District of Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. – Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Natale, of Laurel, Delaware, was sentenced yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for his crime of possessing child sexual abuse material. The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge, issued the sentence.

In October 2024, Mr. Natale plead guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The case against Mr. Natale arose from conversations he was having online with another individual on the instant messaging platform “Kik.” Mr. Natale and the other individual exchanged graphic videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, to include the sexual abuse of the other individual’s own young son. That individual was arrested and a search of her Kik account led to the identification of Mr. Natale.

Today, Chief Judge Connolly sentenced Mr. Natale to 10 years of imprisonment. This sentence is the mandatory minimum sentence Mr. Natale must serve because he has a prior conviction in the State of Delaware for dealing in child pornography.

Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson stated, “Our office has always been dedicated to the protection of Delaware’s most vulnerable community members, the children. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit children for their own twisted satisfaction, especially those who refuse to change their behavior after previous convictions. I commend the FBI’s dedication and collaboration across districts in bringing this case, and that of Mr. Natale’s co-conspirator, to justice.”

“Natale posed a significant threat to children as demonstrated by his repeated perverse and sick exploitation. Even in the darkest corners of the internet, the FBI will find a way to seek justice for our children and stop the monsters who threaten their innocence and sense of security,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

Wilmington, Del. – Two men, the former Chief and Captain of the Bethany Beach Police Department, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud related to their theft of overtime funds from the Department, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson. The Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the pleas.

According to court documents, Michael Redmon, 58, of Selbyville, and Darin Cathell, 49, of Frankford, spent years claiming to work overtime shifts that they did not, in fact, work.  Redmon, the former Chief of the Department, falsely claimed at least 174 shifts, totaling at least 760 hours and at least $81,890.  Cathell, the former second-in-command of the Department, falsely claimed at least 185 shifts, totaling at least 800 hours and at least $67,970.  Some of the funds Redmon and Cathell received were federal grant funds. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson stated, “Taking the oath to protect and serve is a sacred trust.  Those that take the oath must follow the law themselves.  These officers failed to do that, thereby damaging public trust and confidence in law enforcement as a whole, including the scores of officers who do the right thing each and every day.  Just as my Office will always proudly stand with the best of law enforcement, we will not hesitate to hold to account those officers who betray the badge by breaking the law.  We thank both the FBI and the investigators at the Delaware Attorney General’s Office, who have been dogged in investigating this abuse of authority.” 

"The defendants profited handsomely by abusing their positions and taking advantage of the trust placed in law enforcement. The FBI is committed to rooting out corruption and holding bad actors accountable for violating the oath they swore to uphold,” said FBI Baltimore SAC William J. DelBagno.

“Nobody is above the law or beneath justice. Police officers — and especially police leaders — who commit crimes of dishonesty are not just harming the community and taxpayers they serve; they harm every peace officer and every public servant whose work and reputation are undermined when the public’s trust is violated. I’m grateful to the investigators in our office and to the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who took on this case and who brought these officials to justice,” said Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings.

Redmon and Cathell each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and both are scheduled for sentencing on August 12, 2025.  Chief Judge Connolly will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 25-CR-01-CFC and 25-CR-02-CFC.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Melvin Janvier, 37, of Newark, Delaware was sentenced on January 23, 2025, to 135 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced Shannon T. Hanson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.  Following his time in prison, he will spend 15 years on federal supervised release.  U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Unit, with the assistance of State of Delaware Probation and Parole, arrested Janvier after an FBI Child Exploitation Task Force investigation indicated Janvier was in possession of and sending CSAM from Janvier’s cellphone through the Internet in July 2021. 

Law enforcement later found over 2,000 files containing CSAM on Janvier’s phone.  The files found on the device included images and videos of prepubescent minors, to include infants and toddlers, and materials portraying bondage and bestiality.  Janvier had previously been convicted in 2016 in the State of Delaware for possession of and dealing in CSAM and served four years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson stated, “Our office is committed to protecting children and prosecuting those engaged in the sexual exploitation of minors through the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.  I wish to thank the FBI and our Delaware law enforcement partners who tirelessly pursed this case.”

"There is nothing that can excuse Melvin Janvier’s sick behavior. Every one of the more than 2,000 images he possessed re-victimizes a child," said FBI Baltimore SAC William J. DelBagno. "FBI Baltimore’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force is committed to putting predators like Janvier behind bars where they can no longer hurt others."

