geiger, and J. Andrew Jenemann.
Creston Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Creston man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.
According to public court documents, between approximately September and November 2023, Bryan Michael Vannausdle, 34, communicated with a minor victim. Vannausdle used his cell phone to send, receive, and store images and videos of child sexual abuse material, including material of the minor victim.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Vannausdle will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Creston Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Deangelo Jones, 21, of Washington, D.C., was charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Jones appeared in court today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing.
According to documents filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, at approximately 10:47 a.m. on November 7, 2024, ShotSpotter technology alerted to the sound of five gunshots in the front of 78 53rd Place Southeast, Washington, D.C. When MPD responded to the area, they located a shooting victim in a car in the 5300 block of Central Avenue Southeast, Washington D.C. The victim was suffering from a gunshot wound to the left eye. During the initial interaction with law enforcement, officers determined the victim was driving southbound on 53rd Place Southeast when shots were fired. A review of surveillance cameras in the area showed the suspect at 53rd place Southeast just two minutes before the shooting. Two minutes later, the victim’s vehicle traveled southbound and out of view. Just after, the suspect can be seen on the west sidewalk walking southbound. The suspect retrieved a large firearm and appeared to shoot the firearm multiple times southbound in the direction of victim’s vehicle. The suspect fired, then briefly ran south in the direction of the victim’s vehicle and out of camera view. Approximately nine seconds later, the suspect returned to the camera’s view and ran northbound on 53rd Place Southeast.
A search of the suspect’s home led to discovery of a Glock firearm which was not the weapon used in the shooting but which the suspect admitted he had acquired. Jones has a prior conviction for carrying a pistol without a license, in D.C. Superior Court and a conviction in Montgomery County, Maryland for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Yarbro.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Chicago Man Sentenced to 100 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Hamidullah Tribble, age 29, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Tribble was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on July 19, 2022, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Tribble in LaPorte County, Indiana. Tribble fled the scene at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic and exceeding speeds of over 100 miles per hour. His pursuit continued through Porter County and into Lake County, where he collided with a semi-trailer and another vehicle. During his arrest, law enforcement officers recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol from Tribble’s waistband. His criminal history revealed that he had prior Illinois felony convictions for possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number, possession of a stolen vehicle, and criminal sexual abuse, and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm or ammunition in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.
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.
Casa Grande Man Charged with Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Agustin Julian Sauceda, 38, of Casa Grande, was charged by indictment last week, following a criminal complaint, with nine counts of Producing and Attempting to Produce Child Pornography, five counts of Distributing Child Pornography, and one count of Possessing Child Pornography. At the time, Sauceda was an employee of the Eloy Fire District.
The indictment alleges that on nine dates between August 2, 2022, and July 5, 2024, Sauceda produced child pornography involving a girl who was under the age of 18. Then, on five dates between June 1, 2024, and September 23, 2024, Sauceda distributed child pornography via the BitTorrent file sharing network. On October 30, 2024, Sauceda possessed child pornography on two items—a cell phone and an SD card.
Each count of Producing Child Pornography carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release. Each count of Distribution of Child Pornography carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release. Each count of Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01898-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-165_Sauceda# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
COVID Relief Loan Fraud Lands Oklahoma City Woman in Federal Prison for Two YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MADINAH MALIKAH MONTGOMERY, 33, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison for wire fraud and ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 19, 2024, Montgomery was charged by Amended Information with wire fraud. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) expanded the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to provide loan assistance to struggling small businesses and other eligible entities. According to the Amended Information, on July 16, 2020, Montgomery submitted an application for an EIDL loan for $150,000 for her business. As part of the application, Montgomery falsely claimed she was the sole owner of a salon with 10 employees, which had gross revenues of $600,000. As a result of her fraudulent application, the SBA approved the loan, and deposited $149,900 to Montgomery’s bank account in Enid, Oklahoma.
On April 3, 2024, Montgomery pleaded guilty, and admitted to filing a fraudulent EIDL application and receiving $149,000, some of which she used to pay personal expenses.
