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Thursday 30 May 2024
Holyoke Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield in connection with a string of nine armed robberies of convenience stores across Western Massachusetts.
Alfredo Aldeco, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 13 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Aldeco was also ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution of $7,375. In March 2024, Aldeco pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using a firearm in relation to crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On Nov. 14, 2018 Aldeco, and co-defendant Emilio Rivera, robbed a clerk in a West Springfield convenience store at gunpoint. After forcibly taking cash and cigarettes from the clerk, Aldeco warned the clerk, “If you call the cops, I will come back and kill you.” The firearm used in the robbery was later found during a search of Rivera’s home – in a bedroom being occupied by Aldeco. At the time, Aldeco was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.
The November 2018 robbery was the last in a string of nine robberies that took place in Holyoke, Chicopee, Northampton, West Springfield and Agawam over the two-week period. In each of the robberies, Aldeco held store clerks at gunpoint. In total, Aldeco robbed the stores of almost $8,000 in cash.
On July 6, 2023, Rivera was sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the West Springfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Chicopee, Northampton and Springfield Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of the Springfield Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
Havre meth dealer sentenced to more than five years in prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Havre man who admitted selling methamphetamine was sentenced today to five years and four months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Stephen Eric Engelhardt, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to distribution of meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged that in March 2023, members of the Montana Tri-Agency Task Force began investigating Engelhardt’s involvement in meth trafficking. On two occasions, Engelhardt and his co-defendant, Tayla Wren Overlie, sold meth in a controlled operation in April 2023. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at their residence and recovered drug paraphernalia, meth, ammunition, numerous firearms and U.S. currency. Overlie was sentenced to five years and four months in prison for her conviction in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Tri-Agency Task Force and the FBI conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Hancock Man Sentenced for Assaulting FBI Special AgentRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Hancock man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for assaulting a federal officer.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Alan Howell Parrot, 69, to probation for two years and a $5,000 fine. A federal jury found Parrot guilty on November 29, 2023, following a one-day trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 22, 2023, FBI special agents were executing a federal search warrant at Parrot’s residence in Hancock. While the agents were trying to enter the residence, Parrot attempted to close the door and became combative, kicking one agent in the abdomen and pushing her backwards, resulting in injuries to her arm and elbow.
The FBI investigated the case.
“Alan Parrot’s attack on an FBI special agent is yet another reminder of the danger law enforcement officers face on a daily basis – and the successful prosecution of Mr. Parrot should serve as a warning to all that if you assault and injure a law enforcement officer, the consequence is a felony conviction. Assaults on officers will be met with a swift response and will not be tolerated,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
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Hamilton man sentenced for defrauding investors of more than $700,000Read the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Hamilton man who admitted devising a years-long scheme that defrauded investors in Hamilton and Billings of more than $700,000 was sentenced today to five years of probation and ordered to pay $722,808 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Richard William Brooks, 78, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, the government recommended a probationary sentence. The government requested an aggressive payment schedule for restitution because of Brooks’ available disposable income.
U.S District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court ordered Brooks to pay $722,808 restitution at the rate of $3,000 per month to two victims.
The government alleged in court documents that as far back as 2016, Brooks orchestrated a scheme to defraud individuals of significant sums of money. Contending that he fell “on hard times,” Brooks, often using third parties as intermediaries, claimed that his daughter-in-law was scheduled to receive a large inheritance but for legal and court costs that were required to release it. Brooks deceptively assured multiple victims that if they provided him with money on an expedited timeline, he would return their funds in addition to a premium of between 25 percent and 100 percent. Brooks insisted his victims pay him in cash. When pressed by his victims about non-payment or supporting documentation, Brooks demurred or lied again. He claimed that the inheritance was under seal and that he was unable to provide any documentation. Brooks’ scheme lasted for years, and, in February 2021, law enforcement interviewed Brooks. Brooks contended that he intended to pay back this money, which he never did, and that he was going to receive a settlement in connection to his exposure to Agent Orange. He claimed to have documentation to support his theory that the funds were temporary loans. When law enforcement followed up for the documentation, Brooks ended the communication and never provided any materials to support his position.
One of Brooks’ victims told the court that he lost his business of 10 years and his life savings because of Brooks’ scheme. Another victim told the court that she had been subjected to threatening phone calls, was displaced from her home and forced to sell treasured antiques to survive because of Brooks. “He did more than steal our money. He stole our peace,” the victim said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Georgia Man Pleads to Bank Fraud Charge for Stolen Check SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Atlanta, Georgia man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiring to commit bank fraud.
According to court records, in March 2022, Rasheed Colbert, 32, and a coconspirator, Mantavious Jones, stole checks from the mailboxes of local businesses then used the stolen checks to create counterfeit checks. Unhoused individuals who could provide identification were recruited for what they were told was a job in exchange for money. Counterfeit checks were made payable to the individuals, and they were provided with work-style clothing and driven to bank branches to cash the checks. Colbert and Jones netted just under $70,000 from the cashed counterfeit checks.
Rasheed Colbert faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million, followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Mantavious Jones, 35, also of Atlanta, is currently serving 16 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
The New England Cyber Fraud Task Force and Kennebunk Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Saco and Scarborough police departments.
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Georgetown County Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Federal Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — William Dallis, 57, of Murrells Inlet, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to money laundering.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from June 2021 to April 2022, Dallis conducted financial transactions with cash he believed was obtained from transporting and harboring illegal aliens. To conceal and disguise the nature of the illegal cash, Dallis would take the cash received and deposit it into a bank account he controlled. Dallis would then write a check to the individual that had provided the cash after taking a percentage fee per transaction. The evidence presented revealed that Dallis received approximately $560,000.00 in cash from the individual.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Dallis to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. As part of his plea agreement with the Government, Dallis also forfeited approximately $75,000.00.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.
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Gautier Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over 1800 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gautier man was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1800 grams of methamphetamine.
Tevin Lashonfloyd Minor, 32, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, Minor sold narcotics to buyers on three separate occasions. On July 11, 2022, Minor sold approximately 206 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi. On July 26, 2022, Minor sold 446 grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Moss Point; and on October 11, 2022, Minor sold 1209 grams of methamphetamine in Pascagoula.
Minor was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 10, 2023. He pled guilty on June 22, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force Pascagoula Resident Agency and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
Gangster Disciple Leader Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Three Shootings in 2020 and Related Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jean Fremont, also known as “Juno” and “Bigga Twirl,” was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 35 years in prison for his participation in three shootings occurring on November 7 and 9, 2020, committed by members and associates of the No Love City (NLC) gang, a subset of the Flatbush-based Folk Nation Gangster Disciples gang (GD). Fremont was convicted by a jury in November 2022 on eight counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to murder rival gang members in-aid-of racketeering, two counts of attempted murder in-aid-of racketeering, two counts of assault in-aid-of racketeering, one count of attempted assault in-aid-of racketeering and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with multiple shootings in Brooklyn in November 2020.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“Fremont will spend decades in prison for attempting to murder individuals for the sole purpose of defending his gang’s reputation,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Incarcerating Fremont and his co-defendants for a long period of time for their ruthless acts of violence and complete disregard for human life will serve to protect the community while sending a message of deterrence to others who foolishly seek status by choosing to join violent gangs.”
Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the case.
As proven at trial, Fremont and his co-defendants are all members or associates of NLC. Fremont was also a leader of NLC, having served on its five-member “Steering Committee.” The November 2020 shootings, in which several individuals were injured, were committed on behalf of GD in retaliation for the theft of a gold chain and pendant from Fremont by rival gang members following the filming of a music video in Brooklyn. On November 7, 2020, a chain with a pendant featuring the letters “SPMB” that was closely associated with NLC’s leader was stolen from the defendant by gang rivals. In response, members of NLC retaliated by engaging in a series of shootings in rival gang territory. In the resulting violence, three victims were shot and survived their wounds.
