Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
20 June 2024
Averhealth to Pay over $1.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to Drug Tests Used in Michigan’s Children’s Protective Services & Foster Care ProgramsRead the Press Release
DETROIT– United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that Avertest, LLC, a forensic drug testing company based in Richmond, VA, and which does business nationwide under the name Averhealth, has agreed to pay $1,344,621 to settle allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) improper claims for payment for drug tests.
Joining in the announcement was Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
In 2019, Averhealth began performing drug screening and confirmation testing for the State of Michigan’s Children’s Protective Services and Foster Care programs under a contract with MDHHS. To pay for these services, MDHHS utilized funds from the Social Services Block Grant, which provides annual federal assistance to states to support social services programs and is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from May 15, 2019, through November 30, 2020, Averhealth violated the FCA when it knowingly submitted, or caused the submission of, claims for payment to MDHHS, and knowingly made statements material to those claims, which concerned positive drug test results for oral fluid samples that were not confirmed using a mass spectrometric method analytically different from the screening method, and did not conform to the terms of the contract between Averhealth and MDHHS.
“Averhealth failed to meet its commitments to MDHHS yet continued to claim entitlement to payment for its nonconforming services,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This outcome highlights our Office’s continued commitment to hold accountable any business or person who is dishonest in their dealings with programs funded by the Federal Government.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by Dr. Sarah Riley under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions allow a private party, known as a relator, to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Dr. Riley will receive $228,586 as part of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Riley v. Avertest, LLC d/b/a Averhealth, No. 2:21-cv-10560 (E.D. Mich.).
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Gentner from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability
Attack on officer in downtown Houston sends local man to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for assault of a federal officer after damaging two downtown buildings, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Justin Wade Prophet pleaded guilty March 25.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Prophet to serve 150 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Prophet’s childhood and mental health challenges made this sentencing one of the most difficult cases he has had. However, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offense warranted a higher term of imprisonment. The court felt the sentence was appropriate given the need to enforce respect for the law and to protect the public from future crimes.
On Oct. 26, 2023, Prophet was outside the federal courthouse in Houston during the early morning hours when he smashed a window with a long metal pole. He then walked to another building across the street, broke another window with the same pole and gained entry. While inside, he attempted to assault an individual who was on his way to work. He also damaged additional property.
Authorities from the federal courthouse confronted him shortly thereafter, at which time Prophet struck one of them with the pole. The officer shot Prophet in his lower extremities. Law enforcement immediately took Prophet into custody and transported him to the hospital.
Prophet will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Department of Homeland Security - Federal Protective Service and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barri Dean handled the sentencing.
Alamogordo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Alamogordo man pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the unregistered weapon used to shoot and kill Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson.
According to publicly available court documents, Jonah Apodaca, 31, provided a “sawed-off” shotgun to Dominic Cruz De La O which he later used to shoot and kill Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson. Apodaca’s DNA was located on the shotgun shell recovered from the chamber of the shotgun and ammunition from the magazine tube.
The Court ordered that Apodaca remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
At sentencing, Apodaca faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Apodaca will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
De La O was charged with possession of a firearm not registered with the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record and possession of a firearm not identified by a serial number. De La O remains in custody pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
24 Federally Indicted in San Antonio for Alleged Drug and Firearm TraffickingRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas announced at a press conference Thursday that 24 alleged members and associates of the Mexican American prison gang Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos were indicted in San Antonio for criminal charges related to their alleged drug and firearm trafficking.
Law enforcement arrested 19 alleged gang members and associates Tuesday in an operation involving federal, state and local agencies. Five of the 24 defendants were already in federal or state custody prior to Tuesday’s arrests.
The indictment carries 24 counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; conspiracy to traffic firearms; and more. If convicted, the defendants face varying ranges of time in prison, from maximum sentences of 15 or 20 years to penalties of five years to life in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Thank you to our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, led by the FBI and DEA in this case, for their ongoing commitment to investigating these issues in our communities and for their continued commitment to reducing violence, and firearm and drug crimes that plague our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Their professionalism, determination, and expertise help protect the safety of our citizens and allow our federal prosecutors to keep violent criminals out of our communities for years.”
“We are truly safer today because there are fewer firearms in the hands of bad actors — fewer kilos of meth, heroin and cocaine for sale in our community and one less trafficking organization doing business in South Texas,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI remains committed working with our partners in whatever way we can to reduce violent crime in our communities, throughout the state of Texas – and across the country.”
“These arrests will put a dent into HPL’s drug trafficking activities that have been their main source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division. Members rely on the money made outside to fund members behind bars and help HPL as an organization thrive at the devastating expense of our communities.”
The defendants arrested Tuesday are:
- Daniel Natividad aka “Danny Boy,” 50, of Hebronville
- Brian Zepeda aka “Get Down”, 39, of San Antonio
- Roberto Ibarra aka “Bobby,” 44, of Laredo
- Mike Rayas Carrillo aka “Gordo,” 37, of San Antonio
- Jesus Mendoza Jr. aka “Chivo,” 50, of San Antonio
- Gilberto Garcia aka “Gibo,” 42, of San Antonio
- Ramon Lozoya aka “Bulldog,” 41, of San Antonio
- Maximo Flores Jr., 44, of San Antonio
- Miguel Zamora Rosas aka “Eight Ball”, 39, of San Antonio
- Paul Garcia aka “Baby Paul”, 38, of San Antonio
- Abraham Pagan aka “Shank,” 44, of San Antonio
- Mark Anthony Avila, 43, of San Antonio
- Rudy Hugo Lopez, 34, of San Antonio
- Robert Davalos Alvarado aka “Pork Chop,” 41, of San Antonio
- Raymond Medina aka “Crime”, 35, of San Antonio
- Roger Hilburn, 33, of San Antonio
- Armando Perales aka “Pitbull,” 54, of San Antonio
- Ruben Rivera, 36, of San Antonio
- JR Perales, 31, of San Antonio
The following defendants were already in custody:
- Antonio Rios Jr. aka “Tone”, 33, of San Antonio
- Vidal Morales Jr. aka “Moe”, 49, of San Antonio
- Ronald Mendoza aka “Ronnie,” 41, of San Antonio
- Carlos Bernal aka “Guero,” 46, of San Antonio
- Adrian Calvillo aka “Token,” 40, of San Antonio
The FBI and DEA are leading the investigation with valuable assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Texas National Guard Counter Narcotics Taskforce, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of the Inspector General, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, San Antonio Police Department, Boerne Police Department, and the New Braunfels Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Nowinski and Fidel Esparza III are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
19 June 2024
Texas Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years in Pill Mill SchemeRead the Press Release
A Texas doctor who prescribed hydrocodone and other controlled substances to drug-seekers without legitimate medical purpose was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Dr. Leovares Mendez, 59, and his coconspirators, Dr. Cesar Pena-Rodriguez, 56, and recruiter Jorge Hernandez, 35, were indicted in February 2020. Dr Pena-Rodriguez and Mr. Hernandez pleaded guilty to trial, but Dr. Mendez elected to stand trial by jury. He was convicted in February 2024 of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substances and six counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and sentenced Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey.
“This defendant wasn’t practicing medicine – he was dealing drugs, plain and simple,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The vast majority of doctors prescribe opioids to ease suffering. But when medical professionals abuse their DEA registrations in ways that cause suffering, the Justice Department will bring the full force of the law to bear.”
“We will continue to investigate and seek prosecution against medical professionals who break the law and simply put, deal drugs,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “Not only did Dr. Mendez flagrantly dismiss his professional and ethical duties, evidence showed he attempted to conceal his criminal conduct by suggesting methods to thwart law enforcement intervention. He failed. DEA will continue to hold these rouge doctors responsible for their reckless and illegal behavior.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Dr. Mendez and Dr. Pena-Rodriguez, owners of Cumbre Medical Center, prescribed hydrocodone, alprazolam, and tramadol to “patients” including those brought to them by recruiter Jorge Hernandez.
They wrote the prescriptions for no legitimate medical purpose, without conducting medical exams, in return for cash payments of between $200 and $250.
In video and audio recordings introduced into evidence, undercover officers posing as patients requested medications by name and received prescriptions despite never having complained of pain. The undercover officers received the illegal prescriptions on multiple visits that spanned almost two years. On multiple occasions, Dr. Mendez coached the undercover officers about what to say if ever contacted law enforcement, but urged them to keep a low-profile so as not to attract the attention of any potential investigators.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donna Max, Rachael Jones, Marty Basu, and Renee Hunter prosecuted the case, with help from appellate liaisons Gail Hayworth and Amy Mitchell.
South Carolina Man Is Sentenced to 13 Years for String of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daquan Hampton, 27, of Clover, South Carolina, was sentenced on Monday to 13 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a string of armed robberies in Charlotte, 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, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2022, at approximately 11:22 p.m., a Waffle House employee was in the parking lot of the restaurant in Charlotte when two masked men approached him with guns drawn. The two men forced the employee inside the restaurant and demanded money from the cash registers. The employee replied that he was not able to open the safe without a key. At one point, one of the suspects, later identified as Hampton, used his firearm to pistol-whip the victim in the side of the head and took the victim’s fanny pack. Hampton and the other individual then exited the Waffle House through the back door.