At the sentencing hearing on November 22, 2024, the United States argued for a sentence of confinement highlighting that over a three-month span, Montgomery fraudulently applied for three separate EIDL loans totaling $385,000, and ultimately received $300,000. U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Montgomery to serve 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Friot noted the seriousness of Montgomery’s offenses in that she defrauded the United Stated of $300,000 in loans meant for businesses suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Judge Friot highlighted the length and serious nature of Montgomery’s criminal history and that the sentences she had received had not deterred her from continued criminal activity. Along with the sentence of confinement, Montgomery was ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution to the United States.
Public record reflects that Montgomery has previous felony convictions that include:
- possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2009-03754;
- grand larceny in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2014-4967; and
- bringing contraband into a jail/penal institution, unlawful possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, and conspiracy in Beckham County District Court case number CF-2022-00142.
Additionally, in a separate case in the Western District of Oklahoma, Montgomery has been charged by a federal grand jury with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in case number 24-CR-348. She has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The public is reminded this charge is merely an allegation and that Montgomery is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the result of an investigation by United States Secret Service, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly prosecuted the case.
This case is also the result of an investigation by the Western District of Oklahoma Coronavirus Fraud Task Force. The Task Force combines the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on programs created or funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and it is designed to find the best ways to detect, deter, and punish those who take advantage of federal and state programs during the pandemic. These programs include, but are not limited to, fraud involving the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), the Main Street Lending Program, unemployment insurance fraud, and fraud involving pandemic-related supplies.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Brandon Man Sentenced for Bank EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Brandon, South Dakota, man convicted of Bank Embezzlement. The sentencing took place on November 25, 2024.
Cade Richard Weeldreyer, age 31, was sentenced to one day in federal prison, four years of supervised release, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100, $1,000 fine, and restitution in the amount of $21,619 to One American Bank.
Weeldreyer was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 18, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on April 21, 2023, when Weeldreyer, while being employed as a branch manager of One American Bank, embezzled $21,619 from the bank. Weeldreyer took the mutilated currency from the bank’s vault and instead of following the bank’s procedures for handling the currency, kept it for himself and used it for his own purposes.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Sioux Falls Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Bradenton Felon Sentenced to Nineteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Andre Adams, Jr. (43, Bradenton) to 19 years in federal prison for possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Adams to forfeit four firearms and assorted ammunition. A federal jury found Adams guilty on July 17, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, after a complaint from a concerned citizen, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began investigating an unknown individual in Bradenton for selling fentanyl and using a finance app for payment. Investigators determined the identity of the individual as Andre Adams, Jr. Over the next several months, investigators observed frequent visitors to Adams’s residence. The visitors briefly met with Adams and appeared to make exchanges with him. Adams’s finance app records showed that tens of thousands of dollars had been paid to Adams over a short period of time. Many of the senders had known drug addiction issues and used coded drug language such as “Scooby snacks,” a street term for heroin or fentanyl.
On August 4, 2022, detectives with MCSO executed a search warrant at Adams’s residence and located a loaded handgun, scales, drug cutting agents, a money counter, a kilo press, $22,000 in cash, 55 grams of methamphetamine, 400 grams of cocaine, and 80 grams of fentanyl. Later that day, investigators executed a search warrant at Adams’s storage unit and located two kilograms of cocaine, more than 350 grams of methamphetamine, drug cutting agents, and a digital scale. They also seized three additional firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, and several dozen rounds of ammunition.
Prior to August 2022, Adams had been convicted of trafficking in cocaine and served 15 years in Florida state prison. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
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.
Bergen County Man Admits Robbery of New Jersey BankRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man admitted robbing a bank in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Tony Winst, 46, of Cresskill, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to an information charging him with bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Nov. 17, 2023, Winst entered a bank in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, and handed a note to a teller stating: “this is a robbery.” He claimed to have a weapon. The teller gave Winst money and he fled from the bank.
The count of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Mountain Lakes Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Shawn Bennett.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
winst.information.pdfArizona Man Sentenced to 15 Months of Imprisonment for Making Online Threats Against Public Servants Including Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza sentenced Michael Lee Tomasi, 38, of Rio Verde, to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. Tomasi also was ordered to forfeit an assault rifle, handgun, shotgun, gun magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Tomasi pleaded guilty to one count of Making Threats Against Public Officials on August 13, 2024.
