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Monday 15 July 2024
Lexington Felon Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Lexington, Kentucky man was sentenced today to 3 years and 1 month in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Gary Hoskins, 57, was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense.
Hoskins was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On or about September 24, 2007, in Laurel Circuit Court, Laurel County, Kentucky, Hoskins, was convicted of second-degree burglary.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF Paducah Post of Duty with assistance from the Kentucky State Police and the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Leader of Aryan Knights Prison Gang Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
BOISE – James Ramsey, 43, formerly the overall leader of the Idaho prison gang known as the Aryan Knights, or “AK,” pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise under the federal RICO statute (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act) conspiracy and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid or racketeering, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. With Ramsey’s guilty plea, all defendants in a ten-defendant RICO case charged in 2019 have now pleaded guilty. Sentencing for Ramsey is set for October 22, 2024.
The defendant was a member of an enterprise called the “Aryan Knights” (“AK”) since at least 2007. The AK is a prison gang that operates within Idaho Department of Correction (“IDOC”) prison facilities but also outside of IDOC facilities in the District of Idaho. It was founded to organize criminal activity for a select group of white inmates within IDOC custody. The defendant has held various positions of rank in the AK, including being the overall leader of the gang in 2015 and 2016. The AK is a corrupt racketeering enterprise, as defined in the RICO statute. It has a code of conduct that includes, but is not limited to, carrying out orders and submitting to discipline from the leaders of the gang. The AK derives its revenue from, among other things, extortion and smuggling and distributing controlled substances into IDOC facilities.
The defendant knowingly agreed that he or a co-conspirator would participate in the conduct of the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. Among other things, AK members were ordered by AK leaders, including the defendant, to engage in criminal activity. As part of his participation in the AK, the defendant frequently communicated with other members of the AK about participating in collecting debts, extortion in IDOC prison facilities to be committed by AK members and distributing controlled substances in IDOC prison facilities.
As part of the racketeering conspiracy, the defendant participated in, and understood that other AK members would participate in the following acts:
- From 2010 to 2017, the AK trafficked drugs within IDOC. This includes a 2015–2016 scheme to smuggle methamphetamine into IDOC using an inmate’s wheelchair, arranging for methamphetamine to be smuggled in using another inmate’s girlfriend, and a system of “kick downs” the Defendant implemented. The defendant, along with other AK members, distributed and arranged the distribution of drugs, including methamphetamine, during this period.
- In the spring of 2016, the Defendant ordered that AK members attack another inmate (the victim). The victim was a former AK member. On June 15, 2016, co-defendant Harlan Hale and two other AK members attacked the victim on an IDOC baseball field. They beat and stabbed the victim multiple times with homemade knives, intending to kill the victim. Hale previously pleaded guilty to participating in the RICO conspiracy and admitted that he committed this attack as an integral aspect of gang membership.
All ten of the AK defendants in this case have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced so far:
- Harlan Hale, 58, was sentenced in March of 2021 to life in federal prison.
- Christopher Foss, 35, was sentenced in September, 2020, to 210 months in federal prison, with 174 months to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current state prison sentence. Foss was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
- Buck Pickens, 35, was sentenced in September, 2020, to 206 months in federal prison, with 60 months to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Pickens was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
- Steven Bowman, 41, was sentenced in May, 2023, to 78 months in federal prison, to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Bowman was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
- Nicholas Sites, 39, was sentenced in January, 2023, to 55 months in federal prison. Sites was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
- Mark Woodland, 53, was sentenced in June, 2023, to 51 months in federal prison, to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Woodland was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
- Lucas Johnson, 35, was sentenced in May, 2021, to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- Michael McNabb, 40, was sentenced in August, 2020, to 28 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from IDOC’s Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Paul Anthony Rucker, 47, of Nitro, was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Rucker admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Rucker and searched his Nitro residence. Rucker admitted that he and others used the residence to distribute controlled substances. Officers seized 64.45 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 41 grams of fentanyl, 11 firearms, and ammunition during the search. Rucker admitted that he and another individual possessed the firearms and ammunition and intended to distribute the controlled substances found during the search.
Rucker further admitted to participating in the DTO from at least February 2023 through November 2023. As part of that participation, Rucker admitted that he distributed fentanyl to a confidential informant at his Nitro residence on May 19, 2023, and to transporting quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Huntington to Nitro in a vehicle with co-defendant Mark Lawrence Lowe on September 9, 2023. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and seized approximately 149 grams of fentanyl and 222.6 grams of methamphetamine. Rucker admitted that he and Lowe intended to distribute the controlled substances.
Rucker and Lowe are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Rucker is also among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against Lowe and the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.
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Illegal Honduran Alien Indicted for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOAN E. ESCOBAR-REYES (“ESCOBAR-REYES”), age 26, a native of Honduras, was indicted on July 11, 2024 for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A).
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESCOBAR-REYES, an alien illegally present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock Model 32, .357 SIG caliber, semi-automatic pistol and a H&R Model 92, .22 LR caliber revolver.
If convicted, ESCOBAR-REYES faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Holdenville Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bryant Dilbeck, age 28, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Holdenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 20, 2023, Dilbeck pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on January 3, 2023, Dilbeck knowingly possessed a .38 caliber revolver and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Dilbeck 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 Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Guam Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Kevin Mayberry, age 64, from Tamuning, was sentenced to 110 months imprisonment. He previously pled guilty to Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered two years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On August 14, 2017, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package containing methamphetamine hydrochloride. Law enforcement replaced the drugs with a sham product and conducted a controlled delivery. Mayberry attempted to receive the package. Upon arrest, he admitted that a friend in California sent him the methamphetamine which he intended to sell on Guam. The package contained D-methamphetamine hydrochloride with a net weight of 23 grams and a 95% purity level.
This was Mayberry’s third federal conviction for a drug offense.
“Repeat drug offenders are subject to enhanced penalties under federal law,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “These defendants are priority targets for our office as we continue to combat drug trafficking in an effort to keep our communities safe.”
“Sending methamphetamine in the mail endangers the community and postal workers. Postal inspectors will not allow the U.S. Mail to be used to traffic controlled substances. We work diligently with our law enforcement partners to remove contraband from the mail and hold suspects accountable,” said USPIS San Francisco Division Inspector-in-Charge Stephen Sherwood. “I want to thank our partner members of the Guam Interdictions Anti-Narcotics Trafficking Task Force (GIANT TF), including the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and our federal law enforcement partners for their dependable teamwork.”
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Nicolas Adan Guereca, 25, of Fresno was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The court also ordered Guereca to pay a total of $60,200 in financial assessments and scheduled a hearing on restitution for September 16, 2024.
The prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release during which time his access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. Guereca was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on approximately July 30, 2019, Guereca used a cellphone and an Instagram account with username jayriggs_14 to locate and communicate with a minor victim. During a series of messages, Guereca coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and create visual depictions of that conduct for the purpose of transmitting them to Guereca. Investigators later learned that Guereca had used multiple phones and Yahoo, Snapchat, and Instagram accounts to communicate with minor females. Guereca received images of minors, some as young as 12 years of age, engaged in sexually explicit conduct from approximately June 2019 through July 2020.
This case is a product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, the Clovis and Fresno Police Departments, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Mail TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DAVID RAYFORD (“RAYFORD”), age 40, of Kenner, La., pled guilty on July 9, 2024, to Mail Theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. His sentencing is set for October 8, 2024.
According to court records , on June 14, 2021, a Postal Service customer, contacted the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General to report non-delivery of a greeting card that was sent to his address. The card was sent by a family member, in early May, 2021. The family member advised that she mailed a Navy Federal Credit Union Visa gift card and cash to the victim and was able to provide a receipt for the purchase of the gift card.