Seven other members and associates of GD that were charged with Fremont have been convicted of crimes including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault and firearms-related offenses for their conduct related to the November 2020 shootings. Lorenzo Bailey was sentenced to 34 years’ imprisonment; Quincy Battice was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment; Oluwagbenga Agoro was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment; Hans Destine was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment; Deryck Thompson was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment; Ricardo Hapburn was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment; and McKoy Lima was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel, Dana Rehnquist and Sophia Suarez are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JEAN FREMONT (also known as “Juno” and “Bigga Twirl”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkOther Defendants Convicted at Trial:
OLUWAGBENGA AGORO (also known as “Gee Banga”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New YorkLORENZO BAILEY (also known as “Renzo” and “St. Clair Bailey”)
Age: 35
Brooklyn, New YorkQUINCY BATTICE (also known as “Hush Dinero” and “George Ayala”)
Age: 35
Brooklyn, New YorkDefendants Who Pleaded Guilty
HANS DESTINE (also known as “YL Flocks”)
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkRICARDO HEPBURN (also known as “Riko Floxks”)
Age: 22
Brooklyn, New YorkMCKOY LIMA (also known as “Mak”)
Age: 29
Brooklyn, New YorkDERYCK THOMPSON (also known as “Benzo,” “DBenzo” and “Kenzie”)
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-293 (S-1) (WFK)
Fraudster Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN VOLOSHIN, also known as “Josh Thomas,” 68, formerly of New Haven and Woodbridge, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Voloshin was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 33 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for operating multiple fraud schemes that caused losses of more than $1.5 million to individuals and lenders. He was released from prison in May 2014. In November 2014, he was sentenced to an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of his federal supervised release for repeatedly lying to his supervising probation officer by concocting a bogus job for a real estate concern in London. He was released from prison in June 2015. In the fall of 2015, Voloshin engaged in another fraud scheme by soliciting money from individuals and falsely representing that the money would be fully invested to generate very high returns. In November 2017, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment for the offense and for violating his supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $275,000 in restitution, in addition to his restitution obligation from his 2012 conviction. He was released from prison in May 2018.
Between January and April 2019, Voloshin defrauded a company in Bloomfield that provided accounting and tax preparation services to individuals and companies. Voloshin stole blank checks for both the company’s business account and the company owner’s personal account, forged the owner’s name on the checks, and negotiated the checks for his own benefit. Voloshin also stole and negotiated checks and money orders that were written out as payment by third parties to the company. As part of the scheme, Voloshin incorporated an entity in Wyoming with a name very similar to that of the company, opened a bank account in the name of the sham company, deposited misappropriated checks into the account, and used the stolen funds for his own benefit. Through this scheme, Voloshin defrauded victims of $56,548.71.
On September 23, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Voloshin. He was arrested on July 14, 2021, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has been detained since his arrest.
Voloshin pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on August 22.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bloomfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Sean P. Mahard.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Brazilian authorities for their assistance in apprehending Voloshin, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.
Fourteen People Charged in International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 30, 2024
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury has charged 14 people with participating in an international multi-million-dollar cocaine trafficking and money laundering scheme.
According to an indictment unsealed today, plus additional information in a related search warrant, the alleged leader of the trafficking organization, Jesus Ruiz-Sandoval, managed the smuggling and distribution of large quantities of cocaine from Tijuana into the United States, and the movement of cash proceeds back to Mexico. Ruiz is a United States citizen who fled the U.S. for Mexico several years ago, in violation of his terms of supervised release for a prior federal drug-trafficking crime (Case number 08-cr-00713-DSF in the Central District of California).
The search warrant said Ruiz worked closely with other co-conspirators, including John Joe Soto and Esteban Sinhue Mercado, who are also U.S. citizens currently residing in Mexico. The alleged conspiracy involved smuggling large multi-kilo quantities of cocaine from Tijuana through San Diego to Los Angeles. From there, commercial trucks transported the cocaine from Los Angeles to the Mid-Atlantic for distribution in the Eastern United States. Commercial trucks also transported cash proceeds from the cocaine sales back across the United States to Los Angeles, where it was packaged and loaded into cars that couriers drove through San Diego and into Tijuana, delivering the proceeds to Ruiz there. To date, investigators have seized more than $5 million in cash proceeds and more than 130 kilos of cocaine.
“This office targets sophisticated international trafficking cells by hitting them where it hurts — their wallets,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Following the money takes you to the heart of a trafficking organization and this prosecution aims to drive a stake through it.” U.S. Attorney McGrath expressed her gratitude to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Hawthorne Police Department, which provided invaluable partnership in this investigation.
“One of the pillars of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is to identify and dismantle international drug trafficking organizations who poison our communities,” said Christopher Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “Throughout this investigation and with the unwavering support from our law enforcement partners, we further discovered their involvement in a money laundering scheme. This indictment serves as a warning to those believing they can remain undetected by HSI – our message is clear. You will be found and you will be brought to justice.”
“This indictment marks a significant milestone in our relentless pursuit of justice against transnational criminal organizations. By leveraging collaborative efforts, CBP alongside our partner agencies are able to target the root causes of crime and dismantle organized criminal enterprises,” said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for San Diego Field Office. “Ultimately, this unified approach promotes public safety, reduces the flow of illegal drugs and laundered funds, and strengthens the resilience of communities against these threats.”
This investigation is one of two into Ruiz. Several months after a grand jury in San Diego first indicted Ruiz, a separate grand jury in the Central District of California indicted him and others for a separate, but similar, international trafficking scheme. See United States v. Sandoval et al., 24-CR-008 AB (C.D. Cal.). The prosecutions of Ruiz and others indicted in both cases will proceed in coordinated fashion.
Another defendant, Ricardo Miranda-Beltran (aka Ricardo Miranda-Benitez), appeared Tuesday for his initial appearance on the indictment. Miranda was arrested in the Eastern District of California and ordered detained, and then ordered to appear in San Diego on these charges.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr1574 AJB
*Jose Ruiz-Sandoval Age: 45 Mexico
*John Joe Soto Age: 43 Mexico
*Esteban Sinhue Mercado Age: 24 Mexico
Brittany Mangrum Age: 36 Van Nuys, CA
Liliana Ruvalcaba-Gonzalez Age: 25 Anaheim, CA
Yessenia Lazo Age: 23 Los Angeles, CA
Ricardo Miranda-Beltran Age: 57 Bakersfield, CA
Edwin Rafael Hernandez Age: 32 Pasadena, CA
*Denotes fugitives who are not in custody
**Additional defendants’ names are redacted and not listed here
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) & 846
Maximum Penalty: Life in custody, $10 million fine, and a life term of supervised release
Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960, and 963
Maximum Penalty: Life in custody, $10 million fine, and a life term of supervised release
Consp. to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) & (h)
Maximum Penalty:- Twenty years in custody, $500,000 fine or twice the laundered amount, and a 3-year term of supervised release
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, United States Code, Section 5332
Maximum Penalty: Five years in custody, $250,000 fine, and a 3-year term of supervised release
AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Customs and Border Protection
Los Angeles Police Department, Transnational Organized Crime Section
Hawthorne Police Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former Williamson Memorial Hospital CEO Pleads Guilty to Federal Theft CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charles Hatfield, 61, of Williamson, pleaded guilty today to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Hatfield, who recently resigned as mayor of Williamson, admitted that while chief executive officer of Williamson Memorial Hospital he stole $34,872.62 in hospital funds for personal use and without authorization.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hatfield became the hospital’s interim CEO in September 2018. As CEO, Hatfield had control over the hospital’s finances and bank accounts, directed payments of the hospital’s funds, and had custody and control of the hospital’s checkbook. Hatfield was the permanent CEO when he was relieved of those duties in September 2019. Around that time, on Oct. 21, 2019, the rural, 76-bed hospital filed for bankruptcy.
On May 16, 2019, Hatfield directed that $9,197.62 in hospital funds be used to purchase a cashier’s check made payable to an individual at Venice Sands Apartments-Argus Management of Venice in Florida. Hatfield admitted that he used the hospital funded-check to settle a personal lawsuit demanding the payment of delinquent real estate taxes and homeowners’ fees he owed for personal condominium property he owned in Venice.
On September 25, 2019, Hatfield directed the transfer of $25,675 in hospital funds to Mid Mountain Properties, a real estate company owned and operated by Hatfield. The transaction occurred just days prior to Hatfield being relieved as CEO, and shortly before the hospital filed for bankruptcy. Hatfield admitted that he was aware that the hospital could not appropriately fund its employee benefits programs, including retirement and healthcare plans at the time he directed the transfer. Hatfield further admitted to telling his business partners that he used the transferred funds to pay a personal obligation.
Hatfield also admitted that he never requested or received authorization from the hospital’s board of directors or anyone else at the hospital to direct the payments from the hospital to himself.
