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29 May 2024
New York Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Resisting ArrestRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. –A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and resisting his arrest with a deadly or dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Miguel Nuñez, 50, of Bronx, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to a superseding information charging him with one count of possessing 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of resisting and impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 24, 2021, Nuñez and Jesus Higuera-Parra, 28, of Ontario, California, drove from New York City to Elizabeth, New Jersey, for the purposes of distributing fentanyl. When they arrived to meet the drug purchaser, they were approached by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Nunez, the driver of the vehicle, put his car in reverse and attempted to elude the law enforcement personnel, which resulted in a collision with a DEA car.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced Nunez to four years of supervised release.
Higuera-Parra previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and is awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray Mateo of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit and Benjamin Levin of the National Security Unit.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENDRICK WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 19, of New Orleans, was charged on May 23, 2024 in a four-count indictment with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.
WILLIAMS is charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846. He is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute those substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and in Count 4 with possession with intent to distribute tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). WILLIAMS is charged in Count 3 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
As to each of the drug trafficking charges in Counts 1, 2, and 4, WILLIAMS faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to court documents, beginning at a time unknown but prior to March 7, 2024 and continuing to on or about April 3, 2024, WILLIAMS allegedly conspired with others to knowingly possess, with the intent to distribute, a mixture of tapentadol and marijuana within the Eastern District of Louisiana. On March 7, 2024, WILLIAMS allegedly conspired with others to knowingly possess, with the intent to distribute, a mixture of tapentadol and marijuana. Further, on or about March 7, 2024, WILLIAMS allegedly illegally possessed firearms, including a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Glock Model 19x, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Morgantown Business Owner Admits to Fraud of Federal Broadband FundingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Chad Henson, the owner of Clearfiber, Inc., an internet service provider in Monongalia County, has admitted to defrauding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Henson, 35, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pled guilty today to money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, the USDA’s Community Connect Program offered grants to eligible applicants providing broadband services to rural areas. As owner of Clearfiber, Henson applied and was awarded $1.96 million in USDA funding to offer high-speed internet services in Monongalia and Marion Counties. Henson then submitted false invoices to the USDA to receive more than $340,000, transferring $322,900 into another bank account for his personal use.
Henson faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and the USDA Office of the Inspector General.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Medical Device Manufacturer Innovasis Inc. and Two Top Executives Agree to Pay $12M to Settle Allegations of Improper Payments to PhysiciansRead the Press Release
Spinal device manufacturer Innovasis Inc. and senior executives Brent Felix and Garth Felix agreed to pay a total of $12 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to spine surgeons to induce their use of Innovasis’s spinal devices. Brent Felix is the founder, President and Chairman of the Board of Innovasis, which is headquartered in Utah. Garth Felix served in various leadership roles for Innovasis, including as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.
“Payments from medical device manufacturers intended to influence a physician’s judgment about which medical devices or supplies to select are illegal,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When medical devices are used in surgical procedures, patients deserve to know that their device was selected based on quality of care considerations and not on improper payments from manufacturers.”
“The integrity of our healthcare system is dependent upon physicians’ recommendations being motivated by patient health,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas. “Any time we learn that physician recommendations are being corrupted by improper financial inducements, we will seek to hold those involved accountable.”
“Improper financial arrangements can compromise medical judgment and adversely influence the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These arrangements have no place in our healthcare system, and we will continue working with our federal partners to pursue such allegations.”
The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2022, Innovasis provided improper remuneration to seventeen orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons to induce them to use Innovasis spinal implants, devices and other equipment in medical procedures the physicians performed on Medicare beneficiaries, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The improper remuneration was allegedly provided in the form of consulting fees, intellectual property acquisition and licensing fees, registry payments and performance shares in Innovasis, as well as travel to a luxury ski resort, lavish dinners and holiday parties for surgeons, their office staff and family members. For example, Innovasis allegedly paid physicians for consulting services at rates far in excess of fair market value or, in some cases, for work that was never actually performed. Similarly, the company allegedly paid physicians far in excess of fair market value to acquire or license purported intellectual property for which Innovasis never obtained any valuation prior to purchase and thereafter never used for meaningful product development. Innovasis also paid physicians to attend a company-sponsored conference held at a luxury resort in Deer Valley, Utah, which included the cost of travel, lodging and high-end meals, among other things. During the relevant period, Brent Felix, along with his brother Garth Felix, allegedly controlled or otherwise directed Innovasis’s operations, strategic decisions, and the agreements with surgeons who allegedly received improper remuneration from Innovasis.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Robert Richardson, a former Regional Sales Director for Innovasis. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action for false claims on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Richardson will receive approximately $2.2 million as his share of the recovery in this case. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Richardson v. Innovasis Inc., et al., No. 3:19-CV-02440-X (N.D. Tex.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
Trial Attorneys Jessica E. Krieg, Olga Yevtukhova and Adam J. DiClemente of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Robbins and George M. Padis for the Northern District of Texas handled the matter.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are only allegations. There has been no determination of liability.
SettlementMcLaughlin Man found Guilty of Simple Assault and Assault by Striking, Beating and WoundingRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Kenton Wynn Walks, age 39, of McLaughlin, South Dakota of Simple Assault and Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 22, 2024.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of one and a half years in federal prison and/or a $105,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $50 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Walks was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2022.
On April 22, 2022, law enforcement in McLaughlin was called because Walks had assaulted an elderly man by kicking him in the head. The assault occurred on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim suffered a laceration on the rear right side of his head, which produced a significant amount of blood. The laceration was approximately three inches long and required six staples to be closed.
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 Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was ordered to self-report for sentencing on July 2, 2024.
Man previously caught illegally possessing a firearm in a music video sentenced again after carrying a firearm while shopliftingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2023, loss prevention personnel at a department store in McLean observed Najee O. Lewis, aka Bebo, 27, shoplifting merchandise. The personnel apprehended Lewis and contacted the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). FCPD officers responded and recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun from Lewis’ pants. The firearm had a round in the chamber and 22 rounds in an extended magazine.
Lewis previously was convicted in Prince William Circuit Court of two separate felony robbery offenses that occurred two days apart and was subsequently sentenced at the same time for both offenses. In May 2018, Lewis was released from incarceration for these robbery convictions and began a 10-year term of supervised probation. Less than four months after his release from incarceration, while still on supervision in Virginia, a music video showing Lewis with a stolen 9mm handgun was posted to YouTube. Lewis was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, violating the terms of his pre-existing supervised release. As a convicted felon, Lewis cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel I. Lipkowitz and Noah Sissoko prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-37.
Man Sentenced for Raping Unconscious Woman After Night of DrinkingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ohkay Owingeh Man was sentenced to 70 months in prison for raping an unconscious woman at a family friend’s apartment after a night of drinking in July 2022.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2022, Dwayne Calvert, 34, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh, raped Jane Doe while she lay unconscious on a couch after a night of heavy drinking. The sexual assault occurred at the apartment of a family friend where Calvert had been babysitting.
The family friend and her boyfriend witnessed Calvert naked on top of the unconscious Jane Doe and alerted authorities. Jane Doe had no memory of the rape.
In his plea agreement, Calvert admitted he knew Jane Doe was passed out from consuming too much alcohol and never consented to a sexual act.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Calvert will be required to serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Local man receives 30 years in prison for fondling minor while producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 39-year-old resident of Montgomery County has been sentenced for sexually exploiting a child and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
James Aubrey Zachary Wasson pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now sentenced Wasson to 360 months and 120 months for the sexual exploitation and production convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 30-year-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard from the victim’s mother detailing how Wasson’s actions caused the child to suffer nightmares. In handing down the prison terms, the court acknowledged that the sentence was “life altering for a reason,” noting that the victim’s life will never be the same. The judge also rejected Wasson’s excuse that he exploited the child because of a drug addiction, commenting that drug abuse does not lead preying upon children.