“After making vile threats to execute and sexually assault FBI agents and employees, state and local law enforcement officials, and other public servants, Michael Tomasi told the FBI to ‘come to my house and see what happens’ – what has happened is that he will spend 15 months in federal prison,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the brave public servants of the FBI for bringing this defendant to justice and for the difficult and dangerous work they do every day to keep the American people safe.”
“Threatening law enforcement officers and other public officials will not be tolerated, whether it involves our own FBI personnel, police officers patrolling their communities, or government officials carrying out their work,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “I take it very personally that anyone would threaten FBI personnel who work tirelessly to protect the American people from a variety of threats and often put themselves in harm’s way while carrying out their duties. We will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and other public servants.”
“Civil discourse and civic dialogue are fundamental to a democratic society,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “But the incitement of violence is not: We will continue our efforts to prosecute those who make true threats against public officials and law enforcement officers.”
From May 2021 through November 2023, while living in Colorado and Arizona, Tomasi used a social media platform to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of individuals and groups, including a city district attorney, a state court judge, a member of Congress and other federal officials and law enforcement officers. Tomasi pleaded guilty to posting a threat on August 26, 2023, to kill FBI agents in order to impede, intimidate, or interfere with FBI agents’ performance of their official duties. Specifically, Tomasi admitted that, on that day, he posted: “Shoot the FBI first and ask questions later. . . . Any FBI [] have a problem with that[,] come to my house and see what happens. Shoot before they even pull their guns out of their trunk and you shoot to kill.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Abbie Broughton Marsh, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01751-PHX-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-164_Tomasi# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Making Online Threats Against Public Servants Including Federal OfficialsRead the Press Release
Michael Lee Tomasi, 38, of Rio Verde, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release for making online threats against public servants, including federal officials. Tomasi also was ordered to forfeit an assault rifle, handgun, shotgun, gun magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Tomasi pleaded guilty to one count of making threats against public officials on Aug. 13.
“After making vile threats to execute and sexually assault FBI agents and employees, state and local law enforcement officials, and other public servants, Michael Tomasi told the FBI to ‘come to my house and see what happens’ — what has happened is that he will spend 15 months in federal prison,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the brave public servants of the FBI for bringing this defendant to justice and for the difficult and dangerous work they do every day to keep the American people safe.”
“Threatening law enforcement officers and other public officials will not be tolerated, whether it involves our own FBI personnel, police officers patrolling their communities, or government officials carrying out their work,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “I take it very personally that anyone would threaten FBI personnel who work tirelessly to protect the American people from a variety of threats and often put themselves in harm’s way while carrying out their duties. We will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and other public servants.”
“Civil discourse and civic dialogue are fundamental to a democratic society,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “But the incitement of violence is not: we will continue our efforts to prosecute those who make true threats against public officials and law enforcement officers.”
From May 2021 through November 2023, while living in Colorado and Arizona, Tomasi used a social media platform to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of individuals and groups, including a city district attorney, a state court judge, a member of Congress and other federal officials and law enforcement officers. Tomasi pleaded guilty to posting a threat on Aug. 26, 2023, to kill FBI agents in order to impede, intimidate, or interfere with FBI agents’ performance of their official duties. Specifically, Tomasi admitted that, on that day, he posted: “Shoot the FBI first and ask questions later. . . . Any FBI [] have a problem with that[,] come to my house and see what happens. Shoot before they even pull their guns out of their trunk and you shoot to kill.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Abbie Broughton Marsh for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Arizona Man Charged with Defrauding at Least 54 Victims in Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 19-count indictment against Anthonie Ruinard, Jr., 39, of Chandler, for Wire Fraud and Transactional Money Laundering.
The indictment alleges that Ruinard scammed at least 54 victims out of more than $5.6 million through an investment fraud scheme operated under the guise of a business called Legacy Investors Group Inc. Ruinard falsely portrayed himself as a successful investor worth over $470 million. He promised victim-investors guaranteed rates of return—generally 5% to 6% per month—through investments in venture capital, private equity, and real estate. While some of the early victim-investors received some initial payments to perpetuate the fraud, others lost their entire investment. Ruinard largely used the victims’ money for himself, including on luxury vehicles (for example, the purchase of an armored vehicle for $344,000), general living expenses, casino gambling, credit card payments, and rental expenses.