RAYFORD, was an employee of the United States Postal Service and the postman on the route on which the card was stolen. RAYFORD used the stolen Navy Federal Credit Union Visa gift card at Walmart. Walmart Global Investigations identified two purchases utilizing the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa gift card made by RAYFORD.
RAYFORD faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, for the theft of mail.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Jericho Road employee charged with theft of government fundsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dejan Karlovic, 29, of Amherst, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with theft of government funds, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between October 16, 2023, and July 2, 2024, Karlovic was employed by Jericho Road as a Senior Grants Accountant. In this position, he had access to three commercial credit cards issued through M&T Bank. Among the expenses charged to these credit cards were charges purportedly related to UHAUL, with many of the most significant UHAUL related charges supported by invoices from an entity named D and D. Between March 1 and June 26, 2024, there were more than $574,000 in D and D related transactions conducted on the credit cards.
In March 2024, Jericho Road switched its credit card process to an online credit card management system called Ramp. Ramp accounts were issued to a limited number of personnel, which did not include Karlovic. One employee who was to receive a Ramp account with administrative access, did not establish his user profile in a timely manner. However, an unknown individual established the employee’s profile on Ramp. At approximately the same time the profile was established, an invitation for administrative access to Ramp was sent to Karlovic and a credit card through Ramp was issued to Karlovic. Karlovic was questioned about this, and he admitted that he received the invitation. Karlovic’s access to the Ramp credit card was revoked. However, when the Ramp program was rolled out to Jericho Road, Karlovic received access to two credit cards. He was to manage the program expenses related to these cards, and was able to make legitimate program purchases using both these credit cards. Between April 10 and June 17, 2024, there were more than $10,000 in D and D related transactions that were conducted on one of the two credit cards Karlovic had access to through Ramp.
Subsequent investigation determined that some of the funds allegedly stolen by Karlovic in the name of D and D, were transferred to his personal bank account at Northwest Bank. The timing of the transactions coincided with transactions on the M&T credit cards. Jericho Road became aware of the suspicious nature of the transactions involving D and D, conducted an internal investigation, and concluded that the charges were not for legitimate business purposes. Since Karlovic’s access was revoked, no new purchases from D and D have cleared on Ramp.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Former Bank Loan Officer Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Federal Credit UnionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty on July 12, 2024 to conspiring to defraud the federal credit union where she worked as a loan officer by obtaining loans in the names of inmates at a Massachusetts prison where a co-conspirator was incarcerated.
Nadaje Hendrix, 26, of Brighton, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Oct. 4, 2024. In January 2024, Hendrix was indicted by a federal grand jury along with alleged co-conspirator Glenroy Miller
Between December 2019 and August 2021, Hendrix and, allegedly, Miller agreed to defraud the credit union where Hendrix worked as a loan officer and assistant branch manager, by obtaining loans in the names of other individuals, including inmates at a Massachusetts prison where Miller was incarcerated. While in prison, Miller allegedly gave Hendrix information about fellow inmates for Hendrix to use in creating fraudulent loan applications, and then arranged to have additional co-conspirators go into the credit union to pretend to be the inmates, sign loan forms and obtain loans from the credit union through Hendrix. The scheme also involved obtaining loans in the names of individuals whose identities were stolen. In total, Hendrix and, allegedly, Miller stole about $134,000 from the credit union in about two months in 2021.
The charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Who Pistol-Whipped Victim Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Diago Davis, age 50, from Chicago, Illinois was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm as a felon.
In a plea agreement, Davis admitted that on February 3, 2024, law enforcement officers searched his residence in Hiawatha, Iowa, where they found a firearm that Davis knowingly possessed. Davis has three drug‑related felony convictions. In a prior hearing, evidence showed that earlier in the day on February 3, 2024, Davis had pistol-whipped a victim with that same firearm, resulting in the victim falling down several stairs and sustaining injuries.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Davis remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Davis faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Hiawatha Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-41. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fallcatcher Principal Charged with Securities and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – An indictment has been unsealed charging Henry Ford, also known as Cleothus Lefty Jackson, with securities and wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. A grand jury in this district returned the charges against Ford in March 2023, but the charges remained under seal until Ford’s arrest in Arizona last week.
According to the indictment, Ford founded and operated a business named Fallcatcher, the stated goal of which was to develop and market an electronic system designed to track use of medication by addiction recovery patients to prevent relapse. The indictment alleges that in Spring 2018, after Ford ran out of investor funds purportedly developing this “system,” Ford used an acquaintance in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania who had access to a network of investors to raise funds from these investors. As a result, in June 2018, Ford made presentations in person to potential investors, who were part of this acquaintance’s network, at locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. During these presentations, Ford made false and misleading statements regarding the proposed investment and showed investors a fraudulent letter of interest in the Fallcatcher business. In addition, Ford caused his acquaintance to distribute further false and misleading statements after these presentations. According to the indictment, as a result of these deceptive fundraising efforts, Ford caused approximately 50 investors to invest approximately $5 million in total in Fallcatcher.
The indictment further alleges that during an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in Fall 2018 and the first half of 2019, Ford took various actions to conceal his fraud upon the investors in Fallcatcher. For instance, it is alleged that Ford lied in multiple SEC depositions. In addition, the indictment alleges that Ford, through his counsel, produced to the SEC a fraudulent email chain to further hide his fraud. Finally, it is alleged that in Spring 2019, Ford accessed Fallcatcher’s investor funds, obtained through fraud, for personal purposes.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 160 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $6,750,000 fine, and an $800 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Murray. The SEC’s New York Regional Office investigated and litigated the civil securities fraud charges, which formed the basis of a portion of the criminal prosecution.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Elk City Man Sentenced to Serve 40 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – TIMOTHY STEVEN BLAYLOCK, JR., 38, of Elk City, has been sentenced to serve 480 months in federal prison for producing child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On November 17, 2023, Blaylock was charged with production of child pornography involving two victims and possession of child pornography. According to public record, in July 2023, an undercover FBI agent began communicating with Blaylock via a mobile messaging service. The agent purported to be the mother of a 12-year-old girl, to whom Blaylock made several sexually explicit comments. The affidavit alleges the conversation continued for several days, during which Blaylock shared several videos with the agent depicting himself sexually abusing minors. Blaylock was arrested on July 28, 2023.
After his arrest, the FBI determined that Blaylock had produced child pornography with two children using his cell phone. Blaylock also downloaded other child pornography via the Internet and possessed it on his cell phone.
On November 27, 2023, Blaylock pleaded guilty and admitted to sexually abusing two minors multiple times, which he filmed using his cell phone between March of 2021 and July of 2023, and to possessing other child pornography on his cell phone.
At the sentencing hearing on July 15, 2024, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Blaylock to serve 480 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell described Blaylock’s actions as “unforgiveable,” and added that the “world needs to know you pay a price” for this kind of criminal conduct.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Elk City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
El Salvador Citizen Sentenced for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elian David Vasquez-Lopez, age 24, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Illegal Alien. Following his sentence, he will be released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal from the United States.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Kiowa Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On August 28, 2023, Vasquez-Lopez pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, officers conducting a routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 69 discovered Vasquez-Lopez was illegally in the United States and in possession of a 9mm pistol and six rounds of ammunition.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Vasquez-Lopez 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 prior to his removal from the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Dominican Republic National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Desiderio Peralta Rosario (33, Dominican Republic) to four years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identify theft. Peralta Rosario pleaded guilty to these offenses on March 20, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, Peralta Rosario is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of unauthorized possession of an identification card and dealing in stolen property. He subsequently reentered the United States and filed an application for a U.S. Passport. Peralta Rosario presented a false Florida Driver License and birth certificate in the name of L.J.M.M. and used the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number of L.J.M.M. in his passport application.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the North Carolina DMV Police, the Georgia DMV Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dickson Tennessee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.
