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2 May 2024
South Texas man arrested after attempting to purchase firearm with stolen bank heist fundsRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A 42-year-old resident of Laredo is in custody for allegedly committing bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Arturo Limon III has made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga. Originally arrested on related state charges, authorities have now transferred him to federal custody.
The criminal complaint, filed April 29, alleges Limon entered Falcon International Bank located at 10511 McPherson Road April 27. He allegedly approached the bank tellers, handed them an empty camouflage backpack and demanded they put money in it. The charges allege that during the robbery he said, “yes this is happening.”
Limon allegedly stole a large amount of cash from the teller’s drawer, exited through the main lobby entrance and drove away in blue Ford Mustang.
Authorities responded, reviewed bank surveillance footage and issued a “be on the lookout” for an individual matching Limon’s description, according to the complaint.
He allegedly entered the Arena Gun Club shortly after the robbery with a green camouflage backpack and attempted to purchase a firearm by handing the employee a large amount of cash. The charges allege he left the club while employees conducted the mandatory background checks. They alerted law enforcement due to his suspicious behavior, according to the complaint.
Authorities allegedly arrested Limon at his residence as he arrived driving a blue Mustang. At that time, they found marked currency in his vehicle and a green camouflage backpack, according to the charges.
If convicted, Limon faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Makens is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
South Portland Man Sentenced to Five Years on Gun and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Joshua Hopkins, 33, to 60 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Hopkins pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024.
According to court records, in April 2023, investigators located Hopkins, who had an active state arrest warrant, at a South Portland hotel. A search of a backpack Hopkins had been wearing revealed multiple scales, a single round of 7.62 mm x 39 mm ammunition, a blender that contained suspected fentanyl powder, smaller containers of additional suspected fentanyl powder, bags of suspected cocaine, and what appeared to be a substance used to “cut” drugs. Officers found a black Norinco SKS-style rifle in the vehicle. The round of ammunition in the backpack matched the caliber of the rifle. Hopkins is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; South Portland Police Department; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
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South Carolina Man Sentenced for Obstructing Justice in the Murder of a Black Transgender WomanRead the Press Release
A South Carolina man was sentenced today for obstructing an investigation into the December 2019 murder of a transgender woman.
Xavier Pinckney, 24, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for providing false and misleading information to state authorities investigating the murder of Dime Doe. He previously pleaded guilty on Oct 26, 2023.
“The defendant’s sentence is part of our effort to fully seek justice and accountability following the tragic murder of a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The message should be clear: The Justice Department will fully investigate and prosecute those who target the Black transgender community and that includes those who unlawfully obstruct investigations into these heinous crimes. We want the Black trans community to know that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, we reject transphobic-fueled violence, and that we will seek justice for victims and their families.”
“Pinckney’s obstruction delayed our investigation and delayed justice for Dime Doe,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Fortunately, Pinckney confessed his lies and his role in the coverup of her murder. This sentence underscores that no one who stands in the way of justice will go unpunished.”
“Pinckney’s obstructive actions delayed justice for Dime Doe and accountability for his co-defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “No matter the obstacle, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are poised to defend the rights and protections of all citizens, and those who engage in criminal activity will be met with the full weight of our investigative and prosecutorial power.”
According to court documents, Pinckney admitted that he concealed from the state authorities the use of his phone to call and text Doe the day of her murder, and he lied to state investigators about seeing his co-defendant, Daqua Ritter, on the morning of Doe’s murder. Ritter was convicted of a hate crime, firearms charge and obstruction of justice in a jury trial arising out of the Ritter’s murder of Doe. Ritter was the first defendant to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identity under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office and Allendale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Son of Leader of Rodriguez Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years for His Role in Large Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Ivan Rodriguez, Jr., age 29, of Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 120 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and to distribute fentanyl announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office. Rodriguez was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, pay a $200 special assessment and a $75,000 money judgment representing profits he earned as part of the drug conspiracy.
Ivan Rodriguez, Jr. is the son of Ivan Rodriguez, Sr., the head of the Rodriguez drug trafficking organization, an organization that distributed heroin, fentanyl and cocaine throughout the Utica, New York area. As part of his guilty plea Rodriguez, Jr. admitted that from at least June 2021 through October 2021, he conspired with Ivan Rodriguez, Eric Ares, Jose Aponte, Jose Morales, Bernabe Lopez, Angel Calderon Ortiz, Harry Rodriguez, Jr. and others to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and a mixture of fentanyl/heroin in and around Oneida County and elsewhere. Rodriguez, Jr. admitted that he, together with his father and Eric Ares arranged for the purchase, pickup and delivery of 3 kilograms of fentanyl and a mixture of fentanyl/heroin from a source of supply, which he and others acting on his behalf, re-distributed in the Utica, New York area. Rodriguez, Jr. also admitted to distributing a quantity of fentanyl to a co-conspirator.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Utica Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the City of Rome Police Department, United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE), the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Village of Yorkville Police Department, and the Village of Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.
Slidell Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER YARBROUGH (“YARBROUGH”), age 43, of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, for receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1).
According to court documents, the case against YARBROUGH stemmed from an online Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) investigation by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). On June 26, 2023, HSI special agents, along with members of the Slidell Police Department and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at YARBROUGH’s Slidell home. HSI agents arrested YARBROUGH during the search and charged him with receipt of CSAM. HSI’s investigation revealed YARBROUGH received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced YARBROUGH to one hundred eight (108) months imprisonment, followed by a five (5) year term of supervised release, $6,000.00 in restitution, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; the Slidell Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.
Sixty-Two Members of Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
Note: The release has been edited to reflect words that were omitted from the Attorney General’s quote.
On April 24, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 62 violent gang members from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations.
“Thanks to the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and our state and local partners, more than 60 alleged gang members have been charged and over $72 million in drugs have been seized in this operation,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs, and the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to dismantle the gangs that fuel violent crime and profit from poisoning our communities.”
“The allegations in today’s indictments tell a scary story about gang violence in these public housing communities,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “For all the innocent residents who are trying to raise healthy families in safe communities, law enforcement wants you to know that we are here for you. Living in public housing cannot, and should not, mean being subjected to an atmosphere of gun violence and drug dealing around you and your family. ATF’s number one priority is getting the worst criminals — the trigger pullers and drug dealers — off the streets. When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences. I want to commend all the ATF agents and our federal and local partners who worked tirelessly to make Arecibo and all of Puerto Rico a safer place.”
“The arrests in this case underscore the resolve of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and bring to justice violent criminals who threaten our communities,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle criminal organizations, hold gang members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”
“Through the relentless collaboration, between the DEA and ATF, state and federal partners have dealt significant blows to the violent drug trafficking organizations operating within the El Cotto public housing project,” said Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster of the DEA Detroit Field Office. “With over $72 million in street value narcotics seized and over 40 arrests made, our joint efforts underscore our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and safeguarding our communities.”