A conviction for wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for transactional money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Phoenix Division conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. If you believe you were defrauded by the defendant, and have not previously contacted the FBI, please reach out to the following email address: [email protected] or fill out the questionnaire at this link: https://forms.fbi.gov/legacygroupvictims/view
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01904-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-163_Ruinard# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Alberton trafficker sentenced to more than eight years in prison for role in bringing drugs from Mexico to MissoulaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal judge today sentenced an Alberton man to eight years and seven months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a drug trafficking scheme in which he worked with sources in Mexico to bring meth to Montana and to launder the proceeds, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Waylon Jack Greco, 44, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Greco was close to a source of supply in Mexico and worked to transport the drugs from the Mexican border to Montana. Greco’s drug distribution involved pounds of meth over several months, and he was a known drug distributor from about April 2023 through September 2023. Greco also worked with co-conspirators to launder drug proceeds back to Mexico, including devising a scheme to create business fronts through which to launder the money and by suggesting he marry a Mexican woman to whom he could legally make international transfers. Members of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office executed a state search warrant on Greco’s vehicle in May 2023 and located approximately 13 grams of meth, $1,001 in U.S. currency and three cell phones.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Alabama Man Indicted for Transporting an Individual to Engage in ProstitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Ray Thomas (33, Mobile, AL) with inducement to travel to engage in prostitution and transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in December 2023, Thomas persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced an individual to travel from Massachusetts to Florida for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and sexual activity. He also transported the individual from Massachusetts to Florida.
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 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
Monday 25 November 2024
Wilburton Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Henry Lawrence, age 57, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of illegally possessing a firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on November 11, 2022, Lawrence knowingly possessed a revolver and a rifle after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Lawrence will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Upshur County Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Fraudulently Obtain Unemployment and COVID-19 BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Christopher Grant, 41, of Buckhannon, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $35,168 in restitution for conspiracy to steal public money, property or records. Grant admitted that he fraudulently obtained approximately $14,336 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supplementary funds, and a $20,832 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 25, 2020, Grant applied for unemployment compensation after he was laid off as a sales manager at a Charleston auto dealership when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Grant legitimately received unemployment benefits until the week ending April 18, 2020, when he returned to work.
Grant admitted that from at least April 25, 2020 through at least July 25, 2020, he continued to apply for unemployment benefits that he knew he was not entitled to because he had returned to work. Grant fraudulently obtained approximately $14,336 in unemployment benefits, including supplementary funds provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) of the CARES Act.
WorkForce West Virginia administers the unemployment compensation program for the State of West Virginia. Grant admitted that as part of his scheme, he falsely certified on the WorkForce West Virginia website for 14 consecutive weeks that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. Grant submitted the false certification answers while using his personal electronic device in St. Albans.
On March 21, 2021, Grant applied for a PPP loan because he had earned income as an independent contractor during previous tax years. PPP loans were available to qualifying independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Grant admitted that he falsely represented that he had earned $104,580 as an independent contractor for the prior tax year when he knew he had only earned $33,900. Grant further admitted that he made this false representation in order to receive $20,832, the maximum loan amount available to independent contractors.
Grant also admitted that he used the fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and PPP loan funds to make purchases and pay his bills.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman prosecuted the case.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-113.
###
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Plea in Domestic Violence CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty in federal court to violently assaulting his girlfriend in a domestic violence incident.
According to court documents, on October 9, 2023, Frank Shorty Trujillo, 19, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, violently assaulted his girlfriend, Jane Doe, at their residence. The attack was triggered by Trujillo's anger over a delayed marijuana delivery.
The assault began in front of the couple's one-year-old son. Trujillo repeatedly punched Jane Doe and bit her left leg above the knee. Throughout the attack, Jane Doe feared for her life.
Trujillo will remain detained pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Trujillo faces up to five years imprisonment. Upon his release from prison, Trujillo will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.
# # #
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces over $6.8 Million in Federal Grants to Support Opioid Treatment ProgramsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that $6,817,676 in federal grants has been awarded to six counties in the Western District of North Carolina to combat opioids, stimulants, and other substances and to support local treatment programs.
The grants were administered by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program. The funding will assist communities with the prevention, diversion, treatment and recovery needs of individuals affected by substance use disorders.
According to provisional data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2023,” of which 81,083 were due to a synthetic opioid, primarily fentanyl.
