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Friday 14 June 2024
Virginia Man Charged with Child Exploitation, Stalking, Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. –A federal grand jury in Roanoke returned an indictment yesterday charging a Moneta, Va. man with sexual exploitation of a child, stalking, and possession of child pornography in relation to his leadership role of a group of individuals who extort and “swat” individuals online.
The grand jury charged Evan Strauss, 26, a.k.a. “Reaper” and “Kobe Deonsons,” with one count of stalking, one count of coercion and enticement, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on November 1, 2023, Strauss and “Minor A,” a 17-year-old girl from Wyoming, met online and began to engage in regular communication. Over the course of several months, Strauss used various interactive computer services, electronic communications services, and other systems to harass and intimidate Minor A and to place her under surveillance.
In one instance, after the victim refused to provide nude photos or videos of herself, Strauss became controlling and would scream at her. Later, he discovered the victim’s home address and threatened to “swat” her if she did not send him nude pictures or cut herself. Strauss then threatened to show up and kill her, her family, and her cat. As proof of his sincerity, Strauss boasted that he had killed animals before.
Concerned for her family, the victim gave into Strauss’s demands. Among other things, the victim, at Strauss’s direction, carved Strauss’s online username, Reaper, into her upper thigh.
On January 24, 2024, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed Strauss while conducting a search of his residence. Among the evidence seized as part of the search was an iPhone containing multiple videos and images of young girls who are naked and/or cutting themselves. These include pictures of Minor A with “Reaper” carved into her thigh and with other cuts on her legs, as well as a surreptitious recording that Strauss took of Minor A masturbating with a hairbrush.
When Strauss admitted that one of his online usernames was “Reaper,” he also proclaimed to be an active member of a group of approximately 200 individuals known as the “Community,” and that he operated a sub-group within the Community known as “Purgatory.” According to Strauss, the Community participates in a variety of criminal activities online, including placing swatting calls, hacking, blackmailing individuals for money, and extorting women and girls to obtain explicit photos or videos of themselves and to commit acts of self-harm.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement today.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Scheff 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.
Vancouver, Washington man sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking while possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 41-year-old Vancouver, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison for drug distribution and firearms crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph Anthony Cannarozzi was identified in May 2021 as the source of potentially deadly fentanyl pills. The ensuing investigation determined Cannarozzi was dealing fentanyl pills and also selling anabolic steroids through the mail. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G Estudillo said, “This case is not about a statistic, it is about an individual who passed away from a mix of substance you sold him for money…. Controlled substances create real devastation and turmoil for real people.”
“Even after his pills were connected to a death, Mr. Cannarozzi, continued to deal fentanyl. Some 10,000 pills were seized from his home,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “That conduct, coupled with his possession of multiple firearms, justifies this significant prison sentence.”
According to records filed in the case, in May 2021 pills found with the victim of an overdose death were linked back to Cannarozzi prompting an investigation from the Clark County Sherriff’s Office. Officers surveilled Cannarozzi’s home and saw drug customers repeatedly coming to the home for suspected drug transactions. In October 2021, a search warrant at Cannarozzi’s home resulted in the seizure of 10,000 fentanyl pills made to look like prescription medication, as well as suspected steroids and records on drug distribution. Law enforcement also seized six firearms from the home.
The search revealed that Cannarozzi operated a business called “Locked and Loaded” that sold steroids and other medications via the internet. Financial records indicate that more than $1 million was processed through those business accounts.
Cannarozzi was charged federally in August 2022. Cannarozzi pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes on March 6, 2024.
In asking for the ten-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster wrote to the court, “The nation’s ongoing fentanyl-death epidemic would not be possible without suppliers like Cannarozzi. He trafficked in large quantities of deadly fentanyl pills disguised as prescription drugs. He did this despite knowing the pills could kill. He sold those pills to (the victim) and other customers, and he kept selling the pills even after they caused (the victim’s) death.”
The case was investigated by the Clark County Sherriff’s Office, the Vancouver Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), and the United States Postal Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.
Valrico Man Sentenced for Role in Aiding in the Preparation of False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Abdul Q. Aziz to 15 months in federal prison for aiding in the preparation and filing of numerous false and fraudulent income tax returns. Aziz entered a guilty plea on April 4, 2022.
According to court documents, Aziz aided in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of friends and family members. He offered to help these taxpayers obtain large and unwarranted refunds by filing tax returns which falsely claimed income obtained and withholding credits based upon the payment of interest on mortgages which the taxpayers had previously obtained. The multiple tax returns which Aziz helped to prepare and file with the IRS led to claims on behalf of taxpayers for unlawful and unauthorized refunds in excess of $1.5 million. The actual loss to the IRS as to those returns exceeded $226,000.
“This sentencing shows how seriously we are committed to investigating and stopping the filing of fraudulent returns,” said Lani Rosado-Espinal, acting Special Agent in Charge of CI Tampa Field Office. “Schemes meant to defraud the government will be uncovered. We hope that anyone thinking of participating in this kind of nefarious activity will pause and hopefully realize that their freedom is more valuable than the potential for ill-gotten gains.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is part of a lengthy investigation by the IRS in Tampa and Orlando centered upon this mortgage income/withholding scheme. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Since 2006, this day has promoted awareness of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ross emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Far too often, seniors are targeted by fraudsters and criminals,” stated United States Attorney Ross. “Every day, they are bombarded by fraud schemes, scams, and abuse, both physical and mental. Protecting the elderly and preventing their exploitation is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners. I encourage the public to learn the signs of elder abuse and exploitation and to check on our older friends and loved ones regularly.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
The Middle District of Alabama continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. In a recent example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recently prosecuted a Montgomery man for a home remodeling scam that targeted multiple elderly victims. Thanks to our law enforcement partners involved in that investigation, the defendant received a sentence of over six years in prison and was ordered to pay nearly $370,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
United States Attorney Ritz Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ritz emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
United States Attorney Ritz said: “My office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including by financial exploitation. To protect those at risk, we need citizens’ help. Check in on older adults who may have few friends and family members and report any suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI's IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Brown emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“As people like our grade school teachers, little league softball coaches, childhood dance instructors, and family members get older, they become increasingly more susceptible to the cunning and conniving tactics of schemers who operate worldwide,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We have a duty as government officials to do all we can to bring awareness to how these schemers operate and prosecute those who unjustly enrich themselves to the detriment of our seniors.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Western District of Louisiana continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
Most recently, a federal grand jury in this district returned an indictment in April charging 21 defendants in connection with a federal bank fraud case wherein the government alleges these defendants defrauded elderly victim, many who were veterans, by stealing their personal banking information.
In a separate case, two defendants were convicted after being hired by a family to offer sitting services to an elderly woman living in a nursing home suffering from a mental disease. These defendants inflated their timesheets purporting to have provided sitting services to the infirmed victim that the victim never received.
We are committed to prosecuting these cases, but we need your help. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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US Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – Sandra Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC), joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Hairston emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“One in ten people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, with cases still widely underreported,” said U. S. Attorney Hairston. “Billions of dollars are lost to elder fraud scams each year. The USAO-MDNC and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including by financial exploitation. These crimes are reprehensible, and we will use all of the tools available to us under the law to seek justice for our citizens.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators by falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security numbers for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Middle District of North Carolina continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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U.S. Citizen with Diplomatic Status Facing Federal Charges for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Two Minors in Burkina FasoRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Fode Sitafa Mara, age 39, with five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, one count of Coercion and Enticement and one count of Obstruction of Justice. The charges allege the sexual abuse of two minor victims, alleged to have occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The indictment was returned on June 6, 2024, and the initial appearance was held on June 10, 2024, in Greenbelt before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan.
The indictment was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (“DSS”).
The seven-count indictment alleges that Mara, who holds a diplomatic status and was employed at the U.S. Embassy-Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, befriended a family that included two minor children. Over the course of that relationship, it is alleged that Mara groomed, coerced and sexually abused the two minor victims, who were 13 and 15 years old at the time of the abuse. These allegations of sexual abuse and rape are believed to have occurred at Mara’s embassy assigned residence, over the course of approximately one year.
