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Wednesday 24 July 2024
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Stalking JournalistRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in two conspiracies to harass and intimidate two journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). The harassment and intimidation of the victims included the vandalism – on five separate occasions – of the victims’ homes and the home of one of the victims’ parents with bricks, large rocks and red spray paint.
Eric Labarge, 46, of Nashua, N.H., 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. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 18, 2024. Labarge was arrested and charged in September 2023 along with co-conspirators Tucker Cockerline, Michael Waselchuck and Keenan Saniatan.
In March 2022, an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson, identified in the charging document as Subject 1. Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge – who is a close personal associate of Subject 1 – conspired with Cockerline, Waselchuck and, allegedly Saniatan, to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members. Among other things, the indictment alleges that:
- On or about April 22, 2022, Labarge solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s former residence in Hanover, N.H., using a brick and red spray paint. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and threw a brick through an exterior window of the home;
- On or about April 22, 2022, in a conspiracy with Labarge, Saniatan allegedly agreed to vandalize Victim 2’s home in Concord, N.H. and Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., using large rocks and red spray paint. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Saniatan allegedly 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; and he allegedly 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;
- On or about May 18, 2022, Labarge solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., and Victim 1’s home in Melrose, Mass., using bricks and red spray paint. Cockerline, in turn, recruited Waselchuck to vandalize Victim 1’s residence; and
- Thereafter, on the evening of May 20, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home, and 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 and painted the phrase “JUST THE BEGINNING” in large red letters on the front of the house.
Cockerline and Waselchuck have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Saniatan is scheduled for trial on Sept. 9, 2024.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, New Hampshire Police Departments, the Melrose, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Monroe County Man Sentenced to 151 Months’ Imprisonment for Narcotics DistributionRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 23, 2024, United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley sentenced Rodney Wilcox, age 56, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to 151 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years on supervised release for distribution of cocaine and fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, during the spring of 2023, Wilcox sold cocaine and fentanyl during several controlled purchase operations conducted by law enforcement agents. Wilcox was armed with a handgun during some of these controlled purchases. A search warrant was also served on Wilcox’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of additional narcotics and two firearms. In all, 6.5 grams of pure fentanyl were seized from Wilcox, which is 3,250 doses of potentially fatal fentanyl.
The matter was a joint investigation by the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Missouri Man Sentenced to 405 Months in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Missouri man was sentenced today to 405 months in federal prison for production of child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, John Daniel Kopp Jr., 65, requested Abigail Margarete Knight produce child pornography with two minor victims and send it to him for a period of several years, between at least July 2020 through May 2023. Knight would produce such images and send them to Kopp via text message. Kopp continued to ask for more images, even paying Knight to produce some of the images.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Kopp will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Kopp was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution.
In June 2024, Knight, 36 of Riverside, was sentenced to 600 months in federal prison, following her plea to two counts of production of child pornography.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Washington County Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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 more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Mission Man Sentenced for Possession of an Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 22, 2024.
Mikel Swift Hawk, a/k/a Mikal Swift Hawk, age 25, was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Swift Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 4, 2024.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on November 26, 2022, in Mission, South Dakota, within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Swift Hawk was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop. Law enforcement officers located a short shotgun in the vehicle, which Swift Hawk admitted to possessing. The short shotgun had a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Swift Hawk will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.
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 Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Swift Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that German Aguilar Beltran, age 46, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced on July 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Brian C. Buescher sentenced Aguilar Beltran to 216 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment Aguilar Beltran will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.
On June 22, 2021, a cooperating defendant was arrested after agents executed a search warrant on his Omaha residence revealing 28 one-pound packages of crystal meth, and $18,754 in narcotics proceeds. In a post-arrest interview, the cooperator admitted to his involvement in distributing meth and identified co-defendant Emeterio Sepulveda-Moreno as the person who delivered the meth found in his residence. The cooperator said Sepulveda-Moreno was responsible for delivering hundreds of pounds of meth, and twice delivered meth to him in Omaha, including the 28 pounds he was caught with.
The investigation revealed that another co-defendant, Victor Gabriel Gonzalez-Garcia, would drive vehicles loaded with meth along with and Emeterio Sepulveda-Moreno, who were both working for German Aguilar Beltran since October of 2017. Agents confirmed that Aguilar Beltran’s phone was present during multiple documented drug transactions, and a vehicle known to have transported multiple loads of meth was registered in Aguilar Beltran’s name. During the course of the conspiracy, Aguilar Beltran was stopped and identified as the driver of the drug load vehicle.
United States District Court Brian C. Buescher sentenced Sepulveda-Moreno to 135 months’ imprisonment on May 8, 2024, and sentenced Gonzalez-Garcia to 168 months’ imprisonment on July 27, 2023. The $18,754 seized on June 22, 2021, was previously forfeited to the United States as proceeds from narcotics trafficking, and the cooperator defendant was previously sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment.
This case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
Mental health services providers pay over a million to settle false claims liabilityRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two mental health care providers in the South Texas area have agreed to pay $1,083,000 to resolve False Claims Act (FCA) allegations regarding the submission of claims to Medicare, TRICARE and Medicaid that non-physician personnel rendered, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
From 2017 through 2020, Texas Behavioral Health PLLC (TBH) and United Psychiatry Institute LLC (UPI) allegedly engaged in a pattern and practice of falsely billing Medicare Part B.
According to the allegations, TBH and UPI would submit claims for mental health services that physicians had not rendered or not directly supervised as Medicare regulations require. Some services occurred on dates when the physicians were traveling outside of the United States and thus unable to provide the services. Others allegedly occurred at times when it was not logistically possible for the physicians to have rendered them or directly supervised the services themselves due to the sheer volume of patients at multiple office locations located in and around the Houston area.
Certain non-physician practitioners can provide mental health services but must have their own benefit categories and must bill the government programs directly using their own provider numbers. This did not happen in this case, according to the allegations. As a result of the alleged improper billing, Medicare, TRICARE and Medicaid reimbursed TBH and UPI at the higher physician rate.
“For a system to provide affordable mental health services, it’s important for healthcare providers to give accurate information about who is providing the services - not supply misinformation in an attempt to fleece that system,” said Hamdani. “My office will continue to hold healthcare providers accountable when they get reimbursed at a higher rate due to alleged improper or fraudulent billing practices.”
“As evidenced by recent settlements and indictments, healthcare fraud and abuse of our federally funded healthcare system is rampant,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Too many providers are taking advantage of the mental health crisis and patient beneficiaries to bilk the system for millions of dollars. Ultimately, we all pay the price for their deceit in the form of higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. We encourage anyone who has information about healthcare fraud to please speak up and report it to the FBI.”
“Our federal health care system relies on the fundamental principle that providers bill correctly and adhere to the rules. Taxpayers who fund these programs deserve nothing less,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that those who submit false claims to Medicare are held accountable and that the Medicare trust fund is restored.”
The settlement stems from a qui tam or whistleblower complaint filed under the FCA, which permits a party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recover. The qui tam case is United States ex rel. Gonzalez v. Texas Behavioral Health PLLC et al. The whistleblower will receive 17% of the proceeds from the settlement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from DHHS – OIG and Texas Attorney General’s Office – Civil Medicaid Fraud Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Green handled the matter.
Maryland Woman Sentenced to 30 Months for A Series of Fraud Schemes, Including Passport Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Charmaine Miesha Brown, age 45, of Lusby, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracies to commit passport fraud and wire fraud, as well as bankruptcy fraud, and making a false statement in bankruptcy proceeding. Brown was also ordered to pay $128,201.22 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Karen L. Brown Cleveland of the U.S. Department of the State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Washington Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security.
