Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Cass County Felon Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A convicted felon has pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal firearm straw purchasing conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 26, 2023, Donald Duane Armstrong, Jr., 36, and a co-conspirator entered a Federal Firearms Licensee in Walker, Minnesota, where the co-conspirator purchased a Glock model 23 G5, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, intending to transfer the firearm to Armstrong, who is a convicted felon. In purchasing the firearm, Armstrong’s co-conspirator lied when filling out the ATF Form 4473, which certifies that he was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearm, when in fact the firearm was intended for Armstrong. On June 14, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Armstrong’s residence. At the residence law enforcement seized 14 firearms, including the firearm purchased on May 26, 2023. Because Armstrong has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Armstrong pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.
California man admits trafficking more than 12 pounds of meth to Silver Bow CountyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A California man indicted as part of large drug conspiracy that had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and brought methamphetamine and other drugs to Butte for redistribution admitted to a trafficking crime on Monday after law enforcement seized more than 12 pounds of meth from his vehicle, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Raymond Perez Ramos, 31, of Long Beach, California, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Ramos faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Aug. 14 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. Ramos was released pending further proceedings. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The government alleged in court documents that from about October 2019 to November 2020 in Butte, Ramos and co-defendant, Travis Bridger Soderberg, possessed meth with intent to distribute the drug. Soderberg was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his conviction in the case. In August 2020, Ramos asked if others had “work” for him and that others told Ramos “work” was indeed available but that he needed to keep quiet about “whatever we got going on.” Agents interpreted “work” to mean transporting meth. In November 2020, Ramos transported 12.5 pounds of meth, which is approximately 5,600 doses, to Montana for re-distribution. When Ramos arrived in Montana, law enforcement seized his vehicle and recovered meth that was hidden inside the door.
The multi-agency undercover investigation into a large-scale, Butte-based drug trafficking organization that had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel has resulted in the federal convictions of 22 other persons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol, the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement and Butte Silver Bow County Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
XXX
Bronx Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Antonio Vargas, age 58, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for defrauding five Capital Region banks by using fake identifications to withdraw funds from accounts.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Vargas previously pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. He admitted that in June and July 2022, he presented to bank tellers counterfeit U.S. passport cards and driver’s licenses with his photograph, but with the names and other personal information of real customers of Trustco Bank, Pioneer Bank, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Adirondack Trust Bank and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. He fraudulently withdrew a total of $58,000 from the customers’ accounts in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady Counties. Vargas perpetrated the same fraudulent scheme in Louisiana and Connecticut before coming to New York.
Vargas was arrested by the Saratoga Springs Police Department on July 13, 2022, after he unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw funds from a Saratoga National Bank branch, and has remained in federal custody since then.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered that Vargas pay restitution to the banks in the amount of $58,000 and serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
HSI investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Diplomatic Security Service, New York State Police, Bethlehem Police Department, North Greenbush Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs Police Department and Scotia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted this case.
Bronx Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of A Child and Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging WINSTON COLON CORREA with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. COLON CORREA was arrested this morning and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker later today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Winston Colon Correa repeatedly sought out minor girls — some as young as 12 years old — to engage in sexually explicit conversations and convince them to send pornographic videos of themselves. Colon Correa allegedly knew that his victims were minors, and to earn their trust, he lied to them about his own age. This Office will relentlessly pursue predators who sexually exploit children, whether online or in person.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
Since at least on or about May 28, 2022, COLON CORREA, a 31-year-old male, engaged in sexually explicit text message conversations with numerous minor girls. In the course of these conversations, COLON CORREA induced the production of child pornography, received child pornography, and possessed child pornography, including videos of minor girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement’s review of a cellphone seized from COLON CORREA has revealed the existence of sexually explicit text messages between COLON CORREA and over approximately 15 individuals believed to be minor girls and over approximately 20 files believed to contain child pornography. COLON CORREA engaged in this conduct despite having reason to know and knowing that he was communicating with minors. On multiple occasions, COLON CORREA falsely represented to minor girls that he was only 17 years old.
Any individuals with information concerning WINSTON COLON CORREA, or whose child may have had any communications with COLON CORREA, are asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
* * *
COLON CORREA, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KIMANI WILLIAMS, 31, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statement made in court, on April 7, 2022, after Bridgeport Police had secured search warrants for Williams’ residence, vehicle, and person, officers stopped a vehicle in which Williams was a passenger. As officers removed Williams from the vehicle, a loaded Smith and Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol fell to the ground. Two loaded handguns were also discovered in the vehicle’s glovebox.
Williams’ criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and New York for criminal possession of a weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, and assault of public safety or emergency personnel. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Williams has been detained since his arrest on April 7, 2022. On November 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty to Interference with Commerce by RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Tyler Dunn, age 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to interference with commerce by robbery.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on or about November 17, 2019, four masked and armed men, one of which was Dunn, entered the Dollar General store on 4755 Prescott Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The four robbers all brandished handguns. In the store, one robber walked up to a Dollar General cashier and pointed his handgun at them. That robber then jumped over the register and, unlawfully and against the cashier’s will, took money from the safe while directly in the presence of a Dollar General employee. During the robbery, Dunn forced an employee to move from the back of the store to the front while pointing a handgun at her. The robbers obtained approximately $7,000 from Dollar General.
On or about November 21, 2019, four robbers, which included Dunn, approached two employees of the Dollar General store located at 6365 Scenic Hwy as they stood outside the front door getting ready to lock the security gate. All robbers were wearing masks and armed with guns. The robbers, brandishing their guns, forced the two employees to open the door and enter the store. One robber ordered an employee to the back of the store while pointing a handgun at him and had the employee turn off an alarm. While in the presence of the robbers, an employee, against her will, removed approximately $1,200 from a safe and provided it to the robbers.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Baton Rouge Police Department with assistance from the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
Ambridge Resident Charged with Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Nasean Hunt, 18, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 9, 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Hunt illegally possessed a machinegun—a 9mm Glock handgun affixed with a gold “automatic conversion switch.” Federal law prohibits the possession of a machinegun as well as any part, such as a switch, that is designed for use in converting a weapon into a machine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Beaver County Detective Bureau and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
"John Doe" Pleads Guilty and Discloses IdentityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A defendant charged under the pseudonym “John Doe” pleaded guilty last week to fraud charges. In addition to pleading guilty, the defendant admitted that his true name is Jose Then.
Jose Then, age unknown, pleaded guilty to mail fraud; false statement in an application for a passport; misuse of a social security number; and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 10, 2024. Then was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023.
Then acquired the name and identity of an individual and has been using the victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security for decades. Then used the victim’s stolen personal identifying information to acquire a U.S. passport, a Massachusetts driver’s license and receive thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. The victim has suffered garnishment of his wages for child support costs that Then has failed to pay under the stolen identity.
The charge of misuse of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police Fraud Identification Unit; and the Weymouth and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
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.
Monday 15 April 2024
Yolo County Insurance Broker Sentenced for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Kirby Wells, 64, of Woodland, was sentenced today to two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Wells served as an insurance broker for a company located in Denver, Colorado, that owned multifamily and commercial properties throughout the United States. Wells was responsible for obtaining several types of insurance coverage for the company’s properties, including umbrella liability coverage. Wells fraudulently represented to the company that he obtained umbrella coverage for properties when, in fact, he did not. Wells then invoiced and was paid for purported premiums associated with the umbrella liability policies that he had never obtained.
At times, after Wells received full payment for premiums associated with coverage he obtained for the company, as well as umbrella coverage he did not obtain, Wells secured loans purportedly to pay for the same premiums. He did so by falsely representing that he was financing the premiums on the company’s behalf and using the identities of a managing principal and employee of the company without their authorization.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Valluco gang member imprisoned for possession of various firearms and ammunitionRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old San Juan resident has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Daniel Garza pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Garza to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence of additional firearms Garza possessed.
Garza is a known member of the Vallucos criminal street gang. With several convictions for violent, weapons-related offenses, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Law enforcement believed he was in such possession of prohibited items and launched an investigation.