“The funding allocated to Western North Carolina will strengthen local efforts to fight the opioid crises and its impact on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “These grants further our commitment to work with our local partners to support public health and help build safe and healthy communities.”
The six counties below received funding to address the opioid and stimulant crisis and meet the needs of individuals with substance use disorders.
- Catawba County was awarded $1.3 million to support its existing collaborative Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (L.E.A.D.) and Medicated Assisted Treatment (M.A.T.) programs.
- Gaston County was awarded $1,219,877, to support services provided to children and their families in foster care as a result of parental drug use.
- Henderson County was awarded $1,299,000 to supplement funding for its Recovery Community Center and to expand its capacity.
- Jackson County was awarded $998,952, to implement a comprehensive program designed to impact the overdose crisis and community-wide effects of illicit opioid substances.
- Transylvania County was awarded $999,947, to support its Bridging Reentry: Expanding Access to Treatment and Holistic Care (BREATH-C) program, that aims to reduce the impact of substance misuse on justice involved residents.
- Wilkes County was awarded $999,900, to implement a program to increase access recovery support services and to reduce the impact of illicit substances on individuals and communities.
BJA offers funding through a variety of different programs. Visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding
to review currently available grant opportunities and learn about funding webinars.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Announces Anticipated Resignation from the Southern District of New YorkRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, announced today his intention to resign his position as United States Attorney, effective 11:59 p.m. on December 13, 2024. Edward Y. Kim, who currently serves as Deputy United States Attorney, will become the Acting United States Attorney upon his departure.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world. It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level – upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence. That success is due to the career attorneys, staff members, and law enforcement agents of this Office. Working with them during my tenure has been a privilege of a lifetime. They are worthy custodians of this Office’s tradition of doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. They are patriots. They are my family. And I will miss them dearly.
I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the Southern District of New York during my tenure. It has been an honor to serve the American people.”
Two Men Charged with Robbing Chinese BusinessRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Alexander Sánchez-Morales and Bryan Merced-Bigio with an armed robbery related to the restaurant China City, in Bayamón, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to the Government’s allegations in a Complaint, on October 10, 2024, Sánchez-Morales and a co-conspirator followed a woman and her two young children to a residence above China City restaurant, where the defendants forced their way into the residence and beat the husband in the head with a machinegun. Defendants stole hundreds of dollars related to the restaurant business before fleeing upon arrival of agents from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
“The armed robbery allegedly committed by these individuals was a horrific home invasion that spread fear through the community,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “Combating violent crime is among the highest of priorities for the federal law enforcement agencies in Puerto Rico. There is nothing more important than protecting our communities and keeping law abiding citizens safe in their own homes.”
Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Miami Field Division stated: “This indictment represents continuing ATF efforts in the fight against violent crime and those who use machineguns to further their violent activities.”
“Part of our mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of every individual. I want to emphasize that when we say ‘everyone,’ we truly mean all people, irrespective of their legal status or any other factors that might make them hesitant to report a federal crime,” stated Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “We commend the work of the US Attorney’s Office and ATF in this investigation. I urge anyone who has been targeted by violent criminals due to their ethnicity, nationality, or race to come forward and report it by calling 787-987-6500 or submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.”
If convicted, defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette Collazo and Jonathan Gottfried of the Violent Crimes Section are in charge of the prosecution of the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the FBI. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Three Indicted in $1.4 Million PPP Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging three Metro East men for engaging in a PPP loan fraud scheme in East St. Louis.
Dana C. Howard, 52, of O’Fallon, Richard Scott Myers, 63, of Edwardsville, and Glenn Sunnquist, 53, of Swansea, are each facing one charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Howard is also facing charges for making a false statement, two counts of bankruptcy fraud and three counts of willful failure to pay taxes. The grand jury also charged Myers with one count of monetary transaction in funds derived from a specified unlawful activity and three counts of bankruptcy fraud.
“In one of the most prevalent and widespread fraud crimes in American history, any greedy individuals who sought to steal from the federal government under false pretenses and enrich themselves with PPP funds will be held accountable under the law,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
In response to financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration utilized the Paycheck Protection Program to offer relief and forgivable loans to struggling businesses. Under PPP, business owners could apply for loans to offset operational costs for payroll, employee benefits, facility expenses and other bills.
