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Wednesday 12 June 2024
Texas Man Sentenced for Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Richard Garza, 61, of Edinburg, Texas, was sentenced on June 12, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for tampering with a witness. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Garza to 66 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Garza’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Garza was convicted after a jury trial in October 2023, of tampering with a witness. Evidence presented at trial showed Garza attempted to bribe a witness into testifying falsely on his behalf at his trial when both Garza and the witness were incarcerated in the Saline County Jail. Garza used a jail text messaging system to communicate with the witness. Garza had a relative put money on the witness’ texting account, and Garza purchased various jail commissary items for the witness, at the witness’ request, such as food and clothing items. All of this was done to get the witness to testify that Government witnesses lied about their dealings with Garza. The witness could not truthfully testify about this, because she had no independent knowledge regarding Garza’s dealings or lack of dealings with the other witnesses.
At the time of trial, Garza was also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and a separate count of witness tampering. Garza was acquitted on the second witness tampering charge, and the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the conspiracy charge. The conspiracy charge was later dismissed.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force and the Saline County Sheriff’s Department.
Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. GarlandRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on H. Res. 1292:
“It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon. Today’s vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department’s need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees.
I will always stand up for this Department, its employees, and its vital mission to defend our democracy.”
Springfield, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 10, 2024, Keniel Santiago, 21, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Santiago previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine in Vermont between September 2020 and March 2021 and aiding and abetting making false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm in Vermont in January 2021.
According to court records, Santiago worked with other people to bring heroin and crack cocaine from Springfield, Massachusetts to Bennington, Vermont where they would sell the illegal drugs. Santiago also arranged for one of his co-conspirators to purchase a handgun for Santiago from a dealer in Vermont. In doing so, Santiago’s co-conspirator lied to the firearms dealer, saying the gun was for them and not for Santiago. Santiago knew that his associate had to lie to make the purchase. In exchange for the gun, Santiago paid them in money and drugs.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, the Vermont State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Perella and Colin Owyang. Santiago was represented by Ian Carleton, Esq.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for six counts of Attempted Production of Child Pornography, three counts of Production of Child Pornography, and seven counts of Transfer of Obscene Materials to Minors.
Justin Preuschl, age 27, was indicted in June of 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 7, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $1,600 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that starting in October of 2023 and continuing in 2024, Preuschl engaged in sexually explicit communications with multiple juvenile female victims. Preuschl pretended to be a 15-year-old male and pressured the victims into sending him sexually explicit materials. Preuschl also sent pictures of male genitals to the victims. He was employed as a teacher at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls at the time of many of the charged offenses.
The charges are merely accusations and Preuschl is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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 investigation is ongoing. If you or someone you know has had contact with the Snapchat accounts cpiper9696, justinpreuschl1, swilliams69420, swilliams420696, justin99696, or justin9996, or cambam7276 on TikTok, call the HSI Tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. The public can also contact [email protected].
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the North Liberty Iowa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Preuschl was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Seventeen Federal Agencies Recognize Decade of Federal Progress Addressing Elder AbuseRead the Press Release
At a meeting of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) on Wednesday, June 12, 17 federal agencies including the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will look back on a decade in which the federal government has significantly expanded efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation — including in the areas of enforcement, public education, training, interagency collaboration, research, and support for older adults who experience or are at risk of experiencing abuse.
“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 last five years, the Department has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older adults. We have provided services to more than 1.5 million older victims. And we have returned hundreds of millions of dollars to elder fraud victims. The Elder Justice Coordinating Council has played a key role in our work.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and independence of older adults and to advancing equity for all Americans. Elder justice is a crucial element of both,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today, we celebrate the progress we have made advancing elder justice. But we will not rest until every older person lives with dignity and without fear of abuse or neglect.”
“We know that it will take an all-of-government approach to make our shared vision of elder justice and community inclusion a reality, and in the last decade, the federal response to elder abuse has become more robust and coordinated,” said Alison Barkoff, who leads the Administration for Community Living. “It is incredible to reflect on the progress we have made in the years since the EJCC first convened. We have a lot of progress to build upon and so many opportunities to do more. The work of advancing elder justice has never been more important, or more urgent.”
The EJCC was established by the 2010 Elder Justice Act to coordinate federal activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation across the federal government. Today’s meeting looked back on accomplishments in the decade since the EJCC adopted Eight Recommendations for Increased Federal Involvement in Addressing Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation as a common set of priorities to guide federal efforts. Highlights include:
- HHS’ Administration for Community Living awarded the first-ever federal formula grants to support state adult protective services (APS) programs and established the first-ever federal regulations to improve quality and consistency of APS services. Until recently, APS programs had been funded and administered wholly at the state or local level.
- The Justice Department expanded its critical efforts to identify and combat transnational elder fraud schemes and, over just the past five years, has pursued over 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older Americans. It also significantly enhanced the capacity of state and local elder justice professionals to identify, investigate, and address elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
- The Justice Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and five other federal law enforcement agencies undertake an annual Money Mule Initiative, targeting networks of individuals through which international fraudsters obtain proceeds of fraud schemes. These individuals, sometimes referred to as money mules, receive money from fraud victims and forward the illicit funds, often to overseas perpetrators. Since 2020, U.S. law enforcement has taken to address over 14,000 money mules through the annual initiative; enforcement actions have occurred in every state in the country.
- The HHS’ Administration for Community Living developed the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), a first-of-its-kind effort to systematically collect from APS programs across the country standardized data about the incidence of elder maltreatment. Participation is voluntary, but all states, territories, and the District of Columbia submit data each year.
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) launched Slam the Scam Day in 2020 to raise awareness about government imposter scams. In addition, SSA has created a variety of resources to train its employees, representative payees, and others on to recognize elder abuse and financial exploitation.
- The Federal Trade Commission established the Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group of government partners, consumer advocates, and industry representatives to collaborate, develop ideas, share suggestions, and insights and identify actions that can be taken to help older adults spot, avoid, and report scams. The advisory group’s four subcommittees focus on expanding consumer education efforts; improving industry training on scam prevention; identifying innovative or high-tech methods to detect and stop scams; and developing research on consumer or employee engagement to reduce fraud.
In addition to leaders from HHS and the Justice Department, speakers at today’s EJCC meeting will include four pioneers of the elder justice movement whose hard work has made the progress of the last decade possible:
- Marie-Therese Connolly, President, RISE Collaborative; Former Coordinator, Elder Justice Initiative and Former Senior Trial Counsel, Civil Fraud Section, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, Justice Department
- Kathy Greenlee, Senior Director of Elder Justice Initiatives, Advancing States and Former Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration for Community Living, HHS
- Sidney Stahl, former Chief, Individual Behavioral Processes Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health
- Edwin Walker, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at HHS’ Administration for Community Living.
By statute, the EJCC is chaired by the HHS Secretary, and the Attorney General is a permanent member. HHS has assigned responsibility for implementing the EJCC to the Administration for Community Living. Since it was created, the EJCC has grown from nine to 17 members, with each new agency bringing unique knowledge and resources to address the complex issue of elder maltreatment.
Research shows that at least one in 10 older adults who live in the community experiences some form of maltreatment each year — and this is likely an undercount, because only one in 14 cases is reported. People who experience abuse have higher rates of depression, hospitalization, and institutionalization — and they are more likely to die prematurely. They also may experience deteriorated family relationships, diminished autonomy, and institutionalization as the direct result of maltreatment.
Sanostee Man Sentenced for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Sanostee man was sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to the beating death of his friend during a drunken altercation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on June 8, 2022, John Doe went to the residence of Tyrone Atcitty Nez, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, to assist with repairing a water heater. During the visit, John Doe and Nez were drinking together and rough housing.
At one point, John Doe stood up from a seated position, and Nez punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious and causing him to fall to the floor. While John Doe lay unconscious and unresponsive on the floor, Nez proceeded to kick him in the face and torso approximately 5 to 10 times while wearing work boots until he noticed Doe was bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth.
Worried Doe would choke, Nez turned him onto his side and exited the residence to ask neighbors to call 911. The Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations responded, and Nez admitted to punching and kicking Doe.