The FBI Baltimore Field Office, with the assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office and the State of Delaware Probation and Parole, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and Briana Knox prosecuted the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-78-MN.

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 U.S. Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A Delaware man pleaded guilty today in connection with his participation in a widespread international sextortion and money laundering scheme.

According to court documents, from May 2020 and through December 2022, Mohamed Diarra, 33, of Wilmington, participated in an international, financially motivated sextortion and money laundering scheme. Financially motivated sextortion refers to the practice of fraudulently obtaining a victim’s sexual photographs or videos, threatening to distribute the victim’s sexual material to others, and demanding that the victim pay money to avoid the threatened distribution. Diarra conspired with co-conspirators in Côte d’Ivoire who sextorted victims and utilized a network of Delaware-based “money mules,” including Diarra, to assist with laundering the victims’ illegally obtained funds. As a “money mule” for the conspiracy, Diarra collected victims’ funds into his own financial accounts, including accounts with peer-to-peer (P2P) payment transfer services and into financial accounts in others’ names which he controlled. Diarra also provided other co-conspirators with access to his accounts and recruited other individuals to serve as money mules to receive and transfer funds at his direction. Diarra and his co-conspirators used a variety of methods to collect and “cash out” the victims’ funds, including by receiving funds into the money mules’ P2P accounts they controlled, transferring funds to linked U.S. bank accounts, withdrawing the funds as cash, or transferring them to other money mule co-conspirators. Diarra and his co-conspirators also used a variety of methods to further transfer the victims’ funds, after they had been converted to cash or goods, to co-conspirators and others who were located in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere overseas.

Diarra pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date, when 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 Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss for the District of Delaware; and Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the government of Côte d’Ivoire.

Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox for the District of Delaware are prosecuting the case.

If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additional resources can found at Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI. For more information about a related financially motivated sextortion case and if you believe you are a victim in this particular case, please also visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-hadja-fanta-kone-siaka-ouattara-sidi-diakite-almamy-moustapha-diaby.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kimon Burton-Roberson, age 31 of Wilmington, Delaware, pleaded guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, which resulted in the death of a Wilmington resident.  The Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the plea.

According to court documents, in the early hours of July 21, 2021, Mr. Burton-Roberson and co-conspirators, entered a residence in Wilmington, Delaware where they knew their victim to be staying.  Mr. Burton-Roberson and others beat the victim with a blunt object until the victim was bleeding, tying the victim’s hands together with zip ties.  Mr. Burton-Roberson and others then forcibly removed the victim from the residence, placed the victim into Mr. Burton-Roberson’s car, and drove the victim across state lines into Pennsylvania.  Members of the conspiracy shot the victim in the head, leaving the victim’s body in an industrial park in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Burton-Roberson will be sentenced on April 24, 2025.  He faces a sentence of up to life in prison.  Chief Judge Connolly will determine his sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “By working together across jurisdictions, federal and local law enforcement identified the perpetrator of this heinous crime and brought him to justice.  We are proud of the tireless, cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners.”

"The Yeadon Police Department is pleased to have greatly assisted in bringing this fugitive to justice, which brings closure to this sad, epic story that had unfortunately ended up in Yeadon.  We are pleased to be able to work together with our federal partners in the FBI, Department of Justice and regional authorities including our Delaware County DA's Office as well as neighboring boroughs, in bringing this matter to a close.  This illustrates how cooperation between law enforcement partners can serve to the benefit of all concerned citizens."

"Crimes like these, in which actors perpetrate offenses across jurisdictional boundaries, underscore the critical importance of our strong partnerships with our partner law enforcement agencies," said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. "It is our hope that the charges in this case, and now this guilty plea, will bring some measure of comfort to the family of the victim in this case."

"With this plea, Burton-Roberson is being held accountable for the horrific murder and cruel disregard he showed his victim. This type of violence is intolerable," said FBI Baltimore SAC William J. DelBagno. "The FBI's Wilmington Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force works every day to make our community safer by removing violent criminals like Burton-Roberson from our streets. We are proud of the partnerships and dedication shown by all agencies to bring justice in this case."

This investigation involved close collaboration between the FBI, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Wilmington Department of Police and Delaware Probation and Parole.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce, Michelle L. Morgan, and Benjamin L. Wallace are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-17-1-CFC.