Wasson was further ordered to pay $29,000 in restitution to multiple victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Wasson will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Wasson shattered a little girl’s life,” said Hamdani. “Today’s sentence cannot give her back the life she should have had, but it does ensure Wasson cannot hurt other children for a very long time.”
“Over the course of two years, this child predator uploaded more than 500 files of child sexual abuse materials to the internet, including over 50 files of himself sexually exploiting a minor victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston. “Thanks to the selfless bravery of one of his victims who worked with investigators to confirm his identity, we were able to obtain his conviction and ensure he is held accountable for his heinous actions.”
Authorities identified Wasson after discovering over 500 files of child pornography he had uploaded between March 2019 and March 2021. One folder contained a series of 51 photographs, all taken on a single date in December 2020. Some showed him in a state of sexual arousal next to a minor female child. He also appeared to be fondling her under her clothing.
A subsequent search of Wasson’s cell phone confirmed it was the device he used to produce the series of sexually explicit photographs. The cell phone also contained other files of child pornography taken between May 2020 and May 2021.
The minor victim also identified Wasson and recalled when he took the photographs.
Wasson will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Lewis County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nathan Hotchkiss, age 36, of Lewis County, New York, was sentenced today to serve 30 years imprisonment and lifetime post-release supervision for two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo, New York Field Office made the announcement.
As part of Hotchkiss’s previously entered guilty plea, he admitted that, from at least October 2021 through August 2022, he sexually exploited two children under the age of five and livestreamed or distributed depictions of the sexual abuse online for cash. When Hotchkiss was arrested in August 2022, he also had a collection of child pornography he had obtained on the Internet or through social media message exchanges with others.
In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Hotchkiss was ordered to pay a total of $18,000 in restitution to his victims and to forfeit the electronic devices he used to commit the offenses. Hotchkiss also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with the assistance of the New York State Police and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office as part of Project Safe Childhood. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Lehigh Acres Man Sentenced to 110 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Videos and ImagesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Luis Daniel Fuentes (47, Lehigh Acres) to 110 years in federal prison for producing and possessing videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Fuentes was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Fuentes entered a guilty plea on February 8, 2024.
According to court documents, between approximately August 28 and September 27, 2020, Fuentes used three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He used his cellphone to produce videos of the minors being sexually abused. Fuentes stored the child sexual abuse images and videos on seven SD cards.
Fuentes’s cellphone and SD cards were turned over to law enforcement. A subsequent search of his devices, pursuant to a search warrant, revealed 24 videos that Fuentes had produced of him sexually abusing three children – ages 2, 5, and 6 years old at the time. Additionally, the SD cards and cellphone contained more than 5,000 images and 17 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children that Fuentes had downloaded from the internet and kept for his collection.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that assisted in this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Kingston Resident Sentenced for Making A False Statement to Acquire A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Kenneth Reilly, age 34, of Kingston, Oklahoma, was sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment for one count of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On September 12, 2023, Reilly pled guilty to charge. According to investigators, on December 24, 2022, Reilly attempted to redeem a pistol from EZ Pawn in Durant, Oklahoma. During his visit, Reilly intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year. In reality, at the time of the transaction, Reilly was charged with a felony crime by the state of Oklahoma in Marshall County District Court.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
King and Queen County man who violated a protective order sentenced for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A King and Queen County man was sentenced today to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on March 17, 2022, a King and Queen County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to a report that George Franklin Gibson Jr., 34, was sitting in his truck at the end of a driveway, in violation of an emergency protective order. After another deputy arrived, the deputies arrested Gibson and, based on ammunition in plain view in the truck as well as in Gibson’s pocket, searched the truck.
In the center console of Gibson’s truck, the deputies found a plastic baggie with suspected meth. They also found a backpack in the backseat with more suspected meth in the front zipper pocket. The main compartment of the backpack was locked. The deputies obtained search warrants for the backpack and Gibson’s premises. The locked compartment of the backpack contained suspected marijuana, a digital scale, smoking devices, packaging materials, and suspected psychedelic mushrooms. A shed on the property contained large quantities of suspected marijuana and marijuana plants, packaging materials, a loaded 9mm handgun, and a safe containing more suspected meth and over $13,000. In total, law enforcement recovered 187.59 grams of meth.
Gibson pled guilty on Feb. 29.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and William R. Balderson, King and Queen County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-10.
King County couple indicted for drug and illegal weapons possessionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A King County couple, arrested after law enforcement discovered a drug lab and cache of firearms and explosives inside their RV were indicted today for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Braiden F. Wilson, 28, is also charged with unlawful possession of destructive devices, and unlawful possession of silencers. Wilson and his partner, 30- year-old Chandler B. Bennett were arrested following a May 12, 2024, shooting in rural King County. They will be arraigned on the grand jury indictment next week.
According to the indictment and the criminal complaint filed in the case, King County Sheriff’s deputies first encountered the couple when Wilson was shot in the arm. The deputies noticed that the RV had surveillance cameras and asked to get access to the recorded video to identify the assailant. Bennett refused to allow law enforcement to enter the RV, so they sought a warrant from a King County Judge.
When law enforcement entered the RV, they found a large cache of weapons as well as fentanyl powder, tablets containing fentanyl, and sundry items associated with the manufacture of tablets, including a manual pill press. Law enforcement located more than two and a half kilograms of fentanyl pills. Law enforcement seized 17 firearms, body armor, silencers, and ballistic shields. They also found gun parts made from 3D printers – making them untraceable. There were multiple destructive devices and literature on the chemistry and manufacturing of explosives, as well as literature on how to convert firearms to fully automatic capability.
Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in this quantity, is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of a machinegun is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Possession of destructive devices and possession of silencers are each punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the Washington State Patrol.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.
bennett-wilson_complaint.pdf wilson-bennett_indictment.pdfJustice Department Sues Oklahoma City Public Schools to Protect Servicemember Reemployment RightsRead the Press Release
Note: View the full complaint here
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Justice Department has sued Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) to protect rights guaranteed to an Air Force Reserve Senior Airman, Michael J. McCullough, by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, alleges that OKCPS violated USERRA when it failed to reinstate McCullough in a teacher position upon his return from a military deployment.
“We owe a solemn duty to protect the rights of our servicemembers when called upon to defend our nation. This lawsuit reinforces the Justice Department’s strong commitment to protecting the rights of those who wear the uniform proudly,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “USERRA provides important reemployment protections, and we must act when any employer denies them an opportunity to earn a living because they are called to duty.”
“Service members are called to leave their home and work to serve and protect us,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “It is our job to make sure their employment rights are protected once they return home. My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by those who serve our country.”
According to the complaint, McCullough was employed by OKCPS as a music teacher in January 2022. He was under contract for the remainder of the school year, and his principal told him that she wanted him to return to teach the following year. In February 2022, McCullough was ordered to perform military service. When he notified his principal, she suggested it would be easier if he just resigned his teaching position. Less than a month later, during his deployment, OKCPS advised McCullough that his contract for the 2022-2023 school year would not be renewed. Prior to and on his return from active military duty, OKCPS refused McCullough’s repeated requests for reemployment, despite available positions. The lawsuit seeks lost wages, other employment benefits and other remedies. The complaint also seeks liquidated damages because this is the second time that OKCPS’ refusal to reemploy McCullough following military service has required USERRA enforcement action.
USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.
The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service investigated the case and referred the case to the Justice Department at McCullough’s request.
Trial Attorney Robert Galbreath of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Fagan for the Western District of Oklahoma are handling the case.
Judge Hands Down 20 Year Sentence for Defendant Who Pleaded Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Travon Diggs, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for the May 2, 2022, fatal shooting of Junior Lee Johnson on Benning Road, Northeast, near 17th Street, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Diggs pleaded guilty on March 19, 2024, to second degree murder while armed.