Doe died at Nez’s residence from the head injuries inflicted. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as blunt head trauma, with contusions, fractures, internal bleeding, and brain swelling.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Nez will be required to serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and R. Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case.
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Roofing Company Principal Sentenced to Four Months in Prison for Failing to Protect an Employee Who Fell to His DeathRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSE LEMA, a/k/a “Jose Lema Mizhirumbay,” the founder and principal of ALJ Home Improvement, Inc., a New York roofing company, was sentenced today to four months in prison by U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy for willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations, resulting in the death of an employee (“Victim-1”) in New Square, New York, on February 8, 2022. LEMA previously pled guilty to one count of willfully violating OSHA regulations, resulting in the death of an employee on February 26, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jose Lema endangered the safety of his workers by disregarding regulations and failing to ensure his employees used fall protection systems. This conduct led to the death of a roof worker on a construction site. Today’s sentence should send a message to small businesses that failure to comply with safety regulations endangers workers and can lead to unnecessary and preventable tragedy, and this Office will hold you accountable.”
According to the allegations contained in the Information, court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:
On the morning of February 8, 2022, LEMA sent Victim-1 and three other ALJ employees to install a roof on a three-story multi-family apartment building under construction in New Square, New York. LEMA failed to protect his employees from fall hazards by having them work on the roof of the building without fall protection. After ascending a ladder to the roof, Victim-1 fell to the ground and died from his injuries.
Victim-1’s deadly fall was not the first time an employee of LEMA and ALJ fell to his death at one of ALJ’s worksites or that ALJ employees were exposed to fall hazards. The first fatal fall, on February 27, 2019, involved an ALJ employee who slipped off the roof of a newly constructed three-story home in Kiamesha Lake, New York. During the time between the two employees’ deaths, OSHA investigated and issued numerous citations to ALJ relating to six other ALJ worksites for failure to ensure employees were using fall protection systems. Even after Victim-1’s death, OSHA investigated yet another ALJ worksite and issued citations to ALJ for failing to ensure employees were using fall protection.
In imposing LEMA’s sentence, Judge McCarthy observed that Victim-1’s death was “avoidable” and noted LEMA’s repeated failures to comply with fall protection regulations after the first ALJ employee’s death from falling from a roof.
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In addition to the prison term, LEMA, 41, of Nanuet, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of OSHA; the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margery Feinzig is in charge of the prosecution.
Rochester sex offender pleads guilty to new child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
Rochester, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gregory Pum, 48, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson to possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Meghan K. McGuire, who are handling the case, stated that in January 2014, Pum was convicted in Monroe County Court of Possessing Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16, and sentenced to serve six months in jail, followed by 10 years’ probation. Pum violated his probation terms and was resentenced to prison. He was discharged from parole on May 31, 2016.
In May 2022, law enforcement received two cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that a user of an email account, later determined to belong to Pum, had uploaded 29 images and a video of child pornography to a file sharing site. Investigators later received seven additional cybertips related to the same email account. In June 2022, a search warrant was executed at Pum’s residence, during which electronic devices that contained images of child pornography were seized. On March 11, 2024, while Pum was on pretrial release, law enforcement executed another search warrant at his residence after receiving two additional NCMEC cybertips. An iPhone was seized and found to contain 19 images and one video of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei III, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
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Pontotoc County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brenden Kaleb Rains, age 25, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
The Indictment against Rains alleged that on August 29, 2023, Rains attacked an individual with a dangerous weapon, intending to do harm, and caused that individual serious bodily injury. The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Rains was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Plymouth Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking in Central MaineRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Plymouth man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Adam Johnson, 32, to 180 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury following a two-day trial in January 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, between June 2017 and February 2018, Johnson participated in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl in central Maine. Johnson would travel out of state to meet the source and pick up heroin and fentanyl that he would then bring back to Maine to package and sell to dealers. The amount of fentanyl exceeded 400 grams. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially lethal dose.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Committing Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on June 10, 2024, to 180 months of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $26,583.43 in restitution on his conviction of robbery and firearms violations, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Richard James, 33.
According to information presented to the Court, in April and May of 2021, James committed a series of armed robberies of cellular phone stores in the Pittsburgh area, during each of which James brandished a pistol at store employees. During one robbery, James ordered a store employee to the ground at gunpoint before demanding that the employee put cell phones in his bag. At another robbery, James rushed an employee as she was entering the back storage area of the store and then dragged her into the room. While holding that employee at gunpoint, James demanded that a second employee fill his bag with cell phones. The Court was also informed that James was found in illegal possession of a firearm in August 2021. As a previously convicted felon, James is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
“The successful investigation and prosecution of Richard James for his commission of several violent armed robberies was a collaborative effort between our office, the ATF, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Swissvale Police Department, and Wilkinsburg Police Department,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Among the results of that collaboration is that James will be spending the next decade and a half in federal prison. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to help protect our communities from gun violence and prosecute those who attempt to carry out such crimes.”
“Stopping firearms-related violent crime and bringing justice for its victims is core to ATF’s mission,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “I hope the sentencing of Richard James brings closure and helps restore a sense of security to his victims and the communities he terrorized.”
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Wilkinsburg Police Department, and Swissvale Police Department for the investigation leading to the prosecution of James.
Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, William Charles Clemmons, Jr., 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Clemmons is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff is prosecuting the case.
Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for $1M Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to two years in prison for submitting more than $1 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to beneficiaries.
According to court documents, Paul Mansour, 56, of Sierra Madre, was a pharmacist who co-owned Mansour Partners Inc., doing business as Best Buy Drugs (Best Buy). From January 2017 to July 2022, Mansour created fake patient profiles in the Best Buy pharmacy’s digital filing system using fictitious names, dates of birth, and addresses. Mansour added fraudulent prescriptions to the fake patient profiles and then submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for those prescriptions in the name of actual Best Buy patients. In doing so, Mansour billed Medicare for fraudulent prescriptions that were never dispensed to beneficiaries.
Mansour pleaded guilty on April 5, 2023, to one count of health care fraud.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Krysti Hawkins of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew R. Belz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Passaic County Man Sentenced to 125 Months in Prison for Possessing Fentanyl and Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 125 months in prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jessie Mayfield, 61, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 24, 2021, Mayfield possessed a quantity of fentanyl that was packaged for distribution, with the intent to sell it. He also possessed a Ruger .22 caliber pistol, along with a box containing 95 .22 caliber long rifle cartridges.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Mayfield to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the members of the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi; and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Cybercrimes Unit.
Oregon Check Casher Found Guilty for Role in Payroll Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland found the operator of a local chain of check cashing businesses guilty today for his role in a multiyear scheme to obstruct the IRS from collecting payroll and income taxes on construction workers’ wages.
David A. Katz, 48, of Tualatin, Oregon, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing false currency transaction reports with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
“This defendant’s efforts to help others circumvent their tax responsibilities was thwarted thanks to the dedicated criminal investigators at the IRS. Business owners who abuse the system and help others hide taxable income will be held accountable,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“Our tax system is based on the honesty and integrity of taxpayers who understand that taxes fund the common good. However, there are some, like Mr. Katz, who choose to line their own pockets at the expense of their friends and neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Seattle Field Office. “Mr. Katz’s conviction by a jury of his peers emphasizes the fact that no one is above paying their fair share, and shows that CI is committed to investigating those who choose to undermine their communities.”
According to court documents and trial testimony, from January 2014 through December 2017, Katz, the compliance officer of Check Cash Pacific, Inc., conspired with others in the construction industry to defraud the United States by facilitating under-the-table payments to construction workers. To carry out the scheme, sham construction companies were created and used to cash more than $177 million in payroll checks at different Check Cash Pacific locations. The cash was used to pay construction workers under-the-table, with no taxes being withheld or reported to the IRS.
Construction companies would notify Katz when they planned to bring checks into one of his check cashing locations so that Katz could ensure he had enough cash on hand to complete the transaction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of payroll checks were cashed daily and Katz was aware that at least one of his co-conspirators used a false name and social security number.
For his role in the scheme, Katz received a 2% commission on each transaction which, in total, amounted to more than $4 million. Over the course of their conspiracy, Katz and his co-conspirators prevented the IRS from collecting more than $44 million in payroll and income taxes due on the cash wages.