If convicted, Mara faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years’ incarceration and a maximum of life in federal prison for the charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor. A federal district court judge will determine any applicable sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the Diplomatic Security Service’s Office of Special Investigations, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranganath Manthripragada and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today joined federal, state, and local partners in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which seeks to increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse and the resources available to those at risk.
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a relationship of trust. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting perpetrators who target the elderly and other vulnerable individuals for abuse,” said Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, our office reminds seniors and their caregivers to remain constantly vigilant to detect and report fraudulent schemes.”
“We know that the vast majority of elder abuse cases go unreported and that too many victims remain unseen,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why the Department of Justice has aggressively targeted perpetrators of elder fraud and abuse, while providing victims with the support they need.”
In the past five years, the Department of Justice has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older adults. The Department has also returned hundreds of millions of dollars to elder fraud victims.
In the Northern District of Illinois, recent cases highlight the Department’s efforts to combat elder abuse:
Last month, Chicago businessman MARK STEVEN DIAMOND pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge for bilking elderly homeowners in a home repair and reverse mortgage scheme. Diamond and the co-schemers targeted elderly victims based on the amount of equity in their homes and their relative lack of financial sophistication. Diamond is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024.
In March, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized suspected fraud proceeds of approximately $1.4 million of Tether (USDT), a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. The perpetrators, posing as tech support employees, informed victims who clicked on a computer popup that their bank accounts had been compromised. The perpetrators convinced the victims to convert money from traditional bank accounts into cryptocurrency to keep it “safe” from hackers. The scheme, which remains under investigation, impacted elderly victims throughout the U.S.
SUZANA VUKANAC was indicted in December on money laundering charges for allegedly receiving and transferring more than $1 million in cash derived from telemarketing and other online fraud schemes. Vukanac’s co-conspirators allegedly sold non-existent goods to victims, including the elderly, and falsely posed as romantic partners in need of money. Vukanac has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
In the fight to combat elder abuse, the Department of Justice maintains a variety of programs and initiatives:
- The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. This initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, such as tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
- The Money Mule Initiative addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. In a money mule scheme, scammers recruit unsuspecting people, many times older victims, to move money in ways that avoid notice.
- To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about tactics used in specific schemes, such as Social Security Administration impostor schemes, tech support scams, and lottery scams.
To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. To report elder fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311, or visit the FBI’s Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Rebecca C. Lutzko, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing June 15, 2024, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Since 2006, leaders and organizations around the world have commemorated this day to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse and the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Lutzko emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Elder abuse often takes the form of fraud. Together with our law enforcement partners, we aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals, organizations, and networks who lie to older adults in our community, attempting to steal money from them through a scam,” said U.S. Attorney Lutzko. “Every day, more and more scammers pretend to call or email from a government entity or well-known business and attempt to obtain personal identity and financial information from older adults and others, which they then use to commit financial crimes. We hope that by bringing awareness to this issue, more of us will look out for our family and friends who might be the target of such a crime, and report it to federal, state, or local authorities.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person who is in or creates a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Justice Department’s Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force includes federal and state agencies that work together to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. This initiative also provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech-support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Some fraudsters take a different tack in abusing older adults, using them as unwitting money mules to move the proceeds of illegal activity that they have already committed. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money from the scammers' crimes, in ways that avoid notice. Scammers might recruit people to act as money mules through online job ads or social media postings, seeking people to send or receive money or packages, or to open accounts and forward money. The Justice Department’s Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses this type of activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people learn how to recognize the signs of suspicious activity.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder-abuse crimes that touch our District. Most recently, the Office prosecuted a case in which two men ran a “grandparent scam” where they pretended to be a relative, or an attorney for a relative, and claimed that the family member needed money for bail to get out of jail. This scheme caused the victims a combined loss of more than $383,932. In another case, a lottery scheme took more than $260,000 from older adults. The fraudsters contacted people by mail or phone and told them that they had won a lottery or sweepstakes. But they required the victims to pay upfront fees or taxes to claim the purported “prize.” In yet another instance, the Office prosecuted a woman for forging the victim’s signature on a power of attorney form so she could take money from the victim’s financial accounts. In each case, these fraudsters caused older adults and their families financial loss and emotional turmoil.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides periodic Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and tell victims that there has been suspicious activity in connection with their social security account, or that their account is suspended, and claim that the victim must provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems. They then ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer and the fraudster will lie and say their computer has a problem, and then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services to fix the “problem.” In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Department’s elder-justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
In addition, representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio periodically speak about elder-fraud issues at community presentations throughout northern Ohio. If an organization is interested in coordinating such a presentation, they can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (216) 622-3600 or at [email protected].
Finally, if you observe something that you believe might be fraudulent conduct involving an older adult, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to report it.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing Saturday, June 15, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Laslovich emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Our office is committed to preventing abuse and neglect of older adults, and to prosecuting those who try to take advantage of them, whether physically, psychologically, or financially. I urge everyone to help us stop this abuse by checking in on older adults who may have few friends or family members, watching for unusual financial transactions, and reporting abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsmen, or law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about tactics used in specific schemes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The District of Montana continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently prosecuted and convicted individuals in two cases involving elderly victims.
In one case, a daughter was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her caregiver. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/daughter-who-stole-more-700000-elderly-mother-lewistown-while-serving-caregiver
In another case, two men were sentenced to prison for their role in an India-based computer hacking scam that targeted elderly victims nationwide and stole $150,000 from a Kalispell woman. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/india-based-computer-hacking-scam-targeted-elderly-across-country-and-stole-150000
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Releases Public Service Announcement for World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
New Haven – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has released a public service announcement to draw attention to the abuse and neglect affecting older people, and to ask the public to assist law enforcement in preventing elder fraud and abuse.
The public service announcement is available here:
“One in 10 people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, and the AARP has reported that an estimated $28.3 billion is lost to elder fraud scams each year,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. “While my office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, particularly by financial exploitation, we need help from the public. Please report suspected elder abuse to the police or by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Together we can better protect the older adults in our lives, and bring to justice those who do them harm.”
Additional information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young joined a multitude of national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and to increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
“Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has focused on raising awareness of financial exploitation and other fraud schemes targeting senior members of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Our message to the public throughout our engagement on social media and at external events has been clear: (1) if something sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true; (2) NEVER give out your personal identifying information, including your date of birth, social security number or Medicare number, to someone you do not know; (3) if something feels off to you in a conversation - whether in person, online, or on the phone - do not be afraid to end the interaction and verify the information. Finally, please never feel ashamed or embarrassed if you are the victim of one of these crimes. Fraudsters are skilled and know exactly what to do to steal your hard-earned savings. Reporting any suspected abuse to law enforcement may be helpful in ensuring that no one else is victimized.”
“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day above all else, we want seniors and their families to know that you are not alone, and help is available if you or your loved ones are the victim of fraud or scams,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI is proud to work with the Unites States Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire and our partners across the United States to fight Elder Fraud and other forms of abuse perpetrated against seniors in our communities. This effort needs help from all corners of society to succeed – public service, private sector, advocates, family, and friends. If you suspect Elder Fraud or Abuse is happening, report it.”
“Elder financial exploitation – generally involving a known person who is deceiving and manipulating an older adult to steal from them – is a multi-billion dollar, and often unreported, crime. It is important to learn how to identify the signs of financial abuse and to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Christina Fitzpatrick the AARP New Hampshire State Director. “AARP provides this information as well as guidance for people who have been targeted. Visit aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork or call our helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusting relationship with the victim. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.
Millions of older Americans become victims of financial fraud and financial exploitation each year. Scammers find and interact with their victims in public places, by knocking on their doors, and through the phone, internet, or mail. They use urgency to confuse their victims, and often request funds be transferred into cryptocurrency, gold bars, gift cards and other forms of currency that is harder to trace.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its investigative partners work collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign and domestic-based schemes that target older Americans, such as Romance Scams, Government Impersonation Scams, Grandparent Scams, and Construction Scams. For more information on federal cases in the District of New Hampshire related to elder financial exploitation and fraud, please visit: justice.gov/usao-nh/elder-justice.
