Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
8 May 2024
Washington woman sentenced to three years in prison for role in multi-state meth trafficking ring centered on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Washington woman who admitted to working as a translator and helping a co-defendant sell meth in a large trafficking scheme based on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Mariana Tyler Wallace, 23, of Okanogan, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, engaged in a large-scale, multiple-state, narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of methamphetamine for both Crow and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Wallace is one of the individuals affiliated with that investigation.
The investigation determined that Wallace and co-conspirator 1 were involved in selling meth and fentanyl from a property known as the Bloodman residence, which was near the Spear Siding property. Co-conspirators from Washington lived at the Bloodman house to distribute and protect the meth. These co-conspirators spoke Spanish and required others to translate to communicate with customers. Wallace came to Montana in February/March 2023 and worked as a translator for co-conspirator 1 to sell meth to multiple individuals who visited the residence. Wallace also sold meth. Wallace was considered to be in the lower to mid-level of the conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Uintah County Man Charged in Death Resulting Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was ordered to remain in custody by a U.S. Magistrate Judge for his alleged involvement in a death resulting drug case from Uintah County, Utah. On April 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the defendant with supplying fentanyl to a victim that killed her.
According to court documents, Jerod Arthur Young, 48, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, intentionally distributed fentanyl to the victim on November 15, 2023, which resulted in her death. During the investigation, law enforcement determined from the victim’s phone that she communicated with Young and engaged in a financial transaction with him around her time of death. The fentanyl pill near her body when she was found deceased tested positive for fentanyl, and a medical examiner determined that the cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl toxicity, and that the amount of fentanyl in the victim’s system was toxic and lethal.
Young is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. His initial court appearance on the indictment was May 1, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. A three day trial is scheduled for July 9, 2024.
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’s Vernal Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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’s Office to Co-Sponsor “United Against Hate” Summit with the College of IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit along with The College of Idaho, and the Community Center, are convening a United Against Hate summit on May 13 at The College of Idaho in Caldwell. The event is free and is open to the public. The registration link can be found here: www.eventbrite.com/UAH-Caldwell.
United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving efforts to combat hate crimes and hate incidents through relationship building at the local level. Through this endeavor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeks to create and strengthen trust and partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders, and residents. Well‑attended summits have already been held in Coeur d’Alene, Caldwell, Boise, Ketchum, Pocatello, and Sandpoint. This is the second United Against Hate summit hosted at The College of Idaho.
“The United Against Hate initiative continues to resonate and be a priority for our office because Idaho has continued to experience troubling hate incidents,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We are committed to empowering Idahoans to recognize and report hate crimes so that we can enforce the law and work toward communities where everyone can enjoy the protections of our Constitution without fear of being targeted by bigotry and hate.”
The May 13 event will include remarks from local leaders, presentations from prosecutors about hate crimes laws and reporting mechanisms, and speakers who will share their courageous experiences responding to hate, including the response to a recently-prosecuted hate crime targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
“We are thrilled once again to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our community to host the United Against Hate summit,” said Latonia Haney Keith, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice President of High Impact Practices at The College of Idaho. “Last year’s event was an outstanding success, drawing an engaged audience willing to combat hate and encourage understanding. Events like this provide a critical educational platform to empower our community to take action against bigotry and intolerance, ultimately fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone.”
“I look forward to meeting community members and hearing different perspectives on how we can work together to unite our community in standing up to unlawful hate,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “And I am deeply honored to join with The College of Idaho and our other partners to prioritize this critical mission.”
###
Two Sentenced to a Total of over Five Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Dozens of Firearms from Indianapolis to ChicagoRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Miesha Webster, 27, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transfer firearms to an out-of-state resident and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm.
James Osborne III, 34, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transfer firearms to an out-of-state resident.
According to court documents, between June 2021, and September 17, 2021, Miesha Webster and James Osborne III “straw purchased” at least 37 firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in Indiana. Straw purchasing occurs when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else—frequently someone who is legally prohibited from making the purchase themselves.
As part of the straw purchasing scheme, Osborne drove Webster to firearms dealers, and Webster would purchase certain makes and models of firearms, falsely claiming the firearms were being purchased for herself, when they were in fact being purchased on behalf of Osborne to sell. Osborne told Webster what guns to buy and gave her the money to make the purchases. Osborne was prohibited from purchasing firearms himself.
Webster and Osborne sold the straw-purchased firearms to an individual from Chicago, Illinois. The buyer met Webster and Osborne in Indiana to purchase the guns, then took them back to Chicago. Under federal law, it is a crime to willfully transfer or sell firearms to another person in another state if neither individual is a federally licensed firearms dealer.
On September 13, 2021, Webster was observed arriving at a federally licensed firearms dealer in Brownsburg, Indiana, in a vehicle driven by Osborne. Webster left the store with a Glock 21 .40 caliber pistol and a Glock 26 9mm pistol. On the ATF form, she listed herself as the actual buyer and listed a false home address. Webster and Osborne took the two firearms, along with others purchased by Webster on a different date, to Lafayette, Indiana, where they sold the guns to their Chicago purchaser. ATF agents arrived on scene of the illegal deal and arrested both defendants.
In total, Webster purchased at least 51 firearms, 24 of which have been recovered by law enforcement agencies in addition to the six seized during Webster and Osborne’s arrest. Of the 24 recovered firearms, 17 were recovered in Chicago or surrounding cities in Illinois.
“Illegal gun sales fuel violence in Indiana, Chicago, and across the country, by putting deadly weapons in the hands of people with no lawful business having them,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The federal prison sentences imposed here demonstrate that straw purchase schemes are serious crimes that carry serious consequences. I commend the ATF and our federal prosecutor for their efforts to reduce gun violence and hold gun traffickers accountable.”
“These defendants were both charged with violating the Gun Control Act by straw purchasing and trafficking firearms,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “In facilitating the flow of firearms to those who are prohibited from possessing them, they bear a measure of responsibility for the violence those firearms cause in our community. I hope this sentence serves as a warning to others who might consider doing this – ATF and our law enforcement partners will work to find you, as well, and hold you accountable for your actions.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Domash, who prosecuted 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.
###
Two Former Florida Residents Indicted for Defrauding Rental Property InvestorsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two former residents of Hudson, Florida, now living in Panama, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on fraud charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 58, and Kelly Jurado Bonilla, 35.
According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2017 until in and around June 2019, Gulbronson and Bonilla conspired to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and committed wire fraud. Gulbronson and Bonilla owned and operated Citrona Homes LLC, which had offices in Holiday, Florida, and in Johnstown, and solicited investments. The purported business plan of Citrona, as represented to some of the investors, was to purchase low-value, distressed, or vacant properties, renovate them, ensure they complied with applicable building codes, rent the properties, and sell the properties to investors at or under market value. The defendants told investors that Citrona would manage the properties, provide no-cost maintenance and repairs for the first two years, pay the utilities for a small monthly fee, and thus generate a stream of guaranteed passive income for the investors. The Indictment alleges that Gulbronson and Bonilla instead used Citrona as a mechanism for enriching themselves by defrauding investors into purchasing unrenovated properties at prices far above the fair market value of the properties through a series of false pretenses, representations, and promises.