The indictment alleges that, from 2014 through the present, the defendants worked as part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed illegal drugs for significant financial gain and profit — including cocaine base (commonly known as crack), heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone (commonly known as Percocet), Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax), Clonazepam (commonly known as Klonopin), and Tramadol — all within 1,000 feet of the Ramón Marín Solá Public Housing Project (PHP), Trina Padilla de Sanz PHP, Manuel Zeno Gandía PHP, Bella Vista PHP, and La Meseta PHP, all five facilities owned by a public housing authority and collectively referred to as El Cotto. The charging documents further allege that the leaders of the DTO that operates within the five PHPs comprising El Cotto met regularly to discuss drug trafficking activities and prevent issues between the members of the organization. The goal of the DTO was to maintain control of the drug trafficking activities within their territory by the use of force, threats, violence, and intimidation.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including acting as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The defendants charged in the indictment are:
- Melquisedec Navarro-Lorenzo, also known as Melqui and La M
- Joel Caraballo-López, also known as Flaqui
- Luis Amezquita-Lorenzo, also known as Berto and Bethoven
- Reinaldo Ortiz-González, also known as Chiqui, Compi Rey, Rajao, and Viejo
- Alex Montalvo-Novoa, also known as Alex Chiquito
- Jonathan Joel Franco-Mercado, also known as Gancho
- Ivan Acosta-Rodríguez, also known as Luis Ivan Acosta Rodríguez, Luis Ivan Santiago Pérez, Ivan El Negro, Billy The Kid, and Wakala
- Albert De Jesús-Schelmety, also known as Macu and Macuco
- Renso Marcial-Rodríguez
- Josué Cedeño-Feliciano, also known as Camboya
- César Cardona-Mena, also known as Chivas
- Lydia M. Pagán-Arocho, also known as Tata
- Luis Méndez-Medina, also known as Tommy El Gago and Tommy El Loco
- Jonathan Robles-Maldonado, also known as Paramédico and Jonathan Paramédico
- Joseph Sanabria-Alequin, also known as Pitbull
- Yefrain Molina-Viruet, also known as Harry Potter
- Erick Juarbe-Rodríguez, also known as Erico
- Ramón Colón-Crespo, also known as Papito
- Jonathan Feliciano-Torres, also known as Duende
- Abdiel Yadiel Carrión-Rosado, also known as Gemelo
- Yadiel Abdiel Carrión-Rosado, also known as Gemelo
- Emmanuel Pérez-Rodríguez, also known as Manny, Manes, and El Duraco Del Castillo
- Obrian D. Mercado-Rivera
- Ashley J. Rodríguez-Pérez, also known as Chal and Char
- Jimar I. Álvarez-Maldonado, also known as Gordo
- Jimel J. Ortiz-Delgado, also known as Miky and La Jota
- Bryan Medina-Herrera, also known as Bryan Dialysis
- Rafael Valle-Delgado, also known as Rafa Valle
- Mitzuel Torres-Rivera
- Jan C. Cuevas-Correa
- Alexander Serrano-Colón, also known as Calle 13
- Joselito Rodríguez-Álvarez, also known as Bombili
- Ángel M. Felix-García, also known as Bully
- Ángel Cortés-Soto, also known as Ángel el Bizco
- Evans Y. Herrera-Quiñones, also known as El Enano
- Luis O. Valentin-Rivera, also known as Luis Paramédico, Paramédico Valentin, and Omar
- Jesús D. Rodríguez-Martínez, also known as Spock and Danny
- Héctor Y. Rodríguez-Miranda, also known as Negri/Negrito
- Michael Jordan-Lugo, also known as Jordan and Goldo
- Kenneth Medina-Velázquez, also known as Kenny
- Edgardo J. Ríos-Santana, also known as Coco
- Kelvin Hernández-Bonilla, also known as Yampi and Yapi
- Carlos Rodríguez-Herrera, also known as Carlitos and Hermano de Brian Dialysis
- Natanael Franco-Mercado, also known as Nata, Hermano de Gancho, and Cirilo
- Amisael Flores-Martínez, also known as Misa
- Giovanni Molina-Viruet, also known as Giovannie and Giovanny
- Alvin Y. Torres-Santiago, also known as Wisin and Yamil
- Emmanuel Serrano-Feliciano, also known as Nana
- Brandom L. Díaz-Navarro, also known as Brandon
- Joshua Vargas-Feliciano, also known as Buda
- Geovanell Mercado-Marrero, also known as Kiko
- Jorge Cintrón-Cordero, also known as Ogui
- Adonis J. Rosado-Serrano
- Jonathan Ayala-Torres, also known as Menor, Siete Pestes, and Jon
- José Santiago-Quiles, also known as Ewan
- Liuzkany Rivera-Arroyo, also known as Kany and Luzkany
- Adrián M. Lezca
- Kevin X. Pérez-Molina, also known as Chino
- Jair X. Galarza, also known as Marciano
- Shaquilomar Molina-Soto, also known as Shaquille
- Israel Rivera-Rivera, also known as Gemelo
- Dexie Marie Narpiel Nieves, also known as La Flaca, Depsi, and Petunia
If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Thirty-six of the above-listed defendants also face one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the firearms charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, to be served consecutively to any penalty imposed on the drug trafficking charges. Upon conviction, all defendants are subject to a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $72,868,600. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
ATF, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Arecibo Strike Force, and DEA investigated the case, with the collaboration of the FBI, USMS, Bayamón Municipal Police, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority, and Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro R. Casablanca and R. Vance Eaton for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sixth Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. VictimsRead the Press Release
A sixth Nigerian national pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly and vulnerable consumers across the United States.
According to court documents, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ezemma and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ezemma and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ezemma admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
“The Justice Department's Consumer Protection Branch will pursue, prosecute and secure the convictions of transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. I thank our law enforcement partners at the Postal Inspection Service, at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and abroad for their tireless efforts to find and arrest those responsible for these crimes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to bring to justice criminals who attempt to defraud U.S. victims.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long tradition of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “This guilty plea is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to protect our citizens from these scams.”
“Fraudsters like this individual proved to be unethical by ruthlessly targeting the elderly in the name of greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “This case like many others, demonstrates the power of agencies working together to protect senior citizens from thieves like this defendant.
On May 2, Ezemma pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Ezemma is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams on July 22. Ezemma faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. With Ezemma’s guilty plea today, all six defendants charged in the indictment have now been convicted for participating in this scheme.
Five other defendants have already been convicted and sentenced by Judge Williams in connection with this scheme. On Nov. 1, 2023, the court sentenced Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain, to 128 months in prison. On Oct. 20, 2023, Kennedy Ikponmwosa was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Three other defendants who were extradited from the United Kingdom also received prison sentences. Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham were sentenced to 82 months, 87 months and 90 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme.
USPIS, HSI and the Consumer Protection Branch are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and authorities from the UK, Spain and Portugal all provided critical assistance.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Six Alleged Members of Norwalk-Area Drug Trafficking Ring ArrestedRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh today announced that the following six individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking in and around Norwalk:
JOSE ORJUELA, aka “Hov,” 35, of Norwalk
KIMBERLY DELACRUZ, aka “K,” 29, of Norwalk
JELSON PEREZ, aka “Spank,” 41, of Norwalk
CHRISTOPHER POMPONI, 58, of Darien
DARRELL SANDERS, aka “Deezo,” 54, of Norwalk
ALEJANDRO MARTIN DE LOS SANTOS, aka “Marcelino Lopez,” 45, of NorwalkAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Norwalk Police Department identified Orjuela as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the Norwalk area. The investigation, which has included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Orjuela and others transported kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Texas and Ohio, and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin from New York City, and distributed the narcotics in and around Norwalk through a network of individuals, including Perez, Pomponi, and Sanders. At times, De Los Santos supplied the Orjuela organization with narcotics. Orjuela and his girlfriend, Delacruz, stored narcotics and drug proceeds at their Marlin Drive residence in Norwalk, and also used Pomponi’s Pine Brook Lane residence in Darien to store narcotics and drug proceeds, convert cocaine into crack cocaine, and package narcotics for street sale.
On April 29, 2024, Orjuela, Delacruz, Perez, Pomponi, Sanders and De Los Santos were arrested on federal criminal complaints charging each with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and use of a telephone to facilitate a narcotics trafficking felony. Pomponi is also charged with using or maintaining a drug-involved premises. Several additional individuals were arrested on related state charges.
In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple federal search warrants and seized approximately 15,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 350 grams of raw heroin, quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, a 9mm handgun and ammunition, and a 2021 Ford F-150.
Orjuela, Perez, Pomponi, Sanders, and De Los Santos are detained, and Delacruz is released on bond.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Norwalk Police Department, the Darien Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Kenneth L. Gresham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sex Offender Previously Convicted of Raping Two Children Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Possessing Thousands of Child Pornography FilesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A lifetime Level 2 sex offender previously convicted of child rape was sentenced today for possessing more than 5,000 files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Eric Robert Johnson, 51, of Billerica, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $38,000. On Jan. 29, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest in February 2022.
“Mr. Johnson is an extremely dangerous individual who has repeatedly demonstrated his predatory interest in children. He belongs in prison for a long time,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The victims of child pornography are not abstractions or objects – they are real kids who experienced sexual exploitation in order for these pictures or images to be distributed and possessed. Although today’s sentence cannot erase the ongoing pain endured by the victims from their traumatic abuse, the message about the severe consequences of possessing child pornography should be crystal clear.”
“This lifetime sex offender admitted to amassing thousands of images of babies, toddlers, and children suffering horrific sexual abuse, and today’s sentence reflects the severity and depravity of his crime,” said Jodi Cohen Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Those photos and videos represent unimaginable pain forced upon utterly vulnerable victims, some too young to walk or talk. It’s cases like this that drive the FBI and our partners, as we work to protect the children in our communities from predators like Eric Johnson.”
In early 2022, Johnson was identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. Searches of Johnson’s person and residence in February and March of 2022 resulted in the recovery of 25 electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and other electronic devices. Multiple hard drives were found hidden next to Johnson’s bed as well as hidden inside Johnson’s basement ceiling, shelves, cabinets and in an ammunition can located in a crawl space at the residence. At the time of the search, the laptop was running a program to wipe, delete or remove files from an attached hard drive and was approximately 56% complete before being disabled by an on-scene forensic examiner.
Also found at Johnson’s residence were two children’s backpacks from under his bed that contained various children’s clothing including bathing suits and a nightgown; a bag of children’s costumes; children’s diapers throughout; and at least three child-sized dolls each with the vaginal region sliced to make a hole. What appeared to be bodily fluids were found in at least two of the dolls.
A subsequent forensic examination revealed over 5,000 files depicting CSAM on seven of the seized devices, including images and video files depicting the sexual abuse and rape of minor victims as young as infants and toddlers. Many other disturbing items were also located on the devices, including images and videos of bestiality, photos of women’s deceased bodies, as well as videos of Johnson engaging in sexual acts with dolls. Further forensic examination determined that 15 of the seized devices were encrypted or had hardware and could not be searched.