To view an Elder Fraud Public Safety Announcement by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young and William Crogan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations, please visit: youtube.com/watch?v=AbsKfWC69uc
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-1, visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov, or call Homeland Security Investigations at 877-4-HSI-TIP.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse and elder fraud, as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Cunha emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Elder fraud and abuse take a devastating toll on families, friends, and neighbors,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Whether they deprive seniors of hard-earned financial security or physical safety, this office remains committed not just to prosecuting those who prey on the elderly, but to helping friends and family protect their loved ones from the impact of these crimes. I urge Rhode Islanders to educate themselves and learn to recognize the signs of elder fraud and abuse, report them to law enforcement, and help stand up for those they care about.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. Elder fraud is the financial exploitation of senior citizens, often through scams or frauds targeting their assets. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder fraud and abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To view and/or download a video message from U.S. Attorney Cunha and to learn more about the District of Rhode Island’s and the Department of Justice’s Elder Abuse Awareness efforts visit the District's website at Elder Justice Initiative page.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe joined local, state and federal leaders Friday in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day slated for June 15.
“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of protecting our seniors from fraudsters and others who attempt to prey upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “In the southern Illinois, we fully support the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative, both by prioritizing the prosecution of criminals who victimize senior citizens and by providing training to seniors to help them avoid being victimized by the multitude of schemes aimed at defrauding them.”
As part of the Elder Justice Initiative, a federal grand jury in southern Illinois returned an indictment earlier this month charging Ligneshkumar H. Patel, 37, of Des Plaines, Illinois, with serving as a money mule for a criminal conspiracy that swindled more than $148,000 from an elderly Edwardsville woman.
According to court documents, unidentified members of the conspiracy falsely posed as law enforcement officials and convinced the victim that her identity had been stolen. Then, telling the woman that she was in jeopardy of losing all of her money, the fraudsters convinced her to purchase gold and hand over to a “federal agent” to be kept safe. According to the indictment, Patel was the “federal agent” who showed up at the victim’s Edwardsville home and took the gold from her.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen several cases where seniors in southern Illinois have been victimized in these imposter scams,” said U.S. Attorney Crowe. “These scams are particularly vicious, because the perpetrators attempt to take the senior’s entire life savings. If you have loved ones who are elderly, please warn them about these scams, so that they don’t end up becoming victims.”
The Department’s Money Mule Initiative helps to identify schemes involving money couriers to disrupt criminal organizations. By exploiting the vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people to move money in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
“HSI special agents are proud to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target and arrest individuals who prey on the elderly,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “While the charges cannot undo the pain and financial loss inflicted upon the victim, it is my hope that the perpetrator being held accountable for this horrific crime will aid in the journey of processing what has transpired.”
Elder abuse is specifically defined as an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted position.
In another recent elder abuse case filed in the Southern District of Illinois, a federal grand jury charged former certified nursing assistant Markeisha A. Hill, 35, of Granite City, with allegedly using her elderly patients’ credit card and bank account information to make personal purchases without their consent. The indictment alleges that Hill committed these crimes while working at nursing homes located in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
As part of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative, earlier this week the chief federal prosecutor of the Fraud and Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois presented a program entitled “Protect Yourself Against Fraud” at a senior community center in Edwardsville. The program is designed to educate seniors about the types of fraud scams that target them and how they can avoid becoming victims. An upcoming presentation is scheduled for June 21 at Senior Services Plus in Alton. To schedule a presentation, contact Lauren Barry by emailing [email protected].
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline by calling 1-833-372-8311 or filing a cyber crime complaint via the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Francis M. Hamilton III, U.S. Attorney for the District of Eastern Tennessee, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15th. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase the understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Hamilton emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Our office joins our national, federal, state, and local partners in renewing our commitment to raise awareness to protect our elders from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and crime,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Our office will continue to strengthen existing law enforcement and community relationships and foster new ones to combat crime directed at the elderly.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, marshals, federal, and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, and trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Eastern District of Tennessee continues to work with federal, state, local, and law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
- U.S. v. Henry: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/nigel-john-ross-henry-sentenced-75-months-prison-conspiracy-commit-wire-and-mail-fraud
- U.S. v. Miller: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/kentucky-woman-sentenced-two-years-forgery-federal-judges-signature
- U.S. v. Meyers: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/lenoir-city-woman-sentenced-five-years-imprisonment-elder-fraud-scheme
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Aber emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“We know the devastating effects of elder abuse on individuals and families,” said U.S. Attorney Aber. “The best tools we have to protect ourselves and those we care for are awareness and information. We must understand not just the evolving tactics used to do harm, but also the resources available to those at risk. The Justice Department remains committed both to prosecuting offenders and to providing the programs and assistance people need to defend against and recover from abuse.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. According to a new report from the FBI, scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023—an 11% increase over 2022. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Eastern District of Virginia continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
For example, Howard Lee Stith pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly homeowners in the Richmond Metro area by appearing at their homes and claiming that their slate roofs needed extensive repairs, but ultimately performed minimal work and charged exorbitant fees. On May 14, 2024, Stith was sentenced to seven years in prison. On May 15, 2024, Sunyu Qian pleaded guilty to conning elderly victims into purchasing gift cards that he used to acquire high-value items. Qian used approximately $1.1 million through unauthorized access. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore joined national, state, and local leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday, June 15.
Since 2006, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
“One in ten people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse,” Moore said. “An estimated $28.3 billion is lost to elder fraud scams each year. My office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including financial fraud or other forms of exploitation.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.
For example, co-defendants Morgan Armstrong and Lance Becker will be sentenced this summer for stealing Social Security checks from residents of an assisted living facility in Platte City, Mo.
In another case, defendant Henry Asomani was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a romance fraud conspiracy that stole over $3 million from more than a dozen victims across the United States. Some victims lost their retirement savings or were forced to declare bankruptcy. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, Moore emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative website at www.justice.gov/elderjustice .
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea has joined with the Justice Department to condemn elder abuse, and vowed to continue to investigate and prosecute bad actors who seek to exploit and harm older adults.
Each year, June 15th is recognized as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the abuse, neglect, and fraud schemes committed against older Americans.
“Unfortunately, seniors are a frequent target for criminals,” U.S. Attorney O’Shea said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute those who prey on senior citizens in the Western District of Wisconsin.”
Each year, millions of seniors fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme. Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit—all of which make them attractive to scammers.
Additionally, seniors may be less inclined to report fraud because they don’t know how, or they may be too ashamed of having been scammed. They might also be concerned that their relatives will lose confidence in their abilities to manage their own financial affairs. And when an elderly victim does report a crime, they may be unable to supply detailed information to investigators.
U.S. Attorney O’Shea urged seniors to be aware of common scams, so they can protect themselves. U.S. Attorney O’Shea also urged younger family members to discuss the increasing prevalence of these schemes with parents and grandparents.
Some of the most common scams targeting older Americans include:
• Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to obtain money from the victim. Romance scammers profess love quickly; claim to need money for a new business, taxes, hospital bills, or travel; and say they plan to visit but never do because of various emergencies.
• Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues, such as computer viruses or hacked accounts.
• Grandparent scam: Criminals pose as a relative, usually a child or grandchild, claiming to be in immediate financial need.
• Governmental impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to pay.
These tips could prevent you or someone you know from becoming a victim:
• Resist the pressure to act quickly. Criminals create a sense of urgency to instill fear and the need for immediate action. Slow down. Talk to a trusted family member or friend to see if it raises concerns with them.
• Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers.
• Never give money to a new love interest you have only met online.
• Do not open emails or click on attachments or links you do not recognize or were not expecting.
• Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and asks you to pay government fees or taxes by wire transfer, prepaid gift cards, cash, or cryptocurrency.