Court records show that two days later, on June 10, 2022, a distraught Domino’s Pizza employee placed a call to 911 to report that two men had robbed the business at gunpoint, stealing cash. According to the victim, two masked men armed with black handguns had approached the victim, who was a delivery driver, while he was sitting in a car. The suspects forced the victims inside the restaurant at gunpoint. Upon entering, the suspects encountered another employee and held him at gunpoint as well while they demanded that the employees open the safe. One of the employees said it would take a while, and at that point Hampton started counting down from five, causing the employees to believe that they were going to be shot. Hampton then pistol‐whipped one of the employees in the back of the head. Hampton then fired three rounds at the safe, and shrapnel from the shots struck one of the employees in the hand, causing lacerations and bleeding. Hampton and his accomplice then forced both employees to the back of the business with guns pointed at their heads. Hampton and his accomplice fled with $125 in cash they had stolen from the business and $100 they took from an employee.
Approximately 18 hours after the Domino’s Pizza robbery, two masked men entered through the front door of a Papa John’s Pizza restaurant located in Charlotte. One of the men demanded money and ordered all six occupants to the back room where he made them get on the floor. The second man remained with the victims at gunpoint while the other had employees access the cash registers and safe. The employee could not open one of the registers, so one of the men pistol‐whipped him, causing a laceration to the victim’s head. The men took $880 from the store’s registers and fled out of the back door on foot.
On June 14, 2022, a CMPD officer conducted a traffic stop of Hampton’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Hampton was arrested after the officer recovered a firearm Hampton had attempted to discard during the traffic stop. Inside Hampton’s vehicle, law enforcement found marijuana, $1,417 in cash, and two loaded Glock 23 magazines.
On August 1, 2023, Hampton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and aiding and abetting, and possession and discharging of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Hampton is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alfredo De La Rosa and Regina Pack 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.
Kuna Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOISE – Justin Pedersen, 43, of Kuna, was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine in the Treasure Valley, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, between November and December 2023, Pedersen distributed methamphetamine to another person on four separate occasions, totaling 309 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also searched Pedersen’s residence as part of the investigation and located an additional pound of methamphetamine hidden in the wall of his residence.
Pedersen has a lengthy criminal history, which includes felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, witness intimidation, and domestic battery with traumatic injury.
“Idaho enjoys strong partnerships between federal and local law enforcement and, together, we will continue to target and remove dangerous drug dealers from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “If you deal drugs in Idaho, you will face the consequences.”
“I am grateful for the hard work of our federal partners, and specifically the Boise Police Department’s narcotics detectives who work hard every day to target for investigation, those who facilitate the importation and sale of dangerous and deadly illegal substances in our community,” said Boise Chief of Police Ron Winegar.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Pedersen to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Pedersen pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boise Police Department, and the Boise Area Narcotics and Drug Interdiction Team, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blackadar prosecuted the case.
###
Former Vice President and Branch Manager of Popular Bank Convicted of Fraud and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
Anuli Okeke, the former vice president and manager of a New York branch of Popular Bank was convicted yesterday afternoon by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all four counts of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The charges arose out of a scheme the defendant led to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Frederic Block. When sentenced, Okeke faces up to 30 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA-OIG); James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation New York Field Office (FBI); Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office (FDIC OIG); Brian Tucker, Special Agent-in-Charge, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Eastern Region; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent-in-Charge, Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Eastern Region Office (SBA-OIG), announced the verdict.
“While the global pandemic caused widespread economic and personal harm for so many, the defendant abused her trusted position at a bank to steal millions of dollars from programs designed to keep small businesses afloat and workers on payroll,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This verdict reaffirms that our Office and law enforcement partners continue to bring to justice those who took advantage of a global crisis to commit crimes.”
“The jury’s verdict confirms that Anuli Okeke’s actions were not only criminal but also exploitive, damaging the integrity of programs put in place to help those suffering during a time of national crisis. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who misuse the identities of others for their selfish devices,” stated SSA Inspector General Ennis. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work in this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case and holding Ms. Okeke accountable for her crimes.”
“Today the defendant in this case was held accountable for abusing her position of trust as a banker to facilitate millions of dollars of fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans in exchange for kickbacks. The defendant used these stolen funds to enrich herself while small businesses were struggling during the pandemic,” stated FDIC-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Tarasca. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the Nation’s financial system and hold accountable those individuals, like Ms. Okeke, who steal benefits designated to help those in need.”
“Anuli Okeke used her position to defraud the federal government of pandemic relief funds for her own personal gain and will now pay the price for her crimes,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Tucker, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold Ms. Okeke accountable.”
“The abuse of critical resources, intended to support small businesses during a time of unprecedented need, will not be tolerated,” stated SBA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge McCall-Braithwaite. “Today’s verdict is a testament to our unwavering dedication to protecting the integrity of SBA’s programs. Our collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners is essential to ensuring that those who defraud the government are brought to justice and the taxpayer interest are protected.”
COVID-19 Relief Overview
The CARES Act was enacted to provide emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the allocation of funds for the issuance of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses to receive unsecured loans on favorable terms, which they were required to use for specified expenses, including payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP provided for forgiveness of the loan if recipient businesses spent the proceeds on these specified expenses within a limited time period and used a certain percentage for payroll costs.
Another source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the EIDL program, which provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. Under the program, EIDL recipients were eligible to receive advances of up to $10,000 for small businesses within three days of applying for an EIDL (EIDL Advance). The amount of an EIDL Advance was determined based on the number of employees working for the applicant. The EIDL Advance did not have to be repaid.
Criminal Conduct
As proven at trial, Okeke, and her co-conspirators, both from within and outside the bank fabricated loan and tax documents and stole funds from the PPP and EIDL programs. Despite knowing that the PPP and EIDL applications contained false statements, and helping applicants make those false statements, Okeke signed each PPP loan application on behalf of the bank and submitted them for approval. Once the loan proceeds were disbursed to the borrowers, Okeke and her co-conspirators took kickbacks from the loan proceeds. The defendant also submitted her own fraudulent EIDL loan that contained false information. In addition, the defendant also took unauthorized commissions from legitimate PPP recipients.
As shown at trial, the defendant boasted about her earnings from the scheme. In handwritten notes found at her desk at work, the defendant wrote “I am making more than enough money,” “money comes to me easily,” “I am grateful I make $15k every month,” and “I have an extra $5000 every month.” Around the time of the scheme, the defendant’s bank accounts saw an influx of cash deposits.
Prior to the defendant’s conviction at trial, seven other co-conspirators pled guilty to wire and bank fraud conspiracy in connection with the defendant’s pandemic aid fraud conspiracy at the bank.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as well as the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Chand Edwards-Balfour and Adam Amir and Trial Attorney Jennifer Bilinkas are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Samuel Ronchetti, Michaela Ausbrooks, and April Ward.
The Defendant:
ANULI OKEKE
Age: 52
Bronx, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22 CR 20 (FB)
Convicted Felon Is Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Monday, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Deddrick Ray Ervin, 35, of Charlotte, to 46 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, 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, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to documents filed with the court and court proceedings, on December 12, 2022, law enforcement encountered Ervin while patrolling an area in Charlotte that had received numerous complaints and calls for service relating to criminal activity. Law enforcement encountered Ervin and attempted to stop Ervin’s vehicle, but Ervin did not comply. According to court records, law enforcement later located Ervin hiding in a shed and he was arrested. Law enforcement located a backpack in the shed that contained fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and recovered a firearm from the scene.
On August 8, 2023, Ervin pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ervin has a prior conviction in Georgia of felon in possession of a firearm, and a South Carolina state conviction for kidnapping, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Ervin is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa 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.
Co-owners of Rhode Island Health Care Centers Charged with Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – The co-owners of a Warwick-based holistic health care center have been charged in federal court with allegedly defrauding federal and private health care insurance providers out of nearly $1.9 million dollars by submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement for services that were not provided, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Brandon Nowak, 32, of Providence, and Jason Simmons, 32, of Foster, co-owners of Alternative Integrated Medicine, LLC (doing business as AIM Health), made initial appearances on Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on charges of health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, and filing false claims. The defendants were released on unsecured bond.
AIM Health is based in Warwick, with satellite offices located in Pawtucket, North Kingstown, and East Providence. Nowak serves as President and CEO, and. Simmons acts as the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Compliance Office of the company.
It is alleged in charging documents that, at Nowak’s direction, and with Simmons’ knowledge, AIM Health electronically submitted for payment claims for services that did not occur or were not covered, including such treatment as infrared therapy, hot and cold therapy, therapeutic activity, and self-care/home management training.
Additionally, it is alleged that AIM Health submitted reimbursement claims for acupuncture and evaluation and management office visits when the actual services provided were massages given by licensed massage therapists (a non-covered service); that the company billed for high complexity office visits without providing that level of service; that AIM modified codes on reimbursement forms to avoid triggering automatic denials for payment for services that were either not provided nor medically necessary; and that AIM billed for covered and non-covered services rendered by uncredentialed providers under the provider numbers of credentialed providers.
As a result of this conduct, it is alleged that AIM Health fraudulently obtained $1,872,330 in payments from government and private insurers to which AIM was not entitled to receive.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. McAdams and Rachna Vyas.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and the FBI, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General.
###
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 34+ Years for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Robert Lee Barringer, 49, of Charlotte, was sentenced on Monday to 412 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for the armed robbery of a Charlotte-area business, 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, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on July 26, 2021, at approximately 10:15 p.m., CMPD officers responded to the Fish House North, a business engaged in adult arcade games, in reference to a shooting and robbery. Officers encountered three victims on the scene, an employee, his wife, and a security guard who worked for the establishment. All three victims had suffered gunshot wounds and had sustained serious and extensive injuries. According to court documents, the victims stated that an individual, later identified as Barringer, had robbed the business. The victims indicated that Barringer had approached the business and as he was trying to force his way into the business, he began to shoot at the victims striking them. After Barringer entered the business, he shot his firearm several more times at the victims. Barringer then ordered one of the victims to hand over the keys to the register and forced another victim to open the register. Barringer stole $3,500 from the business and fled the scene.
