Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Thursday 2 May 2024
Former Boy Scout Volunteer Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Hiding Cameras in Camp BathroomsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a former Boy Scout volunteer to 22 years in prison for hiding cameras in bathrooms at a St. Francois County, Missouri scout camp.
Judge Sippel also ordered David Lee Nelson to pay $55,000 in special assessments that will go to a fund for victims and prevention programs and $6,810 to pay for counseling for the victims in this case. After he gets out of prison, Nelson will be on supervised release for life, with special conditions that include a prohibition against any contact with minors without permission.
Nelson hid two cameras in bathrooms at the S Bar F Scout Ranch in St. Francois County in July of 2021 while working there as a volunteer. Nelson hid the cameras in paper towel dispensers, positioning them so they would capture a shower stall and other portions of the bathroom.
One camera was discovered when a scout leader and scouts were cleaning out one of the restroom stalls. A search uncovered another camera, and leaders then called the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. When questioned later by a sheriff’s deputy after being spotted near the bathrooms, Nelson lied and said he was looking for a cell phone charger that he’d left in the stall.
During Thursday’s hearing, victims and their parents said Nelson was supposed to be protecting the scouts and was supposed to be someone children could trust. Nelson’s crimes, they said, have now left them unable to trust others. The victims also said they now experience fear and discomfort every time they try to use a public bathroom.
Nelson, 41, of Redmond, Washington, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of production of child pornography and two counts of attempted production of child pornography.
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida man heads to prison for using fake debit cards to scam Houston banksRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old resident of Miami, Florida, has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Claude Casimir pleaded guilty Sept. 7, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Casimir to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 3 years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional arguments about the scheme and the defendant’s criminal history.
From April to May 2019, Casimir and others conspired in a scheme targeting the Houston area. The investigation began in early 2019 after a local bank discovered numerous fraudulent transactions. They found that individuals had used the personal identification numbers of actual bank customers and withdrew money via counterfeit cards.
At the time of the plea, Casimir admitted he rented a vehicle to access several ATMs in the Houston area and withdrew cash using counterfeit debit cards. He also drove another individual around the Houston area using the rented vehicle to do the same.
Additionally, Casimir admitted that on May 8, 2019, he used a debit card of another individual without that person’s knowledge or consent. In this single transaction, Casmir attempted to take $2,000.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Federal Prison for Providing Illegal Access to Digital Streaming ServicesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to providing illegal access to digital streaming services. The conviction is believed to be the first in the nation under the “Protecting Lawful Streaming Act” (PLSA) that went into effect in 2021.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Valverde made hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally selling access codes to individuals that allowed them to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV. Valverde is now retired from the Air Force but was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he began his involvement in the scheme to illegally sell the access codes. According to evidence presented before the court, Valverde sold access codes to individuals, typically for $10 per month. The codes allowed the customers to illegally access all the copyrighted content of Dish Network and Sling TV, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies, and television programs. Valverde also provided websites and apps to his customers so that they could view the copyrighted materials.
The PLSA was introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the Covid-19 Stimulus Bill. The purpose of PLSA is to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material. The PLSA specifically does not criminalize users of the illegal apps.
United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Valverde was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.
###
Five Plead Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Conspiracy to Launder Computer Fraud Proceeds Offshore to Chinese CompaniesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that five individuals have pleaded guilty to a total of 35 counts of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, concealment money laundering, and structuring in an international scheme to hide proceeds of computer fraud committed on victims throughout the nation. Each faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of structuring.
Defendant
Date of Guilty Plea
Count(s) in Indictment to Which Defendant Pleaded Guilty
Scheduled Sentencing Date
Cristian Rodriguez Labour
2/21/24
1 (conspiracy)
5/22/24
Jihad William Morales
5/2/24
1 (conspiracy)
2-8 (money laundering)
9-11 (structuring)
TBD
Michael Gabriel Robles Vazquez
4/9/24
1 (conspiracy)
12-14 (money laundering)
7/10/24
Aramys Gonzalez Rodriguez
3/25/24
1 (conspiracy)
15-23 (money laundering)
24-29 (structuring)
7/10/24
Jorge Ivan Ortiz Buil
4/9/24
1 (conspiracy)
30-34 (money laundering)
35 (structuring)
7/10/24
According to the plea agreements and other court documents, Labour recruited Morales, Robles Vazquez, Gonzalez Rodriguez, and Ortiz Buil to incorporate fake businesses in Florida and open business bank accounts in Deltona and Orlando. Unnamed conspirators hacking into the computer systems of small businesses throughout the country would then direct wire transfers to the fake businesses in Florida. Once the transfers were received, Labour, Morales, Robles Vazquez, Gonzalez Rodriguez, and Ortiz Buil would immediately transfer the bulk of the funds to businesses in the Zhejiang, Weifang, Shouguang, Huzhou, and Hangzhou regions of China while withdrawing a portion as payment for their participation in the conspiracy. The transfers were designed to conceal the source of the fraud proceeds and the defendants further obscured their withdrawals by structuring them to avoid bank reporting requirements.
Over a two-week period, in early March 2021, Labor and Morales laundered over $560,000 and attempted to launder another $200,000 using a single account in Deltona by sending the fraud proceeds to accounts in Zhejiang and Weifang and taking $80,000 in structured withdrawals as payment. Morales was captured on camera during one of the withdrawals (pictured below):
From June through November 2021, Labor and Vazquez used three different bank accounts in Orlando to launder $116,000 and attempted to launder $50,000 more. From August through December 2021, Labour and Gonzalez-Rodriguez used at least three different bank accounts in Orlando to launder over $1 million. Labour and Ortiz Buil attempted to launder $1 million in one bank account in December 2021 before successfully laundering around $250,000 at four different banks from December 2021 through February 2022, which laundering included using other individuals that Ortiz-Buil recruited into the scheme.
Overall, members of the conspiracy successfully laundered $3,323,941 to offshore accounts in China and unsuccessfully attempted to launder another $6,145,877, all of which were the proceeds or attempted proceeds of computer fraud and cyber intrusions on small businesses throughout the United States.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Five Charged in 2006 Cold-Case Kidnapping and Murder of Philadelphia ManRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that five Philadelphia men — Kevin Holloway, 45; Mark Scott, 48; Linton Mathis, 50; Atiba Wicker, 47; and Kenneth Tuck, 51 — were arrested and charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, and aiding and abetting.
The indictment alleges that on the evening of August 26, 2006, Shamari Taylor, a 38-year-old Philadelphia native, and his then-21-year-old girlfriend, were kidnapped from West Philadelphia by several men who were impersonating police officers. Taylor’s girlfriend was released by her captors several hours later, but Taylor remained missing until August 21, 2018, when law enforcement recovered his remains in a shallow grave in North Philadelphia. The ensuing investigation revealed that in the summer of 2006, at least nine men conspired to rob Taylor of cocaine and drug proceeds, and, in doing so, some of them disguised themselves as police officers while using fake badges, police lights, and firearms.
Law enforcement established that, as part of the conspiracy, Taylor and his girlfriend were abducted and transported to a warehouse in North Philadelphia where Taylor was interrogated and tortured, in an effort to ascertain where he stored additional cocaine and money. Taylor was then suffocated to death and his body was discarded in Fairmount Park. Several days later, four of the kidnappers moved Taylor’s body, burying him in a vacant lot in North Philadelphia that has since become the parking lot of a charter high school. On the day after the abduction, Taylor’s family home in West Philadelphia was ransacked by two armed men who shot Taylor’s mother and sister in their heads; both women survived.
In September 2006, Kenneth Tuck was arrested and charged locally in Philadelphia County in connection with the kidnapping. In 2008, after two trials, Tuck was acquitted of all charges in Philadelphia County. During that period, no one else was charged in connection with the kidnapping or death of Taylor.
The investigation revealed that Tuck was recruited to join the conspiracy plot to kidnap and rob Taylor while posing as a police officer, and that Kevin Holloway and his drug-dealing associates, Mark Scott and Linton Mathis, participated in the kidnapping and murdered Taylor in the warehouse after torturing him. The investigation further revealed that Taylor’s friend, Atiba Wicker, and another acquaintance helped plan the crime, in part, by luring Taylor to the abduction site on August 26, 2006. Finally, the investigation revealed that Tuck’s family member bribed a witness who testified at Tuck’s state trial in 2007, and that witness along with other witnesses provided false testimony supporting Tuck’s alibi for the evening Taylor was abducted.
“Anyone who commits a heinous crime and is still walking free years later might just assume they’ve gotten away with it,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Well, they should think again. We and our law enforcement partners will doggedly pursue justice for victims of violence and accountability for the perpetrators — no matter how long it may take.”
"Although the criminal acts alleged here today occurred nearly 18 years ago, the work of our office has not ceased," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue justice for victims of violent crime in our community."
“Today's charges are the culmination of years of relentless pursuit of justice for Shamari Taylor and his loved ones,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “The nature of this crime, with its elaborate planning, impersonation of law enforcement, and brutal execution, underscores the commitment of law enforcement to bring closure to cold cases and hold those responsible fully accountable. Our communities deserve nothing less. I commend the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, as well as the unwavering dedication of the Philadelphia Police Department, in bringing these alleged perpetrators to justice. This case exemplifies the power of cooperation among law enforcement agencies at all levels to solve complex crimes and deliver justice for the victims and their families. We will not rest until justice is served.”
“These arrests result in the charges brought against the defendants for the death and kidnapping of Shamari Taylor,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the DEA New Jersey Field Division. “The DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to making sure those responsible for these types of violent crimes face the consequences for their actions and are brought to justice.”
"We will continue to work closely and build on our strong relationships with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to maintain public safety and focus our efforts on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals who are engaging in criminal activity," said Dr. Laurel R. Harry, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. "I want to thank our state parole agents who worked on this case for so long; their determination and long hours hasn’t gone unnoticed."
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of mandatory life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Ashenfelter and Jason Grenell.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Final Defendant in Southeastern Massachusetts Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cranston, R.I. man pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024 in federal court in Boston to his involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Mario Rafael Dominguez-Ortiz, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Aug. 6, 2024. Dominguez-Ortiz was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022 along with nine other individuals.