Johnson was previously convicted in 1992 on state charges in New Hampshire of two counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault of a Child Under 13 Years of Age for his sexual abuse and rape of two minor victims who, at the time, were seven and eight-years-old.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, Luke A. Goldworm and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
San Diego Pharmacy Pays $350,000 for Mishandling Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 2, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Palm Care Pharmacy, a San Diego County pharmacy chain with a storefront in El Cajon, has paid $350,000 to resolve allegations that it diverted controlled substances, failed to keep necessary accounting records for controlled substances, and improperly sold pseudoephedrine chemical products.
The settlement arises from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation into suspected illegal activity at Talimi International, Inc. d/b/a Palm Care Pharmacy. Based on an inventory audit conducted by the DEA and other investigative activities, the government concluded that Palm Care Pharmacy’s El Cajon location committed multiple violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act from 2018 through 2022.
The government alleged that Palm Care Pharmacy failed to control its inventory of controlled substances, failed to maintain a complete record of controlled substances and the transactions, and sold listed chemical products (e.g., pseudoephedrine) without the necessary training and certification. Palm Care Pharmacy’s failure to control inventory resulted in unaccounted-for pills, including: opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, and tramadol), benzodiazepines (Xanax), and muscle relaxants (Soma). In addition to paying $350,000 to resolve the government’s claims, Palm Care Pharmacy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA requiring Palm Care Pharmacy to undertake additional measures to handle controlled substances properly and safely.
“Failure to manage inventory of controlled substances is not just a compliance issue, it’s a public safety issue,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Every untracked pill is a problem waiting to happen.”
“Accurate record keeping prevents controlled substances from ending up in the wrong hands,” said DEA Diversion Program Manager Rostant Farfan. “DEA will continue to hold registrants accountable to ensure they are operating within the closed system of distribution.”
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
To report a tip directly to a DEA representative regarding medical personnel writing suspicious opioid prescriptions and pharmacies dispensing large amounts of opioids, call (571) 324-6499 or visit the DEA’s website (https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/) and click on “Report Illicit Pharmaceutical Activities.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dylan M. Aste.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
San Antonio Man Threatened Turning Point USA Conference, Sentenced to 5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison for making a credible public threat targeting a mass populated event in Florida.
According to court documents, Alejandro Richard Velasquez Gomez, 20, posted a message on his public social media profile threatening a “day of retribution” at the Turning Point USA-hosted conference Student Action Summit. Velasquez had a ticket to the event, as well as a flight booked from Austin to Tampa, Florida, where the SAS conference was being held from July 22 to July 24, 2022. The U.S. Secret Service and Tampa Police Department were notified of the threat, which led to Tampa PD obtaining a warrant for Velasquez Gomez’s arrest. He pleaded guilty May 16, 2023, to the federal charge of interstate threatening communication.
In addition to targeting the SAS conference, Velasquez stalked and harassed a young woman for many months prior, continuing to do so even in pre-trial detention. Velasquez also attempted to obstruct the FBI’s investigation, using a group of minor girls to help him by deleting information from his online accounts and contacting witnesses to hide evidence and influence testimony.
“This man used social media to broadcast the message that he intended to travel across the country and carry out a violent act at an event catering to young political activists,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Fortunately, his post was reported to officials who intervened, and this case can serve as a reminder to everyone that, at all levels of law enforcement, we take threats of violence very seriously. Those who violate these laws risk prosecution and imprisonment.”
“American citizens deserve to be able to gather without worrying about threats of violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We’re grateful for the people who reported his threats to authorities and encourage others to contact the authorities if they see similar threats.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Stephenson prosecuted the case.
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Roy Erno Sentenced to 30 Months for Violation of Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 2, 2024, Roy-Anthony Erno, 36, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Erno previously pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm because of a prior felony conviction.
According to court records, On May 3, 2022, members of the South Burlington Police Department responded to a hotel following a report that an individual refused to leave a room. Law enforcement then encountered Erno who agreed to leave the room and admitted to investigators that he possessed a firearm in his backpack. Erno consented to a search of the bag and officers located a 9mm Smith & Wesson firearm in the backpack. Erno was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the South Burlington Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zachary Stendig. Erno was represented by Natasha Sen, Esq.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Repeat bank robber sentenced to federal prison for Waycross heistRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: A former Brooklyn, N.Y., man with prior bank robbery convictions has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for robbing a Waycross bank.
Matthew McCloskey, 34, of Waycross, was sentenced to 168 months in prison after pleading guilty to Bank Robbery, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker ordered that McCloskey’s sentence run concurrently with his state sentence on a kidnapping conviction related to the bank robbery, ordered him to pay $877 in restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Robbing a bank doesn’t just take money from a faceless institution; it terrorizes employees forced to comply with a robber’s frightening demands,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Matthew McCloskey is being held accountable for his criminal behavior.”
As described in court documents and testimony, McCloskey entered the Ameris Bank in Waycross on Sept. 9, 2022, and handed a note to the teller demanding money. After receiving cash, he ran to a waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
Waycross Police Department investigators located the getaway vehicle, and its owner admitted giving McCloskey a ride to the bank. Investigators learned that McCloskey and his girlfriend took a taxi to a local motel and used cash from the robbery to pay for the taxi. Officers took McCloskey into custody at the motel after a struggle that resulted in the kidnapping conviction on state charges when McCloskey refused to allow his girlfriend to leave their room.
McCloskey has two prior felony convictions for bank robbery in New York in 2013 and 2016.
“I sincerely appreciate the commendable efforts of Waycross Police Department officers, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office,” said Waycross Police Chief Tommy A. Cox Jr. “Our teamwork was paramount in bringing peace and closure to the victims of the crime.”
“By now, Matthew McCloskey should realize robbing a bank is not a winning proposition,” said Savannah Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Will Clarke of FBI Atlanta. “Those who choose to become involved in such a lifestyle should know that law enforcement at every level will work together tirelessly to bring them to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Waycross Police Department and FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner.
Registered Sex Offender from Sandisfield Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography and Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Sandisfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for possession of child pornography and possession of an unregistered firearm.
Brian Hohman, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In January 2024, Hohman pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of child pornography and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm.
During a search of Hohman’s residence in September 2023, a sawed-off shotgun not registered to Hohman and a laptop containing over 300 visually unique images, including at least two videos depicting child pornography were found. Hohman was subsequently arrested and detained on an unrelated matter. The investigation revealed that Hohman also possessed two cell phones and a SIM card containing child pornography.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Litchfield Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office in Connecticut. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Red Water Woman Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Red Water woman was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiring to possess over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, in May of 2021, Kelsy Ann Billie, 24, conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
In September of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Billie for her role in the distribution of methamphetamine. On January 8, 2024, Billie entered a plea of guilty to the charge.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who investigated the case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
RGV tax preparers convicted for $3M tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Three local sisters have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of filing fraudulent tax returns to the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Maria Lourdes Campos was the owner and operator of Campos Tax Service (CTS) located in the Rio Grande Valley for over 10 years. Employed at Campos Tax Service were Campos’s two sisters, Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo.
With the sisters’ assistance, most CTS clients fraudulently applied for and claimed either residential energy credits, business expenses or childcare credits. CTS employees did this to earn larger tax refunds for its clients. Once CTS employees completed the tax returns, they did not review the completed documents with their clients and only provided them with refund amounts or incomplete documents.
From 2018 to 2020, Campos Tax Service filed approximately 6,501 federal income tax returns which included over $5 million of residential energy credits.
The false and fraudulent filings between Campos, Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo resulted in a total sustained tax harm of $3,672,472.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 27. At that time, Campos and Elizabeth Romo face up to five years in federal prison while Gloria Romo faces up to three years in federal prison. Each also face a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
All were permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric D. Flores and Cahal P. McColgan are prosecuting the case.
Purported Member of the Cartier Family and Five Colombian Nationals Charged for Their Roles in International Money Laundering and Narcotics ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Kareem A. Carter, the Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging MAXIMILIEN DE HOOP CARTIER, LEONARDO DE JESUS ZULUAGA DUQUE, a/k/a “Rey,” ERICA MILENA LOPEZ ORTIZ, and FELIPE ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, a/k/a “Pepe,” with conspiring to commit money laundering based on their alleged participation in a network that laundered millions in Tether (a stablecoin connected to the U.S. dollar), which constituted the proceeds of drug trafficking, through the U.S. to Colombia. CARTIER is also charged with money laundering, bank fraud, engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from bank fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business based on CARTIER’s system of U.S.-based shell companies and bank accounts that he used to operate an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. In addition, the Superseding Indictment charges ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ALEXANDER EGIDIO AREIZA CEBALLOS, and ADRIAN FERNANDO AREIZA CEBALLOS with conspiring to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S.