Hatfield is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Hatfield also owes $34,872.62 in restitution.
“Charles Hatfield abused a position of trust and diverted funds for personal gain from a community hospital at a time when he knew the hospital and its employees were financially vulnerable,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the United States Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Labor- Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and investigator Steve Rowley in this office for their investigative work, and Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman for the prosecution of this case.”
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-74.
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Former Professor Sentenced for Setting Multiple Fires Blocking in Firefighters Responding to the Dixie FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution for three counts of arson on federal property, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“Maynard went on an arson spree on federal land while California faced one of the worst fire seasons in history. He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “It is only because of the quick response by the U.S. Forest Service — and the actions of civilian witnesses — that those fires were extinguished as quickly as they were. Today’s sentence underscores the danger that Maynard’s fires created and serves as a reminder that federal law enforcement takes seriously the threats to life, property, and our national forests caused by arson.”
U.S. Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tony Magarrell praises the actions of his Agents and fellow cooperating law enforcement agencies who identified Maynard early in the investigation, “These actions led to the quick arrest of Maynard before more damage was done to Forest Service lands and increasing the threat of firefighter lives. This is a great example of how cooperation between law enforcement agencies serves our public and makes us safe.”
According to court documents, Maynard set a series of fires in the Shasta Trinity National Forest and in the vicinity of the then-ongoing Dixie Fire in the Lassen National Forest. Maynard set some of his fires behind firefighters who were actively fighting the Dixie Fire, effectively surrounding these firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history. Maynard admitted to setting the following fires during this arson spree: the Cascade Fire (July 20, 2021), the Everitt Fire (July 21, 2021), the Ranch Fire (Aug. 7, 2021), and the Conard Fire (Aug. 7, 2021).
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Former King County Jail Guard pleads guilty to bribery and drug distributionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former King County Jail guard pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to bribery and distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Former jail employee Mosses Ramos, 40, of Milton, Washington had been a King County jail guard for 17 years before he was fired last year. When sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez 0n September 13, 2024, Ramos will face up to 20 years in prison.
According to records filed in the case, between March and May 2023, Ramos accepted bribes to bring about a pound of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills into the jail for the benefit of inmates Michael Anthony Barquet, 37, and Francisco Montero, 25. Both men are currently incarcerated. Montero is facing trial in King County Superior Court for a double homicide. Barquet is scheduled for trial on drug and bribery charges in October 2024.
The web of bribes and drug trafficking extended outside the jail with three female coconspirators who are alleged associates of the two inmates: Neca Silvestre, 38, of Kent; Katrina Cazares, 38, of Burien; and Kayara Zepeda Montero, 27, of Seattle. All three remain charged in the case.
Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Drug distribution is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
While Ramos has accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty, the other defendants in this case have not and are presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the King County Sheriff’s Office with support from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy Chang and Vince Lombardi.
Former Investment Banker and Registered Broker Sentenced to 41 Months’ Imprisonment for Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rashawn Russell, a former investment banker, who was formerly a registered broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 41 months in prison for a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that resulted in approximately $1.5 million in investor losses and for a separate access device fraud scheme. Russell was also ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to victims of his fraud scheme. Russell pleaded guilty in September 2023 to wire fraud and access device fraud.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Eric Shen, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS), announced the sentence.
From November 2020 to August 2022, Russell engaged in a scheme to induce multiple victims to invest with him based on false promises that he would use their funds for cryptocurrency investments and that they would earn large—and sometimes guaranteed—returns. Russell misappropriated much of the victims’ assets and used them for his personal benefit, to gamble, and to repay other investors. Russell also repeatedly failed to repay the victims’ principal investments and failed to provide them with promised rates of return. After some victims requested to be repaid their investments, Russell falsely represented that he had wired them money.
In a separate scheme, between September 2021 and June 2023, Russell fraudulently obtained at least 97 credit/debit cards and at least 43 identification cards in the names of third parties, often from gym lockers in New York and New Jersey. Russell obtained these devices with the intent to use them to complete unauthorized transactions.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew Rolle of the Eastern District of New York, Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford and Assistant Chief Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Defendant:
RASHAWN RUSSELL
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y Docket No.: 23-CR-152 (HG)
Former Investment Banker and Registered Broker Sentenced for Operating $1.5M Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former investment banker, who was formerly a registered broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for a fraud scheme that resulted in approximately $1.5 million in investor losses and for a separate access device fraud scheme.
According to court documents, from November 2020 to August 2022, Rashawn Russell, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, engaged in a scheme to defraud multiple investors by inducing them to invest with him based on false promises that, among other things, he would use their funds for cryptocurrency investments and that the investors would earn large—and sometimes guaranteed—returns from those investments. Russell misappropriated much of the investors’ assets and used them to fund personal expenses, to gamble, and to repay other investors. Russell also repeatedly failed to repay investors’ principal investments and failed to provide investors with promised rates of return. After certain investors requested to be repaid their investments, Russell also falsely represented that he had wired the money to them.
In a separate fraud scheme, between September 2021 and June 2023, Russell fraudulently obtained at least 97 credit and debit cards and at least 43 identification cards in the names of third parties, often from gym lockers in New York and New Jersey. Russell used the stolen card information to complete unauthorized transactions, including opening online gambling accounts and making fraudulent purchases.
Russell was also ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to victims of his cryptocurrency fraud scheme. Russell pleaded guilty in September 2023 to wire fraud and access device fraud.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
USPIS investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford and Assistant Chief Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Rolle for the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.
Former Indiana State University Student Federally Indicted on Extortion and Threat Charges Against University OfficialsRead the Press Release
TERRE HAUTE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Nicholas Wheeler, 27, with four counts of transmitting extortionate threats via interstate commerce and three counts of transmitting threats via interstate commerce.
According to the indictment and other court documents, on March 16th and 17th of 2024, Wheeler made violent threats over “X” (formerly Twitter) against Indiana State University, Indiana State University professors, and two of his former attorneys. Wheeler threatened that if the individuals did not give him $500,000 or investigate his claim that he was the victim of a crime, he was going to kill or injure them.
Some of Wheeler’s messages included threats such as, “I’m coming to take your souls… closed casket funerals,” and “empty your bank accounts, I’m coming for blood Indiana State University,” accompanied by posts claiming to own a loaded machine gun and body armor.
Wheeler attended Indiana State University from August 2018 through August 2023. At the time Wheeler sent the threats, he was living in California.
The FBI is investigating this case. If convicted of the most serious offense, Wheeler could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Oliver, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Executive of Airline Pleads Guilty to Participating in A Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SHUKHRATJON MIRSAIDOV pled guilty to participating in a money laundering conspiracy from June 2019 to February 2022, while MIRSAIDOV was a senior executive for an international airline (“Airline-1”) with a hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. MIRSAIDOV pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Shukhratjon Mirsaidov used his position as an executive for an international airline to participate in a complex scheme to launder the proceeds of healthcare fraud. While all forms of money laundering are pernicious, such conduct is particularly severe when it involves executives at major businesses abusing their positions to launder the proceeds of fraud. This case demonstrates that money launderers – no matter what their station – will be held accountable by this Office.”
According to allegations in the Indictment, the criminal Complaint, public filings, and statements made in court:
In the course of the money laundering conspiracy charged in the Indictment, MIRSAIDOV used a U.S. company bank account for Airline-1 (the “Airline-1 Bank Account”) to operate a check-cashing scheme and to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars of healthcare fraud proceeds. As a senior executive, MIRSAIDOV was one of two signatories for the Airline-1 Bank Account. Between approximately June 2019 and August 2021, MIRSAIDOV deposited into the Airline-1’s Bank Account over 100 checks drawn from accounts controlled by seven shell companies that were used to launder the proceeds of healthcare fraud. For example, the shell companies had received insurance payments for medical services purportedly provided by a doctor, but the doctor did not, in fact, provide such services. The shell companies were primarily funded by payments from medical clinics, physicians, and medical diagnostic testing companies and had no relation to the airline industry. MIRSAIDOV obtained the checks from the shell companies from his co-defendant, SHUKHRAT ABDULLAEV. In exchange for the checks, MIRSAIDOV provided cash generated from Airline-1 ticket sales to ABDULLAEV to give to the perpetrators controlling the shell companies.