On December 2, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Katz and five others with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Katz was charged in the same indictment with four counts of filing false currency transaction reports with FinCEN.
Conspiracy to defraud the United States is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. Filing false currency transaction reports is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
Three of Katz’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy. Two are awaiting sentencing and the third was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Another co-conspirator is awaiting trial and one is a fugitive.
This case was investigated by IRS-CI. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto and Andrew T. Ho, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Orange County Man Indicted for Allegedly Robbing Anaheim Bank and Taking Hostages the Day After His Release from State PrisonRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against an Orange County man who allegedly took three bank employees hostage when he robbed a bank branch in Anaheim last month – the day after being released from state prison.
Eric Walter Gray, 53, is charged with one count of bank robbery and forced accompaniment. Gray has been in federal custody since June 5 after being transferred from state custody. A federal magistrate judge has ordered him jailed without bond.
Gray’s arraignment is scheduled for June 24 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“One day after his release from prison, this defendant allegedly chose to return to crime by taking three victims hostage while he robbed a bank,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office will continue its efforts to prosecute and punish violent recidivist criminals who harm our community.”
“The victims in this case dealt with fear and death threats while the defendant held them hostage until they were rescued, thanks to the courage of bank employees who notified police,” said Krysti Hawkins, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “This ongoing investigation is the result of a collaborative effort among local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors with the shared goal of holding Mr. Gray accountable for his violent actions.”
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed in this case, Gray robbed a BMO bank branch in Anaheim on May 8 – the day after being released from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. While in the bank branch and after loitering there for a long time, Gray allegedly jumped over the teller counter, stated that he had a gun, and demanded money from the teller. Money was taken from the teller drawers and was given to Gray, who proceeded to put the money in his pockets.
Gray then allegedly ordered the bank manager and two bank employees into a storage room inside the bank. Gray eventually let two of those employees out of the storage room but held the bank manager hostage for approximately one hour, according to court documents. During the robbery, at least one bank employee notified law enforcement. Eventually, Gray exited the storage room with the bank manager and was arrested without incident. Law enforcement later found cash and narcotics hidden inside Gray’s body, court papers allege.
Gray was taken to a hospital for a scan and, while there, allegedly repeatedly tried to escape and also fought with police officers, resulting in multiple injuries to the officers involved.
“I am incredibly proud of the professionalism, restraint, and compassion of our Officers as they risked their lives to bring this volatile incident to a safe resolution,” said Anaheim Police Chief Rick P. Armendariz. “This incident is just one example of the exceptional work done every day by the men and women of the Anaheim Police Department to ensure Anaheim is a safe community to live, work, and play.”
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Gray would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged Gray in connection with this incident, but dismissed their case so the federal case against him could proceed.
Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments.
The FBI and the Anaheim Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin J. Campbell of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership to Host Third Annual Peacenics at Heilman Recreation Center and O’Hair ParkRead the Press Release
DETROIT - More than 70 community organizations and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will gather at Heilmann Recreation Center on June 15 (Rain Date: June 23) and O’Hair Park on June 29 (Rain Date: June 30) for the third annual Peacenics. The events will run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day.
The Peacenics are part of the One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership, a coalition of community and law enforcement partners working together to develop and execute the best strategies to reduce violent crime. The strategy has three components—enforcement, prevention, and reentry. As part of its Safe Summer Streets initiative, One Detroit will hold its third annual Peacenics in coordination with its enhanced summer enforcement strategy aimed at reducing gun violence in Detroit’s neighborhoods with the highest incidence of violent crime – Detroit’s 8th and 9th Precincts.
The Peacenics are a collective gathering of the community and law enforcement coming together in the name of peace and where residents can have fun, engage with law enforcement, and obtain resources to improve the quality of their lives. The Peacenics will feature vendors offering a variety of resources including job training, literacy programs, mental health and medical screenings, utility assistance, educational and vocational opportunities, tutorial and career development programs, expungement assistance and more. Several law enforcement agencies will be there to engage with the community and recruit to fill vacancies in their organizations.
In addition to the resources, there will be bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting, and a free throw tournament for kids. There will also be community basketball and volleyball games. The Detroit Public Library will have their bookmobile on site for kids to enjoy storytelling time. Adults will be able to join in the fun with Hustle Dance lessons, and a Spades tournament as well as Uno tables. And back by popular demand will be the Peacenic Thrift Clothing Boutique, where residents can shop for free gently used clothing for all ages. Free food, such as pizza, hot dogs, sliders, and ice cream will also be available for residents at the Peacenics.
“We are so excited to partner with the City of Detroit and the rest of our One Detroit Partners to bring the Peacenics back to Detroit again this year. We look forward to this amazing opportunity to have the community and our law enforcement join together to celebrate peace. The Peacenics will have resources to help improve lives as well as plenty of opportunities for fun and community bonding,” said United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
"Peacenics are about connecting with the community. We can't enforce without the community's understanding and buy-in," said Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison. "This is about coming together with our residents in the name of peace, and the city and our partners bringing much-needed resources right into the neighborhoods. We are thankful for the One Detroit partnership, our corporate sponsors and our volunteers who work hard to make these events happen."
Residents are encouraged to register for the events by visiting the following websites: For the Peacenic at Heilmann: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/june15peaceniconedetroitprevention. For the Peacenic at O’Hair Park: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/june29city-of-detroit-host-peacen.
Heilman Recreation Center is located at 19601 Brock Street (9th Precinct) and O’Hair Park is located at 20253 Stahlian Street, Detroit (8th Precinct). Media is welcome to attend the event. U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison, Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and Detroit Police Chief James White will be available for interviews at the Heilman Peacenic. Please contact Gina Balaya at the above email address or contact her directly at (313)226-9758 or Corey McIsaac, Deputy Director of Media Relations, City of Detroit at (248) 870-8620 for more information or to schedule an interview.
Omaha Man Sentenced to Nearly 12 Years Imprisonment for Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that on June 12, 2024, Tre D. Boswell, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Boswell to 141 months’ imprisonment and to pay $195,217.50 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Boswell will be required to complete a 5-year term of supervised release.
Boswell and another suspect, brandishing a firearm, robbed, or attempted to rob a series of banks in the Omaha area between December of 2021 and December of 2022. Although Boswell and the second suspect concealed their appearances during the robberies, investigators obtained their general physical descriptions and a detailed description of the firearm they used in the robberies. The suspects threatened bank employees with the firearm and nearly $200,000 was stolen from two banks during the completed robberies. Investigators collected potential DNA evidence throughout the investigation and ultimately obtained warrants authorizing them to obtain a sample of Boswell’s DNA, and to seize and search his cell phone. In addition to the physical descriptions of the suspects and of the firearm, GPS data from Boswell’s phone placed him in the vicinity of the robberies when they occurred, and DNA evidence further corroborated his involvement. The other suspect has not been identified at this time.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Great Plains Violent Crimes Task Force and the Omaha Police Department.
Oklahoma sex offender sentenced to seven years in prison for failing to register in MontanaRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — An Oklahoma man convicted by a federal jury in Montana of failing to register as a sex offender after moving to the Billings area and despite repeated orders to do so was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Windelyn Valdo Shoulderblade, Jr., 33, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was convicted of failure to register as a sex offender on Jan. 30, following a two-day jury trial.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court ordered the sentence to run consecutive to other cases pending in Oklahoma.
“For years, Shoulderblade refused to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), while continuing to commit sex offenses and exhibiting public displays of sexual deviancy. By not registering as required by law, Shoulderblade posed a constant threat to community safety. But not anymore, as he will spend the next seven years in federal prison due to aggressive and effective work of our federal prosecutors, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Northern Cheyenne SORNA Compliance Office, and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Since the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in July 2006, the U.S. Marshals Service, nationally and in Montana, has vigorously pursued those who have failed to stay compliant with the legal requirements of their registration. We will continue to do so. This sentence was the culmination of some great collaboration among several federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement entities and is a good example of how, when all of us work together, we can make our communities a safer and better place to live,” said U.S. Marshal Craig Anderson.