CARTIER, who purports to be a direct descendant of the Cartier family known for luxury jewelry, was arrested on February 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida, and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida. ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS, and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS, all Colombian nationals, were taken into custody by Colombian authorities on April 30, 2024. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The charges brought today demonstrate this Office’s commitment to prosecuting international drug traffickers and piercing complicated money laundering networks seeking to exploit the U.S financial system. As alleged, Maximilien de Hoop Cartier, Leonardo de Jesus Zuluage Duque, Erica Milena Lopez Ortiz, and Felipe Estrada Echeverry were members of a network that laundered millions of dollars’ worth of drug trafficking proceeds using cryptocurrency and the U.S. financial system. Cartier is additionally alleged to have committed a series of financial offenses while working with this money laundering network that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unlawful transactions. I commend the efforts of our law enforcements partners and the career prosecutors from this Office who work tirelessly to investigate and disrupt these money laundering and drug trafficking networks. We will continue to relentlessly protect the U.S. financial system from exploitation.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Maximilien de Hoop Cartier and five Colombian nationals allegedly attempted to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine and laundered hundreds of millions of dollars – including revenue from drug trafficking operations – through an unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange to transfer illicit funds from the United States to Colombia. This alleged scheme illustrates advancements in criminals’ use of complex financial methods to conceal their profits and other nefarious activity from law enforcement. The FBI is committed to dismantling international criminal enterprises by disrupting the flow of illegal money and narcotics across our borders.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “Today’s announcement serves as a reminder that criminals do not fit a certain mold. While Maximilien de Hoop Cartier represents himself as a member of a family associated with wealth and luxury, he stands accused of executing a bank fraud scheme where hundreds of millions in criminal funds were laundered. Both here and in Colombia, he and his co-conspirators allegedly laundered drug-trafficking proceeds to the tune of over $14 million. I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and our law enforcement partners for relentlessly pursuing suspected criminals regardless of their names or whereabouts.”
IRS-CI Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter said: “IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to have provided its financial expertise in this investigation. CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively investigating individuals who engage in money laundering, tax fraud, and other financial crimes.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]
CARTIER, ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, and ESTRADA ECHEVERRY are members of a money laundering network that operates in the U.S. and Colombia, among other countries (the “Network”). The Network utilizes a system of money laundering brokers and shell companies in the U.S., Colombia, and elsewhere to, among other things, launder crime proceeds through the U.S. to Colombia. Between in or about May 2023 and November 2023, CARTIER, ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, and others used the Network to launder a total of approximately $14.5 million Tether derived directly from the proceeds of drug trafficking. In particular, ZULUAGA DUQUE, with the assistance of LOPEZ ORTIZ, coordinated and communicated with other members of the Network to convert drug proceeds into Tether to be sent to the U.S. where it was converted into fiat currency by CARTIER and delivered by wire transfers from the U.S. to shell companies in Colombia that were operated or maintained by ESTRADA ECHEVERRY and others.
CARTIER has been a member of the Network since at least about January 2020. As part of his role in the Network, CARTIER operated an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. Specifically, CARTIER operated and/or controlled several U.S.-based shell companies, including Bullpix Solutions LLC, Vintech Capital LLC, VC Innovated Technologies LLC, AZ Technologies LLC, Softmill LLC, and Sun Technologies LLC (the “Cartier Shell Companies”), and maintained multiple accounts for the Cartier Shell Companies at several U.S. financial institutions. In opening these bank accounts, CARTIER misrepresented the true nature of the business of the Cartier Shell Companies — i.e., CARTIER claimed to the banks that the Cartier Shell Companies were in the business of software or technology when, in fact, CARTIER was using the companies to operate as an unlicensed money remitting business related to the operation of a cryptocurrency exchange. From January 2020 to the present, CARTIER’s unlicensed money transmitting business executed hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unlawful transactions and laundered hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds, including drug trafficking proceeds with ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, and ESTRADA ECHEVERRY between about May and November 2023.
Finally, ZULUAGA DUQUE and LOPEZ ORTIZ conspired with ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. Specifically, in about November 2023, confidential sources, at the direction of law enforcement, coordinated with LOPEZ ORTIZ and ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS for the purchase of approximately nine kilograms of cocaine paste, which was to be manufactured into cocaine before being delivered to New York. For that purchase, ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS delivered the narcotics to an undercover officer and ZULUAGA DUQUE received a commission for helping to set up the deal. Additionally, in about February 2024, a confidential source, at the direction of law enforcement, arranged for the purchase of approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine paste from ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS. In anticipation of this deal, the Colombian National Police executed two search warrants and recovered approximately 111 kilograms of cocaine paste from ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS.
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CARTIER, 57, an Argentinian citizen who has resided France, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of bank fraud, which a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of operating of an unlicensed money remitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
ZULUAGA DUQUE, 61, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
LOPEZ ORTIZ, 42, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, 38, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS, 45, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS, 44, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Field Office, HSI’s New York El Dorado Task Force, and IRS-CI, Global Illicit Financial Team. Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Colombia; the Colombian National Police; the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; the U.S. Embassy Colombia; and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer N. Ong is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Project Safe Neighborhoods News for April 2024Read the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. At the core of PSN is setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announces the following actions in federal PSN cases.
Indictments
Billy Fobbs, 24, of Sacramento, was indicted on April 4, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on Sept. 28, 2023, Fobbs possessed 39 rounds of 300 caliber BLK ammunition. Fobbs is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has prior felony convictions, including convictions for evading a police officer, assault, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted domestic violence. This case is the product of an investigation by ATF, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau is prosecuting the case.
Jeremy Goodwin Jr., 22, of Fresno, was indicted on April 18, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on March 2, 2024, Goodwin was found in possession of a 9 mm gun and 9 mm ammunition. Goodwin is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has a prior felony conviction for carrying a loaded firearm in public. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Tionte Beard, 25, of Fresno, was indicted on April 18, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on Nov. 7, 2023, Beard possessed a handgun, an assault-style rifle, and several rounds of ammunition in his Fresno residence. Beard posted photographs of some of the firearms to his Instagram account. Beard is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because he has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of a firearm and domestic violence. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Monte Shepherd, 53, of Rio Linda, was indicted on April 11, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Jan. 27, 2024, Shepherd was found to be in possession of a stolen Ruger KP89 9 mm handgun. Shepherd has five prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Cárdenas is prosecuting the case.
The penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition is up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Guilty Plea
Sophondara Hun, 28, of Stockton, pleaded guilty on April 25, 2024, to being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a prowler at an apartment complex. The caller advised there was a man inside her apartment and that he possibly entered through a window. When officers arrived they saw an open window and observed Hun sleeping on a bed in the apartment. Officers arrested Hun and upon searching Hun, noticed a .22 caliber bullet on the ground in front of Hun’s leg. Two .22 caliber bullets were found in Hun’s pocket and an additional .22 caliber bullet on the ground in front of Hun. Hun is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he has multiple state felony convictions, including assault on a person with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon with force–possible great bodily injury, vandalism, and evading law enforcement in a vehicle. This case is the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and ATF, with assistance from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case. Hun is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta.
Sentencings
Michael David Punzal Jr., 41, of Fairfield, was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to three years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and 21 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release in a prior felon-in-possession case, for a total consecutive sentence of five years and three months in prison. According to court documents, in August 2022, Punzal was serving a term of supervised release for a prior federal felon in possession conviction. On August 30, 2022, a lawful search was executed at Punzal’s apartment in Fairfield. In it, law enforcement officers found a Model 22 Glock, .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number between the box spring and mattress in Punzal’s room. Punzal is prohibited from possessing firearms due to seven prior felony convictions. This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, ATF, and the San Francisco Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau prosecuted the case.
These cases are 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.
Poplar Bluff Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison After Being Caught Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a Poplar Bluff, Missouri man to 10 years in prison for repeatedly selling methamphetamine and another two years for violating his supervised release from for an earlier heroin distribution case.
Joshua E. Forbes, 31, sold meth to a member of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and sent other members of his conspiracy to sell the drug on six occasions between June and August of 2023. A total of about 450 grams of meth and 14 grams of cocaine were sold by the conspirators for $3,810.
Forbes was on supervised release at the time of the drug sales, having been convicted of three counts of heroin distribution in 2021.
Forbes pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Poplar Bluff Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 27 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 27 grams of methamphetamine.
Conel Lamont Holloway, 40, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, on November 2, 2018, Holloway sold 27 grams of methamphetamine to an individual for $700 in Picayune, Mississippi.
Holloway was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022. He pled guilty on November 29, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
Phoenix Police Officer Indicted and Ordered Detained for Child Pornography and Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Alaa Robert Bartley, 41, of Gilbert, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday for a series of child pornography-related offenses, including Attempted Production of Child Pornography; Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; and multiple counts of Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography. Also on Tuesday, a federal Magistrate Judge ordered that Bartley be detained in custody pending trial.
The indictment alleges that between August 2020 and August 2023, Bartley repeatedly exchanged digital images of child pornography. The indictment also alleges that in 2019, Bartley attempted to take sexually explicit images of a 15-year-old girl in a bathroom, and from December 2023 to April 2024, he used facilities of interstate commerce while attempting to induce another minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Attempted Production of Child Pornography carries a potential sentence of 15-30 years in prison; Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison; and each count of Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. All counts also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000 and up to a lifetime term of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution.