Dominican Republic National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Desiderio Peralta Rosario (33, Dominican Republic) to four years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identify theft. Peralta Rosario pleaded guilty to these offenses on March 20, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, Peralta Rosario is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of unauthorized possession of an identification card and dealing in stolen property. He subsequently reentered the United States and filed an application for a U.S. Passport. Peralta Rosario presented a false Florida Driver License and birth certificate in the name of L.J.M.M. and used the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number of L.J.M.M. in his passport application.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the North Carolina DMV Police, the Georgia DMV Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dickson Tennessee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.
Department of Justice Recognizes Assistant United States Attorney for Superior Appellate WorkRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Anthony J. Enright is the recipient of the Director’s Award for Superior Appellate Performance. The Director’s Award recognizes excellence throughout the U.S. Attorney community and honors the exceptional contributions to the Justice Department’s mission by AUSAs in criminal and civil cases, and appellate work, and other programmatic areas, across the 94 federal Districts that comprise the United States.
“For nearly 10 years, Anthony has distinguished himself as one of the top appellate lawyers in the Department of Justice community,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Through this award, the Department of Justice has recognized Anthony for his superior appellate performance, his dedication, and his service to the people of the Western District of North Carolina. Anthony is a committed public servant who has helped advance my Office’s critical appellate work and further the mission of the Justice Department. Anthony’s high standards of professional conduct and his contributions as an appellate litigator have had a powerful impact in ensuring the strength of our justice system and enhancing the security of our communities.”
AUSA Enright joined the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2014. During his tenure, Anthony has written countless appellate briefs, presented more than 60 oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and secured dozens of published appellate decisions affirming the position of the United States. He has successfully defended on appeal the convictions and sentences of violent offenders, domestic terrorists, child predators, drug traffickers, fraudsters, tax cheats, and people who didn’t follow the rules while on federal property. AUSA Enright has also won decisions about constitutional law, statutory interpretation, sentencing, and the application of our treaties that are helpful to the Justice Department’s mission. AUSA Enright is a stellar example of the best the Justice Department has to offer. Thanks to AUSA Enright’s appellate advocacy, our community in the Western District is a safer place.
AUSA Enright received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He is originally from Chicago, Illinois.
Defendants Plead Guilty to Stealing Identities of the Homeless to Fraudulently Apply for Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Olabanji Otufale and Marc Lazarre pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. The defendants pleaded guilty as jury selection and trial was set to begin this morning. When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 32 years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jocelyn Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the guilty pleas.
“The defendants shamefully stole vulnerable homeless victims’ personal identifying information for their own personal gain,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Instead of investigating fraud, as the City of New York trusted Otufale to do, the defendants abused Otufale’s position and access to sensitive data to commit fraud. That the defendants face a mandatory prison sentence of two years should serve as a deterrent message to others who think about corruptly stealing identities and taxpayer funds.”
“Leveraging his position within the New York City Department of Homeless Services, Olbanji Otufale stole homeless individuals’ personal information and enlisted a co-conspirator to use these sensitive details for his own financial benefit. The defendants’ actions exemplify the harmful abuses of power the FBI is dedicated to preventing, and we applaud the efforts of our office and the Department of Investigation in bringing about this verdict,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “These two defendants exploited the intended beneficiaries of public funds to steal those funds for their own gain. Unacceptable under any circumstances, this conduct is particularly troubling because one defendant, a City fraud investigator, had a duty to identify and prevent the very crimes in which he engaged, abusing his access and position of trust and authority. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI for their continued partnership in protecting public funds and holding accountable those who drain these precious resources for personal profit.”
As alleged in the indictment, court filings and statements made in court, in the fall of 2020, the defendants conspired to steal the personal identifying information of homeless individuals and use that stolen information to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits in the names of those homeless individuals without their knowledge or consent.
At the time of the scheme, Otufale was a fraud investigator with the New York City Department of Homeless Services. In that role, Otufale was responsible for ensuring individuals who applied for homeless services—such as housing in homeless shelters—were qualified to receive New York City Department of Homeless services.
Otufale, however, used his access to a Department of Homeless Services database to steal the personal identifying information—names, social security numbers, dates of birth—of vulnerable victims who had given that personal information to the Department of Homeless Services when they applied for social services. Otufale then texted this victim information to Lazarre who applied online for unemployment benefits in the names of the homeless victims. Otufale and Lazarre conspired to split the fraudulent benefits they received.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Laura Zuckerwise and Katherine P. Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Nadya Osman.
The Defendants:
Olabanji Otufale
Age: 41
Brooklyn, New YorkMarc Lazarre
Age: 39
Secaucus, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-170 (KAM)
Davenport Man Sentenced to 137 Months in Federal Prison for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 to 137 months in federal prison, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Sylvester George Taylor Staples, 31, was found in possession of a firearm and 9.24 grams of cocaine base. Staples had multiple prior felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the Court also found Staples violated the terms of his federal supervised release and ordered to serve an additional 24 months of imprisonment.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Staples will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Copper Wire Thief Sentenced to 18 Months Federal Prison for Stealing from U.S. Department of the NavyRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Albert Benavente Taimanglo, age 69, from Dededo, Guam was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was charged in the U.S. District Court of Guam with Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 641. The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, restitution of $44,567.90, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
In January of 2019, Taimanglo and others broke into a utility station at the United States Naval Communication Station known as Radio Barrigada. Taimanglo and his co-conspirators cut and removed copper cable. They later sold it as scrap to metal recycling facilities. The wire carried a live current, which electrocuted one of the co-conspirators. It also caused an emergency power outage and hampered important military communications capabilities.
“This case demonstrates the danger of stealing copper cable that is connected to a live grid,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The damage was beyond a simple repair, and potentially affected national security. The sentence imposed by the Court sends a strong message of deterrence. Recycling facilities are encouraged to report suspected copper theft to law enforcement at the earliest opportunity.”
This investigation was conducted by Naval Criminal Investigative Service and prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Convicted Felon Indicted on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Charles Wesley Monroe, 19, of Washington, D.C., was indicted today by a grand jury on a federal firearms charge stemming from his possession of a loaded firearm in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment, unsealed today, alleges that on April 29, 2024, Monroe unlawfully possessed a 9mm Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 semiautomatic pistol and 9mm ammunition, knowing he previously had been convicted in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 29, 2024, MPD officers approached a man in the 1400 block of Girard Street Northwest to investigate an unrelated offense. Monroe, who was standing nearby, broke into unprovoked flight and evaded police. Moments later, officers observed Monroe return to the scene and run under an apartment building stairwell while clutching his waist. Officers apprehended Monroe and located a firearm nearby. The firearm and its magazine were swabbed for DNA and submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for testing and analysis. The results linked both the firearm and magazine to Monroe.
Monroe was arrested on April 29, 2024, and initially charged by criminal complaint in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He has remained held without bond since his arrest.
Federal law prohibits Monroe from possessing a firearm and ammunition because, in September 2023, he was convicted in the D.C. Superior Court of robbery, an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Monroe was on probation for that offense at the time of his arrest in this case.