In March 2021, an investigation began into a DTO operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara. The investigation identified Dominguez-Ortiz as a member of the DTO, who was employed by Ortiz-Alcantara to deliver fentanyl. On four occasions between July and November 2021, Dominguez-Ortiz delivered fentanyl to a cooperating source. Each of the fentanyl deliveries were in amounts consistent with quantities intended for further distribution.
Dominguez-Ortiz faces a up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara pleaded guilty in December 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2024.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fifteen Individuals Facing Federal Indictment for Gun Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Fifteen individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to straw purchase dozens of firearms from at least six federally licensed firearms dealers in the Central Indiana area.
Each of the following defendants have been charged with conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and one or more counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm:
- Daylen Bell, 24, Indianapolis
- Jaylyn Lamont Crenshaw, 25, Indianapolis
- Michaela Evan Day, 27, Indianapolis
- Michael Glen Day, 23, Indianapolis
- Davone Trae Eans, 24, Indianapolis
- Kendall Rayshaun Ezell, 21, Indianapolis
- Anthony Keith Jones, 24, Indianapolis
- Isiah Thomas Keller, 21, Greenfield
- Anthony James Morst, 24, Indianapolis
- Caleb Morris Redman, 23, Indianapolis
- Jordan Devon Ross, 24, Gary
- Derrion Wisdom Scruggs, 23, Unknown
- Michael Coreal Stubbs, 22, Indianapolis
- Demetrius Andre Young, 24, Indianapolis
- Jalen Charles Zimmerman, 23, Indianapolis
According to court documents, from at least November 2020, continuing up to April 8, 2022, Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones conspired to pay straw purchasers to buy illegally guns from at least six Central Indiana federally licensed firearms dealers on their behalf. This form of gun trafficking is frequently referred to as “straw purchasing.” Straw purchasing occurs when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else.
Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones paid Redman, Scruggs, Bell, Morst, Ross, Zimmerman, Michaela Day, Eans, Crenshaw, and Young to make straw purchases from federally licensed gun dealers. Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones then transported the illegally purchased guns to resell them elsewhere.
If convicted, each defendant charged faces up to ten years in federal prison.
The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Greenfield Police Department
- Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
- Lawrence Police Department
- United States Marshals Service
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Domash, who is prosecuting this case.
This case was brought as part of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). ICGTF is a partnership of law enforcement officers and analysts from several central Indiana law enforcement agencies in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties. In cooperation with state, local, and federal partners, ICGTF collaborates to address violent crime through a comprehensive strategy including innovative approaches to locating suspects and evidence related to violent crimes and illegal possession of firearms.
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.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Fentanyl trafficking sends Washington man to prison for 11 years after Columbus traffic stopRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Washington man who admitted to trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm after a traffic stop in Columbus was sentenced on May 1 to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Anthony Omarel Kenner, 31, of Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in March 2022, law enforcement pulled over Kenner and a passenger in a traffic stop. Officers became suspicious of drugs in the vehicle based on Kenner’s and his passenger’s conflicting stories and the presence of drug paraphernalia. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, and law enforcement found in the trunk a backpack containing cocaine, fentanyl and a loaded, stolen .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. Kenner was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous felony conviction in Washington.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey M. Hendricks and Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Columbus Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Felon Who Unlawfully Possessed a Gun Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 2, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Andrea Crystal Lee, age 36, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 19, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on January 24, 2023, Lee was on state probation for possession of a controlled substance offense. During a probation check, a state probation officer located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Lee’s home. Law enforcement secured a search warrant, and a search of Lee’s home was conducted. During the search, law enforcement found a loaded 9mm handgun concealed in a floor vent, ammunition, and magazines. As a drug user and felon, Lee was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Lee was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lee was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Lee is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3011. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Federal Judge Finds CBP Officer Guilty of Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A federal judge convicted a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer for two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of the falsification of a document in a federal investigation.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Miguel Angel Delgado Jr., 40, of El Paso, used excessive force in two incidents while he was on duty at the Bridge of Americas Port of Entry between October 2019 and June 2020. As a result of Delgado’s unlawful use of force, the victims suffered bodily injury. Following one of the incidents, Delgado submitted a CBP Incident Log Report, in which he falsely reported the occurrence.
Delgado faces up to 10 years in prison for each use of force incident and up to 20 years in prison for the falsification of a document charge.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
###
Federal Charges Filed Against Couple in Theft from Isleta Pueblo BusinessRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A husband and wife face federal charges for allegedly working together to steal over $10,000 from a local business on the Isleta Pueblo in February 2023.
The indictment alleges that on February 4, 2023, Frank Joe Hernandez, 43, and his wife, Eva Ann Hernandez, 45, both of Los Lunas, traveled together to Chical Haystack and entered the business together. Eva walked to the cash register and remained near there to act as a lookout while Frank walked to the business office and stole approximately $10,410.30 in currency and a check from the business’ safe. Eva and Frank then left the business together.
Eva and Frank are both charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit larceny over $1,000 and larceny over $1,000. A federal judge detained Frank until trial. Eva was released with conditions, including that she does not enter the Isleta Pueblo.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Isleta Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Belen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.
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.
# # #
Fairfield Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steven Daniel Miller, 48, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in October 2018, Miller used another person’s social security number to complete a credit application with a bank in order to purchase a 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat at a car dealership in Yuba City. Based on the false information on the credit application, the bank approved the loan and paid approximately $75,754 to the car dealership. Miller left the dealership with the vehicle, and it was subsequently seized by law enforcement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocklin Police Department, the Gilroy Police Department, and the Fairfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Miller is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 8, 2024. Miller faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud count. He faces a two-year mandatory prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft count, which must run consecutive to any sentence received on the bank fraud count. 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.
Fairfield County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for ThreatsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Casey William Degolyer, 48, of Blair, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening interstate communications.
Evidence presented in court showed that the FBI received numerous complaints regarding Degolyer’s posts on social media. Degolyer posted almost daily calling for the execution of public officials, including the need to hang certain public office holders from a rope, killing law enforcement and their families, dragging judges and their family “out of their households” to be “brutalized in the streets,” opposing the government by violence and force, and killing members of certain racial and ethnic groups. Degolyer targeted both specific public office holders and groups of people based on their jobs or ethnicity. He wrote that he was “about to go dark and take action.” Degolyer’s threats continued even after being contacted by law enforcement.
Degolyer has prior convictions for criminal domestic violence, violating an order of protection, violating a restraining order, and unlawful use of a telephone. When he was arrested, he was found with four firearms and ammunition, which he was not allowed to possess under federal law.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Degolyer to 18 months imprisonment, a sentence that was above the advisory sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from the U.S. Secret Service, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
###
Evergreen Man Sentenced for Making Threats to Commit Mass ViolenceRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kyle William Staebell, age 34, of Evergreen, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for making threats to commit mass violence.
According to the defendant’s plea, in the early morning hours of January 16, 2023, the defendant threatened to commit mass violence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Denver, an office of the Department of Homeland Security, and a Colorado-based performing arts group’s location. Thanks to the swift investigative work of the FBI, the Denver Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the defendant was arrested that same day. Subsequent investigation revealed that, in the month before issuing the threats, the defendant went to each of the three locations in person, conducted online research regarding acts of mass violence, and possessed a Molotov cocktail.
“The Office of the United States Attorney of Colorado is committed to prosecuting individuals who threaten the safety and security of Coloradans,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan. “We remain grateful to our law enforcement partners who were able to swiftly investigate this case and keep our communities safe.”
"Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, but when speech crosses the line into threats of violence, it becomes a crime," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "Violence and threats of violence have no place in our society, and this sentence demonstrates our resolve to disrupt plots to commit mass violence and keep our communities safe."
The FBI urges the public to report suspicious or threatening behavior to their local law enforcement or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico sentenced the defendant on May 1, 2024.
The FBI Denver Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz handled the prosecution of the case.
Eleven South Bay Residents Charged in Racketeering Conspiracy for Alleged Involvement in Numerous Street Gang CrimesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging 11 South Bay residents with taking part in a racketeering conspiracy to promote the aims of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños (SAP Norteños) street gang. The indictment, filed April 18, 2024, and unsealed earlier today, describes a halting list of crimes including eight murders during the last five years, multiple additional shootings, drug and gun distribution, and other related crimes allegedly perpetrated by the defendants on behalf of the street gang. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Salinas Police Department this afternoon.
“The allegations in the indictment, if proven, describe a group that has a wanton disregard for life and an extreme penchant for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey. “The dozens of crimes outlined in the complaint describe a vicious gang that, for example, uses beatings as a hazing for membership and death as a penalty for trying to leave the group. I want to thank Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department, including Acting Chief John Murray, for their excellent work. We will continue to round up and prosecute all such offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
"The charges against the eleven South Bay residents signify a concerted effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and hold individuals accountable for their alleged involvement in egregious organized crime,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Thank you to the men and women of HSI, Salinas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and partner law enforcement agencies for making today’s court authorized actions safe for all involved. We appreciate their selfless work in protecting those who may not have a voice. In recognition of Police Week, I also acknowledge law enforcement personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.”
The 12-page indictment charges all 11 defendants under a single count of racketeering conspiracy. According to the indictment, the SAP Norteños are a street gang that originated in a Salinas apartment complex by the same name. The group is now recognized as a clique within the larger collection of Norteño criminal street gangs.
The 11 defendants are as follows: Gil Vasquez, aka “Rhino;” 35, Rigoberto Ramirez Jr., aka “Scooby,” 36; Sergio Hernandez Jr., aka “Mono,” 35; Juan Alvarez, aka “Yogi,” 38; Bertin Medrano, aka “Dre,” 30; Jose Mexicano, aka “Armani,” 25, Salvador Mexicano, aka “Jumpshot,” 20; Raul Coronel Suarez, aka “Ray,” 20; Gustavo Garcia, aka “Tatis,” 25; Lorenzo Garcia Jr., aka “Chito,” 30; and Jose Saldana aka “Chepe,” 19.
As described by the indictment, members of the street gang “meet and work together” to carry out crimes for the benefit of the street gang, its members, the larger Norteño organization, and the Nuestra Familia prison gang. Crimes are perpetrated by gang members to protect and uphold its power, territory, and profits and gang members are expected to engage in shootings, robberies, drug sales, and other criminal conduct to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang. In addition, once in the gang, attempting to leave is not permitted; the punishment for attempting to leave is death.