According to the government’s evidence, the victim was walking away from Diggs when Diggs pulled out a handgun and shot Mr. Johnson multiple times without provocation. Mr. Johnson ran away from Diggs. Diggs got into a rental car and drove away at a high rate of speed to the residence he shared with his mother in Southeast Washington, D.C. Mr. Johnson died of his injuries that day.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy.
Jamestown felon pleads guilty to drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Samuel L. Arrington, III, 41, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that on October 12, 2023, New York State Parole Officers conducted a search of Arrington’s Jamestown residence, during which they recovered suspected narcotics, including 105 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, ammunition, five cell phones, $2,301 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. The fentanyl was found concealed beneath Arrington’s infant child. In April 2006 and December 2019, Arrington was convicted of drug felonies in Chautauqua County, NY, Court, and Erie County, Pennsylvania, Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Bryan Miller, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2024, before Judge Arcara.
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Jamaican Man Who Laundered over $670,000 Sentenced to More Than Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Jamaican man was sentenced today for his role in the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug trafficking proceeds from Colombian cartels through banking systems around the world.
Seivright Donald Afflick, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 37 months in prison. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2024, Afflick pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conducting substantive money laundering transactions.
Beginning in 2016 and continuing until 2022, an investigation into a sophisticated money laundering organization based primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia was conducted. During an extensive five-year investigation, the organization allegedly laundered over $6 million in drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the United States, including banks in Massachusetts, as well as additional proceeds through banks in the Caribbean and Europe by use of the Colombian Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE) – a common method of trade-based money laundering used to repatriate the proceeds of drug trafficking to Colombia. An undercover agent infiltrated the organization by portraying himself as an international money launderer able to pick up bulk cash throughout the world, launder the proceeds through his United States-based accounts and send the money to Colombia through the BMPE.
Throughout the course of the investigation, members of the money laundering organization would contact the undercover and arrange meetings for the undercover and the undercover’s purported associates to collect bulk cash throughout the world. Individuals, such as Afflick, performed the role of money courier. Afflick delivered bulk cash on two occasions in Jamaica. That cash was then deposited into the undercover bank account in Massachusetts, and then subsequently wired to accounts and repatriated back to drug traffickers in Colombia. Over the course of the conspiracy, Afflick was responsible for the laundering of approximately $670,000 in drug proceeds.
Afflick was charged in a 50-count indictment along with 19 other individuals in March 2022. Afflick is the sixth defendant to be sentenced in the case. Three other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua R. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 14 months in Prison for Threats Against the President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
Springfield, Ill. – A Jacksonville, Illinois, man, Adam Ray Mouser, 40, of the 500 block of Brooklyn Avenue, has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, to be followed by 24 months of supervised release, for threats against the President of the United States.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that the defendant used social media to threaten violence against the President of the United States, his family, a former President, Secretary of State, as well as various Members of Congress.
At the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless said “words do matter” and stated, “I believe it is common sense to not threaten to kill another individual.” She also noted that the threats repeated and escalated, even with the U.S. Secret Service going to his house. Judge Lawless found that the defendant made multiple threats to multiple victims in connection with the threat to President Biden.
Mouser pled guilty on January 19, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught to the one count indictment. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on August 28, 2023.
The statutory penalties for threats against the President of the United States are up to five years imprisonment, up to three years supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
International Gun Traffickers Who Acquired Guns in South Carolina Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Marlon Michael Bruff, of Fairburn, Georgia, Ramaro Alsworth Higgins, of Los Angeles, California, and Reuben Dunn, of Anderson, South Carolina, were sentenced to federal prison for helping to run a gun trafficking operation, which bought guns in multiple southern states and smuggled them into Canada. Bruff and Higgins were also convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Four other defendants have also been convicted and sentenced in connection with the case.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in June of 2021, an officer with the Duncan Police Department stopped a Sprinter van traveling north on Interstate 85. A search of the van revealed suitcases containing 73 pistols, including 39 guns with obliterated serial numbers. The driver of the vehicle claimed that she was transporting personal protective equipment (PPE) for APA Logistics, a company owned by Bruff, which was used as a front for criminal activities. Investigators also discovered hidden compartments in the van, which contained marijuana. Bruff was driving alongside the van in a separate vehicle and was not initially arrested.
Over the course of a multi-year investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), law enforcement learned that Bruff, Higgins, Dunn, and several others were involved in a scheme to buy guns in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and to smuggle them across the border into Canada, where several of the guns have been recovered in connection with violent crimes. Members of the conspiracy also obtained marijuana from Canada, which was sold in the United States and used to fund the purchase of additional guns. Bruff and Higgins recruited straw purchasers and traveled throughout the United States to transport the guns and traffic marijuana. In May of 2021, they were stopped in North Carolina with over 20 pounds of marijuana and over $37,000.00 in cash. Dunn assisted the organization by acquiring guns, which the smugglers picked up from his home in Anderson, South Carolina.
“South Carolina will play no part in illegal gun trafficking,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work to ensure the safety of our community and our neighbors.”
“Illegal firearms trafficking is a serious threat to communities everywhere,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners continue to make the prevention of illegal firearms sales a top priority. Stopping illegal firearms sales and disrupting gun trafficking networks plays a critical role in preventing violent gun crime and keeping neighborhoods safe.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Bruff to 120 months in prison, Higgins to 48 months in prison, and Dunn to 27 months in prison, with all of the sentences to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
*Note: an earlier version of this release included reference to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in error. It has been removed.
Houston Man Appears in New Mexico Federal CourtRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alek Isaiah Collins, 26, appeared before a federal judge in Albuquerque this morning for arraignment on an indictment charging him with kidnapping of a minor and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with the double homicide of two female victims in Clovis, New Mexico. Collins was detained pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.
According to publicly available court documents, on May 3, 2024, two women were found dead, and a child wounded at a park in Clovis, New Mexico, with a 10-month-old baby missing. One of the homicide victims was the mother of the two young children.
Evidence linked a maroon Honda rented by Collins to the scene. Collins was tracked to Abilene, Texas, where he carjacked an Uber driver. Police pursued and arrested Collins, safely recovering the child.
Collins has no relation to the child and does not have legal custody of the child.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Clovis Police Department, Abilene Texas Police Department Narcotics Unit, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Roswell Police Department, Portales Police Department, the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI Amarillo Resident Agency and FBI Abilene Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Joseph Spindle are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Houma Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DONDRE MORGAN, (“MORGAN”), age 32, of Houma, LA, pled guilty on May 28, 2024 to Making False Statements to Federal Agents, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). MORGAN faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years, followed by a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, a fine up to $250,000.00, or twice the gross gain to the defendant, or twice the gross loss to any victim, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2022, MORGAN made materially false statements to special agents with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. Specifically, MORGAN lied about his involvement and participation in a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud scheme.
Sentencing for MORGAN is scheduled for September 10, 2024 before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Force, consisting of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Thibodeaux Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant United States Attorney Edward Rivera, COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator of the Financial Crimes Unit; and Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman, of the General Crimes Unit.
Heavily Armed Carrollton Fentanyl Supplier Sentenced to 15 YearsRead the Press Release
A major source of supply in the Carrollton juvenile fentanyl overdose case, which has claimed the lives of four children to date, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Julio Gonzales, Jr., a 19-year-old who called himself “J-Money,” was charged via criminal complaint in July 2023. He pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl) and was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
“This defendant – a heavily-armed, prolific drug trafficker – was involved in providing pills that caused 14 Carrollton kids to overdose, and four of them to die,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “I want to implore our community: Please, educate your children on the dangers of fentanyl. Drug traffickers are not your friends. They know one pill can kill, and they hand them over anyway.”