As detailed in trial testimony, in January 2014, Charmaine Miesha Brown, a United States citizen, married Andrews Oduro Brown, a/k/a “Andrews Oduro,” a Ghanaian national who entered the United States in May 2013. In 2021, Oduro obtained legal permanent resident status in the United States through his marriage to Brown.
According to trial testimony, including testimony from Brown, and court documents, from December 2014 through April 2021, Brown and Oduro conspired to obtain United States passports for Oduro’s children, who were non-United States citizens, through false statements and fraudulent identity documents.
For example, the evidence established that on December 1, 2014, Brown submitted an application for a passport in the name of Brown’s child, Child C, who is a U.S. citizen, but bearing the photograph of Oduro’s child, Child A, who was born in Ghana and is not a U.S. citizen. After the application was approved, Child A traveled from Ghana into the United States using the fraudulently obtained U.S. passport. On March 16, 2015, Brown and Oduro applied for a passport in Child A’s own name and submitted a fraudulent Ghanaian birth certificate in support of the application, falsely stating that Brown was Child A’s birth mother. As detailed at trial, on March 17, 2020, Brown and Oduro applied for a passport in the name of Child B, Oduro’s non-U.S. citizen child, and again submitted a fraudulent Ghanaian birth certificate in support of the application, falsely stating that Brown was Child B’s birth mother. After the application was approved, Child B used the fraudulently obtained U.S. passport to travel into the United States.
Further, the evidence proved that from August 2016 through April 2021, Brown and Oduro conspired to receive payments from the state of Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program to which they were not entitled. The Child Care Scholarship Program, formerly known as the Child Care Subsidy Program, provides direct payments for childcare services to providers of childcare to low-income families. Brown falsely reported to the state of Maryland that a friend, Individual 1, was watching her children. Brown also falsely represented that Oduro was an “absent parent,” when in fact Oduro lived in the same home. The trial evidence, however, established that Individual 1 visited the United States in 2011 to 2012 before returning to Ghana and could not have provided the childcare services. Instead, Oduro posed as Individual 1 and obtained payments from the state of Maryland between 2016 and 2021 to provide childcare to his and Brown’s own children.
Finally, according to trial testimony and court documents, in 2018, Brown and Oduro defrauded creditors and the bankruptcy trustee by filing a fraudulent Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Brown and Oduro filed the petition using the name and partial social security number of Individual 1, seeking the discharge of tens of thousands of dollars in debts and tax obligations to the state of Maryland that Oduro incurred using the name and PII of Individual 1. Court records show that Brown filled out the petition documents. In addition, Oduro appeared at the discharge hearing in the bankruptcy court and identified himself as Individual 1, presenting a Pennsylvania identification that Brown and Oduro had fraudulently obtained in the name of Individual 1. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, as a result of the fraudulent bankruptcy petition in the name of Individual 1, Brown and Oduro caused the entry of an order in June 2018 discharging debt that Oduro incurred in the name of Individual 1.
Andrews Oduro Brown previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and bankruptcy fraud. Judge Chuang sentenced Oduro to 28 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and further ordered Oduro to pay restitution of $127,951.22.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the Office of the U.S. Trustee for the District of Maryland, the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and the Dauphin County Staff for their significant assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gustavo Ruiz, who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Manlius Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William Gladney, age 41, of Manlius, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 35 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
As part of his previous guilty plea, Gladney admitted that he possessed thousands of videos and images of child pornography on several of his personal devices. Gladney has a previous conviction for possession of child pornography in Texas.
In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Gladney was ordered to pay a total of $44,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in the files he possessed, and will be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from imprisonment.
HSI, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the NYSP Troop D Computer Crime Unit, and the Auburn Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson prosecuted Gladney as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Raul Perales Guzman, 38, of San Luis, Mexico, was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in June 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration observed Guzman and a co-defendant distribute one kilogram of fentanyl. Agents then obtained a search warrant for a residence in Conway, South Carolina, where Guzman was staying. During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized 43 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of cocaine, 15 firearms, and approximately $407,000 in cash.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Guzman to concurrent sentences of 230 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards is prosecuting the case.
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Leader of a Drug Trafficking Organization Which Operated Out of the Former Victory Inn Was Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Darrick Bell, the leader of a large-scale drug conspiracy that operated out of the former Victory Inn hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, was sentenced today to 28 years in prison based on his conviction on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining Ison in the announcement was Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit, Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office and Chief James White, Detroit Police Department.
Bell, age 55, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith.
The charges on which Bell was convicted stemmed from the operation of a large-scale drug operation Bell created utilizing the Victory Inn, a motel formerly located next to the main drag for prostitution on Michigan Avenue.
The trial, which began on April 12, 2022, and concluded on June 2, 2022, involved more than 20 witnesses, including several of Bell’s co-conspirators and victims, along with hundreds of exhibits. The jury convicted Bell on three drug-related counts. The jury acquitted Bell on one count involving sex trafficking and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the remaining four counts involving sex trafficking.
The evidence presented at trial showed that as a part of the drug conspiracy, Bell sold drugs to vulnerable women to control them and used them to keep drug customers coming to the Victory Inn. Bell turned the Victory Inn into his own drug distribution business by gaining control of rooms at the hotel and moving his drug-dealing co-conspirators onto the premises. According to witness testimony, Bell employed drug dealers and enforcers to use manipulation, drugs, and violence to control the Victory Inn. There was often no vacancy at the Victory Inn because the rooms were full of women and victims living in unspeakable conditions as severe drug addicts. Bell would supply drugs to these women. The women would use the drugs, engage in commercial sex acts, and then would use the money from their dates to purchase more drugs. The women were trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction, which Bell exploited for financial gain. Bell and his co-conspirators would use violence or the threat of violence to ensure that the women continuously paid their ever-growing drug debt. This would include physically striking them or withholding drugs so they would go through excruciating withdrawal symptoms. In one instance, Bell shaved the head of one of the women.
“Today’s sentencing closes a chapter on the house of horrors that was the Victory Inn. Just as the motel was demolished, so too was the drug network Bell had organized and led for nearly a year. Bell’s rein and control over the women living at the Victory Inn was nothing short of abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Bell’s attempt at evading justice for over two and a half years failed, and he will now spend the next 28 years in prison for his actions.”
“This sentencing is the culmination of years of hard work from the men and women of HSI Detroit,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “I commend the HSI special agents, law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and support personnel who were relentless in their pursuit of justice. We must remain vigilant moving forward and ensure that similar trafficking organizations are promptly reported and dismantled before they can take root in our communities. Lastly and most importantly, it is my hope that this sentence brings some measure of comfort and resolution to the victims in this case.”
“Today’s sentencing shows the power that law enforcement collaboration has to protect victims by stopping violent criminals who believe they can commit heinous acts without consequence,” said Chief James E. White. “The hardworking women and men of the Detroit Police Department remain committed to working with our partners to root out violence and make Detroit a safer place for all.”
This investigation resulted in 9 individuals being charged with various drug and sex trafficking offenses. The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by agents of Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome Gorgon, Matthew Roth, Blake Hatlem, and Lisandra Fernandez-Silber.
Las Vegas Man Arrested and Indicted for Threatening to Murder Federal Officials and State EmployeesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment charging a Las Vegas man with threatening to assault and murder federal officials, including federal judges, and state employees in Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, and Montana.