Bartley - IndictmentCASE NUMBER: CR 24-0749-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-057_BartleyPee Dee Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Tyquan Raheem Bellamy, 30, of Sellers, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 15, 2022, officers with Latta Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bellamy. As they approached the vehicle, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and noticed a trash bag between Bellamy’s feet. A search of the vehicle revealed that the trash bag contained approximately 25 grams of marijuana divided amongst several baggies. Officers also found in the car a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and two additional magazines, and pills which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Bellamy to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. 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.
This case was investigated by Latta Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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Pain Management Physician Sentenced for Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
An Ohio physician was sentenced today to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thomas Romano, 74, of Wheeling, West Virginia, owned and operated a self-named pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, to which individuals traveled hundreds of miles to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The prescriptions Romano issued for opioids and other controlled substances greatly exceeded recommended dosages and were in dangerous, life-threatening combinations that fueled the addiction of the individuals to whom he prescribed. Between October 2014 and September 2019, Romano prescribed over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, to nine individuals.
A federal jury convicted Romano in September 2023 of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio; Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division; Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated this case.
Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Danielle Sakowski and Counsel Alexis Gregorian of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Online Predator Who Enticed Minors to Create Child Pornography Sentenced to over a Quarter of a Century in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who convinced two minor females from other states to record and send him child pornography was sentenced April 30, 2024, to 28 years in federal prison.
Alex McClanahan, age 21, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of children.
In a plea agreement, McClanahan admitted that in 2022 he had sexually explicit conversations over Instagram with a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old. He also admitted that he requested or persuaded the 13‑year‑old to record herself performing sexually explicit conduct, and she complied. In November 2022, law enforcement officers seized McClanahan’s cell phone and found dozens of sexually explicit videos and photos depicting the 15‑year‑old involved in sexually explicit conduct. In all, investigators also found approximately 700 videos containing child pornography on McClanahan’s phone.
McClanahan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McClanahan was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $33,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in videos and photos he possessed. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
McClanahan 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 Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Norwood and Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑1010‑CJW‑MAR.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Operating an Illegal Gambling Business and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling business and two counts of money laundering associated with his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2022, Steven Saris owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World and Spin City. He also owned and operated such businesses in Springfield, Ohio, and throughout Florida. Saris concealed his involvement in these businesses by arranging for others to serve as nominee owners.
For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $8.5 million in income from his gambling businesses. During that time, Saris made only two nominal payments in 2018 when he filed an application for an extension of time to file his 2017 return. Saris used his proceeds from the illegal gambling businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio.
Saris’ conduct caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,823,391.
In July 2018, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple illegal gambling businesses and associated locations in Northeast Ohio. Following those search warrants, Saris made false statements to law enforcement. At the same time he was making false statements to law enforcement, Saris continued operating the illegal gambling businesses in Ohio and did not disclose these operations to law enforcement. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Saris’ residence and for his cell phone. Upon being told of the search warrant for his phone, Saris told law enforcement that he did not know the location of his cell phone. Law enforcement recovered Saris’ cell phone from the water tank of a bathroom toilet in Saris’ residence.
Sentencing for Saris is scheduled for Aug. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the counts of money laundering and five years in prison for both tax evasion and for operating an illegal gambling business. Saris also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Operating an Illegal Gambling Business and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling business and two counts of money laundering associated with his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2022, Steven Saris, 49, of Canton, Ohio, owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World and Spin City. He also owned and operated such businesses in Springfield, Ohio, and throughout Florida. Saris concealed his involvement in these businesses by arranging for others to serve as nominee owners.
For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $8.5 million in income from his gambling businesses. During that time, Saris made only two nominal payments in 2018 when he filed an application for an extension of time to file his 2017 return. Saris used his proceeds from the illegal gambling businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio.
Saris’ conduct caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,823,391.
In July 2018, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple illegal gambling businesses and associated locations in Northeast Ohio. Following those search warrants, Saris made false statements to law enforcement. At the same time he was making false statements to law enforcement, Saris continued operating the illegal gambling businesses in Ohio and did not disclose these operations to law enforcement. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Saris’ residence and for his cell phone. Upon being told of the search warrant for his phone, Saris told law enforcement that he did not know the location of his cell phone. Law enforcement recovered Saris’ cell phone from the water tank of a bathroom toilet in Saris’ residence.
Sentencing for Saris is scheduled for Aug. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the counts of money laundering and five years in prison for both tax evasion and for operating an illegal gambling business. Saris also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
North Charleston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Weapon ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Da’Shawn Marquis Richards, 25, of North Charleston, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Richards was wanted for murder and attempted murder Charleston County in November 2021. During his arrest on those charges, law enforcement officials found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in his vehicle. Later, on March 22, 2023, during another encounter with law enforcement while out on bond for the murder and attempted murder charges, officers searched his car again and located another loaded handgun.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Richards to 46 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This was the maximum sentence based on the applicable sentencing guideline range.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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North Carolina Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Hate Crimes Against Black and Hispanic MenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing hate crimes against a Black man and a Hispanic man.
Evidence at trial proved that Marian Hudak, 52, willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force because of their race and color.
“Racially-motivated acts of violence are abhorrent and unlawful, and have no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, who harbored the KKK flag and Nazi paraphernalia, carried out hate-fueled attacks on a Black man who was merely driving on a public street and a Hispanic man who simply was trying to live in his own home. The severe sentence imposed for these vicious hate crimes should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes wherever they occur in our country.”
“All people — regardless of the color of their skin or their nationality — are entitled to travel on public roads and enjoy their homes without fear of being threatened, harassed or intimidated,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a strong message that this type of violent, hateful conduct will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“For years Marian Hudak terrorized people of color living in one North Carolina city,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “They were afraid to drive down certain streets, fill their cars with gas, or even to take their children to the bus stop because of his intolerance for people who didn't look like him. There is no place for racial hatred-fueled violence in this country.”
Evidence at trial also proved that on Oct. 13, 2022, Hudak encountered J.S., a Black man he had never met before, while they were driving on a public road in Concord, North Carolina. Hudak shouted racial slurs at J.S., told him to “come here, boy,” then got out of his car, punched J.S.’ window multiple times, then chased J.S. home where he continued to shout racial slurs and threatened J.S. Additional trial witnesses testified about other times Hudak shouted slurs at, gave the middle finger to and drove aggressively near other minority motorists. They also testified about a KKK flag, a racist publication and Nazi memorabilia Hudak kept in his residence.
Evidence at trial also proved that on Nov. 27, 2021, Hudak shouted racially charged insults at his next-door neighbor, J.D., a Hispanic man who was enjoying his right to occupy a dwelling. Hudak then attacked J.D. by punching and tackling him, causing J.D. to suffer bodily injury. Other trial witnesses testified about Hudak’s history of social media posts disparaging Hispanic people generally and J.D.’s family specifically and other instances where Hudak intimidated Hispanic people, including by parking his truck outside of a Hispanic church during worship services and by using derogatory language.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Waid and JoAnna McFadden for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
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North Carolina Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Hate Crimes Against Black and Hispanic MenRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing hate crimes against a Black man and a Hispanic man.
Evidence at trial proved that Marian Hudak, 52, willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force because of their race and color.
“Racially-motivated acts of violence are abhorrent and unlawful, and have no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, who harbored the KKK flag and Nazi paraphernalia, carried out hate-fueled attacks on a Black man who was merely driving on a public street and a Hispanic man who simply was trying to live in his own home. The severe sentence imposed for these vicious hate crimes should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes wherever they occur in our country.”
“All people — regardless of the color of their skin or their nationality — are entitled to travel on public roads and enjoy their homes without fear of being threatened, harassed or intimidated,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a strong message that this type of violent, hateful conduct will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“For years Marian Hudak terrorized people of color living in one North Carolina city,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “They were afraid to drive down certain streets, fill their cars with gas, or even to take their children to the bus stop because of his intolerance for people who didn't look like him. There is no place for racial hatred-fueled violence in this country.”
Evidence at trial also proved that on Oct. 13, 2022, Hudak encountered J.S., a Black man he had never met before, while they were driving on a public road in Concord, North Carolina. Hudak shouted racial slurs at J.S., told him to “come here, boy,” then got out of his car, punched J.S.’ window multiple times, then chased J.S. home where he continued to shout racial slurs and threatened J.S. Additional trial witnesses testified about other times Hudak shouted slurs at, gave the middle finger to and drove aggressively near other minority motorists. They also testified about a KKK flag, a racist publication and Nazi memorabilia Hudak kept in his residence.
Evidence at trial also proved that on Nov. 27, 2021, Hudak shouted racially charged insults at his next-door neighbor, J.D., a Hispanic man who was enjoying his right to occupy a dwelling. Hudak then attacked J.D. by punching and tackling him, causing J.D. to suffer bodily injury. Other trial witnesses testified about Hudak’s history of social media posts disparaging Hispanic people generally and J.D.’s family specifically and other instances where Hudak intimidated Hispanic people, including by parking his truck outside of a Hispanic church during worship services and by using derogatory language.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Waid and JoAnna McFadden for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
North Carolina Man Charged with Mailing Antisemitic Threat Targeting Middle Georgia RabbiRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A North Carolina man is in custody and federally charged with allegedly mailing an antisemitic threat to a Middle Georgia Rabbi.
Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 31, of High Point, North Carolina, is charged with one count of mailing threatening communications. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on April 9 and was unsealed on May 2. Collazo Ramos was taken into custody at his High Point residence today; his initial appearance will occur in the Middle District of North Carolina at a time determined by the Court.
According to the indictment, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon received a threatening postcard at her home via the U.S. Postal Service on Feb. 1, 2024, allegedly from Collazo Ramos. On one side of the postcard, there was a handwritten message: "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code "GASTHEJEWS" for 10% off!" The reverse side of the postcard displayed a hand-drawn image depicting a purported Jewish male wearing a rat costume and the words “JEWS ARE RATS.”
If convicted, Collazo Ramos faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by FBI.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
North Carolina Man Charged with Mailing Antisemitic Threat Targeting Middle Georgia RabbiRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A North Carolina man is in custody and federally charged with allegedly mailing an antisemitic threat to a Middle Georgia Rabbi.
Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 31, of High Point, North Carolina, is charged with one count of mailing threatening communications. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on April 9 and was unsealed on May 2. Collazo Ramos was taken into custody at his High Point residence today; his initial appearance will occur in the Middle District of North Carolina at a time determined by the Court.
According to the indictment, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon received a threatening postcard at her home via the U.S. Postal Service on Feb. 1, 2024, allegedly from Collazo Ramos. On one side of the postcard, there was a handwritten message: "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code "GASTHEJEWS" for 10% off!" The reverse side of the postcard displayed a hand-drawn image depicting a purported Jewish male wearing a rat costume and the words “JEWS ARE RATS.”
If convicted, Collazo Ramos faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by FBI.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Nine Defendants Charged for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization Associated with Sex, Money, Murder Street GangRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Nine people have been charged for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Union County and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
Jerry Ross, 46, of Somerset, New Jersey; Joseph Ross, 42, of Rahway, New Jersey; Luis Delvalle, 41, Pernell White, 36, and Jaquay Bell, 35, all of Piscataway, New Jersey; Andre Gaddy, 31, of North Plainfield, New Jersey; Jacob Douglas, 42, Tarrell Strond, 42, and Tayeire Thomas, 26, all of Plainfield, New Jersey; are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Six of the defendants are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. Douglas, White and Thomas remain at large.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendants are all members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that operated an open-air narcotics market in and around the area of West 3rd Street in Plainfield, New Jersey. The organization is affiliated with, and the defendants are members and associates of, the Sex, Money, Murder criminal street gang, which is a set of the Bloods street gang. For several months, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions related to drug trafficking between and among the members or the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Daniel and Chief Harvey A. Barnwell; and officers of the Plainfield Police Department, under Director James Abney and Captain Brian Newman, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas, Port of New York/Newark; officers of Perth Amboy Police Department under the direction of Chief Lawrence Catano, and prosecutors with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice under the direction of New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Goldberg and Rachelle M. Navarro of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
rossetal.complaint.pdfNew Orleans Woman Charged with False Statements on an Individual Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANGELA SHELTON (“SHELTON”), age 57, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged with making false statements on an individual tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1).
According to yesterday’s one count bill of information, SHELTON willfully under-reported the gross receipts for her company, Big Easy Accommodations, LLC, by over $300,000.00 for the calendar year 2017 on her United States Individual Tax Return, Form 1040.
If convicted, SHELTON faces a maximum sentence of three (3) years of imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. Upon release from prison, SHELTON also faces a term of supervised release for up to one (1) year.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the work of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations on this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- DARNELL MELTON (‘MELTON”), age 27, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, MELTON has prior felony convictions for simple robbery, simple burglary, and attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. On March 28, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at MELTON’s shared residence. MELTON and three others were in the house but did not surrender for over an hour. When the house was searched, FBI found two AR-15 pistols and three handguns in the attic. MELTON possessed one of the handguns, a Glock Model 27 Gen4, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Car Stolen from Norfolk Southern RailyardRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- DERRIN RILEY (“RILEY”), age 29, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possessing a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D).
According to court documents, RILEY was captured on surveillance video occupying a Ford Explorer Timberline that had been stolen from the railyard a week earlier. On April 3, 2023, RILEY exited the stolen car with a large bag of marijuana, which he intended to distribute. Two other individuals riding in the stolen car with RILEY possessed firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Jersey Woman Charged with Stealing over $1 Million in Federal Retirement Benefits Intended for Deceased AuntRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey woman was indicted today for stealing over $1 million of federal benefits meant for her deceased aunt over a 25-year period, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 1998, Miller’s aunt died. Unaware of her death, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) paid approximately $1.01 million in retirement and survivor benefits to the bank account of Miller’s deceased aunt. By debit card, cash withdrawals, and forged checks made out to a company Miller controlled, Miller unlawfully disbursed virtually all of those embezzled funds. In 2022, to continue her unlawful receipt of the benefits, Miller, in a telephone conversation with an SSA employee, impersonated her deceased aunt and provided her aunt’s approximate birthdate. OPM and SSA discovered the fraud and discontinued the benefits in 2023, around 25 years after Miller began stealing those benefits.
The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of the greatest of either $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Paul Kimball, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Thypin-Bermeo of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
miller.indictment.pdfNevada Man Pleads Guilty to Using Art Appraisal to Conceal FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Nevada resident, MICHAEL JON SCHOFIELD, age 76, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
SCHOFIELD admitted that he concealed wire fraud by emailing an art appraisal that misrepresented his honest assessment of the appraised art’s value.
U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance scheduled sentencing for August 14, 2024. Misprision is punishable by up to three years imprisonment followed by up to one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mother and son duo charged in $1M elder fraud schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Houston resident has been arrested following her indictment in a fraud scheme with her son in which they allegedly tricked an elderly couple out of over $1 million, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Authorities have arrested Regina Lynn Thomas aka Nikki Laday. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo who ordered her into custody pending a detention hearing May 6.
Regina Thomas and her son Isaiah Thomas, 38, Houston, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 67 counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges Regina Thomas pretended to be a nurse and assisted a couple with caring for an elderly parent. The couple allegedly allowed her to live at their home while they were out of the country for work.
Regina Thomas then told the couple federal authorities wanted them in connection for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fraud and provided them with whom she claimed was an attorney, according to the charges. That individual was allegedly not a real attorney.
The indictment alleges the couple believed they were paying for the attorney’s services. However, the money was allegedly deposited into Isaiah Thomas’ account who shared the funds with his mother.
If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of the Elder Justice Initiative. Its goal is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Committing Armed Robbery and Discharging a Firearm During the CrimeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 21-year-old Jamarcus Dewayne Hatcher, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 360 months in prison for his role in a 2023-armed robbery.
According to his plea agreement and video evidence collected from the scene, on April 6, 2023, Hatcher entered a gas station in Hope Hull, Alabama and walked to the counter. Hatcher pulled a pistol out of his pocket and pointed it at the cashier, then told the cashier to “give me all the money.” After the cashier handed Hatcher the cash from the register, which was approximately $90, Hatcher demanded to know where the cameras were located. Hatcher then walked into the side office area and shot into a device that he believed to be the security DVR. Hatcher quickly exited the station and fled on foot.
On January 22, 2024, Hatcher pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. When pronouncing Hatcher’s sentence during the May 1, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge also considered five separate armed robberies or attempted armed robberies of gas station convenience stores and walk-up restaurants. These incidents occurred in March or April of 2023 and involved Hatcher.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer prosecuted the case.
Montana Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Through IdahoRead the Press Release
COEUR D'ALENE – Quinn Michael Brockman, 34, of Libby, Montana, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Brockman was pulled over in the Coeur d’Alene area while traveling through Idaho with over 216 grams of fentanyl pills that he had recently acquired in the Seattle area. Based on the quantity involved, law enforcement’s investigation, and Brockman’s own statements, the pills had been acquired for the purpose of reselling in Montana.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Brockman to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence. Brockman pleaded guilty in August 2023.
Fentanyl continues to plague communities throughout the country and these two cases are prime examples of its far-reaching effects. Addiction to fentanyl was a contributing factor behind both of these cases.
“I am grateful for our collaboration with ISP and all law enforcement in North Idaho to remove fentanyl dealers from our state,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together, we are committed to addressing the fentanyl problem affecting the health of our communities.”
“Our ongoing collaboration with the DEA Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is a testament to a joint commitment to community safety,” said Idaho State Police Captain Paul Berger of District 1. “These partnerships significantly amplify our effectiveness and underscore the critical importance of interagency cooperation in addressing our region’s complex challenges. By fortifying our ability to combat crime and upholding the law, we will continue achieving positive results and foster safer communities.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Idaho State Police for their investigation in this case.
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Mexican and Honduran Nationals Indicted for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of indictments charging Antonio Resendiz-Badillo (39, Mexico) and Erlin Maradiaga-Flores (30, Honduras) with aggravated identity theft, misuse of Social Security numbers, and making false statements regarding citizenship with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment. If convicted on all counts, each faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 2 years, up to 12 years, in federal prison.