Monroe faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the Court after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by ATF and MPD as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle M. McWaters and Paul V. Courtney, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustin Horner.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Colorado Couple Indicted for $5 Million COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Joshua Lybolt, 45, and Magdalena Lybolt, 46, of Castle Rock, Colorado, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Colorado. Joshua Lybolt has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering and Magdalena Lybolt with wire fraud.
According to the indictment, from April 2020 until around August 2022, Joshua Lybolt applied for and received $4,950,000 in COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and $41,667 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds from an SBA-approved lender. The indictment alleges that Joshua Lybolt falsely certified in fraudulent loan applications that the business entities suffered losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite knowing that the business entities were not in operation on the dates required to receive relief funds.
The indictment further alleges that Joshua Lybolt and Magdalena Lybolt falsely certified that all the loan proceeds would be used for business expenses when, in fact, they used the bulk of the proceeds for personal expenses including a 2022 Porsche Taycan, a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover, memberships in a country club, a luxury vacation club, and real estate properties.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendants made their initial appearance on July 11, 2024, in Denver in front of Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Craig Fansler.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On July 11, 2023, the Attorney General selected the District of Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of five national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-nationwide-covid-19-fraud-enforcement-action.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Chester Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Montell De’Angelo Cousar, 33, of Chester, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that on May 5, 2023, the Rock Hill Police Department officers responded to reports of a fight at a local restaurant. As officers were clearing the restaurant parking lot, Cousar dropped a loaded 9mm pistol from his clothing as he walked past an RHPD officer. The pistol was reported stolen. Cousar was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition based on his prior convictions. In 2017, Cousar was convicted of assault and battery, first degree. In that case, Cousar shot the victim twice. In 2016, he was convicted for multiple counts of distributing crack cocaine.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Cousar to 33 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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Checotah Resident Sentenced for False Statement Made During Acquisition of A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Steven Peavler, age 67, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On September 29, 2023, Peavler pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 29, 2022, Peavler attempted to receive two firearms from Checotah Firearms, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Checotah, Oklahoma. During his visit, Peavler intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473, asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year. In reality, at the time of the transaction, Peavler was under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding of one year and knew of such prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Peavler 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 Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Canadian man indicted, arrested for nearly 30-year Social Security benefit fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Canadian man was arrested in Los Angeles on July 8 after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with stealing over $420,000 of his mother’s Social Security benefits in a nearly 30-year complex fraud scheme.
According to court documents, beginning in roughly 1995, Ellis Kingsep, aka Ellis King, 77, allegedly created private postal mailbox accounts to hide the fact that he was a sending and receiving his mother’s mail. The defendant allegedly changed the mailing addresses for his mother every few years to a new address in California, and eventually Vancouver, British Columbia, and Alaska.
In 2013, the Social Security Administration received a change of address notice signed by Kingsep’s mother, stating that she was moving to Alaska and requested her address be changed to one in Fairbanks. The address in Fairbanks was for a mail forwarding service that, allegedly per instructions from the defendant, would receive the mail in his mother’s name, repackage it in his name and ship it to two different private mailbox services located in Vancouver. Those services, again allegedly per instructions from the defendant, would repackage and forward the mail to private mailbox services in Los Angeles, where Kingsep would regularly collect his mail. The indictment alleges the mother’s name or information were not used for any of the private mailbox registrations. All registrations were done with Kingsep’s information, and they were all in his name.
Beginning in 1996, the Social Security Administration made direct deposits of Social Security retirement benefits for Kingsep’s mother into a different bank account than previously used. The new account was held in the names of the defendant and his mother. The Social Security Administration continued the direct deposits until 2023. Bank security video shows the defendant regularly withdrawing cash from the account in Los Angeles.
The indictment alleges that the defendant’s mother would be 102 at the time of indictment, and that there has been no record of her since 1993.
Kingsep is charged with five counts of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1341, one count of aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A and one count of social security fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §408(a)(3). The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 11 before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is awaiting transport to Alaska by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent-in-Charge Christian Assaad, of the Denver Seattle Field Division, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Brownsburg Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Stolen Firearms to Pawn ShopRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jason Compliment, 42, of Brownsburg, Indiana, has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. In February of 2024, a federal jury found Compliment guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on July 16, 2022, the defendant sold three firearms to a north Indianapolis pawnshop for $725. Video surveillance footage captured him selling the firearms and receiving the pawn ticket in his own name.
Mr. Compliment has numerous prior felony convictions in Hendricks and Marion Counties—including eight burglaries, resisting law enforcement, and possession of methamphetamine, making him an Armed Career Criminal under federal law. In one prior case, the defendant burglarized a church and stole funds meant for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Each one of these previous felony convictions prohibits the defendant from ever legally possessing a firearm again.
“The defendant’s long list of prior criminal sentences, ranging from probation to incarceration, have failed to deter him from continuing to illegally possess guns,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “He showed so little respect for the law he was even willing to sell the guns under his own name. Much of the gun violence inflicted on our communities is caused by individuals who are prohibited by law from having a firearm in the first place. Thanks to the work of the ATF, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors the public will be protected from this career criminal for years to come.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S District Judge James P. Hanlon.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Bradley A. Blackington, who prosecuted this 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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Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Matthew Alexander Wilson, 29, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 16, 2023, Wilson and Denise R. Allen were apprehended at a gun store in Princeton, West Virginia. Following their arrest, Wilson and Allen consented to a search by law enforcement officers of a truck they had rented using a stolen identity. Officers found 431 grams of methamphetamine, 21 grams of fentanyl and two Glock 9mm semiautomatic handguns during the search of the rental truck. Wilson and Allen admitted they possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute it.
Allen, 30, of Bluefield, was sentenced on June 10, 2024 to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-152.
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Arapahoe man is sentenced for assault by strangulationRead the Press Release
Daniel Anthony Whiteplume, 26, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for assault by strangulation. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 10, 2024.
According to court documents, on September 6, 2022, Whiteplume was receiving a ride to an uncle’s house due to his intoxication. During the ride, he became angry and jerked the steering wheel of the moving car. The driver was near the uncle’s house and pulled over. Whiteplume began beating and then strangling the victim, who was the driver. The victim was later taken to the hospital and contacted by the Wind River Police Department. Special agents and victim services personnel with the FBI were also brought in to assist with the investigation. They observed injuries consistent with the victim’s account of the incident. Whiteplume pleaded guilty to the charge on March 30, 2023.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted this case. Case No. 22-CR-00142
Allegheny County Man and Woman Charged with Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses for Fraudulently Obtaining Prescription MedicationsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Donte Lucas, age 27, and Jania Aceituno, age 26, both of Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, were indicted on July 10, 2024, on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Lucas, Aceituno, and their coconspirators used stolen identities and DEA registration numbers of healthcare providers to order fraudulent prescription medications at various pharmacies. The indictment further alleges that Lucas, Aceituno, and their coconspirators obtained and distributed those prescription medications, including the controlled substance Promethazine with Codeine—commonly known as “Lean” on the street.
“Fraudulently obtaining controlled prescription drugs violates FDA requirements which exist to ensure that the drugs are safe and used under the supervision of licensed medical practitioners,” said Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to thoroughly investigate those who endanger public health by undermining the integrity of the U.S. supply chain for these tightly controlled drugs.”
The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the wire fraud conspiracy offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The aggravated identity theft offense carries a mandatory two-year sentence of imprisonment that is to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Alleged drug dealer to downtown Seattle, Aurora, ID, and homeless encampments indicted for drug and gun crimesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 48-year-old Seattle area man is in federal custody tonight after being indicted by a grand jury for two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Simon Offord is allegedly linked to drug dealing in multiple Seattle neighborhoods and in various homeless encampments. Searches of his vehicles and a Shoreline hotel room resulted in seizures of significant quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and Alprazolam.