These included, among others, false claims of offering “fully renovated, fully vetted and rented Section 8 and Subsidized Housing” when properties were often not fully renovated at the time of the sale or within the specified period after the sale; providing fictitious invoices to investors as evidence that property renovations were completed; the use of fake names to help conceal Gulbronson’s identity; and the payment of a local real estate broker to display the broker’s license on the wall of Citrona’s management office in Johnstown as their own. The defendants also made payments to investors purported to be rental income when the money actually came from the sale of other Citrona properties, and informed investors that property repairs and rentals were being made when no efforts were being made to remedy those issues. According to the Indictment, Citrona contracted with at least 70 investors on the purchase of $5.3 million in properties in the Johnstown area during the two-year period, which the defendants originally purchased for $1.2 million.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 60 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Maureen Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three men sentenced for attempting to smuggle over 1,500 kilograms of cocaineRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Colombian man was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison for cocaine trafficking, the final defendant sentenced in this case
According to court documents, Yunier Renteria-Renteria, 28, was part of a group attempting to move more than two tons of cocaine into the United States. On Jan. 3, Renteria pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine on board a vessel.
On March 17, 2023, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a go-fast boat, which are frequently used to transport large quantities of cocaine from the Colombian coast to larger transfer vessels en route to the United States. When the crew of the boat became aware of the presence of law enforcement, they began to jettison their cargo, which the U.S. Coast Guard recovered. The cargo included 1,504 kilograms of cocaine.
The crew of the go-fast boat transporting the cocaine included Renteria, Luis Valencia-Renteria, 27, of Colombia, and Cesar Rodriguez, 30, of Ecuador. Valencia pled guilty on Aug. 3, 2023, and Rodriguez pled guilty on Aug. 14, 2023. On Jan. 9, Valencia and Rodriguez were sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-36.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Randall England, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.
The Information alleged that on or about February 7, 2023, England shot and killed the victim with an assault rifle. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. England was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.
Strawberry Point Felon Sentenced for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Scott Wesley Timmerman, age 56, from Strawberry Point, Iowa who was found in a park after hours with a sawed-off shotgun was sentenced May 3, 2024, to more than five years in federal prison.
Timmerman received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a short-barreled shotgun as a previously convicted felon.
In a plea agreement, Timmerman admitted he possessed a short-barreled Winchester shotgun when officers found him in a park after hours. The firearm was not registered to him in the federal registry. Timmerman also had two prior felony convictions in Arizona.
Timmerman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Timmerman was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment and fined $500. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Timmerman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton 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-2054.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the Conviction of Darius PaduchRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a unanimous jury has just found, Darius A. Paduch leveraged his position of trust as a medical doctor for his own perverse gratification. For years, patients seeking needed medical care, many of them children, left his office as victims. I commend the career prosecutors of this Office for bringing this important case to a just conclusion.”
Springfield Man Sentenced for Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIFELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Greene County, Mo.
James D. Elbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 5, 2023, Elbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Elbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin in Greene County from Oct. 2, 2015, to Nov. 13, 2017. Elbert admitted that, on three separate occasions, he sold a total of 6.86 grams of heroin to a law enforcement undercover informant in Springfield.
Elbert is the ninth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark, Mo., Police Department.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Uver Revolorio-Hernandez, age 50, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Revolorio-Hernandez was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He pleaded guilty to on January 23, 2024.
On July 31, 2023, Uver Revolorio-Hernandez was arrested after threatening and shooting at a neighbor and the neighbor’s six-year-old child. Revolorio-Hernandez shot at them four times from his vehicle while he drove away from the scene. Law enforcement located two spent 9mm shell casings outside of the victim’s residence and one bullet inside the victim’s residence, which had penetrated three walls of the home.
When law enforcement officers encountered Revolorio-Hernandez in his vehicle, he was intoxicated and in possession of a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and two spent 9mm casings.
Revolorio-Hernandez is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he is an illegal alien and because he is a convicted felon; specifically, Revolorio-Hernandez was convicted of Assault – 2nd Degree Dangerous Weapon (Felony) on March 17, 2008, in Scott County, Minnesota.
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.
This case was investigated by the City of Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
Revolorio-Hernandez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Marc Jones, age 30, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Jones must register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison.
Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 23, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 23, 2023, when Jones possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone. The images were taken of minor females exiting a shower. The minors were unaware of the photographs being taken. Jones was previously convicted in 2014 of 4th Degree Rape in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Jones was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who admitted to using and selling drugs while in possession of a firearm, was sentenced May 3, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Devonta Cobbs, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 19, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed that from about May 2022 through June 2022, Cobbs, while being an admitted user of marijuana, possessed multiple firearms. During an investigation into a shooting incident, while executing search warrants on Cobbs’ property, officers located several guns, ammunition, magazines as well as more than $2,000 in cash and marijuana.
Cobbs was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced to 34 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is 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.
Cobbs is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4069.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Seven members and associates of large-scale gas pump skimming device organization charged with racketeering and money laundering conspiraciesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – An indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia charging seven men with racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their alleged participation in a large-scale gas pump skimming device organization.
According to court documents, the defendants, led by Eduardo Rodriguez, also known as Ogbe Bara, 40, of Fort Myers, Florida, allegedly installed skimming devices on gas pumps throughout the United States to fraudulently collect credit and debit card information from customers. From 2014 to April 2024, they allegedly used the stolen card data to create fraudulent credit and debit cards, which they used to purchase items including gift cards and electronics, to make ATM withdrawals, and to make cashback purchases from retail stores. Members and associates of the organization also used “fences” to sell the illegally obtained items for cash. The defendants also allegedly engaged in acts involving access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and the sale and receipt of stolen goods.
In addition to Eduardo Rodriguez, the following defendants have been charged in the indictment:
- Idalberto Rivero, also known as El Monstro, El Mostro, and Monster, 53, of Miami
- Anyelo Jesus Muino Ayala, also known as Justin Bieber, 26, of Miami
- Pedro Raul Zequeira Alvarez, also known as Yery Yery, 33, of Miami
- Raul Ferrao Pons, also known as Rauli and Ninja, 32, of Miami
- Jorge Enrique Fonseca Vazquez, also known as Ogberoso, 32, of Miami
- Luis Gustavo Diaz, also known as Ogberdi, 39, of Miami
The defendants are charged with one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan of the FBI Norfolk Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Norfolk, Miami, Tampa, New York, and Albany Field Offices and Ft. Myers Resident Agency; U.S. Secret Service; Virginia State Police; Northampton County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office; Norfolk Police Department; and Mooresville (North Carolina) Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Clayton D. LaForge for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Florida, the District of New Jersey, and the Southern District of New York.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-28.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Seven Members and Associates of Large-Scale Gas Pump Skimming Device Organization Charged with Racketeering and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia charging seven men with racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their alleged participation in a large-scale gas pump skimming device organization.
According to court documents, the defendants, led by Eduardo Rodriguez, also known as Ogbe Bara, 40, of Fort Myers, Florida, allegedly installed skimming devices on gas pumps throughout the United States to fraudulently collect credit and debit card information from customers. From 2014 to April 2024, they allegedly used the stolen card data to create fraudulent credit and debit cards, which they used to purchase items including gift cards and electronics, to make ATM withdrawals, and to make cashback purchases from retail stores. Members and associates of the organization also used “fences” to sell the illegally obtained items for cash. The defendants also allegedly engaged in acts involving access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and the sale and receipt of stolen goods.