Indictment lists more than three dozen criminal acts that the defendants are alleged to have committed. The list of crimes includes eight murders, one that occurred in July 2014, and another seven that occurred between December 2019 and December 2023. The murder victims include people who defendants perceived were associate with rival gangs, transient men, and men perceived to have dropped out of the SAP Norteños. In addition to the murder allegations, additional crimes described in the indictment that allegedly were committed by the defendants include robberies of individuals at gunpoint; the firebombing of a Salinas apartment; the distribution of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana; firearms trafficking, and numerous shootings.
In sum, each defendant is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). The maximum statutory penalty for a racketeering conspiracy violation is 20 years in prison, and $250,000 fine. In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to four defendants as follows:
(a) Gustavo Garcia and Lorenzo Garcia for their respective roles in the July 19, 2014, murder of a person identified in the indictment as “Victim 1;” and
(b) Raul Coronel Suarez and Jose Saldana for their respective roles in the December 2, 2023, murder of a person identified as “Victim 2.”
The maximum statutory penalty applying to these violations is life in prison. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order additional fines; restitution, if appropriate; and an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
All the defendants except Lorenzo Garcia and Salvador Mexicano were arrested this morning in coordinated law enforcement operations. Lorenzo Garcia and Salvador Mexicano already were in custody.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leif Dautch, Amani Floyd, and George Hageman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department, with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
acosta_plaza_indictment.pdfDurant Resident Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Micheal Shane Burch, age 33, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The charges arose from investigations by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On September 19, 2023, Burch pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, law enforcement discovered nude photos of a minor on Burch’s phone after the child’s parents filed a complaint about Burch behaving suspiciously. Law enforcement questioned Burch, who consented to a search of his phone and admitted to taking the images found on it. The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Burch will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Jessica Bove represented the United States.
Drug dealer sentenced to 300 months in prison for possession of a controlled substance, among other chargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On April 30, a drug dealer who was convicted by a Fort Lauderdale federal jury in January was sentenced to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Chad Michael Marlow, 46, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was recorded on two occasions selling a quarter pound and a pound, respectively, of methamphetamine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in the parking lot of a Broward County shopping plaza. In the recordings, Marlow could be heard discussing at length the great quality of the product and the fact that he used it for his back and hip pain.
Marlow and his partner agreed to sell the undercover agent one pound of methamphetamine at a third planned deal, but when Marlow and his partner arrived at the shopping plaza, law enforcement conducted an arrest. Law enforcement searched the vehicle Marlow was driving and found an unzipped backpack immediately behind the driver’s seat of the vehicle –sitting at the top of the backpack was a loaded handgun and an extra loaded magazine and in the bottom of that backpack they found a pound, or nearly 1,000 pills, of fentanyl segregated into dealing sized baggies, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as a bank card bearing Marlow’s name. Law enforcement also found a pound of methamphetamine in a lunch cooler sitting on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of DEA Miami Field Division announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.
DEA Miami Field Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily R. Stone and Brooke E. Latta 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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60202.
###
Dobbs Ferry Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Numerous Firearms and Ammunition, Including “Ghost Guns,” and Discovered Possessing Suspected Explosive Materials and Readily Assembled Explosive DevicesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the arrest of JAMES NEFF. The defendant is charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction in connection with the discovery by law enforcement of the defendant’s trove of firearms, including multiple personally manufactured firearms, or “ghost guns,” and ammunition. In addition, members of law enforcement discovered, and continue to investigate, suspected explosives, paraphernalia related to improvised explosive devices, and suspected readily assembled explosive devices. NEFF was arrested yesterday and presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, James Neff, some 23 years after having been convicted on similar state charges for criminal possession of a weapon, has again illegally stockpiled numerous firearms, including what appear to be assault rifles and personally manufactured firearms, or ‘ghost guns,’ a significant amount of ammunition, and suspected materials and paraphernalia consistent with suspected homemade and improvised explosive devices. Our investigation remains ongoing, and I thank the dedication and expertise of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who are diligently investigating this case and working tirelessly to keep ‘ghost guns’ and homemade explosives out of our communities.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “James Neff allegedly amassed and stored an alarming collection of suspected explosives, materials for improvised explosive devices, and more than 30 firearms – some of which were assault rifles and unregistered ‘ghost guns.’ There is no reasonable explanation to justify the arsenal law enforcement discovered, and convicted felons with access to such armaments pose an incredible threat to public safety. The FBI will continue to confiscate weapons from criminals and ensure these devices are not used to inflict harm against our citizens.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court and statements made in court proceedings:[1]
On May 1, 2024, following an investigation, members of law enforcement executed search warrants on the residence of JAMES NEFF and two storage units known to be possessed and rented by him. After executing these searches, members of law enforcement discovered over 30 firearms, including firearms that appear to be personally manufactured and assault rifle-style firearms; a significant amount of ammunition; and suspected explosives-related materials, including multiple books on how to make homemade or improvised explosives, such as “The Anarchist Arsenal, Improvised Incendiary and Explosives Techniques,” “How to Bury Your Goods,” and multiple volumes of the “Improvised Munitions Black Book.” In addition, members of law enforcement also found suspected precursors to explosives, suspected low explosives or smokeless powders, and other items consistent with the preparation of homemade explosive devices, including what appears to be fuse that can be used to initiate a low explosive, cardboard containers with endcaps, a pipe with two endcaps, and grenade bodies, items which could be used to create readily assembled explosive devices. Photographs taken from the storage unit containing these items are below:
After these searches, NEFF admitted to owning these firearms and suspected explosives chemicals and related materials and to storing them at his house in Dobbs Ferry, New York, before moving them to storage units.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
* * *
NEFF, 61, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction, having previously been convicted on New York state charges of a crime punishable for a term longer than one year, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Westchester County Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force; the Dobbs Ferry Police Department; the FBI’s Philadelphia Division; the New York State Police; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Brooke and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
District Man Indicted on Enhanced Second-Degree Theft for Theft from CVS Retail Store in SoutheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Kenneth Collins, 37, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on January 17, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.
Collins is to be arraigned on May 22 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.
According to the government’s evidence, on January 17, 2024, Collins took merchandise without paying from the CVS store in Southeast, Washington, D.C. He was located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.
Collins has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.
Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 42 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Cotter.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed for July 2021 ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eric Davis, 60, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today by a jury of first-degree murder while armed for the July 2021 shooting of Theodore “Bino” Riley, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for August 2, 2024.
Davis was found guilty following a jury trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense.
According to evidence presented during the trial, on July 19, 2021, around 7:33 p.m., Davis was captured on surveillance walking with the victim, Theodore Riley, to an alley adjacent to 1608 Gales Street Northeast. Once in the alley, Davis shot Mr. Riley once in the head. The defendant then quickly walked out of the south end of the alley and fled while attempting to change his outward appearance by putting on a long-sleeved shirt over the short-sleeved shirt he had been wearing. Mr. Riley was found in the alley face-down with a single .45 caliber casing at his feet.
Davis was arrested on September 22, 2021. Judge O’Keefe ordered that the defendant remain held pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Gibbons and Saman Danai of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Defendant Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Orchestrating 11 Armed Robberies Across New York CityRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSEPH SANDERS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to nine years in prison in connection with committing 11 armed robberies of bodegas, smoke shops, and other retail businesses across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joseph Sanders terrorized hardworking New Yorkers across the City, committing 11 armed robberies. On multiple occasions, he brutally pistol whipped his victims. This Office’s career prosecutors continue their exhaustive commitment to keeping those who commit violent robberies off of our streets.”
According to the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court:
In the spring and fall of 2022, SANDERS committed 11 armed robberies throughout New York City. Between March and April 2022, he committed four armed robberies of bodegas and smoke shops located in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Wearing a mask, SANDERS would enter the businesses, brandishing a silver gun and demanding money. At times, he would point the gun directly at the terrified cashier. For three of the robberies, SANDERS was accompanied by co-conspirators, but in all cases, it was SANDERS carrying the firearm.
In November 2022, SANDERS continued his robbery spree. Between November and December 2022, he committed seven armed robberies of a tax preparation business, bodegas, and smoke shops located in the Bronx and Brooklyn. SANDERS would enter the businesses brandishing a firearm and demanding money. During one of those robberies, he kicked open a door, holding a firearm in his hand, then grabbed the sole employee by the arm and led her to a back room. After the victim told SANDERS that the business had no cash on hand, he took her phone and $200 from her wallet.
On two occasions, SANDERS violently pistol-whipped cashiers of the stores that he was robbing, before taking thousands of dollars from the cash registers. Even when not assaulting the victims with a firearm, SANDERS threatened violence, pointing his firearm directly at the victims. One such example is below, from the November 26, 2022, robbery of a deli:
In total, SANDERS stole $22,374. At the time of his arrest, a .40 caliber Iberia pistol, which was loaded with ammunition, was found in his apartment.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, SANDERS, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,374 and to forfeit the same amount.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“ATF”) and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sowlati is in charge of the prosecution.
Coffee County Man and His Brother Ordered to Pay over $1 Million in Restitution Following Murder-for-Hire ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On April 29, 2024, a federal judge in Montgomery, Alabama, ordered Jason and Darin Starr to pay $1,069,242.03 in restitution after the two planned and carried out a plot to kill Jason Starr’s ex-wife, announced United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.
Last year, a jury found that Jason Starr, from Coffee Springs, Alabama, was upset about the amount of money his ex-wife had been awarded after their divorce and that Jason Starr hired his brother, Darin Starr, a resident of Lakehills, Texas, to kill her. On the Monday following Thanksgiving in 2017, Darin Starr shot and killed his brother’s ex-wife in her driveway as she was leaving for work. On September 20, 2023, a federal jury convicted Jason Starr and Darin Starr for committing their murder-for-hire scheme. Both Jason and Darin Starr received a life sentence following their convictions. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered Jason Starr to pay a fine of $25,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case, with Assistant United States Attorneys B. Chelsea Phillips and Joshua J. Wendell prosecuting. Assistant United States Attorney Audrey L. Willis handled the restitution portion of the case.