“Julio Gonzalez will spend the next 15 years in federal prison because of his involvement in supplying and distributing poison in the form of one deadly pill. Because of that same pill, illicit fentanyl, lives have been lost and families have been forever changed,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “The women and men of DEA Dallas will never stop investigating overdose and poisoning deaths and bring those responsible to justice. We all must do our part to prevent and educate others that truly One Pill Can Kill.”According to evidence presented at Wednesday’s hearing, Mr. Gonzales was one of three main sources of supply for Luis Eduardo Navarrete, the 22-year-old dealer who supplied fentanyl to students at R.L. Turner High School, Dewitt Perry Middle School, and Dan Long Middle School.
(Mr. Navarrete was sentenced last week to 20 years in federal prison after prosecutors introduced evidence showing that he blatantly ignored a text message, “another youngin dead bro,” alerting him to multiple child overdoses. One of Mr. Navarrete’s other main sources of supply, Jason Xavier Villanueva, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl to a person under 21 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison; his third source, Jessie Alexander Perez Martinez, is awaiting trial.)
In plea papers, Mr. Gonzales admitted he trafficked blue M-30 pills laced with fentanyl to Mr. Navarrete, Navarrete’s drug runner Robert Gaitan, and at least one juvenile dealer. He stipulated that he trafficked approximately 120,000 pills over the course of the conspiracy, often selling them in “K Packs,” which consisted of 1,000 pills at a time.
When he was arrested on July 20, agents searched his Dallas home and seized from 16,000 counterfeit M-30 pills from his microwave, $74,294 in drug proceeds from shoe boxes in his bedroom, and at least nine firearms, including a Romanian Draco AK-47 style handgun, a Kel-Tec long-range pistol, and a Glock equipped with a machinegun conversion device. They also recovered numerous high-capacity magazines, body armor, a vacuum sealer, digital scales, a money counter, and multiple cell phones.
Mr. Gonzales, Jr. is one of 11 defendants charged federally in connection with the case, which has resulted in 14 juvenile overdoses, four of them fatal, of children as young as 13.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.Greene County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving, Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drew Caswell, age 26, of Cairo, New York, pled guilty today to receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James, made the announcement.
Caswell admitted that he used file-hosting service Mega to download child pornography and then distributed multiple image and video files of child pornography by publicly posting them on Twitter (now known as X). Caswell also admitted that, on August 7, 2023, he possessed child pornography on his cell phone, including nearly 300 images and videos of toddlers and infants being sexually abused.
Caswell will be sentenced on September 24, 2024, by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Caswell faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution to the victims, and forfeiture of the phone Caswell used to commit these offenses. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Caswell will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force—which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including Troop F of the New York State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit—investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Georgia Woman Sentenced to 39 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire and Securities Fraud After Cheating Victims Out of $904,650Read the Press Release
St. George, Utah – Stephanie Nicole Summers, 54, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced today to over three years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release and ordered by the court to pay $904,650 in restitution. The sentence, imposed by U.S. Senior District Court Judge David Nuffer, comes after Summers admitted to scamming victims in Southern Utah and across the United States.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, from May 2016 to February 2022, Summers fraudulently obtained $904,650 from over a dozen victims. Summers, acting on behalf of Diversified Trade Company, LLC and Summers Companies, Inc., along with other entities, promised customers she could help obtain financing for their business ventures, when in fact she could not. Summers instructed victims to send money to bank accounts she controlled and then spent the money on personal expenses by withdrawing it in cash, making transfers to other entities she controlled, and diverted it for other unrelated business expenses. Summers did not use the victims’ money for agreed-upon purposes.
Summers also persuaded victims to invest in her companies by promising high returns, misrepresenting her credentials and how she intended to use investors’ money. For example, Summers claimed she was a successful international businesswoman who controlled over 20 entities in the United States, the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, and Panama, which she did not. Summers told victims her business, Summers Companies, Inc., successfully managed businesses in various industries, including real estate, hospitality, mining, oil and gas, technology, and mortgage finance. Summers also fraudulently claimed she could help secure financing for victims’ business ventures and represented she would use the victims’ money on their business ventures, when she did not. Summers told victims their investments were secure and were earning returns, when in fact they were not. In 2016, Summers defrauded victims in Southern Utah by falsely representing that she was an experienced and successful business owner who could secure millions of dollars in financing for their business adventure.
“Ms. Summers defrauded Utah citizens and people across the country of nearly $1 million for her own personal benefit. She lied to the victims and abused their trust to take their hard-earned money,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Summers repeated criminal behavior shows a complete disrespect for the law and the people she victimized. My office will continue to prosecute these types of crimes to seek justice for victims and to protect Utah citizens from future financial fraud.”
“Fraudsters like Summers are expert manipulators motivated by greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha. “The FBI will investigate those who defraud others for personal gain. We also remind the public that when presented with an investment opportunity or guaranteed a high rate of return, due diligence is key.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent and Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Leonel Bautista Solis (29, Georgia) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Bautista entered a guilty plea on February 28, 2024.
According to the court documents, on March 23, 2023, Solis traveled from Georgia to Jacksonville to sell fentanyl. When Bautista was arrested by federal agents, they recovered 1,600 pressed fentanyl pills, cocaine packaged for sale, and six firearms inside his vehicle. Solis admitted that he had purchased the drugs in Atlanta and was bringing the fentanyl to Jacksonville. He also admitted that he would be delivering the firearms along with the narcotics.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
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.
Four New York Men Sentenced Prison for Conspiring to Kidnap New Jersey ManRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Four New York men were sentenced today to prison terms for conspiring to kidnap and hold for ransom a Fort Lee, New Jersey, resident, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Fa Deng, 44, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced to 144 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200,000 fine; Chiahao Lee, 32, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 180 months in prison and three years of supervised release; Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 250 months in prison and five years of supervised release; and Gabriel Anthony, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 168 in prison and three years of supervised release. All four previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit interstate kidnapping.
According to documents filed in the cases, and statements made in court:
On April 5, 2022, the four conspirators drove to the victim’s home in Fort Lee. Anthony and Ferrelli entered the victim’s home wearing masks. They bound the victim’s hands, placed duct tape over his eyes and mouth, and forced him into a vehicle where Deng and Lee were waiting.
Law enforcement received information that kidnappers had sent the victim’s wife a photograph of the victim bound and duct-taped, demanding a ransom of approximately $680,000. When law enforcement responded to the victim’s home, they located what appeared to be duct tape with pieces of latex gloves stuck to it. After reviewing local surveillance footage, law enforcement identified a gray minivan used in the abduction. Other surveillance footage showed the minivan crossing the George Washington Bridge shortly after the kidnapping, and subsequently crossing into the Bronx and then into Queens.
The following day, New York Police Department personnel responded to Prince Street in Queens, where they encountered Ferrelli guarding the door to a building. When officers approached Ferrelli, they heard a man screaming for help inside the building. Officers entered the building and found the victim with his hands bound, and duct tape over his eyes and mouth.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Mark Musella; officers of the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze; and the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward A. Caban, with the investigation leading to the sentencings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Former West Michigan Doctor Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Performed Medically Unnecessary Sinus Surgeries In Gross Violation of Trust
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Daniel J. Castro, M.D. was sentenced to five years in federal prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,972,293.74 in restitution to victims of his criminal conduct, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, numerous private health insurers, Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan, and certain of his former patients. Chief United States District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou imposed the sentence in Lansing, Michigan.
“The criminal activities of Dr. Daniel Castro – performing unnecessary sinus surgeries – are sickening” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Dr. Castro brazenly trampled the core promise of the Hippocratic Oath – to act in the best interests of the patient – and did so for his own financial gain. Our health care system depends on patients being able to trust their medical providers at every step, especially when deciding to go under the knife. I’m grateful for the vast majority of providers who keep their promise, and we will do our very best to root out criminals like Dr. Castro who lie and steal for their own advantage.”