According to court documents, Howard and Myers were co-owners of construction company Zoie, LLC, and freight company Zade Trucking, both in East St. Louis. Sunnquist was employed as a bookkeeper for both businesses.
In April 2020, Howard and Myers applied for and received a PPP loan for $1,426,500 and asserted more than $1.3 million of the funds would be used to keep Zoie operational and employees paid during the pandemic. Howard and Myers are accused of using the large loan for their personal use and to the benefit of another business they owned and not the intended use of the funds.
“COVID fraud was massive in scale and ultimately the cost will be paid by American taxpayers for generations to come,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI has opened thousands of investigations across the country targeting COVID-related fraud, working diligently in collaboration with our partners to hold thieves accountable.”
The indictment further alleges that in 2020 both Meyers and Howard filed for bankruptcy indicating they had little to no PPP loan funds left when in fact combined they had $450,000 available to them through cashier’s checks. Howard and Myers are also alleged to have applied for a second PPP loan for more than $1.4 million in January 2021, falsely indicating they were not involved in any bankruptcy proceedings and thereafter also sought forgiveness of the first loan.
“The nation as a whole may have moved on from COVID, but IRS Criminal Investigation continues to track down fraudsters who stole money from pandemic relief programs to enrich themselves,” said St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bill Steenson. “Those individuals must be held accountable.”
Sunnquist is accused of falsifying Zoie’s expense records and manipulating old invoices to support the loan’s forgiveness application. In September 2022, SBA denied forgiveness of the loan.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The FBI Springfield Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation are contributing to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.
Tax Preparer Charged in 16-Count Indictment for Falsifying Tax Returns for Customers and Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs for Small BusinessesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey tax preparer was charged in a sixteen-count indictment for using false information to increase client tax refunds, and fraudulently obtaining money from Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Anne Bonilla, aka “Anne Davinovish,” 53, of Linden, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with thirteen counts of procuring, counseling, and advising in the preparation and filing of false tax returns; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and two counts of wire fraud. Bonilla was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment:
Bonilla was a tax preparer at Anne Accounting Services Inc. who created fraudulent tax returns on behalf of multiple clients by falsifying various expenses. As a result, those clients’ returns requested higher tax credits and higher refunds than the clients were entitled to receive. Bonilla prepared at least 46 fraudulent tax returns that caused approximately $340,000 in refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled.
Bonilla also arranged for a conspirator to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Electronic Filer Identification Number (EFIN) using the conspirator’s personal identifying information. The fraudulent EIN was associated with tax returns that received more than $195,000 in federal refunds for tax year 2023, and the fraudulent EFIN was associated with tax returns that received more than $595,000 in federal refunds for tax year 2023, including tax refunds totaling more than $100,000 in the names (including variations of the names) of Bonilla and her associates.
In June 2020, Bonilla and a conspirator submitted a fraudulent EIDL application, which resulted in the Small Business Administration (SBA) paying $110,000 in COVID-19 related proceeds. In July 2020, Bonilla and the conspirator submitted another fraudulent EIDL application, which resulted in the SBA paying $131,200 in COVID-19 related proceeds. The July 2020 application was submitted under another person’s name to conceal the involvement of Bonilla and her conspirator, but law enforcement was subsequently able to link the July 2020 application back to Bonilla. Bonilla also sent a lender altered bank statements in connection with the purchase of real property in Florida.
Each of the 13 counts of procuring, counseling, and advising in the preparation and filing of false tax returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
bonilla.indictment.pdfTampa Dentist Pleads Guilty to Sending Threats to Multiple Victims, Including an Election OfficialRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL — A Florida dentist pleaded guilty today to sending threats to three victims in 2019 and 2020 and to an election official in 2024.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, sent over 100 threats to various public figures based on their political commentary via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text. As charged in the superseding information, those threats included a threat sent via email to an author, a threat sent via text to a religious persona, and a threat sent via Instagram to a television personality. Kantwill also sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook from April 2022 to April 2024, including a threat to an election official in another state on Feb. 9, 2024.
“With this plea, the Justice Department is ensuring that Richard Kantwill faces accountability for targeting an election official and other public figures with over 100 heinous threats,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In the three years since I created the Department’s Election Threats Task Force we have worked to aggressively combat the dangerous increase in violent threats against the public servants who administer our elections. Today’s action is yet another warning: the Justice Department will not stand for threats of violence that endanger people’s safety and endanger our democracy.”