In court documents, the government alleged that Shoulderblade was convicted of felony sexual battery in Oklahoma in 2014 and was required by law to register as a sex offender under SORNA. The government further alleged that from about December 2022 to November 2023 in Montana, Shoulderblade knowingly failed to register and update his sex offender registration. Since his 2014 conviction, Shoulderblade continued exhibiting predacious behavior while refusing to comply with his sex offender registration requirements. While out of compliance with his registration requirements, Shoulderblade spent years committing additional sex crimes. Shoulderblade moved to Montana in December 2022 and had contacts with law enforcement in Billings and on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Despite instructions to register by a Northern Cheyenne SORNA compliance officer and the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Shoulderblade never did. After relocating to Billings, Shoulderblade had frequent, near-weekly contact with local law enforcement between March 2023 and July 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Marshals Service, Northern Cheyenne SORNA Compliance Office and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Oklahoma Corrects Noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act Following Justice Department NoticeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that the State of Oklahoma has taken corrective action regarding driver’s license and ID card applications and forms that previously did not comply with Section 5 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
Section 5 of the NVRA, also known as the motor voter provision, requires that all applications for a driver’s license or state ID — including online renewal applications — provide an opportunity to register to vote or to update an existing voter registration. The NVRA also requires that any paper or online change of address form for a driver’s license or state ID automatically update the address on voter registration records, unless a voter indicates that the change is not for voting purposes.
“An inclusive democracy must provide all eligible voters access to the full range of voter registration opportunities required by law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We encourage states and jurisdictions across the country to ensure that they are making voter registration opportunities fully and equally accessible at DMVs and other social services agencies, both in person and online. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring full compliance with the NVRA.”
Earlier this year, the Justice Department told the state that its online renewal applications for driver’s licenses and state ID cards did not provide the required opportunity to register or update an existing voter registration record. The state’s online change of address form also could not update voter registration records. The department met with state officials, who acted to correct these omissions, along with similar ones on paper forms. The state also committed to notifying voters affected by these lapses. Additionally, the state is providing instructions so that eligible citizens not currently registered to vote at the address found in their driver’s license or ID card records can register or update outdated registration records.
The department will continue to monitor the implementation of these changes and this remedial program, and it welcomes feedback from the public. Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by calling (800) 253-3931.
More information about the NVRA and about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.
Nonprofit Organizations Pay over $5.8 Million to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic-Related LoansRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 12, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Multiple nonprofit organizations—including two private country clubs and two homeowners associations—have paid $5,809,021.60 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims and obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans for which they were not eligible.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program loans, known as PPP, in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other permitted business expenses. Under the CARES Act, certain entities organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code were not eligible for PPP loans.
Rancho Santa Fe Association is a homeowners association and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Rancho Santa Fe Association serves members in the community of Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County, which includes over 4,000 residents, the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, the Rancho Santa Fe Tennis Club, private sports fields, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, nearly 60 miles of private equestrian and pedestrian trails, shops, restaurants, and full-time security patrol. In April 2020, Rancho Santa Fe Association applied for a PPP loan and later received disbursement of a $1,542,100 loan. The United States contended that Rancho Santa Fe Association knew or should have known it was not eligible to receive its PPP loan as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and it caused the Small Business Administration (SBA) to forgive the loan and to pay lender fees and interest to the bank that processed the loan. Rancho Santa Fe Association paid $2,037,451.44 to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act.
Pine Mountain Lake Association, a homeowner’s association and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, is in Groveland, California near Yosemite National Park. Pine Mountain Lake Association is a gated community with amenities that include a private lake with six miles of shoreline, 18-hole championship golf course, swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts, hiking trails, archery range, equestrian center, restaurant and lounge, and lake lodge. In April 2020, Pine Mountain Lake Association applied for a PPP loan and later received disbursement of a $687,500 loan. In January 2021, Pine Mountain Lake Association applied for a second PPP loan and later received disbursement of a $950,000 loan. The United States contended that Pine Mountain Lake Association knew or should have known it was not eligible to receive its PPP loans as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and it caused the SBA to forgive the loan and to pay lender fees and interest to the bank that processed the loans. Pine Mountain Lake Association paid $2,372,440.98 to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act
Glendora Country Club, a private country club and 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization, is in San Gabriel Valley and offers its members an 18-hole golf course, a 25-yard swimming pool, and dining and entertainment options. In April 2020, Glendora Country Club applied for a PPP loan and later received disbursement of a $471,685 loan. The United States contended that Glendora Country Club knew or should have known it was not eligible to receive its PPP loan as a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization, and it caused the SBA to forgive the loan and to pay lender fees and interest to the bank that processed the loan. Glendora Country Club paid $708,843.42 to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act.
The Palms Golf Club, a private, single membership golf club and a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization, is in La Quinta, California. The Palms Golf Club claims to offer a world-class golfing environment with a golf course designed by Fred Couples, state-of-the-art practice facility, locker rooms and fitness facilities, and multiple dining options. In May 2020, The Palms Golf Club applied for a PPP loan and later received disbursement of a $327,035 loan. The United States contended that The Palms Golf Club knew or should have known it was not eligible to receive its PPP loan as a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization, and it caused the SBA to forgive the loan and to pay lender fees and interest to the bank that processed the loan. The Palms Golf Club paid $690,285.76 on an ability-to-pay basis to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act.
“The PPP program was born from the urgent need to support small businesses weathering the storm of a generational pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These agreements hold accountable those who deceitfully diverted public funds from the deserving hands of struggling small businesses trying to support their employees and serve their customers.”
“Providing false information to obtain PPP loans and forgiveness is wrong,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Today’s settlement sends a strong message that attempts to wrongfully obtain loan fund and forgiveness will not go unnoticed, and violators will be identified. I want to thank the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
The settlements resolve claims brought by Wade Riner under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Riner v. Rancho Santa Fe Ass’n, et al., 22-CV-1285-GPC-KSC. Mr. Riner will receive a total share of nearly $700,000.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. In total, the United States recovered over $6.1 million against the named defendant in the qui tam action.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dylan M. Aste.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
New York Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced today to time already served – 25 months in prison – for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jose Migel Cleto, 65, of Manhattan, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In April 2022, Cleto distributed, and possessed with the intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl to a man in a commercial parking lot in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the OCDETF Unit in Newark.
New York Fund Manager Admits Multimillion-Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York fund manager today admitted defrauding investors out of millions of dollars, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Joshua Goltry, 30, of New York pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of securities fraud.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Joshua Goltry admitted making outlandish claims in falsifying the achievements of his purported investment fund. In doing so, he duped investors out of millions of dollars, money they thought they were investing carefully, but which, in reality, this defendant was using to repay other investors or spending on his own bills. The investing public needs to be protected from unscrupulous frauds like this, and our office will work with our law enforcement partners to make sure that happens.”
“Fraudsters operating what amounts to a Ponzi scheme shouldn't be shocked when the cash dries up,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “They’re usually spending exorbitant amounts of other people’s money on lavish lifestyles, with no thought to what happens next. Goltry admits lying to his clients, promising huge returns that he pulled out of thin air, and then lying several more times to secure funding so he could keep the scheme going. It should also come as no surprise that his criminal behavior led to the FBI investigating him and holding him accountable.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in 2020, Goltry operated and controlled JAG Cap LLC d/b/a JAG Capital, which purported to be an investment fund with a history of successful performance. From 2020 to September 2023, he solicited investments in JAG Capital by making material misrepresentations and omissions. For example, in late 2020, he sent potential investors marketing materials falsely claiming that JAG Capital’s track record included positive returns nearly every quarter from 2018 through mid-2020, with three of those quarters showing returns greater than 50 percent. He also claimed that JAG Capital outperformed three well-known stock indices nearly every quarter. In April 2021, in reliance on those and other misrepresentations, two victims invested a total of $700,000 in JAG Capital.
Goltry also claimed to potential investors that JAG Capital’s performance exceeded 200 percent; at other times, he claimed its performance exceeded 1,000 percent. He also claimed that JAG Capital managed more than $20 million; at other times, he told potential investors that JAG Capital managed more than $50 million. Over the course of his scheme, Goltry obtained more than $3 million from investors.
Goltry claimed to investors that he would invest their money in securities for which he performed “extensive due diligence,” including “diversified tech opportunities” when in reality, he used investor money to repay previous investors and to pay for his own lifestyle, including paying for the rent on his Manhattan apartment, vacations, and personal credit card bills.