• Research online and social media advertisements before purchase to determine if a product or company is legitimate.
• If you suspect you might be talking to a scammer, stop communication.
• If a person tells you to lie to your financial institution about the purpose of the funds you are withdrawing or sending, you should notify your financial institution and the police.
• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
Reporting the fraud:
If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact your local police, local FBI field office, or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov or call:
National Elder Fraud Hotline
1-833-FRAUD-11
(833-372-8311)
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern Time
Monday – Friday
Victims should also report the fraud to their financial institutions as soon as possible.
For additional recourses on fraud scams, please visit:
Romance scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
Tech support cams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-tech-support-scams
Grandparent scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/04/dont-open-your-door-grandparent-scams
Impersonation scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, joined national, state, local, and tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Esparza emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens and, with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to preventing and prosecuting the most pressing elder justice issues facing older Americans. But we need your help to prevent elder abuse and neglect,” said U.S. Attorney Esparza. “Listen to older adults and their caregivers to understand their challenges and provide support. Look for unusual financial transactions like unexplained withdrawals, purchases of gold bars or cryptocurrency, or uncharacteristic efforts to wire large amounts of money. Report abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman, or the police. Together, we can combat all types of elder abuse in our communities.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Western District of Texas continues to work with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Two Additional Civil Settlements as Part of National Effort to Combat Electronic Stimulation Fraudulent Billing Scheme and Recover Millions, and Enforcement Action of One of the SettlementsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced two civil settlements, nearing a total of $2 million, which are the latest actions in the national investigation into the improper billing involving the RST Sanexas neoGEN-Series device (“Sanexas”).
The settlements announced today involve chiropractic clinics that principally used Sanexas treatment for patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. Sanexas is an electric stimulation device marketed by RST Sanexas, Inc. (“RST”) to treat various forms of pain and other medical conditions. It consists of a large central unit and electrical leads that are temporarily affixed to the area being treated.
Patients typically received treatment on an outpatient basis and received two treatments per week for twelve weeks, for a total of approximately 24 treatments. Treatment times generally lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. In conjunction with Sanexas treatment, the clinics injected patients with a vitamin blend.
The settlements are pursuant to DOJ’s inability to pay policy:
- Joseph M. Childs, DC, Charles H. Durr, DC, and Active Integrated Medical Centers, PC (collectively, “Active Integrated”) agreed to pay $1,900,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of “Sanexas” and “TM Flow” devices, as well as epidermal nerve fiber density (“ENFD”) testing.
- Taylor Vanden Wynboom, DC and Nova Integrated Health, PC (collectively, “Nova”) agreed to pay $52,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of the Sanexas device and ENFD testing.
Childs and Durr are chiropractors and co-owners of Active Integrated, with office locations in Downingtown and Hershey, Pennsylvania. From approximately February 5, 2020, through April 14, 2022, Active Integrated submitted over 67,000 claims for payment to Medicare involving application of the Sanexas device, often billed with accompanying vitamin injections under various procedure codes (97012, 97014, 97016, 97032, 97112, 97150, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99211,99212, 99213, and G0283) and injection codes (96372, J1955, J3411, J3415, J3420, and J3490).
Because Active Integrated refused to make its required settlement payments, yesterday the United States filed a complaint in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to enforce the settlement agreement.
Wynboom is a chiropractor and owner of Nova, with an office location in Ankeny, Iowa. From approximately March 20, 2019, through November 5, 2020, Nova submitted approximately 33,000 claims for payment to Medicare involving application of the Sanexas device, often billed with accompanying vitamin injections under various procedure codes (97016, 97032, 97112, 97150, 99203, 99212, 99213, 99214, and G0283) and injection codes (96372, J1955, J3411, J3415, J3420, and J3490).
The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Southern District of Iowa worked closely to file a complaint and ultimately finalize a settlement in the matter of Wynboom, who had declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The United States contends that Medicare did not permit reimbursement of Sanexas or vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas in the way in which Active Integrated and Nova administered them. In particular, National Coverage Determination 160.7.1 states: “Electrical nerve stimulation treatments furnished by a physician in his/her office, by a physical therapist or outpatient clinic are excluded from coverage by § 1862(a)(1) of the Act.”
Similarly, Local Coverage Determination (“LCD”) 35222 reinforces that “[t]he use of electrostimulation alone for the treatment of multiple neuropathies or peripheral neuropathies caused by underlying systemic diseases is not medically reasonable and necessary.” Other LCDs contain the same or similar statements, such as L35456, L35457, L37642, L35222, and L36850.
The United States Food and Drug Administration cleared Sanexas as substantially equivalent to a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (“TENS”) on or around January 24, 2003. Sanexas treatment was not FDA-cleared for use in combination with vitamin injections, the vitamin blend was not FDA-approved, and the vitamin blend was produced in bulk, rather than prescribed for individual patients.
The United States contends that vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas treatment as Active Integrated and Nova administered them do not fall under the limited coverage available for prescription drugs under Medicare Part B. The LCDs noted above reinforce that vitamin injections that act as nerve blocks are not medically reasonable and necessary.
In addition, the United States contends that the various billing codes that Active Integrated and/or Nova used are improper for the way in which it administered Sanexas treatment and vitamin injections. For example, CPT Code 97012 requires application of mechanical traction and patient supervision, 97016 applies to lymphedema treatment and requires patient supervision, and 97032 and 97112 require one-on-one patient contact.
Active Integrated and Nova also submitted Medicare claims for testing used in conjunction with electric stimulation treatment – ENFD testing and/or TM Flow testing. ENFD testing involves performing a punch biopsy on patients to purportedly evaluate nerve damage that could be treated with the Sanexas device. ENFD testing was also conducted after Sanexas treatment purportedly to evaluate whether there has been an improvement to nerve health. The Sanexas device, however, is not FDA-cleared for healing or regrowing nerves. In addition, it was not medically reasonable or necessary to conduct additional testing related to electrical stimulation treatment, which was not covered by Medicare in the way in which Active Integrated and Nova administered it. Patients experienced pain while undergoing the punch biopsy used for ENFD testing.
In addition, Active Integrated offered “TM Flow” testing to screen new patients for various diseases, which, if identified, could purportedly support the need for electric stimulation treatment using the Sanexas device. The TM Flow device conducts various autonomic nervous system (“ANS”) and vascular function assessments. The applicable LCD includes ten limitations that render ANS testing not medically reasonable and necessary and not covered, including “patient screenings without signs or symptoms of autonomic dysfunction,” testing where “results are not used in clinical decision-making and patient management,” and testing without the competence in the Autonomic Disorders medical subspecialty. See L35395. LCDs L23236, L33609, and L35124 contain similar limitations.
Contrary to these limitations, however, Active Integrated used ANS testing to screen patients during an initial visit, offered treatment with the Sanexas device regardless of the results of TM flow testing, and lacked the necessary training to perform and interpret ANS testing.
During the time period in question, Active Integrated submitted to Medicare approximately 1,500 claims for TM Flow testing under codes 93922, 95921, 95923, and 95943, as well as nearly 70 claims for ENFD testing under codes 11104 and 11105. Active Integrated also submitted approximately 2,500 claims for Sanexas treatment and TM Flow testing to TRICARE, a federal health care insurance system for members of the military services and their families. Meanwhile, Nova submitted approximately 16 claims for ENFD testing and approximately 1,200 claims for Sanexas treatment to TRICARE.
“Before billing Medicare, providers must conduct their own due diligence, including reviewing applicable coverage determinations; they cannot blindly rely on the advice of device manufacturers, distributors, or billing companies,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “We will continue working closely with our partners at CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and sister U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to hold accountable any other providers who inappropriately billed for these devices and caused false claims to be submitted.”
“Every dollar saved is critical to the sustainability of the Medicare program and the needs of the people who depend on it,” said Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We thank our partners at the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for working closely with us to identify, investigate, and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in our federal health care programs.”
“Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries is required of all health care providers,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “HHS-OIG, CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue inaccurate billings of Sanexas and similar devices.”