Wilmington, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that the University of Delaware (UD), located in Newark, Delaware, has agreed to pay $715,580 to resolve civil allegations that it failed to disclose a UD professor’s affiliations with and support from the government of the People’s Republic of China in connection with federal research funding.

This settlement relates to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant that was issued to UD in June 2020.  Since 2011, federal law has prohibited NASA from using funds to collaborate with China or any Chinese-owned companies.  The settlement resolves allegations that UD caused NASA to violate this law by failing to disclose that one of the principal investigators on the grant was affiliated with the Chinese government through: (1) employment at a Chinese university; (2) participation in a program established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with knowledge or access to foreign technology intellectual property; and (3) a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 

“Federal law requires universities, institutions, and researchers to make disclosures, including certain foreign affiliations, when applying for grants so that the granting agencies can assess whether to fund their research and development,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss.  “My office will hold accountable applicants who undermine the integrity of the federal grant process by knowingly failing to submit complete and truthful applications.”

“NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is dedicated to identifying and aggressively pursuing individuals who conceal affiliations with foreign entities and undermine the integrity of our academic system to obtain research funding,” said Adelle K. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Field Office, NASA OIG.  “We commend the exceptional investigative efforts of our agents, and the work of the USAO for the District of Delaware that resulted in this settlement.  Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to safeguard taxpayer funds that are intended for federal research and development programs.”

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware and NASA-OIG.  This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shamoor Anis and Claudia L. Pare for the District of Delaware.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Pierre Charles Moise, age 57, of Apopka, Florida, pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to concealing from insurance companies the fact that he paid patients to attend his chiropractic clinic.  The Honorable U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the plea.

According to court documents, Moise owned and operated the Wellness Health Center (“WHC”), a chiropractic clinic, in Milford, Delaware.  Between at least January 2019 and March 2022, Moise, himself and through others, paid patients who had been in recent car accidents to attend treatment sessions at the WHC irrespective of whether that treatment was needed.  At his instruction, WHC employees then submitted claims for reimbursement to insurance companies, who, under Delaware’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) law, were obligated to pay WHC for that treatment.  Moise and WHC received over $630,000 from insurance companies as a result of that fraud scheme.

Moise pleaded guilty to making a false statement relating to health care matters and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Moise defrauded insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of Delaware’s PIP laws.  Those laws are designed to help put injured individuals back on their feet, not to enrich criminal actors.  My office is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in such criminal schemes that hurt all Delawareans by increasing insurance costs for everyone.”

“Moise’s business model revolved around defrauding automobile insurers. Instead of operating a legitimate chiropractic clinic, he actively sought patients who did not need treatment, paying them to visit his office unnecessarily and then filing fraudulent claims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure those who engage in such deceptive actions are held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency with assistance from investigators with the Delaware Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger, Meredith C. Ruggles, and Shamoor Anis are prosecuting the case.

Wilmington, Del. – On November 14, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment charging nine Georgia residents with conspiracy to commit money laundering and related offenses, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, David C. Weiss, announced today. 

Defendant

Charges

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
• Eight counts of money laundering
• One count of wire fraud
• One count of attempted Hobbs Act extortion

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
• Three counts of money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
• Three counts of money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
• Two counts of money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering

• One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering

According to the Superseding Indictment, from about September 2021 through at least May 2024, while incarcerated in Georgia, Hasuan perpetrated fraud schemes against the family and friends of his fellow inmates.  Hasuan induced his victims to transfer money and property for his own personal benefit and for the benefit of others by, among other things, falsely promising to provide legal assistance, physical protection, and investment opportunities.  Hasuan ultimately defrauded his victims out of millions of dollars, including one Delaware resident who transferred money and property valued at more than $3.5 million.  Hasuan then conspired with a network of money mules to launder the proceeds of his fraud schemes through various financial transactions, including the purchase of real property, mobile homes, and automobiles.  The defendants also funneled the fraud proceeds through a car rental company doing business in the name of “One Way Auto.”

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “While incarcerated, Mr. Husuan orchestrated an illegal scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. Working with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to prioritize prosecuting individuals who choose to continue to disregard the rule of law. I commend the FBI for their work in investigating this case.”

The FBI’s Wilmington Resident Agency is investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith C. Ruggles and Claudia L. Pare are assigned to prosecute this case.