In May 2023, after depleting nearly all investor money, Goltry sought a short-term loan from an investment company by submitting false and forged documents purporting to be from the Red Bank, New Jersey office of a national bank. In reliance on those false documents, the investment company transferred $150,000 to JAG Capital.
In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange commission today charged Goltry and JAG Advisors with violating antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Goltry and JAG Advisors agreed to settle the charges against them. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, would permanently enjoin Goltry and JAG Advisors from violating the charged provisions of the federal securities laws and allows the court to decide the amounts of disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties at a later date.
The securities fraud charge to which Goltry pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine equal to the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss resulting from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
goltry.information.pdfNew York City Resident Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Wisconsin Residents in Professional Sports Ticket ScamRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 12, 2024, Nikhil S. Mahtani (age: 28) of New York, New York, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for wire fraud.
According to court documents, between approximately January 4, 2019, and December 11, 2022, Mahtani placed over one thousand ads on Craigslist offering high end tickets and luxury box suites to National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and other professional sporting events around the country. Numerous individuals throughout the Eastern District of Wisconsin were victimized by Mahtani, who accepted thousands of dollars in payments for tickets and suites he knew were not legitimate. In one instance, a large group of friends and family members showed up at Fiserv Forum the night the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, only to be turned away and told they had been scammed. Mahtani is estimated to have received approximately $120,000 from over 100 victims in Wisconsin and across the United States.
At the sentencing hearing, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of the crime and the need to deter the defendant and others from engaging in this type of fraud. He rejected Mahtani’s request for probation noting that this was not a “crime of impulse,” but rather a “systematic victimization” of sports fans who had their hearts set on attending a variety of professional sporting events including Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks games.
Mahtani will spend 15 months in prison and was ordered to pay $88,000 in restitution to his victims. He will also spend three years on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the New York Police Department Financial Crimes Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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New Haven Man Charged with 2 Gunpoint Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a four-count indictment today charging MARQUE GREENE-PENDERGRASS, 31, of New Haven, with offenses stemming from the armed robberies of two banks in December 2019 and January 2020.
As alleged in the indictment, on December 27, 2019, Greene brandished a revolver and robbed a TD Bank located at 128 Amity Road in Woodbridge, stealing $7,139. On January 7, 2020, Greene brandished a revolver and robbed a Citizens Bank located at 430 Foxon Boulevard in East Haven, stealing $11,600. During the second robbery, Greene discharged the firearm.
The indictment charges Greene with two counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years on each count; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.
Greene is currently incarcerated serving an unrelated state sentence.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of the Woodbridge and East Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/PSN.
Nahant Woman and Winthrop Man Plead Guilty to Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nahant woman and Winthrop man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiring to commit wire fraud and tax evasion.
Gary P. DeCicco, 65, and Pamela M. Avedisian, 61, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled DeCicco’s sentencing for Sept. 18, 2024; Avedisian’s sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. DeCicco and Avedisian were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2018.
Between April 2012 and February 2013, DeCicco repeatedly told the IRS that he did not have the ability to pay his over $340,000 tax liability and that he had very little cash, no vehicles or real property and no ownership interest in any asset with a positive value. However, DeCicco had ownership interests in several businesses, vehicles and real properties titled in his name and the names of Avedisian, Lynnway Auto Sales Inc., and other entities, in order to conceal those assets from the IRS during that time period. In addition, beginning in March 2013, after the IRS accepted DeCicco’s proposed monthly payment plan (based on the false information DeCicco provided about his assets and income), DeCicco bought and sold numerous real properties, boats and high-end cars and concealed those assets and his income from the IRS, often with Avedisian’s assistance.
In addition, Avedisian owned a property in Nahant that was subject to a mortgage in excess of $1 million. In October 2015, DeCicco and Avedisian conspired to defraud the mortgage holder by proposing the sale of the property for significantly less than the outstanding mortgage, in what is commonly referred to as a “short sale.” By their very nature, short sales are intended to be arms-length transactions in which the buyers and sellers are unrelated and act independently, allowing sellers to cede their ownership of the property in exchange for the short-selling bank’s agreement to release them from their unpaid mortgage debt. In order to get approval for the sale, DeCicco and Avedisian concealed their long-term romantic and business relationships from the loan servicing company and falsely represented that Avedisian could no longer make payments towards the mortgage on the property. In fact, just two months before the “short sale” closed, Avedisian purportedly received $3.5 million from the sale of another asset to DeCicco.
The conspiracy charges each provide for up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
NYS Corrections Officer on administrative leave arrested on gun chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Matthew R. Zamborowski, 48, of Hamburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person under a qualifying Domestic Violence Order of Protection, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 6th, 2024, an Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a traffic stop on Route 219, just south of Route 39, after determining that the vehicle had a surrendered plate. The driver, Zamborowski, informed the deputy that he was concealing a firearm on his right hip and that he was a New York State Corrections Officer. When asked for his license, Zamborowski stated that he did not have one and that there may be issues with it due to unpaid tickets in court. The deputy returned to his vehicle, confirmed Zamborowski’s license status, and learned that he had been served an order of protection, which mandated him to surrender all firearms in his possession. As a result, Zamborowski was arrested and the deputy and secured Zamborowski’s firearm. The complaint further states that Zamborowski had five additional firearms in the trunk of his vehicle. A check with the New York State Albion Correctional Facility determined that Zamborowski was on administrative leave since February 2024, and that he should have returned his badge and State ID. Zamborowski was taken to the Erie County Holding Center.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Mount Carmel Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Micia Best, age 45, of Mount Carmel, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than fifty grams of methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Best possessed more than 350 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. The charge stemmed from a broader investigation into drug trafficking in Northumberland County through which Best was identified as moving significant amount of methamphetamine.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LYELL CHAMPAGNE, JR., 24, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to charges stemming from two different fraud schemes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately March 2021 and April 2022, Champagne conspired with Kristian Gupta to obtain online bank account credentials from potential victims, and then transfer money from victims’ bank accounts to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by Champagne and Gupta. As part of the scheme, Gupta provided Champagne with personal identifying information of victims, and Champagne used that information to open email accounts and accounts at a cryptocurrency exchange. Champagne and Gupta attempted to recruit bank “insiders” to participate in their scheme, but were disrupted by an undercover law enforcement investigation and failed to transfer any funds from compromised accounts.
In a second scheme, Champagne filed wholly fictitious tax returns for “Shireberk International,” which had no actual business operations, for the 2018 through 2021 tax years. The returns resulted in a refund of $3,449,935.
Champagne pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of filing false claims with the IRS, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Champagne has agreed to pay restitution of $111,738.52. The remaining funds were recovered by law enforcement.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for September 10. Champagne is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.
On April 19, 2024, Gupta, of Port Charlotte, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for September 19.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
Michigan Shipping Magnate Charged with Filing False Tax Returns and Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A Michigan man made his initial appearance in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Stafford of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on an indictment that charged him with filing false tax returns and not paying employment taxes for his company’s employees.
According to the indictment, which was unsealed on June 4, from 2017 to 2020, Ali Kassem Kain, of Northville, operated a transportation business that arranged for automobiles to be shipped abroad. For tax years 2017 through 2020, Kain allegedly underreported the business’ gross receipts by several million dollars each year on the business’ corporate returns. For those same years, he also underreported the amount of income he earned from his business on his personal returns.
In addition, Kain was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those amounts over to the IRS. Instead, Kain allegedly did not collect all these taxes for his company’s employees and did not pay over the full amount due to the IRS.
In total, Kain is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of nearly $5 million.
Kain was charged with 15 counts of failing to collect and pay over employment taxes and eight counts of filing false tax returns. If convicted, Kain faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each employment tax count and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Detroit Field Office are investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Corey Smith and Trial Attorney Richard Kelley of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Michael White Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Murder of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael ChandlerRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Michael Donivan White pled guilty today to federal charges related to the November 2021 murder of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler and a wide-ranging drug conspiracy.