The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. The investigations and settlements were handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish, Civil Division Chief Gregory B. David, and Auditors Dawn Wiggins and Andrew Schobert. The Nova settlement was also handled by Civil Division Chief Rachel Scherle of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Tucson Man Indicted on Firearm and Cocaine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Antonio Najar, 22, of Tucson, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury for: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Use/Carrying of a Firearm During a Drug Crime; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, specifically a machinegun, a short-barreled rifle, and a silencer.
The indictment alleges that, on April 19, 2024, Tucson Police Department officers apprehended Najar after he was observed driving a stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a drop in auto sear, a device exclusively used for converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. Officers also found an AR pistol with the manufacturer’s serial number obliterated, and silencers without serial numbers, none of which were registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The indictment further alleges that, on October 12, 2023, Najar conspired to possess and did possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, committed drug crimes while using and possessing three firearms, including a machine gun, and possessed a Glock 17 with a machinegun conversion device attached and not registered to him. In addition, Najar is alleged to have possessed an unregistered short-barrel rifle on December 11, 2023.
Convictions for the offenses alleged in the indictment carry the following penalties and fines:
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine each carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, and a term of between three years and lifetime supervised release.
Use/Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Crime carries a maximum penalty of life in prison a minimum of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of not more than five years supervised release.
Use/Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Crime, where the firearm is a machinegun, carries the same penalties, but with a minimum penalty of no less than 30 years in prison.
Possession of an Unregistered Firearm carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years of supervised release.
Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Sottosanti and Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-03292-SHR-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-075_Najar# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Members of Drug Enterprise Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that three Oklahoma residents, ROBERT JAMES JACKSON, age 31, of Hugo, ANDRE CIMONE GOLSTON, age 35, of Idabel, and ANTWAINE TREMAINE NELSON, age 33, of Idabel, were sentenced for federal drug charges. Jackson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Golston was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility, and Nelson was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and Idabel Police Department.
On September 22, 2022, Golston pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility. On October 13, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility. On October 19, 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine. According to investigators, Jackson, Golston, and Nelson participated in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma from the spring of 2020 until approximately October 2021.
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 in Muskogee. The defendants 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty to a Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource CentersRead the Press Release
Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages.
According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.”
“These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.”
“Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.”
“The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov. For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty to a Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource CentersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages.
According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.”
“These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.”
“Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.”
“The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov. For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty to a Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource CentersRead the Press Release
Three Florida residents pleaded guilty today to conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate employees of pregnancy resource centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services. The defendants selected reproductive health facilities that provided and counseled abortion alternatives and vandalized those facilities with threatening messages.
According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera engaged in a series of targeted attacks on pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida. The defendants admitted they participated in the attack in the dark of night and, while wearing masks and dark clothing to obscure their identities, spray painted the facilities with threatening messages, including “If abortions aren’t safe than niether [sic] are you,” “YOUR TIME IS UP!!,” “WE’RE COMING for U” and “We are everywhere.”
“These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.”
“Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Neither should be subject to unlawful intimidation or threats of harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in protecting access to reproductive health care and federally prosecuting those interfering with that right.”
“The FBI works diligently to safeguard the civil rights of our citizens,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office. “We and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate those who conspire to attack facilities providing these lawful reproductive health services.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Charges remain pending against a fourth defendant.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Miami Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie Harris for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about incidents of violence, threats and obstruction that target a patient or provider of reproductive health services, or damage and destruction of reproductive health care facilities, should report that information to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov. For more information about clinic violence, and the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce FACE Act violations, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/national-task-force-violence-against-reproductive-health-care-providers.
Tacoma man sentenced to more than six years in prison for violent assaultRead the Press Release
Tacoma– A 41-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 80 months in prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Shaun Lee Blue stabbed the victim multiple times leaving him critically injured. Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said “it is difficult for the court to wrap around the idea that whatever the victim did could justify stabbing him 17 times.”
According to records filed in the case, Blue worked for the victim as a day laborer. On March 19, 2023, the men were working on removing an old trailer from a property in Eatonville, Washington. At the end of the workday, the two met up at the Roy Y Park and Ride lot so that the victim could pay Blue for the work he had done.
At the parking lot, both men got out of their cars and started to argue. Blue pulled a knife and stabbed the victim in the abdomen multiple times causing serious cuts to his intestines, colon, and liver. Blue continued to stab the victim even after the victim fell to the ground.
After the attack, Blue drove away and the victim was able to call 9-1-1 for help. He was found critically injured in his vehicle and was taken to the hospital. The victim continues to recover from his significant injuries and multiple surgeries.
The Roy Y Park and Ride is on the property of Joint Base Lewis McChord and therefore is in exclusive federal jurisdiction.
In asking for a sentence above the guidelines range Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, “Blue has not yet been deterred from violent crime despite numerous arrests and jail sentences. Blue’s prior interactions with the law should have put him on notice as to the serious consequences of his crimes, but it did not. He lacks any respect for the law or the legal system.”
The victim is asking for $25,363 in restitution. Chief Judge Estudillo will determine the exact amount of restitution at a hearing next month.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary K. Stuart.
Tacoma Company Pleads Guilty and Sentenced for False Declarations on Timber ImportsRead the Press Release
Tip the Scale LLC, of Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for making false declarations regarding the species and harvest location of timber used in wooden cabinets and vanities.
Tip the Scale, doing business as L & D Kitchen and Bath, is an importer and seller of various home goods including wooden kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. According to court documents, between January and May of 2020, Tip the Scale imported five shipping containers of wooden cabinets and vanities, all of which were falsely declared. The products, which were harvested and produced in China, were declared as a false species of wood harvested in Malaysia. By doing so, Tip the Scale evaded oversight of Chinese-harvested timber and more than $850,000 in import duties.
The Lacey Act requires that importers of wood products file a declaration which describes the scientific genus and species as well as the harvest country of imports that contain timber. These declarations help stem the flow of protected, illegally logged or misdeclared timber species into the United States. Tip the Scale pleaded guilty to a single felony count of importing goods by means of false statements.
The company was sentenced to pay $360,000 in fines and serve three years of probation. During probation, Tip the Scale is required to implement a mandatory environmental compliance plan audited by a third party. Prior to the sentencing, the company paid more than $850,000 in outstanding duties. The cabinets and vanities were seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and donated to a local branch of Habitat for Humanity.
“The United States was the first nation to criminalize transnational trafficking of plants and plant products, which includes home goods made with wood,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Enforcing the Lacey Act is our best tool in combatting timber trafficking.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that companies will be held accountable for violating environmental laws and deceiving customs authorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest. “By falsifying import documentation, L&D Kitchen and Bath sought to gain an unfair advantage over competitors and evaded important environmental protections. We are committed to working with our partners to detect and deter such deceptive practices, ensuring that all companies adhere to the law.”
“Illegal timber trafficking threatens not only critical forest ecosystems that countless species rely on, but also undermines the legitimate timber trade in U.S. and international markets,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to stopping transnational criminal enterprises and maintaining the integrity of the legal timber trade.”
“Customs and Border Protection is proud to work with all of our law enforcement partners to deliver appropriate consequences to those who violate the laws of our country,” said Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Seattle Field Office.
HSI Seattle and the USFW Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case. The USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory conducted forensic testing. CBP also assisted with the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
LDKB - Compliance Plan as filed.pdfSt. Peters Man Admits Selling Fatal Dose of FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Peters, Missouri on Friday admitted selling the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019.
Zachary Hovis, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Hovis admitted supplying fentanyl to a woman in the parking lot of a country club in Weldon Spring, Missouri on Nov. 16, 2019. The victim drove to a nearby businesses’ parking lot, where she was found unconscious about an hour and 15 minutes later. Despite a bystander’s attempt to aid the victim by administering naloxone, the victim died. A medical examiner later determined that the immediate cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl intoxication.