The U.S Attorney’s Office and the FBI are seeking to identify additional victims of Asaad Amir Hasuan a/k/a “Dante Fredrick.”  If you, your family member, or anyone that you know had contact with Hasuan and would like to provide additional information, please contact the FBI at Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Michael Natale, age 38 of Laurel, Delaware, pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024, in the U.S.  District Court for the District of Delaware to possessing child sexual abuse material. The Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the plea.

According to court documents, between August 21 – August 24, 2021, Mr. Natale received 12 videos and one image file depicting child pornography, and he sent six video files and one image to another user on the social media platform known as Kik. All of the files contained child pornography. The other user was also arrested by the FBI in Newark, New Jersey.

Mr. Natale will be sentenced on February 27, 2025. Because he has a previous conviction related to child pornography offenses, Natale faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Chief Judge Connolly will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “My office takes child exploitation offenses very seriously.  Mr. Natale had an opportunity to learn his lesson and conform his behavior to the law after his first conviction. He failed to do so and is now subject to a substantial prison sentence. I commend the FBI’s diligence in apprehending this repeat offender against our most vulnerable community members: children.”

“Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet, it re-victimizes a child,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that protecting children from predators like Natale is a top priority. The FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who exploits and targets children.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching Case No. 1:23-cr-34.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a federal jury convicted a West Chester, Pennsylvania man on October 24, 2024, on charges of Mail, Wire and Tax Fraud. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika accepted the verdict and detained the defendant pending sentencing at the government’s request.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Robert Higgins, age 69, owned and operated First State Depository, a precious metals depository located in Wilmington, Delaware.  First State Depository held over $100 million in customer assets, primarily in the form of gold and silver bars and coins.  According to evidence presented at the trial, Higgins diverted customer assets to pay debts and finance his personal life, including two timeshares in Hawaii and luxury vacations. First State Depository’s records indicated that at least $58 million worth of customer assets had been misappropriated.  Industry sources generally agree that this is the largest theft from a precious metals depository in U.S. history.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The jury found that Mr. Higgins defrauded his customers by repeatedly lying to and stealing from them over a 10-year period.  Mr. Higgins used his customers’ gold and silver as if their precious metals were his own, and at the same time failed to declare and pay his fair share of taxes on his income.  By the end of his scheme, over $50 million in customers’ precious metals was gone.  In some instances, victims lost their entire hard-earned life savings because of Mr. Higgins’ theft and fraud. I want to commend the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) for working tirelessly to bring Mr. Higgins to justice.”

“The level of deceit and greed revealed by this investigation is staggering. With his conviction, Robert Higgins will now be held accountable for the lies he told and the millions he stole from swindling his customers,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “The FBI and our partners at the United States Attorney's Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Division remain steadfast in our commitment to combating corruption and making sure criminals like Higgins are brought to justice.”

“Anyone contemplating cheating on their taxes should know that IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents work tirelessly, year-round, to investigate tax and financial crimes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Amy MacNeely.  "Our largest enforcement program is directed at the portion of American taxpayers who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty of filing and paying their taxes."

Higgins faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the wire and mail fraud charges and 5 years on each tax fraud charge A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Ibrahim, Edmond Falgowski, and Bryan Williamson are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-44.

Wilmington, Del. – Alfred E. Daking, Jr., an 81-year-old former Delaware resident currently serving a federal prison sentence in an unrelated case, was charged on October 22, 2024, with possession of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.   

According to the indictment, on an unknown date, Daking buried material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his parents’ then backyard in New Castle County, Delaware.  Later, while serving a sentence in federal prison on an unrelated case, Daking told a fellow inmate that he had buried an ammunition can containing video footage in his parents’ backyard.  Daking also gave that inmate a hand-drawn map of the backyard depicting the location that the ammunition can was buried on the property.  Per the hand-drawn map, law enforcement searched and located an ammunition can buried underground.  Both the ammunition can, and its contents were wrapped in plastic. Inside the can, law enforcement found three videocassettes and an 8mm film containing CSAM. One of the videocassettes contained a latent fingerprint that matched Daking.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “For years the defendant hid evidence of his victimization of children.  Today’s indictment demonstrates the commitment of my office, and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from predatory individuals like this defendant.  We will never stop working to uncover evidence of sexual exploitation and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.”

The FBI investigated this case, with the assistance of New Castle County Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are assigned to prosecute this case.