Charlotte Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Creating and Using Fake U.S. Passport CardsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Monday, Calvin Williams, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. for creating counterfeit U.S. passport cards and using them to obtain multiple lines of credit, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, Robert Little, Resident Agent in Charge, Greensboro Resident Office, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), 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, in from late 2019 until May 2022, Williams forged U.S. passport cards using the personal identifying information (PII) of victims of identity theft. A U.S. passport card is a wallet sized passport that is issued by the U.S. Department of State, serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, and allows for travel to and from certain countries. Court documents show that Williams created the fraudulent passport cards in the names of identity theft victims, substituting the photographs of the victims with his own photograph. Then Williams used the fake passport cards to open multiple lines of credit with various retail and online stores in order to purchase new iPhones and other electronic items. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 30 forged passport cards from Williams. Williams continued the fake passport card scheme after he was placed on state probation for convictions involving identity theft and obtaining property by false pretenses.
On April 19, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to passport forgery. He is currently in 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 U.S. Secret Service, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
If you are aware of, or have been a victim of, fraud associated with a U.S. passport or U.S. visa application, please contact [email protected]
Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Alexis Nicole Davis, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 21, 2023, Davis possessed 10 grams of fentanyl that was arranged to be sold at a Charleston gas station. When Davis arrived at the gas station, she recognized the would-be buyer was a confidential informant and the sale was not conducted. After Davis left the gas station, law enforcement officers stopped her and found the fentanyl in her purse. Davis admitted that she possessed the fentanyl and intended to distribute it to others.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-72.
###
Charleston Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Weapon ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Elisha Shaleel Patterson, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Patterson gathered with a large group of individuals to gamble on Allway Street in downtown Charleston on April 24, 2022. Investigators were paying close attention to the area after a shooting occurred there the previous day. Investigators observed Patterson remove a firearm from his pants and place it in a vehicle. Once investigators arrived, they located the firearm, which was reported stolen, a digital scale, and marijuana. Patterson is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of his previous felony conviction.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Patterson to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Weapons and Drug ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Warren Lamar Forrest, 32, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a search warrant at Forrest’s residence. While searching his specific room, law enforcement located a black bag that contained a stolen loaded 9mm pistol, three 9mm caliber magazines, an assault rifle, two assault rifle magazines, two digital scales, plastic baggies and a pound and a half of marijuana. Forrest is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions.
United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Forrest to 12 years imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of Operation Yellow Jacket which is 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI Columbia Field Office, North Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
###
Captain of Santa Barbara-Based Dive Boat that Burned and Sank, Resulting in 34 Deaths, Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The captain of the P/V Conception – a Santa Barbara-based dive boat that caught fire and sank near Santa Cruz Island on Labor Day in 2019, resulting in the deaths of 33 passengers and one crew member – was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison.
Jerry Nehl Boylan, 70, of Santa Barbara, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu. A restitution hearing was scheduled for July 11.
At the conclusion of a 10-day trial, a jury found Boylan guilty in November 2023 of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer – an offense commonly called “seaman’s manslaughter.”
The Conception was a 75-foot, wood-and-fiberglass passenger vessel that docked in Santa Barbara Harbor. During a Labor Day weekend dive trip in 2019, the boat carried 33 passengers and six crew members, including Boylan.
During the early morning hours of September 2, 2019, a fire broke out while the boat was anchored in Platt’s Harbor near Santa Cruz Island. The fire, which engulfed the boat and led to its sinking, resulted in the deaths of 34 people who had been sleeping below deck. Five crew members, including Boylan, were able to escape and survived.
“The defendant’s cowardice and repeated failures caused the horrific deaths of 34 people,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The victims’ families will be forever devastated by this needless tragedy. While today’s sentence cannot fully heal their wounds, we hope that our efforts to hold this defendant criminally accountable brings some measure of healing to the families.”
“The fate of the victims on the Conception might have been different were it not for the negligence of the defendant,” said Mehtab Syed, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “I want to commend the collaborative effort by investigators and prosecutors that led to today’s sentence and hope that it delivers a measure of justice to the victims’ families as they continue to heal from this tragedy.”
Boylan, as captain of the Conception, committed a series of failures – including abandoning his ship instead of rescuing passengers – that resulted in the disaster. Such conduct constituted misconduct, gross negligence, and inattention to his duties and led to the deaths of 34 victims, prosecutors argued.
As the ship’s captain, Boylan was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its passengers, and its crew. Federal prosecutors argued he failed in his responsibilities in several ways, including by:
- failing to have a night watch or roving patrol;
- failing to conduct sufficient fire drills and crew training;
- failing to provide firefighting instructions or directions to crew members after the fire started;
- failing to use firefighting equipment, including a fire ax and fire extinguisher that were next to him in the wheelhouse, to fight the fire or attempt to rescue trapped passengers;
- failing to perform any lifesaving or firefighting activities whatsoever at the time of the fire, even though he was uninjured;
- failing to use the boat’s public address system to warn passengers and crew members about the fire; and
- becoming the first crew member to abandon ship even though 33 passengers and one crew member were still alive and trapped below deck in the vessel’s bunkroom and in need of assistance to escape.
“There are no winners when lives are lost at sea, but there is justice in bringing those accountable to answer for their crimes. Today is an example of that.” said Coast Guard Investigative Service Director, Jeremy Gauthier. “This was in its truest form, a joint effort by our hard-charging CGIS Special Agents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.”
“The horrific tragedy on the Conception has forever changed many lives,” said Christopher Bombardiere, special agent in charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. “I want to express my deepest condolences to everyone who lost a loved one. No sentencing will ever be sufficient for the suffering you have endured, nor will it bring back your loved ones. I hope this prosecution and sentencing sends a message to other captains and this recklessness is never repeated. I want to thank our National Response Team, which investigated the cause and origin of the fire. Their dedication and skilled expertise provided much needed answers.”
The FBI, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Williams, Matthew W. O’Brien and Juan M. Rodríguez of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Alexander P. Robbins of the Criminal Appeals Section prosecuted this case.
California Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Trafficking Fentanyl into VirginiaRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Buena Park, California man, who supplied as many as 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills a week to individuals who then shipped the pills into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison.
Robert Contreras, 24, a.k.a. “Quill,” previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to his prison term, Contreras was ordered today to forfeit five firearms and $31,294 in cash.
“Fentanyl, especially in the form of pressed pills, is taking its toll on America, and Virginia is no exception. This case, involving the collaboration of law enforcement agencies across the country, is a prime example of the proactive measures undertaken by this Department of Justice to combat the burgeoning pressed pill epidemic currently plaguing our nation,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “We will investigate, prosecute and hold accountable those who profit by poisoning our communities, and – as exhibited here – we will work up the chain of drug traffickers as far and wide as possible to bring them to account.”
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Contreras sold between 10,000 and 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills at a time to co-conspirator Marco Orozco at least once a week. At the height of the conspiracy in late 2021 and early 2022, Contreras sold Orozco 10,000 pressed fentanyl pills multiple times per week. The pills were then shipped from California to Southwest Virginia and other locations across the country for further distribution. Specifically, Orozco’s sub-distributors used various social media platforms to facilitate their drug trade.
On March 6, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Contreras’ residence in California. At that time, officers recovered 1,639 pressed fentanyl pills, $31,294 in cash, and five firearms without serial numbers, in addition to approximately 7,000 alprazolam pills, 3,000 Adderall pills, 242 grams of cocaine, and other hallucinogenic narcotics.
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, and the Virginia State Police), the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Ana (CA) Police Department, the Anaheim (CA) Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
CEO of Dozens of Companies Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Massive Scheme to Traffic in Fraudulent and Counterfeit Cisco Networking EquipmentRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Florida resident and dual citizen of the United States and Turkey was sentenced to 78 months in prison for running an extensive operation over many years to traffic in fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna, District of New Jersey, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri announced today.
Onur Aksoy, aka “Ron Aksoy” and “Dave Durden,” 40, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan on June 5, 2023, to two counts of an indictment charging him with conspiring with others to traffic in counterfeit goods, to commit mail fraud, and to commit wire fraud (Count 1); and mail fraud (Count 4). Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence on May 1, 2024, in Trenton federal court.
“Through an elaborate, years-long scheme, Aksoy created and ran one of the largest counterfeit-trafficking operations ever,” Attorney for the United States Khanna said. “His operation introduced tens of thousands of counterfeit and low-quality devices trafficked from China into the U.S. supply chain, jeopardizing both private-sector and public-sector users, including highly sensitive U.S. military applications like the support platforms of U.S. fighter jets and other military aircraft. Yesterday’s sentence, made possible by the investigation and prosecution of this Office and our Department and agency partners, now brings Aksoy to justice and holds him accountable for the breathtaking scale of his operation.”
“Aksoy sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit computer networking equipment that ended up in U.S. hospitals, schools, and highly sensitive military and other governmental systems, including platforms supporting sophisticated U.S. fighter jets and military aircraft,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals who flood the supply chain with low-quality networking equipment from China and Hong Kong harm U.S. businesses, pose serious health and safety risks, and compromise national security. This case—one of the largest counterfeit trademark cases ever prosecuted in the United States—demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment and capacity to prosecute the most complex counterfeiting schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“Protecting the integrity of the supply chain for everyday consumers, government agencies, and our warfighters remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said. “My office and our partners will continue to work diligently to remove counterfeit products that adversely affect public health and safety from the stream of commerce and hold the offenders accountable.”
“Mr. Aksoy’s sentencing brings closure to his yearslong greed-driven scheme that wasted U.S. taxpayer dollars and degraded our nation’s military readiness when he and his companies knowingly defrauded the Department of Defense by introducing counterfeit products into its supply chain that routinely failed or did not work at all,” Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge of the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office, said. “In doing so, he sold counterfeit Cisco products to the DoD that were found on numerous military bases and in various systems, including but not limited to U.S. Air Force F-15 and U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft flight simulators.”
“This case should serve as a warning to those who attempt to sell counterfeit goods to the U.S. government,” Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Economic Crimes Field Office said. “NCIS is committed to safeguarding the Department of Navy acquisition programs that enhance fleet readiness.”
“Companies should be honest in their dealings with the government,” GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson said. “GSA OIG special agents are committed to working with investigative partners to hold accountable fraudsters who sell counterfeit equipment to the United States.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Onur Aksoy, 40, of Miami, ran at least 19 companies formed in New Jersey and Florida, as well as approximately 15 Amazon storefronts and at least 10 eBay storefronts (collectively, the “Pro Network Entities”), that imported from suppliers in China and Hong Kong tens of thousands of low-quality, modified computer networking devices with counterfeit Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, and packaging, all bearing counterfeit trademarks registered and owned by Cisco, that made the goods falsely appear to be new, genuine, and high-quality devices manufactured and authorized by Cisco. The devices had an estimated total retail value of hundreds of millions of dollars. The Pro Network Entities generated over $100 million in revenue, and Aksoy received millions of dollars for his personal gain.