Offord was arraigned on the indictment on July 8, 2024, and detained on July 11, 2024.
According to police reports and other records filed in the case, Offord came to the attention of Seattle Police patrol officers in December 2023 when he drove the wrong way down a street in Seattle. Before police could contact him, he abandoned the car he was driving in a parking lot. Inside the car officers saw what appeared to be drugs. After getting a warrant to search the vehicle they found drugs packaged to for delivery, scales, and other indications of drug dealing as well as a ‘ghost gun’- one made without a serial number.
Over a number of months, Seattle Police looked for Offord and ultimately tracked him to a Shoreline hotel, just off of Aurora Avenue. On May 30, 2024, Offord was arrested at one of his dealing locations along Aurora in North Seattle. A search of his hotel room and vehicle yielded nine pounds of fentanyl powder, approximately 2900 fentanyl pills, and more than a pound of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, heroin, and other drugs. Police also seized another firearm. Offord was booked into the King County Jail but later was released on bail.
Due to the large amount of drugs involved in these seizures, the crimes are punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime adds an additional five years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.
Saturday 13 July 2024
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Shooting at Former President Donald J. Trump’s RallyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the shooting at former President Donald J. Trump’s rally:
“I have been briefed on the shooting at former President Trump’s rally, and have briefed the President. The FBI, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Department’s National Security Division are currently working with the Secret Service as well as state and local law enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania.
My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack.
We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”
Friday 12 July 2024
U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Convicted for Bribery Scheme Impacting Department of State’s Approval Process for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan NationalsRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a U.S. Navy Reserve commander today on multiple criminal charges related to a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, Florida, received bribe money from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and falsely verifying false letters of recommendation for citizens of Afghanistan who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Each year, the State Department offers limited SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. In connection with this program, Pittmann signed over 20 false letters in which he represented, among other things, that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In reality, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service.
The jury convicted Pittmann of conspiracy to commit bribery and false writing, bribery, false writing, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense; Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR); and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement.
SIGAR, NCIS, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Theodore M. Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea in Federal Funds Theft CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former Indian Health Service (IHS) housing manager admitted stealing over $5,000 in federal funds by pocketing rent payments from traveling medical personnel and students.
According to publicly available court documents, Alonzo James Cayatineto, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, served as housing manager for IHS in Crownpoint from approximately 2017 until his resignation in January 2023. In this role, Cayatineto was responsible for collecting rent payments from pharmacy students and other medical personnel on temporary assignments in Crownpoint.
In December 2022, Cayatineto emailed former pharmacy students, claiming they had outstanding housing debts. He instructed them to pay via his personal Venmo account to avoid collections. Between December 2022 and January 2023, Cayatineto collected $5,363 in rent payments from 12 individuals through 15 separate Venmo transactions. Cayatineto failed to remit these funds to IHS and was not authorized to collect payments in this manner.
The scheme was uncovered in January 2023 when students complained about not receiving receipts for their payments. An internal IHS investigation led to Cayatineto being placed on administrative leave on January 27, 2023. He resigned the same day.
Cayatineto was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to complete community service and pay back the $5,363 he stole.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
U.S. Attorney, Homeland Security Investigations Secure 17-Year Sentence in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An El Paso man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for his role in a cross-border conspiracy to distribute child pornography, following an investigation that uncovered thousands of explicit images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, including infants.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between April 28, 2022, and April 24, 2023, Yamil Pillado, 23, and his cousin, Ryan Gallardo, engaged in a conspiracy to send and receive images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material via various online platforms. Pillado and Gallardo used WhatsApp and the MEGA file hosting service to exchange these illegal materials across state lines, with Pillado located in Texas and Gallardo in New Mexico.
During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered extensive conversations between Pillado and Gallardo discussing their mutual sexual interest in minors, including infants. The cousins exchanged numerous files containing sexually explicit images and videos of children.
Specifically, on April 29, 2022, Gallardo sent Pillado several videos showing an adult male sexually abusing a prepubescent female. On July 5, 2022, Pillado reciprocated by sending Gallardo an image of a minor female being sexually exploited.
A search of Pillado's phone uncovered more than 2,000 files containing child sexual abuse material.
Upon his release from prison, Pillado will be subject to 20 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
Gallardo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography and remains in custody pending sentencing which is current scheduled for July 17, 2024. At sentencing Gallardo faces up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the El Paso Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and A’Kiesha Soliman are prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney Secures Guilty Plea in Oil and Gas Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to submitting false and inaccurate oil and gas extraction reports, failing to pay due taxes and royalties to the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, and federal government.
In her plea agreement, Teresa McCown, owner of M&M Production & Operation, Inc. (M&M) and Shoreline Oil & Gas Company (Shoreline), admitted that between 2017 and 2023, she repeatedly submitted false and inaccurate oil and gas extraction and production reports through online reporting systems, failed to submit mineral reports in some cases, and did not pay due taxes and royalties for oil and gas produced from Federal and Indian leases.
As a lease operator, McCown was responsible for accounting, reporting mineral production, and paying royalties to mineral owners for extracted gas and minerals. To that end, McCown was required to submit monthly Oil and Gas Operations Reports (OGOR) and royalty payments to the Department of the Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) based on the amount and value of oil and gas produced from the leases.
On December 6, 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) received a complaint letter from the Jicarilla Apache Nation alleging M&M and Shoreline’s ongoing failures to report oil and gas extraction volumes and failure to report revenue. ONRR began its investigation into McCown and her companies’ failure to pay royalties and determined that required reporting for royalties was missing for long periods of time.
In her plea, McCown admitted to filing over 400 incorrect reports on Indian and Federal leases during the time period, that there are approximately 1,000 missing or unfiled OGOR reports for at least 32 leases or agreements, that she falsely reported gas extraction amounts, and failed to pay due royalties and interest. McCown was issued numerous Notices of Noncompliance (NONC), Failure to Correct Civil Penalties notices (FCCP), and Immediate Liability Civil Penalty (ILCP) notices for inaccurate reporting. ONRR held two pre-penalty teleconferences with McCown to discuss the civil penalties assessed in the NONCs, FCCPs, and ILCPs and any mitigating circumstances that may have prevented her companies from complying by the prescribed deadlines. Both of these teleconferences were audio recorded. In those teleconferences, McCown offered no relevant mitigating circumstances and instead gave various excuses, blaming medical ailments and fired employees for not properly reporting the well sites. Even after those teleconferences, McCown took no corrective action.
ONRR then sent the companies’ debts for unpaid royalties and penalties to the U.S. Treasury for collection. As of January 2024, neither M&M nor Shoreline had paid the debts to the U.S. Treasury and both debts continued to accrue.
In addition, McCown knowingly submitted false or inaccurate reports to ONRR over the internet, constituting wire fraud. When a user accesses ONRR's online systems, there is a validation process. The validation process all occurs over wires and an interaction with the data center where user logins are authenticated and authorized. Thus, when reports are submitted via an internet connection, users are confronted with a popup message that reads “I am authorized to report for this Reporter and certify that the electronic data transmitted is valid, accurate, complete and accept responsibility for such data…”, and must click “OK” to proceed.
During the reporting periods at issue in the indictment, McCown also accessed relevant websites as an official representative of her two companies. When she accessed those websites to submit information, she agreed to ONRR’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which warned against entering inaccurate or false information into the reporting system. The online system separately warns users that a violation of the AUP may result in criminal prosecution.