According to court documents, between November 30, 2023, and July 7, 2024, Spencer Christjencody Gear, 32, made threatening phone calls and sent a threatening email to assault and murder eight federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties, and with intent to retaliate against the officials on account of the performance of official duties. Gear also threatened three state employees.
Gear was arrested and made his initial court appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. He is charged with 10-counts of threatening a federal official and 12-counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 24, 2024 before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.
If convicted, Gear faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of threatening a federal official and 5 years for each count of transmitting a threat to injure.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, Marshal Gary Schofield for the U.S. Marshals Service, and Chief J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, United States Capitol Police, New York State Courts Department of Public Safety, New York County District Attorney’s Office – Investigations Bureau, and the Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Operskalski is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kailua Man Found Guilty of Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder, and 11 Related ChargesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – After a 99-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson, a federal jury found Michael J. Miske, Jr., 50, of Kailua, Oahu, guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024, and today determined that as a result of his conviction of the racketeering conspiracy, he should forfeit a variety of assets to the federal government. Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2024. Ten other defendants originally charged with Miske and several others charged in other cases related to this one previously pled guilty to various offenses.
According to the evidence presented at trial, during at least the late 1990s and through June 2020, Miske and other codefendants conspired to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Miske Enterprise,” through a pattern of racketeering activity. The racketeering activity included acts involving murder, kidnapping, and robbery. It also included acts relating to murder-for-hire, chemical weapons, interference with commerce through robbery and extortion, wire fraud, fraud in connection with identification documents, financial institution fraud, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, and obstruction of justice.
During the trial, evidence was produced that from about March 2016 and continuing to about July 30, 2016, Miske conspired with others to kidnap and murder 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser in the belief that Fraser was responsible for Miske’s son’s death as a result of an automobile crash. In March 2016, Miske instructed a co-conspirator to develop a plan for kidnapping and murdering Fraser and told that co-conspirator that he/she could name the price for carrying out the murder. On or about July 30, 2016, Fraser was kidnapped and killed. On that same day, another of Miske’s co-conspirators took Fraser’s significant other on a “spa day,” thereby ensuring that Fraser and his significant other would be separated from each other when Fraser was kidnapped.
In or about March 2017, Miske and others conspired to release a chemical weapon, namely, chloropicrin, into nightclubs in Honolulu, Hawaii. As part of this conspiracy, chloropicrin was released into two different nightclubs. Miske was also convicted of obstructing justice for the submission of false character letters to the court in support of Miske’s request for pretrial release while this case was pending.
The maximum penalties for the charges on which Miske was found guilty are set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress. The actual sentence imposed will be determined by the judge.
COUNTCHARGEMAXIMUM PRISON TERM1Racketeering ConspiracyLife (mandatory minimum)2Murder in Aid of RacketeeringLife (mandatory minimum)3Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering10 years5Kidnapping Resulting in DeathLife (mandatory minimum)6Conspiracy to Commit KidnappingLife7Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy10 years10Conspiracy to Commit Assaults in Aid of RacketeeringThree years11Conspiracy to Commit KidnappingLife12Conspiracy to Use a Chemical WeaponLife13Use of a Chemical WeaponLife14Use of a Chemical WeaponLife21Obstruction of Justice20 years22Obstruction of Justice20 yearsAfter approximately one-and-a-half days of proceedings, the same jury determined that as a result of the conviction of racketeering conspiracy, Miske must forfeit specifically identified property, which included two pieces of real property and $611,123.60 in proceeds from the sale of real property, a Boston Whaler vessel, a fishing vessel, a 2017 Ferrari, $2,521.784.32 in cash from various financial institution accounts, and a cashier’s check for $1,162,826.76.
This conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case and presented it in court.
Joplin Man, Woman Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man and woman have pleaded guilty to stealing mail from Joplin residents as part of a conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
Emily Anna-Lee Sturgis, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Monday, July 22, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and to one count of bank fraud.
Co-defendant Aaron M. Blake, 28, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2024, to the same charges, as well as to one count of aggravated identity theft.
Sturgis and Blake admitted they conspired from December 2022 to Jan. 26, 2023, to steal mail out of residential mailboxes and off porches in Joplin. The stolen mail included credit cards, debit cards, checks, cash, jewelry, and documents that contained personal identifying information (such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and bank account information). They stole Pandora jewelry from one victim’s mailbox, and a Christmas card that contained a $500 check from another victim’s mailbox. They used the stolen credit cards to unlawfully make purchases.
Blake, with the knowledge and assistance of Sturgis, used the stolen personal information to open credit card accounts and bank accounts under those stolen names. He then used these fraudulently created credit and bank accounts to make unlawful purchases.
Sturgis and Blake attempted to obtain at least $13,845 from their victims and did obtain at least $12,482 from their victims.
Under federal statutes, Sturgis and Blake each is subject to a sentence of up to 60 years in federal prison without parole. Blake is also subject to a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Carthage, Mo., Police Department and the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Heroin ChargesRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Joshua Edmonds, 31, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson on July 23, 2024.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Edmonds conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Edmonds was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin that he distributed to others.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2024. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Edmonds. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is 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.
John Bragg Sentenced to Six Years for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On July 24, 2024, John Bragg, II, 47, formerly of West Virginia, was sentenced to 72 months by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his release from imprisonment, Bragg will be on supervised release for three years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bragg agreed to plead guilty to one count of an indictment charging him with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343. As a component of his sentence, Bragg was ordered to pay a money judgment of $79,500 and over $300,000 in restitution to his victims.
According to court documents, Bragg owned a business involved in the restoration and sale of classic and rare Volkswagen vehicles. The business – known as “JB Bugs Trick Truck N Rod” – maintained operations in various locations, including Tennessee and Indiana. Bragg held himself and his business out to be specialists in Volkswagen restoration, including by participating in online communities of Volkswagen enthusiasts and appearing at functions such as automobile conventions. Using that presence, he became acquainted with his victims and defrauded them. As identified in his plea agreement, one instance of such fraud included “selling” a vintage 23-window Volkswagen Microbus to various investors, despite the fact that another person owned the vehicle and Bragg was never entitled to offer it for sale.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by the United States Secret Service in conjunction with state and local law enforcement partners in Indiana and Tennessee.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Wilson represented the United States.
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Jeanerette Man Sentenced in Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Cameron Michael Marks, 26, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, has been sentenced for committing bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Marks to 54 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release.
On July 12, 2022, officers with the Jeanerette Police Department in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, stopped the vehicle driven by Marks for a traffic violation. Marks stopped his vehicle in his mother’s driveway. He was unable to provide a driver’s license or proof of insurance to law enforcement officers. Subsequently, a vehicle search was conducted of Marks’ vehicle and officers located 13 counterfeit/forged Western Union money orders. Marks’ mother gave officers consent to search the residence and inside officers located numerous fraudulent checks written on third party businesses and individuals, along with account opening documents and checkbooks bearing the names of these third parties but bearing Marks’ physical address.
The United States Secret Service began an investigation into this fraudulent activity. Marks admitted to law enforcement agents that he had obtained account information for the third party business fraudulently and ordered checks with that account information. He further admitted that he used other third party individuals’ identities to open bank accounts in order to deposit the fraudulent checks into accounts without using his own identity. Marks admitted that he issued fraudulent checks written on a third party business account in the amount of $240,275.71.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and Jeanerette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
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Jacksonville Man Indicted on Federal Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Robert Howard, III (22, Jacksonville), also known as “Kenny Kapps,” with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of pure or actual methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, Howard faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Howard that the United States intends to forfeit $2,250 in U.S. currency, which is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike.