"Dr. Castro violated his patients' trust by choosing to perform unnecessary surgeries and defrauded our health care insurance system in the process," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Healthcare providers who perform medically unnecessary procedures compromise the integrity of our healthcare system and expose their patients to potential harm. Unnecessary medical procedures at the taxpayer's expense will not be tolerated, and the FBI will hold all providers accountable."
On April 3, 2023, Dr. Castro pleaded guilty to making a false statement related to health care matters. At his sentencing, Dr. Castro did not contest that he engaged in schemes to defraud health care benefit programs from February 2015 to May 2017 as alleged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury. Those schemes included performing medically unnecessary sinus surgeries, which frequently involved falsifying medical records about his patients’ symptoms and the findings of CT scans to make it appear the surgeries were justified. Dr. Castro also defrauded health care insurers by billing excisions of single lymph nodes, submandibular glands, and other glands of the neck as if he performed modified radical or selective neck dissections, which are complex and higher-paying procedures for cancer of the head and neck.
Dr. Castro agreed that the intended loss totaled $5,091,272.03, representing primarily his billings to the health insurance companies for the fraudulent surgeries. Prior to sentencing, Dr. Castro made a $1 million payment toward his restitution obligation, which will be distributed to the victims of the offense as determined by the Court at sentencing. The Court ordered Dr. Castro to pay the balance owed to victims, and the United States will seek to enforce his financial obligation until the restitution amount is collected in full. At the sentencing hearing, the United States sought the maximum possible sentence of five years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Stella and Adam Townshend.
Health care fraud and abuse by medical providers can include, among other schemes, performing medically unnecessary procedures, billing for procedures or supplies a patient never received, “upcoding” (billing for higher paying procedures than the patient received), and double billing. The public is encouraged to report suspected Medicare fraud by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or submitting the information online at www.oig.hhs.gov. Health care fraud involving private insurance programs can be reported to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting the patient’s health insurance provider.
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Former Springfield Golf Professional Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former golf professional, who worked at two courses owned by the City of Springfield, was sentenced today for tax fraud.
Ryan McDowell, 32, of Springfield, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 12 months of probation and restitution of $101,050 payable to the City of Springfield and $34,236 payable to the Internal Revenue Service. McDowell pleaded guilty to six counts of tax fraud in September 2018.
Between 2011 and 2016, McDowell worked as an Assistant Golf Professional for a golf management company that contracted with the City of Springfield to manage its two municipal golf courses, Franconia and Veterans Memorial Golf Courses. During that time period, McDowell skimmed approximately $101,050 from golf revenues belonging to the City and then filed false tax returns each year that intentionally omitted the stolen money. McDowell’s filing of the false tax returns resulted in a federal tax loss of $34,236.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Seattle man who used fraud to obtain more than $500,000 in COVID benefits sentenced to 3+ years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 30-year-old New York City man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 42 months in prison for three counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud related to his abuse of the COVID-19 Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Donte McClellon was a resident of Seattle when he submitted falsified documents to obtain $500,948 in loan proceeds from three different financial institutions in May and June 2020. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King noted that the societal costs of these crimes are serious, saying that the crimes affected taxpayers and diverted funds from struggling small businesses. Judge King added that McClellon had never accepted responsibility for his crimes, and he used the money to fund investments and personal expenses.
“The negative effects of McClellon’s crime go beyond the financial loss. His fraudulent applications clogged an overtaxed application system and stole valuable resources from lending institutions working tirelessly to distribute money,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “McClellon even attempted to cut the line in front of actual small businesses. His fraud was not a one-time error in judgment, but rather a calculated attempt to take advantage of the relief systems set up for businesses struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to records filed in the case, McClellon used the names of three limited liability corporations he had once registered in the State of Washington to make his claims. Each of the entities, ‘Frostlake,’ ‘Cannonlake,’ and ‘Skylake’ LLC, had been inactive and showed no signs of business activity in any state or federal registries in the years leading up to the pandemic. Nevertheless, in May and June 2020, McClellon submitted Paycheck Protection Program applications claiming the entities each had as many as 13 employees and, in one case, gross receipts of more than $1.6 million. McClellon forged multiple Internal Revenue Service forms to make it appear the three companies were operating real estate, wholesale, or retail businesses, with employees who would benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program loans. McClellon claimed the businesses operated out of his home address in Seattle. The investigation revealed there was no business activity at that address.
In two cases, McClellon asked lenders to distribute the loan funds to bank accounts that McClellon had set up just days before he made the loan applications. The third loan went to McClellon’s personal bank account. McClellon consolidated most of the fraudulent proceeds in his personal account. McClellon used the money to pay his rent on a Manhattan apartment, for travel and gym memberships, and some $20,000 on Uber rides among other personal, non-business expenses.
The case was investigated by The FBI Seattle Field Division with assistance from FBI New York and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar, Jessica Murphy Manca, and Krista Bush.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Richmond postal carrier sentenced to prison for stealing mailRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A former postal carrier with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Richmond was sentenced today to one year and one month in prison for theft of mail.
According to court documents, Wendy Lawrence, 40, stole mail, removing gift cards, checks, and other items of value for her own use. Lawrence also dumped mail entrusted to her care. Law enforcement recovered stolen mail from Lawrence’s residence belonging to over 180 victims.
After stealing checks from the mail, Lawrence used the bank account and routing information on those checks to initiate electronic payments, which she used for such expenses as her tax bill, pest control, and rent. On at least one occasion, to prolong and conceal the fraud scheme, Lawrence initiated a fraudulent address change with the USPS on behalf of a victim, rerouting the victim’s mail to Lawrence’s address. Law enforcement also recovered checks from Lawrence’s residence that she forged for her own benefit, including checks in the name of at least 30 other individuals.
Lawrence pled guilty on Feb. 29.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid Atlantic Area Field Office for the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; Ajay D. Lall, Acting Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; and Bradford W. Nunnally, Sheriff for Powhatan County, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. The Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-17.
Former EDA Director Sentenced to 14 Years After Stealing over $5.2 MillionRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The former executive director of the Economic Development Authority of Front Royal and Warren County (EDA), who was convicted in November of last year of stealing more than $5 million dollars in authority funds, was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison.
Jennifer Rae McDonald, 45, of Front Royal, Virginia, was convicted following a 9-week jury trial in November 2023 of seven counts of wire fraud, six counts of bank fraud, sixteen counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“For more than four years, Jennifer McDonald used EDA funds as her personal piggy bank, diverting public funds to purchase real estate and to pay her personal expenses” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Today’s sentence reflects how serious this office takes fraud and the misuse of public funds. I am thankful to the FBI and the Virginia State Police for the tireless work they did to untangle the web of lies spun by this defendant.”
“The FBI is committed to investigating elected officials who abuse their positions for personal gain,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “I am proud of the work our team and partners did to uncover Ms. McDonald’s complex fraud scheme and to bring her to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, McDonald was the Executive Director of the EDA, a public entity designed to attract and support businesses in Warren County and the Town of Front Royal. The EDA was overseen by a Board of Directors and supported by an administrative assistant, but at the center of the EDA was McDonald.
Beginning in 2014, McDonald began stealing money from the EDA and, for more than four years, McDonald used the bank accounts and credit facilities of the EDA to divert public funds to purchase real estate and to pay for her personal expenses. She falsified documents in order to mislead the EDA’s Board of Directors, external auditors, and Warren County and Front Royal government officials so she could continue her scheme.
When confronted by law enforcement and others, McDonald drafted fake loan documents, encouraged others to lie before a grand jury and fabricated an outrageous story, alleging the fraud was part of a “secret settlement” and invented more fake documents to cover-up her fraud.
In the end, McDonald pilfered the EDA’s bank accounts and is responsible for $5,201,329 in losses.