After speaking with the victims, law enforcement determined that Barringer was a former employee who had been fired approximately a month prior. Crime scene investigators recovered 17 cartridge casings from the scene and observed multiple bullet holes within the business. On July 28, 2021, law enforcement located and arrested Barringer at a hotel in Charlotte.
On August 5, 2022, Barringer was found guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, and use, carry, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Barringer has a lengthy criminal history for federal and state convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Barringer will remain in federal custody pending designation of a federal facility by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hess and Timothy Sielaff 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.
Armed Fentanyl Trafficker Is Sentenced to 12+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chad Clay, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced on Monday to 151 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon, 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, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, from July of 2022 through October of 2022, Clay sold fentanyl and methamphetamine on multiple occasions to an undercover officer (UC) in Charlotte. In addition to the drugs, Clay sold the UC several firearms, including a handgun that had been reported stolen and a rifle with two high capacity magazines. Court records show that Clay has multiple prior convictions, including conspiracy to commit common law robbery and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Due to these criminal convictions, Clay is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On March 16, 2023, Clay pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Clay will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated federal Bureau of Prisons’ facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Sielaff 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.
18 June 2024
Zuni Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse Against ChildrenRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually abusing two young girls on the Pueblo of Zuni reservation in New Mexico.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Rodney Waikaniwa, 51, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, sexually assaulted two minor victims, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. Jane Doe 1 was assaulted between September 21, 2000, and September 20, 2001. Jane Doe 2 was assaulted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. He committed the crimes at shared residences with the victims within the Pueblo of Zuni. Jane Doe 1 was approximately 8 years old at the time of the abuse and Jane Doe 2 was approximately 6 years old at the time of the abuse.
Upon his release from prison, Waikaniwa will be subject to a 15-year term of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Woman going to prison for her role in narcotics conspiracy operating in Jamestown, NY, areaRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kylie Reeves, 31, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Reeves was part of a drug trafficking ring led by co-defendant Rocco Beardsley. Reeves distributed methamphetamine and heroin for Beardsley, who controlled the supply and set the prices. Reeves also allowed Beardsley to utilize her residence in Jamestown and she communicated with others on his behalf. In March 2020, Beardsley was arrested on New York State warrants following a traffic stop. Law enforcement officers recovered large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances from Beardsley’s vehicle. Investigator’s then searched Beardsley’s residence, recovering methamphetamine, a glass plate with white powder material, digital scale, and $185.00 in United States currency. Reeves and her three minor children also lived at the residence. Following Beardsley’s arrest, Reeves conducted drug trafficking activities on his behalf, communicating with co-conspirators, associates, suppliers, and customers in order to continue receiving proceeds. Beardsley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
# # # #
West Haven Woman Pleads Guilty to Diverting Narcotics from Dying VA Medical Center PatientsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, announced that TARA SEVERINO, 58, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to a charge of stemming from her diversion of narcotics from veterans under her care while she worked as a nurse at the West Haven VA Medical Center.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from January to July 2023, Severino was employed as a registered nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (the “VA”) in West Haven and was assigned to the VA’s Intensive Care Unit (“ICU”) for sick or dying patients. While employed at the VA ICU, Severino ingested fentanyl, hydromorphone, and oxycodone intended for patients in her care.
In some instances, Severino ingested the “waste” of a substance, meaning she administered part of the substance to a patient and ingested the remaining portion not used by the patient. In one instance, Severino repeatedly introduced fentanyl into the system of a braindead patient after claiming she observed him in pain and having a seizure. She introduced fentanyl to this patient approximately 19 times over a nine-day period so that she could divert some for herself.
In other instances, Severino ingested doses of hydromorphone and fentanyl meant for dying veterans. This affected treatment decisions made by other medical staff who believed that the patients had been receiving, and were unresponsive to, their prescribed narcotics.
In another instance, Severino volunteered to care for a patient not formally assigned to her, and diverted pain medication from him before he died.
In order to cover up her crimes, Severino misrepresented in VA medical records and tracking systems that the narcotics been properly administered to the patient or, in the case of excess narcotics, had been properly disposed of.
Severino pleaded guilty to obtaining controlled substances by fraud or subterfuge, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on September 12. She is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.
If you or someone you know may have been victimized by the actions of the Tara Severino while she was employed at the VA, please contact Special Agent Abraham Raymond at (202) 262-2337 or [email protected].
This matter is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Christopher Lembo.
United States Files Fair Housing Act Lawsuit Against Toll Brothers and Related Entities for Failure to Construct Apartments with Features Accessible to Persons with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has filed a federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) lawsuit against TOLL BROTHERS, INC. and TOLL BROTHERS REALTY TRUST (collectively, “TOLL BROTHERS”), relating to their failure to design and construct new apartment buildings so as to be accessible to persons with physical disabilities. The lawsuit also names certain TOLL BROTHERS affiliates as well as other entities that participated in the design or construction of these residential complexes, as well as a condominium association whose cooperation is essential to ensure retrofits. Upon filing suit, the United States also submitted to the Court a proposed consent decree with LENDLEASE (US) CONSTRUCTION LMB, INC. f/k/a BOVIS LEND LEASE LMB, INC., (“LENDLEASE”), which participated in the design and construction of one such building. This settlement is subject to the review and approval of the U.S. District Judge assigned to the case.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This is the 19th suit that this Office has filed to remedy the failure of real estate developers to comply with the Fair Housing Act. We appreciate Lendlease’s cooperation in taking responsibility for its actions so that more properties are more accessible to more people. This Office will remain vigilant in ensuring that developers and architects comply with the FHA and remedy inaccessible housing in this District.”
The FHA’s accessible design and construction provisions require multifamily housing complexes constructed after January 1991 to have basic features accessible to persons with disabilities.
According to the allegations in the Complaint:
The inaccessible conditions at TOLL BROTHERS’ buildings include excessively high thresholds at building entrances and entrances to common use areas, common use bathrooms that lack grab bars, excessively high thresholds at entrances to individual apartments and within the apartments, and bathrooms in individual apartments that lack sufficient clear floor space for people who use wheelchairs. These features in the common use areas of TOLL BROTHERS’ buildings, as well as in the buildings’ apartment interiors, did not meet the specifications set forth in the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines, Design Guidelines for Accessible/Adaptable Dwellings.
The Complaint identifies, by way of example, inaccessible conditions at the following five properties:
- The Sutton, at 959 First Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
- 49 North 8th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211 (“North 8th”). Based upon an investigation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), the Complaint names several entities as defendants that were involved in the design and construction of North 8th: LENDLEASE (with whom, as noted above, the Government has reached an agreement subject to Court approval); GREENBERGFARROW ARCHITECTS; TOLL LAND XIII LIMITED PARTNER; TOLL NORTHEAST LP COMPANY, INC.; and NORTH8 CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., which has been named as a defendant not because it created the accessible conditions but because its cooperation is essential to making retrofits to the property.
- 3000 Goldfinch Boulevard in Princeton, New Jersey (“Parc at Princeton Junction”). The Complaint names TB PRINCETON VILLAGE LLC as a developer of the Parc at Princeton Junction.
- 134 Plymouth Road in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania (“Parc Plymouth Meeting”). The Complaint names TB-BDN PLYMOUTH APARTMENTS as a developer of Parc Plymouth Meeting.
- 10 Provost Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302.
Similar inaccessible conditions existed at nine additional properties: Emerson at Edge on the Hudson, 203 Legend Drive, in Sleepy Hollow, New York; 160 Morgan Street in Jersey City, New Jersey; 527 Old Bridge Turnpike in East Brunswick, New Jersey; 900 Wessex Place in Princeton, New Jersey; 45 North Main Street in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; 275 2nd Avenue in Needham, Massachusetts; 2150 Astoria Circle in Herndon, Virginia; and 1011 1st Street, SE and 200 K Street, NE in Washington, D.C.
Due to the inaccessible conditions at the buildings they designed and constructed, TOLL BROTHERS engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of rights protected by the FHA and denied such rights to people with disabilities. The Complaint seeks a court order directing TOLL BROTHERS to retrofit individual apartments as well as the public and common use areas of the buildings so that they are accessible, to adopt policies and procedures to ensure FHA compliance in future constructions, and to compensate people who suffered discrimination due to the inaccessible conditions.
Under the settlement with LENDLEASE, LENDLEASE agreed to establish procedures to ensure FHA compliance at future development projects and agreed to institute policies and training to ensure that their employees and agents will comply with the FHA’s accessibility requirements. LENDLEASE also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $10,000, commensurate with its role in designing and/or constructing North 8th.
People who believe they may have experienced discrimination due to the inaccessible conditions at the above-named buildings developed by TOLL BROTHERS may contact the Civil Rights Complaint account at [email protected], use the Civil Rights Complaint Form available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/civilrights.html, or send a written report to:
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York
86 Chambers Street, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10007
Attention: Chief, Civil Rights Unit
The suit against TOLL BROTHERS is the 19th lawsuit filed by this Office with developers and architects to remedy inaccessible housing in this District, including suits against The Durst Organization, Glenwood Management, Silverstein Properties, Related Companies, and Atlantic Development.
* * *
Mr. Williams thanked HUD for its assistance on the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Kennedy and Danielle J. Marryshow are charge of the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors and Celebrates Historical Legacy of JuneteenthRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that she will join with Federal, State, and Local leaders, in celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
“Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865, more than two years after the emancipation proclamation took effect, when Major General Gordon Granger landed troops in Galveston, Texas and announced all enslaved persons in that state were now free,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “It is a chance to celebrate the progress made in the fight for civil rights. It is also a day to recognize the work still to be done and recommit ourselves to ensuring freedom and justice for all.”