This indictment is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Indiana Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sending Violent Antisemitic Threats to Anti-Defamation League Offices Across the CountryRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Andrezj Boryga (An-dre-g Bor-egg-ah), 67, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to willfully transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure other people and for choosing his victims because of their religion.
According to court documents, between July 9 and Dec. 14, 2022, Boryga left voicemails at Anti-Defamation League offices located in New York, Texas, Colorado, and Nevada. Boryga used antisemitic slurs on eight voicemails as he threatened to assault or kill Jewish people.
“Hate-fueled threats of violence seek to fracture our society and isolate communities from one another,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant made heinous, repeated violent threats targeting Jewish people and organizations. His actions were not just heinous, they were unlawful. This case represents the latest effort by the Justice Department to combat the disturbing increase in threats against Jews and Jewish institutions across the United States that we have seen in the wake of October 7th. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats and acts of violence motivated by antisemitism and by hatred of any kind.”
“The defendant’s vile and graphic threats demonstrated his hate-filled mindset, and the death threats levied caused genuine fear for the people who received them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This type of antisemitic, hate-fueled conduct offends our most basic values and has no place in our society. This sentence should send a clear message to perpetrators and would-be perpetrators of hate crimes that we will not hesitate to prosecute those who threaten violence against the Jewish community.”
“Everyone in our country should be able to sit in safety regardless of how they worship, free from bigoted threats meant to make them afraid,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “This criminal’s horrific threats sought to put fear into Jewish communities. Violent antisemitism and bigotry must be given no sanction in this country. Our office will continue to work closely with our partners at the Civil Rights Division and the FBI to hold criminals accountable for hate-based threats and violence.”
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
If you have concerns regarding Civil Rights violations in the Southern District of Indiana, you can now report them to our office via email [email protected] or using our online form.
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Indiana Man Sentenced to 288 Months in Prison for Multiple Sex OffensesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Lebanon, Indiana, man was sentenced today to 288 months in prison for his conviction on four counts of sex offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Randal Wise, 45, was previously convicted of attempted online enticement of a minor, transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and attempted transfer of obscenity to a minor following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents in this case, and the evidence at trial:
On Oct. 24, 2019, Wise traveled into New Jersey, approached an individual he believed was a 14-year-old boy on an internet dating application, and started a sexual dialogue. The individual was actually an undercover officer posing as a minor. Wise sent the undercover officer multiple photographs of his genitalia and requested similar photographs from him. The following day, Wise approached another individual that he believed was a minor boy on the same application. Unbeknownst to Wise, this individual was a second undercover officer posing as a minor. Wise engaged the second undercover officer in a highly sexual dialogue over the ensuing 24-hour period, sending sexually explicit photographs, questioning the second undercover officer about his sexual preferences and interests, and inviting the individual to his hotel for sex. On Oct. 26, 2019, Wise traveled to the second undercover officer’s location to engage in sexual activity with a minor, at which time he was arrested.
Law enforcement seized Wise’s phone and subsequently discovered multiple items of child pornography embedded in a sexually graphic conversation.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Wise to 10 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Thomas J. Chirichella, detectives with the Bayonne Police Department, and detectives with the Indianapolis Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division in Newark.
Indian National Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - An Indian national has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in jail and 10 years supervised release on his conviction of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Upendra Aduru, 32.
According to information presented to the court, from September 20, 2022, to October 6, 2022, Aduru, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa, communicated via social media with a detective posing as a thirteen-year-old girl. During the communication, Aduru repeatedly expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the purported thirteen-year-old and even sent the undercover detective several images of adult pornography. Aduru also repeatedly sought to meet with the girl and eventually traveled to a park in Millcreek Township after setting up a meeting with the girl. He was arrested after his arrival and a search of his phone revealed the social media communications between Aduru and the undercover detective.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Erie Police Department, the Millcreek Police Department, the Erie County Detectives, the Shaler Township Police Department and the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Aduru.
Illegal firearms trafficker sentenced to over 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Guilford County man was sentenced today for the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms after a months-long investigation into the sale of 20 firearms in Greensboro, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
MARCUS DEVON DALTON, age 30, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to illegal possession and trafficking firearms in May 2024. According to court records, in April 2022, a confidential informant (CI) contacted an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding an illegal firearms dealer who was supplying both firearms and machinegun conversion devices in Greensboro. The ATF agent coordinated multiple controlled purchases with the CI wherein DALTON illegally sold 20 firearms, including AR-15s, from May 2022 to September 2023. At the time of these events, DALTON was also a previously convicted felon and was therefore barred from possessing firearms.
DALTON was sentenced to a 121-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable William L. Osteen, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. At the conclusion of his active term of imprisonment, DALTON will be subject to supervised release for 3 years.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greensboro Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole DuPré.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
A copy of this press release will be posted on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 1:24CR81-1.
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Hyannis Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyannis man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ryan Diefenbach, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 16, 2024. In November 2022, Diefenbach, along with co-defendant Donnell Pina, was indicted by a federal grand jury.
In September 2021, Diefenbach, and allegedly Pina, possessed a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle when they sold it to a confidential informant in Hyannis. Due to previous felony convictions, including prior convictions for carrying a firearm without a license, unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number and assault with a dangerous weapon, Diefenbach was prohibited from possessing firearms.
At the time Diefenbach committed the offense, the charge of being a felon in possession provided for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Damon Lee West, age 45, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 20, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed 27.92 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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. West was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Federal Inmate Charged with Possessing Contraband
Marco Cota-Tamaura, 44, formerly of Lakewood, Colorado, is charged with possessing a prohibited object while an inmate at a Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that on March 22, 2024, Cota-Tamaura possessed methamphetamine.
If convicted, Cota-Tamaura faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Gun and Drug Crimes
James Stevens, 41, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine and fentanyl, possessing cocaine intended for distribution, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, and possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that Stevens distributed cocaine and fentanyl on November 16, 2023, and distributed fentanyl on November 21, 2023. The indictment further alleges that Stevens possessed cocaine intended for distribution on November 29, 2023, along with a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, Stevens faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the drug charges. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of possessing a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charges against Stevens are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Madison Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louie Glinzak is handling the case.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Janesville Man Charged with Gun and Drug Crimes
Cedric Sanders, 25, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing fentanyl, possessing 40 grams of more of fentanyl intended for distribution, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that Sanders distributed fentanyl on four occasions between November 3, 2023, and November 28, 2023. The indictment further alleges that on December 11, 2023, Sanders possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution as well as two handguns and ammunition despite being a convicted felon. Finally, the indictment alleges one of the firearms he possessed on December 11, 2023, was possessed in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, Sanders faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the drug distribution charges. If convicted of the charge involving possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of possessing a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charges against Sanders are the result of an investigation by the Janesville Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Franklin County Man Sentenced to Prison for Producing Counterfeit U.S. CurrencyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal district judge sentenced a man from Christopher, Illinois, to 24 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to printing counterfeit money.
Michael A. Eskew, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacture of counterfeit obligations of the U.S., one count of possession of counterfeit obligations of the U.S., and one count of possessing digital image of U.S. currency for counterfeiting.
“Making, using and possessing fake U.S. currency with fraudulent intent is punishable under federal law, and Michael Eskew was maintaining a full-scale, counterfeiting enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “He schemed to defraud local businesses and enrich himself with the fake currency, thus warranting this sentence to federal prison.”