Later that day, Hovis supplied fentanyl to another person. That woman would testify that she wanted to buy oxycodone from Hovis and that Hovis said he was supplying oxycodone, Hovis’ plea agreement says. That woman later went to the hospital, believing she was overdosing. She was treated and released.
Hovis is scheduled to be sentenced October 3. Each charge is punishable by a prison term of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1 million or both prison and a fine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.
Southern District of Florida recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Lapointe emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Our Office is committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable among us, including the elderly,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Exploitative practices that target seniors inflict great financial, emotional and at times physical harm. Elder abuse, fraud, and neglect remain urgent problems in our country. If you or your loved ones are victims of elder fraud and/or abuse, contact law enforcement for help. No one should fight this battle alone.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently issued the following announcement regarding money mules..
“Our Office is committed to dismantling criminal networks, to include those designed to inflict financial harm upon older Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to disrupt money mule networks, educate consumers about scams, and prosecute criminals who defraud the public. Our goal is to keep money out of the hands of domestic and international fraudsters and in the pockets and bank accounts of the South Florida residents and visitors we serve.”
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example,
- In Social Security Administration impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation.
- In tech support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask the victim to give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services.
- In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstake and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. U.S. Attorney Lapointe’s elder fraud Public Service Announcement (PSA) can be viewed by visiting this link.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, to include the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
Recent South Florida elder abuse cases include the following:
- Monique C. Clarke, a/k/a “Monique Clark-Mootoo,” a/k/a “Rebecca White,” and a/k/a “Mark Hilton,” and Jon-Michael Hudson were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering for their involvement in a Jamaican lottery scheme that targeted over 50 elderly victims throughout the United States and resulted in over $6.6 million in losses. The trial is scheduled for Aug. 12, before U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian in Fort Lauderdale. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
- Five people, to include a home health aide and her daughter, were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a South Florida elder fraud scheme.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Dominique Burow, 37, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty June 12, 2024, in federal court, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from January 2022 through February 2023, Burow and others distributed at least 5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Evidence showed that twice in 2022, Burow distributed or aided another in the distribution of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Burow also admitted to obtaining at least nine pounds of meth from a number of sources to distribute in Sioux City. Burow also wired money – drug proceeds, to sources in Mexico and California. Burow was also caught with methamphetamine while on pre-trial release for her original charges.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Burow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Burow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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 23-4038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Seven Years in Prison for 2023 Shooting in Northwest D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Travone Henderson, 21, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today for shooting two individuals in the middle of the day on November 13, 2023, near a Columbia Heights shopping center, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Henderson pleaded guilty on February 28, 2024, to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Today, Superior Court Judge Jason Park sentenced Henderson to serve a total of seven years’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for the two offenses.
According to the government’s evidence, with which Henderson agreed, on November 13, 2023, at around 12:30 p.m., Henderson walked on the sidewalk on 14th Street Northwest past the DC USA shopping center entrance. Henderson passed the victim, who was standing on the sidewalk speaking to a man. Abruptly, Henderson turned towards the victim and rushed at him with a firearm. The victim ran and Henderson attempted to move the victim’s companion in an effort to grab the victim. Henderson then fired several times at the fleeing victim. The victim and a passing bystander each sustained a bullet wound to their legs. Henderson immediately fled on foot.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Carlton, who prosecuted the case.
Registered Sex Offender sentenced to 5+ years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 59-year-old Shoreline, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 66 months in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Bruce Arthur Williamson came to the attention of federal law enforcement in October 2019 when Williamson communicated with an undercover agent in Tennessee regarding images of child sexual abuse. Law enforcement traced the communications to a residence Williamson shared with other sex offenders in Shoreline. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones imposed 15 years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
At the sentencing hearing Judge Jones said, “Young children are not pieces of candy in a dish that you get to pick to violate… You participated in a market that makes it a dangerous place for children.” Judge Jones expressed concern that despite a prior conviction, sentencing and treatment, Williamson had failed to register as a sex offender and again sought out child sex abuse material.
The FBI executed a federal search warrant on the residence in May 2020. A forensic investigation by law enforcement determined that various electronic devices owned by Williamson contained images of child sexual abuse. Williamson fled following the search and was ultimately located living homeless in November 2023 when he came into federal custody.
Williamson pleaded guilty in February 2024. The plea to federal charges also resolves a state charge of failing to register as a sex offender.
In asking the court for the 78-month sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Those who collect and share images and videos of children being assaulted further a market that thrives on the sexual abuse of children. The collection of this material drive demand for new material and normalize horrific acts of sexual exploitation. And it subjects victims of child abuse to perpetual re-victimization, knowing that the digital record of their worst moments forever travels the globe to whet the sexual appetite of child predators. The defendant has proven by his repeated crimes against minors that he is an unapologetic child predator.”
The FBI investigated this case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Y. Gregson.
Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man, who is a Level 3 sex offender, was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Bryan Horgan, 58, was charged with possession of child pornography. Horgan was initially charged by complaint and arrested on April 26, 2024. He has remained in custody since that time.
According to the charging documents, Horgan was identified as the owner of a Microsoft account uploading child pornography. During a search of Horgan’s residence, it is alleged that one of his electronic devices contained several video files of child pornography depicting children as young as infants. It is further alleged that another device contained filenames with words and phrases indicative of child pornography.
Horgan was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.
Due to Horgan’s prior convictions, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Poteau Resident Sentenced for Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christian Scott Dunham, age 22, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison for the August 2022 killing of his neighbor.
The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On February 13, 2023, Dunham pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2022, Dunham shot and killed the victim with a .22 caliber revolver. The crime occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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. Dunham will remain in 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 Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Plymouth Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison in Connection with July 2021 ShootingRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Plymouth man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon that he allegedly used to shoot a rival gang member on the afternoon of Sunday, July 25, 2021. On March 12, 2024, Melvin Donnell Gilliam, age 35, pled guilty to the charges.
“We’re meeting gun violence head on, working side by side with local law enforcement to dismantle violent gangs and get shooters off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Many thanks to the FBI and our local partners for helping to keep our streets safe all across North Carolina. We’ll keep up the work until every community can live, work, and play in peace.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Gilliam, a member of the Nine-Trey Bloods and another individual went to a home in the White City neighborhood of Plymouth, where two members of a rival gang, the Eight-Trey Crips, were located. Gilliam engaged in a verbal altercation with the rivals and then brandished a firearm as the other man he arrived with knocked one of the rivals to the ground. Gilliam is then alleged to have opened fire at one of the rivals, striking him in the back and left thigh. When officers arrived, they discovered a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol with blood on it in a trashcan in the backyard of the residence where the shooting took place. Officers also found three shell casings that matched the gun in the trashcan. The N.C. State Crime Lab tested the blood on the firearm and hypothesized that it was much more likely Gilliam’s DNA than not.
Gilliam is charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm within city limits, assault with a deadly weapon and being a habitual felon. These charges remain pending.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-CR-16-FL.
Penobscot Man Faces 10-20 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material Following Guilty VerdictRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot man was found guilty today of possession of child sexual abuse material. The verdict came after a one-and-a-half-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor with Judge Lance E. Walker presiding.
According to evidence presented at trial, between May 2013 and April 2023, Kevin Lee Ross, 62, knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material. Ross was on supervised release for a 2014 conviction also for possession of child sexual abuse material when probation officers from Bangor searched his home and vehicle and found a cell phone, laptop computer, and external hard drive that contained child sexual abuse material, including both images and videos. Evidence showed that Ross had possessed the laptop and hard drive prior to serving his federal sentence and had started using the devices again where he was released from prison in 2021.
Ross faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Owners of “Empire Market” Charged in Chicago with Operating $430 Million Dark Web MarketplaceRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two men have been charged in federal court in Chicago with operating “Empire Market,” a dark web marketplace that enabled users to anonymously buy and sell more than $430 million in illegal goods and services around the world.