That led them to his residence June 27, 2023, where they executed a search warrant and discovered two firearms, body armor, a mask and a bag of firearm magazines. Authorities subsequently reviewed Garza’s social media and obtained recent photographs of him in possession of several other firearms including a belt-fed rifle and a firearm he claimed was fully automatic.
Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Texas Department of Public Safety and police departments in Edinburg and San Juan conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
Utah Married Couple Running a Gun and Ammo Shop, Arrested and Indicted After Deceitfully Obtaining over $600,000 from CustomersRead the Press Release
St. George, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today by the federal court in St. George following the arrest of a husband and wife in Utah County after a federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 9, 2024. The indictment charges the duo with financial crimes after they allegedly ran a gun and ammunition business and defrauded customers and financial firms of over $600,000.
According to court documents, John Earl Donaldson, 31, and his wife, Carlie Elizabeth Winters, 29, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, conspired together from December 2021 through January 2023 to illegally obtain money from customers of Urban Armz, LLC. Donaldson and Winters owned and operated Urban Armz, LLC. Through false pretenses, Donaldson and Winters allegedly lied about Urban Armz’s inventory and ability to procure goods for which customers paid. Additionally, Donaldson and Winters fraudulently obtained money from financial firms through false pretenses.
In furtherance of the crime, the Urban Armz website claimed that the business maintained an office in St. George, when it did not. The website also falsely claimed that the “company clients” included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
As alleged in the indictment, Donaldson falsely represented that he could sell large quantities of ammunition to potential customers for competitively low prices. In December 2021, a customer wired $90,000 to Urban Armz for 300,000 rounds of ammunition. Urban Armz never delivered the ammunition. Instead, Donaldson and Winters spent the customer’s funds on transfers to unrelated parties, shopping, credit card payments, and other withdrawals.
In April 2022, a company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, paid Urban Armz $300,000 through wire transfers for body armor it intended to donate to Ukraine first responders in war zones. Urban Armz never delivered the body armor. In June 2022, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Ukrainian immigrants and refugees living in the United States paid Urban Armz $217,098.98 for night vision goggles, thermal optics, and other equipment for Ukrainian first responders serving in war zones. Again, Urban Armz did not deliver the equipment and instead Donaldson and Winters spent the money on unrelated parties, shopping and other things.
Donaldson and Winters are charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Their initial court appearance on the indictment was April 14, 2024, at the United States District Courthouse in St. George, Utah.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U. S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson Announces a $450,000 Justice Department Grant Award to Elkhart County for Continuums of Care in Support of Youth SuccessRead the Press Release
HAMMOND ― United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced a Department of Justice Grant Award of $450,000 to Elkhart County. This funding will help build continuums of care to support youth success in the Northern District of Indiana. The grant was awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) “Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success” initiative and is part of more than $17 million going to communities nationwide.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “I am delighted to announce this award since bolstering both prevention and intervention resources is a cornerstone strategy for my District. This grant award is aimed at reducing youth involvement in violence and decreasing recidivism rates which aligns with my commitment to increase public safety of District residents.”
The Continuum of Care framework supports a network of services and opportunities to foster positive youth development and prioritizes community safety and effective program outcomes. This new OJJDP investment leverages decades of evidence-based learning to prevent youth from entering or deepening their involvement in the juvenile justice system and steer them on a path to success. At its core, the continuum of care approach is community-driven, leverages local insights, and addresses youth needs through mentoring, after-school programs, and other prosocial activities.
More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
About the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to youth delinquency and victimization. The Office helps states, localities, and Tribes develop effective and equitable juvenile justice systems that create safer communities and empower youth to lead productive lives.
Two More Defendants Plead Guilty to Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Charles Clinton Cordle, 65, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and Josie Irene Copley, 58, of Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl. Both admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 23, 2023, Cordle received approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine and 9 grams of fentanyl in the area of the 2700 block of Highlawn Avenue in Huntington after arranging to receive the controlled substances during a phone call with another person. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Cordle following the transaction, and the officer located and seized the methamphetamine and fentanyl during the traffic stop. Cordle admitted that he intended to distribute the controlled substances.
On October 25, 2023, Copley purchased approximately 13.98 grams of fentanyl in Huntington from co-defendant Kyla Smith after calling Smith and arranging the transaction. After Copley purchased the fentanyl, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Copley was a passenger. Copley told the officer she had drugs in her possession and surrendered the fentanyl she had obtained from Smith. Copley admitted that the officer also seized approximately 2.11 grams of methamphetamine during the traffic stop that she possessed and intended to sell.
On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Copley’s residence in Flatwoods, Kentucky. Officers seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and a New England Firearms .410-gauge shotgun.
Cordle and Copley are scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2024. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Smith, also known as “Flaca,” 29, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on April 3, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and awaits sentencing.
Cordle, Copley and Smith are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Cordle, Copley and Smith are also among 19 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case..
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.
###
Twin Cities Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities man has pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to his plea agreement and court documents, on October 7, 2022, a Minnesota State Patrol officer stopped Salvador Anthony Pacheco, 45, for multiple traffic violations. During the interaction, the officer smelled marijuana in the car and requested a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted officers to additional drugs in Pacheco’s vehicle. A search of the car and its contents revealed a Kahr .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol inside the defendant’s backpack. Because Pacheco has prior felony convictions, including murder, assault, and weapons violations, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Pacheco pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon in U.S. District Court. He will be sentenced at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
Tulsa Resident Sentenced to 80 Months for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Isaac Furr, age 23, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Office of the Inspector General.
On October 11, 2023, Austin Furr pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 26, 2021, Furr was involved in an altercation with his cellmate in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. During the struggle, Austin Furr killed his cellmate by stabbing and strangling him.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Furr will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Traveler caught bringing in child pornography via POERead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 40-year-old Mexican citizen has been sentenced for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Luis Alberto Hernandez-Venegas pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hernandez-Venegas to serve 97 months in federal prison. He will also serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. Hernandez-Venegas will also be ordered to register as a sex offender and as a non-U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Hernandez-Venegas knowingly joined a Telegram group well-known for distributing child pornography. From this Telegram chat, he possessed 25 videos of child pornography which equated to approximately 1,875 images. In handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Crane noted that Hernandez helped to provide for a family in Mexico with the intention of engaging in a relationship with their teenage child.
On Sept. 26, 2023, Hernandez-Venegas attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico at the Donna Port of Entry. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where a preliminary consensual search of his phone revealed images containing child pornography.
Law enforcement reviewed the contents of the phone and found multiple images, videos and chat messages depicting child pornography including prepubescent and pubescent male minors performing sexually explicit acts.
Hernandez-Venegas acknowledged communicating with male minors between the ages of 15 and 17. He also admitted to being in a relationship with a 15-year-old male who resides in Mexico and identified images of him on his cellphone.
He said he knowingly and intentionally possessed, received and viewed child pornography.
Hernandez-Venegas 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 Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Three Waterbury Residents Face Federal Carjacking ChargesRead 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 a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging EMILY RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Emy,” 28; RICARDO VERDEJO, also known as “Risk” and “Ricky,” 26; and LUIS CRUZ, also known as “Goldo,” 26, all of Waterbury, with offenses stemming from a violent carjacking last year.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) were stolen from Rodriguez’s Waterbury residence. After the theft, Rodriguez, Verdejo, Cruz, and others identified an individual (“Victim 1”) who they believed was involved in the theft. Later that night, Victim 1’s friend, (“Victim 2”), picked up Victim 1 from work and drove him home. As they arrived at Victim 1’s residence, three vehicles followed them and surrounded the victims. Verdejo, Cruz, and others exited the vehicles. Verdejo carried an assault-style rifle. Verdejo, Cruz, and others demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened both victims, and physically assaulted them. They then stole Victim’s 2 vehicle, which was owned by Victim 2’s relative, and other items and cash belonging to the victims.
It is further alleged that Rodriguez and others continued to threaten and harass the victims, and their friends and relatives, after the carjacking. There is no indication that Victim 1 was, in fact, involved in the theft of the ATVs.