According to court documents, Eskew used printers and electronic images of dollar bills to produce counterfeit U.S. Currency at his home. Following a search warrant of Eskew’s residence in July 2019, law enforcement recovered $33,826 in counterfeit bills.
Eskew distributed the counterfeit bills to at least five individuals within his community. In addition to imprisonment, Eskew was ordered to pay a $600 fine and serve three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zoe Gross and Kathleen Howard contributed to the prosecution.
Four Tampa Men Arrested for Armed Robberies of Convenience StoresRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrests and filing of a criminal complaint charging E’Barous Harris (25, Tampa), Ronald Brown (23, Riverview), Tra-Vontae Watson (30, Tampa), and Jermaine Dawes (32, Tampa) with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, each faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, on July 14, 2024, Harris, Brown, Watson, and Dawes robbed a convenience store in Tampa. One of the individuals carried a rifle, and another one forced a customer to the ground before stepping on the customer’s back and stealing money from the customer. The defendants also stole money from the store’s cash register.
On July 16, 2024, Harris, Brown, Watson, and Dawes robbed a second convenience store. Again, one of the individuals carried a rifle and another carried a pistol. The pistol was pointed at the store clerk’s head and the clerk was struck as the defendants demanded money. The individuals stole money and tobacco products from the store.
The robberies were linked, and the defendants identified based in part on surveillance videos from inside and outside the stores, as well as data from the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority and license plate reader data. In addition, surveillance footage from a location where the defendants were residing helped to confirm the defendant’s identities and their participation in the robberies.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
A complaint 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 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.
Four Individuals Indicted for Violating Federal Firearms and Narcotics LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, PA, a resident of Monroeville, PA, a resident of Penn Hills, PA, and a resident of Murrysville, PA have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms laws, and federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The eight-count Indictment names the following four individuals as defendants:
- Derrick Lyman, 58, of McKeesport, PA.
- Kenneth Hamlin, Jr., 59, of Murrysville, PA.
- Daniel Jackson, 47, of Penn Hills, PA.
- Devlin Clifford, 46, of Monroeville, PA.According to the Indictment, on or about June 27, 2024, Lyman is alleged to have unlawfully possessed with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 100 grams or more of heroin. Further, on June 27, 2024, Lyman, Hamlin, Jackson, and Clifford are alleged to have unlawfully possessed a firearm as convicted felons. Hamlin and Jackson are further alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and Clifford possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on the same date.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $20,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
The conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This prosecution is 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Tampa Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Tampa, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Thomas Edward Grossman, 49, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Grossman transported a minor female from Pennsylvania to West Virginia with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Grossman also persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct and enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. The Court was also advised that the parties agreed as part of the plea agreement that the appropriate sentence in this case is a twenty-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years and not more than life, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the West Virginia State Police and the Summersville, West Virginia Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Grossman.
Former Grantham Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Almost $240,000 from a Charity and Gambling the Money AwayRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, was sentenced today in Concord for embezzling almost $240,000 from LISTEN Community Services (LISTEN), an Upper Valley charity that offers multiple services for vulnerable individuals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyle Fisher, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to pay $239,297.09 in restitution. On February 17, 2024, Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
“The defendant stole almost a quarter million dollars from a charity that provides services for vulnerable people,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Every dollar the defendant stole was a dollar denied to those in need of food, shelter, or education. The defendant’s gambling away the money he so brazenly stole at a casino only compounded his reprehensible conduct. I hope today’s sentence helps LISTEN and the community it serves begin the first step in their healing process.”
“Kyle Fisher not only cheated the charity he worked for by stealing almost a quarter-million dollars, but he also tried to conceal his criminal cash flow before gambling it away. There’s no question what Mr. Fisher did deprived our neighbors in the Upper Valley of much needed assistance with food, housing, heating, and education,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Embezzlement schemes like this can be simply devastating for the victims which is why the FBI is committed to bringing financial fraud to light and perpetrators like Mr. Fisher to justice.”
Fisher was the Executive Director of LISTEN from approximately August 2016 - October 2022. As Executive Director, Fisher had full access to LISTEN’s finances, including its bank account and PayPal account, which it used to collect donations. Fisher made unauthorized transfers from LISTEN’s bank accounts and PayPal to accounts he controlled. He also wrote eight unauthorized checks payable to himself. Fisher then spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, primarily gambling at a casino in Springfield, Massachusetts.
For example, on January 24, 2022, Fisher withdrew $4,787 from LISTEN’s PayPal account and transferred the funds to his personal bank account. Later that same day, Fisher made multiple withdrawals from his bank account, including at ATMs at the casino. He then deposited a substantial amount of cash into his personal casino account that day. The casino records showed that Fisher continuously gambled on January 24, 2022 and January 25, 2022, and lost a combined $6,719 over those two days.
Fisher also took steps to conceal his embezzlement from LISTEN. For example, he created a fake PayPal statement that showed over $94,000 in payments to Dell. Fisher also provided fraudulent invoices to LISTEN.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Former Franklin Resident Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Franklin, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 7 years in jail, 5 years supervised release and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution on his conviction of receipt and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Aaron Ray McClelland, 29.According to information presented to the court, in and around October 2020 and July 2021, McClelland received images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and Indiana County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McClelland.
Former Family Crisis and Counseling Center Manager Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Deanna Rachel Long, 59, to serve twelve months and one day in prison for Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion. Judge Hill further ordered Long to three years of supervised release and to pay $278,257.54 in restitution to FCCC and $96,622 to the IRS.
In 2012, the Family Crisis and Counseling Center (FCCC) in Bartlesville hired Long as a manager. She was entrusted to handle many aspects of FCCC’s accounting and finance functions, including record-keeping for the financial books, paying bills, and preparing checks for business expenses. Within two years of being hired, Long began embezzling money to fund personal expenses and fuel her gambling addiction. Court documents show that Long embezzled more than $278k from FCCC. Additionally, Long failed to report the illegal income and failed to file tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2022 with the IRS. After leaving FCCC, Long further filed false tax forms with her new employer claiming numerous exemptions to which she was not entitled to avoid any personal income taxes being deducted from her paychecks.
State court records show Long has been arrested numerous times for passing bogus checks, pled guilty to bogus check charges, and pled guilty twice for embezzling from two prior employers.
Long was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.
Former Colorado Springs Area Man Convicted of Sex Assault on a MinorRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mitchel Crow, 32, was found guilty on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
According to facts established at trial, between May of 2020 and mid-December of 2020, Crow engaged in a sexual acts with a minor within a residence located on Fort Carson, an Army post near Colorado Springs.
“Sexual assault involving a minor victim is one of the more despicable crimes in our society,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “Protecting the most vulnerable in our state, including our children, remains one of our top priorities.”
“These cases are devastating for the victim and difficult for the supportive friends and family as well as the investigators,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “A violent crime like this against a juvenile is heart-breaking, and the FBI will continue to support survivors and bring perpetrators to justice. “
United States Senior District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore presided over the trial. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Minser and Al Buchman handled the prosecution.
Sentencing will be held at a later date.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Former Army Officer and JAG Attorney Pleads Guilty to Destruction of U.S. Army Property and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A former Army officer and attorney assigned to the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (JAG School) in Charlottesville pled guilty today to multiple federal charges related to his destruction of U.S. Army property and subsequent false statements to federal investigators.
Manfredo Martin-Michael Madrigal, III, 38, a former resident of Charlottesville, Va., pled guilty today to one count of destruction of U.S. Army materials and three counts of making a false statement.