MIRSAIDOV not only used the Airline-1 Account to launder healthcare fraud proceeds from the shell companies, but also used the Airline-1 Account to launder funds represented to be fraud proceeds in a series of sting transactions. Between approximately June 2021 and February 2022, law enforcement, with the assistance of a confidential source (“CS-1”), conducted a series of sting money laundering transactions involving MIRSAIDOV, ABDULLAEV, and the Airline-1 Bank Account. CS-1 asked ABDULLAEV to cash checks and transmit funds abroad and agreed to pay ABDULLAEV a four percent fee to do so. ABDULLAEV told CS-1 a portion of the fee went to MIRSAIDOV. During the transactions, CS-1 represented to ABDULLAEV that the funds were healthcare fraud proceeds. Overall, CS-1 provided ABDULLAEV with 14 checks totaling $210,000 issued from a covert law enforcement account held in the name of a fictitious company. MIRSAIDOV, working with ABDULLAEV, deposited 12 of the checks totaling $190,000 into the Airline-1 Bank Account. CS-1 received cash from ABDULLAEV in exchange for the checks, and in one instance, ABDULLAEV coordinated the delivery of U.S. currency to an individual abroad in exchange for some of the checks. During the course of these sting transactions, in a recorded conversation with CS-1, MIRSAIDOV admitted, in sum and substance, that he received many checks from ABDULLAEV and that MIRSAIDOV gave ABDULLAEV cash in exchange for the checks. CS-1 informed MIRSAIDOV, in sum and substance, that the checks from CS-1 came from a medical company and that the company disguised the check payments in its financial reporting by claiming the check deposits were for business class flight tickets. MIRSAIDOV nevertheless expressed a willingness to work directly with CS-1 to conduct check cashing using the Airline-1 Bank Account.
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MIRSAIDOV, 46, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, MIRSAIDOV agreed to forfeit to the U.S. $674,171, as well as funds seized from the Airline-1 Bank Account. MIRSAIDOV will be sentenced on September 4, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia Vogel, Christopher Brumwell, and Vladislav Vainberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Chief Financial Officer Is Sentenced to Prison for Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – John M. Casper, 60, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised for embezzling thousands of dollars from his employer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, between 2018 and 2020, Casper misused his position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to embezzle more than $694,000 from the victim company. Court documents show that Casper executed the embezzlement scheme by conducting approximately 112 unauthorized financial transactions, transferring funds from the victim company’s accounts to bank accounts under Casper’s control. As the victim company’s CFO, Casper used his access to the company’s accounting system to disguise the fraud, by creating fake or incorrect financial entries in the company’s books and records so that the victim company’s books would reconcile.
On September 19, 2023, Casper pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Casper will be ordered to report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to begin serving his sentence of incarceration.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI in Charlotte for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Former Broward Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Stephanie Diane Smith, 54, of Sunrise, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 7 months in prison for participating in a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme in which she received two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In March 2024, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale found Smith guilty of two counts of wire fraud in connection with the scheme.
Smith was employed as a deputy sheriff with the Broward Sheriff’s Office when she applied for the PPP loans in 2021. As established at trial, the PPP loans were based upon materially false gross income information for two sole proprietorship businesses, Children 1st Basketball Training and Agape Smith Vending. The fruits of this scheme resulted in Smith’s unlawful receipt of $31,108.
U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn imposed the sentence following a hearing. The sentence includes a 3-year term of supervised release following imprisonment, restitution in the amount of $31,108, a $2,000 fine, and forfeiture.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker of the Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG); and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.
FBI Miami, FRB-OIG, and BSO investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Snider and Trevor Jones prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove is handling asset forfeiture.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.
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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60203.
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Former Boy Scout Camp Employee Admits Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing and distributing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
William Mickel, 70, of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From February 2022 through April 2022, Mickel, who was employed by Boy Scout camps in New Jersey, distributed and possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse. Mickel used email accounts to distribute these materials, and stored hundreds of images and videos on electronic devices in his home. Some of the videos in Mickel’s possession depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where Mickel worked.
The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; and the Chester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ryan T. McNamee, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
mickel.indictment.pdfForeign National Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Colombian national was sentenced today to 48 years and nine months in prison for his role in kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia.
According to court documents, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 36, and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota to rob them of their valuables. On the evening of March 5, 2020, the two victims went to an entertainment district in Bogota to watch a soccer game. They visited a pub, where Arango Castellanos incapacitated the two victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Arango Castellanos and one of his co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by another co-conspirator, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit and credit cards and cell phones. Arango Castellanos and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
In May 2023, Arango was extradited from Colombia to the United States pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. On Jan. 26, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila L. Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20173.
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Foreign National Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
A Colombian national was sentenced today to 48 years and nine months in prison for his role in kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia.
According to court documents, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 36, and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota to rob them of their valuables. On the evening of March 5, 2020, the two victims went to an entertainment district in Bogota to watch a soccer game. They visited a pub, where Arango Castellanos incapacitated the two victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Arango Castellanos and one of his co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by another co-conspirator, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit and credit cards and cell phones. Arango Castellanos and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
In May 2023, Arango was extradited from Colombia to the United States pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. On Jan. 26, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila L. Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Charged with Paycheck Protection Program Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 28, 2024, charging Blaine Murphy, 56, of Naples, Florida with wire fraud and making false statements in connection with fraudulent loan applications submitted as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.
According to the indictment, Murphy fraudulently applied for loans designed to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and June 2020, using the names of nine separate businesses, Murphy submitted, or participated in the submission of, PPP loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration and its authorized lenders. These applications falsely inflated average monthly payroll and number of employees of those companies in an attempt to obtain funds from the PPP. Murphy also falsely stated that he did not own or commonly manage other businesses, and he provided false and fraudulent tax documents in connection with most of his loan applications. Murphy obtained over $350,000 as a result of this fraudulent scheme.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “During a generational public health crisis, this defendant took advantage of a federal government program intended to help keep small businesses and their employees afloat. The defendant’s fraudulent behavior came at the expense of his fellow citizens. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware brings these charges to hold him accountable for his actions.”
Murphy is charged with wire fraud and making false statements on loan applications. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
The FBI Baltimore Division’s Dover Resident Agency conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan C. Williamson and Jesse S. Wenger are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
On May 17, 2021, the U.S. Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the U.S. Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across the federal government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to combat fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to combating COVID-19 fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud or attempted fraud involving COVID-19 funding 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.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
blaine_murphy.pdfFlorida Felon Sentenced to Prison for Role in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Kickback Scheme After Pleading Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud and Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, after admitting his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme and pleading guilty to carrying out a COVID-19 fraud scheme and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
On Feb. 8, 2024, Kareem Memon, 34, of Coral Springs, Florida, pled guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (Case No. 24-cr-60004).
According to documents filed in the health care fraud case and statements made in court, Memon and his conspirators owned and operated marketing call centers and telemedicine companies through which they obtained doctors’ orders for DME for Medicare beneficiaries without regard to medical necessity. Memon and his conspirators provided doctors’ orders in exchange for bribes from DME companies that provided the braces to Medicare beneficiaries. Memon and his conspirators caused losses to Medicare in excess of $11 million.
On Sept. 21, 2023, Memon pled guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and felon in possession charges in a separate case before Judge Singhal (Case No. 23-cr-80068). According to documents in the wire fraud case and statements made in court, Memon submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $451,000 in forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and used those funds for personal gains. Moreover, at the time of Memon’s arrest he was a convicted felon and illegally possessed 12 firearms and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey (for the health care fraud matter); Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI, Newark Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI West Palm Beach and Newark Field Offices investigated the cases. Invaluable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin W. Waugh for the Southern District of Florida and Matthew Specht for the District of New Jersey prosecuted these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 23-cr-80068 and 24-cr-60004.
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First Degree Murder Charges Filed in 2023 Killing Near Catholic UniversityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jaleil Jones, 19, of Washington, D.C., was charged by indictment, filed yesterday, for killing Robert Lavender, the manager of the BGR “Burgers Grilled Right” restaurant on July 17, 2023, near Catholic University in Northeast D.C.
Jones was indicted by a grand jury in the District of Columbia on charges of conspiracy, first degree murder while armed (felony murder), robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 17, 2023, Jaleil Jones and another person came across Mr. Lavender on a bench on the 600 block of Monroe Street, Northeast, D.C. Mr. Lavender was waiting for a ride home after work. Jones and the other person agreed together to rob Mr. Lavender. In the course of that robbery, Jones shot Mr. Lavender in the head.