In addition to Eduardo Rodriguez, the following defendants have been charged in the indictment:
- Idalberto Rivero, also known as El Monstro, El Mostro, and Monster, 53, of Miami
- Anyelo Jesus Muino Ayala, also known as Justin Bieber, 26, of Miami
- Pedro Raul Zequeira Alvarez, also known as Yery Yery, 33, of Miami
- Raul Ferrao Pons, also known as Rauli and Ninja, 32, of Miami
- Jorge Enrique Fonseca Vazquez, also known as Ogberoso, 32, of Miami
- Luis Gustavo Diaz, also known as Ogberdi, 39, of Miami
The defendants are charged with one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan of the FBI Norfolk Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Norfolk, Miami, Tampa, New York, and Albany Field Offices and Ft. Myers Resident Agency; U.S. Secret Service; Virginia State Police; Northampton County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office; Norfolk Police Department; and Mooresville (North Carolina) Police Department are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Clayton D. LaForge for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Florida, the District of New Jersey, and the Southern District of New York.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Second Benton Harbor Man Sentenced for Illegal Gun Possession After Shootout at Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Terrence Terrial Izear Turner, 29, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 165 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also imposed a period of 3 years of federal supervised release.
“Mr. Turner’s careless acts of violence put innocent lives at risk and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to identifying and federally prosecuting the individuals driving gun violence in our communities. There is no acceptable level of violent crime. In this case and others, we are working with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that dangerous members of the community are brought to justice.”
Photograph of Mr. Turner Posing with a Firearm and an Extended Magazine
Investigators identified Mr. Turner as a suspect in a shootout on July 9, 2023, which occurred in a parking lot at the River Terrace Apartments in Benton Harbor. During the shootout, which involved multiple shooters, an apartment across the parking lot was struck five times by gunfire. One bullet entered a bedroom where an occupant was, and there was also a young child in the apartment. Turner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm following an investigation that culminated in a search warrant at a residence where Turner was staying with a gun. As a convicted felon, Turner was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms. Turner previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 10, 2024.
Shamonte Buchanan, another shooter at the River Terrace Apartments, was previously sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Jarbou to 71 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Illegal possession of firearms poses a severe threat to the well-being of our citizens. Gun violence continues to plague our society and impact our way of life. More and more felons are possessing illegal firearms, and this is a very dangerous reality for our community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. “The sentencing of Mr. Turner demonstrates the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our firm commitment to removing violent offenders from our communities.”
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Michigan State Police (MSP), Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case.
###
Rosebud 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 Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Jesse Leader Charge, age 29, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Leader Charge was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2024.
On October 7, 2019, Leader Charge was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, Leader Charge must comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Leader Charge was released from a prison term on September 11, 2023, and began his term of supervised release residing in Rosebud. Leader Charge failed to update his registration upon release from prison and did not update his registration until he was arrested in December of 2023.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Leader Charge was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Romanian Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Violations Involving Use of Skimming Devices at Local ATMsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Bacau, Romania, has been sentenced in federal court to four years of imprisonment on his conviction of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Ciprian Costel Borcea, 46.
According to information presented to the Court, a local financial institution discovered that it was targeted through a skimming device scheme that caused losses of more than $450,000 and the theft of account information related to more than 700 customers. A skimming device is one that fraudsters place over automated teller machines (ATMs) that captures the information from the magnetic strips of ATM cards. Those devices are then used in conjunction with pin hole cameras that capture customers’ personal identification numbers to create fraudulent ATM cards and then withdraw money from the customers’ bank accounts.
The investigation revealed that the skimming devices and cameras were placed on area ATMs in March and April 2023. Borcea was captured on surveillance video installing the skimming devices and cameras, retrieving the devices, and using the counterfeit ATM cards to withdraw money from customer accounts.
In early May 2023, Borcea installed a skimming device on an ATM located in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. The Cleveland Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service set up surveillance of the ATM machine and observed Borcea approaching the machine. Borcea was taken into custody, and a search of his vehicle revealed a skimming device, counterfeit ATM cards, and other evidence tying him to the ATM skimming device fraud in the Pittsburgh area.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Borcea.
Previously Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of Machinegun in Furtherance of Cocaine Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Christopher Pollard, 33, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about November 3, 2023, Pollard, who has multiple prior felony convictions, possessed a Glock handgun that had been illegally modified to fire as a fully automatic machinegun. In addition to prohibiting individuals from possessing machineguns, federal law makes it illegal for an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Additionally, on the same day, Pollard possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. The Indictment alleges that Pollard possessed the illegal firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.
Pottsville Man Sentenced to 96 Months’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Allateef Alkamil Ali-White (“White”), age 43, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 7, 2024, by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 96 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year period of supervised release, for methamphetamine trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, during July 2022, in Schuylkill County, and elsewhere, White conspired to distribute over five pounds (2,336 grams) of a substance containing methamphetamine, which he was to receive through the United States mail from a supply source in California. The package containing the narcotics was intercepted by law enforcement prior to its final delivery to a location in Pottsville near White’s residence.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
# # #
Plymouth Woman Arrested for Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Plymouth woman has been arrested and charged with wire fraud for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of herself and her father.
Katherine Reynolds, 65, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Reynolds was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today.
According to the charging documents, Reynolds submitted two fraudulent loan applications seeking loans for herself and her father pursuant to the PPP. It is alleged that the loan applications falsely claimed that Reynolds and her then 86-year-old father earned over $100,000 per year providing massage services out of their home. It is further alleged that the loan applications also included fraudulent tax forms that were not filed with the IRS.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
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.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine SaleRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sean Christopher Adams, age 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 175 months in federal prison for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a cooperating individual advised law enforcement officers that Adams was selling methamphetamine. Investigators tasked the individual with making a purchase of drugs from Adams. The transaction took place in a retail parking lot in Buckhannon while officers provided surveillance. Once the transaction took place, officers intercepted the drugs and arrested Adams, seizing more than $14,000 in cash and a one-pound bag of methamphetamine.
Adams will serve eight years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Orange County Man Charged with Scheming to Steal High-End Violins and Later Robbing a Bank Branch in IrvineRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Irvine man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to steal high-value violins and then allegedly robbing a bank in Orange County, the Justice Department announced today.
Mark Meng, 57, is charged with bank robbery and wire fraud in a complaint filed on May 7. He has been in state custody since April 11 and is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court on May 9.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from August 2020 to April 2023, Meng engaged in a scheme to steal high-end violins and then resell them for his personal gain. The stolen violins included:
- one Lorenzo Ventapane violin, dated 1823, and valued at $175,000; a
- one Guilio Degani violin, dated 1903, and valued at $55,000;
- one Caressa & Francais violin, dated 1913, and valued at $40,000;
- one Gand & Bernardel violin, dated 1870, and valued at $60,000; and
- one Francais Lott violin bow, stamped “Lupot,” and valued at $7,500.
Meng allegedly contacted violin shops across the country to express interest in receiving violins on loan for a trial period to determine if he wished to purchase the instruments. He allegedly gained the trust of these stores by representing himself as a collector, and in some cases, he purchased violin bows before asking for violin trial periods. After receiving each violin on a trial-period basis, Meng kept the violins and ultimately sold them to a violin dealer in Los Angeles who was unaware of their stolen origin.