The devices the Pro Network Entities imported from China and Hong Kong were typically older, lower-model products – some of which had been sold or discarded – which Chinese counterfeiters then modified to appear to be genuine versions of new, enhanced, and more expensive Cisco devices. The Chinese counterfeiters often added pirated Cisco software and unauthorized, low-quality, or unreliable components – including components to circumvent technological measures added by Cisco to the software to check for software license compliance and to authenticate the hardware. To make the devices appear new, genuine, high-quality, and factory-sealed by Cisco, the Chinese counterfeiters added counterfeited Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, packaging, and other materials.
Fraudulent and counterfeit products sold by the Pro Network Entities suffered from numerous performance, functionality, and safety problems. Often, they would simply fail or otherwise malfunction, causing significant damage to their users’ networks and operations – in some cases, costing users tens of thousands of dollars. Customers of Aksoy’s fraudulent and counterfeit devices included hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Furthermore, a review by the government and its private-sector partners discovered numerous counterfeit devices originating from the Pro Network Entities being used in highly sensitive military and governmental applications – including classified information systems – some involving combat and non-combat operations of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army, including platforms supporting the F-15, F-18, and F-22 fighter jets, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft.
Between 2014 and 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized approximately 180 shipments of counterfeit Cisco devices being shipped to the Pro Network Entities from China and Hong Kong. In response to some of these seizures, Aksoy falsely submitted official paperwork to CBP under the alias “Dave Durden,” an identity that he used to communicate with Chinese conspirators. To avoid CBP scrutiny, Chinese conspirators broke the shipments up into smaller parcels and shipped them on different days, and Aksoy used fake delivery addresses in Ohio. After CBP seized a shipment of counterfeit Cisco products to Aksoy and the Pro Network Entities and sent a seizure notice, Aksoy often continued to order counterfeit Cisco products from the same supplier.
Between 2014 and 2019, Cisco sent seven letters to Aksoy asking him to cease and desist his trafficking of counterfeit goods. Aksoy responded to at least two of these letters by causing his attorney to provide Cisco with forged documents. In July 2021, agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy’s warehouse and seized 1,156 counterfeit Cisco devices with a retail value of over $7 million.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Aksoy to three years of supervised release and fined him $40,000. Under terms of the plea agreement, the defendant has agreed to pay restitution of $100 million to Cisco and amounts to other victims that will be determined by the court at a later date..
Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna and Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri credited special agents of HSI – Los Angeles, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wang; special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Denny; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG), under the direction of Deputy Inspector General Erickson; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Economic Crimes Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gross; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of the HSI Miami Field Office; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The CBP Electronics Center of Excellence; the CBP Los Angeles National Targeting and Analysis Center; and the CBP Office of Trade, Regulatory Audit and Agency Advisory Services, Miami Field Office provided valuable assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward for the District of New Jersey and Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in Washington, D.C., and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit in Newark.
Bronx Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for ShootingRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH ORENGO JR. was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for a shooting on September 7, 2021, on a residential street in the Bronx and conspiracy to distribute narcotics, including fentanyl. ORENGO previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This Office has been steadfast in its commitment to ending the scourge of gun violence on the streets of New York City. The defendant chose to fire multiple rounds on a residential street in the Bronx in broad daylight. He put the safety of New Yorkers at risk and terrorized a public space. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: this must stop. If you fire a gun on the streets of New York City as part of drug dealing, you will go to prison.”
According to statements made in public court proceedings and filings and a video of the attempted shooting:
On September 7, 2021, ORENGO confronted a man on a residential street in the Bronx over a disputed drug debt. As that man drove away, ORENGO fired two shots at him:
The shooting occurred at approximately 11:35 a.m., as bystanders were walking down the block.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, ORENGO, 29, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Kochevar is in charge of the prosecution.
Bree Black Horse Sworn in as Assistant United States Attorney Dedicated to Prosecuting MMIP Cases in the Northwest United StatesRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington - Today, United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref administered the oath of office to Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse. A swearing-in ceremony was held at the Yakama Nation Justice Center in Toppenish, Washington.
AUSA Black Horse will prosecute cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), in connection with the Justice Department’s MMIP regional program. AUSA Black Horse will work out of our Yakima Office, but she also will serve throughout the Northwest Region – including in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California.
“I am honored and grateful that our District was selected to have an Assistant United States Attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases related to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We are so excited for Ms. Black Horse to join our team. Our commitment to justice is not new, but it is renewed. We will continue to prioritize cases arising in Indian Country and, with renewed resources, focus on addressing the root causes that have led to increased violence in our Tribal Nations – such as fentanyl, domestic violence, child abuse, illegal possession and use of firearms, illegal narcotics, and human trafficking. Our communities are safer and stronger as we join together to seek justice on behalf of victims and their families.”
“Ms. Black Horse has the background and experience to excel as an AUSA focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases, but more importantly she has the cultural knowledge and the heart to handle MMIP prosecutions with compassion for the victims and their families, and tenacity to hold accountable those perpetrating crimes against our People,” stated Gerald Lewis, Chairman, Yakama National Tribal Council.
“I joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Washington because I believe in this new role. I can meaningfully serve our Tribal communities while effectively combating MMIP in Indian country,” stated AUSA Black Horse. “I also stepped into this position to serve our MMIP victims and MMIP families. This new program is victim-centered at its core. The program aims to prevent harm to Indigenous people and help bring healing and justice to our MMIP victims and their families, and ultimately to our Tribal communities.”
The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to United States Attorneys’ Offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program is part of the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.
The program dedicates five MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five MMIP coordinators to provide specialized support to United States Attorneys’ offices to address and combat the issues of MMIP. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, and promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions, and MMIP personnel will be located within host United States Attorneys’ offices in the Districts of Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Western Michigan. Program support will be provided by the MMIP Regional Outreach Program Coordinator at the Executive Office for United States Attorneys.
More broadly, this MMIP Program will complement the work of the Justice Department’s National Native American Outreach Services Liaison, who is helping amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. Further, the MMIP Program will liaise with and enhance the work of the Department’s Tribal Liaisons and Indian Country Assistant United States Attorneys throughout Indian Country, the Native American Issues Coordinator, and the National Indian Country Training Initiative Coordinator to ensure a comprehensive response to MMIP.
Biloxi City Councilman Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Involving Vape ShopsRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Mississippi – A Biloxi City Councilman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.
Robert Leon Deming, III, 47, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, in 2019, Deming founded the Candy Shop, LLC to operate Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. The Candy Shop stores sold CBD and vape products.
In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Candy Shop. The investigation revealed that some of the vape products sold by the Candy Shops in Mississippi contained Schedule I controlled substances and controlled substance analogues. In 2022, the DEA also received complaints that some of the products at the Candy Shops were making customers ill.
Agents obtained search warrants for the Candy Shops located in Mississippi and North Carolina. They also obtained a warrant for Deming’s residence. The warrants were contemporaneously executed on January 26, 2023. During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement officers seized over $1.8 million in cash from Deming’s residence and additional cash and controlled substances from his stores.
As the investigation continued, agents learned that Deming was aware that his vape additives did not contain CBD; rather, they contained synthetic cannabinoids. This was evidenced by group chats in which Deming’s employees complained about how the additives were too strong and could hurt their customers. Despite this fact, Deming misbranded the additives as containing CBD.
In addition, through the course of the investigation, agents were able to determine that in May of 2022, Deming sent an uncharged coconspirator $2,200.00 to purchase 1 kilogram of 5F-AB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled substance, for use in the Candy Shop’s vape additives and that, at the time Deming sent the money, he knew that 5F-AB-PINACA was a controlled substance.
The Government’s investigation also revealed that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing either Schedule I controlled substances or their analogues totaled over $2 million.
Deming was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 19, 2023.
“A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.”
"The DEA is committed to holding all individuals accountable for drug trafficking, regardless of position,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “Mr. Deming's guilty plea is a reminder that no one is above the law. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who violate the Controlled Substances Act."
“U.S. consumers are put at risk when labeling is false and misleading,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “Labeling is designed to provide information that can help consumers make informed choices about what they purchase and consume. The FDA is committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who unlawfully mask controlled substances as known consumer products to be sold to the American public.”
As part of the plea agreement in this case, Deming agreed to forfeit a yellow Monster Truck with oversized tires and a lift kit and over $1.9 million dollars. His sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lee Smith.
Billings man admits attempted sex trafficking of minor girlRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to a sex trafficking crime after he was accused of offering to provide a minor girl alcohol in exchange for sex, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joshua Allen Morgan, 40, pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Morgan faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. Under the terms of a plea agreement, the parties agree that a sentence of no less than 15 years in prison is appropriate.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Morgan was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in March 2023, following Morgan’s arrest on other charges, law enforcement served a search warrant on his phone. Law enforcement found Facebook communications between Morgan and a juvenile girl, identified as Jane Doe. In an interview with law enforcement, Doe disclosed that she had met Morgan when she was 15 or 16 after he began sending her messages on Facebook. Morgan provided Doe with alcohol, and they spent time together. During this period, Moran sexually assaulted Doe at his residence. In March 2023, Morgan and Doe began corresponding again and discussions involved Morgan providing Doe with alcohol in exchange for sexual conduct. Doe informed Morgan she was a juvenile, and Morgan instructed her not to disclose their relationship to anyone. Doe and Morgan did meet, but Doe left prior to engaging in sexual conduct with Morgan.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Jacob A. Yerger are prosecuting the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.