The indictment, which was returned on April 10, 2024, charges Rodriguez, Verdejo, and Cruz, with carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years, and with conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. The indictment also charges Verdejo with carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 21, 2024. She appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty, and is released on a $100,000 bond.
Verdejo and Cruz are currently detained in federal custody on unrelated charges.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Nathan J. Guevremont.
Individuals with information that may be helpful to the investigation and prosecution of this matter are encouraged to contact the FBI’s New Haven Division at 203-777-6311.
Three Former St. Louis Area Residents Accused of Obtaining 11 Fraudulent Pandemic LoansRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three former residents of the St. Louis area accused of fraudulently obtaining $229,000 in pandemic loans in 2021 turned themselves in to authorities Monday in Fresno, California, where they now live.
Brianna L. Bell-Maple, 23, Jemyla A. Bell, 38, and Leiah A. Vaughn, 22, were each indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis March 27 on two felony counts of wire fraud. The indictment accuses them of submitting 11 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which were intended to aid small businesses in paying and retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three falsely claimed in applications that the PPP loans were for women’s clothing businesses located at addresses in St. Louis and on Scott Air Force Base in Illinois when no such businesses existed, the indictment says. They also submitted false tax documents to support the loan applications, which yielded a total of $229,163 in PPP loans, the indictment says.
The indictment says they spent the money on their rent, shopping, dining, bills, travel, loan payments, pet store purchases and vehicles.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Each wire fraud charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Sumner, Washington, man pleads guilty to disclosure of Social Security Number for more than 20 years of living under a false identityRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A Sumner, Washington man who lived under a false identity for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to two counts of illegal disclosure of Social Security Number, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Roberto Adrian Manzano, 53, is scheduled for sentencing in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on July 11, 2024. Manzano was arrested on October 24, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, Manzano began living under a false identity no later than 2000. Using the false identity, Manzano took a job with a logistics company in Western Washington. On July 17, 2020, Manzano used someone else’s Social Security Number to apply for a Small Business Administration loan. On January 28, 2021, Manzano used the false identity and another person’s Social Security Number to apply for a Security Threat Assessment with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In evaluating his most recent application, TSA Investigations noticed some conflicting information and referred the matter to the Diplomatic Security Service for investigation.
Manzano admitted in his plea agreement that he used the false identity to unlawfully vote in state and national elections since approximately 2004. Manzano admits that he falsely claimed to be a U.S. Citizen each time he voted illegally.
Both the prosecution and defense have agreed to recommend a five-month prison sentence. The court is not bound by the recommendation and Judge Cartwright can impose any sentence authorized by law.
Disclosure of a Social Security Number is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) with assistance from the TSA.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced on Fentanyl Possession ConvictionRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Tahir Donadelle, 43, of St. Thomas, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to 43 months incarceration after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Across the United States, opioids, primarily fentanyl, killed over 80,000 people in 2021 alone,” stated United States Attorney Delia Smith. “Here in the Virgin Islands, we have thus far been spared the worst of the opioid epidemic, but this seizure of fentanyl by CBP officers shows that we are not immune. Fortunately, the vigilance and dedication of our law enforcement partners led to the interception of these deadly drugs, and we were able to convict those responsible. We will continue to do everything in our power to keep the Virgin Islands safe from this lethal scourge.” In 2023, Elijah Hakim was sentenced to 85 months of incarceration after a federal jury found him guilty in the first fentanyl conviction for the District of the Virgin Islands. Also in 2023, VIPD reported three deaths related to fentanyl. The deadly narcotic has caused an epidemic in the United States, but documented cases in the Virgin Islands remain low.
According to court documents, on September 8, 2022, Donadelle traveled from Atlanta, GA to St. Thomas, and was randomly selected by Customs and Border Protection for a baggage inspection upon arrival at the Cyril E. King Airport. During the inspection, officers discovered 14 vacuum-sealed packages inside Donadelle’s luggage, 11 of which contained marijuana. The remaining three packages contained 964 light blue fentanyl pills bearing “M” on one side and “30” on the other side.
“Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drug threats that our nation has ever encountered. Our exceptional frontline officers work tirelessly to ensure this poison doesn’t make it through our borders and into our communities”, said Roberto Vaquero, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Thomas reiterated that the “Virgin Islands community benefits when we arrest and prosecute those that attempt to smuggle these dangerous drugs into our territory.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
Return to Nature Funeral Home Owners Charged for Defrauding Clients, Defrauding Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jon Hallford, age 44, and Carie Hallford, age 47, were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding their funeral home clients, and for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is part of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Both Jon and Carie Hallford each face 13 counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the indictment, the Hallfords were the co-owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado. In October 2023, residents in the area reported an odor emanating from the Penrose facility. After obtaining a search warrant, FBI investigators found 190 dead bodies inside the building in various states of decomposition. Some of the dates on the bodies listed deaths dating back to 2019.
The indictment alleges that the Hallfords defrauded their funeral home customers by not providing a cremation or burial for the deceased as promised.
The indictment also alleges that the Hallfords fraudulently obtained COVID-19 Relief funds on behalf of their business. Specifically, the indictment alleges that the Hallfords provided false information to the U.S. Small Business Administration in order to obtain relief funds totaling $882,300 by misrepresenting the fact that Jon Hallford owed back child support and by claiming that their business was not engaged in criminal activity at the time they applied for COVID-19 relief funds. The Hallfords are also accused of misapplying the relief funds for personal purposes instead of using such funds for the operation of their business.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendants made their initial appearances on Monday, April 15, 2024, before Judge Scott T. Varholak. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This federal case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Several other state and local law enforcement agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office have made significant contributions to this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United Staes Attorneys Tim Neff and Craig Fansler.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On July 11, 2023, the Attorney General selected the District of Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of five national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-nationwide-covid-19-fraud-enforcement-action.
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.
Case # 24-CR-00113
Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to Los AngelesRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Los Angeles on April 11 and 12 to continue the division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke visited Inglewood High School to speak at a forum hosted by the Western Justice Center (WJC) for junior and senior girls. WJC is part of a collaborative at Inglewood and Morningside High Schools and the Los Angeles County Dream Resource Centers that provide comprehensive services for students facing challenges of living in communities with high levels of violence and poverty. The students raised issues concerning the school to prison pipeline and bullying and harassment in schools. Assistant Attorney General Clarke provided an overview of civil rights and encouraged the students to continue to strive for academic excellence.
In the afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Clarke delivered the Allen Neiman and Alan Sieroty Lecture at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law (USC Gould) at the invitation of Dean Franita Tolson, the first Black dean and second woman to lead the law school. During the event, AAG Clarke discussed her trajectory from law school to a career in public service, and outlined division efforts to advance racial justice and equity, including securing the department’s largest redlining settlement with City National Bank to address redlining of Black and Latino communities in Los Angeles. AAG Clarke was joined by leaders of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke traveled to Roosevelt High School, a predominantly Hispanic high school, in Boyle Heights, California, to speak to students in the Law and Public Service Magnet program. She discussed the division’s work to ensure all students are able to learn in a safe environment and have equal access to educational opportunities. She also spoke with the students about challenges they face in their communities, including access to clean air and clean water, and the need for safe and affordable housing.
In the evening, Assistant Attorney General Clarke met with local leaders and student advocates from the Islamic Center of Southern California, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Leo Baeck Temple and the All Saints Church Pasadena. During the meeting, she highlighted the division’s efforts to combat hate crimes and hate incidents and to hold law enforcement accountable when they violate federal civil rights. She underscored the importance of reporting hate crimes and hate incidents, outlined the department’s United Against Hate initiative and underscored the department’s steadfast commitment to investigating and prosecuting unlawful acts of hate in communities across the country.
On Friday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke visited Homeboy Industries, a transformative program founded by Father Gregory Boyle that has been improving the lives of former gang members in East Los Angeles and has evolved into the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. She toured the facility with the program’s senior leadership and trainees and learned about the wraparound services offered to those looking to rebuild their lives, including counseling, employment and housing opportunities, tattoo removal, tutoring, record expungement and voter registration. She underscored the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to addressing barriers to reentry for people with criminal histories.