THOMAS PAVEY, also known as “Dopenugget,” 38, of Ormond Beach, Fla., and RAHEIM HAMILTON, also known as “Sydney” and “Zero Angel,” 28, of Suffolk, Va., owned and operated Empire Market from 2018 to 2020, during which time they facilitated approximately four million transactions between vendors and buyers valued at more than $430 million, according to a superseding indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment charges Pavey and Hamilton with conspiring with each other and others to engage in drug trafficking, computer fraud, access device fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering. The charges in the superseding indictment are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
Pavey and Hamilton are in U.S. law enforcement custody. Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.
The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York office of Homeland Security Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melody Wells and Ann Marie Ursini.
According to the charges, Pavey and Hamilton previously worked together to advertise and sell counterfeit U.S. currency on AlphaBay, a dark web marketplace for illicit goods that was shut down in 2017. They began operating Empire Market on Feb. 1, 2018, the indictment states. Thousands of vendors and buyers accessed Empire Market through a specialized anonymizing software and the site’s address, which ended in “.onion.” Vendors on Empire Market offered to sell various illicit goods and services, including controlled substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and LSD, as well as counterfeit currency and stolen credit card information, the indictment states. Buyers could browse the available goods and services by category, including “Fraud,” “Drugs & Chemicals,” “Counterfeit Items,” and “Software & Malware,” among others, the indictment states. After transactions were completed using cryptocurrency, buyers could review and rate their purchases on multiple criteria, including “stealth,” the indictment states.
During the investigation, federal law enforcement seized cryptocurrency valued at $75 million at the time of the seizures, as well as cash and precious metals.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pavey et al superseding indictmentOmaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Bogar Mendez-Marquez, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced June 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United State District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendez-Marquez to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mendez-Marquez is released from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
Between July 18, 2022, through February 27, 2023, Mendez-Marquez reached an agreement to distribute over 50 grams of actual meth to others within the District of Nebraska. Mendez-Marquez voluntarily and intentionally joined this agreement and knew the purpose of the agreement was to distribute meth.
On or about July 18, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Omaha in which Mendez-Marquez was located. Officers seized 2 grams of meth from Mendez-Marquez.
Mendez-Marquez admitted that he mailed 5 pounds of meth for the drug trafficking organization.
On or about February 27, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy against Mendez-Marquez and a co-conspirator in Omaha. Law enforcement organized the drug deal with Mendez-Marquez’s co-conspirator and the co-conspirator informed the undercover agent that they needed to acquire more meth from their source of supply, which was Mendez-Marquez. The co-conspirator met with Mendez-Marquez and acquired approximately a quarter pound of meth and sold it to the undercover agent. Lab results confirmed the substance was 100.5 grams of actual meth.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Oklahoma City Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Impede Federal Tax LawsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – KEVIN LANE BIERIG, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the federal tax laws, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 4, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Bierig, charging him with one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the federal tax laws and three counts of failing to file a tax return. According to the Indictment, Bierig has not filed a tax return since at least 2005, despite being required to do so based on his level of income. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiated enforcement action in 2013, which included the collection of levied funds from Bierig’s paychecks.
Court documents allege that beginning in 2017, Bierig, knowing of the IRS enforcement actions, forged the signature of an IRS revenue officer onto IRS forms, including an IRS Installment Agreement and an IRS Release of Levy, in an attempt to have levied funds paid to himself rather than be sent to the IRS.
On June 13, 2024, Bierig pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment. As part of his plea, Bierig admitted that he has earned substantial income since 2004, yet has not filed a federal tax return since that year. He further admitted that he knew the IRS had been investigating him since at least 2017, and that the IRS was attempting to collect the delinquent taxes. He admitted he forged official IRS forms and sent the fraudulent forms to his billing company in an effort to have the frozen funds sent to himself instead of the IRS.
At sentencing, Bierig faces to up three years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Odessa Woman Indicted for Unlawfully Removing Her Children from the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Krupaben Himanshu Bhatt (37, Odessa) with international parental kidnapping. If convicted on all counts, Bhatt faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, in January of 2024, Bhatt unlawfully removed her two minor children from the United States with the intent to obstruct the parental rights of the father of the children.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
North Dakota US Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Information and vigilance remain key elements to preventing elder abuse.
BISMARCK: – Mac Schneider, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Schneider emphasizes the importance of awareness and education. The District of North Dakota partners with North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services, and with our local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to proactively identify possible victims of abuse, fraudulent financial scams, or other family and/or non-family financial exploitation of someone who might be a vulnerable adult.
“Criminals who target seniors aren’t just taking money, they’re often stealing the fruits of a lifetime of hard work,” Schneider said. “Whether it is a family member engaged in elder abuse or an overseas schemer, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to prosecuting those who prey on senior citizens. Outside of the courtroom, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to educate North Dakotans on how to avoid being caught in a scam and protect their assets.”
“North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services (APS) is dedicated to addressing the safety of vulnerable adults who are at-risk of harm due to the presence or threat of abuse, neglect or exploitation,” HHS Adult and Aging Services Assistant Director Michelle Gayette said. “We are grateful for our partners in law enforcement and multidisciplinary teams who help us address reported concerns. Information on how to file a report can be found at hhs.nd.gov/reporting. If someone is in immediate danger, contact law enforcement first before making a report to Adult Protective Services.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The District of North Dakota continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, and North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. A recent prosecution of a Woman who was Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $134,000 from Her Elderly Mother-in-law and Father-in-law can be seen here.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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Nigerian Man Admits to Role in Money Laundering and Passport Fraud ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian man, formerly of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to his role in separate schemes to launder criminal proceeds from fraud and obtaining a United States passport through false statements.
Chukwunonso Obiora, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. United States District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024. Obiora was arrested on a complaint in October 2023 in Atlanta, Ga. and was ordered held pending trial. He was indicted in January 2024.
According to the charging documents, between at least as early as March 2021 and May 2023, Obiora and several co-conspirators agreed to receive and withdraw the proceeds of business email compromises (BECs) from bank accounts that they controlled, and to direct those funds to other co-conspirators, in exchange for a cut of the criminal proceeds.
BECs are a type of fraud scheme that targets companies that make regular business payments by wire. Cybercriminals use email to impersonate trusted parties to the payments in order to trick the victim companies into sending money to bank accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.
The defendant’s money laundering conspiracy—of which he admitted to being a leader and organizer—involved the following steps:
- obtaining individual victims’ means of identification and using that information to create fake driver’s licenses, incorporate businesses and open bank accounts in the victims’ names;
- providing the bank accounts to co-conspirators involved in the BEC schemes as accounts to which victims could be tricked into sending wires;
- withdrawing money quickly from the bank accounts once the wire transfers arrived, before victim companies learned that they had been tricked into sending money; and
- depositing the proceeds into other accounts, and wiring BEC scheme proceeds to the defendant and others in Nigeria, China and elsewhere.
The defendant and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the existence of the conspiracy, including by forging business invoices and writing false memos on checks to suggest that the BEC scheme proceeds deposited into Destination Accounts were legitimate business revenues; and by making false statements to banks regarding the nature of the BEC scheme proceeds that were deposited into Destination Accounts.
The defendant and his U.S.-based co-conspirators shared at least as much as 40 percent of the deposited BEC scheme proceeds as payment for their roles in the conspiracy. Across just two-plus years, the defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in at least $6.5 million in financial transactions involving the proceeds of BEC schemes.
After immigration authorities removed the defendant from the United States in December 2021, he agreed with a close relative who is an American citizen to obtain a U.S. passport in the relative’s name, which the defendant could use to re-enter the United States illegally. The relative reported his passport lost or stolen and, in May 2023, applied for a new passport at a U.S. Post Office in Watertown, Mass.. The sworn application had the relative’s name on it, but a picture of the defendant. The relative sent the issued passport to the defendant, who, in October 2023, used the passport to travel from Nigeria to Detroit, Mich., where the defendant presented himself as his relative at the U.S. border.