XXX
Billings felon sentenced to five years in prison for illegal possession of four stolen firearmsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings felon who admitted to illegally possessing four firearms, all stolen, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Armondo Anthony Ronquillo, 37, pleaded guilty in January to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in January 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant on Ronquillo’s residence and located three handguns, 100 rounds of ammunition, meth, fentanyl pills and $546 in cash. Ronquillo admitted to selling drugs and trading them for firearms. In March 2023, Ronquillo was the front seat passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement. Ronquillo had a fanny pack that contained a pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition. All four firearms in Ronquillo’s possession had been stolen. Ronquillo was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous felony conviction in Montana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla. E. Painter prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
62 Members of a Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Arecibo, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 24, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 62 violent gang members from the municipality of Arecibo with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Arecibo Strike Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with the collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bayamón Municipal Police, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority, and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
“Thanks to the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and our state and local partners, more than 60 alleged gang members and over $72 million in drugs have been seized in this operation,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs, and the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to dismantle the gangs that fuel violent crime and profit from poisoning our communities.”
“The arrests in this case underscore the resolve of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and bring to justice violent criminals who threaten our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The Department of Justice remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle criminal organizations, hold gang members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”
“The allegations in today’s indictments tell a scary story about gang violence in these public housing communities,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “For all the innocent residents who are trying to raise healthy families in safe communities, law enforcement wants you to know that we are here for you. Living in public housing cannot, and should not, mean being subjected to an atmosphere of gun violence and drug dealing around you and your family. ATF’s number one priority is getting the worst criminals – the trigger pullers and drug dealers - off the streets. When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences. I want to commend all the ATF agents and our federal and local partners who worked tirelessly to make Arecibo and all of Puerto Rico a safer place.”
“Through the relentless collaboration, between the DEA, ATF, state and federal partners have dealt significant blows to the violent drug trafficking organizations operating within the El Cotto public housing project,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster. “With over $72 million in street value narcotics seized and over 40 arrests made, our joint efforts underscore our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and safeguarding our communities.”
The indictment alleges that from 2014 through the present, the defendants worked as part of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that distributed illegal drugs for significant financial gain and profit -- including cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (commonly known as Percocet), Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax), Clonazepam (commonly known as Klonopin), and Tramadol – all within 1,000 feet of the Ramón Marín Solá Public Housing Project (“PHP”), the Trina Padilla de Sanz PHP, the Manuel Zeno Gandía PHP, the Bella Vista PHP, and La Meseta PHP, all five facilities owned by a public housing authority and collectively referred to as “El Cotto.” The charging documents further allege that the leaders of the DTO that operates within the five PHPs comprising El Cotto met regularly to discuss drug trafficking activities and prevent issues between the members of the organization. The goal of the DTO was to maintain control of the drug trafficking activities within their territory by the use of force, threats, violence, and intimidation.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including acting as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The defendants charged in the indictment are:
[1] Melquisedec Navarro-Lorenzo, a.k.a. “Melqui/La M”
[2] Joel Caraballo-López, a.k.a. “Flaqui”
[3] Luis Amezquita-Lorenzo, a.k.a. “Berto/Bethoven”
[4] Reinaldo Ortiz-González, a.k.a. “Chiqui/Compi Rey/Rajao/Viejo”
[5] Alex Montalvo-Novoa, a.k.a. “Alex Chiquito”
[6] Jonathan Joel Franco-Mercado, a.k.a. “Gancho”
[7] Ivan Acosta-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Luis Ivan Acosta Rodríguez/Luis Ivan Santiago Pérez/Ivan El Negro/Billy The Kid/Wakala”
[8] Albert De Jesús-Schelmety, a.k.a. “Macu/Macuco”
[9] Renso Marcial-Rodríguez
[10] Josué Cedeño-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Camboya”
[11] César Cardona-Mena, a.k.a. “Chivas”
[12] Lydia M. Pagán-Arocho, a.k.a. “Tata”
[13] Luis Méndez-Medina, a.k.a. “Tommy El Gago/Tommy El Loco”
[14] Jonathan Robles-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Paramédico/Jonathan Paramédico”
[15] Joseph Sanabria-Alequin, a.k.a. “Pitbull”
[16] Yefrain Molina-Viruet, a.k.a. “Harry Potter”
[17] Erick Juarbe-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Erico”
[18] Ramón Colón-Crespo, a.k.a. “Papito”
[19] Jonathan Feliciano-Torres, a.k.a. “Duende”
[20] Abdiel Yadiel Carrión-Rosado, a.k.a. “Gemelo”
[21] Yadiel Abdiel Carrión-Rosado, a.k.a. “Gemelo”
[22] Emmanuel Pérez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Manny/Manes/El Duraco Del Castillo”
[23] Obrian D. Mercado-Rivera
[24] Ashley J. Rodríguez-Pérez, a.k.a. “Chal/Char”
[25] Jimar I. Álvarez-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Gordo”
[26] Jimel J. Ortiz-Delgado, a.k.a. “Maiky/La Jota”
[27] Bryan Medina-Herrera, a.k.a. “Bryan Dialysis”
[28] Rafael Valle-Delgado, a.k.a. “Rafa Valle”
[29] Mitzuel Torres-Rivera
[30] Jan C. Cuevas-Correa
[31] Alexander Serrano-Colón, a.k.a. “Calle 13”
[32] Joselito Rodríguez-Álvarez, a.k.a. “Bombili”
[33] Ángel M. Felix-García, a.k.a. “Bully”
[34] Ángel Cortés-Soto, a.k.a. “Ángel el Bizco”
[35] Evans Y. Herrera-Quiñones, a.k.a. “El Enano”
[36] Luis O. Valentin-Rivera, a.k.a. “Luis Paramédico/Paramédico Valentin/Omar”
[37] Jesús D. Rodríguez-Martínez, a.k.a. “Spock/Danny”
[38] Héctor Y. Rodríguez-Miranda, a.k.a. “Negri/Negrito”
[39] Michael Jordan-Lugo, a.k.a. “Jordan/Goldo”
[40] Kenneth Medina-Velázquez, a.k.a. “Kenny”
[41] Edgardo J. Ríos-Santana, a.k.a. “Coco”
[42] Kelvin Hernández-Bonilla, a.k.a. “Yampi/Yapi”
[43] Carlos Rodríguez-Herrera, a.k.a. “Carlitos/Hermano de Brian Dialysis”
[44] Natanael Franco-Mercado, a.k.a. “Nata/Hermano de Gancho/Cirilo”
[45] Amisael Flores-Martínez, a.k.a. “Misa”
[46] Giovanni Molina-Viruet, a.k.a. “Giovannie/Giovanny”
[47] Alvin Y. Torres-Santiago, a.k.a. “Wisin/Yamil”
[48] Emmanuel Serrano-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Nana”
[49] Brandom L. Díaz-Navarro, a.k.a. “Brandon”
[50] Joshua Vargas-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Buda”
[51] Geovanell Mercado-Marrero, a.k.a. “Kiko”
[52] Jorge Cintrón-Cordero, a.k.a. “Ogui”
[53] Adonis J. Rosado-Serrano
[54] Jonathan Ayala-Torres, a.k.a. “Menor/Siete Pestes/Jon”
[55] José Santiago-Quiles, a.k.a. “Ewan”
[56] Liuzkany Rivera-Arroyo, a.k.a. “Kany/Luzkany”
[57] Adrián M. Lezca
[58] Kevin X. Pérez-Molina, a.k.a. “Chino”
[59] Jair X. Galarza, a.k.a. “Marciano”
[60] Shaquilomar Molina-Soto, a.k.a. “Shaquille”
[61] Israel Rivera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Gemelo”
[62] Dexie Marie Narpiel Nieves, a.k.a. “La Flaca/Depsi/Petunia”
Thirty-Six of the above-listed defendants also face one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Upon conviction, all defendants are subject to a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $72,868,600.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort; Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares; and AUSAs Pedro R. Casablanca and R. Vance Eaton are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. A conviction on the firearms charge carries a mandatory, minimum sentence of five years to life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Wednesday 1 May 2024
Wheeling Man Gets 13 Years for COVID Fraud, Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Anton Demetrius Matthews, age 40, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for wire fraud, cocaine trafficking, and a supervised release violation.
According to United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld, Matthews obtained nearly $50,000 in CARES Act loans after misrepresenting his income and occupation while he was incarcerated. Matthews submitted a loan application in which he claimed to have established a food truck business in Wheeling in January 2019 even though he was in federal prison from November 2016 until October 2020. Following his release from prison in 2020, Matthews sold cocaine both inside and outside of the Third Alarm Bar on Wheeling Island in Ohio County.
“We have noticed an uptick in drug traffickers who are also engaging in white collar crime, committing acts such as COVID fraud or income tax fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Mr. Matthews is a good example of this trend, and he will pay a steep price for committing two serious, but very different, crimes.”
Matthews was ordered to pay $54,999 in restitution and a money judgment of $49,999. He will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennie Conklin and Carly Nogay prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The investigations were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Washington man sentenced to four years in prison for fentanyl trafficking in MissoulaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Washington man who brought fentanyl pills to Missoula for distribution was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Dustin William Slaney, 44, of Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement learned from sources that Slaney was a prolific drug dealer in the Missoula area from approximately January 2021 through December 2022 and that he brought drugs from Spokane to Missoula for redistribution. Investigators learned that an individual purchased more than 3,000 fentanyl pills over a 60-day period from Slaney and that he had been seen in possession of 10,000 fentanyl pills and a half-pound of meth. In December 2022, a Montana state search warrant was served on Slaney’s vehicle and resulted in the recovery of fentanyl, meth, heroin, various drug paraphernalia, firearms, and U.S. currency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and Missoula Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Washington man sentenced to five years in prison for fentanyl trafficking in Great Falls areaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Washington man who admitted to bringing large quantities of fentanyl pills to the Great Falls area and other Montana cities for redistribution was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joseph Allen Conner, aka Street, 40, of Yakima, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on June 23, 2023, in University Place, Washington, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Conner’s residence and recovered pills, a money counter, firearms, and ammunition. Conner admitted in an interview that beginning in September 2022, he made multiple trips to Montana, including to Great Falls, Missoula, Lincoln, and Haugen, to sell fentanyl and other controlled substances. The investigation determined that Conner distributed large amounts of pills to multiple sources and possessed “buckets full” of fentanyl pills. Conner also mailed large amounts of pills to distributors and was seen with what an individual described as a “volleyball size bag” of pills. Law enforcement also seized approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills and meth from a vehicle being driven by a co-conspirator and determined that the drugs came from Conner.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Great Falls Police Department and Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Wanblee Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2024.
Richard Lorn Brown, 28, was sentenced to a total of four years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Judge Lange imposed an 18-month sentence on the Failure to Register charge and a 30-month sentence on the Assault charge, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.