To conclude the trip, Assistant Attorney General Clarke spoke at a fireside chat at Ms. JD’s We Persist: A Symposium on Women in Law. During a moderated conversation with Executive Director Tara Murray of the Washington Bureau for the National Urban League, Assistant Attorney General Clarke highlighted the division’s work to enforce federal civil rights laws by eliminating barriers to voting, holding law enforcement accountable for misconduct, including the recent prosecution of six officers in Rankin County, Mississippi, for torturing two Black men, and fighting against algorithmic bias and discrimination in the wake of increased use of AI by landlords, employers, courts and more.
As part of this tour, Assistant Attorney General Clarke has traveled to underserved communities in Maryland, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina to discuss the department’s efforts to protect civil rights.
Photo Credit: Inglewood Unified School District. Photo Credit: Louie Mora, Homeboy Industries.Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 5, 2024.
Jason Kimmel, age 42, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kimmel was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 11, 2024.
Kimmel was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor on December 12, 2005. As a result of this conviction, Kimmel is required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. On August 10, 2023, Kimmel registered with the Rapid City Police Department, providing an address in Rapid City as his residence. Kimmel left his registered address on August 28, 2023, and did not update his residence as required. Kimmel remained unregistered until he was arrested in Sioux Falls on September 16, 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Kimmel was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Puerto Rico Police Officer Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – An officer from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau was arrested on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct.
On April 15, 2024, Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan arrested Luis Javier Pérez-Badillo, a 49-year-old man from Aguadilla, P.R.
A federal grand jury indicted Pérez-Badillo on April 10, 2024, with a three-count indictment including Production of Child Pornography, Transportation of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
From on or about October 11, 2023, through February 21, 2024, Luis Javier Pérez-Badillo used a cellular phone to knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a twelve-year-old female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and to transport child pornography. Pérez-Badillo knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view, images of child pornography of a twelve-year-old minor using a cellphone device with internet capabilities.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute persons who exploit minors for sexual purposes,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The defendant, who was entrusted by the community to serve and protect, violated that trust by sexually exploiting a child. As this case demonstrates, those who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos stated: “This individual does not represent our police officers, who are a prestige force that day by day sacrifice their lives to protect our community. This individual represents a predator that abused his position of public trust to engage in a despicable act. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force mission is to protect our children but most importantly to send a clear message that nobody is above the law, our children are sacred, and we will exhaust all resources in protecting them.”
Assistant United States Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto is prosecuting the case.
The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation.
If convicted for the charges of Production of Child Pornography, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years in prison; for Transportation of Child Pornography the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to 20 years in prison, and for the count of Possession of Child Pornography, the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years in prison, all charges will be followed by a term of supervised release after imprisonment of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit iGuardians™: Combating Child Predators and to denounce suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Port Arthur man sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
DeShawn Ranard Willis, 42, pleaded guilty on May 18, 2023, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on April 15, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 29, 2021, Willis was arrested after a Port Arthur Police Department officer stopped the vehicle he was driving for a defective headlight on Gulfway Drive. Willis admitted to possessing a firearm underneath the driver’s seat. Officers recovered the pistol, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. Further investigation revealed Willis was a six-time convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Willis was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2022 and charged with firearms violations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.
###
Pharr resident imprisoned for downloading child pornography on peer-to-peer sharing platformRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 32-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Vincent Andrew Gutierrez pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2021.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gutierrez to serve 84 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court found the sadomasochistic enhancement applied as some of the images and videos depicting prepubescent minors being forced to engage in sexual acts with adults.
Gutierrez was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve five 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. Gutierrez will also be ordered to re-register as a sex offender.
From December 2017 to December 2019, authorities conducted an investigation on BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing platform. They soon identified a device downloading child pornography videos and images connected to the IP addresses found to be associated with Guiterrez.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his home, at which time they seized a laptop and conducted a forensic examination. The investigation revealed the BitTorrent files Gutierrez possessed contained the title PTHC (pre-teen hardcore). PTHC normally refers to images or videos of prepubescent boys and girls engaged in hardcore sexual acts.
The investigation revealed Gutierrez had 412 images and four videos of child pornography.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task force conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia 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.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Torture and Illegally Exporting Weapons Parts and Related Services to IraqRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 70 years in prison for torturing an Estonian citizen in 2015 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and for the illegal export of weapons parts and related services.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ross Roggio, 55, of Stroudsburg, arranged for Kurdish soldiers to abduct and detain the victim at a Kurdish military compound, where Roggio suffocated the victim with a belt, threatened to cut off one of his fingers, and directed Kurdish soldiers to repeatedly beat, choke, tase, and otherwise physically and mentally abuse the victim over a 39-day period. The victim was an employee at a weapons factory that Roggio was developing in the Kurdistan region of Iraq that was intended to manufacture automatic rifles and pistols.
“Ross Roggio had his victim abducted and detained at a Kurdish military compound in Iraq, where Roggio and others physically and mentally tortured the victim over the course of 39 days,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “During that time, Roggio suffocated the victim and directed others to beat, choke, and tase him. Roggio’s victim worked at a weapons factory in Iraq, where Roggio illegally sent weapons parts and illegally provided services, in violation of export controls laws. Today’s sentence—following the second-ever conviction under the federal torture statute—shows that, no matter where such deplorable acts occur, the United States is committed to holding the perpetrators accountable.”
“As proven at trial and demonstrated by today’s sentence, Mr. Roggio committed egregious human rights abuses and smuggled restricted firearm components from the United States to launch an unsanctioned weapons factory,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will not waver in bringing to justice those that violate our export controls in contravention of our national security and foreign policy priorities.”
“The sentence imposed by the court demonstrates the seriousness of Ross Roggio’s crimes and brings some measure of justice for his torture victim,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Violence against the dignity and human rights of any victim cannot be tolerated and our office will continue to prioritize and pursue those who would do so in violation of federal law. Ross Roggio was also convicted of United States export laws related to illegally producing firearms in Kurdistan, Iraq. Though more technical in nature, these laws are no less important and are designed to take into account human rights considerations on a larger scale, to limit access to our most sensitive technologies and weapons, and to promote regional stability. I commend all the prosecutors and law enforcement agents who worked tirelessly to bring justice in this matter.”
In connection with the weapons factory project, Roggio exported firearms parts and tools without the required approvals by the U.S. government. He also illegally trained foreign persons in the operation, assembly, and manufacturing of the M4 automatic rifle.
“Torture is among the grievous crimes the FBI investigates and this is the second time we have been able to bring justice under the federal torture statute,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “Our investigation into Roggio’s abominable crimes and today’s sentencing would not be possible without the sheer courage of the victim to tell his story. The FBI and our international partners stand with victims by standing up to human rights violations wherever they occur.”
“Today’s sentence highlights our commitment to stopping those who commit human rights abuses and threaten the security of the U.S. and partner nations,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Thanks to our close interagency and international cooperation, Roggio has been brought to justice.”
“Export evasion is often not a standalone crime,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “Here, the same defendant who was illegally exporting weapons parts to his Iraqi weapons factory was also brutally torturing one of his employees there.”
A federal jury convicted Roggio in May 2023 of 33 counts of torture, conspiracy to commit torture, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, exporting weapons parts and services to Iraq without the approval of the U.S. Department of State, exporting weapons tools to Iraq without the approval of the U.S. Department of Commerce, smuggling goods, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Roggio was the second defendant to be convicted of torture since the federal torture statute went into effect in 1994.
The FBI and HSI investigated the torture and were joined in the investigation of the arms export violations by BIS’ Office of Export Enforcement.
Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.
The Estonian Internal Security Service, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and Pennsylvania State Police also provided valuable assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Torture and Illegally Exporting Weapons Parts and Related Services to IraqRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 70 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for torturing an Estonian citizen in 2015 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and for the illegal export of weapons parts and related services.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ross Roggio, 55, of Stroudsburg, arranged for Kurdish soldiers to abduct and detain the victim at a Kurdish military compound, where Roggio suffocated the victim with a belt, threatened to cut off one of his fingers, and directed Kurdish soldiers to repeatedly beat, choke, tase, and otherwise physically and mentally abuse the victim over a 39-day period. The victim was an employee at a weapons factory that Roggio was developing in the Kurdistan region of Iraq that was intended to manufacture automatic rifles and pistols.