After Meng knew he was under investigation by the FBI for the stolen violins, Meng on April 2 allegedly entered a bank branch in Irvine, wearing a hat, sunglasses, a bandana covering his face, and blue latex gloves. Meng allegedly gave the bank teller a note stating “$18,000. - Withdraw. Please. Stay Cool! No harm. Thx.” After obtaining money from the bank teller, Meng fled the bank in his white minivan, according to the complaint.
Law enforcement personnel determined that a latent print from the robbery note was identified as belonging to Meng, the affidavit states. Officers ultimately tracked the minivan back to Meng’s house where Meng was arrested several days later.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Meng would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on both the bank robbery count and the wire fraud count.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter, with assistance from the Irvine Police Department and the Glendale Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Alexander and Mark A. Williams, both of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, are prosecuting this case.
Orange County Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from MLB Star’s Account and Signing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
PLEA AGREEMENT INFORMATIONLOS ANGELES – A Japanese-language interpreter has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges for illegally transferring almost $17 million from a Major League Baseball (MLB) player’s bank account – without the player’s knowledge or permission – to pay off his own substantial gambling debts incurred with an illegal bookmaking operation and for signing a false tax return, the Justice Department announced today.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, of Newport Beach, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, which carries a sentence of up to three years in federal prison.
Mizuhara, who is charged in a two-count information filed today, is expected to enter a plea of guilty to the charges in United States District Court in the coming weeks. His arraignment is scheduled for May 14.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice.”
“Our joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations clearly showed Mr. Mizuhara not only stole from Mr. Ohtani, but also that he lied to the IRS about his income, “said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Mr. Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility. In cases where we are able to identify them, we make every effort to make things right for victims, and this is one of those cases.”
“This investigation into Mr. Mizuhara and subsequent plea highlight the threat posed by financial crimes in the Los Angeles-area,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent Eddy Wang. “The HSI-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force is dedicated to protecting all victims of financial fraud from all walks of life.”
According to his plea agreement also filed today, Mizuhara was the translator and de facto manager of a professional baseball player identified in court documents as “Victim A,” but who in fact was MLB star Shohei Ohtani. As part of his job duties, Mizuhara regularly interacted with Ohtani’s sports agents and financial advisors – who did not speak Japanese – on behalf of Ohtani, who did not speak English. Although Mizuhara was an employee of the Los Angeles Angels MLB team, for whom Ohtani played from 2018 to 2023, and, later, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom Ohtani has played since 2024, Ohtani paid him separately for the additional work of driving him to meetings and interpreting for non-baseball-related activities.
In March 2018, Mizuhara accompanied Ohtani to a bank in Phoenix to help him open a bank account to deposit his MLB salary. Inside the bank branch, Mizuhara interpreted for Ohtani when the bank employee provided Ohtani the login information for this bank account.
Beginning in September 2021, Mizuhara began placing sports bets with an illegal bookmaker. Shortly thereafter, Mizuhara began to lose bets and quickly became indebted to the bookmaker. Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from the account.
From no later than November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to successfully sign into the bank account and then changed the account’s security protocols without Ohtani’s knowledge or permission. Specifically, Mizuhara changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him – not Ohtani – when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.
In furtherance of the scheme, Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani and used Ohtani’s personal identifying information to deceive the bank’s employees into authorizing wire transfers from the bank account. In total, Mizuhara called the bank and impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions.
During this time, Mizuhara regularly logged into Ohtani’s bank account and initiated wire transfers from the account to the bookmaker and his associates as payments for gambling debts. For example, on June 20, 2023, Mizuhara accessed the account without Ohtani’s permission and transferred $500,000 to one of the bookmaker’s associates.
In addition, in September 2023, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work and Ohtani agreed to pay for it via a check drawn on a business account at a different bank. However, Mizuhara provided his dentist Ohtani’s debit card number for the bank account Ohtani had opened in Phoenix, charged $60,000 to that account, then deposited the $60,000 check into Mizuhara’s personal bank account.
From January 2024 to March 2024, Mizuhara purchased approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers such as eBay from Ohtani’s bank account with the intent to resell them later and for his own personal benefit.
When Ohtani’s sports agent and financial advisors asked Mizuhara for access to the bank account, Mizuhara lied and said Ohtani did not want them to access the account because it was private. In fact, Mizuhara did not want them to know that he had been stealing from Ohtani and had fraudulently obtained more than $16,975,010 from him.
Mizuhara also admitted in his plea agreement that in February 2024 he willfully made and subscribed to a false individual federal income tax return for the tax year 2022. On that tax return, Mizuhara falsely claimed that his total taxable income for that year was $136,865 when in fact he knew the amount was substantially higher and he knowingly failed to report additional income of $4.1 million. The source of the unreported income was from his scheme to defraud the bank.
Mizuhara, under penalty of perjury, signed the false income tax return and admitted in his plea agreement that he owes approximately $1,149,400 in additional taxes for the tax year 2022, plus additional interest and penalties.
IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Mitchell of the Major Frauds Section and Dan Boyle of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress are prosecuting this case.
Omaha Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jackie Harper, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for making false statements to the Small Business Administration. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Harper to three years’ probation and ordered him to pay $154,247.06 in restitution, nearly all of which has already been paid.
During 2020 and 2021, Harper, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The applications misrepresented how much Harper’s business had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue Harper’s business had received, resulting in applications for significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Harper resulted in him receiving loans and grants totaling approximately $145,300.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.
Oklahoma Inmate Sentenced to 26 Years for Leading Meth Conspiracy from his Prison CellRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An inmate of the Lawton Correctional Facility in Oklahoma has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene and Polk Counties while he was incarcerated.
Joshua A. Ramirez, 39, who has no legal address, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, May 7, to 26 years in federal prison without parole. Ramirez was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.
On Aug. 16, 2023, Ramirez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ramirez admitted that he facilitated large methamphetamine transactions from within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Ramirez utilized drug couriers to transport methamphetamine and collect proceeds from several co-conspirators in southwest Missouri and elsewhere. Ramirez used a source of supply in Juarez, Mexico.
According to court documents, Ramirez is responsible for the distribution of 907 kilograms of methamphetamine.
During the time of this drug-trafficking conspiracy, Ramirez was serving a state felony sentence in Oklahoma for distributing a controlled substance and waiting to be released and transferred to federal custody to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence in a separate and unrelated case for distributing a controlled substance in the Northern District of Texas.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado Springs, Mo., Police Department.
Norwalk Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE DE JESUS VEGA-CERVANTES, 45, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to a fentanyl trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Norwalk Police Department made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Vega-Cervantes. Vega-Cervantes was arrested on August 22, 2023, after he attempted to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to an individual working with law enforcement.
Vega-Cervantes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Vega-Cervantes has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
New York Man Admits Possessing Cocaine and Fentanyl with Intent to DistibuteRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to possession of cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Kedwin Ramon Then Gutierrez, 35, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On May 1, 2023, Gutierrez travelled from his home in New York to a rest station in Burlington County, New Jersey, where he gave a box containing over $200,000 to Mauricio Silva Jr. In return, Silva gave Gutierrez a black duffel bag containing approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine and nine kilograms of fentanyl. Silva is charged by complaint and those charges remain pending.