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office commitment to vigorously enforcing civil rights laws, the office’s United Against Hate program directly connects the United States Attorney’s Office and its local and federal law enforcement partners with a diverse group of community organizations to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. This community outreach program seeks to address the chronic underreporting of hate crimes and hate incidents and build strong relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve to share resources and respond to potential unlawful acts of hate more effectively. Consistent with this program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office created a dedicated hotline and online portal for complaints of civil rights violations in Eastern Washington.
U.S. Attorney Waldref further emphasized everyone has a duty to help realize the goal of protecting marginalized groups and the public from hate-motivated crimes. “Working together we can create an Eastern Washington of shared values and foster hope that our communities can be safer, stronger, and more inclusive.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s online civil rights complaint form is available here. The form can be emailed to [email protected], or concerns can be shared by leaving a voice mail for our Civil Rights Team at (509) 835-6306.
Two Men Charged with Armed Carjacking and Possession of A MachinegunRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrests of JOSE RIVERA and JOMAR CRESPO for the armed carjacking of the personal vehicle used by a Sergeant for the NYPD. During the incident, both RIVERA and CRESPO brandished firearms, including a .40-caliber Glock with a “switch” that converts the semiautomatic pistol into an automatically firing machinegun and a 9-millimeter Glock with an extended magazine. The defendants were arrested on June 15, 2024, in Manhattan and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, armed with a machinegun and semi-automatic handgun, both with extended magazines, the defendants committed a brazen and terrifying act of violence against a member of law enforcement when they stole his car at gunpoint. Whether cop or civilian, anyone victimized by this sort of crime can count on my Office to seek swift justice.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: “Carjacking is an extreme act of violence that terrorizes communities and senselessly puts innocent lives in danger. I thank the men and women of the ATF/NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force, the NYPD, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NY for bringing these individuals swiftly to justice. We will expend all necessary resources to ensure that offenders like these defendants are quickly brought to justice and punished to the maximum extent of the law. ATF will continue to work diligently with our local, state, and federal partners to keep our streets safe.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The NYPD’s swift apprehension of the men who allegedly committed this brazen armed carjacking should serve as a warning to others that criminal acts in New York City will never be tolerated. I thank the prosecutors in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District for their steadfast partnership and for demonstrating that egregious affronts to public safety will always face the strictest of consequences.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint and statements made in public court proceedings:1
On the evening of June 14, 2024, in Harlem, JOSE RIVERA and JOMAR CRESPO committed a gunpoint carjacking during which they stole the personal vehicle (the “Car”) of an NYPD Sergeant (the “Victim”). Specifically, RIVERA and CRESPO approached the Victim’s Car from behind, one on the driver’s side and the other on the passenger’s side. Both RIVERA and CRESPO wore black clothing and facemasks, and both brandished handguns at the Victim. After ordering the Victim to turn over his keys, RIVERA and CRESPO drove off in the Car, traveling to the vicinity of West 138th Street and Broadway, where RIVERA and CRESPO were captured on various surveillance cameras, as seen below:
NYPD officers apprehended RIVERA and CRESPO after a foot chase, during which they discarded two firearms (“Firearm-1” and “Firearm-2,” respectively). Firearm-1 was determined to be a loaded Glock 27 .40-caliber pistol equipped with what appears to be a Glock automatic switch device (the “Glock Switch”), which, if operable, would cause Firearm-1 to automatically shoot more than one shot by a single function of trigger. Firearm-2 was determined to be a loaded Glock 17 9-millimeter pistol with an extended magazine that could hold up to approximately 30 rounds of ammunition. Both Firearm-1 and Firearm-2 had flashlights mounted beneath their barrels. Photographs of Firearm-1 and Firearm-2 appear below:
* * *
JOSE RIVERA, 20, and JOMAR CRESPO, 21, both of Waterbury, Connecticut, are charged with carjacking, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison; using and carrying firearms, including a machinegun, during and in relation to the carjacking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life in prison; and possessing a machinegun, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the ATF, the NYPD, and NYPD Task Force Officers from the Special Investigations Division assigned to the Southern District of New York.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello and Marguerite B. Colson are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Taylor Drug Store Agrees to Pay Civil Penalty to Resolve Alleged Recordkeeping Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Taylor Drug Store, a pharmacy located in Pineville, Kentucky, agreed to pay $94,432.50 in civil penalties to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”).
Under the CSA, pharmacies authorized to possess controlled substances are required to maintain complete and accurate records of its inventory, including records of when the controlled substances are sold, distributed to patients, or disposed. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) has the authority to inspect the records of these pharmacies and verify that their controlled substance records are complete and accurate in compliance with the CSA.
In this case, the Government alleged that Taylor Drug Store violated the CSA by failing to maintain complete and accurate records of its controlled substance inventories from August 2019 to August 2021. In an audit performed by the DEA, Taylor Drug Store’s records did not account for the dispensation or disposal of over 4,500 dosage units of highly addictive substances, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, buprenorphine, and alprazolam.
The recordkeeping provisions of the CSA are designed to protect the public from the dangers posed by highly addictive or dangerous controlled substances, such as opioids, being diverted into the illicit market. The CSA creates a closed system that tracks controlled substances from manufacture through distributor, to the ultimate end-user, allowing the DEA to monitor the flow of controlled substances in the United States at every juncture. When a pharmacy fails to maintain complete and accurate records, the system is at risk for illegal diversion into the community.
“These procedures are critical to public safety and pharmacies simply must keep track of these controlled substances,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Especially in areas like ours, that are acutely affected by severe drug abuse, these recordkeeping requirements play an essential role in ensuring that controlled substances maintained by pharmacies are not ultimately diverted for illegitimate purposes.”
“As DEA registrants dispensing controlled substances, pharmacies have an obligation to maintain accurate recordkeeping in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act, and Taylor Drug Store fell short of their obligation,” said Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “A substantial fine, as well as the implementation of corrective measures, should ensure that Taylor Drug Store meets the CSA’s mandatory recordkeeping requirements going forward.”
The DEA and Taylor Drug Store also entered into a Memorandum of Agreement as part of the settlement. Taylor Drug Store agreed to submit compliance reports to DEA and to provide employee training on the identification and reporting of suspected drug abuse or diversion.
The settlement considered the penalties associated with the alleged violations, as well as Taylor Drug Store’s financial ability-to-pay.
The Federal Government is committed to combating the prescription opioid crisis by enforcing the requirements of the Controlled Substances Act that prevent the illegal diversion of opioids. Anyone with concerns about prescription drug diversion can report them to the DEA, by submitting a tip at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s London Resident Office Diversion Group. Assistant United States Attorney Katie Sheridan represented the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
– END –
Staten Island Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and the Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Causing Death and Serious InjuryRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Keith Wyche was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 40 years in prison for distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing the death of a Staten Island man, distribution of heroin causing the overdose of a Staten Island woman, conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Wyche and co-defendant Oneil Allen were convicted by a federal jury in February 2023 following a three-week trial. Allen was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Both defendants have been punished with very long jail sentences for pushing drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, which tragically claimed the life of one victim and nearly killed another member of our Staten Island community,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I commend the outstanding work of the NYPD and the FBI in determining who was responsible for trafficking these drugs and holding them accountable for the pain, death and harm they caused.”
“Addiction is an unbelievably insidious and grotesque demon. Drugs envelop and take over people's lives, and the criminals who supply them use the disease to cash in on everyone else's pain. Both Wyche and Allen have now been served justice for the injustice they inflicted on their victims,” stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Dennehy.
“Today’s sentencing marks a victory in the NYPD’s battle against illicit drug trafficking and serves as a reminder of our unwavering commitment to hold accountable anyone who puts monetary gain above the lives of New Yorkers,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “We vow to keep pursuing those who peddle illegal drugs in our neighborhoods, and we commend all of our law enforcement partners for their continuing efforts to help stem the opioid crisis.”
Between February 2017 and September 2018, the defendants operated a drug delivery service in Staten Island selling heroin and fentanyl and preying upon those suffering from narcotics addiction. Each day, Wyche and Allen sent out a mass text message advertising that they were open for business. After receiving orders from their customers, the defendants would drive to a preselected location and hand deliver drugs. The defendants would then return to a New Jersey apartment where they packaged the narcotics.
On April 18, 2017, a 43-year-old Staten Island man (John Doe) was found dead in his bathroom by his father. When NYPD detectives responded, they found a syringe containing fentanyl on the floor near the deceased victim’s body along with glassines containing fentanyl. The detectives reviewed the victim’s phone and found recent text messages between him and a person named “Marco 5” who was later revealed to be Wyche.
On October 27, 2017, a then-28-year-old Staten Island woman (Jane Doe) purchased heroin from the defendants, ingested it, and promptly suffered an overdose. First responders saved her life by quickly administering Narcan and transporting her to the hospital. A review of text messages in Jane Doe’s phone showed messages similar to those found in John Doe’s phone. Jane Doe testified at trial that she frequently purchased heroin from the defendants and later assisted law enforcement in gathering additional evidence against them.
The case is being handled by the Organized Crime and Gangs Section and the General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Irisa Chen and Gilbert Rein are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Teri Carby. Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendants:
KEITH WYCHE
Age: 38
Staten Island, New YorkONEIL ALLEN
Age: 31
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-561 (S-1) (DLI)
Starkville Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced today to over seven years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Lashadus Harris, 33, previously pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Harris to 87 months in prison following his drug trafficking conviction. Upon release from prison, Harris will serve a three-year term of supervised release. Harris was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals after sentencing.