The case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Final Texas Defendants Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
A Texas man pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and a Texas women pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud both in connection with a wide-ranging scheme to defraud the IRS. In all, seven defendants have now pleaded guilty to this scheme that sought over $111 million in fraudulent tax refunds.
According to court documents, from 2018 to 2021, Abraham Yusuff, of Round Rock, led a stolen-identity-refund-fraud scheme by knowingly conspiring with Meghan Inyang, of San Antonio, Christopher Eduardo, of Round Rock, Christian Mathurin, of Nashville, Tennessee, Dillon Anozie, of San Antonio, Babajide Ogunbanjo, of Austin, and Aydin Mammadov, of Houston.
As part of the scheme, Yusuff recruited and directed the co-conspirators to provide addresses for the purpose of receiving mail, including IRS correspondence such as identity verification letters. Yusuff and others then registered with the IRS, posing as authorized agents of multiple taxpayers. They used stolen information relating to the taxpayers and their real tax preparers to falsely persuade the IRS they were legitimate representatives. The conspirators then directed the IRS to change the addresses on file for the taxpayers and to send their tax information, including account transcripts and wage records, to the addresses and emails the conspirators controlled.
The conspirators used this information to electronically file more than 370 tax returns claiming fraudulent refunds and directed the IRS to split the refunds among several prepaid debit cards. Prior to issuing tax refunds to some taxpayers, the IRS sent verification letters to the addresses controlled by the conspirators, and the conspirators and others, pretending to be the taxpayers, instructed the IRS to release the refunds.
Yusuff and the co-conspirators obtained the prepaid debit cards that were to be used to receive the fraudulently claimed refunds. Once the refunds were deposited onto the prepaid debit cards, the funds were laundered by purchasing, among other things, money orders from local stores in amounts that were designed to avoid having to furnish identification or trigger reporting requirements. Prepaid debit cards and money orders were used to purchase designer clothing, home renovation materials and used cars at auction. The defendants kept or received money orders purchased with the fraudulent refunds as their share of the illegal proceeds.
Yusuff pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Inyang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Mammadov, Ogunbanjo, Eduardo and Anozie each previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Mathurin pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return.
The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Yusuff also faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, to be served consecutively. Mathurin faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of 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 made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Michael Boteler and Trial Attorneys Mary Frances Richardson and Curtis Weidler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas assisted in this matter.
Federal Inmate Indicted for Threatening Federal Court Employee in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A federal inmate was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston today for allegedly sending several threatening letters to an employee at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse.
Devin James Melycher, 31, has been indicted on three counts of mailing threatening communications. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Melycher is a federal inmate who, since 2023, has been in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. It is alleged that on three separate occasions – Dec. 16, 2022; Jan. 3, 2023; and Jan. 12, 2023 – Melycher sent letters addressed to a U.S. official at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston threatening to injure the victim employee.
The charges of using of mailing threatening communications each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Indictment in Chicago Charges Man with Illegally Importing Suicide Drug into the U.S. from MexicoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a Mexican resident on drug charges for allegedly illegally importing the drug Pentobarbital into the United States from Mexico for use in committing suicide.
A superseding indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges DANIEL GONZALEZ-MUNGUIA, also known as “Alejandro Vasquez,” 40, of Puebla, Mexico, with importing and distributing a controlled substance. The charges in the indictment are punishable by up to 60 years in federal prison.
Gonzalez-Munguia is currently detained in U.S. custody. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Illinois Army National Guard Counterdrug Program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and law enforcement agencies in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman is prosecuting the case. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing.
Pentobarbital, also known as Nembutal, is a drug sold in Mexico in commercially available bottles for the purpose of euthanizing animals. Pentobarbital is a controlled substance in the U.S. and has been used in state-sponsored executions.
According to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case, Gonzalez-Munguia operated an online drug business to facilitate the sale and distribution of Pentobarbital to individuals in the U.S. and throughout the world who were contemplating suicide. During the investigation, law enforcement located numerous mail parcels that appear to have been shipped out of Mexico by Gonzalez-Munguia. Authorities in the U.S. and several foreign countries conducted well-being checks and recovered pentobarbital from numerous individuals who admitted to being despondent and ordering the suicide drug online via email addresses operated by Gonzalez-Munguia, the charges allege. Law enforcement offered assistance to these individuals. In other instances, individuals who purchased Pentobarbital via the email addresses were later found to be deceased, including individuals in Illinois and several other states and countries, the charges allege.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Gonzalez-Munguia complaint Gonzalez-Munguia superseding indictmentFall River Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Oxycodone Pill ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River man was sentenced today for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving thousands of oxycodone pills.
Austin Gonsalves, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gonsalves was also ordered to forfeit $16,130. In May 2024, Gonsalves pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Gonsalves was arrested and charged along with five others in July 2023 for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking organization that distributed oxycodone pills across Southeastern Massachusetts. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.
Between at least February 2023 and May 2023, Gonsalves obtained hundreds of pills at a time, allegedly from co-defendant Kenneth Veiga, in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars and redistributed the pills to others. On one occasion alone, Gonsalves paid $22,000 to obtain 800 oxycodone for further distribution. A search of Gonsalves’ Fall River residence in July 2023 resulted in the seizure of approximately $16,000 in cash and approximately 400 oxycodone pills.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; and the Barnstable, Dennis, Bourne, Mashpee, Yarmouth, Sandwich and Falmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Extranjero sentenciado por secuestro y agresión a soldados del ejército estadounidense en ColombiaRead the Press Release
Un ciudadano colombiano fue sentenciado hoy a 48 años y nueve meses de prisión por su participación en el secuestro y agresión de dos soldados del ejército estadounidense que se encontraban de servicio temporal en Bogotá, Colombia.
Según documentos judiciales, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, de 36 años, y sus cómplices atacaron, incapacitaron y secuestraron a dos soldados estadounidenses en Bogotá para robarles sus objetos de valor. La noche del 5 de marzo de 2020, las dos víctimas fueron a un sector de entretenimiento de Bogotá para ver un partido de fútbol. Visitaron un bar, donde Arango Castellanos incapacitó a las dos víctimas colocando drogas, inclusive benzodiazepinas, en sus bebidas. Luego, Arango Castellanos y uno de sus cómplices escoltaron a las víctimas a un automóvil conducido por otro cómplice que les estaba esperando, los secuestraron y se apoderaron de sus billeteras, tarjetas de débito y de crédito, y los teléfonos celulares. Arango Castellanos y sus cómplices utilizaron la tarjeta de crédito de una de las víctimas y la tarjeta de débito de la otra víctima para realizar compras y retirar dinero. Las dos víctimas perdieron el conocimiento hasta el día siguiente, momento en el que ya habían sido separadas.
En mayo de 2023, Arango fue extraditado de Colombia a los Estados Unidos de conformidad con una solicitud de extradición de los Estados Unidos. El 26 de enero, él se declaró culpable de secuestro de una persona protegida internacionalmente, concierto para secuestrar a una persona protegida internacionalmente, agredir a una persona protegida internacionalmente y concierto para agredir a una persona protegida internacionalmente.
La fiscal general principal adjunta Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia; el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe para el Distrito Sur de Florida; y el agente especial a cargo Jeffrey B. Veltri de la oficina local del FBI en Miami hicieron el anuncio.
La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, la Agregaduría Judicial de la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas en Bogotá y el Servicio de Alguaciles de los Estados Unidos brindaron asistencia significativa para asegurar el arresto y la extradición del acusado. Los Estados Unidos también agradecen a las autoridades colombianas del orden público por su valiosa asistencia.
Los abogados litigantes Clayton O’Connor y Elizabeth Nielsen de la Sección de Enjuiciamientos Especiales y Derechos Humanos de la División Penal, y la fiscal federal adjunta Bertila L. Fernández para el Distrito Sur de Florida procesaron el caso.
Extradited Bloomington Fugitive Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Producing Sexually Explicit Images and Videos of MinorsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Bloomington man has been sentenced to 480 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted production and production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between October 2020 through March 2023, Ibrahim Ghassan Sleyman, 31, used Snapchat and other messaging apps to solicit sexually explicit material and sex acts from minor girls and boys, some as young as nine years old. Additionally, Sleyman groomed and enticed a minor victim to produce child pornography and engage in sexual activity with Sleyman by providing the minor with drugs and gifts. Once Sleyman became aware of law enforcement’s investigation, he fled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on September 6, 2022. While Sleyman was a fugitive in the UAE, he continued to use Snapchat to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors in the United States, and he attempted to obstruct justice by contacting minor victims to influence their actions in the ongoing investigation.