According to court documents, in February 2022, Madrigal was assigned to a staff position at the JAG School in the Training Developments Directorate, whose mission was to design and develop training products for the JAG Corps and the Army. Madrigal possessed an active security clearance and previously served overseas on sensitive operations.
In early 2022, Madrigal was under investigation by the U.S. Army and the JAG School for failing to report a previous arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). While his Army investigation was pending, Madrigal deleted, without authorization, online JAG training materials and filmed himself doing so while graphically describing his ill-will towards the Army. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that Madrigal made a phone call to the Russian embassy in Washington, DC the same night that he deleted the training materials and then texted a witness that Russia wanted to know what he knew.
On February 22, 2022, Madrigal was discharged from the JAG School and claimed in his exit paperwork that he had no unreported contact with a foreign national. In April and May 2022, Madrigal was interviewed by the FBI about his actions. In these interviews, Madrigal made multiple false statements regarding his actions, including denying any involvement in the deletion of materials and that he only learned of the deletion from a coworker, as well as falsely denying his contact with a foreign national at the Embassy.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, and the United States Army investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Joyce and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Burroughs Medearis, Vito A. Iaia, and Sean M. Welsh and are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Charged with Acting as Agent of PRC GovernmentRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – An indictment was unsealed today charging Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, with conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General and with acting as an agent of the PRC without notification to the Attorney General. If convicted, Li faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
According to the court documents, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’ mission.
The indictment alleges that Li was a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
From as early as 2012, Li allegedly served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and to report that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.
For example, according to the indictment, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.
In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.
In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.
In March 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.
In June 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Karyna Valdes for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Charged with Acting as Agent of PRC GovernmentRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, with conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General and with acting as an agent of the PRC without notification to the Attorney General. If convicted, Li faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
According to the court documents, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’ mission.
The indictment alleges that Li was a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
From as early as 2012, Li allegedly served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and to report that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.
For example, according to the indictment, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.
In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.
In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.
In March 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.
In June 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Karyna Valdes for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud ViolationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud insurance providers for physical therapy services that were not provided to patients.
Jeffrey MacEachron, 60, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with one count of health care fraud; aiding and abetting. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 17, 2024.
MacEachron owned and managed PT4U, Inc., a business that operated physical therapy clinics in Bedford and Lexington, Mass. According to the charging documents, from 2013 through 2021, MacEachron caused insurance companies and TRICARE to reimburse PT4U for physical therapy services that were not actually performed. Specifically, MacEachron edited claim forms to add units of service beyond those actually performed and then submitted them to insurance companies and TRICARE for payment.
The charge of health care fraud; aiding and abetting provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Chris Averill, Special Agent in Charge of the Air Force, Office of Special Investigations; Brian J. Solecki, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James D. Herbert and Christopher Looney are prosecuting the case.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment in Connection with Shooting at Gas Station Near Walmart in MonroeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Monroe man with firearm charges in connection with a shooting that took place earlier this year in Monroe, Louisiana.
Tristan Barber, 20, of Monroe, Louisiana, has been indicted and charged with two counts of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and two counts of illegal possession of a machine gun. The indictment alleges that on or about March 29, 2024, and again on April 16, 2024, Barber knowingly possessed a Glock Model 22 Gen 3, .40 caliber pistol and ammunition, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
It is further alleged in the indictment that on or about March 29, 2024, and again on April 16, 2024, Barber knowingly possessed a machine gun equipped with a conversion device.
“Our investigation has determined that this defendant, a convicted felon, is a very dangerous individual and has no respect for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “As I have stated previously, we will aggressively charge and prosecute individuals that possess these firearms that are modified with switches and conversion devices. Thanks to our state and local partners for a thorough investigation and apprehending this defendant.”
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Barber faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and up to 10 years for illegal possession of a machine gun, as well as up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroe Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Semmes and Trial Attorney Christopher Usher of the Department of Justice, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
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Erie Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Attempting to Distribute Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of distributing and attempting to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Michael Paul Ambrose, 43, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around November 2022, Ambrose distributed and attempted to distribute images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The Court was also advised that the parties agreed as part of the plea agreement that the appropriate sentence in this case is a twelve-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Erie Police Department and the Erie County Detectives Bureau conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ambrose.
Drug Dealers Who Mailed Fentanyl from Phoenix to Sioux City Sentenced to More Than 15 years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Aki Awou, age 33, from Omaha, Nebraska, was found guilty by a jury on March 1, 2024, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. His brother, Karom Bol, age 20, of Sioux City, pled guilty on February 21, 2024, to five related counts: conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of firearms by a drug user, and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence in the case revealed that the two were gang members and between January 2022 and May 2022, Awou, traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area, where he would mail packages containing thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone to Bol’s address’ in Sioux City, Iowa. The Omaha Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit utilized a GPS tracker on Awou’s vehicle to pinpoint Awou’s travels and package mailing activities, including his shipment of fentanyl to addresses in Sioux City from post offices in Arizona. Postal Inspectors were able to intercept a package and conduct a controlled delivery with assistance from the DEA and the Sioux City Police Department, at one of the Sioux City addresses. Afterwards, law enforcement executed a search warrant. During the search warrant, Bol was observed throwing firearms out a second story bedroom window. Agents identified a second Sioux City location tied to Bol and Awou, and obtained a second search warrant for that residence. Additional evidence, including illegal pills, was found at that location.
Postal Inspectors later received notice of another package being sent from Arizona to the address in Sioux City and were able to intercept and search that package, revealing that it also contained thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. Awou’s fingerprints were on three packages used as evidence in the case and Bol’s palm print was located on the package used during the controlled delivery. In total, Bol and Awou were responsible for nearly two pounds of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone.
Awou was sentenced on July 24, 2024, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 192 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bol was sentenced July 10, 2024, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated, “Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous illegal drug, and when people like Awou and Bol bring fentanyl to our community, they place our citizens at risk of serious harm and death. Accordingly, we are grateful for the hard work and cooperation of federal and state law enforcement agencies in stopping these individuals and sending a clear message that fentanyl traffickers will be caught and severely punished in the Northern District of Iowa.”
Awou and Bol are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Omaha, Nebraska Police Department, Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, United States Postal Inspector, DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force, Lancaster County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Department, and the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons, Shawn Wehde, and Patrick Greenwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4051.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Dozens charged in fraud schemes linked to Harris County bail bondsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 53 Houston-area residents have been indicted for participating in wire fraud schemes related to the use of falsified documents to obtain bail bonds for individuals charged with criminal offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Of those charged, 50 are now in custody, some of whom will make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. July 25.
The remaining three are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests – Tawana Jones, 44, Houston; Pamela Yoder, 60, Detroit, Michigan; and Amir Khan, 60, Pakistan. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Houston FBI at 713-693-5000.
According to the indictment, returned July 16 and unsealed upon the arrests, employees of AABLE Bonds, a bail bonds company located in Houston, conspired with others to falsify and obtain falsified co-signer financial reports. This was allegedly done to qualify individuals charged with criminal offenses who would not otherwise qualify for what was necessary to meet the terms of their bond.
“An integral part of the criminal justice system, as old as the system itself, is the bail bond - a device that allows defendants temporary release while awaiting trial by guaranteeing future court appearances,” said Hamdani. “Honesty in the underwriting of those bail bonds is essential to ensuring compliance and protecting the community. However, this indictment alleges employees of AABLE Bonds and many others conspired to violate that trust. Today’s arrests and charges are the culmination of a multi-year, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional effort to help protect the integrity of the bail bond system in Harris County.”