“Ross Roggio had his victim abducted and detained at a Kurdish military compound in Iraq, where Roggio and others physically and mentally tortured the victim over the course of 39 days,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “During that time, Roggio suffocated the victim and directed others to beat, choke, and tase him. Roggio’s victim worked at a weapons factory in Iraq, where Roggio illegally sent weapons parts and illegally provided services, in violation of export controls laws. Today’s sentence—following the second-ever conviction under the federal torture statute—shows that, no matter where such deplorable acts occur, the United States is committed to holding the perpetrators accountable.”
“The sentence imposed by the Court demonstrates the seriousness of Ross Roggio’s crimes and brings some measure of justice for his torture victim,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “Violence against the dignity and human rights of any victim cannot be tolerated and our office will continue to prioritize and pursue those who would do so in violation of federal law. Ross Roggio was also convicted of United States export laws related to illegally producing firearms in Kurdistan, Iraq. Though more technical in nature, these laws are no less important and are designed to take into account human rights considerations on a larger scale, to limit access to our most sensitive technologies and weapons, and to promote regional stability. I commend all the prosecutors and law enforcement agents who worked tirelessly to bring justice in this matter.”
In connection with the weapons factory project, Roggio exported firearms parts and tools without the required approvals by the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce. He also illegally trained foreign persons in the operation, assembly, and manufacturing of the M4 automatic rifle.
“The sentencing today is a testament to not only the diligent work done by law enforcement, both here and overseas, but most importantly, the courage of the victim and witnesses in coming forward,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Torture is among the most egregious crimes the FBI investigates. The FBI along with our law enforcement partners will continue to purse justice for victims of these horrendous crimes.”
“The extensive cooperation, information sharing, and dedication shown by the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation has been extraordinary,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara C. Bay. “Roggio’s sentence stands as proof that the United States will investigate and prosecute those that break our laws and violate human rights regardless of where they are committed.”
“The illegal export of firearms parts and tools from the United States often goes hand in hand with other criminal activities, such as the charge of torture on which the jury voted to convict the defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office. “This sentence sends a strong message to those who wish to illegally traffic in firearms. I commend our law enforcement colleagues for their dedication to bringing justice in this case.”
A federal jury convicted Roggio in May 2023 of 33 counts of torture, conspiracy to commit torture, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, exporting weapons parts and services to Iraq without the approval of the State Department, exporting weapons tools to Iraq without the approval of the Commerce Department, smuggling goods, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Roggio was the second defendant to be convicted of torture since the federal torture statute went into effect in 1994.
The FBI and HSI investigated the torture and were joined in the investigation of the arms export violations by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement.
Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.
The Estonian Internal Security Service, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and Pennsylvania State Police also provided valuable assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form.
###
On Tax Day , U.S. Attorney's Office Heeds Warning About IRS Imposter Scams and Other Financial Schemes Targeting Older AdultsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Tax Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office heeds a warning against IRS imposter scams and other emerging and existing financial fraud schemes that target unsuspecting Americans, especially older adults. These scams often result in substantial monetary losses, causing financial hardship and emotional distress to individuals impacted by the fraud.
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to warn the public about financial fraud, and specifically fraud targeting older adults, federal prosecutors hosted a game of “Fraud Bingo” today at the Tyvola Senior Center in Charlotte, to educate older adults, caregivers, and individuals who regularly work or interface with older populations about financial predators and scams targeting the elderly.
“On Tax Day, and as we head into the summer months, we want everyone to be vigilant about online scams and cyberthreats, particularly those that target older adults,” said U.S. Attorney King. “From scammers posing as IRS agents to fake timeshare schemes, our best defense against fraud is education. Fraud Bingo is an interactive tool we use to alert older adults of the means and methods scammers employ to perpetrate fraud, and what steps they can take to protect themselves. Through our outreach efforts, we also want to remove the stigma and embarrassment often associated with financial fraud and encourage the reporting of fraud. Alerting the authorities that you have been the victim of a scam can assist with initiating investigations, bringing criminals to justice, and recovering stolen funds. It also helps us keep track of trends, identify emerging schemes, and warn others.”
According to the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crimes Report, the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a record number of complaints from the American public with potential financial losses exceeding $12.5 billion, a 22% increase compared to 2022. The report also indicates that North Carolina is ranked 13th both in the number of complaints filed with the FBI and in financial losses sustained due to online schemes and financial fraud. Individuals 60 and above filed the most complaints (101,068) and sustained $3.4 billion in losses, the highest among all groups. The report further indicates that tech support scams continue to impact older adults disproportionately, accounting for half of all the financial losses of online schemes. In addition, government impersonation, phishing, romance scams, and non-delivery schemes continue to cost millions in losses for the 60+ population.
Scams Targeting Older Adults
Last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a warning indicating alarming reports of fraudsters impersonating SSA OIG agents. In this latest iteration of government imposter scams, fraudsters request victims to meet them in person to hand off cash. Variations of the scam include fraudsters posing as IRS agents demanding money for unpaid taxes, as sheriff’s office deputies threatening arrest for purported outstanding fines, and as prosecutors or court personnel threatening with prosecution or jail time for failing to comply with jury duty service.
Additional examples of financial fraud targeting older Americans are:
- Tech Support Scams – Convince victims to pay for non-existent problems with their computers.
- Non-Delivery Scams – Induce victims to pay for goods or services online, but never receive them. A variation of this scheme is victims receiving emails or texts messages that appear to be from legitimate shipping companies (e.g., UPS, FedEx) with fake non-delivery notifications, claiming that payment or additional personal information is required to complete a package delivery.
- Romance Scams – Lull victims into believing they are in an online romantic relationship and their paramour needs money to pay for a visit to the U.S. or for some other purpose.
- Grandparent Scams – Dupe victims into thinking that their grandchildren or other relatives are in trouble and need money right away for bail or another emergency.
- Charity Scams – Solicit donations for fake charities, or by altering or “spoofing” caller IDs to show the name of a real charity on the phone.
- Lottery Scams – Scammers use phone calls, letters, or emails to convince victims that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Debt Collection Scams – Victims are threatened with arrest and jail time if payment for a fake debt is not made immediately.
- Money Mule/Money Laundering Scams – Convince victims to use their existing or new bank accounts to quickly move funds in and out of those accounts. Generally, the transferred funds are proceeds of other criminal schemes (such as romance schemes) and victims are unwittingly being used to launder the ill-gotten funds.
- Timeshare Scams – Fraudsters target timeshare owners with false promises of resale and exit from their timeshares for a fee.
- Sham Business Opportunities – Convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or fake investments.
Here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know.
- If the person asking the information claims to be a relative, a friend, someone you know, or a representative of a financial institution or government agency do not respond right away. Instead, contact the person/entity independently or ask a trusted family member or friend for help.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads, messages, or virus warnings.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger or someone who claims to be a relative without verifying the person’s identity.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or lucrative business deals.
- If you suspect fraud, take the time to talk to a trusted friend or family member.
- It’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
- And remember, there is no shame in falling prey to an online scammer. These are professional criminals that use tried-and-true tactics to perpetrate fraud.
To report elder fraud please call the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). If you believe you are the victim of a scam or have been contacted by a scammer, file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Robert Conley, 50, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced April 12, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Conley to 222 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
As part of a long-term investigation into a Mexican-based Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), DEA identified Maria Reyes-Monge as a meth distributor for the Omaha metro area. As part of the investigation, Reyes-Monge was kept under electronic and physical surveillance. She was observed on numerous occasions meeting with local dealers and supplying them with Mexican-imported meth.
On October 3, 2022, Reyes-Monge was observed going to the Walgreen’s parking lot at 24th and L Street. In the parking lot, agents observed a vehicle meet with Reyes-Monge that was consistent with a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction. After meeting with Reyes-Monge, the vehicle was stopped and Robert Conley was identified as the passenger. During a search of the vehicle, officers located 121 grams of pure meth. Conley admitted the meth was his.