On September 15, 2023—one year after Sleyman fled to the UAE—UAE authorities returned Sleyman to the United States. Upon his return, he was taken into federal custody by the FBI. To date, the United States has identified at least 22 minor victims who Sleyman solicited and used to produce and receive child pornography and attempted to entice to engage in unlawful sexual acts.
On December 14, 2023, Sleyman pleaded guilty to one count of attempted production and production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of enticement of a minor. As a part of his plea, Sleyman admitted to criminal conduct relating to 22 minor victims. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Donovan W. Frank, who remarked that he has presided over “hundreds of child pornography cases,” and that Sleyman’s case was “distinguishable” from many of those prior cases, in part, due to the severity of the offenses and hands-on sexual abuse.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Elk River Police Department, and the Pleasant Hill, Missouri Police Department, with assistance from the St. Paul Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the State Department, the Ministries of Justice and Interior of the United Arab Emirates, UAE Interpol, Abu Dhabi Airport Police and Abu Dhabi International Airport – Airport Security provided significant support and assistance in Sleyman’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Essex County Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm and Cocaine, Heroin, and FentanylRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for illegally possessing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine for distribution and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Taurean Gordon, 40, of Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas to a superseding information charging him with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, 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. Judge Bibas imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Gordon admitted that on February 11, 2021, he possessed heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine packaged for distribution with the intent to distribute. Gordon, a previously convicted felon, also admitted that he possessed a North American Arms Inc. revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bibas sentenced Gordon to 3 years of supervised release and ordered him to forfeit the weapon and ammunition he used during the commission of the offense, as well as the $526 seized from him at the time of the offense.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited officers of the Newark Police Division under the direction of Director Fritz Fragé and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit and George Barchini of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.
Eight Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Steal Government Property from Anniston Army DepotRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Eight individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to steal United States property from Anniston Army Depot (ANAD), announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones; Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General Deputy Inspector General Jerold Unruh; and United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent in Charge D. Todd Outlaw.
According to court documents and evidence presented during a trial, police officers with the Directorate of Emergency Services and other civilian employees at ANAD stole millions of dollars in military property from warehouses at the Depot over a period of several years and delivered it to middlemen. The middlemen delivered the stolen property to the owner of a military surplus store to sell. The conspirators split the money from the sale of the stolen property. The stolen items included equipment that was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition.
The following individuals were sentenced to federal prison in connection with their participation in the conspiracy:
Steve Bonner, 63, of Goodwater, a middleman, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal United States property following a four-day trial. The court sentenced him to 30 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $1,873,200 to the United States Department of Defense.
Jerry Baker, 63, of Hokes Bluff, a Captain with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 25 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,750,000 to the United States Department of Defense.
Kelvin Battle, 54, of Anniston, a Sergeant with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 21 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $2,414,582 to the United States Department of Defense.
Eric Matraia, 54, of Munford, a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 16 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,000,000 to the United States Department of Defense.
Shane Farthing, 42, of Gadsden, a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 15 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $707,000 to the United States Department of Defense.
Christopher Price, 55, of Childersburg, the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 14 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,940,940 to the United States Department of Defense.
James Kenneth Scott, 73, of Sylacauga, a middleman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,500,000 to the United States Department of Defense.
Scott Bunch, 54, of Alexandria, a Defense Logistics Agency supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,750,000 to the United States Department of Defense.
“These sentences send a clear message that such criminal conduct will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The successful investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrates the dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that these defendants were brought to justice.”
“I’m proud of the great work done by the investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring these government employees and their co-conspirators to justice,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “Our office will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure those who steal from our military supply chain and degrade our combat readiness are held accountable.”
“This is the latest example of Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division working collaboratively with federal partners to relentlessly pursue those who conspire to steal government property,” said D. Todd Outlaw, Special Agent in Charge, Southern Field Office, Army CID. “Army CID will continue to protect Soldiers, families, civilians, and warfighting assets from crimes that affect readiness and warfighting capabilities in multi-domain operations.”
The Department of Defense Office of Inspector Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorneys George Martin and Ryan Rummage prosecuted the cases.
D’Iberville Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A D’Iberville man was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison followed by 17 years of supervised release for possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Benjamin Lee Poiroux, 40, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. Poiroux was also ordered to pay $74,000 in restitution and a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to court documents, Poiroux was encountered by FBI agents at the Gulfport Airport and gave consent for his electronic devices to be forensically searched. The search of his iPad, laptop, and cellular telephone revealed he possessed over 1,300 visual images and 75 videos of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, also known as child sexual abuse materials.
Poiroux was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 22, 2024, to possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Cyber Crime Division at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Drug trafficker sent to prison for importing 22 kilos of cocaine through RGVRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 37-year-old resident of Sacramento, California, has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to import narcotics through the Rio Grande Valley for further distribution into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Shaun Michael Simmons pleaded guilty Oct. 11, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Simmons to serve 135 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Simmons had an aggravating role by acting in a leadership capacity over other members of the organization. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane also noted Simmons’ criminal history.
On June 14, 2022, Dustin Oliver entered the United States from Mexico in a vehicle with an attached trailer through the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Mission. Upon initial inspection, law enforcement conducted an X-ray scan, observed anomalies in the trailer floor and referred Oliver to secondary inspection.
Through a physical search, law enforcement discovered 20 packages of narcotics concealed within aftermarket compartments located in the trailer floor.
The packages weighed approximately 22 kilograms and tested positive for cocaine.
The investigation revealed another co-conspirator, Ericka Iesha Thomas, recruited Oliver in Austin to import a controlled substance. Simmons had recruited Thomas to find an individual to transport narcotics from Mexico into the United States. Simmons coordinated and provided instructions for the pickup and drop off of the narcotics transport trailers and provided co-conspirators with money to make the trips to Mexico and back to the United States.
Both Oliver, 35, Indiana, and Thomas, 30, California, were previously sentenced to 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release for their respective roles in the conspiracy.
Simmons will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Sentenced to over Ten Years for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit man, who shot at a victim during the course of a robbery, was sentenced to over ten years in prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Joshua Fordham, 30 was sentenced to 121 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm before United States District Judge David M. Lawson in February 2024.
According to court records, in February 2023, Fordham followed a man out of a deli in Detroit. Surveillance video captured Fordham following the man to the parking lot, where Fordham took the man’s wallet at gunpoint. The man, who had a concealed pistol license, shot at Fordham, striking Fordham in the chest. Fordham fired a shot back at the man but did not strike him. Fordham was a convicted felon at the time and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“This defendant’s actions put everyone in that public parking lot in serious danger that day, and we are fortunate that no one was killed,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Today’s sentence appropriately reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, and our continued commitment to keep our community safe by removing the drivers of violence.”
"Mr. Fordham, a convicted felon, demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law by possessing an illegal firearm which enabled him to carry out a violent attack against the victim outside a Detroit establishment," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "His sentencing significantly contributes to reducing the number of violent crimes in Michigan involving illegal weapons. I commend the FBI's Detroit Violent Gang Task Force for their outstanding commitment to apprehending offenders who continue to terrorize our communities with illegally possessed firearms."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Assaulting and Strangling Nurse PractitionerRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting, strangling, and injuring a nurse practitioner in a federal detention facility, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
Tyjuan Gray, 24, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg.
According to court records, in July 2023, Gray, an inmate at FCI Milan, attacked at a nurse during a routine medical visit. Gray grabbed the nurse’s throat, hitting her head against the wall. Gray held the nurse’s wrists so that she was unable to radio for help or defend herself. When the victim fell to the floor, Gray kneed her in the stomach while restraining her and strangling her. Just as she was nearing unconsciousness, another inmate pulled Gray off the victim, allowing her to activate her alarm. Afterwards, the victim required medical treatment from the effects of strangulation.
“This defendant perpetrated an unprovoked, egregious assault on a healthcare professional providing him with medical care. His actions not only caused her physical injury but took away her ability to feel safe at work and left her with emotional scars that will last a lifetime. The prosecution and sentence in this case should send a strong message that we will address violence wherever it occurs,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
“The defendant’s assault of his nurse was unjustifiable and completely unacceptable, considering the defendant was receiving routine medical care,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “This sentencing reflects the seriousness of his despicable actions and hopefully provides the nurse with a bit of solace knowing justice was served."