The count to which Gutierrez pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charges and allegations in the complaint against Silva are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
gutierrez.information.pdfNew Castle Felon Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Donald Jeter, 34, pleaded guilty before United States Senior District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between May 2021 and October 2022 and to possessing a firearm on August 10, 2022, after a felony conviction. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2024. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jeter.
Monroe County Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Make Straw Purchases of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Yesenia Ramos, age 44, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2024, before United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, to the charge of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the purchases of multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Ramos admitted to conspiring with Windall Mitchell, age 34, of East Stroudsburg, to provide false information to federally licensed firearms dealers regarding the purchases of fifteen firearms between May 15, 2021, and June 14, 2022, in Monroe County. The firearms were purchased from various federally licensed firearms dealers in Monroe County. The investigation began after one of the purchased firearms was recovered from another individual by police in New York City.
Windall Mitchell previously entered a guilty plea to the charge of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the purchases of multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. On April 30, 2024, Judge Munley sentenced Mitchell to serve 30 months’ imprisonment.
The charge against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiring to make false statements to firearms dealers is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
###
Mexican Man Convicted of Transporting 20 Kilograms of Cocaine into Massachusetts for Drug CartelRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican man was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy from which 20 kilograms of cocaine was seized during a traffic stop in Littleton in March 2023.
Erasmo Lira-Mendez, 39, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (both offenses involving five kilograms or more). U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 4, 2024. Lira-Mendez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023 along with his co-defendant, Cornelio Hernandez.
“This case is a stark reminder of the profound dangers posed by illicit narcotics circulating in the shadows of our communities. While driving without a license in a small, quiet Massachusetts suburb, Mr. Lira-Mendez was found in possession of 20 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution, hidden inside a duffle bag,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This conviction reaffirms our office's unwavering commitment to hold accountable those who seek to profit from the devastation wrought by drug trafficking. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of Massachusetts residents.”
“DEA is committed to investigating drug traffickers who are distributing cocaine to the citizens of Massachusetts,” said Stephen P. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take these poisons off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
On March 29, 2023, in Littleton, Lira-Mendez was observed driving a car with a temporary Texas license plate that was drifting across a double yellow line. During an ensuing traffic stop, 20 kilograms of cocaine was found inside a duffle bag on the back seat of the vehicle. A subsequent investigation revealed that a private tracking device had been installed in the vehicle by the Mexican drug cartel, Cártel del Noreste. GPS data obtained from the device revealed that the two men had traveled at least 32 hours from Texas to Massachusetts – with the cocaine concealed inside the vehicle’s doors – to distribute the narcotics in Lawrence.
Hernandez pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2024.
Both charges provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Littleton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and K. Nathaniel Yeager of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
Member of Southeast DC Crew Sentenced to 90 Months for Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Earl Isaac III, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 90 months in prison in connection with possessing a Glock firearm with a machine gun conversion device, narcotics trafficking, and related counts, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Isaac, 21, also known as “Frontline,” pleaded guilty on January 9, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to four counts: (1) unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon; (2) unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana; (3) unlawful possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and (4) using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Isaac to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Stanton Road SE on June 1, 2023. Under a bathroom sink, police found a .40 caliber Glock firearm, outfitted with a machine gun conversion device, and loaded with a high-capacity magazine that contained 21 rounds of ammunition. Police also found more than 100 small, round, blue pills inscribed with “M30” throughout the premises that were determined to contain fentanyl; 2.68 kilos of marijuana; and $2,020 in cash in the front left pocket of Isaac’s jeans.
Isaac previously was convicted in 2022 for carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to a 14-month suspended prison term under the Youth Rehabilitation Act with a one-year probationary term in D.C. Superior Court, which was later revoked.
Isaac’s social media account showed that Isaac advertised marijuana for sale, sold marijuana and fentanyl, and posed with marijuana and the money he had earned from drug sales.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Coley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Sellinger. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Leiter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi.
Maryland Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years for Leading Fentanyl Distribution Ring and Using Stolen Identities to Fleece State Unemployment Insurance ProgramsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Collin Edwards, 29, of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for leading a group involved in manufacturing counterfeit oxycodone pills mixed with fentanyl and for using stolen personal identifying information (PII) to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims that netted more than $250,000, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region Troy W. Springer, of the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General.
Edwards, also known as “Chills,” pleaded guilty on November 9, 2023, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to a felony charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 or more grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Edwards admitted that he, and the members of his conspiracy, were accountable for producing and distributing at least 1.2 kilograms of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Edwards also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
In addition to the 14-year in prison term, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ordered Edwards to serve five years of supervised release. Edwards previously agreed to forfeit $100,000.
According to court documents, this case began with the June 21, 2021, discovery of a make-shift drug lab in in Laurel, Maryland. In August 2021, law enforcement began investigating Edwards and others and learned that the group was running a fentanyl pill pressing operation in and around Washington, D.C., and Maryland, renting apartments with stolen identities, for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing these counterfeit pills. Edwards and six others were identified as participants in the drug trafficking operation.
Law enforcement identified another apartment Edwards and the group were renting in a fictitious identify, this time, a high-end luxury apartment located in the Navy Yard area of Washington, D.C. On Mar. 29, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at the apartment with Edwards present and seized baggies of pills and loose powder, together amounting to more than 516 pills and more than 76 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.
During the search of the apartment, authorities seized Edwards’ cellphone. The phone contained countless text message conversations with other drug traffickers discussing pill sales in the hundreds and thousands. On May 15, 2020, for example, Edwards wrote to an unknown contact, “I’m over here counting out 5000 pills bro. Hold on.” Edwards wrote co-conspirators on a regular basis to discuss the strength of the pills, the supply, and pricing. He also openly discussed moving an industrial pill press from the Laurel apartment to his girlfriend’s father’s home in Annapolis, Maryland following the discovery of the drug processing lab in Laurel.
The FBI also located troves of text messages between Edwards and others laying out a scheme to commit wire fraud involving unemployment insurance fraud. Edwards obtained database documents containing personal identifying information (PII) for hundreds of victims. The documents contained birthdates, social security numbers, home addresses, e-mail addresses, and past phone numbers. Edwards used this stolen PII to apply online for unemployment insurance benefits in victims’ names. Edwards caused pre-loaded debit cards in victim names to be sent to the homes of his associates and family members. He then retrieved the cards and withdrew funds at ATM locations around the DMV area. Edwards admitted that he and other co-conspirators illegally netted at least $250,000 through the scheme. Most victims had no knowledge that their identity had been used to apply for unemployment benefits.
Edwards was arrested in downtown Baltimore on October 20, 2022, a month after evading capture following a high-speed car chase.
Edwards has multiple prior convictions for drug offenses and armed robbery. According to court documents, one prior conviction stemmed from a gun-point robbery where Edwards and a co-conspirator threatened to blow a victim’s head off in his own apartment. Edwards was on supervision for that offense while committing the crimes in this case.
Edwards is the last defendant to be sentenced in this investigation.
- On June 23, 2023, Chase Cole was sentenced to twelve months and one day of incarceration
- On October 13, 2023, Garnell Lucas was sentenced to 72 months of incarceration.