At sentencing, it was determined that Conley was subject to the enhanced penalties for being a career offender. Conley had multiple serious drug felonies which resulted in the sentence being increased to 222 months’ imprisonment. On January 5, 2024, Reyes-Monge was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 210 months.
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.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department.
Ohio County Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Devon Alexander Bertram, age 34, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for selling cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bertram sold cocaine base to a confidential informant near a business on Wheeling Island.
Bertram will also be required to report for three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
###
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEROME JONES, age 34, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, JONES pled guilty to Counts Three, Five, Six, and Seven of a seven-count superseding indictment. Count Three charged JONES with possessing, with the intent to distribute, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, more than 100 grams of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and (b)(1)(C). Count Five charged JONES with possessing, with the intent to distribute, a quantity of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count Six charged JONES with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Count Seven charged JONES with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
According to court records, the New Orleans Police Department had developed JONES, and his co-defendant, as suspects in an attempted French Quarter murder that occurred in January 2022. In February 2022, NOPD executed a search warrant at a home where JONES and the co-defendant stayed and found a large quantity of narcotics and distribution paraphernalia in the kitchen. The police also found clothing that the suspects had been seen wearing during the attempted murder. During a subsequent search, the police found a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, bearing serial number MVF683, with a 50 round drum magazine and a Romarm/Cugir Model Mini Draco, caliber 7.62x39, semi-automatic pistol, bearing serial number PE-2617-2018RO, along with several banana clips and over 140 grams of heroin. JONES was not at the residence during the search and remained at large until October 2022, when he was arrested at the same residence.
Chief Judge Brown sentenced JONES to a total of 165 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. Specifically, Judge Brown sentenced JONES to 105 months imprisonment on each of Counts Three, Five, and Seven, to run concurrently, and to 60 months on Count Six, to run consecutively. Judge Brown also ordered JONES to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count, for a total of $400.
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 New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel.
New Jersey Businessman Sentenced to Six Months’ Imprisonment for Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Agostino Perna was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to six months in federal prison and six months of home confinement for tax crimes. Perna was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and $455,463 in restitution.
Perna pleaded guilty in 2023, admitting that he assisted in the filing of false corporate tax returns and filed false personal income tax returns, with a total loss to the government of $455,463.
Perna was the co-owner and operator of a business called Life Quest, which sells body parts for medical purposes. In this role, he caused false corporate income tax returns for Life Quest to be filed for tax years 2014 through 2019. These returns did not report substantial amounts of the business’ income. This omission occurred because Perna concealed from both his business partner and Life Quest’s accountant/tax preparer that Perna had been receiving significant gross receipts – totaling $332,157 – from certain Life Quest clients, which he ultimately diverted to himself.
Perna filed false personal income tax returns over the same six-year period. First, he failed to report the over $300,000 of Life Quest customer payments that he diverted for his personal use. Second, he omitted from his tax returns over $250,000 of additional income that he received from other businesses he owned. Perna obtained this income having the businesses reimburse him (as a business expense) for using his personal credit cards to pay business expenses, all while he had those businesses directly pay the credit card bills and deducted the credit card payments again as a business expense. Third, Perna failed to report additional significant amounts of business income of approximately $632,000, and then disguised the distribution of that income to himself by mischaracterizing the income as “loan repayments.” Last, Perna failed to report over $80,000 of rental income that he received from properties that he rented to tenants.
“It’s April 15, a day when many people are rushing to file last-minute returns so they can claim refunds or pay what they owe,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Our tax system relies on the honesty and integrity of our citizens to do just that — pay what they legitimately owe to the U.S. Treasury. If they don’t, we can’t properly fund government services, which so many people rely on. Perna’s sentence of prison time, fine, and restitution sends the message that failure to pay your taxes will result in significant consequences.”
“Corporate and personal income taxes are an integral source of funding for government programs such as Social Security and Medicare,” said Yury Kruty, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “These cases continue to be a priority for IRS-CI and we will aggressively pursue those who do not comply with those tax obligations.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric D. Gill.
Neosho Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Kidnapping Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Neosho, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the torture and death of the victim, and for illegally possessing a firearm.
James B. Gibson, also known as “Gibby,” 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 30 years in federal prison without parole.
On April 18, 2023, Gibson pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to commit kidnapping and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Co-defendant Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 52, of Neosho, was sentenced on Nov. 7, 2013, to 25 years in federal prison without parole.
Four co-defendants also have pleaded guilty and await sentencing in this case. Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 52, of Greenwood, Mo., is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, April 16. Amy Kay Thomas, 40, of Webb City, Mo., is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, April 18. Sentencing hearings have not yet been scheduled for Freddie Lewis Tilton, also known as “Ol’ Boy,” 51, and Carla Jo Ward, 49, both of Joplin, Mo.
Gibson admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure M.H. for him. Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence. Vaughan texted Tilton, stating “Call me quickly handing (M.H.) to you.” Vaughan and Tilton continued communicating throughout the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. Vaughan sent a text message to Tilton that read, “He’s got 2 guns.” A few hours later, Vaughan sent a text message to Tilton that read, “OK we’ve got both his guns put up,” and “Guns are secure I’m waiting for you.”
Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, and shot at. Gibson admitted he burned M.H. with a blowtorch. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. Gibson and others cleaned up the blood and damage created during the assault and shooting of M.H. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and Gibson transported it to Hurtt’s property.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended.
Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. Officers searched the residence and found a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gibson has two prior felony convictions for resisting arrest, two prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, and prior felony convictions for tampering, assault, and violence by an inmate against an employee of the Department of Corrections or to an inmate.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Neosho, Mo., Police Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, and the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
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.
Nebraska Man Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Stapleton, Nebraska, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on April 5, 2024.
Coenrad Jones, age 22, was sentenced to 18 days custody, followed by supervised release until the time he leaves the United States, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $2,100 in restitution.
Jones was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
Jones, a citizen of South Africa, had obtained a work visa and was employed with a farm in Nebraska. On February 1, 2022, shortly after 7:00 pm, Jones was driving westbound on Highway 18, east of Mission, South Dakota, returning to Nebraska after hauling a load of silage. Jones was operating a Freightliner semi, pulling an empty trailer. A Toyota Sienna was traveling in front of Jones. The Sienna was intending a left-hand turn towards the Sinte Gleska University apartments and was stopped in the roadway, waiting for eastbound traffic to clear. Jones was traveling above the posted speed limit of 45 mph and failed to respond in time to the Sienna in the road. Jones collided with the Sienna and a passenger in the van died as a result of the impact.
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 Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Nebraska Man Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar "Cryptojacking" SchemeRead the Press Release
Today, an indictment was unsealed charging Charles O. Parks III, also known as “CP3O,” with operating a large-scale illegal “cryptojacking” operation. As part of the scheme, Parks defrauded two well-known providers of cloud computing services out of more than $3.5 million worth of computing resources in order to mine cryptocurrency worth nearly $1 million. Parks was charged with wire fraud, money laundering and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions in connection with the scheme. Parks was arrested on April 13, 2024 in Nebraska and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Omaha on April 16, 2024.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, by hijacking cloud providers’ computing power, Parks stole millions worth of powerful computing resources to acquire cryptocurrency,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue to prioritize prosecuting criminal actors who use new, sophisticated technology to engage in the old scheme of fraud and deceit.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s New York Cyber Crimes Task Force (CCTF) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska for their assistance on this case.
“Charles Parks, also known as CP3O, allegedly created a cryptojacking scheme to defraud prominent cloud service providers of millions and illegally mine approximately $1M in cryptocurrency for personal use. Criminals are becoming more adept at manipulating digital tools and hiding behind advanced technology, which often causes significant financial damage to their victims. The FBI is committed to the steadfast pursuit of those who attempt to develop innovative techniques to commit crimes,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“This arrest illustrates the power of law enforcement joining forces with the private sector to identify and track down cybercriminals, and to put an end to their sophisticated thievery,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “While the threat landscape in this space is growing in complexity and depth, the NYPD and our federal partners continue to ably confront malicious actors even as they adopt new tactics.”