“Today’s guilty plea is the next step in holding Richard Kantwill accountable for his almost year-long campaign of terror, sending more than 100 violent threats to over 40 victims including various public figures and an election official,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Make no mistake, using electronic communications to threaten victims with violence is illegal and the FBI will continue to pursue those who seek to cause fear and terror by sending such violent threats.”
“Richard Kantwill sent more than 100 violent threats to multiple public figures, including an election official,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department has zero tolerance for conduct that seeks to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs. I am proud of the work the Election Threats Task Force has done over the past three years to hold accountable those who threaten election workers with violence.”
Kantwill pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they join the task force in its critical work.
Under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Rutland Woman Sentenced to 29 Months for Distribution of Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on November 21, 2024, Stephanie Horvath, 39, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 29 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Horvath previously pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine base to a law enforcement confidential informant in June 2023, in Rutland.
According to court records, starting in 2017-18 and continuing until her arrest in the current case in August 2023, Horvath “middled” drug sales for a rotating group of drug suppliers who were armed and dangerous. Horvath was involved in the distribution of cocaine base and heroin/fentanyl at the Highlander Motel in Rutland in 2022 and 2023. Horvath would distribute controlled substances herself, as well as have others distribute drugs from her hotel room. During the investigation that led to Horvath’s arrest, five controlled purchases were conducted by the Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force involving the defendant’s room between December 2022 and June 2023. Records also indicate that in November 2022, Horvath’s acquisition of a large supply of cocaine and heroin/fentanyl from another drug supplier was associated with the violent assault of one of her associates.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Turner and Jonathan A. Ophardt. Horvath was represented Natasha Sen, Esq.
Ringleader of Stalking Campaign Against Journalists Sentenced to More Than Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for orchestrating a conspiracy to harass and intimidate journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and their family members.
Eric Labarge, 46, of Nashua, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and pay restitution of $34,139 to the victims. In July 2024 Labarge pleaded guilty to a five-count superseding Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce; one count of conspiracy to commit stalking using a facility of interstate commerce; one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and aiding and abetting; and two counts of stalking through interstate travel and aiding and abetting. Labarge was arrested and charged in September 2023 along with co-conspirators Tucker Cockerline, Michael Waselchuck and Keenan Saniatan.
“Mr. Labarge was the ringleader of a targeted, terror campaign that caused the victims—journalists exercising the First Amendment rights and the families —incredible fear and emotional harm. Mr. Labarge’s terror campaign sent ripples of fear throughout the journalism community and violated the bedrock principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of journalists to report without fear of retribution and to put behind bards those who try to silence the media through threats and violence.”
“Eric Labarge will now pay a hefty price for being the vindictive ringleader of an elaborate harassment campaign that inflicted significant emotional harm, stress, and fear on New Hampshire Public Radio employees and their family members who were simply just doing their jobs,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Let today’s sentence be a warning: anyone attempting to infringe on the freedom of the press – a constitutionally protected right – will not get away with it.”
In March 2022 an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an exposé 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 – one of Subject 1’s closest friends – orchestrated a months-long scheme to harass, stalk and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members with the help of Cockerline, Waselchuck and Saniatan. Specifically:
- On or about the evening of April 24, 2022, at Labarge’s direction, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and threw a brick through an exterior window of Victim 1’s former residence in New Hampshire;
- On the evening of April 24, 2022, at Labarge’s direction, Saniatan spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and threw a large rock at the exterior of Victim 2’s home in New Hampshire; and threw a softball-sized rock through a front exterior window and spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home in New Hampshire;
- On or about May 18, 2022, Labarge directed Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s parents’ home in New Hampshire, and Victim 1’s home in Massachusetts, using bricks and red spray paint. Cockerline, in turn, recruited Waselchuck to vandalize Victim 1’s residence; and
- On the evening of May 20, 2022, at Labarge’s direction, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home, and he left a brick on the ground near the front door. Several hours later, Waselchuck threw a brick through an exterior window of Victim 1’s home in Massachusetts and painted the phrase “JUST THE BEGINNING” in large red letters on the front of the house.