- On December 15, 2023, Tyron Waters was sentenced to 70 months of incarceration.
- On January 12, 2024, Laura Garvin was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section with the assistance of former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah J. Rasalam and Marnee Rand of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section.
Man admits assault on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLILNGS — A man accused of kicking another man with steel-toe boots on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Jordale Thomas Redwolf, 36, a transient, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Redwolf faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Redwolf was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Dec. 8, 2023, Redwolf and the victim, identified as John Doe, were drinking alcohol at a house in Wyola, on the Crow Indian Reservation. Doe reported that for no apparent reason, Redwolf repeatedly punched him in the face. When Doe fell to the floor, Redwolf kicked him in the face and torso with boots. Doe was transported to the Crow Indian Health Service Hospital for treatment of injuries. In an interview the next day, Redwolf admitted he beat up Doe because both were drunk, and Doe was “mouthing off” because Redwolf had just been released from prison. Redwolf kicked Doe with his prison-issued boots. Law enforcement seized steel-toe boots that had blood on them from Redwolf’s home.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
XXX
Man Who Used COVID-19 Relief Funds to Purchase a Personal RV Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jason Carnell O’Daffer, formerly of Wenatchee, Washington, was sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $117,000 in COVID relief funding. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 12 months and one day imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to retain jobs and maintain payroll during the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low-interest bridge funding for small businesses placed at risk during the pandemic.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, O’Daffer admitted to fraudulently obtaining $117,400 in EIDL funding for his purported home appraisal business, Chelan Douglas Appraisal Services. When O’Daffer submitted his EIDL application, he was not licensed as an appraiser, and his business was no longer engaging in home appraisals. Rather, O’Daffer spent the loan proceeds on non-business expenses including more than $39,000 for the purchase of a personal RV.
In December of 2022, O’Daffer was arrested in San Francisco. Following his initial appearance, O’Daffer absconded from his pretrial release and remained at large until March of 2023, when he was arrested again.
“Mr. O’Daffer fraudulently obtained funds, set aside to help struggling small and local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. O’Daffer spent the funds on a recreational vehicle and a cross-country road trip. Then, while on pretrial release following his arrest, Mr. O’Daffer disappeared until he was arrested again a few months later,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for the excellent investigative work of the Secret Service and the COVID-19 Strike Force to hold Mr. O’Daffer accountable. My office’s White-Collar team will continue to vigorously prosecute those who abuse and misuse COVID-19 funding.”
This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, the U.S. Secret Service, Spokane Resident Office and San Francisco Field Office, and the SBA OIG. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy Kelly and Tyler H.L. Tornabene prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Man Who Trafficked Guns into Bridgeport Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANNON WINSTON, 24, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm trafficking and possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston purchased firearms in Georgia, where he resided at times, and provided them to customers in Connecticut. Winston personally purchased at least 18 firearms in Georgia, and he had others purchase additional firearms on his behalf. The investigation, which included gun recoveries after shooting incidents in Bridgeport, revealed that some of the firearms were provided to members of the East End and PT Barnum gangs in Bridgeport.
On March 16, 2022, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging Winston with firearms trafficking offenses. During his arraignment on March 29, 2022, Winston was informed that he could be required to serve a consecutive term of imprisonment of up to 10 years if he committed a federal felony while on pretrial release. Winston was released on a $100,000 bond on that date.
On December 21, 2022, Winston was arrested by Bridgeport Police for possessing a .357 caliber handgun with a loaded high capacity magazine. The handgun had been purchased in Jonesboro, Georgia, on November 11, 2022, and ballistics analysis revealed that it had been used in a shooting in Bridgeport’s East Side the day before Winston’s arrest.
Winston has been detained in federal custody since January 3, 2023. On September 22, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage unlicensed dealing of firearms, and one count of receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through 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.
Man Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Prison for Unlawfully Dealing Firearms in Chicago AreaRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a firearms trafficker to five and a half years in prison for unlawfully dealing guns in Chicago.
From April to June of last year, JESUS SANCHEZ sold seven firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent. Authorities later conducted a court-authorized search of Sanchez’s residence and discovered, among other things, ten firearm magazines and three boxes of .22-caliber ammunition. When agents arrived to conduct the search, Sanchez ran from the residence and tossed a firearm into a neighbor’s backyard. Sanchez had previously been convicted of a gun-related felony and was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm.
Sanchez, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm offenses. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed the 66-month prison sentence during a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“Gun trafficking perpetuates the cycle of violence in this city, which is overwhelmed with gun violence,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Steindorf argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s conduct in this case demonstrated not only a complete disregard for the law, but also had the potential to endanger the community.”
Disrupting illegal firearms trafficking is the focus of the Department of Justice’s Firearms Trafficking Strike Force. As part of the strike force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with ATF, CPD, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Illinois and across the country to help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms and identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes.
Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is also a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions to the most pressing violent crime problems in a community. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Lodge Grass woman admits to role in large methamphetamine trafficking ring centered on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine as part of large-scale, multi-state conspiracy that was based on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to a drug crime on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Sayra Longfox, 26, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Longfox faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 29. Longfox was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, federal law enforcement conducted a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations. Longfox is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation.
The government further alleged that several co-conspirators identified Longfox as selling meth on the Northern Cheyenne, Crow, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Indian reservations. After her arrest, Longfox told investigators that family members asked her to sell drugs beginning in the summer of 2022 and that she sold from her home at Spear Siding and on the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s reservations. She admitted to getting meth and cocaine from a codefendant, who obtained it from the Washington source of supply, and to obtaining meth and cocaine from the Washington source. Longfox also admitted to carrying a 9mm handgun for protection.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
XXX
Local Physician and Practice Agree to Pay over $2 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – James Aronovitz, D.O., and Michigan Ear Care PLLC have agreed to pay over $2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by charging the Medicare and Medicaid programs for services purportedly provided by Aronovitz, but actually rendered by physician assistants who Aronovitz did not properly supervise, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Under the settlement, Aronovitz and Michigan Ear Care will pay $2,003,800.91 to resolve allegations that Aronovitz submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid under his National Provider Identifier for ear care services provided by physician assistants in nursing facilities and home health settings, without Aronovitz providing the required supervision of the physician assistants. The State of Michigan will receive $65,993.20 of the settlement amount based on its share of alleged damages to the Medicaid program.
“Physicians are expected to submit accurate billing when charging the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This investigation and settlement demonstrate that our office continues to deploy the resources necessary to combat Medicare and Medicaid fraud in this district.”
“Ensuring providers adhere to supervision requirements and regulatory standards is crucial for safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs and the well-being of patients," said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. "HHS-OIG remains committed to promoting compliance and the prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs."
The civil investigation was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonny Zajac of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The investigation originated as a U.S. Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Strike Force investigation.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability.
Lexington Doctor Sentenced for Kickback ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington doctor, Dr. Amr Mohamed, 55, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 2 years in prison, for a kickback conspiracy.
Mohamed was a licensed physician with a specialty in nephrology practicing in Lexington and working for various telemedicine companies that arranged for physicians to prescribe a variety of medical equipment, topical creams, and genetic testing for Medicare beneficiaries. According to his plea agreement, from March 2018 and April 2019, Mohamed entered into an agreement with RediDoc, to provide the telehealth services, and to order medically unnecessary medical equipment, topical creams, and genetic testing, for which he received $20, on average, per beneficiary from RediDoc. The orders were unnecessary because Mohamed did not have a physician-patient relationship with the beneficiaries, did not use the results of the testing in his treatment, and because he was receiving a kickback for each beneficiary.