Brown was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Committing a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
The conviction stems from Brown failing to update his sex offender registration in July of 2022 and then stabbing a man with a knife in July of 2023.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Brown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wall Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Wall, South Dakota, man convicted of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 26, 2024.
Miguel Antonio Alvarez, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the Enticement charge and 20 years in federal prison for the Receipt charge, all to run concurrently. Additionally, Alvarez was sentenced to eight years of supervised released, and order to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $27,500 in restitution. Alvarez will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Alvarez was indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor, Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024.
The convictions stem from Alvarez enticing a 14-year-old girl between April of 2022 and May of 2022 in Wall, South Dakota. Additionally, Alvarez was in receipt of hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the FBI, the Pennington County’s Office, and the Lynnwood Police Department in Snohomish County, Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Alvarez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Violent Felon Sentenced for Possession of an Illegal RifleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Travis Wicks, 48, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for possessing a Sig Sauer P-365 handgun that had been converted into a rifle and equipped with a drum magazine loaded with forty-rounds of ammunition, along with a laser sight.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Wicks pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The plea represents his fourth gun charge. In addition to the 57-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, ordered Wicks to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 1, 2023, MPD officers executed a search warrant at the Southeast Washington D.C. apartment where Wicks was known to stay. The search recovered one round of 9mm ammunition in a kitchen cabinet, a black firearm laser sight on a living room coffee table, nine loose 9mm rounds inside a bedroom closet, a drum-style magazine containing 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the bedroom closet, and a Sig Sauer P-365 semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number inserted into a rifle conversion kit, also found on the bedroom closet floor. Subsequent DNA analysis linked Wicks to the weapon.
According to the sentencing memo, Wicks has a long and varied history of violent behavior that now includes four gun charges. In October 2005, Wicks was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of voluntary manslaughter while armed for stabbing an unarmed man 20 times in a restaurant.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Emrani and Cameron Tepfer.
sentencing_memorandum_travis_wicks.pdf modified_sig_sauer.pdfViolent Felon Found Guilty in Federal Court for Possessing a Machinegun and Perpetrating over $1 Million Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Derrick Barbour, 27, of Indianapolis, guilty of unlawful possession of a machinegun, being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a USPS Arrow Key, possession of stolen mail, and bank fraud, following a four-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, early in the morning on February 10, 2023, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers stopped Barbour, who was driving a stolen vehicle. Barbour, the only occupant in the vehicle, refused to exit, despite over 100 commands from law enforcement to do so. Eventually, IMPD SWAT officers physically removed Barbour from the vehicle and placed him under arrest. Searching Barbour’s person, they found a baggie of cocaine in one of his socks and part of a handgun in his other sock.
Later, law enforcement officers searched the vehicle Barbour was driving. Inside, they found two loaded handguns, a 10 mm Glock model 20 handgun that had previously been reported stolen, and a Glock 17 9mm handgun equipped with a “Glock switch”—a small metallic device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machinegun, where one press of the trigger fires multiple rounds. The handgun on which the “Glock switch” was installed had a magazine capable of holding 50 rounds.
Installing a “Glock switch” requires the removal of a part of the handgun. The trial evidence showed that the handgun piece found in Barbour’s sock when he was arrested was the part of the Glock 17 handgun that had been removed to install the “Glock switch.”
The jury found that Barbour’s possession of the “Glock switch” was illegal. Additionally, the jury found that Barbour’s possession of the two handguns was also unlawful, as Barbour had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including attempted armed robbery, possession of cocaine, and residential entry.
In addition to firearms, law enforcement officers also found a significant amount of stolen mail in the vehicle Barbour was driving. Inside the envelopes were checks and money orders made out to other people and businesses. Also, hanging from Barbour’s keyring were two “arrow keys,” which are used to access U.S. Postal Service collection boxes. Indeed, these specific keys were reported missing in late 2022 from the Bacon Station Post Office in Indianapolis. It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to possess an arrow key. The jury found Barbour guilty of possessing both stolen mail and the arrow keys.
Finally, the jury convicted Barbour of bank fraud for washing the stolen checks and cashing them for himself. The jury saw that, in the trunk of Barbour’s vehicle, investigators recovered a laptop computer, a typewriter, and a duffel bag containing additional checks, as well as blank check stock. Many of the checks had been altered to include Barbour’s name. Additionally, the jury saw evidence that the ribbon of the typewriter found in the vehicle and used to alter the checks included Barbour’s name.
The total value of the checks and money orders recovered from the Chevrolet Impala was approximately $$1,217,639.62
The United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IMPD investigated this case. U.S District Court Judge James P. Hanlon presided over the trial and will impose sentence at a later date. Barbour faces up to 70 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kelsey L. Massa and Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case.
###
Utica Man Sentenced for His Role in Large Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Eric Ares, age 38, of Utica, New York, was sentenced today to serve 120 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and to distribute fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office. Ares was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and pay a $200 special assessment. The Court also imposed a $150,000 money judgment.
As part of his guilty plea, Ares admitted that from May 2020 through October 2021, he, together with his co-conspirators in the Rodriguez drug trafficking organization, possessed with intent to distribute and distributed fentanyl in the Utica, New York area. Ares admitted to making numerous trips to the New York City area to purchase fentanyl, which he then drove back to the Utica area where he and others distributed it. Ares admitted that on September 20, 2021, he drove to the New York City area and received 3 kilograms of fentanyl for distribution. Law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle Ares was driving and recovered 3 kilograms of fentanyl hidden inside a speaker in the trunk.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Utica Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the City of Rome Police Department, United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE), the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Village of Yorkville Police Department, and the Village of Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.
United States Files Forfeiture Action Against $1.55 Million Aircraft Landing GearRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed a forfeiture complaint against a set of aircraft landing gear for a Boeing 737-800 that was detained in September 2023 at Miami International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The gear was purchased for the benefit of a Kyrgyz Republic-based transhipper of dual-use items servicing the Russian Federation, in violation of U.S. economic sanctions.
According to court documents, the landing gear had been sold in June 2023 by a Florida-based aircraft parts overhauler and reseller for $1.55 million to an intermediary in Istanbul, GQ Solution Elektronik Ekipman Limited Sirketi.
Concurrent with today’s action, the State Department announced new sanctions against entities engaged in Russia’s technology sector, including GQ Solution Elektronik Ekipman Limited Sirketi in connection with the company’s supplying of electronic components to Russia-based companies.
In July 2023, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated LLC RM Design and Development (RMDD) as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for operating in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy. According to OFAC, RMDD was established in March 2022, less than one month following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. OFAC has described RMDD as a “prolific shipper of dual-use goods to Russia, including to firms that have supplied electronics to Russia-based defense companies.” As a result of RMDD’s designation as an SDN, all property and interests in property of RMDD that are in the United States are blocked.
On July 25, 2023, five days after being designated as an SDN by OFAC, RMDD sent an email asking HML Aviation to “switch [the purchase] fully to our partners GQ Solution.” After the email, all mentions of RMDD were scrubbed from invoices for the landing gear.
On Aug. 29, 2023, GQ Solution completed HML Aviation’s End Use/End User Certification form. Among the items included in the form are statements that GQ Solution “will not export or re-export U.S. products, technology or software… to any restricted country unless otherwise authorized by the United States Government.”
On Sept. 1, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alerted the shipper that it had detained the landing gear shipment at the airport in Miami.
This forfeiture action is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to enforce U.S. sanctions and export controls against the Russian Federation following the invasion of Ukraine. The forfeiture complaint detailed here is merely an allegation.
HSI Colorado Springs and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security are leading the larger investigation into Russian Federation attempts to avoid U.S. sanctions and export controls.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Rick Blaylock Jr. for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case.
This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
United States Files Forfeiture Action Against $1.55 Million Aircraft Landing GearRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against a set of aircraft landing gear for a Boeing 737-800 that was detained in September 2023 at Miami International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The gear was purchased for the benefit of a Kyrgyz Republic-based transhipper of dual-use items servicing the Russian Federation, in violation of U.S. economic sanctions.
The pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L Spradlin of the Denver Field Office, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod with the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security.
According to court documents, the landing gear had been sold in June 2023 by a Florida-based aircraft parts overhauler and reseller for $1.55 million to an intermediary in Istanbul, Turkiye, GQ Solution Electronic Ekipman Limited.
“This Office continues to use every tool it has to stop illegal transactions with Russian businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Today’s complaint stops an attempted illegal transfer to the Russian Federations of parts for airplanes and seeks to permanently deprive both the Russian Federation and the company that tried to sell them of these goods.”
Concurrent with today’s action, the State Department announced new sanctions against entities engaged in Russia’s technology sector, including GQ Solution Elektronik Limited in connection with the company’s supplying of electronic components to Russia-based companies.
In July 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated LLC RM Design and Development (RMDD) as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for operating in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy. According to OFAC, RMDD was established in March 2022, less than one month following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. OFAC has described RMDD as a “prolific shipper of dual-use goods to Russia, including to firms that have supplied electronics to Russia-based defense companies.” As a result of RMDD’s designation as an SDN, all property and interests in property of RMDD that are in the United States are blocked.
On July 25, 2023, five days after being designated as an SDN by OFAC, RMDD sent an email asking HML Aviation to “switch [the purchase] fully to our partners GQ Solution.” After the email, all mentions of RMDD were scrubbed from invoices for the landing gear.
On August 29, 2023, GQ Solution completed HML Aviation’s End Use/End User Certification form. Among the items included in the form are statements that GQ Solution “will not export or re-export U.S. products, technology or software… to any restricted country unless otherwise authorized by the United States Government.”
On September 1, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alerted the shipper that it had detained the landing gear shipment at the airport in Miami.
This forfeiture action is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to enforce U.S. sanctions and export controls against the Russian Federation following the invasion of Ukraine. The forfeiture complaint detailed here is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Colorado Springs Field Office and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security are leading the larger investigation into Russian Federation attempts to avoid U.S. sanctions and export controls.
This case is being litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Rick Blaylock Jr., with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
United States Attorney and New York State Attorney General Announce Substantial Recovery for the Beneficiaries of Defrauded EstatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced today that nearly $6.3 million in restitution has been collected and distributed to the victims of Richard J. Sherwood and Thomas K. Lagan, who were sentenced to both federal and state prison for stealing approximately $11.8 million from the estates of three deceased sisters.