“This investigation exposing alleged fraud within the bail bond industry is the first of its kind and the result of a 24-month long FBI Houston-led operation into a colossal bail bond scheme operating out of Harris County,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “By allegedly falsifying financial reports related to bail bonds, the accused individuals secured their release back onto the streets of our community through an illicit revolving door within the bond system.”
“Utilizing the bail bond system in a fraudulent manner to allow the release of criminals is unacceptable. We are proud to have joined with our local, state and federal partners in getting these individuals off the streets,” said Acting Houston Police Chief Larry J. Satterwhite.
“Our crime analysts proactively launched this investigation to target violent offenders and those that exploit our system. These actions undermine the legal process and pose a threat to public safety. We are committed to working diligently with our partners to root out corruption and ensure that those who engage in such fraudulent activities are held accountable,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “Our priority remains the safety and security of Harris County residents, and we will continue to take action against those who seek to be involved in criminal activity.”
The indictment alleges 11 individuals are charged in Harris County with criminal offenses who subsequently obtained bonds based on falsified documents.
Employees of AABLE Bonds, including Mary Brown, 29, and Oscar Wattell, 34, both of Houston, allegedly recruited straw co-signers to represent they were working at companies or had earned incomes. The co-conspirators allegedly falsified this information on financial reports since the co-signers did not work at the companies or earn represented incomes.
Co-conspirators allegedly emailed or submitted the falsified co-signer financial reports via electronic communications. According to the indictment, the government and insurance agencies rely on these financial reports to enter into third-party agreements, known as surety bonds.
Out of 53 co-conspirators, all but one face charges in connection to alleged conspiracies to commit wire fraud.
The CEO of AABLE Bonds and an agent of Financial Casualty & Surety - Sheba Muharib, 58, Missouri City, is charged with allegedly affecting persons engaged in the business of insurance. Muharib allegedly knew Wattell had a criminal felony conviction involving dishonesty while engaging in the business of insurance.
If convicted, each face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for the wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges. Muharib could receive up to five years in prison and a $250,000 possible fine upon his conviction.
The FBI, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Colton Turner are prosecuting the case.
Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills and Crystal MethRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AURELIA CAROLINA LARA-DIAZ, 30, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment for trafficking fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force investigation revealed that Lara-Diaz was trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. Between November 2022 and January 2023, investigators made controlled purchases of fentanyl pills and crystal methamphetamine from Lara-Diaz. On January 26, 2023, investigators arranged the purchase of 3,000 fentanyl pills and 10 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from Lara-Diaz for a total price of $65,000. Lara-Diaz was arrested after she arrived at a meeting location in Norwalk in possession of the drugs.
Lara-Diaz has been detained since her arrest. On November 8, 2023, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and methamphetamine,
Lara-Diaz, who was removed from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic in 2019, again faces immigration proceedings when she completes her prison term.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.
Columbia County man sentenced to federal prison for bilking customers for purchase of cryptocurrency computersRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty in a scheme to sell expensive computer equipment to more than 40 customers who never received their orders.
Steven Drawdy, 40, of Grovetown, Ga., was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Drawdy to pay restitution totaling more than $1.1 million and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Steven Drawdy ripped off dozens of people by preying on their desire to make money in the complex world of cryptocurrency,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our law enforcement partners did exceptional work in identifying and shutting down this scheme.”
As described in court documents and testimony, from about August 2021 through April 2022, Drawdy participated in an online cryptocurrency discussion forum, and received more than $1.1 million from at least 42 victims who believed they were paying Drawdy to provide them with cryptocurrency “mining” computers.
Instead of delivering the computers, however, Drawdy would pocket the payments and eventually cease communicating with the customers. In some cases, he would offer a partial refund but would require the customer to pay a “processing fee” to receive the refund – and then would provide neither the refund nor the computer while discontinuing all communications with the customer.
“While using the latest in technology as his hook to attack victims, Drawdy’s actions were nothing more than old-fashioned fraud,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “The FBI will continue to go after criminals doing any type of fraud and seek to hold them accountable.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer A. Stanley.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 240 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Kyle L. Miotke, 22 years old, of Englewood, Colorado, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Miotke was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on multiple occasions between October 18, 2021, and June 15, 2022, Miotke produced sexually explicit images of a minor by employing, using, and inducing the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Field Office/Lafayette Resident Agency, with assistance from the Lafayette Police Department, the Tippecanoe County High Tech Crime Unit, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Cherokee County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Andrea Dawn Winsett, age 34, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 6, 2024, Winsett pleaded guilty to the drug distribution charge. According to investigators, on March 7, 2023, Winsett was arrested for driving under the influence and booked into the Cherokee County Jail. During the booking process, Winsett was found in possession of 14.75 grams of actual methamphetamine that she intended to distribute.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Winsett will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Burlington County Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute more than two kilograms of cocaine in Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Orlando Ayala, 30, of Westampton, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on March 21, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Williams imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. Ayala’s conspirator, Angel Correa, pleaded guilty before Judge Williams and is awaiting sentencing.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From February 2022 to January 10, 2023, Ayala conspired with Correa and others to distribute substantial quantities of cocaine. Ayala and Correa together sold more than one kilogram of cocaine during drug deals in 2022. On Jan. 10, 2023, they together picked up a package containing cocaine that had been mailed to a house in Philadelphia and drove the package to Correa’s residence in Camden. Law enforcement agents then searched Correa’s residence and recovered one kilogram of cocaine and two firearms located within several feet of the cocaine.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Ayala to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the FBI - Philadelphia Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service -Philadelphia Division, Willingboro Police Department, Burlington Township Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, and Philadelphia Police Department.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Brooklyn Man Convicted of Money Laundering Scheme in Connection with Theft of Millions of Dollars from Foreign BanksRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Brooklyn today convicted Alex Levin on both counts of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act in connection with his role in a scheme that resulted in the theft of millions of dollars and property from safe deposit boxes at multiple banks outside of the United States, including in Ukraine, Russia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Latvia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. The verdict followed a seven-day trial before United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall. When sentenced, Levin faces up to 10 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.
“The jury found that Levin played an integral role in a highly sophisticated and well-organized international crew of thieves who stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry and cash from banks in Eastern Europe,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Levin’s role here in Brooklyn of laundering the cash and purchasing equipment used in the break-ins of safe deposit boxes overseas was crucial to the crew’s success, but with today’s verdict, that role proved to be the defendant’s undoing.”
Mr. Peace also thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their valuable assistance to the investigation.
“Alex Levin’s conviction signals the downfall of an individual at the center of an international crime spree that utilized technology and illicit methodologies to exploit vulnerabilities within financial institutions around the world. Today’s verdict proves once again that even the most sophisticated bank heists are no match for HSI New York and our law enforcement partners, both domestic and abroad,” stated HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. “I commend the Long Island-based HSI Financial Crimes Group, the Eastern District of New York and the FBI for consistently proving no criminal is too savvy to evade justice.”
FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis stated: “Using sophisticated camera tools that he purchased here in Brooklyn, Levin and his international co-conspirators stole from safe deposit boxes belonging to innocent bank customers through a string of thefts across the globe. Today’s verdict is demonstrative of the FBI’s commitment to holding people accountable for their attempts to unlawfully obtain money and valuable items, and we applaud the investigative efforts of our office as well as our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s office in delivering this outcome.”