According to the indictments, Resendiz-Badillo and Maradiaga-Flores misused the names and Social Security numbers of others and falsely claimed to be United States citizens with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray
Maryland Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison After Travelling to Florida to Attempt to Meet A Minor for Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced William Daniel Leonard (55, Maryland) to 20 years in federal prison for using the internet and his cellphone to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Leonard to forfeit a cellphone which was used to commit the offense. Leonard was found guilty after a two-day trial on October 12, 2023.
According to evidence and testimony introduced during the trial and sentencing hearing, Leonard reached out to an undercover agent who was posing online as the father of a 13-year-old daughter. Leonard expressed interest in meeting the “child” for sex and spent the next three weeks planning his trip from Maryland to Florida. During the same time that he was making plans to come to Florida, Leonard was talking to two other minors online, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl.
Leonard traveled to North Carolina on November 19, 2021, to see the 14-year-old girl after deciphering her address from a digital photograph that she had sent to Leonard. On December 7, 2021, Leonard arrived in Florida with two boxes of condoms to meet the notional 13-year-old girl, where he was met by law enforcement officers and arrested.
“This predator sought to betray the innocence of a child, and his sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Today's sentencing underscores HSI’s commitment to the relentless pursuit of those who threaten the safety and securing of our children.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie McNeff and Amanda Daniels.
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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Financial Advisor Sentenced to Three-And-A-Half Years in Federal Prison for Stealing an Elderly Client’s Life SavingsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On April 30, 2024, U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Eddy Ray Blizzard, age 45, of Havre de Grace, Maryland to 42 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Southeast Region Special Agent in Charge Edwin Bonano of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General. “Eddy Blizzard deserves every year he will spend behind bars. His cruel and calculated scheme went on for years and his brazen deception caused great harm to the victim and his family,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “The victim spent his life working diligently, saving for retirement, and building an inheritance for his loved ones. Blizzard not only stole a million dollars, but took away their security and peace of mind. The FBI will not stand idly by as fraudsters and cheats take advantage of our elderly citizens. We, along with our law enforcement partners, vow to identify, investigate and pursue those targeting vulnerable people in Maryland."
According to his plea agreement, Blizzard held several licenses that allowed him to operate as a registered broker and a registered investment adviser per the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). From 2003 to 2014, Blizzard was employed by a bank securities company (Bank 1) and from 2014 to 2017 he was employed by a bank investment services company (Bank 2), both in Maryland.
As detailed in the plea agreement’s statement of facts, victim R.M. was a resident of Maryland and had attended school through the ninth grade. R.M. was 75 years old in January 2020. Beginning in 1963, R.M. went to work for a Baltimore based commercial air-conditioning company, where he enjoyed a successful career installing commercial grade air conditioning units around the country. R.M.’s employer offered him supervisory positions at the company, but R.M. declined because he was not able to read or write. R.M. was able to continue as an air conditioning technician by memorizing facts and figures and conceptualizing things visually. R.M. routinely worked approximately 15 to 30 hours of overtime per week during his career to make extra money. In 2003, after approximately 40 years of service with the air conditioning company, R.M. took a buyout and retired. Six months later, R.M. decided to invest his retirement funds to provide an inheritance for his grandchildren. R.M. sought investment advice from Bank 1, where he had his depository accounts.
Blizzard began working at Bank 1 shortly after R.M. began investing there and became R.M.’s financial adviser. Blizzard admitted that in about 2005, he told R.M. that he “went out on his own” meaning that Blizzard began working as an independent financial advisor and asked R.M. if R.M. wanted to leave Bank 1 and use Blizzard as a full-time financial advisor. Blizzard told R.M. that it would be a while before he had his own office, but he would continue to work out of the Bank 1 branch in Catonsville, Maryland. However, Blizzard never went to work as an independent financial advisor.
According to the plea agreement, approximately once a month, R.M. would drive from his new home in Chester, Maryland on the Eastern Shore to meet with Blizzard at Bank 1 in Catonsville, approximately one hour away; however, R.M. and Blizzard would meet in Blizzard’s car, not the office. R.M. continued to meet with Blizzard in this way over several years. These meetings lasted 30 to 45 minutes and R.M. was never told why they were meeting in Blizzard’s car.
Blizzard admitted that after he became R.M.’s financial advisor, he began asking R.M. for signed blank checks. R.M. recalled giving Blizzard 15-20 signed blank checks. Blizzard filled in the remaining information to include the payee, the amount, the date, and detailed memo section, but R.M. did not know what the checks were for. When R.M. received the cancelled checks in the mail, he knew Blizzard had written them out because R.M. recognized Blizzard’s handwriting. Blizzard used these checks for personal purposes, and not for any benefit of R.M. On approximately 12 different instances, R.M. went to his local bank to withdraw cash and was told there was not enough money in the account. R.M. would then call Blizzard to let him know about the deficiency. Blizzard then told R.M. to wait a day or two and there would be funds in the account to withdraw. R.M. did not ask Blizzard why there were no funds in the account or how those funds were replenished.
During his years of investment with Blizzard, R.M. believed that his retirement funds were protected, meaning they would not lose value – a fact that Blizzard reiterated to R.M. many times. R.M. also believed that Blizzard was handling payment of R.M.’s mortgage.
As detailed in the plea, in August 2019, R.M. realized there was a problem. R.M. was preparing to go on a family vacation and attempted to withdraw $1,000 to $1,500 in cash from the local Bank 1 branch and was told there were not sufficient funds in the account. R.M. attempted to contact Blizzard on his cell phone for a week with no response. R.M. then went to Blizzard’s Perry Hall, Maryland residence to talk to Blizzard in person, knocking on the front and back doors of Blizzard’s residence. No one came to the door, but R.M. received a voicemail from Blizzard, while he was still at Blizzard’s home. In the voicemail, Blizzard stated that the neighbors had called him and were complaining about the banging on the door. Blizzard further explained that all of R.M.’s money was gone, and that Blizzard had attempted suicide at his parent’s Myrtle Beach, South Carolina home, and was being hospitalized.
On September 19, 2019, Blizzard sent an email to R.M.’s son in response to a message R.M.’s son had sent via social media to Blizzard’s wife inquiring about what happened to R.M.’s money. Blizzard told R.M.’s son that he had made some bad investments and felt terrible about failing R.M. and that is why Blizzard tried to end his life. As explained in his plea, Blizzard admitted that, in fact, he was never hospitalized and did not attempt suicide in South Carolina and that the reason R.M.’s account lost value was almost entirely because Blizzard withdrew R.M.’s funds, and deposited those funds into his own bank account, to use for his own purposes.
A review of R.M.’s depository and investment accounts showed that between January 2013 and August 2019 there were a total of 242 distributions totaling approximately $1.4 million from R.M.’s retirement accounts. Of those, 129 distributions totaling $1.2 million were specifically requested from R.M.’s retirement accounts instead of being regular systematic annuity payments. After taxes and fees were deducted from those requested payments, approximately $1 million was deposited into R.M.’s Bank 1 account. This review also revealed that from April 2016 to April 2019 Blizzard deposited approximately 112 checks drawn on R.M.’s account into various bank accounts at Bank 1 and elsewhere that were held by Blizzard jointly with his wife or individually. These checks totaled approximately $848,000 and were written to Blizzard or Blizzard’s wife. A review of these checks showed that almost all had comments written on the memo section indicating various purposes such as payment of property taxes, construction, boat payments, and down payments for a new house.
In addition, on at least three occasions Blizzard stole R.M.’s Social Security income, which was directly deposited into R.M.’s checking account. On each occasion, once the payment was deposited into R.M.’s account, a check in the amount of $1,200 or more, signed by R.M. and made payable to Eddy Blizzard, was deposited in Blizzard’s personal account. Also, in the fall of 2019, R.M.’s home was put into foreclosure because Blizzard failed to make the mortgage payments on R.M.’s home as he had promised. R.M. died on March 20, 2020.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the FHFA OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evelyn Lombardo Cusson and Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, who are prosecuting this case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help seniors, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/elder-justice-initiative.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs and Commercial Equipment LendersRead the Press Release
A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and to his role in a years-long scheme to defraud commercial equipment financing companies.
According to court documents, Andra Shirone Thompson, 47, of Silver Spring, joined a conspiracy to submit fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of companies he controlled, including Alpha Bravo Tango LLC., Senergy Consulting Group Inc., and Novus Ordo Seclorum LLC. As a result of the deceitful loan applications, Thompson fraudulently obtained $716,375. Thompson spent a portion of the proceeds on vehicles, including a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador, and on renovations to a home in North Carolina.
Thompson also joined a conspiracy to defraud equipment financing companies by submitting fraudulent invoices that falsely showed the sale of substantial quantities of computer servers and related equipment. Thompson and his co-conspirators caused borrowers to submit these invoices to lenders to support their applications for loans to purchase the items shown on the invoices. Once approved, the loan proceeds were deposited into accounts controlled by Thompson and his co-conspirators. Unbeknownst to the lenders, the sales evidenced by the invoices never occurred. Thompson and his co-conspirators typically “kicked back” a portion of the proceeds to the borrower who submitted the application and kept the rest for themselves. Thompson personally participated in three executions of this scheme that caused approximately $813,362 in fraudulently induced lending.