In her plea agreement, McCown admitted that she submitted inaccurate or false information through these systems on numerous occasions and that she intended to undertake a scheme to defraud the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Nation, and the United States of full amounts due for her companies’ operations – even after receiving notices, penalties, and participating in teleconferences with regulators.
As part of her plea agreement, McCown agreed to liquidate personal properties in Farmington and Rio Arriba County, an RV, and two motor vehicles and apply the proceeds the restitution she owes. McCown also agreed not to contest proceedings initiated by the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management to cancel her oil and gas leases. She agreed to file financial disclosure forms with the United States Attorney’s Office until restitution is complete, and agreed to fully comply with ongoing curative audit and compliance procedures that will follow her plea.
The Court ordered that McCown remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
At sentencing, McCown faces up to 20 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, McCown will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General made the announcement today.
The Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Energy Investigations Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores is prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves Welcomed Youth to 14th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” Youth SummitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations welcomed about 150 District youths to the 14th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” Youth Summit,” held today at The Catholic University of America’s Przybyla Center.
The event focused on a variety of subjects, including opioid abuse prevention, gun violence prevention, and mental health awareness. A moment of silence was held to remember young victims lost by homicide in 2024. The Summit featured dynamic speakers, entertainment, information, and resources. U.S. Attorney Graves presented the United States Attorney’s Office’s Youth Citizenship Awards to four participants.
Thousands of the District’s youth have participated in the Summit since the U.S. Attorney’s Office began holding this event. The Summit is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney thanks this year’s partners: the East of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative; the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation; The Catholic University of America, including its Department of Public Safety; the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Metro Transit Police Department; the D.C. Housing Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Housing; and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigation.
The event is planned and executed each year by members of the Community Engagement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Two Non-Citizens Illegally Present in the United States Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Firearms in SpringfieldRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – Walter Geovanni Arteta-Gonzalez, age 33, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on July 10, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal reentry after removal. Santos Fernando Zepeda-Arteta, 21, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment on July 11, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Both men are originally from Honduras.
At the sentencing hearings before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta possessed firearms knowing they were in the United States without legal documentation. On November 27, 2023, Springfield Police officers responded to a Springfield hotel to investigate shots being fired. After eyewitnesses were interviewed and the hotel surveillance video was reviewed, both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta admitted to police officers that they possessed firearms. Further, both men were observed on the videos holding a firearm and firing several shots into the air. Arteta-Gonzalez stated he fired rounds outside his hotel room “just for fun.” The gun possessed by Zepeda-Arteta was stolen from an unspecified location in St. Louis, Missouri.
Both Arteta-Gonzalez and Zepeda-Arteta have remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since their arrests in November of 2023.
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person are up to 15 years imprisonment; up to three years of supervised release; up to a $250,000 fine; and a $100 special assessment.
In addition to the firearm possession, Arteta-Gonzalez was sentenced on illegal re-entry into the country after a prior removal. The statutory penalties for this charge include up to 2 years' imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The Springfield Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Sangamon County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sierra-Senor Moore represented the government in the prosecution.
The 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.
Two Georgia Women Sentenced for Stealing Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Teresa Carter and Sharon Crowder have been sentenced for theft of government funds for their unlawful receipt of Social Security benefits intended for relatives, who died years earlier.
“Carter and Crowder chose to assume the responsibility of acting on behalf of loved ones as the recipients of their relative’s Social Security benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Then they concealed the deaths of their relatives and knowingly and unlawfully continued to receive these government funds to which they were not entitled. The defendants’ prosecution and sentence should place others on notice that stealing money from the government and taxpayers is a serious offense.”
“As representative payees, these defendants had a responsibility to report the death of the beneficiary, rather they falsified information to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and wrongfully converted funds to their own use, which is a crime. These sentences demonstrate that we will continue to investigate representative payees who misappropriate funds issued by the SSA,” said Rodregas W. Owens, Special Agent in Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman for their work in this case.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Teresa Carter was the representative payee for her father’s Social Security benefits. As the representative payee, she was required to spend all of his monthly benefits on his behalf and submit annual reporting statements to the SSA that documented any changes in his condition. Carter’s father died on July 17, 2006. Rather than report his death to the SSA, Carter continued to submit annual reporting statements to the SSA in which she falsely stated that her father was still alive.
In March 2023, when SSA investigators interviewed Carter, she admitted that her father had died and that she had submitted false statements after his death to continue to receive the benefits. But she falsely claimed that a Social Security employee told her to lie on the annual reporting form so that she could continue to receive the benefits which she falsely claimed were pension benefits from a private pension fund. In total, Carter stole over $130,000 in government funds.
Sharon Crowder acted as the representative payee for her brother’s Social Security benefits. Her brother died on September 10, 2009. Like Carter, Crowder did not report her brother’s death to the SSA. Instead, she submitted annual reporting statements to the SSA in which she falsely stated that her brother was still alive. When confronted by investigators in August 2023 about this deception, Crowder admitted that she submitted the false statements to the SSA and spent the funds knowing that she was not entitled to receive them. In total, Crowder stole more than $139,000 in government benefits.
Teresa Carter, 66, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown two years of probation with the first 90 days to be served on home confinement. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $130,182.90. Carter was convicted of this charge on March 7, 2024, after she pleaded guilty.
Sharon R. Crowder, 55, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by Judge Brown to four years of probation with the first six months to be served on home confinement. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $139,656.00. Crowder was convicted of this charge on March 12, 2024, after she pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Sulphur Man Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Time for Receipt of Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a Sulphur, Louisiana man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. on child pornography charges.
Gabriel Lyons, 26, was sentenced to 150 months (12 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, on child pornography charges. According to information introduced in court, in July 2022, Lyons was communicating with a 15-year-old minor female and began asking her for sexually explicit images and videos. Lyons would engage in “cybersexing” with the minor female. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip in August 2022 and began an investigation into these activities.
Through their investigation, law enforcement agents determined that on July 4, 2022, Lyons received a video of the minor female over the internet. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for the residence in which Lyons lived in the Lake Charles area. Lyons was present during the search and admitted to agents that he had been communicating with the minor female, knowing that she was 15 years of age, and in fact at the time of the search admitted that he was still communicating with her. Lyons was charged and pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography.
This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Luke Walker.
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South Georgia Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. –A Valdosta, Georgia, resident was sentenced to serve 27 years in federal prison for coercing and enticing a 13-year-old child to a hotel room, where he gave her alcohol and sexually abused her.
Dewayne Howell, 50, was sentenced to serve 324 months in prison to be followed by 12 years of supervised release and also ordered to pay $4,050 in restitution to Minor Victim 1 (MV1) by U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on July 11. In addition, Howell will have to register as a child sex offender upon release from prison. Howell was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of coercion and enticement of a minor on Feb. 6, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Child predators who target the most vulnerable members of our society will face severe punishment in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the local law enforcement teams in the Valdosta community for helping us hold this defendant accountable for his crime.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dewayne Howell and his brother, Laronce Howell, picked up 13-year-old MV1 and her 16-year-old sister near their house on Oct. 2, 2020. They traveled to a liquor store, where Dewayne Howell purchased alcohol, and then to a hotel in Valdosta, where he rented a hotel room. Dewayne Howell took MV1 alone to the hotel room, where he sexually abused her. Surveillance video from the hotel showed that Dewayne Howell then let Laronce Howell and MV1’s sister into the room. The adult men gave the children alcohol before eventually bringing them back home.
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 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.
The case was investigated by the Valdosta Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government.
Six Individuals Charged in $1 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Update: Charges against Chinenye Nwodim were dismissed in August 2024.