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Hindelang.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Threatening a Congressional Staff Member and Making 12,000 Harassing Telephone Calls to Members of CongressRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ade Salim Lilly, 35, of Queens, NY, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in threatening to kill a Congressional staff member and for making repeated harassing phone calls to members of Congress, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Lilly pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly to two federal charges: interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and repeated telephone calls. The threat charge carries a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine; the count of repeated phone calls carries a maximum of two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. A federal judge will determine Lilly’s sentence based on the federal guidelines determined by Congress. Judge Kelly scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2024.
“Threatening another person’s safety or life is a crime, not protected speech,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This case should send a clear message that while people are secure in their rights to express themselves, they are not allowed to threaten people and those who do will be held accountable.”
According to court documents, beginning about February 1, 2022, and continuing until his arrest in this case in Puerto Rico on November 8, 2023, Lilly made over 12,000 telephone calls to approximately 54 offices of Members of Congress across the country, both in district offices located in various U.S. States and to offices located in Washington, D.C.
Of the calls to congressional offices, more than 6,526 were made by Lilly to offices within the District of Columbia. Lilly placed the calls while he was in Maryland or Puerto Rico.
Most of these phone calls were answered by congressional staff members or interns. In some of these telephone calls, Lilly became angry and use vulgar and harassing language towards the individual who answered the phone. Congressional staff repeatedly asked Lilly to refrain from calling. U.S. Capitol Police informed Lilly on multiple occasions that his phone calls were unwanted, and due to a harassing nature, were prohibited by law.
To avoid detection and to trick congressional staff to answer his phone calls, Lilly masked his phone number. Lilly made at least one phone call during which he threatened to kill or injure the person who answered. On October 21, 2022, Lilly called into a congressional office in Washington D.C., threatening a staff member. “I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade,” Lilly told the employee. In addition to the threatening phone calls, Lilly repeatedly called Congressional offices. For example, during two-days in February 2023, Lilly called one congressional representative more than 500 times.
In response, Lilly was indicted, and the U.S. Capitol Police deployed agents to arrest Lilly on November 14, 2023, in Puerto Rico.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police with valuable assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander R. Schneider.
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Dallas Man Sentenced for Role in Human Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Dallas man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to transport undocumented noncitizens.
According to court documents, Sedrick Zelitis Smith, 47, was a member of a human smuggling organization, coordinating transport of migrants who arrived in Laredo from Mexico, serving as the go-between for organization leadership and load drivers during smuggling events, and assisting in the theft and procurement of tractor trailers. On multiple occasions, Smith traveled between Dallas, San Antonio and Laredo to assist with smuggling loads. He also served as a driver for the organization, smuggling migrants from Laredo to San Antonio, using his commercial driver’s license.
Smith’s arrest was the result of an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations beginning in May 2021. Agents learned that the human smuggling organization had smuggled more than 900 migrants from Laredo to San Antonio inside tractor trailers in at least 19 human smuggling events. The loads ranged from approximately 30 migrants to more than 100 packed into a single trailer.
Nine others have been indicted in the case. Bryan Adamson, Ronnie Joe Branch, Eliseo Loredo, Rodney Edward Shavers, Mark Algie Holliday, Francisco Arredondo-Colmenero, and Debbie Marie Gonzales await court proceedings.
Fredi Zagala-Servin was sentenced in April to 97 months in prison for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens.
Norman Lee Walker Jr. was arrested May 21.
“With the rise of human smuggling in recent years, it is absolutely critical that we send a message to criminals throughout all levels of these organizations that their crimes at the expense of vulnerable individuals are serious, they are dangerous, and we are here to readily prosecute,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I appreciate the dedication of our partners at HSI and our Joint Task Force Alpha initiative. Their efforts have been essential in taking down this HSO and many others. We’ll continue to dismantle these groups and serve justice together.”
“Justice was served for a human smuggler responsible for coordinating the transportation of hundreds of noncitizens from Laredo to San Antonio. These noncitizens were crammed into tractor trailers, during multiple smuggling events in the stifling Texas heat,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. “HSI is committed to aggressively target human smugglers and smuggling organizations who continually victimize people for profit.”
HSI and JTFA investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Brown prosecuted the case.
The indictments and convictions of these defendants are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support is also provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division that are part of JTFA, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), the Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 295 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 230 U.S. convictions; 170+ significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
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Conspiracy Hatched over Instagram Leads to Waterville Man’s Guilty Plea for Firearms TheftRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and stealing firearms from that dealer.
According to court records, in April 2022, Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 21, and a coconspirator broke into a Waterville firearms dealer and stole multiple firearms, including a Glock, Model 17 Gen5 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. According to an ATF Theft/Loss Report submitted by the store owner, 15 firearms in all were reported stolen, six revolvers and nine semi-automatic pistols. Evidence collected included Instagram and text messages planning the theft, including a map to the location from Marcial-Alexander’s apartment, as well as photos of the two men holding some of the stolen firearms.
Marcial-Alexander faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.
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Cleveland Resident Pleads Guilty to Committing Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes in Western PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Justin Nichols, 30, pleaded guilty before United States Senior District Judge David Stewart Cercone to committing the following crimes on July 3, 2023: (1) possession with intent to distribute of 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin and of a quantity of cocaine at an address in Sharon, Pennsylvania; (2) possession with intent to distribute of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, of 100 grams or more of heroin, and of a quantity of cocaine at a second location in Sharon; and (3) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Mercer County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Nichols.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Peter Fajardo (52, Clearwater) to 12 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Fajardo to pay restitution to the victims of the offense. Fajardo entered a guilty plea on January 4, 2024.
According to court documents, on seven occasions in 2022, FBI agents downloaded multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material associated with a computer in Fajardo’s home. A search warrant executed at Fajardo’s home in 2023 revealed more than 2,500 images and over 100 videos of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, agents found multiple videos filmed by Fajardo where he rubbed and played with the feet of a 10-year-old girl. Fajardo explained to agents that he has a “foot fetish” and a “sexual fascination” with feet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Orlando Resident Agency with assistance from the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.
Chief Operating Officer of International Cargo Airline Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Defrauding His EmployerRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LARS WINKELBAUER was sentenced to four years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (“Polar”), a leading cargo airline, of more than $32 million dollars in revenue. WINKELBAUER previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Lars Winkelbauer abused his high-level position at Polar for over a decade, extracting millions of dollars in kickbacks for himself and causing tens of millions of dollars of harm to the company. The substantial sentence imposed today sends an important message: corporate corruption doesn’t pay.”
According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court:
From at least about 2009 through about July 2021, LARS WINKELBAUER and at least nine other individuals participated in a massive scheme to defraud Polar. At all relevant times, WINKELBAUER and three co-defendants were senior executives of Polar (the “Executive Defendants”), and six co-defendants (the “Vendor Defendants”) owned and operated various Polar vendors and customers.
The Executive Defendants agreed to accept millions of dollars in kickbacks from the Vendor Defendants, and also reaped substantial financial benefits as a result of their secret ownership interests in certain Polar vendors, in exchange for ensuring that those vendors received favorable business arrangements with Polar. The fraud they perpetrated — which involved a substantial portion of Polar’s senior management and at least 10 customers and vendors of Polar — led to pervasive corruption of Polar’s business, touching nearly every aspect of the company’s operations for over a decade.
As a result of the scheme, the Executive Defendants, along with two co-conspirators who also worked as senior executives at Polar, received unlawful payments, either directly or through various limited liability companies they controlled, in excess of approximately $23 million in kickback payments or disbursements as a result of their ownership of conflicted companies.
WINKELBAUER was Polar’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President and was the most senior of the Executive Defendants. He personally received kickbacks connected to approximately 11 separate vendors or customers of Polar totaling over $6 million. He also attempted to conceal the illegal kickback payments through a sophisticated money laundering scheme, including via falsified invoices and the use of shell companies in China.
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In addition to the prison term, WINKELBAUER, 48, of Bangkok, Thailand, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. WINKELBAUER was also ordered to forfeit $6,774,039.30 and to make restitution to Polar in the amount of $32,902,847.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Reilly, Danielle Kudla, Kevin Mead, and Qais Ghafary are in charge of the prosecution.