White, 36, of South Carolina, pled guilty today to eight counts in relation to the murder of Officer Chandler. Specifically, he pled guilty to one count of causing the death of a person using a firearm, which killing was first-degree murder, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiring to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of using a place for the purpose of distributing or using a controlled substance, one count of using a communication facility in committing any felony-controlled substance offense, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and using, brandishing and discharging that firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler died serving his community. The men and women among us who swear the oath and put on the badge keep all of us safe,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “While nothing we do in a courtroom can ever bring Michael back, our hope is that today’s guilty plea brings some semblance of peace to his family, friends, and brethren in law enforcement that today, justice was done.”
“ First, let me say our prayers for healing go out to the family of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler. At the core of this tragic event is a previously convicted felon getting illegal access to a firearm,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai. “It is our hope that Mr. White receives a lengthy sentence that holds him accountable for every one of his criminal acts. Keeping our communities safe and supporting our fellow law enforcement partners is what drives ATF in the fight against violent crime.”
According to court documents, beginning in August 2021 and continuing even after the time of his arrest in October 2022, White and 18 other defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Tragically, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 13, 2021, Big Stone Gape Police Officer Michael Chandler responded to a dispatch call at 2505 Orr Street in Big Stone Gap, known locally as “the red house.” Upon arriving at the red house, Officer Chandler encountered a vehicle outside the residence. Officer Chandler requested backup, telling dispatch, “This car is taking off on me.” Inside the vehicle, Michael White told a female co-defendant, Misty Ward, to “get the fu*k out of there” because there were drugs in the vehicle and that “he was not going back to jail.” Ward started to drive off as directed, but then stopped and got out of the vehicle. As Ward exited the vehicle, Officer Chandler asked Ward to show him her hands, which were covered by her jacket. Ward complied, raising her hands up in the air. At that point, White attempted to flee the scene, however the vehicle got stuck in the grass. Officer Chandler approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, hitting the window with his flashlight.
White brandished a Taurus 9mm pistol and immediately fired eight shots through the driver’s side window and door, striking Officer Chandler’s wrist and abdomen just below his bulletproof vest.
Officer Chandler died later that evening from his injuries.
Following the shooting, law enforcement identified White as a suspect. White was later located at a motel in Kingsport, Tennessee and a subsequent search of the motel room found a Taurus, 9mm pistol. Further testing ultimately proved this firearm to be the same one that fired the shots that killed Officer Chandler.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Virginia State Police, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Norton Virginia Police Department, the Kingsport Tennessee Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the East Tennessee Drug Task Force, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Virginia State Police, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, City of Norton Police Department, and Big Stone Gap Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena L. Busscher and Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Transportation Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role as a foot guide in a deadly alien smuggling conspiracy where he threatened witnesses to cover up his involvement after one migrant died from heat exposure in the New Mexico desert.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 18, 2023, Texas Department of Public Safety officers pulled over a vehicle driven by Jorge Luis Estrada-Velasquez with four undocumented aliens. The aliens informed agents that other members of their group were still in the desert a few miles away and one was very ill.
Border Patrol agents and emergency medical technicians located Rafael Radillo-Bernal, 40, and three others in the desert near Strauss Road in Doña Ana County and began rendering aid to the sick individual. Tragically, the victim succumbed to the heat and passed away.
Border Patrol took the surviving seven aliens, including Radillo-Bernal, and Estrada-Velasquez, into custody. Estrada-Velasquez was charged with Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and the seven aliens, including Radillo-Bernal, were designated as material witnesses.
Initially, none of the witnesses admitted to being the foot guide, and one claimed the guide had returned to Mexico. After their initial appearances, the witnesses were released to a halfway house in Las Cruces.
Subsequent interviews with the witnesses revealed consistent accounts of crossing late at night, walking for 8-9 hours with limited water, and the victim showing signs of illness early on due to diabetes. Radillo-Bernal initially claimed to have joined the group halfway through their journey after crossing the border alone. Radillo-Bernal stated that he walked with the victim, getting to know him, and encouraging him to continue when he started falling behind. Radillo-Bernal claimed he stayed with the victim while he called his family to say he was not going to make it before leaving him in the shade of a mesquite bush to find water and help.
On September 8, 2023, two witnesses came forward alleging that Radillo-Bernal was the foot guide and had threatened them to remain silent about his role in the conspiracy.
On January 23, 2024, Radillo-Bernal pled guilty to transporting an illegal alien resulting in the death of any person. After completing his term of imprisonment, Radillo-Bernal will be subject to deportation proceedings.
Estrada-Velasquez pled guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens on October 19, 2023, and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. After completing his term of imprisonment, Estrada-Velasquez will be subject to deportation proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant United States Attorney Alyson R. Hehr prosecuted the case.
Migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border face grave dangers and risks. The harsh desert terrain, with scorching temperatures, rugged mountains, and vast stretches without water, poses immense physical challenges that have led to thousands of deaths from dehydration, heat stroke, and exposure. Migrants are also preyed upon by criminal organizations and human traffickers who exploit, extort, and abandon them in remote areas, leaving them vulnerable to violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Those involved in human smuggling operations, including foot guides, drivers, and coordinators, face severe legal consequences if caught and prosecuted. Human smuggling is a federal crime under U.S. law, with penalties that can include hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences, especially in cases involving death, serious injury, or other aggravating factors.
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Mescalero Man Sentenced for Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man was sentenced to 90 months in prison after being convicted by a federal jury of assaulting his intimate partner by repeatedly strangling her.
There is no parole in the federal system.
A federal jury convicted Theodore Ian Chavez, IV, on February 28, 2024, following a four-day trial. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, in the early morning hours of August 6, 2023, Chavez strangled and assaulted Jane Doe multiple times, resulting in the loss of consciousness and visible bruises.
After the assault, Jane Doe sought medical attention. As a result of the strangulation, Jane Doe had difficulty talking, eating, and drinking fluids, as well as bruises, redness, petechiae, and venous congestion.
At trial, Jane Doe described how she experienced severe pain, and that she thought she was going to die when Chavez was on top of her squeezing her neck and screaming that it was her fault.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Chavez will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and J. Kirk Williams are prosecuted the case.
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Maryland Man Indicted on Federal Charges for Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nathaniel Lamar Nelson Scott, 35, of Bowie, Maryland, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to the indictment, unsealed today, on June 5, 2024, Scott traveled into the District of Columbia from Maryland with a motivating purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a six-year-old child.
In late May 2024, a member of the MPD–FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force posted a message on a website that is frequented by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. Scott contacted the undercover officer, who he believed was the father of a six-year-old girl, and in the days that followed engaged in graphic conversations about sexually abusing the child. On June 5, 2024, Scott arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. He traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C., and was arrested. Scott has remained in custody since his arrest.
Travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct is punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes members of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marion County Man Admits to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Shawn Allen Burns, 46, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Burns, also known as “Shawn Fain,” is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior cocaine conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia. During a supervised release check on another defendant, U.S. Marshals found Burns in possession of a 9mm pistol in Marion County, WV.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Marshals investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Manchester Man Sentenced for Intending to Traffic Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
John Barber, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to forfeit approximately $3,000.
“The defendant possessed significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine that he intended to traffic into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The sentence imposed by the Court not only stops the defendant from selling drugs for the next 60 months, but it also strips from him his ill-gotten drug trafficking proceeds.”
“John Barber intended to traffic significant amounts of meth and fentanyl onto New Hampshire’s streets,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “But thankfully, the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force and the New Hampshire State Police were able to stop him. Today’s sentence puts Mr. Barber officially out of business.”
On February 23, 2022, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped a car on Interstate 93 for a traffic violation. The defendant was a passenger in the car. After the driver gave consent to search the car, law enforcement officers found numerous plastic baggies, a digital scale and a locked zipper pouch in the vicinity of the defendant. The pouch was later searched pursuant to a warrant and contained roughly 45 grams of methamphetamine and 130 grams of fentanyl. The defendant had $2,000 in his pocket and over $1,000 in his wallet. The defendant admitted that he intended to distribute the pouch of drugs to someone else.
On August 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of a camper belonging to the defendant in Manchester and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine in a plastic bag containing other smaller baggies, in the defendant’s bedroom. The defendant admitted the methamphetamine was his. The method of packaging and quantity of methamphetamine is indicative of distribution.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Matthew Hunter are prosecuting the case.