“Cryptojacking,” also referred to as malicious cryptomining, is the unauthorized use or hijacking of another party’s resources, such as electricity, hardware or computing power to mine cryptocurrency. As alleged in the indictment, from in or about January 2021 through August 2021, Parks created and used a variety of names, corporate affiliations and email addresses, including emails with domains from corporate entities he operated called “MultiMillionaire LLC” and “CP3O LLC,” to register numerous accounts with the cloud providers and to gain access to massive amounts of computing processing power and storage that he did not pay for. Parks used those fraudulently obtained resources to mine various cryptocurrencies including Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR). Parks tricked the providers into approving heightened privileges and benefits, including elevated levels of cloud computing services and deferred billing accommodations, and deflected inquiries from the providers regarding questionable data usage and mounting unpaid subscription balances.
Parks converted and laundered the cryptocurrency proceeds through cryptocurrency exchanges, a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, an online payment provider, and traditional bank accounts, in order to disguise the audit trail and disassociate the funds from the fraud. Parks also structured various money movements to avoid transaction reporting requirements under federal law. After converting the ill-gotten cryptocurrency into dollars, Parks used the proceeds of the scheme to make extravagant purchases, including a Mercedes Benz luxury car, jewelry and first-class hotel and travel expenses.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and Parks is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Parks faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud and money laundering charges and 10 years’ imprisonment on the unlawful monetary transactions charges.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Reich and Artie McConnell are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
CHARLES O. PARKS III (also known as “CP3O”)
Age: 45
Omaha, NebraskaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-105 (EK)
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Eric Malik Smith, also known as “Star,” 24, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting false statements related to the purchase of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 1, 2022, Smith traveled with another person to a Barboursville, West Virginia, business where Smith instructed the person to purchase a Glock 27 .40-caliber pistol on Smith’s behalf. Smith admitted that the person falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the purchaser of the firearm when he knew Smith was the actual buyer of the firearm. Smith further admitted that he took possession of the firearm following the purchase and eventually took it back with him to Maryland.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19. 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-156.
###
Man Charged for over $70M Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – An indictment was unsealed in Tampa last week charging a Mississippi man for his alleged role in an over $70 million fraud scheme involving the payment of kickbacks and bribes to obtain doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
Joel Rufus French, 46, of Amory, made his initial appearance on April 11 in Oxford, Mississippi.
According to court documents, French allegedly managed multiple DME companies without disclosing his role to Medicare. He and his co-conspirators allegedly used the DME companies to bill Medicare for orthotic braces that were obtained using doctors’ orders that were procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes, medically unnecessary, not provided as billed, and ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. French also allegedly obtained Medicare beneficiary information and paid kickbacks and bribes for doctors’ orders for DME. French allegedly generated and sold doctors’ orders for orthotic braces to suppliers and brokers in exchange for millions in kickbacks and bribes. Finally, French is alleged to have participated in a scheme to launder certain proceeds of his schemes.
French is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, French faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud count, as well as on the conspiracy to commit money laundering count. French faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks count.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Peresie for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Charged for over $70M Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed in Tampa last week charging a Mississippi man for his alleged role in an over $70 million fraud scheme involving the payment of kickbacks and bribes to obtain doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
Joel Rufus French, 46, of Amory, made his initial appearance on April 11 in Oxford, Mississippi.
According to court documents, French allegedly managed multiple DME companies without disclosing his role to Medicare. He and his co-conspirators allegedly used the DME companies to bill Medicare for orthotic braces that were obtained using doctors’ orders that were procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes, medically unnecessary, not provided as billed, and ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. French also allegedly obtained Medicare beneficiary information and paid kickbacks and bribes for doctors’ orders for DME. French allegedly generated and sold doctors’ orders for orthotic braces to suppliers and brokers in exchange for millions in kickbacks and bribes. Finally, French is alleged to have participated in a scheme to launder certain proceeds of his schemes.
French is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, French faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud count, as well as on the conspiracy to commit money laundering count. French faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks count.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Peresie for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Amanda Gayle Kuhn 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on Friday, April 12, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing meth. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Kuhn to 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kuhn’s release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On March 8, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the Lincoln residence of Kuhn. During that search, investigators found four baggies of meth weighing a total of 65 grams. Purity testing showed at least 58 grams of actual meth. Investigators also found drug sales records and a digital scale. Kuhn told investigators she and her husband sold meth, and they bought approximately ¼ ounce of meth per week from their source between January of 2023 and the time of the search.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Liberty woman sentenced for preparing false tax returnRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Liberty woman has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally preparing a tax return in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Teletshia Elice Randolph, 48, pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on April 15, 2024.
According to information presented in court, in 2019, special agents with the Internal Revenue Service began noticing a pattern of questionable tax forms filed in previous years associated with an IP address which was registered to Randolph. In order to receive payment for preparing or assisting in the preparation of a federal tax return, a person is legally required to have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), and paid preparers must sign and include their PTIN on the return. Not signing a return, commonly known as “ghost preparation,” is often a red flag that a preparer is attempting to avoid detection by the IRS. Randolph did not have a registered PTIN and was suspected of being a “ghost preparer.” Further investigation revealed Randolph was operating an illegal tax preparation business from her residence. Randolph would meet and communicate with clients and obtain the necessary information from them to file their taxes. Randolph would then create fraudulent tax documents indicating the tax filer owned farm equipment and animals and were entitled to deductions they were not. Randolph would then file the tax documents in a way that appeared they were prepared by the actual tax filer. Randolph would keep approximately fifteen percent of each fraudulent tax return. IRS records revealed Randolph filed a total of 542 tax returns on behalf of 282 tax-payer clients for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018. The IRS estimates the total tax loss for these returns had approached six million dollars.
“Today, many Americans are fulfilling their duties as citizens of our great country and filing their taxes, said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “Sadly though, many individuals use the tax filing system to their advantage and unjustly enrich themselves. Teletshia Randolph did just that, by defrauding the government for many years and fraudulently filed taxes for taxpayers for her own benefit. My office is committed to protecting the integrity of the tax filing process and bringing to justice those that manipulate it to their advantage.”
“Randolph is a ghost preparer, someone who is willing to take your money and let you go to prison for filing a fraudulent tax return. She doesn’t sign the tax return because she is not a legitimate tax preparer and she knows the information she used was fraudulent,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office work closely with us to identify and prosecute tax and other financial crimes. April 15 might be the last day of this tax season, but it’s not the last time financial criminals like her will be sentenced for their crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
###
Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RODNEY COOPER, age 33, a resident of Metairie, pleaded guilty on April 11, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jane T. Milazzo to conspiracy to distribute and, possess with intent to distribute, heroin, 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; and 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).
According to court documents, on January 6, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) conducted surveillance in the 500 block of N. Elm Street in Metairie. COOPER was observed selling drugs, both individually and with his co-conspirators, to arriving customers. When JPSO detectives made contact with COOPER, he fled and discarded a backpack containing heroin, tapentadol, and marijuana.
COOPER faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee on each count.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Producing Photos Depicting the Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Andrew David Salas (36, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to producing photos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor child. Salas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years, up to 50 years, in federal prison, and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Salas is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of carnal knowledge of a minor child in Virginia in 2008. Salas was arrested on November 3, 2022, and has been in custody since that time. A sentencing hearing for Salas is scheduled for July 16, 2024.
According to court documents, in 2022, Salas used a web-based social media messaging platform to engage in an online conversation with a minor child who lived in Georgia. During this online conversation, Salas decided to drive from Florida to meet and pick up the child. On June 14, 2022, Salas drove from Jacksonville to an area near the child’s residence and met the child, who was on foot, at a particular intersection and invited the child into his car. The child entered Salas’s vehicle and told Salas that the child was underage. Salas then drove the child back to his residence in Jacksonville.
For more than four months, the child remained in Salas’s residence, and Salas engaged in sexual activity with the child on several occasions. Salas also used and persuaded the child to pose for him as he took photos of the child in sexually explicit positions. He also took sexually explicit photos of the child while the child slept.