Thompson pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Erek Barron for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C., Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region; and Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.
IRS-CI, FDIC-OIG, SBA-OIG, and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney David A. Peters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wenner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Malachi Crockett Sentenced for Role in Violent Albuquerque Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Malachi Alan Crockett, 19, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in a violent crime spree that terrorized Albuquerque residents in the Spring of 2023.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to a series of violent carjackings that occurred in Southwest Albuquerque.
The first incident occurred around 5:33 PM, when Jane Doe 1 was carjacked at gunpoint by three male suspects, including two juveniles and Crockett. The suspects fled in the victim's white Nissan Sentra.
Approximately 10 minutes later, a second carjacking was reported near Westgate Community Park. Crockett and his accomplices, carjacked Jane Doe 2 at gunpoint, taking her Chevrolet Traverse. During this incident, the suspects also fired multiple shots at a witness, causing her to crash her vehicle.
Minutes later, the group attempted to carjack a couple, Jane Doe 3 and John Doe 1, near Carlos Rey Elementary school, but the victims were able to drive away.
The final carjacking occurred around 6:00 PM, when the group robbed Jane Doe 4 of her red Chevrolet Spark at gunpoint.
APD officers later spotted the stolen Spark and initiated a pursuit, which ended in a crash. Four male suspects, including Crockett and three juveniles, fled the vehicle. Crockett and one of the juveniles were apprehended on scene.
Crockett was found to be in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine. The handgun was fitted with a machine conversion device, commonly called an auto sear or “switch.”
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Natasha Moghadam prosecuted the case.
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Major Methamphetamine Trafficker in Burke County Is Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A major drug trafficker responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Burke County was sentenced to 25 years in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Gregory Travis Gowan, 53, of Morganton, N.C., was ordered to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison sentence.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to today’s sentencing hearing and documents filed with the court, in February 2022, law enforcement investigating Gowan’s drug trafficking activities executed search warrants at Gowan’s residence and vehicle in Burke County. Law enforcement seized over $100,000 from Gowan’s residence and vehicle, as well as a quantity of methamphetamine, and items consistent with drug distribution. Subsequently, law enforcement executed additional search warrants at Gowan’s garage and residence, and more drugs and cash were seized. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Gowan was responsible for trafficking more than 60 kilograms of methamphetamine in Burke County and was a major source of supply for local dealers.
On August 21, 2024, Gowan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gowan is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday to the robberies of three Worcester banks in April 2023.
Joselito Santiago-Matias, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and two counts of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024. Santiago-Matias was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
Santiago-Matias robbed a Santander Bank in Worcester on April 3, 2023; a Berkshire Bank in Worcester using a gun on April 12, 2023; and a Santander Bank in Worcester using a gun on April 19, 2023.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to up to 25 years, five years of supervised release and a fine 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Department Interim Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Rondale King, 44, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on May 2, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced King to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After King’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On four occasions in October of 2022, Rondale King sold meth to a cooperating individual working with law enforcement. In total, King sold over 5 ounces of meth.
King has a prior conviction for possession with intent to deliver meth from 2019. He faces increased penalties in federal court due to his prior drug conviction.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Leader of Massive Scheme to Traffic in Fraudulent and Counterfeit Cisco Networking Equipment Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Florida resident and dual citizen of the United States and Turkey was sentenced yesterday to six years and six months in prison for running an enormous operation over many years to traffic in fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Onur Aksoy, 40, of Miami, agreed to pay restitution of $100 million to Cisco and amounts to other victims that will be determined by the court at a later date, and to permit destruction of millions of dollars of counterfeit goods seized from his businesses.
“Aksoy sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit computer networking equipment that ended up in U.S. hospitals, schools, and highly sensitive military and other governmental systems, including platforms supporting sophisticated U.S. fighter jets and military aircraft,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals who flood the supply chain with low-quality networking equipment from China and Hong Kong harm U.S. businesses, pose serious health and safety risks, and compromise national security. This case—one of the largest counterfeit trademark cases ever prosecuted in the United States—demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment and capacity to prosecute the most complex counterfeiting schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“Through an elaborate, years-long scheme, Aksoy created and ran one of the largest counterfeit-trafficking operations ever,” said Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey. “His operation introduced tens of thousands of counterfeit and low-quality devices trafficked from China into the U.S. supply chain, jeopardizing both private-sector and public-sector users, including highly sensitive U.S. military applications like the support platforms of U.S. fighter jets and other military aircraft. Yesterday’s sentence, made possible by the investigation and prosecution of this office and our department and agency partners, now brings Aksoy to justice and holds him accountable for the breathtaking scale of his operation.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aksoy ran at least 19 companies formed in New Jersey and Florida, as well as approximately 15 Amazon storefronts and at least 10 eBay storefronts (collectively, the Pro Network Entities). The Pro Network Entities imported from suppliers in China and Hong Kong tens of thousands of low-quality, modified computer networking devices with counterfeit Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, and packaging, all bearing counterfeit trademarks registered and owned by Cisco that made the goods falsely appear to be new, genuine, and high-quality devices manufactured and authorized by Cisco. The devices had an estimated total retail value of hundreds of millions of dollars. The Pro Network Entities generated over $100 million in revenue from the scheme, and Aksoy personally received millions of dollars.
“Protecting the integrity of the supply chain for everyday consumers, government agencies, and our warfighters remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “My office and our partners will continue to work diligently to remove counterfeit products that adversely affect public health and safety from the stream of commerce and hold the offenders accountable.”
“Mr. Aksoy’s sentencing brings closure to his years-long, greed-driven scheme that wasted U.S. taxpayer dollars and degraded our nation’s military readiness when he and his companies knowingly defrauded the Department of Defense by introducing counterfeit products into its supply chain that routinely failed or did not work at all,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office. “In doing so, he sold counterfeit Cisco products to the DoD that were found on numerous military bases and in various systems, including but not limited to U.S. Air Force F-15 and U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft flight simulators.”
The devices the Pro Network Entities imported from China and Hong Kong were typically older, lower-model products—some of which had been sold or discarded—which Chinese counterfeiters then modified to appear to be genuine versions of new, enhanced, and more expensive Cisco devices. The Chinese counterfeiters often added pirated Cisco software and unauthorized, low-quality, or unreliable components—including components to circumvent technological measures added by Cisco to the software to check for software license compliance and to authenticate the hardware. Finally, to make the devices appear new, genuine, high-quality, and factory-sealed by Cisco, the Chinese counterfeiters added counterfeited Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, packaging, and other materials.
Fraudulent and counterfeit products sold by the Pro Network Entities suffered from numerous performance, functionality, and safety problems. The products often failed to operate or otherwise malfunctioned, causing significant damage to their users’ networks and operations. Customers of Aksoy’s devices included hospitals, schools, and government agencies. In addition, numerous counterfeit devices originating from the Pro Network Entities were discovered in highly sensitive governmental applications, such as classified information systems. The devices were also identified in combat and non-combat operations of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army, such as platforms supporting the F-15, F-18, and F-22 fighter jets, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft.
“This case should serve as a warning to those who attempt to sell counterfeit goods to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS is committed to safeguarding the Department of Navy acquisition programs that enhance fleet readiness.”
“Companies should be honest in their dealings with the government,” said Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson of the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG). “GSA-OIG special agents are committed to working with investigative partners to hold accountable fraudsters who sell counterfeit equipment to the United States.”
Between 2014 and 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized approximately 180 shipments of counterfeit Cisco devices that were sent to the Pro Network Entities from China and Hong Kong. Aksoy responded to some of these seizures by falsely submitting official paperwork to CBP under the alias “Dave Durden,” an identity that he used to communicate with Chinese co-conspirators. To try to avoid CBP scrutiny, Chinese co-conspirators broke the shipments up into smaller parcels sent on different days, and Aksoy used fake delivery addresses in Ohio.
Between 2014 and 2019, Cisco sent seven letters to Aksoy asking him to cease and desist his trafficking of counterfeit goods. Aksoy responded to at least two of these letters by causing his attorney to provide Cisco with forged documents. In July 2021, agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy’s warehouse that led to the seizure of approximately 1,156 counterfeit Cisco devices with a retail value of over $7 million.
Aksoy pleaded guilty in June 2023 to conspiring with others to traffic in counterfeit goods and to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
HSI, DCIS, NCIS, GSA-OIG, and CBP investigated the case. The CBP’s Electronics Center of Excellence, Los Angeles National Targeting and Analysis Center, and Office of Trade, Regulatory Audit and Agency Advisory Services, Miami Field Office provided valuable assistance.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
Laurel Man Sentenced to Almost 6 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Laurel man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Danny Ray Cole, 46, was caught distributing pills to a buyer that contained 12.46 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that defendant had additional amounts of drugs in his possession.
Cole was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023, and pled guilty on December 12, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen 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.