“This defendant is a repeat offender who continued to sell dangerous narcotics in his community,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Thanks to the hard work of FBI, the Starkville Police Department and AUSA Robert Mims, he will no longer be retailing illegal drugs in Starkville.”
“The FBI is committed to ensuring that our communities remain safe,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff. “When individuals, like Mr. Harris, continuously introduce illegal narcotics into the community, this becomes a danger to society. It is imperative the FBI, DOJ and our Starkville partners fully prosecute these offenders to the extent allowed.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Starkville Police Department.
St. Paul Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition as a Felon and other ViolationsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 77 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, and to a consecutive 10 months in prison for violating his conditions of federal supervised release, followed by three years of additional supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 5, 2023, Nakia Marquire Martin, 31, a female acquaintance, and her seven-year-old daughter, went to a sporting goods store in Woodbury, MN. While at the store the female purchased a semiautomatic .40-caliber firearm, while Martin walked into the ammunition section, took a 50-round box of.40-caliber ammunition from the shelf, and left the store with the ammunition without paying for it. Martin was on federal supervised release at the time for a 2018 firearms conviction.
Because Martin has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Martin pleaded guilty on January 4, 2024, to one count of felon in possession of ammunition. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Ann D. Montgomery. Martin was also sentenced to an additional 10 months, to be served consecutively to his 77 months in prison, for violating his supervised release terms and conditions resulting from the 2018 federal conviction.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Saint Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
St. Paul Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography in Cyberstalking and Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release for producing a video depicting his sexual abuse of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, beginning in July 2019 through February 2023, Chedor TV, 40, created multiple online personas on apps such as Discord and Snapchat to cyberstalk a minor victim. He used aliases such as “Chang Vang” and “Hailey Ly” to pose as a minor and communicate with the minor victim, sending her sexually explicit pictures. During this time, while the minor victim was unaware that TV was cyberstalking her using these online aliases, TV also secretly recorded the minor victim while she was naked in the shower at his residence. TV also recorded a sexually explicit video depicting the minor victim while she was asleep at his residence. When the minor victim tried to cease contact with TV’s online persona “Chang,” TV threatened to share publicly explicit videos and images he took of the minor victim without her knowledge, causing her substantial emotional distress.
TV was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud. During sentencing, Judge Tostrud remarked that all of TV’s conduct towards the minor victim “is just appalling” and that the produced sexual abuse imagery “reflects depravity.” Judge Tostrud also reflected that TV’s conduct was “likely to have a grave, lifelong impact” on the minor victim and her family. TV pleaded guilty on January 10, 2024, to one count of production of child pornography and admitted to cyberstalking the minor victim in his plea.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department and the FBI. It 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Teacher’s Killer Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Terms in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced the man who fatally shot a pregnant St. Louis schoolteacher at the behest of her boyfriend to two consecutive terms of life in prison.
Judge White called Phillip J. Cutler’s crime the “most heinous” he had seen in his career.
A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in March found Cutler, 46, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, guilty of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and the murder-for-hire of Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child, Micah Leigh, in 2016.
Peters’ boyfriend, Cornelius M. Green, 42, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty on Feb. 28, 2024, to the same charges and admitted hiring Cutler, his longtime friend, to kill Peters. Peters was 31 weeks pregnant with Green’s child. Green was principal of Carr Lane Middle School and used cash stolen from the school to fund the murder.
Green, who was also involved in sexual relationships with several other women and was separated from his wife, researched ways to secretly end the pregnancy after learning that Peters was pregnant, according to a sentencing memo filed by the government. When that plan failed, he contacted Cutler, a childhood friend, and they planned the murder in a series of phone calls.
On March 7, 2016, Green sent Cutler a UPS package containing $2,500 cash.
On March 21, Cutler arrived in St. Louis. Green took a train trip to Chicago to establish his alibi for the murder, giving Cutler the keys to his Kia Optima and Peters’ apartment.
On March 24, Cutler drove Green’s car to Peters’ apartment in the 4200 block of West Pine in St. Louis, let himself in using Green’s keys, and shot Peters in the eye using a potato as a silencer. Peters was working on baby shower invitations at the time she was killed.
Green ensured there would be potatoes in the residence prior to Cutler’s arrival by going shopping with Peters.
At 6:14 a.m. the next morning, Cutler confirmed to Green that Jocelyn and the baby had been killed. Green then bought his return train ticket, and Cutler then went to North Riverfront Park in St. Louis to dispose of evidence.
Upon arriving back in St. Louis, Green got his car back from Cutler and went to Peters’ apartment, where he called 911 to report her death. He pretended he had no knowledge of the circumstances leading to the deaths. Cutler was detained for questioning that same night, after he attempted to retrieve the Kia Optima from the crime scene at Green’s direction.
When told he was being detained, Cutler ate two pieces of paper from a notebook in his pocket.
Peters’ friends and family repeatedly described her as “magic,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said in court Tuesday. Peters’ mother and aunt spoke about the impact of her death on their family. Dr. Nicole Conaway, principal at Mann Elementary School when Peters taught there, also spoke. She called Peters a “natural teacher” who was a “bright light” wherever she went and would start each school day “full of joy.” Dr. Conaway, who had to break the news of Peters’ murder to her 23 third-grade students, said little seemed to console the children or adults at Mann in the days after her death. She said she was called to Peters’ former classroom one day to find a student threatening to throw himself off a balcony in the stairwell, saying he “hated life and wanted to go be with Ms. Peters.”
Green is scheduled to be sentenced June 25. As part of the plea, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has agreed to dismiss their case against Green for the murders if he is sentenced to life in federal prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and the FBI investigated the case, which is being prosecuted in cooperation with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Becker and Zachary Bluestone are prosecuting the case. Former SLMPD Detective Mark Biondolino was the case agent.
Southern California Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Holly Danielle Adams, 34, of Indio, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and to conspiring to launder money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2022, Adams and co-conspirator Devlin Hosner, 35, operated vendor accounts on the dark web marketplaces known as ToRReZ and Dark0de. Adams and Hosner generated hundreds of thousands of dollars selling counterfeit oxycodone pills pressed with fentanyl, after which they laundered the proceeds using cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools.
In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an address where Adams and Hosner were residing. After officers announced their presence, Hosner attempted to impede their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Adams and Hosner were arrested and subsequently released by state authorities but resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web a few months later while they were unknowingly under investigation by federal law enforcement agents.
In March 2022, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Adams and Hosner were temporarily residing. Officers seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed oxycodone pills and sixty grams of methamphetamine from this hotel room and arrested the conspirators on federal charges.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
Hosner is detained pending trial. The charges are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Adams is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Adams faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $1 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to over 30 Years for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Aaron T. Simmons, 26, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 365 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of sex trafficking of a minor.
“This significant prison sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s brutal conduct inflicted on victims, including a minor, for many months” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sexual exploitation of victims in this manner robs them of their freedom, dignity and sense of security, and stands to scar them for life. Such venal, rapacious conduct is unacceptable in our society. The Justice Department will use all the tools at its disposal to prosecute sex traffickers and to seek justice for the survivors of human trafficking.”
“Our office will continue to bring every resource we have to bear to stop human trafficking in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Those who victimize human beings, especially children, in this heinous manner will be held accountable.”
According to court documents, the defendant used physical beatings, threats, intimidation, control and psychological manipulation to coerce three adult victims to engage in repeated commercial sex acts in the Greenville area between August 2019 and August 2020. The defendant also provided a 17-year-old minor victim for commercial sex acts in the Greenville area between August 2019 and November 2019.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and Greenville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Fisher Sherard for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Six Individuals Sentenced for Drug Trafficking, Firearms Violations, and MurderRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The last defendant prosecuted in the case for drug trafficking, firearms violations and various murders, including the murder of banker Maurice Spagnoletti, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison and eight years of supervised release. Alex Burgos-Amaro pleaded guilty to Count one and two of the indictment on December 27, 2023.
On June 5, the following three individuals were sentenced to life in prison:
Luis Carmona-Bernacet, a.k.a. “Canito Cumbre” was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in the murder of William Castro-Vidot.
Yadiel Serrano-Canales, a.k.a. “Motombo” was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in the murder of Maurice Spagnoletti.
Rolando Rivera-Solis was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in the murder of Maurice Spagnoletti.
On March 11, 2024, Alan Lugo-Montalvo was sentenced to 360 months (30 years) in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and Fabiany Almestica-Monge was sentenced to 540 months (45 years) in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All defendants were convicted by a jury on May 11, 2023.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, since the year 2000 and continuing up to 2014, in the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Guaynabo, and Bayamón, the defendants were members of an enterprise engaged in murder and drug trafficking.
On May 11, 2023, four defendants were found guilty of using firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes. One defendant was found guilty with counseling, commanding, inducing and procuring each other to carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and in the course of that crime, causing the death of William Castro on December 30, 2002. In regard to the murder of Maurice Spagnoletti, defendants Serrano-Canales and Rivera-Solis aided and abetted each other with counseling, commanding, inducing and procuring each other to carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and in the course of that crime, causing the death of Maurice Spagnoletti.
“The successful prosecution of the defendants’ heinous crimes was the result of exhaustive investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The sentences imposed send a message that the U.S. justice system remains a powerful tool to bring perpetrators of violent crime to justice and closure to victims’ families.”
“It has been a long and arduous investigative and judicial process and these sentencings serve as a testament to the undying dedication of the FBI agents, prosecutors, police officers, and all the brave citizens who worked together to ensure justice was served,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “We continue to stand steadfastly with the victims’ loved ones and thank the US Attorney’s Office for believing in the case and fighting alongside us to bring justice to these grieving families.”
The FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenón-Matos, Alberto López-Rocafort, Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández, and Gregory Conner prosecuted the case.
###
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Sex Trafficking of an Adult by Force and Coercion. The sentencing took place on June 17, 2024.
Odarie Massiah, age 34, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Massiah was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He was found guilty on March 14, 2024, following a three-day court trial.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between July 1, 2020, and September 24, 2022, when Massiah recruited and forced an adult woman to engage in prostitution. Massiah used physical and emotional abuse to gain the victim’s compliance. Massiah required the woman to give him the money received from the forced prostitution. Massiah fled the state with his victim after a warrant for his arrest was issued in Minnehaha County for physically assaulting her by strangulation on two separate occasions. Massiah was apprehended in Tennessee with his victim in August of 2022.
“Odarie Massiah went to great lengths to keep this victim engaged in prostitution,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell. “He manipulated her; he physically abused her; and he used the money she made through prostitution to support his own lifestyle. Massiah’s conviction and subsequent sentence demonstrate our office’s commitment to seeking justice on behalf of the victims of these reprehensible crimes. We do this work alongside our local and federal partners, whose persistence in identifying and investigating sex trafficking makes our communities safer places to live.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Clapper and Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Massiah was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shiprock Woman Charged with Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman was charged by indictment with straw purchase of a firearm which was later used in a murder following a violent day-long crime spree in Gallup, New Mexico.
Brittania Navaho, 28, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on April 24, 2024, Navaho knowingly purchased a firearm on behalf of another person, knowing that person intended to use the firearm in furtherance of a felony.
If convicted of the current charges, Navaho faces up to 25 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter for deadly assault on the Navajo Nation Reservation.
According to publicly available court documents, on June 26, 2022, Morrie Lee Begaye, 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, started a fight with John Doe at a residence in Shiprock. During the physical altercation, Begaye punched and kick John Doe in the head and body while they were on the ground. John Doe died because of the injuries Begaye inflicted with extreme disregard for human life.
The Court ordered that Begaye remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
At sentencing, Begaye faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Begaye will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Brittany DuChaussee are prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
Roseville Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alex Altoh, 64, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between January 2021 and November 2021, Altoh and his co-defendant Oumar Sidibe, 30, were involved in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds from two large business email compromise schemes, in which two corporate victims were tricked into making payments to bank accounts controlled by Altoh and another person, rather than to the intended beneficiaries of the payments. Altoh, Sidibe, and others then quickly withdrew a large portion of the funds by way of check deposits, which effectively transferred the funds, concealed their unlawful nature, and prevented them from being clawed back. Law enforcement traced Altoh and Sidibe to about $3.9 million in laundered fraud proceeds. As part of his plea agreement, Altoh agreed to pay restitution on an amount of at least $1,478,000.
Sidibe is yet to be apprehended. The charges against him are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Matthew Thuesen are prosecuting the case.
Altoh is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Altoh faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering conspiracy. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Romanian National Admits Role in 2007 Connecticut Home InvasionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEFAN ALEXANDRU BARABAS, 38, a citizen of Romania, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to a charge stemming from his participation in a 2007 Connecticut home invasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court in this case and related cases, shortly before midnight on April 15, 2007, Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu, wearing masks and brandishing knives and facsimile firearms, entered a home in South Kent, Connecticut. The intruders bound and blindfolded two adult victims and injected each with a substance the intruders claimed was a deadly virus. The intruders ordered the victims to pay $8.5 million or else they would be left to die from the lethal injection. When it became clear that the victims were not in position to meet the intruders’ demands, the intruders drugged the two residents with a sleeping aid and fled in the homeowner’s Jeep Cherokee.
The stolen Jeep Cherokee was abandoned the next morning at a Home Depot in New Rochelle, New York. On April 21, 2007, an accordion case washed ashore in Jamaica Bay. The content of the case included a stun gun, a 12-inch knife, a black plastic Airsoft gun, a crowbar, syringes, sleeping pills, latex gloves, and a laminated telephone card with the South Kent address of the victims.
In 2010, an investigator from the Connecticut State Police connected a partial Pennsylvania license plate, seen by a witness near the victims’ estate on the night of the crime, to a car owned by Michael N. Kennedy. Kennedy had formerly shared an address with Emmanuel Nicolescu, who had been employed by the victim. The investigator then discovered that the data for the cell tower near the New Rochelle Home Depot contained a call by a phone number registered to Emmanuel Nicolescu, minutes after the Jeep was abandoned. Shortly after that, investigators from the State Police and FBI gathered Emanuel Nicolescu’s DNA and found that it partially matched a sample from the Jeep’s steering wheel.
As to the accordion case, investigators learned that Kennedy’s father was a professional accordion player, and witnesses later identified the knife in the accordion case as a gift given to Emanuel Nicolescu by his father-in-law.
The investigation revealed that Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy worked with Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu to commit the crime. Barabas’ co-conspirators planned the home invasion, which included the research and purchase of implements necessary for the crime, such as two-way radios, stun guns and imitation pistols. On the night of April 15, 2007, Kennedy drove Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Nicolescu to a location near the South Kent home, and then picked them up the following morning in New Rochelle at the location where the intruders abandoned the stolen Jeep.
Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, Alexandru Nicolescu, and Kennedy fled the U.S. during the investigation. Emanuel Nicolescu returned to the U.S. and was arrested in Illinois in January 2011. Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy were charged by indictment in February 2011, and Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu were charged by indictment in November 2012.
Barabas was a fugitive until his arrest in Hungary on August 16, 2022.
Barabas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, the parties have agreed that a sentence of between of between 72 months and 84 months of imprisonment is appropriate in this case.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for September 11. Barabas has been detained since his arrest.
On March 22, 2012, a jury in New Haven found Emanuel Nicolescu guilty of attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On August 17, 2012, he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment.
Alexandru Nicolescu was arrested on November 14, 2013, in the United Kingdom. On January 8, 2016, he pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 15, 2019, he was sentenced to 121 months of imprisonment.
Kennedy, also known as Nicolae Helerea, a dual citizen of Romania and the U.S., voluntarily returned to the U.S. from Romania and, on November 5, 2012, pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 4, 2016, he was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and New York City Police Department. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Hungarian authorities, and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police for their assistance in this case.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
Robert McLane Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Auto Dealer EmployerRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont. - The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Robert McLane, 36, of Webster, Vermont, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss released McLane on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for October 31, 2024.
Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed an information charging McLane with mail fraud. McLane pleaded guilty to this charge today. According to the information, between approximately March 2019 and September 23, 2022, McLane was employed by Formula Nissan, Inc., an automobile sales and service dealership located in central Vermont. During this period, McLane served as the Parts Manager and then the Director of Parts and Service at Formula Nissan. In his positions, McLane oversaw the parts and service departments; supervised other employees; and ordered, received, and paid for automotive parts needed in Formula Nissan’s operations. In ordering, receiving, and paying for parts, McLane typically communicated with Formula Nissan’s parts supplier, Nissan North America, using dealer management software.
Starting around January 2021 and continuing until September 2022, McLane began defrauding Formula Nissan by ordering certain vehicle parts from Nissan North America. Many of the parts McLane ordered were vehicle suspension lift kits. The cost to Formula Nissan of each lift kit was in the $2,300 to $2,900 range. Nissan North America billed, and Formula Nissan subsequently paid, for the lift kits McLane had ordered.
As part of the scheme, McLane refrained from ordering the lift kits via the dealer management software parts ordering system. As a result of this bypass, the parts McLane ordered were not entered into Formula Nissan’s inventory of parts-on-hand.
Instead of selling the lift kits for the benefit of Formula Nissan, McLane advertised them for sale on Facebook at prices substantially discounted from their wholesale cost to Formula Nissan. Over the course of the scheme, McLane sold more than 200 lift kits to persons around the United States. Purchasers paid for the lift kits via transfers of funds to a personal PayPal account that McLane maintained in his own name. He shipped lift kits to his own customers by using Formula Nissan’s Federal Express account. McLane then used the fraudulently obtained proceeds for his own benefit.
As a result of McLane’s fraud, Formula Nissan and its insurance company suffered an out-of-pocket loss of at least $575,000.
McLane faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the gross loss caused by the fraud. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
McLane is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steve Barth. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Robbinsdale Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Machineguns, AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Robbinsdale man has been indicted for illegally possessing machineguns, firearms, and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on or about November 2, 2023, Ronnie Bila Shaka, 42, knowingly possessed three 9mm pistols and two pistols equipped with a machinegun conversion device commonly known as a “switch” or “auto sear,” which enables the weapon to be fired as a fully automatic by a single pull of the trigger. Shaka also possessed multiple rounds of ammunition.
Because Shaka has prior felony convictions in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Shaka with one count of possessing firearms as a felon, one count of unlawful possession of machineguns, and one count of possessing ammunition as a felon. Shaka was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Robbinsdale Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Crystal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth S. Shnider is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rikers Island Corrections Officer Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Conspiring to Smuggle Contraband in Exchange for BribesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JASON SKEET was sentenced to 37 months in prison for conspiring to smuggle contraband to inmates at Rikers Island in exchange for bribes between January 2020 and June 2022. SKEET smuggled contraband, including marijuana, to inmates approximately 100 times during that period. SKEET previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery before U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jason Skeet flagrantly abused his position of public trust by repeatedly smuggling contraband to inmates in exchange for bribes. Rikers Island is less safe, for inmates and officers alike, when corrections officers accept bribes to smuggle contraband. This prosecution and today’s sentence reflect this Office’s commitment to bring accountability to those in the corrections system who abuse their positions of trust.”