BOSTON – Five Massachusetts residents and one New York resident have been charged in connection with a scheme to defraud various health insurance companies by submitting fabricated claims seeking reimbursement for over $1 million worth of bogus medical expenses, purportedly incurred during international travel.
Brendon Ashe, 40, of Dorchester; Aqiyla Atherton, 36, of Roxbury; Darline Cobbler, 40, of Randolph; Henry Ezeonyido, 36, of Brockton; Ariel Lambert, 34, of Brooklyn, NY; and Chinenye Nwodim, 36, of Brockton, were charged in a complaint unsealed yesterday with one count each of health care fraud. All six defendants were released on conditions following initial appearances in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging document, the defendants allegedly submitted health insurance claims, or had claims submitted on their behalf, for expensive medical treatment that they purportedly received and paid for out-of-pocket while traveling overseas. The claims submitted to four different insurance companies related to alleged traumatic injuries such as stabbings, hit and run car accidents, as well as gunshot wounds that the defendants purportedly suffered and that required their hospitalization abroad. The complaint alleges that the defendants were in the United States at the time they claimed to be hospitalized in foreign countries. It is further alleged that some of the defendants received unrelated medical services in the United States at the same time they were purportedly hospitalized overseas.
In support of these claims submitted to the insurance companies, the defendants allegedly provided fabricated records – including fake bank records purporting to show payment to the treating facilities, bogus medical records purporting to show the medical care provided, and falsified police reports describing the circumstances of shootings or stabbings. In some instances, the details of the claims submitted by or on behalf of the defendants and supporting documentation – including the dates of service, country where the alleged traumatic injuries occurred, and nature and circumstances of the alleged injuries –are nearly identical to one another. As a result of these fraudulent claims, various health insurance companies were billed over $1 million for services that were never rendered.
“These defendants allegedly fabricated over $1 million in insurance claims for injuries that never happened in a brazen abuse of our healthcare system. This kind of deceit is not only illegal, it victimizes every law-abiding person by diverting resources from those truly in need and driving up costs for everyone,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Health care fraud is a serious crime that erodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our healthcare system. Prosecuting health care fraud, in whatever permutation it takes, has always been and remains a top priority.”
“Yesterday, the FBI charged six people whose guiding compass appears to have been greed. We believe they feigned injuries they never suffered and submitted bogus claims for medical treatment rendered in overseas hospitals they never set foot in, while most claimed to be victims of violent crimes that never actually took place,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Unscrupulous schemes like the one we allege here drives up health care costs for all of us which is why the FBI, and our partners won’t hesitate to bring to justice anyone who perpetrates blatant and egregious fraud.”
“These individuals allegedly lied and said they sustained injuries or illness and had to pay substantial healthcare costs while abroad for their medical needs. We allege that they then fraudulently requested their health insurance carriers to reimburse them for these fictitious costs, including by using the U.S. Mail. Postal inspectors will not let these schemes go unchecked and are committed to protecting the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
“Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts is committed to combating this illegal activity through vigilant investigation and collaboration with our partners. Insurance fraud harms everyone and undermines trust in the insurance system and increase costs of insurance,” said Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.
The charge of health care fraud carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. 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 U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, USPIS INC Larco‐Ward and IFB Executive Director DiPaolo made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Patrick Callahan of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on July 10, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Kenneth Dawdy, 39, from Sioux City, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on January 26, 2024.
At the plea and sentencing hearings evidence showed that Dawdy participated in a conspiracy from January 2021 through June 2023 that distributed at least 3500 grams of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Dawdy admitted to assisting others in the conspiracy by acquiring and delivering money and methamphetamine to/from others involved in the conspiracy.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Dawdy was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of three years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Dawdy remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4055. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Seven Charged in Wide Ranging Conspiracy Resulting in the Death of Four VictimsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Amanda Marie Correa, 29, Robert Andrew Barnes, 24, Christine Deann DiCarlo, 50, Shaqare Jaymont Blackwell, 23, Shakur Serafin Brownstein, 27, Dylan Wilson Small, 35, and Samual Jordan, 42, were charged by a federal grand jury in a Superseding Indictment which includes (1) conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury; (2) two counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury; (3) two counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; (4) kidnapping; and (5) aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment notes that this group of individuals that law enforcement has dubbed the “Fentanyl Robbery Gang (F.R.G.),” some of whom were affiliated with New York gangs, trafficked drugs and guns. Additionally, they used dating websites to connect with individuals interested in hiring prostitutes. Members and associates of the F.R.G. would arrange to come to the victim’s location with the intent to rob the victim of firearms, cash, cellular telephones, identification documents, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other items of value.
The victim would be offered narcotics (usually purported cocaine), though unbeknownst to the victim, the narcotics contained fentanyl. If the victim refused the drugs, members of and associates of the F.R.G. would administer fentanyl-laced narcotics to the victim by forcibly or surreptitiously introducing it into the victim’s body. This was done to incapacitate victims as to steal firearms, cash, cellular telephones, identification documents, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other items of value. If a victim was not incapacitated, or not incapacitated quickly enough, members of the F.R.G. would instead change course and simply commit home-invasion robberies where they would be let into the victim’s home by other members and associates and then steal items of value at gunpoint or through other violent means, including threats, beatings, and aggravated assault.
The superseding indictment alleges that four individuals have died as the result of overdosing on fentanyl. Three deaths occurred in Berks and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and one death in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The seven individuals named in the superseding indictment are all in custody. This is an on-going investigation and law enforcement are attempting to identify and arrest additional members and associates of F.R.G. and to identify and locate victims. Victims and others who may have information concerning F.R.G. are requested to contact the FBI at 570-344-2404.
The charges were the result of a joint investigation by the FBI; Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Marshals Service – Scranton office; the District Attorney Offices of Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, and Berks Counties in Pennsylvania; the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; and various state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd K. Hinkley and Luisa Honora Berti are 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 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.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Sentence Handed Down for Murder of Maryland Man Left in Car for Three DaysRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jordan Jones,23, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced Friday for voluntary manslaughter while armed for the killing of Noel Nicol in Southeast D.C. in October, 2021. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jones pleaded guilty on December 5, 2023, to voluntary manslaughter while armed for the fatal shooting of Nicol, an acquaintance. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Jones to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Jones agreed to meet Nicol in Southeast D.C. on October 11, 2021, the day after Jones arranged to purchase a 9mm handgun (the same caliber as murder weapon). Mr. Nicol was last seen by family and friends on the afternoon of October 11, 2021. The police did not locate Mr. Nicol until three days later when they were investigating an anonymous tip and discovered Mr. Nicol’s body in the in the driver’s seat of a car parked on Savannah Place S.E.. The police could not locate the murder weapon or any eyewitnesses, but detectives obtained surveillance video footage from the vicinity of the vehicle for a 3-day period and developed Jones as a suspect in the murder. Jones admitted to the police in his post-arrest interview that he was in the car at the time of the shooting and that he and Nicol struggled over a gun. The medical examiner findings and the physical evidence recovered by the police were consistent with the shots being fired at close range from the passenger side of the vehicle where Jones was sitting.
This case was investigated by MPD’s Criminal Investigation Division Homicide Branch. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Interrante.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Role in Capital Region Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andrew Deleon, age 27, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and distributing methamphetamine.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Deleon admitted that he received multiple packages in the U.S. Mail that he knew contained controlled substances and intended to give the controlled substances to the leader of the drug trafficking organization. Deleon also distributed methamphetamine on behalf of the organization. As part of the conspiracy, Deleon distributed and/or possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 1,827.18 grams of pure methamphetamine and 10.68 grams of fentanyl.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a term of 3 years of supervised release, which will start after Deleon is released from prison.