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Mailing Drugs to Iowa Results in Federal Prison Sentence for California ManRead the Press Release
A California man who used the mail to send dangerous drugs to Iowa was sentenced June 11, 2024, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Tyler Vuong Le, age 28, from Anaheim California, received the prison term after a January 3, 2024, guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Le admitted he mailed packages on multiple occasions from California to Iowa that were pressed to look like oxycodone pills, but instead contained other controlled substances including fentanyl. Le believed the pills would be redistributed in Iowa. Le also sent cocaine, counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, and LSD to Iowa. Fortunately, these items were being sent to an individual that was working with law enforcement and the controlled substances, including over 5,900 of the counterfeit oxycodone pills, were seized by law enforcement before they could be redistributed. According to the DEA, fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug that is 100 times more potent that morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Fentanyl%202022%20Drug%20Fact%20Sheet-update.pdf
Le was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Le was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Le is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the United States Postal Inspectors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-cr-2042.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Lincoln Woman Sentenced to 79 Days Served, Supervised Release for High-Speed Flight from Immigration CheckpointRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Lincoln woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for fleeing and evading a U.S. immigration checkpoint in Sherman and leading U.S. Border Patrol agents on a high-speed pursuit.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Shania England, 25, to the 79 days she had served and three years of supervised release. England pleaded guilty on February 16, 2024.
According to court records, in May 2023, England and a passenger were traveling southbound on I-95, when England drove up to and stopped at a checkpoint being operated by the U.S. Border Patrol in Sherman. When an agent instructed England to pull over to a secondary inspection area, she instead sped away on I-95. England fled from Border Patrol agents at high speed for about eight miles and was apprehended after crashing the vehicle in a ditch.
U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case with assistance from the East Millinocket Police Department.
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Lincoln Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine & Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dylan M. Johnson, 26, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 12, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, for one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Johnson to a total of 180 months’ imprisonment for both counts. There is no parole in the federal system. After Johnson’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On May 1, 2023, investigators contacted Dylan Johnson at a hotel in Lincoln. When investigators approached Johnson, he dropped multiple baggies containing suspected meth. Investigators arrested Johnson and searched his hotel room, where they located more meth in multiple baggies, about 5 grams of cocaine, empty baggies, a scale, approximately $550, and a heat sealer in the room. They also found a black Omni Hybrid AR-15 rifle and two magazines containing a total of 21 rounds. Johnson agreed to speak with investigators after his arrest. During the interview, Johnson admitted to knowing he was a convicted felon and that he purchased the firearm the day before his arrest to help protect himself during drug transactions. The meth was sent to the State Crime Lab. The total weight of the meth seized from Johnson’s person and hotel room was 388 grams, included 370 grams of meth actual.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Lincoln Police Department.
Lewistown Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Prostitution and Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregory A. Wilson, age 51, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann to 102 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on the charge of attempted enticement of a minor. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a $5,100 special assessment.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on November 8, 2023, Wilson knowingly attempted to use a facility of interstate and foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in prostitution and sexual activity for which any person can be charged under Pennsylvania criminal laws, specifically aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and statutory sexual assault under Pennsylvania criminal laws.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Patton Township Police, and the Centre County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Jury Convicts Kentucky Man of Multiple Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, convicted a Kentucky man yesterday of providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and receiving military-type training from ISIS. ISIS is a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 3, 2014, Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, and two co-conspirators coordinated their departure from the United States, arriving separately in Istanbul, Turkey. They abandoned the rest of their purchased travel itineraries, and purchased tickets to fly to Gaziantep, Turkey. Gaziantep is located near the Turkey-Syrian border, and from there, Ramic and the two co-conspirators crossed into Syria and joined ISIS.
The evidence at trial established that after joining ISIS, Ramic attended an ISIS training camp, where he received military-type training. A photograph of Ramic, posted on social media, depicted him, among other things, wearing camouflage clothing and standing in front of a truck outfitted with an anti-aircraft gun and the ISIS flag.
After joining ISIS, Ramic and his co-conspirators remained in contact with each other and discussed, among other things, his use of an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot at planes. Ramic and his co-conspirators also discussed jihad, martyrdom and fighting for ISIS. Ramic, a dual U.S.-Bosnian citizen, joined an ISIS fighting unit comprised primarily of Bosnian foreign fighters, and participated in an ISIS offensive in Kobane, Syria.
Ramic has been in federal custody since December 2021, after being deported to the United States from Turkey.
Ramic is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a fine of $750,000 and a term of supervised release up to life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky and Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kevin C. Nunnally and Jessica Fender of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Kentucky Man of Multiple Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, convicted a Kentucky man yesterday of providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and receiving military-type training from ISIS. ISIS is a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 3, 2014, Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, and two co-conspirators coordinated their departure from the United States, arriving separately in Istanbul, Turkey. They abandoned the rest of their purchased travel itineraries, and purchased tickets to fly to Gaziantep, Turkey. Gaziantep is located near the Turkey-Syrian border, and from there, Ramic and the two co-conspirators crossed into Syria and joined ISIS.
The evidence at trial established that after joining ISIS, Ramic attended an ISIS training camp, where he received military-type training. A photograph of Ramic, posted on social media, depicted him, among other things, wearing camouflage clothing and standing in front of a truck outfitted with an anti-aircraft gun and the ISIS flag.
After joining ISIS, Ramic and his co-conspirators remained in contact with each other and discussed, among other things, his use of an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot at planes. Ramic and his co-conspirators also discussed jihad, martyrdom and fighting for ISIS. Ramic, a dual U.S.-Bosnian citizen, joined an ISIS fighting unit comprised primarily of Bosnian foreign fighters, and participated in an ISIS offensive in Kobane, Syria.
Ramic has been in federal custody since December 2021, after being deported to the United States from Turkey.
Ramic is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a fine of $750,000 and a term of supervised release up to life. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky and Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kevin C. Nunnally and Jessica Fender of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case.
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Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Sule Pedro (47, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. Pedro entered a guilty plea on April 13, 2023.
According to court documents, Pedro was a known drug trafficker selling methamphetamine and fentanyl out of a carwash in the Jacksonville area. Between January and August 2022, Pedro sold approximately 230 grams of methamphetamine and 23 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating defendant. On September 27, 2022, federal and state law enforcement executed a search warrant at the carwash, where they recovered two firearms and approximately 325 grams of methamphetamine, 57 grams of fentanyl, 268 grams of alpha-PVP (also known as “flakka”), hydrocodone pills, and other narcotics.
“This sentencing emphasizes the severity of exploiting a legitimate business to fuel the scourge of narcotics trafficking in our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “HSI’s partnerships with Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are instrumental in combating drug trafficking and safeguarding the well-being of our communities.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Illinois Sex Offender Charged with Coercion and Enticement of 15-Year-Old Girl in Dutchess CountyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today a Complaint charging DEREK HASSELBRINK, a/k/a “Derek Spear,” with enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and committing this offense while being required to register as a sex offender. HASSELBRINK was arrested this morning and was presented in federal court in the Central District of Illinois before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Derek Hasselbrink, a 48-year-old convicted sex offender, pretended to be a 17-year-old boy online in an effort to coerce and entice a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Hasselbrink allegedly knew that his victim was a minor, so he lied about his own age and took other measures to hide his unlawful intent. This Office will continue to relentlessly pursue predators who sexually exploit children, whether online or in person.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Those who prey upon the innocence of children represent the dark and twisted side of the criminal underworld. Derek Hasselbrink - having failed to register as a previously convicted sex offender - allegedly seduced and coerced a minor female to participate in illicit sexual activity through lewd and horrifyingly explicit messages. Today's arrest emphasizes the FBI's intrepid vigilance to protecting one of our most vulnerable populations, especially from those who seek to exploit and harm them for perverse gratification.”
According to allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
From at least in or about April 2023 up to on or about July 2, 2023, HASSELBRINK, a 48-year-old male who was a convicted sex offender, engaged in sexually explicit message conversations with a 15-year-old girl (“Victim-1”) and traveled to meet Victim-1 near her home in Dutchess County, New York, to engage in sexual activity.