According to the Complaint, the Information, court filings, and public court proceedings:
From approximately January 2020 through June 2022, the defendant conspired with others to smuggle contraband, including marijuana, cigarettes, and food, to inmates housed at the Northern Infirmary Command on Rikers Island in exchange for bribes. The defendant smuggled contraband for inmates housed on Rikers Island approximately 100 times between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and June 2022 in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments.
For example, on April 20 and May 9, 2022, an inmate (“Inmate-1”), using a contraband cellphone, texted the defendant requesting cigarettes and marijuana. On each occasion, SKEET agreed to smuggle in the contraband in exchange for $1,000, and Inmate-1 proceeded to transfer $1,000 via CashApp into an account identified by SKEET. With respect to the May 9, 2022, contraband request, SKEET, referencing two Ziploc bags containing marijuana, texted Inmate-1, in part, “two BIG zip coming your way.” The contraband cellphone used by Inmate-1 was later recovered by law enforcement and found to contain the below photographs, taken only a few days after SKEET agreed to smuggle bags of marijuana for Inmate-1.
SKEET later acknowledged during a voluntary interview with law enforcement officers that he smuggled contraband to inmates on Rikers Island approximately 100 times since the start of the pandemic in exchange for bribes.
In imposing a sentence at the top of the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, Judge Rearden remarked that SKEET’s “conduct was serious and dangerous and reflected an extraordinary lack of respect for the law.”
* * *
In addition to the prison term, SKEET, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $45,644.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Z. Margulies, Jonathan E. Rebold, and Derek Wikstrom are in charge of the prosecution.
Postal employee ordered to pay restitution for COVID payroll protection loan fraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A Southaven woman was ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution following her conviction for making a false application for and receiving COVID-19 Payroll Protection loans.
According to court records, LaSonja Jones, 42, previously pled guilty to applying for PPP COVID-19 loans with false information about eligibility of two personal businesses she owned to obtain Federal moneys from the Small Business Administration. Jones was an administrative employee of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at the time she made the false applications.
At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Jones to time served in prison with five years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $80,433 in restitution.
“The federal government made billions of dollars available to businesses that needed help to stay afloat during the pandemic, and people like this defendant stole that money,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “To add insult to injury, the defendant worked for the government at the same time that she was actively stealing from the government, and I appreciate the efforts of the Postal Service to bring her to justice.”
“This case is an example of our unwillingness to tolerate payroll protection fraud, especially by individuals who are placed in positions of authority to protect and investigate this very fraud,” said U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Michael Ray. “I thank Special Agent Jonathan Sawant and AUSA Paul Roberts for their commitment to bringing this case to resolution.”
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case.
Port St. Lucie Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Glock SwitchRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On June 11, Darroll C. Gilchrist, 18, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., pled guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm.
Gilchrist was arrested on July 28, 2023, on an outstanding warrant. During his arrest, deputies found a Glock model 19 firearm, modified with a “Glock switch” on Gilchrist’s person. The “Glock switch” enabled the firearm to fire automatically, more than one shot, by a single function of the trigger.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, before U. S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce, Fla. Gilchrist faces up to 10 years in federal prison and up to three years of supervised release. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office; and Sheriff Keith Pearson of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
ATF Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hudock is prosecuting it.
This prosecution is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through the PSN program, a broad spectrum of law enforcement and community 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 to reduce violence crime and gun violence, and to make our local neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case no. 24-cr-14005.
###
Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Pandemic Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man who organized a scheme to defraud the government out of COVID-19 pandemic loan moneys pled guilty on June 14, 2024, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alhaji Kundu Aly, age 35, from Chester, Pennsylvania, was convicted of one count of wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Aly admitted that he and others recruited and assisted various individuals in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for which they did not actually qualify, in exchange for a fee. False, fraudulent, and fictitious documents and statements were submitted to various lending institutions in support of the PPP loans for the PPP applicants. After the PPP applicants received the fraudulent PPP loans, it was part of the scheme to demand a portion of the PPP moneys from the PPP applicants and, if necessary, Aly traveled to demand payment in person. Aly traveled to Iowa and demanded payment in person from a PPP applicant. Aly admitted in his plea agreement that he is responsible for no less than $250,000 in loss based on no less than 21 fraudulent PPP loans as a result of the scheme to defraud.
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.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Aly remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Aly faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-9.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Receiving Child Sex Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Lucio Daza Marquez (73, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possession and receipt of child sex abuse material. Marquez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, an undercover FBI agent discovered an Internet Protocol (IP) address that was sharing files containing child sex abuse material. The IP address was traced to Marquez. During the execution of a search warrant at Marquez’s residence, FBI agents located multiple files depicting the sexual abuse of children on Marquez’s laptop and external hard drives. During an interview with the FBI, Marquez admitted to downloading child sex abuse material. Marquez further told the FBI that he had been viewing child sex abuse material for nearly 10 years, and that he preferred young girls approximately 12 years old. He also admitted to viewing videos involving much younger children being sexually abused, including infants.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.
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.
Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Involving Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that George Andrew Pherai-Bogeajis (35, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of that conduct. Pherai-Bogeajis faces a minimum mandatory of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and court documents, in March 2024, Pherai-Bogeajis was surveilled paying a known DEA target nearly $150,000 in exchange for a duffle bag. On April 9, 2024, DEA agents searched Pherai-Bogeajis’s primary residence in Orlando and a stash house in Ocoee that he was known to use. Pherai-Bogeajis had approximately 68 kilograms (around 150 pounds) of methamphetamine, nearly a kilogram of fentanyl, four firearms used to protect drugs and drug proceeds, $717,480 in currency, and vehicles used in the offenses, including two vehicles that contained secret compartments to conceal drugs and proceeds during transport. Pherai-Bogeajis has agreed to forfeit the currency that is proceeds of the offense, as well as the firearms and vehicles used to facilitate the offense.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Oviedo Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Northern Michigan Physician Assistant Charged with Covid-19 Pandemic Assistance FraudRead the Press Release
Todd Kreykes Admitted Using COVID-19 Pandemic Funds Targeted for Patient Care at Boardman Family Practice for His Own Benefit
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Todd Martin Kreykes, 60, of Kalkaska County, was charged in a felony information with theft of government property related to his use of COVID-19 pandemic funding to purchase vehicles, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, remodel his home, and otherwise pay for vacations and his personal expenses.
“Every dollar that Todd Kreykes spent on luxury goods and vacations was one less dollar to help businesses struggling during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “This conviction can’t make up for that lost assistance now, but it can vindicate the taxpayers and show that criminals who defraud the government will be held accountable.”
Kreykes faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Kreykes has agreed to plead guilty to the felony information and, as part of a written plea agreement, has agreed to make full restitution to the applicable federal pandemic programs prior to his sentencing hearing.
According to the felony information, from April 2020, until November 2021, Boardman Family Practice received over $294,000.00 from the United States through various federal programs designed to assist medical providers in providing care and treatment for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund, CARES Act Rural Health Center Distribution, Rural Health Center Testing Program, and the Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence Program.
Kreykes accepted these federal payments and attested to the accompanying terms and conditions that required the funding to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, or to reimburse the recipient for health care expenses or lost revenues attributable to the coronavirus. Instead, Kreykes stole over $200,000.00 of the federal funds and converted them to his own use by spending the federal funds on a new truck, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a camper, and other personal items and expenses, remodeling his home, paying off personal loans, and taking vacations, all in violation of the terms and conditions of the federal programs.
“Providers who misappropriated federal funds intended to offset costs associated with medical services during the COVID-19 public health emergency showed disregard for taxpayers and the individuals relying on these vital programs,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to ensuring the integrity of federal programs designed to protect public health.”
The U.S. Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella is prosecuting the case.
The charges in a felony information are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
###
Non-Profit Middle East Institute to Pay $718,558 to Resolve PPP Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –The Middle East Institute, a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit organization, has agreed to pay $718,558 to settle allegations that the organization violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a $359,279 second-draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Act Program of the CARES Disaster Relief Program, and when it further applied for and was granted forgiveness of the entire amount of the loan.
The agreement was announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Eastern Region.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was created to provide emergency financial support to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small business and other entities, including non-profit organizations, struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. Under the applicable provision of the CARES Act, a business concern or other entity, including a nonprofit organization, is not eligible to receive a second draw loan if it is primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, which shall include any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public document.
At the time it applied for the second draw PPP loan, the Middle East Institute certified to the SBA in the loan application that it was “not a business concern or entity primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, including any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public documents.” It further certified in the loan forgiveness application that it met the conditions for receiving the second draw PPP loan. The Middle East Institute contends that any misstatements in this application were inadvertent.
Under the False Claims Act, a party found to violate the Act must pay three-times the amount of damage to the United States. Had the Middle East Institute been found liable to the United States under the False Claims Act, it would have been ordered to pay three times the amount of the loan and lost interest, along with civil penalties for each certification made in the loan application and forgiveness application. In connection with this settlement, the Middle East Institute agreed to pay an amount equal to two-times the loan amount, or $718,558.
The settlement announced today stems from a Federal investigation that was initiated when another public interest group, TZAC, filed a whistleblower complaint pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil case.
The civil settlement was the result of an investigation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez and Auditor Timothy Hurley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. U.S. Attorney Graves commended Attorneys Gary Fox and Kandace Zeyala of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of the General Counsel for their assistance in the investigation and settlement negotiations. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. TZAC v. The Middle East Institute.