At trial, evidence was presented that at least $2.4 million of the money McDonald stole was used to fund her gambling - including net losses of more than $750,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Rachel Swartz and Trial Attorney Andrea Broach are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Former Derry Man Sentenced for Submitting Dozens of Fraudulent Applications for Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Derry man was sentenced today in federal court for submitting approximately three dozen fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
David Dodge, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 34 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 20, 2024, Dodge pleaded guilty to bank fraud. His wife and co-conspirator, Tammy Dodge, pled guilty to bank fraud on March 4, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2024.
“Congress passed the CARES Act to help Americans struggling during the worst health crisis in a century,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant exploited this lifeline to steal from taxpayers to buy luxury items including a diamond ring. Today’s significant sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and underscores that we are continuing to vigilantly prosecute pandemic relief fraud.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates the abuse of IRS systems to defraud federal and state relief programs through fraudulent applications,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Carpenter. “In this case, the defendant diverted COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended for legitimate businesses and their employees for personal gains.”
Dodge claimed to own or control multiple businesses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including Teacher Tammy (a/k/a Teacher Tammy’s), Optimized Operations, and Business Done Right. However, these companies had no operations and served no business purpose.
Dodge and his wife submitted dozens of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from private lenders, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration, and pandemic relief grants from the New Hampshire Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). To commit the fraud, Dodge also used the Social Security Number of a minor child to apply for and obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for a fictional company called Consulting Services.
Dodge used fake supporting documents in the applications. For example, on May 4, 2020, David Dodge applied for a $39,355 PPP loan for Optimized Operations. He provided a “Payroll Report” purporting to show that Optimized Operations had a monthly payroll of approximately $46,000 through December 2020, seven months into the future. Other fake documents included a doctored Limited Liability Company certificate showing that Optimized Operations was incorporated in Massachusetts in June 2016, when it did not exist on paper until May 2020. David Dodge also provided fraudulent tax documents showing that Optimized Operations had five employees paid $45,000 each quarter.
Overall, because lenders detected most of the fraudulent applications, the Dodges obtained $219,323.34. They misused the fraudulently obtained funds, including to purchase a hot tub and a diamond ring.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Former Corrections Officer Charged with Sex Offense and Smuggling Contraband at FCI MilanRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A federal grand returned an indictment yesterday charging a Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Milan corrections officer with having sex with an inmate and smuggling contraband into the prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Midwest Region.
According to the indictment, on September 26, 2023, Cara Wozniak, 33, of Milan, Michigan, while serving as a corrections officer, engaged in sexual intercourse with an inmate who was under her custodial authority at FCI Milan. Wozniak was also charged with providing contraband to an inmate from April through November of 2023.
Federal law and prison rules prohibit all sexual interaction between staff members and inmates, as well as the introduction or possession of contraband in prison. Contraband is defined as prohibited materials which can reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or adversely affect the security, safety, or good order of the institution.
Wozniak is charged with committing a sex act with a ward which carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. Wozniak is also charged with the misdemeanor offense of providing contraband in prison, which carries a sentence of up to six months in prison.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Every day, federal corrections officers display uncompromising integrity in carrying out their duties and maintaining the safety and security of our federal prisons. Unfortunately, the allegations in today’s indictment reflect a failure on the part of one corrections officer to maintain that standard. Sexual misconduct by prison officials compromises the safety and security of the whole institution and is completely unacceptable at Milan or any other correctional facility.”
"We trust correctional officers to act with integrity. Instead, Wozniak allegedly abused her authority, sexually abused an inmate, and smuggled contraband into the prison,” said William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Midwest Region.
The investigation of these cases was conducted by the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.
An indictment is only a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Connecticut Resident Pays $154k to Resolve Allegations of Covid-Relief Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that EDWARD MUNDAY, of Coventry, Vermont, a former resident of New Fairfield, Connecticut, has paid $154,200 to resolve allegations that he fraudulently used a substantial portion of a small business loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to purchase a second home in Vermont.
The CARES Act was enacted to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Section 1110 authorized the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to help overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietors, to meet operating expenses.
On May 25, 2020, Munday applied for and later received an EIDL Loan as sole proprietor for EDM Services, his IT consulting business. The loan documents required Munday to “use all the proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury” caused by COVID-19. In May 2021, Munday sought and later received an increase in his EIDL Loan for EDM Services and, on August 4, 2021, again agreed to “use all proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury” caused by COVID-19.
The government contends that Munday did not use all the proceeds of the EIDL as working capital for EDM Services. Instead, he used a substantial portion of it to purchase a second home in Coventry, Vermont. To resolve these allegations, Munday agreed to pay $104,200 in restitution, and a $50,000 penalty.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Gruber and Richard M. Molot, with the assistance of the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Amory School Teacher Sentenced to 192 Years for Sexual Abuse of Former StudentsRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, Miss. – Toshemie Wilson, a former educator in the Amory School District, was sentenced today to 192 years in prison following his conviction for multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Wilson was ordered to pay $123,353.34 in restitution to victims of the offense and a $5,000 trafficking assessment.
In December of 2023, a jury in Greenville found Wilson guilty of eight counts of sexual exploitation of children based on his conduct while he was a teacher employed by the Amory School District. Testimony at the trial revealed that Wilson used his position as a teacher and advisor for the student group Technology Students of America (TSA) to groom students to eventually produce child sexual abuse videos and pictures in exchange for money and drugs.
At the trial in this matter, seven witnesses testified that Toshemie Wilson approached them while they were students and solicited them to make masturbation videos in exchange for pay between 2005 and 2014. The witnesses identified multiple places Wilson had them make the videos including the school bathroom, an office space rented specifically for this purpose, and the Amory Wal-Mart bathroom. Several of the witnesses stated they were induced to make videos while on out-of-town school trips with TSA.
An investigation in this case initially began when one former student reported the abuse to a counselor. That counselor then reported the statement to law enforcement.
Following a sentencing hearing in Greenville today, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Wilson to 192 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
“Parents and children should be able to trust teachers, and Toshemie Wilson profoundly betrayed that trust and deserves every hour of every day that he spends in prison,” opined U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I cannot say enough about the courage of the victims who came forward, and I commend AUSA Parker King for leading the prosecution and the efforts of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners. Wilson is now exactly where he belongs.”
“Protecting the innocence of society’s youth is one of the many noble missions of the FBI. Toshemie Wilson’s heinous actions of preying on children will not be tolerated. Today’s sentencing reflects the unyielding dedication of the FBI, DOJ and our local law enforcement partners in assuring offenders like Mr. Wilson, are held accountable and brought to justice,” said FBI SAC Robert Eikhoff.
“Predators who seek to exploit the children that they are trusted to care for will not go unpunished,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that those who abuse positions of power will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I am thankful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the state and local law enforcement agencies for their partnership on this case. My hope is that these victims and their families find justice and healing.”
The investigation of this case was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parker S. King and Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.
Foreign Nationals Arrested and Indicted After a Large Drug Seizure, Including over 11,000 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A man and woman in Salt Lake County were indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for federal drug crimes after law enforcement seized approximately 11,435 grams of methamphetamine and 3,835 grams of heroin from a vehicle in which they were traveling.
According to court documents, Armida Viridiana Cayetano-Ruiz, 32, and Carlos Gerardo Brindas-Guzman, 30, both foreign nationals living in Salt Lake City, became part of a criminal investigation in April 2024 for allegedly distributing large quantities of narcotics into Utah. During the investigation, agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force received information that Cayetano-Ruiz was a suspected multi-state drug trafficker. On May 11, 2024, agents stopped Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman in Juab County, Utah, for a traffic violation. During the stop, a K-9 Officer alerted to a positive indication of narcotics on the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized 11,435 grams (package weight) of field-tested- positive methamphetamine and 3,835 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive heroin. Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman were arrested.
Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman are charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Their initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Seth Nielsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting 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.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Pilot Involved in Cocaine Trafficking Schemes is SentencedRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RUPERT DE LAS CASAS, 64, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to approximately 85 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release for his participation in two separate cocaine trafficking conspiracies.