As proved at trial, between March 2015 and October 2019, Levin was a member of a sophisticated group that targeted foreign banks that appeared to lack strong security features. Members of the conspiracy posed as customers at the target banks and rented safe deposit boxes. After gaining access to safe deposit box rooms, the conspirators used specialized medical equipment to take photographs of the inside of the locks of other customers’ safe deposit boxes. Using these photographs, the conspirators created duplicate keys for the safe deposit boxes in order to steal money and valuables from customers at the foreign banks.
Levin’s role in the conspiracy was based in Brooklyn. He assisted in laundering the proceeds of the scheme to the United States. For example, around the time of various bank heists in Ukraine, a company used in furtherance of the unlawful scheme wired the unlawful proceeds to the defendant. Specifically, on July 31, 2015, Glenport Merchants LLP, a company with a Latvian bank account, wired $150,000 to Levin. Shortly thereafter, Levin wired $144,727 to a member of the conspiracy who personally participated in the bank heists.
Levin also used bank accounts in the United States, including accounts located in the Eastern District of New York, to purchase sophisticated camera equipment used in the thefts, including borescopes, which are small, specialized, medical grade cameras.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level money launderers 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.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lorena Michelen, Lauren A. Bowman and Megan Larkin are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Wesley Roberts.
The Defendant:
ALEX LEVIN
Age: 55
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-208 (LDH)
British Man Admits Possessing Child Pornography and Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A British citizen today admitted possessing multiple images of child sexual abuse and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Stephen Hudson, 53, of Ealing, England, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to an information charging him with possession of child pornography and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 14, 2022, to May 6, 2022, Hudson used an encrypted email account to communicate with federal law enforcement, acting in an undercover capacity, to facilitate his access to and sexual abuse of two minor female children. Hudson agreed to travel from Massachusetts to New Jersey and pay approximately $1,200 in cash in exchange for, among other things: engaging in sexual acts with 11- and 12-year-old girls; supplying Hudson with illicit drugs; and administering the illicit drugs and alcohol to the 11- and 12-year-old girls. On May 6, 2022, Hudson traveled to an agreed-upon location in New Jersey for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the two minors and provided approximately $1,200 in cash to the undercover law enforcement agents as previously agreed. After providing the cash to law enforcement, Hudson was arrested.
A subsequent search of a laptop computer belonging to Hudson revealed 1,751 images depicting child sexual abuse, including material portraying prepubescent minor or minors who had not attained the age of 12 years and material portraying the sexual abuse and exploitation of infants and toddlers.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
hudson.information.pdfBradenton Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Pierre C. Marc (37, Bradenton) to 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, marijuana, and heroin, and possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Marc was found guilty by a jury after trial on April 9, 2024.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Marc was a major drug distributer in the Middle District of Florida. During the trial, a witness testified that Marc supplied him with an ounce of fentanyl and one to two kilograms of cocaine every week between January and September 2019 for distribution in Pinellas County. In 2021, Marc arrived at a controlled delivery of fentanyl with more than 300 grams of fentanyl and a firearm. Another witness testified that in 2020 and 2021, Marc supplied him with three to five kilograms of fentanyl for distribution in Manatee County.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. 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. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
Boston Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking a Minor Victim in Three StatesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court for transporting a minor to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex.
Leon Blount III, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 136 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered Blount to pay restitution to victims totaling $214,500. In January 2024, Blount pleaded guilty to three counts of transportation of minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He has been in custody since September 2022.
“Human trafficking is not just a horrific crime; it is a profound violation of human dignity. The unimaginable harm inflicted upon the minor victim here is far too prevalent in our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our Civil Rights Unit & Human Trafficking Unit, established less than two years ago, remains committed to bringing traffickers to justice, providing unwavering support to survivors and relentlessly pursuing those who exploit the most vulnerable.”
“Blount found a young woman in a vulnerable situation and lured her far from home into a dangerous and exploitative lifestyle for his financial benefit. Today’s sentence means Blount is now facing over a decade in federal prison and he’ll be off the streets and out of the community where he caused so much harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We hope this significant sentence brings a measure of justice to those he victimized. Human traffickers use isolation, threats, and financial exploitation to control their victims, making it incredibly difficult to leave – but there is hope and there is help available. We are grateful to the law enforcement and victim support services who worked together to bring this case to a close.”
Between July and August 2022, Blount transported a 17-year-old victim, Jane Doe 2, from Massachusetts to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Blount met Jane Doe 2 while she was living at a Massachusetts group home for transitional age adolescents. He gave her alcohol and marijuana, and quickly recruited Jane Doe 2 to travel out-of-state to engage in commercial sex. While in New York, Blount directed Jane Doe 2 to solicit sex buyers in an area that is known for commercial sex. Throughout this period, Blount stayed in close contact with Jane Doe 2, using text messages to ensure that she continued to perform sex acts when he was not physically present. To attract more sex buyers, Blount caused Jane Doe 2’s photo to be posted on websites that advertise commercial sex. He then put Jane Doe 2 in hotel rooms in Woburn, Mass. and Hartford, Conn. where he directed her to perform sex acts with buyers to earn even more money for him. During this period, Jane Doe 2 was afraid of Blount, having seen him laugh at another trafficker who used violence against one of that trafficker’s victims.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced on July 22nd in federal court in Boston for trafficking a minor for sex and persuading and coercing multiple women to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution.
Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 135 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution; and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.
“Sex trafficking, especially of minors, is a huge public safety issue that is happening far too often in our society. Mr. Brown coerced young girls with false promises to get them to travel to Massachusetts so he could sell their bodies and pocket the money,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “No one, especially no child, should have to fear this type of horrific conduct, and our office and our state and federal partners will not rest while human trafficking remains such a pernicious and destructive problem in our society.”
“Jimall Brown exploited, trafficked and abused three young women, including a child, for his own financial gain. It was imperative FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force swiftly take him “off the street,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Unequivocally, our communities are safer with Brown behind bars, locked away where he can’t victimize anyone else.
In 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old, identified as Victim 1, to engage in commercial sex acts. He first met the victim, who was living outside Massachusetts, on social media and convinced her to fly to Boston, with promises of a “better lifestyle.” Brown posted advertisements of Victim 1 online and arranged “dates” for Victim 1 to have sex in exchange for money. Brown set the pricing for the commercial sex acts she engaged in, for which he collected all of the money. Brown transported Victim 1 to Georgia and later to Nevada, again arranging for her to engage in commercial sex in those locations and keeping all the money.
In March 2019, Brown persuaded and coerced another woman, identified as Victim 2, to travel from Connecticut to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He met her in Connecticut and told her that she had potential and that he could provide a better, luxurious life for her if she would come to Boston, where he lived. Victim 2 came to Massachusetts and Brown posted online advertisements containing photos of Victim 2 on commercial sex websites. Victim 2 engaged in commercial sex and was required to give all the money she made to Brown.
In May 2016, Brown persuaded and coerced a different woman, identified as Victim 3, to travel from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He contacted Victim 3 on social media, told her that she was beautiful, that he had a modeling agency and that he wanted to work with her. Brown said he would pay for her plane ticket to fly to Boston and provide everything for her once she arrived. Victim 3 traveled by plane from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. After she arrived, Brown took photos of her, purportedly for modeling, but instead he posted them on websites advertising commercial sex. Brown then coerced and forced Victim 3 to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and required her to give him all the money.
If you or someone you know may be impacted by commercial sex trafficking please contact [email protected].
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Arlington and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit prosecuted the case.