Tips and complaint regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
21cr3405
Nineteen-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Luis Rosado (28, Winter Park) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Rosado faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on August 20, 2023, Rosado was stopped by law enforcement after committing a traffic infraction when officers observed a rifle and shotgun on the front passenger seat. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an additional firearm in the glove compartment, as well as ammunition throughout the vehicle. Rosado was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
At the time Rosado possessed the firearms and ammunition, he had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including thirteen convictions for burglary of a conveyance, four for grand theft of a motor vehicle, one for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one for fraudulent-illegal credit card use. As a convicted felon, Rosado is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Rosado has agreed to forfeit a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Radical Firearm 7.62mm semi-automatic rifle, a Silver Eagle 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, and assorted ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian.
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.
New Indictment Alleges Aaron Rossi Committed Fraud in COVID-19 TestingRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted a Morton, Illinois man, Aaron Rossi (“Rossi”), 40, on six counts of healthcare fraud, one count of mail fraud, and four counts of wire fraud for allegedly defrauding the State of Illinois and public and private health insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indictment alleges that Reditus Laboratories, LLC (“Reditus”), located in Pekin, Illinois, was a full-service pathology laboratory which offered various testing services for patients and clients. As part of those services, Reditus had the capability to run PCR tests for infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus. After the COVID pandemic reached the United States in early 2020, Rossi and Reditus began processing COVID-19 PCR tests which were paid for with both public and private health insurance programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Healthlink, and the Health Resources & Services Administration's Uninsured Program. Beginning as early as October 2020, and continuing to at least November 2021, Rossi established policies and procedures at Reditus that directly benefitted himself financially and defrauded healthcare providers. Services provided were mischaracterized in order to receive payment for services that were not actually rendered. This resulted in the six counts of healthcare fraud alleged in the indictment.
In addition, Rossi and Reditus had a contract with the State of Illinois to provide COVID-19 PCR testing. The contract, signed by Rossi as CEO for Reditus, was a flat-rate contract. Reditus could only invoice the State for the difference between what a patient’s healthcare coverage paid and the agreed-upon flat rate arranged with the State. Rossi, however, developed a scheme to bill both the healthcare providers and the State, resulting in Reditus fraudulently receiving double payments for the same COVID-19 PCR tests, one from the State and one from another health insurance provider. This conduct was the basis for the one mail fraud count and the four wire fraud counts alleged in the indictment.
Rossi previously plead guilty to charges of filing false federal tax returns and taking funds from his former employer, Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery in Bloomington on February 6, 2024. In that case, Rossi admitted to taking funds without the knowledge or permission of his employer and fraudulently purchasing personal items that he had delivered to his home. Due to multiple bond violations, Rossi has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since September 2023, and remains in custody on that case pending his sentencing—currently schedule for July 2, 2024. Today’s indictment alleges new offenses and conduct that are separate from his initial case and which took place after the conduct in his first case had concluded.
If convicted, on the new offenses, Rossi faces maximum statutory penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for each of the healthcare fraud charges, and up to 20 years imprisonment for each of the mail fraud and wire fraud charges. Each of the 11 charges could also incur a $250,000 fine. Imprisonment could be followed by 3 years of supervised release for each count.
The case investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Internal Revenue Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Springfield Division; the Department of Labor—Employee Benefit Security Administration; Office of Personnel Management—Office of Inspector General; and Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas F. McMeyer and Tanner K. Jacobs represent the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Multiple Alabama Individuals Charged for Sex Trafficking and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal judge in the Middle District of Alabama unsealed an eight-count indictment today charging five individuals with sex trafficking and related offenses.
According to the indictment, Kimani Jones, 30, Treymane Lambert, 48, and Aleecia Scott, 27, of Montgomery, Alabama, used force, fraud and coercion to compel adult women to engage in commercial sex acts between August 2016 and November 2020. Jones also used force, fraud and coercion to compel two minors to engage in commercial sex acts during that period, and Joseph Keon Bowe, 37, of Notasulga, Alabama, used force, fraud and coercion to compel a minor to engage in commercial sex acts between August 2018 and March 2019.
In addition, the indictment charges Jones with transporting one minor and one adult woman across state lines for purposes of prostitution in November 2016 and January 2020. A fifth defendant, Daryle Gardner, 30, of Prattville, Alabama, is charged with transporting an adult woman for purposes of prostitution in January 2020.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including substantial prison terms, and mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Patrone of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
HSI, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery Police Department and Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Making Antisemitic Threats Targeting Synagogues and Jewish-Owned BusinessesRead the Press Release
Donavon Parish, 29, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to one count of cyberstalking and five counts of abuse and harassment using a telecommunications device. Parish also admitted to a special finding that he targeted his victims based on their actual and perceived religion.
According to court documents, during April and May 2022, the defendant used a voiceover internet protocol service to make a series of phone calls to synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In these calls, the defendant spoke to individuals answering the telephone calls on behalf of their respective institutions, at which time he repeatedly referenced the genocide of approximately six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, stating, among other things, “Heil Hitler,” “all Jews must die,” “we will put you in work camps,” “gas the Jews” and “Hitler should have finished the job.”
Parish is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.5 million fine and a $600 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Mathew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.
The FBI Philadelphia Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Jeanette Kang for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Antisemitic Harassment of Synagogues, Jewish-Owned BusinessesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Donavon Parish, 29, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe to one count of cyberstalking and five counts of abuse and harassment using a telecommunications device. Parish also admitted to a special finding that he targeted his victims based on their actual and perceived religion.
According to a June 2023 indictment and superseding information filed last month, during April and May 2022, the defendant used a Voice over Internet Protocol service to make a series of phone calls to synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In these calls, the defendant spoke to individuals answering the telephone calls on behalf of their respective institutions, at which time he repeatedly referenced the genocide of approximately six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, stating, among other things, “Heil Hitler,” “all Jews must die,” “we will put you in work camps,” “gas the Jews,” and “Hitler should have finished the job.”
In total, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $1,500,000 fine and a $600 special assessment.
“Cyberstalking is already a serious violation and targeting victims based on their religion is a hate crime, which makes it that much more abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “We and our partners will continue to work to hold accountable anyone who criminally misuses today’s technology to spread hate and fear.”
“Antisemitism has no place in our society,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s guilty plea reinforces that we will pursue justice against those who threaten members of our communities with such vile threats. The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure our citizens feel safe in the environments they live, work and play in.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Justin Sher with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division (Counterterrorism Section), with assistance from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Michigan Man Who Orchestrated International Computer Fraud and Online Drug Distribution Schemes Sentenced to Decade in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today for defrauding internet users through scam virus alerts and distributing controlled substances online.
Doyal Kalita, 37, of Redford, Mich., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Kalita was also ordered to pay $272,293 in restitution to victims in this case and forfeiture of $2,542,784. In February 2024, Kalita pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to import Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
In 2015, Kalita and co-conspirators organized a scheme to defraud internet users through the use of deceptive pop-up screens that falsely told victims that their computers were infected with viruses (or were otherwise damaged) and directed the victims to call for technical support. In fact, the victims were connected to Kalita’s call centers in India and in Michigan and were scared or deceived into buying products and services that they did not need.
Contemporaneously, Kalita and his co-conspirators launched an online drug distribution scheme that sold prescription drugs, including opioids and other controlled substances, that were shipped from suppliers in India and Europe to individuals in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States. Kalita and his co-conspirators facilitated online sales from multiple foreign drug suppliers and received controlled substances from abroad before repackaging and distributing them throughout the United States. To conceal the nature of the transactions, Kalita and his co-conspirators used PayPal and merchant accounts that purported to belong to non-existent consulting companies, health supplement stores, auto parts suppliers and travel agencies. In some instances, Kalita and his co-conspirators created fake travel itineraries and receipts to deceive credit card processors in the United States in order to keep the drug business from being detected.
Two of Kalita’s alleged co-conspirators remain fugitives.
In January 2023, Manish Kumar – a partner in a Mumbai-based prescription drug company and one of Kalita’s suppliers – was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 87 months in prison, three months of supervised release and was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.
In June 2023, Robert Polanco, one of Kalita’s co-conspirators in the money laundering scheme, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release and was later ordered to pay $216,900 in restitution to fraud victims.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and the United States Food & Drug Administration made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs & Border Protection; United States Marshals Service in Boston; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican citizen sent to prison after sharing child pornography on peer-to-peer networkRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 33-year-old Mexican national residing illegally in the United States has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Juan Francisco Meza-Chavez pleaded guilty Sept. 5, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Meza-Chavez to serve 97 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court considered victim impact statements and ordered $45,000 in restitution to be paid to them. Meza-Chavez was further ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release to be served following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation began in May 2022 following an investigation into the BitTorrent network in which they were able to identify the IP addresses of individuals sharing child pornography. They linked one of the IP addresses to Meza-Chavez.
On Oct. 13, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Meza-Chavez’s residence. There, authorities seized numerous electronic devices capable of storing child pornography.
A forensic analysis of the devices resulted in the discovery of 40 videos and 11 images of child pornography.
Meza-Chavez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Mexican National Who Illegally Reentered U.S. is SentencedRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS FERNANDEZ-BARRITOS, also known as “Ricardo Fernandez,” 30, a citizen of Mexico formerly residing in East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 16 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 11, 2014, Fernandez was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to approximately 14 months of imprisonment, time already served, for his role in a narcotics trafficking ring. He was removed from the U.S. to Mexico in January 2015.
On November 4, 2022, Fernandez was arrested by Hartford Police for disorderly conduct, threatening, assault in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, and interfering with police. He was released on a $20,000 bond shortly thereafter. On March 15, 2023, the East Hartford Police Department responded to a report that Fernandez had stabbed his domestic partner. Fernandez fled before police arrived.
Fernandez has been detained since August 15, 2023, when he was arrested on federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally reentering the U.S. He pleaded guilty to the offense on May 3, 2024.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.