Nearly $5 million of the restitution came from criminally derived assets that were forfeited to the United States, and then approved by the Department of Justice to be directly applied to victim restitution. Of the funds restored to the victims, $3,559,426.90 was forfeited by Sherwood and $1,391,322.08 was forfeited by Lagan.
The victims, which have received restitution distributions, include churches, Ukrainian-American civic organizations, a local hospital and a local university scholarship fund. The United States Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery Unit is still working to recover the remainder of the restitution owed, approximately $5.5 million.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman stated: “This substantial recovery is the result of our efforts to make sure that crime does not pay. We will continue to use every available tool to enforce restitution judgments against Sherwood and Lagan and return as much money as possible to the victims of their fraudulent scheme.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James stated: “New Yorkers should be able to trust that their financial advisors and attorneys are looking out for their best interests—not stealing their hard-earned money. Sherwood and Lagan defrauded a well-meaning family, and in the process, cheated local nonprofit organizations out of funds intended to support their missions. Thank you to U.S. Attorney Freedman for her partnership in rooting out fraud and stopping individuals who abuse the system.”
Lagan of Cooperstown, New York, was an investment advisor and attorney, and Sherwood of Guilderland, New York, was an attorney who served as Guilderland Town Justice, and practiced primarily in trusts and estates.
Starting in 2006, Sherwood and Lagan provided estate planning and related legal services to Capital Region philanthropists Warren and Pauline Bruggeman, and to Pauline’s sister, Anne Urban, all of Niskayuna, New York. They were advising the Bruggemans when, in 2006, the Bruggemans signed wills directing that all their assets go to churches, civic organizations, a local hospital, and a local university scholarship fund, aside from bequests to Urban and Julia Rentz, Pauline’s sisters.
Warren Bruggeman died in April 2009, and Pauline died in August 2011. At the time of her death, Pauline had personal and trust assets valued at approximately $20 million. In each pleading guilty, Sherwood and Lagan admitted that they conspired to steal, and did steal, millions of dollars from Pauline Bruggeman’s estate as well as from the estate of Urban, who died in 2013. Their conspiracy included the diversion and transfer to themselves of several million dollars belonging to Rentz, a resident of Ohio, who was suffering from dementia at the time of the thefts and died in 2013.
Sherwood and Lagan each admitted that they induced Urban to create a trust whose purpose, unknown to her, was to allow them to transfer Bruggeman/Urban assets to themselves. They also set up more than ten bank accounts, and created a limited liability company (Empire Capital Trust, LLC), to first conceal the theft of the money and then transfer the money to themselves.
The co-conspirators admitted that they stole $11,831,563, with Lagan admitting that that nearly $6.3 million was transferred outright to him. Sherwood admitted that nearly $3.6 million was transferred to him, with an additional $1.96 million transferred to Empire Capital Trust, LLC, an entity controlled by the co-conspirators. Sherwood also admitted that he transferred to himself the Bruggeman family camp located on Galway Lake, in Saratoga County.
In December 2019, Sherwood was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, and to also serve 3 to 9 years in state prison. That same month, Lagan was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and to also serve 4 to 12 years in state prison.
From prison, and notwithstanding his prior guilty pleas in federal and state court, Lagan then objected in New York State Surrogate’s Court to a petition filed by the New York Attorney General’s Office’s Charities Bureau to restore the appropriate trusts created by Anne Urban (before Lagan and Sherwood defrauded her). The Surrogate’s Court ultimately rejected Lagan’s challenge and granted summary judgment to the Charities Bureau, a decision that was affirmed on appeal. Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Allinson represented the Charities Bureau in the Surrogate’s Court case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Conger and Melissa Rothbart represent the United States on the asset forfeiture and restitution matters in this case, with assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative. The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving elders can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces the Formation of Multi-Agency Health Care Fraud Task ForceRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Together with state and federal partners, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs announced the formation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force (PHCF Task Force), which has been created as a dedicated task force to combat health care fraud and recover taxpayer money in the District of South Carolina through criminal and civil actions. Other agencies that have joined the PHCF Task Force include investigators from the Department of Labor and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In February 2023, the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, and other federal, state, and local agency partners began meeting as part of a Health Care Fraud Working Group with the goal of combatting health care fraud in the District of South Carolina. The PHCF Task Force was created after the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office saw great success from the Working Group meetings. The creation of the PHCF Task Force demonstrates an increased effort to bring to justice those who defraud the health care system, to deter future health care fraud and abuse, and to promote trust in the healthcare system. Additional resources available to the PHCF Task Force will include the FBI's Data Analytics Response Team (DART), numerous forensic accountants, and Intelligence Analysts from various agencies, which all will promote efficiency in prosecuting cases.
Health care fraud is an enormous burden on South Carolina taxpayers. In 2023, taxpayer funded healthcare programs spent approximately $23 billion in South Carolina alone. Although it is difficult to approximate the amount of money lost to waste, fraud, and abuse each year, the Government Accountability Office estimates it could be as much as 10% of money spent. The PHCF Task Force will better equip the United States to detect wrongdoers and recoup money lost to fraud in South Carolina—which costs taxpayers billions each year.
The PHCF Task Force and agencies involved in the Health Care Fraud Working Group will meet regularly to aggressively investigate allegations of false billings, COVID-19 fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and other schemes that victimize patients, health care providers, private insurers, and government insurers, such as Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid, in the District of South Carolina.
“Health care fraud impacts our citizens, both as patients and taxpayers,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force demonstrates our commitment to working with our partners to protect those seeking quality medical care and the federal programs meant to support them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina commends our partners for the creation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force and will continue to vigorously prosecute and pursue those who abuse and take advantage of health care programs.”
“Fraud committed within our health systems affects everyone and weakens public trust,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI created the PCHF Task Force to bolster the local, state, and federal posture against health care fraud, and it will enhance our investigative approaches to hold offenders accountable. We appreciate our federal and state partners that have joined the task force in this effort.”
“We welcome the PHCF Task Force and will continue to assist investigative partners combatting health care fraud,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Our unwavering commitment at HHS-OIG remains steadfast in protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and the well-being of their beneficiaries from fraudulent schemes. The impact of defrauding federal health care programs diverts crucial resources from those deserving of vital medical attention and will not be tolerated."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina anticipates broader enforcement as a result of the PHCF Task Force, building on its past success. For example, in April 2019, the District of South Carolina announced its participation in a nationwide operation aimed at dismantling one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes in history. In March 2024, one of the Defendants, Andrew Chmiel, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in this scheme. The District of South Carolina also recently announced the successful prosecution of Jeffrey Brooks for submitting false durable medical equipment claims. Mr. Brooks pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison. He also paid $850,000 to the United States as part of a civil settlement.
If you suspect healthcare fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
###
U.S. Attorney recognizes outstanding agents for work with victimsRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – Two FBI agents were recognized on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oxford, Mississippi for their outstanding work and service on behalf of crime victims.
FBI Special Agents Molly Blythe and Ryan Berthay were recipients of the inaugural Carolyn Clayton Victims’ Service Award given by U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner in observance of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Both agents Blythe and Berthay were specifically recognized for their work on behalf of child exploitation and human trafficking victims.
The award, which is named in memory of long-time victims’ rights advocate Carolyn Clayton, will be given annually by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to recognize agents or individuals who have demonstrated tremendous efforts and service to crime victims. Clayton, who founded Survival Incorporated after a tragedy in her own personal life, championed victims’ rights in Mississippi and worked tirelessly to bring about changes to laws affecting those touched by violent crime.
“I can think of no more fitting name for this award given in observance of Victims’ Rights Week than the Carolyn Clayton Victims’ Service Award, and no more deserving agents to receive it this year than Molly Blythe and Ryan Berthay,” remarked U.S. Attorney Joyner. “Ms. Clayton and Special Agents Blythe and Berthay have devoted themselves to ensuring that crime victims are heard and protected and that justice is served on their behalf. For all the work that Carolyn Clayton did on behalf of victims during her lifetime and for all of the work that Agents Blythe and Berthay are currently doing, we are immensely grateful.”
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson to Announce Guilty Plea in Bankruptcy Fraud Case with U.S. Trustee and Law Enforcement OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will hold a press conference with U.S. Trustee Program and law enforcement officials on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. to announce a guilty plea in a bankruptcy fraud case.
The press conference will be held at the Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston, and is slated to include officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Trustee Program and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
WHAT: Plea Hearing Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fourth Floor, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
###
Two Raleigh Men Sentenced to Prison for Laundering Proceeds of Transnational CrimeRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Two Raleigh, North Carolina men, Joseph Kingsley Irona and Mamady Fadima Conde, were sentenced for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both men previously pled guilty to the charge. Irona was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Conde was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. The defendants were each ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with the scheme.
“These defendants took advantage of benefits that hard-working Americans pay for by fraudulently obtaining identities and funneling the funds through elaborate laundering channels to obscure their trail,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This case highlights our relentless pursuit of those who exploit financial systems and harm the citizens of Eastern North Carolina.”
“The misuse of SSA’s e-Services to defraud SSA and rightful beneficiaries and recipients will not be tolerated at any level. This sentence holds these defendants accountable for their malicious and egregious crimes,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “My office will continue to investigate those who abuse SSA programs and operations, including its e-Services, for their own selfish gain. I thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in investigating and prosecuting this complex case.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Irona and Conde were involved in a highly complex network of bank accounts at multiple financial institutions. This network was used for laundering over $1 million criminal proceeds derived from various fraud schemes, particularly identity theft. One particularly intricate scheme involved the misuse of stolen victim identifiers to submit online applications for Social Security retirement benefits in victims’ names. After the applications were approved, the resulting payments were unlawfully deposited into accounts within the money laundering network, including accounts held by Irona and Conde. After receiving criminal proceeds, Irona and Conde took elaborate steps to dissipate the funds and obscure their source and destination. In addition to his money laundering activity, Irona was also responsible for managing multiple co-conspirators in the United States and the flow of criminal funds through their accounts in furtherance of the larger money laundering operation, including facilitating money transfers to co-conspirators in Nigeria.
A third defendant in the case, Chinedu Frances Okwuosha, was previously sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and three of supervised release on February 22, 2024.
Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-348-D.
###