Five other defendants have been charged as part of this conspiracy and are currently awaiting trial:
Defendant
Charges
Max./Min. Terms of Imprisonment
Felix Arencibia
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl
Distribution of methamphetamine
Minimum: 10 years Maximum: Life
Todd Austin
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Ahmad Burke
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Kevisha DuBoise
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Maximum: 20 years
Christian Mur-Santana
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl
Distribution of methamphetamine
Minimum:10 years Maximum: Life
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three other defendants charged as part of this conspiracy have pled guilty and are currently pending sentencing:
Melissa Karwan, age 37, of Schenectady, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Karwan is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2024.
Flor Arencibia, age 39, of Albany, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Arencibia is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5, 2024.
Stefanie Plass, age 37, of Schenectady, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Plass is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2024.
These cases are being investigated by DEA and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases.
This case 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.
Santa Barbara County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Death of Fellow Jail InmateRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Lompoc man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a fellow inmate at a Santa Barbara County jail and the serious bodily injury of another inmate.
Kaelen Jacobkeali Wendel, 32, was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong.
At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury on March 1 found Wendel guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury.
In October 2022, Wendel smuggled fentanyl into a unit of the Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail. He packaged the powerful synthetic opioid in candy containers.
As the new inmate, Wendel handed some fentanyl to his co-defendant, Michael Villapania, 36, of Lompoc, in the expectation that he would receive jail commissary goods in exchange. Villapania then sold the drug to a victim identified in court documents as “J.V.” J.V. then shared the fentanyl with another victim, who is identified in court documents as “E.E.”
After ingesting the drug during the early morning hours of October 20, 2022, E.E. and J.V. overdosed. After an inmate alerted a custody deputy about the overdose, deputies and nurses administered multiple doses of Narcan – a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses – and performed CPR on both inmates. They revived J.V., but E.E. died.
Villapania pleaded guilty on February 1 to one count of distribution of fentanyl. He was sentenced on June 10 to seven years in federal prison.
“[Wendel] committed a serious offense that ended in a tragedy,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “He smuggled fentanyl into a jail unit, killing E.E. and nearly killing J.V. He created a market for fentanyl where there was none.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Suria M. Bahadue, Alexandra Kelly, and Kenneth R. Carbajal of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Richlands Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling Black Market Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Richlands, Virginia woman, who is not a licensed healthcare provider but received and distributed prescription drugs as well as other drugs that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pled guilty this week to federal charges.
Melissa Bandy, 54, waived her right to be indicted and pled guilty this week to a one count Information charging her with receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and delivering and proffering for delivery the misbranded drugs for pay.
“When the public buys an FDA-approved drug, they are purchasing a drug that has been vetted for safe consumption in line with its intended purpose,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals skirt these safeguards in order to enrich themselves, they put the health and safety of others at risk. I am grateful to the FDA for their work on this important matter and their continued relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.”
“Unlicensed individuals who sell unapproved and misbranded ‘Botox-like’ products and other prescription drugs put their unsuspecting customers at risk because FDA has not found these products to be safe and effective for their intended uses and they cannot be safely administered without the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner,” said George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office. “We are fully committed to bringing to justice those who subvert FDA’s requirements and place consumers at risk of serious harm. Our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police and the forethought of the Richlands Police Department for channeling this matter to FDA-OCI were integral to our efforts in safeguarding the public health and safety in this case.”
Although not a licensed healthcare provider and with no valid prescriptions, Bandy accessed prescription drugs through black-market websites specializing in products manufactured overseas. Many of her orders were for drugs that require injection needles, including Saxenda, SelaTox, Botulax 200, and Innotox.
Serious negative health effects may occur by taking these drugs without legitimate medical supervision, including thyroid c-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, and acute gallbladder disease. Nevertheless, Bandy resold dozens of misbranded and unapproved doses to multiple individuals.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 1, 2024 at the United States Courthouse in Abingdon.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Virginia State Police, and the Richlands Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.
Revere Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Cocaine OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for cocaine related offenses.
Francisco Restrepo Mesa, 55, was sentenced on July 10, 2024 by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 68 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2024, Restrepo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In March 2023, a co-conspirator retrieved two kilograms of cocaine from Restrepo inside a Revere apartment he maintained as a drug stash location. A search was executed at Restrepo’s stash apartment, yielding 15.5 kilograms of cocaine and $190,750. Following his arrest, Restrepo told his wife during recorded jail calls, that authorities had missed some of the drugs during their search. A second search warrant was executed at the Revere stash apartment and an additional 1.6 kilograms of cocaine was recovered from a hidden compartment inside the bathroom wall.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency, New England Field Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit and OCDETF Lead Task Force Attorney, prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Repeat Sex Offender from Michigan Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison After Being Convicted of Numerous Sexual Offenses Against A ChildRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Jeremy Robert Ward, a registered sex offender from Michigan, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Thursday. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
Ward was previously convicted in 2013 in Michigan of three counts of possession of child sexual abusive material and one count of accosting a child for an immoral purpose.
Ward met the 12-year-old minor victim online in September 2022 when he added her to his Snapchat account. He exchanged messages with the victim for approximately three weeks before traveling to Arkansas from his home in Michigan to meet her. On October 15, 2022, he met her face-to-face when he met her in his pickup truck while she was riding her bike near her neighborhood in Bryant. During her encounter with Ward, the victim began surreptitiously recording a portion of her exchange with him. On the video, Ward told her, “I was hoping to take you home” and “I just wish she [her mom] would let you go, especially since I drove all the way down here.” Ward also told the minor victim that she must “think I’m gonna kidnap you or something,” to which she replied, “You probably are about to at this point.” He later asked if she knew of any “private spots,” in an attempt to find a more secluded place to be with her.
Around the same time, using an application on her cell phone, her father noticed she was outside of the established boundary where she was permitted to be. Her parents went to her location, and her father found the minor victim laying in the grass with Ward, whose pants were around his ankles. Ward then fled into the woods.
The minor victim testified at trial that while she was in the field with Ward, he attempted to commit sexual acts with her. Subsequent investigation revealed that the victim and Ward communicated through video messages, some of which Ward recorded on his phone. The recorded video messages were recovered from Ward’s phone and included video and still images of the nude minor victim in the shower.
After a three-day trial that concluded on January 24, 2024, a federal jury found Ward, 33, of Marine City, Michigan, guilty on all nine counts for which he was indicted: one count of interstate travel with the purpose of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity with a minor, six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of travel with the purpose to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor.
Judge Baker also sentenced Ward to a lifetime of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Bryant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Amanda Fields.
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Repeat Drug Dealer Sentenced to 8 ½ Years for Orchestrating Cocaine Trafficking in BeloitRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kelvin Haley, Jr., 41, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Beloit area from July 2021 to August 2023. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Haley pleaded guilty to this charge on March 25, 2024.
During a federal investigation, multiple witnesses identified Haley as an individual selling large quantities of cocaine). Law enforcement discovered that Haley used multiple homes in the Beloit area to store and sell cocaine. As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted recorded purchases of cocaine from Haley at some of these homes on multiple occasions between November 2022 and March 2023.
Haley had previously been convicted and sentenced by Judge Conley for drug trafficking. Judge Conley expressed disappointment that Haley returned to drug trafficking after his release from prison, despite having legitimate employment options. Finding that Haley was a central figure in selling large amounts of cocaine in the Beloit area, Judge Conley said 8 ½ years was warranted given the nature of Haley’s offense and repeat conduct.
The charge against Haley was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Beloit Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson prosecuted this case.