Between March 2018 and April 2019, Mohamed received $261,054 in kickbacks from RediDoc for ordering unnecessary medical equipment and services for more than seven thousand Medicare beneficiaries, and caused Medicare to pay $14,150,764.60 for medically unnecessary items. Mohamed was also ordered to pay $14,150,764.60 in restitution.
Under federal law, Mohamed must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
— END —
Lansing Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Tyrone Lekese Hooper, 25, of Lansing, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Hooper pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of firearms and one count of felon in possession of ammunition.
“Mr. Hooper is a serial offender who has brazenly defied the law,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “He has been caught with guns in his possession multiple times despite being a felon and prohibited from having them. Furthermore, his lawlessness put the lives of two young children in danger. My office will continue our efforts to keep guns out of the hands of felons, focused on those who drive violence in our communities.”
In June 2022, a two-year-old child found a gun in Hooper’s apartment and accidentally shot himself in the arm. Police found the gun used by the child, and two additional guns, in Hooper’s car. Five months later, in November 2022, a different two-year-old child found a different gun in Hooper’s apartment and accidentally shot himself. Both children survived.
In addition, police pulled over Hooper’s car in February 2023 and, after arresting him on an open warrant, found a pistol in the glove compartment and a pistol with a drum magazine (pictured above) in Hooper’s backpack in the backseat. Three months later, police pulled over Hooper’s car and found another gun in the glove compartment.
“I applaud U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his team for their diligence in addressing these criminals who believe they can live a criminal life with no consequences,” said Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee. “This is just one of many examples that hopefully show that criminals will be held accountable, and that Lansing is working hard with our federal partners to make the city a safer place.”
“It is deeply troubling to see the flagrant disregard for the law exhibited by habitual firearms offender Tyrone Hooper,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The consequences of such recklessness are evident in the tragic incidents where two young children have suffered due to the irresponsible actions of an individual who should not have possessed a firearm in the first place. I want to thank the East Lansing Police Department for their outstanding partnership. This investigation highlights the critical importance of law enforcement working together to enforce firearms regulations to prevent such senseless tragedies from recurring in our community.”
This case was investigated by the Lansing Police Department, the East Lansing Police Department, the Michigan State University Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and the FBI, and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Pulda.
###
KC Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing child pornography that depicted the sexual assault of a 3-year-old victim.
Michael Adden, 26, was charged in a 14-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 7. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Adden on April 18, 2024, and contains additional charges. Adden remains in federal detention without bond.
The federal indictment charges Adden with 10 counts of producing child pornography involving the child victim between Nov. 14, 2023, and Feb. 6, 2024. Adden is also charged with one count of attempting to produce child pornography, two counts of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the investigation began when law enforcement received multiple reports of Adden allegedly uploading child pornography to Snapchat, Kik, Discord, and Instagram. On April 11, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Adden’s residence. Officers found a cell phone in an unlocked safe in the living room, which allegedly contained hundreds of videos of child pornography, including videos of the sexual assault of the child victim.
Officers also found 20 more cell phones in Adden’s residence. Forensic analysis of Adden’s electronic devices is still ongoing, but initial reviews indicate Adden was in possession of thousands of files depicting child pornography.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Justice Department Secures Relief from Hyundai Capital America to Compensate Servicemembers Whose Federal Civil Rights Were ViolatedRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Hyundai Capital America has agreed to pay $333,941 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing 26 vehicles owned by servicemembers.
“Members of our Armed Forces should not have to worry about having their cars repossessed while they are in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing laws that safeguard the rights of our servicemembers so that they can devote their full energy and attention to the defense of our country.”
“We are fully committed to protecting the rights of servicemembers, who give so much to protecting our country,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Something as simple as a vehicle repossession can have a significant impact on a servicemember’s peace of mind as he or she deploys in defense of the United States. We will continue to enforce the rights of servicemembers so that they can perform their duties without having to worry about unlawful actions at home.”
The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service.
In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the department alleges that in June 2015, Navy Airman Jessica Johnson faxed Hyundai her enlistment orders with a statement that her vehicle could not be repossessed without a court order while she was on active duty service. On July 27, 2017, she told a Hyundai customer service agent that she was still in the military. Nevertheless, on or about July 30, 2017, Hyundai repossessed her 2014 Hyundai Elantra without a court order. In October 2017, Hyundai sold the car for $7,400. At the time, Navy Airman Johnson still owed $13,796 on the auto loan.
The complaint also alleges that between April 15, 2015, and May 21, 2023, Hyundai unlawfully repossessed 25 additional motor vehicles owned or leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers.
Under the consent order, Hyundai has agreed to pay $10,000 plus any lost equity to each servicemember whose vehicle was repossessed and a $74,941 payment to the United States. The consent order also requires Hyundai to repair the servicemembers’ credit, provide SCRA training to its employees and implement policies and procedures that comply with the SCRA.
Hyundai Capital America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor America and Kia America and one of the top10 captive auto-finance companies in the United States, providing indirect vehicle financing for retail and lease customers of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia dealerships nationwide.
The Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California jointly handled this case. Since 2011, the Justice Department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at www.legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Justice Department Secures Relief from Hyundai Capital America to Compensate Servicemembers Whose Civil Rights Were ViolatedRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department announced today that Hyundai Capital America has agreed to pay $333,941 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing 26 vehicles owned by servicemembers.
“We are fully committed to protecting the rights of servicemembers, who give so much to protecting our country,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Something as simple as a vehicle repossession can have a significant impact on a servicemember’s peace of mind as he or she deploys in defense of the United States. We will continue to enforce the rights of servicemembers so that they can perform their duties without having to worry about unlawful actions at home.”
“Members of our Armed Forces should not have to worry about having their cars repossessed while they are in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing laws that safeguard the rights of our servicemembers so that they can devote their full energy and attention to the defense of our country.”
The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service.
In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the department alleges that in June 2015, Navy Airman Jessica Johnson faxed Hyundai her enlistment orders with a statement that her vehicle could not be repossessed without a court order while she was on active duty service. On July 27, 2017, she told a Hyundai customer service agent that she was still in the military. Nevertheless, on or about July 30, 2017, Hyundai repossessed her 2014 Hyundai Elantra without a court order. In October 2017, Hyundai sold the car for $7,400. At the time, Navy Airman Johnson still owed $13,796 on the auto loan.
The complaint also alleges that between April 15, 2015, and May 21, 2023, Hyundai unlawfully repossessed 25 additional motor vehicles owned or leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers.
Under the consent order, Hyundai has agreed to pay $10,000 plus any lost equity to each servicemember whose vehicle was repossessed and a $74,941 payment to the United States. The consent order also requires Hyundai to repair the servicemembers’ credit, provide SCRA training to its employees and implement policies and procedures that comply with the SCRA.