Any individuals with information concerning DEREK HASSELBRINK, a/k/a “Derek Spear,” or whose child may have had any communications with HASSELBRINK, are asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
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HASSELBRINK, 48, of Quincy, Illinois, is charged with one count of enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of engaging in this offense while being required to register as a sex offender, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI; the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office; the Quincy, Illinois Police Department; the Adams County States Attorney’s Office; the Office of the Attorney General of Kentucky; the Springfield, Illinois Field Office of the FBI; and the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Canton Resident Agency’s Child Exploitation Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia Cohen and Kingdar Prussien are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Houstonian admits to Hurricane Harvey house fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston area resident has pleaded guilty to fraudulently applying for and receiving a newly rebuilt house worth $314,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Christopher Montealegre admitted to one count of theft of government funds after he knowingly applied for relief intended for victims the hurricane impacted through a program the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administered. Montealegre received assistance in the form of a newly re-built house. The home was rebuilt using federal funds which were intended for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Congress allocated funds to Texas as a special appropriation associated with a Presidentially Declared Disaster in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The funds help to support communities working to build stronger and more resilient neighborhoods.
“Christopher Montealegre exploited a program intended to assist vulnerable victims of Hurricane Harvey and used those funds for his own personal enrichment,” said Hamdani. “Public resources for disaster relief should go to the victims that actually need them, not to enrich private actors like Montealegre.”
“Montealegre’s alleged conduct is disturbing, especially during this time when the public is reminded of the devastation that historic storms leave with thousands of victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Bertrand Nelson for HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), Southcentral Region. “The taxpayer has no tolerance for those who steal from Federal public aid – the sole goal of which is to help victims rebuild and move forward with their lives. We will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue fraudsters who steal disaster grant funds to enrich themselves.”
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Aug 8. At that time, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Montealegre was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
HUD-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Lansden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shalimar Addy prosecuted the case.
Hartford Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER GASKIN, 47, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a loaded handgun.
According to the evidence presented during his trial earlier this year, in the afternoon of January 1, 2022, Hartford Police officers stopped a car Gaskin was operating on Irving Street in Hartford. Gaskin was arrested after a search of his person revealed a loaded .380 caliber handgun, a bag containing approximately five grams of crack cocaine, and 35 vials of crack.
Gaskin’s criminal history includes several felony convictions, including convictions for assault, robbery, and witness tampering offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On February 28, 2024, a jury found Gaskin guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and not guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Patricia Stolfi Collins through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/PSN.
Guilty pleas from two high-level members of drug distribution organization connected to Aryan prison gangRead the Press Release
Tacoma – Two men indicted in March 2023 as part of a drug distribution organization associated with an Aryan prison gang pleaded guilty to drug and gun crimes today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ronaldo McComb, 59, of Ridgefield, Washington, and Gregory Beers, 31, of Edgewood, Washington, will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo in September 2024.
McComb pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. The drug charge carries a mandatory minimum ten years in prison because of the amount of narcotics involved in the case. In a detailed plea agreement, McComb acknowledged multiple recorded phone calls with coconspirators in which he discussed his drug trafficking activities involving distributing multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and creating a distribution network of fentanyl pills up to Alaska. He further admitted to possessing large quantities of heroin and a 9mm handgun that law enforcement seized from the trunk of his vehicle following a traffic stop in February 2022. Law enforcement eventually arrested him on March 22, 2023. On that date, authorities found methamphetamine, heroin, three firearms, and large quantities of cash and gold bars in McComb’s Kalama residence. As part of the plea, McComb stipulated to the forfeiture of that cash and gold as proceeds of his drug trafficking. McComb was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his felony convictions for assault and robbery in Clark County and another assault conviction in Cowlitz County.
Gregory Beers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Beers admitted in his plea agreement that he sent video messages to inmates in the Washington State Department of Corrections showing multiple high-powered firearms in his possession and large quantities of cash and gold he earned through his drug trafficking. The plea agreement detailed multiple calls in which Beers discussed his drug trafficking activities involving distribution of tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine.
When police attempted to arrest Beers on the day of the takedown, he tossed a loaded pistol and fled over a neighbor’s fence. Police found two firearms in his residence and seven more in his car along with illegal drugs, cash, and drug ledgers. Ultimately Beers was arrested living in an RV in Tacoma. Once again, he was armed with guns and possessed large quantities of cash and expensive jewelry that he admitted as part of the plea agreement were proceeds from his drug trafficking.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to jointly recommend 13 years in prison for McComb and 12 and a half years (150 months) in prison for Beers. Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by the agreed sentences and can impose any sentence allowed by law.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.
Georgian with Lengthy History of Making Death Threats Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia resident with a criminal history of arson and sending death threats was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of 60 months in federal prison for mailing threatening communications.
Travis Leroy Ball, 56, of Barnesville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on June 12. Ball previously pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications on Jan. 19. Ball is not eligible for parole.
“We will not tolerate threats of violence against public servants and other similar criminal intimidations that disturb peace and order,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Travis Ball has threatened government workers at every level and even their families. Keeping people safe is the highest priority of our office and our law enforcement partners.”
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “While Mr. Ball’s continued criminal conduct clearly illustrates his lack of concern and compassion for others, it also illustrates his unwillingness to be rehabilitated. Hopefully, this additional sentence will finally send the message that the FBI will not tolerate his hate fueled hoaxes and will continue to hold him accountable.”
According to documents and statements filed in court, the FBI obtained a letter on March 10, 2023, addressed to U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell in which the writer was purporting to be a U.S. Secret Service agent who investigated one of the defendant’s prior cases. In the letter—later determined to be written by the Ball—the writer demanded that the charge in Ball’s most recent federal case be dismissed, and he be let out of federal custody.
Ball—using the name of a former cell mate—also wrote letters to the U.S. District Court in Valdosta, Georgia, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., in March and May 2023 respectively, threatening to kill employees and their families, as well as burn down property.
Ball wrote a letter to the Upson County Sheriff’s Office in July 2023, purporting to be an FBI agent working on a top-secret case and demanded that Ball’s photos and personal information be removed and deleted from jail records.
The FBI compared the letters, handwriting, letterhead, postage stamps, verbiage and the “INMATE MAIL” stamp on each letter and determined that Ball wrote the letters while in custody. The defendant’s DNA was compared against the letters sent to the U.S. Courthouse in Valdosta and the letter impersonating a U.S. Secret Service Agent sent to U.S. District Chief Judge Treadwell. The results confirmed Ball’s DNA on both letters. Officers found the writing material and stamps in Ball’s cell. For more information about Ball’s prior convictions for threats, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/georgia-man-sentenced-federal-prison-threats-against-president.
The case was investigated by FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.
Georgia Residents Charged with $1 Million Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Georgia residents have been charged with causing a Gilmer County business to send them three fraudulent wires totaling over $1 million as part of a business email compromise scheme.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Chisom Okonkwo, age 27, and Prince Boateng Adjei, age 30, both of Lawrenceville, Georgia, have been indicted on 18 counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Okonkwo and Adjei created an email address which spoofed that of an employee at a Gilmer County business, causing a vendor to send more than $1 million to a bank account controlled by the defendants in Georgia. Before investigators uncovered the crime, Okonkwo and Adjei are alleged to have expended more than $600,000 of the stolen funds.
“Business email compromise fraud continues to be a problem in West Virginia and throughout the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “The good news is that it can be prevented with the training of employees, the implementation of email authentication protocols, and verifying the sender of the email through another form of communication.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gallup Woman Sentenced for Drunken Rollover Crash That Killed Unrestrained InfantRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup woman was sentenced to a five-year term of probation after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for drunkenly rolling her vehicle and killing an 8-month-old boy who was ejected from the vehicle.
According to court document, on February 11, 2022, Mariah Chapo, 27, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, two friends, and 8-month-old John Doe traveled to collect firewood. When they arrived, the group began drinking alcohol. During this time, John Doe was unrestrained in the back seat.
An argument between the other two members of the group caused Chapo to drive off at high speed with John Doe. A mile down the road, Chapo failed to navigate a turn and rolled the vehicle. John Doe was ejected from the backseat and killed.
Chapo's BAC was 0.12 and 0.11, and an empty vodka bottle was found at the scene.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.
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