The charge of passport fraud conspiracy provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of the financial transactions that were the object of the conspiracy, forfeiture and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ROBERT HALL (“HALL”), age 24, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 12, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, HALL had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). On March 7, 2023, an officer with the New Orleans Police Department, aided by the Real Time Crime Center cameras, saw individuals with whom HALL was associating who were armed with concealed weapons. When stopped by police, HALL had a Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his pocket. Records checks confirmed that HALL had several prior felony convictions, including convictions for robbery and being a convicted felon with a firearm.
Judge Africk sentenced HALL to 57 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking of Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court on June 13, 2024, to a violation of federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Ryan Mendoza, 31, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on February 25, 2021, members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recovered over 6,400 stamp bags containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl from a hotel room in Pittsburgh. The room had been rented by Mendoza the previous night. Mendoza was ultimately taken into custody and admitted to possession of the recovered drugs.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mendoza.
Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in increasing awareness and understanding the many forms of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
“Every year, millions of seniors experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or fraud,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Our Elder Justice Initiative brings together local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement to share information and increase coordination in addressing elder abuse and fraud in Nevada. We know the partnership between law enforcement and the public are vital to combating these types of crimes and are important in raising awareness. We participate in community events and presentations to raise awareness on how to recognize and prevent abuse and fraud crimes against seniors.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
In addition to prosecuting elder abuse and fraud cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative, partners with law enforcement agencies, government entities, and community organizations to ensure that older adults, caretakers, and those who come in frequent contact with the elderly are educated on how to detect, prevent, and report elder fraud, neglect, and abuse.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
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Naval Captain Convicted by Federal Jury of Cyberstalking and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 14, 2024
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Captain Theodore E. Essenfeld was convicted by a federal jury today of cyberstalking and stealing the identity of his former girlfriend.
During the four-day trial, the United States presented evidence that Essenfeld created imposter accounts with Facebook, LinkedIn, email, and cellular phone accounts using the woman’s name, biographical information, and photographs without her knowledge or consent. Posing as the victim, Essenfeld posted erotic and sexually explicit content to the Facebook account, as well as graphic media files or “memes.”
In addition to the materials posted on the imposter Facebook account, the United States presented evidence that Essenfeld joined Facebook dating groups using the imposter account and interacted with numerous other Facebook users while impersonating the victim, including “liking” other users’ posts, sending messages with kissy-face emojis, and sending group messages. Essenfeld linked the imposter Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to the victim’s prospective employer by following and engaging with the prospective employer’s social media accounts. He also linked the fake accounts to other aspects of the victim’s life by “liking” posts by her former co-workers, her university, the U.S. Navy, and fitness studios she previously attended.
Over 1,200 Facebook users ultimately became “friends” with the imposter account, including the victims’ former colleagues. The evidence showed that the victim reported the imposter account to Facebook over 400 times, but Facebook refused to take down the account because it appeared more authentic than the victim’s actual account due to the volume of images and level of Essenfeld’s engagement on the platform.
“The impact of cyberstalking can be as crushing as a physical blow,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Thanks to the persistent courage of this victim, the jury saw the damage Mr. Essenfeld inflicted in every aspect of her life – from her workplace to her gym – and today, they held him accountable for his acts of deceit and destruction.”
“Mr. Essenfeld deserves to be held to account for his cruel campaign to stalk, harass, and intimidate his victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Carter of the NCIS Southwest Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting victims of cyberstalking and rooting out criminality that threatens Department of the Navy readiness.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sabrina Feve and Michael A. Deshong.
Essenfeld’s sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr0177-RSH
Theodore E. Essenfeld Age: 52 Chula Vista, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1: Cyberstalking – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2261A(2)(B)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Count 2: Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028(a)(7)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
Louisiana Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Shipping Firearms to Upstate New YorkRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Rodell Patterson, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced today to the maximum 60 months in prison for engaging in the firearms business without a license.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed 3 years of supervised release.
Patterson previously admitted to mailing eight packages containing a total of 10 firearms from Baton Rouge to the Capital Region in 2021 and 2022. Two of those firearms were recovered in June 2022 at the Troy, New York, apartment of a man on parole. Patterson acknowledged that he knew these transfers were unlawful, and he admitted to engaging in extensive conversations with the recipient of the packages about the types of firearms and the amount of payment.
Patterson still faces an indictment in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. That charge is merely an accusation of which Patterson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of that charge, Patterson faces up to an additional 15 years in prison.
ATF’s Albany Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana and ATF’s Baton Rouge Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted the case.
Kinston Man Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Kinston man was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release for distributing child pornography following a multi-agency investigation showing that the man had possessed and/or distributed at least 132 images and 43 videos of child pornography often involving children under the age of 12. Martin Sutton, age 54, pled guilty to the charge on February 7, 2024. The defendant was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to one known victim.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Sutton was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies in June and November of 2020 after receiving reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that he had uploaded child pornography to two different Dropbox accounts. Furthermore, in February 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Utah conducted an online, covert investigation on Kik social media locating individuals trading child pornography in chat groups. They identified Sutton as being part of a group sharing child pornography. The FBI undercover agent engaged in a conversation with Sutton who ended up sending child pornography to the agent. In March 2021, a Homeland Security Task Force Officer from the Boone Police Department, engaged in an undercover operation, also located Sutton distributing child pornography in a different Kik chat group.
Arrest warrants were issued for Sutton based on the totality of the investigations, and he was arrested in June 2021. When he was arrested, Sutton denied any involvement in child sexual exploitation. He claimed someone had stolen his identity and was engaged in the criminal conduct. His cellular device was seized and searched. A forensic analysis showed images and videos of child pornography present on his phone including images of a child that had been entrusted to Sutton’s care.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presided over the sentencing. The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-55-M.
Justice Department Announces Anticipated Distribution of at Least $940M to Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism in 2025Read the Press Release
Today, Special Master Mary Patrice Brown announced that she will authorize fifth-round payments for all eligible claims in the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) by Jan. 1, 2025. The Fund, which continues to collect deposits, anticipates that the fifth distribution will be at least $940 million. The amounts available for this distribution come from qualifying federal enforcement actions, including United States v. Binance Holdings Limited.
“The Criminal Division is proud to administer the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which has provided more than $6 billion to victims of state sponsored terrorism since its founding. As announced today, that total will grow to nearly $7 billion in 2025,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division, through our Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Bank Integrity Unit, is committed to prosecuting financial institutions and individuals whose anti-money laundering and sanctions violations threaten our financial system and national security. I’m proud of the work the section has done to hold accountable those who do business with state sponsors of terrorism and to support victims through its administration of the Fund.”
The Fund was established by Congress and is administered by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), under the leadership of the Special Master. To date, the Fund has paid more than $6 billion to thousands of victims of state-sponsored terrorism and their families in four rounds of distributions and one round of lump-sum catch-up payments. The anticipated distribution announced today is in addition to these prior distributions. Apart from an initial appropriation of approximately $1 billion from Congress and additional Congressional appropriations for lump sum catch-up payments, funds available for distributions result from certain Justice Department prosecutions and cases and other U.S. government enforcement actions.
In November 2023, the department announced that Binance Holdings Limited (Binance) agreed to plead guilty to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, money transmitting business registration requirements, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Bank Integrity Unit (BIU) of the Criminal Division’s MLARS, the National Security Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington led the investigation and prosecution of Binance. Binance admitted to prioritizing growth and profits over compliance with U.S. law, including by failing to register as a money transmitting business, failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering program, and failing to implement controls that would have prevented U.S. customers from transacting with customers in sanctioned jurisdictions, including Iran, which is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. Binance agreed to forfeit $898 million as a result of its violation of IEEPA. Today, the department announced that MLARS has determined that the full amount of Binance’s IEEPA forfeiture qualifies for deposit into the Fund.
The Fund continues to accept applications from potential new victim claimants. As the Special Master announced, the deadline for new claimants to submit applications to be considered for fifth-round payments is July 1. Claimants who were eligible for payments in prior rounds remain eligible for the fifth distribution and should not complete new applications.
More information about the Fund’s compensation to victims of state sponsored terrorism is available on the Fund’s website at www.usvsst.com, including application materials, frequently asked questions, and publications.