According to court documents and statements made in court, De Las Casas conspired with others to transport approximately 1700 kilograms of cocaine from South America to the U.S. On August 6, 2016, De Las Casas and Ronier Sanchez Alonso flew a private jet, which was registered in the U.S., from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela where the cocaine was to be loaded onto the jet. De Las Casas was the pilot and Sanchez was the co-pilot. From Venezuela, the jet was to fly to Honduras where the cocaine would be loaded onto trucks for transport through Mexico into the U.S. A fake flight plan filed with Dominican authorities reported that the plane was traveling to Brazil. The plane crash-landed just short of a landing strip in Venezuela. De Las Casas, Sanchez, and another co-conspirator evaded capture by Venezuelan authorities and the cocaine was diverted back to Colombia.
On December 14, 2016, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging De Las Casas, Sanchez, and others with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. De Las Casas was arrested on April 15, 2017, and pleaded guilty to the charge on October 23, 2019. He has been detained since his arrest.
After his arrest, De Las Casas was charged in the Central District of California for his participation in a separate cocaine trafficking conspiracy. His case was transferred to the District of Connecticut and, on February 27, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation.
Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested in Asuncion, Paraguay, on March 25, 2021. He was extradited to the U.S., pleaded guilty, and, on December 20, 2023, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.
Another co-conspirator, Arrinson De La Cruz, who had worked at an airport in the Dominican Republic and helped to coordinate the travel of the jet through the airport uninterrupted, was charged separately for his role in this scheme and other drug trafficking activity. De La Cruz, a citizen of the Dominican Republic who had resided in Wolcott, Connecticut, pleaded guilty and, on November 20, 2019, was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, which includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The DEA Country Office in Paraguay, Interpol and the Paraguayan National Police assisted the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for its assistance in this prosecution.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fentanyl Death in Indian Country Leads to Two Pleading Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – JOANIE ANN WILSON, 38, and REECY ANN BENCH, 21, both of Stephens County, have pleaded guilty to participating in a drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
In May 2024, Wilson and Bench were charged by Superseding Informations for their roles in a drug conspiracy. On August 23, 2023, a resident of Stephens County died of a fentanyl overdose. According to public record, in August 2023, Bench and Wilson conspired to purchase and distribute fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of the Stephens County resident.
On May 28, 2024, Wilson pleaded guilty, and admitted to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Bench pleaded guilty to her role in the drug conspiracy on May 22, 2024. At sentencing, Wilson and Bench face up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to $1,000,000 each.
This case is in federal court because Bench is a member of the Choctaw Nation and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lawton Police Department, and demonstrates the importance of the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. More information about “One Pill Can Kill” can be found at https://www.dea.gov/onepill. Further information about the danger associated with fentanyl distribution and use can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16O7TkhFH9k.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaleigh Blackwell are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Men in Violent Kidnapping Conspiracy Involving Several Victims in Chicago SuburbsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Two men have been convicted on federal kidnapping charges for conspiring to abduct several victims at gunpoint in the Chicago suburbs.
SEDGWICK WILLIAMS and TAI HON LA conspired with each other and others to carry out the kidnappings in the fall of 2019. Williams personally participated in kidnappings that occurred in Naperville, Ill., and Westchester, Ill., in October and November 2019. Williams and La also attempted a third kidnapping in South Holland, Ill., in December 2019. Their efforts to abduct the intended victim in that incident were unsuccessful, and they were both arrested fleeing from the South Holland residence.
After a two-week trial, on May 22, 2024, a jury in federal court in Chicago convicted Williams and La of participating in the kidnapping conspiracy and the attempted kidnapping in South Holland. Williams was also convicted on individual kidnapping counts concerning the Naperville and Westchester kidnappings, and with falsely impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. La was also convicted of illegal firearm possession.
Williams, 47, of Chicago, and La, 34, of Beach Park, Ill., each face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Sentencings have not yet been scheduled.
The convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The case was investigated with the assistance of the Naperville Police Department, Westchester Police Department, South Holland Police Department, Chicago Police Department, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Jodrey, Corey B. Rubenstein, and Kate McClelland.
According to evidence presented at trial, the first kidnapping occurred in Naperville on Oct. 17, 2019, when the conspirators posed as law enforcement officers to handcuff and abduct a man at gunpoint outside of his electronics store, which they then burglarized. The conspirators forced the victim into their car and transported him to a vacant unit in Chicago, where they physically assaulted him and extorted his family. Following his release, the victim received medical treatment in a hospital.
The conspirators carried out the kidnapping in Westchester on Nov. 16, 2019. Posing as DEA agents, the conspirators handcuffed and abducted a man at gunpoint outside of his residence. The conspirators forced the victim into his home, where they seized another victim and forced them both into the basement. Two other victims later arrived at the residence and were also forced into the basement at gunpoint. The conspirators stole cash and jewelry before fleeing the residence.
The conspirators attempted the third kidnapping in South Holland on Dec. 11, 2019, but they were unsuccessful because the intended victim called 911 and the South Holland Police arrived on scene before the conspirators could gain access to the house.
Two other defendants charged in the case pleaded guilty prior to trial. IVAN AYERS, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to participating in the kidnapping conspiracy. JONATHAN VARGAS, 38, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to kidnapping the first victim in Naperville. Ayers and Vargas are awaiting sentencing.
Federal Inmate and Texas Resident Charged with Attempting to Introduce Fentanyl into A United States PenitentiaryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Julian Beavers, age 37, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Canaan (USP Canaan), Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and Feniqua Walker, age 30, Fort Worth, Texas, were indicted on May 28, 2024, by a federal grand jury on charges for attempting to provide fentanyl to an inmate at USP Canaan.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between January 13, 2023 and April 13, 2023, Beavers and Walker attempted to provide fentanyl to an inmate at USP Canaan and Beavers also attempted to possess the fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services Unit at USP Canaan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenn P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Fayetteville Group Sentenced to More Than 54 Years Combined in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – The final member of a Northwest Arkansas drug trafficking group was sentenced late last week for crimes related to the distribution of methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, beginning in October 2022, agents with the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating out of the Fayetteville Division responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine in the Northwest Arkansas area. During the course of their investigation, investigators identified five individuals who were responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Western District of Arkansas.
Those members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally have been sentenced as follows:
Joe Chantharath: age 42, Springdale, Arkansas – Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine – 135 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release, plus an additional 24-month term of imprisonment to run consecutively to new sentence as a consequence of his federal supervised release being revoked.
Anthony Chantharath: age 35, Springdale, Arkansas – Possession of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute - 137 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.
Kevin Michael Burke: age 37, Bryant, Arkansas – Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine -235 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.
Ryan Seth Bruce: age 35, Clinton, Arkansas – Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine– 72 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.
Destiny DeAnne Satterfield: age 25, Springdale, Arkansas – Possession of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute – 77 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Eaton prosecuted the case.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.
Farmington Couple Charged with AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington couple was charged by indictment with assault charges, including using teeth as a dangerous weapon during an alleged attack on three of their daughters.
Renauldo Sandoval, 39, and Lisa Sandoval, 39, both enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge this week. Lisa will remain in third-party custody and Renauldo will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, or July 28, 2023, the defendants assaulted Jane Doe 1, and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury. Renauldo additionally assaulted Jane Doe 2, after having been convicted in state court of two prior domestic assaults. In addition, Lisa assaulted Jane Doe 3 with a dangerous weapon, specifically her teeth, with the intent to cause bodily harm.
If convicted, Renauldo and Lisa both face up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Meg Tomlinson 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.
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E. Baton Rouge Parish Resident Indicted for Possession of Firearm by FelonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JARRETT HALL (“HALL”), age 33, of Baker, LA, was indicted on March 23, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on December 8, 2023, allegedly, HALL knowingly possessed a Colt Model Commander, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun after having previously been convicted of a felony.