Charlotte Woman Is Sentenced to Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kayrin English, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for dealing in firearms without a license, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court records and today’s sentencing hearing, ATF agents learned that between February 2020 and August 2021, English had applied for 36 firearm purchase permits. ATF agents also learned that in September 2021, English had applied for an additional seven firearm purchase permits. ATF agents approached English when she arrived to collect the seven permits and conducted a consensual interview. During the interview, English told ATF agents that she would generally obtain the permits and use them to purchase firearms, which she would then resell for profit to individuals who were prohibited from owning or purchasing their own firearms. Court records show that English admitted to ATF agents that, since January 2021, she had illegally sold approximately 15 to 20 firearms. English also told ATF agents that most of the illegal firearms transactions were local, however, she had previously travelled to New Jersey where she sold several firearms she had purchased in Charlotte.
On October 31, 2023, English pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license. She is currently released on bond and will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, 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.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Cory Thomas, 33, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 7, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Thomas’ residence in Charleston and seized his cell phone and other electronic devices. An analysis of the electronic devices revealed numerous digital image and video files of child pornography.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Thomas must also register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-43.
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Buffalo man pleads guilty to selling drugs that led to an overdose deathRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Hall, 33, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey N. Jacovetti, who is handling the case, stated that on April 18, 2022, Sweat sold cocaine to a regular customer identified as V.O. On April 20, 2022, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel arrived at V.O.’s residence and determined that V.O. was deceased. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be acute mixed drug intoxication, to include cocaine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and tramadol. Subsequently, on May 19 and May 26, 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of cocaine from Sweat.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 18, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Brockton Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Coercing at Least Three Minors to Engage in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for coercing three minors to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Zaire Aquil Lodge, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. In January 2024, Lodge pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography.
On various dates in 2021, Lodge created a false online persona of a teenage boy which he used to convince at least three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him sexualized images of themselves. Additionally, Lodge knowingly received and attempted to receive CSAM between February and October 2021.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Brazilian Man Indicted for Visa Fraud and PerjuryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian man, residing in Malden, was indicted yesterday for using and possessing a fraudulently obtained visa to enter the United States and lying on his asylum application. Upon applying for a U.S. Visa, the defendant allegedly never disclosed to U.S. Immigration authorities his involvement in the murders of 11 people, mostly teenagers, in Brazil in retaliation for the death of a police officer, an incident known as the The Slaughter of Curió.
Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho, 30, was indicted on two counts of visa fraud, two counts of perjury and one count of falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday, De Abreu was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for June 5, 2024.
According to the indictment, in April 2014, De Abreu joined the Ceara State Military Police – Brazilian state forces who, under the governor, do first line policing on the street. It is alleged that in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2015, numerous Brazilian military police officers employed by the government of the Brazilian state of Ceará, including De Abreu, participated in a mass killing event of primarily young people from the impoverished neighborhoods of Barroso, Messejana, Guajeru, Curió and Lagoa Redonda in the capital of Ceará. The killing was in retaliation for the death of another police officer earlier that evening who was shot and killed in the Lagoa Redonda neighborhood, attempting to defend his wife who was being assaulted. In total, 11 people, mostly teenagers, were murdered and many others seriously injured and tortured. This incident has come to be known as A Chacina do Curió or The Slaughter of Curió or The Curió Massacre. A total of 45 individuals, including De Abreu, were charged by the Brazilian authorities and, on Aug. 31, 2016, De Abreu was arrested and detained by the Brazilian police. He was subsequently released pending trial on May 24, 2017.
According to the indictment, two weeks later, on June 9, 2017, while in Recife, Brazil, De Abreu applied for a United States non-immigrant B2 visitor visa. When asked whether he had ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, De Abreu responded “no.” Thereafter, on or about June 21, 2017, the United States Department of State approved De Abreu’s Visa Application and issued him the B2 Visa based upon his alleged false representations in the Visa Application. De Abreu used the B2 Visa and travelled to Miami on May 30, 2018.
Between May 30, 2018 through Aug. 14, 2023, as a result of the approval of his Visa Application, De Abreu obtained various state driver’s licenses, a social security card, travel documents and authorizations for employment.
On Jan. 29, 2020, De Abreu applied for asylum. It is alleged that De Abreau lied when asked whether he had ever been accused, charged, arrested, detained, interrogated and imprisoned in any country other than the United States. He also allegedly failed to disclose his arrest and detention in Brazil when he applied for adjustment of status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.
On June 25, 2023, De Abreu was convicted of 11 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and four counts of physical and mental torture in the First Court of Fortaleza, Ceará. That same day, De Abreu was sentenced to 275 years and 11 months in prison and an arrest warrant issued.On Feb. 9, 2024, De Abreu testified under oath at an immigration hearing conducted by the Immigration Court. At that hearing, De Abreu falsely claimed that he had never lied to immigration officials and that the only reason he had left off important information on immigration documents filed with the United States government was because he had not yet been arrested.
The charge of misuse of visas, permits and other documents provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of perjury provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of falsifying, concealing, and covering up a material fact provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Bradley Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; and Mathew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Denis C. Riordan, District Director of the Fraud Detection and National Security Division of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. This matter was investigated with the assistance of the United States Interagency Human Rights Violators & War Crimes Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle today sentenced Roger Lee Caldwell, Jr. (41, Bradenton) to life in prison for producing child sexual abuse material, transporting minors with intent to engage in sexual activity, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Caldwell was found guilty by a federal jury on February 8, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Caldwell sexually abused two minor victims over a period of six years and produced an image of one of the minor victims while forcing the victim to engage in a sex act. The image, recovered from Caldwell’s cell phone, depicted Caldwell wearing a uniquely designed belt, the same belt worn by Caldwell at the time of his arrest.
In March 2022, Caldwell travelled alone with both victims, out of state, where he repeatedly sexually abused them. Upon their return to Florida, both victims disclosed the sexual abuse to family members and law enforcement.
Caldwell’s sexual interest in children was confirmed upon law enforcement’s discovery of his collection of child sexual abuse material on a computer located during a search of the family’s home.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradenton Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris, Courtney Derry, Abigail King, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Lisa Thelwell.
Biloxi Restaurant and its Co-Owner Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Misbrand SeafoodRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Mississippi corporation operating as Mary Mahoney’s Old French House restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi, pled guilty today to conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud. A co-owner/manager of the restaurant also pled guilty to misbranding of seafood.
According to court documents, Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc., pled guilty to a felony Information, filed April 26, 2024, charging the corporation with conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud in connection with a scheme that began as early as 2002 and continued through November of 2019. Mahoney’s, founded in 1962, admitted that between December 2013 and November 2019, it and its co-conspirators, fraudulently sold as local premium species, approximately 58,750 pounds (over 29 tons) of fish that was frozen and imported from Africa, India, and South America. Additionally, Anthony Charles Cvitanovich, 55, a co-owner/manager at the restaurant, pled guilty to a felony Information, also filed April 26, 2024, charging him with misbranding of seafood during 2018 and 2019.
Cvitanovich admitted that between 2018 and 2019 alone, he was involved in mislabeling approximately 17,190 pounds of fish sold at the restaurant. The scheme involved the fraudulent sale of fish by Mahoney’s and its wholesale supplier that was described on Mahoney’s menu as premium higher priced local species, such as snapper and grouper from the Gulf of Mexico, when the fish was actually other species from abroad, including Lake Victoria Perch from Africa, Triple Tail from Suriname, and Unicorn Filefish from India. Genetic testing of fish by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the fraudulent scheme.
“When people spend their hard-earned dollars to enjoy the incredible local seafood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they should get what they paid for, not frozen fish from overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi. “Mislabeling food and defrauding customers are serious crimes, and this case will help convince restaurants and seafood suppliers that it is not worth lying to customers about what is on the menu.”
“U.S. consumers expect their seafood to be correctly identified. When sellers purposefully substitute one fish species for another, they deceive consumers and cause potential food safety hazards to be overlooked or misidentified by processors or end users,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above public health.”
Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc. and Anthony Charles Cvitanovich are scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2024. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Inc. faces a maximum penalty of five years’ probation and a $500,000 fine, or not more than the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss, whichever is greater. Cvitanovich faces a maximum penalty of three years of prison and a $10,000 fine. 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 made the announcement.
The Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones and Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting the case.