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. Saniatan has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 6, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen 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.
Ringleader imprisoned for almost 16 years after laundering millions in Indian call center scamRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old legal permanent resident (LPR) from India has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Sohil Usmangani Vahora, Des Plaines, Illinois, pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2023.
U.S District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered him to serve 188 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. As an LPR, he could also lose his status in the United States.
Vahora was ordered to pay a combined $3,541,258 in restitution to dozens of individual victims. At the hearing, the court heard that over 80 percent of Vahora’s victims were elderly. Victim impact statements received from 33 victims or their family members described “relentless” phone calls, financial hardship and feelings of shame Vahora and his co-conspirators caused.
“Vahora chose to go all in on India’s predatory call centers, swindling savings from his elderly neighbors while at the same time turning his back on the country that chose to let him in,” said Hamdani. “He saw the money flowing through his organization as nothing more than dollar signs, ignoring the foreign fraudsters who stole money and dashed dreams using a script of fear and lies. Today’s 15-year and eight-month sentence sends the message that people who move a victim’s money are as culpable as the person who initially places the bogus call.”
Between 2017 and 2020, Vahora managed a team of domestic money mules or “runners.” He received work from call centers in India that were perpetrating telemarketing scams in the United States.
One common script used in the scheme involved coercing victims into believing members of law enforcement were investigating them. The “federal authority” on the phone would convince the victim the only way to clear his or her name from investigation was to buy gift cards and transfer the redemption codes to the call center or mail cash in a package to a name and address the call center provided. Runners in the United States would then deplete the gift card funds and pick up the packages.
At least five runners worked for Vahora over the course of the conspiracy. They picked up hundreds of packages containing cash approximately 280 victims had shipped. Although Vahora lived in the greater Chicago area, he sent his runners all over the country.
Co-conspirator Zaheen Rafikbhai Malvi, 30, Heber Springs, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud May 15, 2023, and is set for sentencing Dec. 9. At that time, Malvi faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
An additional three of Vahora’s runners were previously sentenced to 29, 41 and 60 months in federal prison.
Vahora will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations in Houston and Fayetteville, Arkansas, conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and Heber Springs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kate Suh are prosecuting the case.
The SSA and its OIG consistently warns people of similar scams. Protect yourself!
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Imran Siddiqi (40, North Port) to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender. Siddiqi entered a guilty plea on July 22, 2024.
According to court documents, between January 31 and March 6, 2024, Siddiqi engaged in a conversation with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 13-year-old girl. During the conversation, Siddiqi repeatedly described his desire to have sex with the child, sending multiple explicit photographs of himself along with images of adult pornography to the undercover officer. Siddiqi, a registered sex offender, previously was convicted in state court of traveling to meet a parent to solicit/entice a child to commit a sex act in 2016.
“This recidivist predator once again attempted to violate the innocence and vulnerability of a child,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners at all levels, is steadfast in our commitment to work tirelessly investigating anyone who attempts to exploit children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. 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.
Raleigh Man Pleads Guilty to Seven-Figure Fraud Against COVID Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Raleigh businessman Wilson Alfredo Olivera Borda pled guilty to nine counts of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for over $1 million. At sentencing, Olivera faces a statutory maximum of 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in 2020 and 2021, Borda received nine PPP loans for five separate companies. To obtain those loans, Olivera submitted applications falsely claiming that each business had substantial employees and operations. Olivera bolstered those falsehoods by submitting fabricated tax returns supporting his applications.
In truth, two of the companies, The Insurance Centers.Com and The Insurance Centers LLC, were not separate businesses, but trade names used by a different company for which Borda had already applied for and received COVID relief funding. The other three, Realty Vestors LLC, US-Kaizen LLC, and Ecobuild LLC, had little or no operations and no employees. After obtaining the loans, Borda made additional false statements to obtain forgiveness. All nine loans were fully forgiven and paid off by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“This businessman pocketed over $1 million in PPP relief funds by submitting bogus tax returns suggesting his business had legitimate operations and employees. When the FBI dug in, the house of cards came tumbling down,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We should be proud to live in a nation that cares for the needy and moves quickly to handle the greedy. Law enforcement is working daily to root out fraud on public programs.”
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the arraignment by United States District Judge Terrence Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Cogburn prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-215-BO.