If convicted, HALL, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
Disbarred Attorney Pleads Guilty to Promoting $9.5M Cryptocurrency Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
A disbarred California attorney pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to operate a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of more than $9.5 million.
According to court documents, David Kagel, 85, formerly of Beverly Hills, conspired to fraudulently induce victims to participate in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. Kagel and his co-conspirators promoted investment programs that falsely guaranteed high-yield profits and promised to use artificial intelligence trading bots to trade victims’ investments in cryptocurrency markets. The Ponzi scheme promoter falsely told victims that Kagel, as the promoter’s attorney, held Bitcoin then equivalent to approximately $11 million in escrow that guaranteed victims’ investments against loss for any reason. To create a false sense of security and trust, Kagel provided letters to victims on his firm’s letterhead to fraudulently confirm the promoter’s false statements. Kagel admitted that he and his co-conspirators used victims’ funds for their own personal benefit.
“David Kagel abused his position as an attorney to earn the trust of investors and to endorse false statements about a purported cryptocurrency investment that was, in fact, a scam. Kagel and his co-conspirators defrauded their victims out of millions of dollars and used the victims’ money to line their own pockets,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When lawyers lend a veneer of legitimacy to fraudulent schemes, it can lead to devastating losses for victims. The Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue such fraudsters and hold them to account.”
“Kagel preyed on trusting individuals through a complex scheme to separate people from their hard-earned money,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI is the best in the business at following the money to find the necessary evidence to bring charges against those who seek to prosper on the backs of their victims.”
Kagel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit commodity fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
David Gilbert Saffron, 51, of Australia, and Vincent Anthony Mazzotta Jr., 52, of Los Angeles, were charged by a federal grand jury in a superseding indictment in December 2023 for their roles in the same cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, and are awaiting trial that is scheduled to begin on Aug. 13. Saffron and Mazzotta allegedly promoted the investment programs under various names including Circle Society, Bitcoin Wealth Management, Omicron Trust, Mind Capital, and Cloud9Capital. Rather than investing victims’ funds in cryptocurrency, Saffron and Mazzotta allegedly misappropriated victims’ funds to pay for personal expenses including private chartered jet flights, luxury hotel accommodations, private mansion rentals, a personal chef, and private security guards.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Theodore Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.
Convicted Felon Indicted on Murder and Other Charges for July 2023 Killing of Two Men in NorthwestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jeremiah Jordan, 33, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on May 22, 2024, on murder and other charges for the killings of 29-year-old Luke Whitaker and 19-year-old Zion Hollingsworth-Hayes on July 22, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jordan was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court on two counts of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction).
According to the charges, at about 9:49 p.m. on July 22, 2023, Jordan met with Mr. Whitaker in the 1400 block of Girard Street, NW, where they were observed arguing with each other. Shortly thereafter, several shots rang out and the defendant was seen running from the scene before turning the corner at 14th Street NW. Numerous people were outside at the time, in and around the busy neighborhood.
An arraignment is scheduled for June 14, 2024.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Seidel and Shauna Payyappilly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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.
Colombian Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Participation in Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Colombian man was sentenced yesterday for his for his participation in a money laundering conspiracy.
Yimmy Rafael Sanchez-Jimenez, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 34 months in prison. Sanchez-Jimenez will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In January 2024, Sanchez-Jimenez pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conducting substantive money laundering transactions.
Beginning in 2016 and continuing until 2022, an investigation into a money laundering organization based primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia was conducted. An undercover agent infiltrated the organization by portraying himself as an international money launderer able to pick up bulk cash throughout the world, launder the proceeds through his United States-based accounts and send the money to Colombia through the Black Market Peso Exchange – a common method of trade-based money laundering used to repatriate the proceeds of drug trafficking to Colombia.
Sanchez-Jimenez was a money broker based in Colombia who facilitated drug money pickups throughout the world, including in Los Angeles, California and in Canada. Sanchez-Jimenez also facilitated the transfer of those drug proceeds back to accounts in Colombia by using fake documentation to justify the transfers, in order to repatriate the proceeds of drug trafficking in Colombia. Over the course of the conspiracy, Sanchez-Jimenez was responsible for the laundering of over $550,000 in drug proceeds.
Sanchez-Jimenez was charged in a 50-count indictment along with 19 other individuals in March 2022. Sanchez-Jimenez is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in the case. Three defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua R. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Child Predator Found Guilty of First-Degree and Second-Degree Child Sexual Abuse with Aggravating CircumstancesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gary Bellinger, 61, of Maryland, was convicted today of one count of first-degree child sexual abuse and one count of second-degree child sexual abuse. The verdict, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), follows a four-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Maribeth Raffinan scheduled sentencing for August 30, 2024.
According to the evidence and testimony presented at trial, in 2015, Bellinger sexually abused a female relative who was 15 years old at the time.
Bellinger faces the potential of life imprisonment without the opportunity of release. If he were to be released, Bellinger would be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marco Crocetti and Kathleen Houck.
Charleroi Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Heroin, Fentanyl, and FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years of prison on his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Rashawn Ford, 28.
According to information presented to the Court, on March 13, 2021, a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Ford in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. During the stop, the trooper recovered packaged heroin and fentanyl, in addition to a loaded handgun. Law enforcement subsequently learned that Ford was staying at a Westmoreland County hotel, where Ford was keeping additional controlled substances in his room.
On March 14, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant upon that hotel room, resulting in the seizure of packaged heroin and fentanyl, a handgun loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition, and over $8,600. Following these seizures, federal and state law enforcement opened a joint investigation into Ford, which culminated in the execution of several search warrants on properties associated with Ford in August 2022. Those searches resulted in the seizure of packaged heroin, a loaded handgun, and over $200,000. As part of his sentence, Ford forfeited approximately $273,979 that was seized from him during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ford.
Carbon County Man Sentenced for Trying to Smuggle Explosives on Plane Bound for Orlando-Sanford AirportRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Marc Muffley, 41, of Landsford, PA, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and 3 years supervised release by United States District Court Judge John M. Gallagher for attempting to place an explosive device on an aircraft and possessing an explosive in an airport.
On February 27, 2023, Marc Muffley possessed a bag containing an explosive device, a can of butane, lithium batteries, and a lighter, among other items, at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Then he checked that bag on a flight bound for the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida. Muffley admitted that when he heard his name paged over the airport's public address system, he immediately fled the airport and contacted his girlfriend to come and pick him up. He then changed his telephone number to avoid being tracked. The FBI arrested him on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant on February 28, 2023, and pled guilty on January 17, 2024.
"Today's sentencing of Marc Muffley serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to strict regulations and safety protocols in air travel," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "The possession of an explosive on a plane poses a grave risk of fire, explosion, and catastrophic consequences for everyone onboard. I commend the efforts of local, state, and federal enforcement officials in their diligence and moving swiftly, thereby ensuring the safety of all those affected. The U.S. Attorney's Office remains committed to working closely with airport authorities, airlines, and law enforcement agencies to uphold the highest safety and security standards for all passengers and crew."
"Protecting the American people is the very core of our mission at the FBI, and this case demonstrates how seriously we must take this mission. Due to the swift action by airport authorities and law enforcement, a potentially deadly incident was averted," said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia. "The FBI and our partners remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all who work in and travel through our airports."
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.
Bronx Man Charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Rodriguez, age 62, of Bronx, New York, was indicted on May 28, 2024, by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that in December of 2023, Rodriguez utilized false identification documents to withdraw and attempt to withdraw roughly $50,000 from customer accounts at multiple banks throughout Lycoming, Tioga, and Centre Counties. The indictment also alleges that Rodriguez unlawfully possessed means of identification of at least four bank customers in connection with the fraudulent scheme.
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service (USSS). Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the bank fraud offense is 30 years of imprisonment, 5 years of supervised released, and a $1,000,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft offense imposes an additional 2-year term of imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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