Hyundai Capital America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor America and Kia America and one of the top10 captive auto-finance companies in the United States, providing indirect vehicle financing for retail and lease customers of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia dealerships nationwide.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Hikida of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section and attorneys from the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division handled this matter. Since 2011, the Justice Department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Springfield Clinic to Make its Online Services Accessible for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced today it has entered into a settlement agreement with the Springfield Clinic (Clinic) to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under the agreement, the Springfield Clinic must make its website, patient portals, and mobile applications accessible for patients with visual and manual impairments. Patients receiving medical care from the Clinic rely on its online services to access personal medical information, review test results, communicate with healthcare providers, and pay bills. The agreement requires the Clinic to conform its online services to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Version 2.1, Level AA. WCAG is a set of industry guidelines for making online information accessible to users with disabilities, particularly those with visual and manual impairments.
“People with disabilities must be able to access their personal medical information just like any other patient and without sacrificing their privacy or independence,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “We commend the Springfield Clinic’s cooperation and commitment to make its online services fully accessible. We encourage all healthcare providers in the Central District of Illinois to review their online services to ensure they are fully accessible.”
The settlement resolves an ADA complaint filed with the Department of Justice alleging that a patient with a visual impairment was unable to access their medical information online or pay a bill. According to the complaint, the patient had to call the Clinic and have personal medical information read over the phone. Without admitting to violating the ADA, the Clinic also agreed to a monetary payment to the complainant to fully resolve the matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant represented the government during the investigation and settlement process. The ADA requires that places of public accommodation like healthcare providers offer people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their services, programs, and activities. The settlement is part of the Civil Rights Division’s Tech Equity Initiative to combat disability discrimination that occurs through technology, such as in websites and mobile apps. For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 833-610-1264). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
Johnstown Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Trafficking Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and CrackRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 144 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Dwight Logan, 44.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Logan conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Further, in and around July 2021, Logan possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and methamphetamine. Logan was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Logan. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Jacksonville Gun Smugglers Sentenced to Six Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Antonio Jose Melean Reyes (29, Jacksonville) and Gabriel Daniel Pinnace (32, Jacksonville) each to six years in federal prison for smuggling firearms outside of the United States. On January 3, 2024, Reyes pleaded guilty to smuggling firearms from the United States and conspiring to use a facility of interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire. On January 17, 2024, Pinnace pleaded guilty to smuggling firearms from the United States and knowingly making a materially false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2021, Reyes and Pinnace attempted to smuggle 3 firearms and 57 rounds of ammunition from Jacksonville to Venezuela. Prior to that date, Reyes enlisted Pinnace to purchase the firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers with knowledge that the firearms would be sent to Venezuela. Pinnace purchased the firearms after falsifying ATF Forms 4473, which are required for all firearms purchases. After purchasing the firearms, Pinnace attempted to destroy the serial numbers on the firearms and provided them to Reyes, who then concealed the firearms and ammunition in a futon that he attempted to mail using a freight forwarding service. Employees from the freight forwarder observed the firearms during a routine x-ray of the parcel and contacted law enforcement. On May 22, 2021, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami seized the three firearms, which included a Glock 17 pistol and two Smith and Wesson M&P 15 rifles. Forensic technicians at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) restored the obliterated serial numbers, which allowed ATF agents in Jacksonville to trace the firearms back to Pinnace. On May 24, 2021, after learning law enforcement had seized the firearms, Pinnace reported the firearms as stolen.
Following Reyes’s arrest on unrelated state charges on August 11, 2023, federal agents from ATF, HSI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) searched Reyes’s cellphone and found conversations between Reyes and Pinnace discussing trafficking firearms to Venezuela. Agents also learned Reyes was involved in a murder-for-hire plot. Between July 12 and August 9, 2023, Reyes and others surveilled two intended victims at various locations around Jacksonville, including outside their home, to murder the victims over a $60,000 debt. Reyes had also asked Pinnace to hire a hitman for $15,000. Federal agents intervened and arrested Reyes on a criminal complaint.
On August 26, 2023, ATF, HSI and CBP agents conducted an undercover operation to purchase firearms directly from Pinnace. That morning, Pinnace met with an undercover agent and agreed to sell the agent three firearms. That afternoon, agents surveilled Pinnace as he drove to a gun store in Jacksonville, where he falsified another ATF Form 4473 and purchased two firearms. After leaving the gun store, Pinnace met with the undercover agent and sold the agent the three firearms and instructed the agent to destroy the serial numbers. Agents also arrested Pinnace on a criminal complaint.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.
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.
Indianapolis Resident Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Antranette Echols, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Echols prepared and submitted for borrowers falsified COVID-19 pandemic relief loan applications, for which she took a fee. Some of the borrowers were located in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for August 16, 2024. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Echols.
Hudson County Woman Charged with Six Burglaries of U.S. Post OfficesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, woman was arrested today for burglarizing two U.S. Post Offices on six occasions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Zyeama Johnson, 29, Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with six counts of burglary of a post office. Johnson appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Jan. 10, Jan. 13, Jan. 21, Jan. 26, and Feb. 3, 2023, Johnson broke into a post office in Hudson County. Johnson had previously been employed at the post office and terminated from her position. On each occasion, Johnson stole mail from the post office and loaded the stolen mail into her vehicle before driving off. On Feb. 7, 2023, Johnson broke into a second post office location and was arrested by law enforcement as she left the building.
Each count of burglary carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Officer of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Zuckier of the General Crimes in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
johnson.complaint.pdfHonduran cartel boat captain sentenced for trafficking tons of cocaine to the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in prison for moving prodigious amounts of cocaine bound for the United States.
Erasmo Avila Palacios, aka Nelsi Erasmo Avila or “Monstruo,” 49, was a prominent boat captain and long-time trusted associate of the Montes Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) based in Colón, Honduras, which distributed multi-metric-ton quantities of Colombian cocaine through Central America bound for the United States. Avila used go-fast vessels to move workers as well as cocaine for the DTO, and even received cocaine loads via airplane.
From 2010 to 2014, under the leadership of Noe Montes-Bobadilla, Avila averaged at least two go-fast-vessel shipments of cocaine per month, with each shipment consisting of approximately 500 to 900 kilograms of cocaine. Avila then curried shipments of millions of dollars in cash in the opposite direction.
After Noe Montes-Bobadilla’s arrest in 2017, the Montes DTO continued under new leadership. From 2017 to 2022, Avila became a trusted advisor for the DTO’s new leadership, providing maritime advice and helping to coordinate maritime cocaine shipments for the Montes DTO and consulting for other DTOs as well. Avila directed and advised several individuals on operating maritime vessels, plotting maritime coordinates to receive cocaine shipments to avoid detection and seizure, bribery of Honduran officials, and acts of violence towards suspected rival narcotraffickers in Honduras and elsewhere. During this time, Avila also managed a team of trusted workers who performed the hands-on jobs in the distribution of cocaine shipments. Honduran authorities intercepted three shipments of cocaine during this time, ranging from 1,500 to 2000 kilograms of cocaine, that Avila was involved in transporting.
After his October 2023 extradition from Honduras to the United States, Avila pled guilty on Feb. 6 to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for importation into the United States.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin S. Starr prosecuted the case.
Assistance in the investigation and prosecution was provided by the DEA’s Washington Division in coordination with the Honduran National Police and the Tegucigalpa Country Office. Local assistance was provided by the Virginia State Police, and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Avila’s arrest and extradition.
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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-16.