In November 2022, FBI agents in Jacksonville obtained geolocation data showing that an electronic device linked to Salas had been near the child’s residence in Georgia on the evening of June 14, 2022. On November 3, 2022, an FBI agent and a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) went to Salas’s residence to make contact with Salas and attempt to locate the child. Salas was arrested and his cellphone was seized. Later that day, the child was located and rescued by law enforcement near Salas’s residence and was returned safely to the child’s family.
JSO detectives obtained a search warrant for Salas’s residence and seized several computers and electronic devices. Meanwhile, the FBI obtained search warrants for, Salas’s cellphone. A review of the phone’s contents revealed information about the location of the child’s residence, as well as text messages exchanged between Salas and the child. Salas’s phone also contained sexually explicit photos of the child produced by Salas, as well as photos depicting other young children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Carroll County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Atlanta and Jacksonville), with assistance from the State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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.
Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to over 16 years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Brett Victor Castro, 37, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on June 7, 2023, Castro communicated with a 15-year-old female over the internet using the Facebook Messenger application. Castro quickly directed the conversation to one of a sexual nature. When the minor informed Castro that she was only 15 years old, Castro responded by asking her if she would like to have sex with a 37-year-old. Castro offered marijuana in exchange for sex. Castro drove to the minor, picked her up, provided her marijuana and drove her to a remote location in Idaho Falls. At the remote location Castro engaged in various sexual acts with the minor. The minor reported that during the sexual encounter she asked Castro to stop, and he did not stop, telling her he was almost finished.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Castro to be placed on supervised release for 15 years following his prison sentence. Castro pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2023.
“We will spare no effort in protecting Idaho’s children from sexual predators,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This sentence should send a message that severe consequences await anyone who would seek to sexually exploit our children.”
“The online threats children face is unlike any seen by prior generations and necessitates diligence by both law enforcement and those closest to those children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI and our partners work tirelessly to protect the community from predators such as these and in this instance, take them off the streets for years to come. This requires a joint effort, however, and we ask everyone to play a part in protecting the most vulnerable amongst us.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Houston man and woman sentenced for federal firearm and drug violationsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man and woman have been sentenced for federal firearm and drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Christopher Jay Johnson, Jr., 35, pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Lissette Elvira Guevara, 37, also of Houston, pleaded guilty the same day to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced by Judge Crone last month to serve 113 months in prison.
According to information presented in court, on March 6, 2022, Bridge City police officers investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at a business on Texas Avenue and found Johnson in the passenger seat with a fully loaded pistol on his lap. The strong odor of marijuana led to a search of the vehicle resulting in the discovery of 40 grams of methamphetamine in Guevara’s belongings. Further investigation revealed Johnson was previously convicted of aggravated robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, and controlled substance offenses in Montgomery County, and prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. A federal grand jury indicted Johnson and Guevara on April 5, 2023.
“Guns and drugs are a bad combination,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “We will always support our local law enforcement partners in the investigation and prosecution of cases like this one that involve guns and dangerous repeat offenders. This is also a good reminder to the citizens in our district that if you ‘see something, say something.’ Here, a concerned citizen’s call pointed law enforcement to a threat they might have otherwise missed.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bridge City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
###
Goodell, Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Gun and Ammunition While Being an Illegal User of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm while being an illegal drug user pled guilty on April 11, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Larry Wayne Robbins, age 67, from Goodell, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user, marijuana, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), and 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(8).
In a plea agreement, Robbins admitted that he waived a gun at a neighbor in Hancock County while that individual was mowing a ditch approximately 300 yards east of Robbins’s house. A search warrant later executed at Robbins’ home located guns, ammunition, and marijuana.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Robbins remains on supervision with the United States Probation Office until sentencing. Robbins faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-03031.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Gang Member Admits Racketeering ChargeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang today admitted his role in a racketeering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Elijah Williams, aka “Lil Smith,” 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to a superseding indictment that charged him with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“The defendant in this case today admitted to his role in a criminal enterprise involved in violent crime and drug trafficking. Williams murdered and injured rival gang members and left a trail of blood. He now faces spending the rest of his life behind bars. This result was achieved through the hard work of many law enforcement partners, and we will continue this cooperative effort as we battle the scourge of drugs and violence on our streets.”
“The guilty plea from a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang is a result of the collaborative effort DEA New Jersey has with our law enforcement partners effectively targeting those organizations and individuals poisoning and destroying our communities,” Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the DEA New Jersey Field Division said. “Removing these individuals and their illicit narcotics saves lives and prevents deaths.”
“This investigation is an example of ATF’s dedication to working with our state, local and federal partners in identifying, targeting, and investigating violent criminals who prey upon our citizens and lessen the quality of life of our communities,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said. “We will continue to work with our partners to impact the violence of gangs, drug-related activity, and criminal organizations. Our neighborhoods deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by these violent offenders.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2015 through Sept. 22, 2022, Williams was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, a criminal enterprise responsible for acts of violence and the distribution of controlled substances in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere. On Sept. 25, 2018, in Newark, Williams attempted to murder rival gang members and associates by shooting at four individuals, one of whom was paralyzed. On March 20, 2019, in Irvington, New Jersey, Williams fatally shot another person, in retaliation for the murder of a member and associate of the Rollin’ 60s.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; investigators of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos; the Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Police Division Director Tracy Bowers; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé; the Bloomfield Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Samuel A. DeMaio; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Earl J. Graves; the Edison Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Tom Bryan; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Corbisiero; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, with the investigations leading to the charges in the Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips investigation.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the Special Prosecutions Division.
williams.sindictment.pdfFour Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jamie Smicherko, age 27, of Avoca, Pennsylvania, Patrick Russin, age 54, of Shavertown, Pennsylvania, Ryan Medar, age 36, of Jenkin Township, Pennsylvania, and Carlos Laurel, age 45, of White Haven, Pennsylvania, were indicted on April 9, 2024, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between October, 2023, and April, 2024, Smicherko, Russin, and Medar conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The indictment also alleges that Smircherko, Russin, Medar, and Laurel conspired to distribute cocaine. The indictment also alleges that Smicherko, Russin, and Medan also distributed quantities of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that Medar and Smicherko both trafficked firearms and possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspired to do the same.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Kingston Police Department, the Plains Township Police Depart, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case is also 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 maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for life, 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 and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
# # #
Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing More Than Two Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine out of a hotel room pled guilty on April 11, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jordan Todd Taylor, age 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Taylor admitted that he distributed more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine out of a hotel room in Fort Dodge from August 2023 through September 2023. Law enforcement executed a search warrant of Taylor’s room on September 29, 2023, and observed him dumping a product in the toilet and located additional methamphetamine, several hundred dollars cash, and drug distribution paraphernalia.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Taylor remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Taylor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-03041.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Former Veterans Affairs Procurement Supervisor Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Pocketing KickbacksRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former procurement supervisor at the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for pocketing kickbacks from the president of a medical supply company to steer the company orders that the VA paid for but never received.
THOMAS E. DUNCAN, 40, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Friday ordered Duncan to pay $1,709,344 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Gregory Billingsley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Central Field Office. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Manschreck.
While serving as a supervisor in the medical center’s Central Supply department, Duncan received thousands of dollars in kickbacks paid in cash and checks from DANIEL DINGLE, the president of a medical supply company in Dolton, Ill. The checks were made payable to Helping Hands Properties LLC – a third-party entity managed by Duncan – and contained false and misleading memo entries in order to conceal and disguise the existence and purpose of the kickbacks. In exchange for the kickbacks, Duncan used his official position at the VA to fraudulently initiate and approve purchases of products from Dingle’s company, knowing that many of the products would not actually be delivered to the VA.
The fraud scheme began in 2012 and continued until 2019. In late 2018, after Duncan became aware that the VA Inspector General’s Office was investigating his conduct, Duncan created fake invoices from Helping Hands purporting to document work performed for Dingle’s company. Duncan also told Dingle to falsely tell investigators that the payments Duncan received from Dingle’s company were for work performed by Helping Hands.
Dingle, 53, of Riverdale, Ill., also pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge. He is awaiting sentencing.