The U.S Attorney’s Office and the FBI are seeking to identify additional victims of Daking’s.  If you, your family member, or anyone that you know had contact with Daking and would like to provide additional information, please contact the FBI Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Shamoor Anis will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Anis has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Delaware, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

U.S. Attorney Weiss additionally commented that, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Anis will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number – 302-893-5213.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 410-265-8080.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. 

U.S. Attorney Weiss concluded, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Michael Kealty, a former detective with the Smyrna Police Department, pleaded guilty today to coercing and enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews accepted the plea.

Kealty pleaded guilty to Coercion/Enticement of a Minor.  He will be sentenced on February 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. and faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, and a maximum term of life in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “As a police officer, Mr. Kealty took an oath to protect and serve. Instead of honoring that oath, he chose to prey upon the most vulnerable members of our community. Prosecuting these child exploitation cases will remain a priority for my office, and I commend the FBI’s diligence in investigating this case.”

“Michael Kealty’s actions reveal a calculating and dangerous criminal. He repeatedly sought opportunities to target vulnerable minors and was committing the very crimes he was sworn to investigate as a police detective. Pursuing justice for victims of child exploitation is one of the FBI’s highest priorities,” says Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “FBI Baltimore's Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to work with our partners to investigate these horrific acts and bring those responsible to justice.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that a former University of Delaware student was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release for cyberstalking and threatening to kill two women while, in the same timeframe, filing fraudulent applications for pandemic relief loans and laundering the proceeds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the Court ordered the forfeiture of $1,428,664.14 in fraud proceeds from Stevens’ bank accounts. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews pronounced the sentence. 

According to court documents, Kyle Stevens, 30, met Victims 1 and 2 while they were all students at the University of Delaware during the 2018-2019 school year.  The two Victims did not give Stevens the attention he felt he deserved, and he became fixated on them, building a grudge that lasted four years and stretched overseas.

Stevens wrote a document entitled “Stalker Notes,” which showed that he knew he would be arrested eventually but believed he would be able to avoid repercussions by acting a certain way. Stevens’ talking points included: “right after arrest, repentant . . . can be productive instead of being a waste of tax dollars . . . [and] maybe this won’t have to end as a tragedy of me not doing anything productive with my life.”  His focus was on the impact of his actions on himself, rather than the women he threatened or the community at large.

PPP Fraud

Stevens moved to Germany in October 2020 to study abroad.  While there, Stevens submitted ten fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief loans for small businesses that did not exist.  He successfully diverted $1,520,164.14 intended to aid small businesses struggling through the pandemic. 

In a note to himself, Stevens wrote that his “current priorities” included mundane tasks like getting a German phone number, as well as “more fraud . . . What’s stopping me from fraud and taking out many 50k loans?” 

Cyberstalking

In September 2021, Stevens wrote down a plan to stalk Victims 1 and 2: “vocal harassment bu[i]lds confidence, so steal, move to [h]er, harass, . . . also harass others/family.”  Stevens began sending emails and social media messages to Victims 1 and 2, threatening that he “tried to forgive” them for their perceived slights, but that they would get “payback” and “revenge one way or another.”  These messages kicked off a months-long stalking campaign which included repeated threats to put a “bullet in your head,” to “kill you,” or to fire a “gunshot” no one would be “able to block.”

Stevens used any means he could to reach these women, including numerous email accounts, phone numbers and social media platforms.  He went so far as to find Victim 1’s father’s Facebook page and send him a message stating he couldn’t “wait to bash your daughter’s skull in.”  And Stevens planned in advance, setting a calendar reminder for himself a month into the future with the heading: “Death threat??”

On September 15, 2021 – the same day that he submitted his ninth fraudulent application for a pandemic relief loan - Stevens sent Victim 1 his most explicitly violent threat:

I’m going to slaughter you.  I’m going to string you up.  I’m going to put you on hooks in the back of a freezer like a f[***]ing cow. . . . I could eat your f[***]ing kidneys like Jack the f[***]ing Ripper, dance in your entrails on the UD mall. . . I can jam a barrel down your throat and see how well you can lie to me then.  . . . I’m going to come to you. . . . the police can’t help you.  I’m going to come to you.  I’m going to kill everyone in the way. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, coordinated with the German Ministry of Justice to extradite Stevens from Germany to face two indictments, for stalking and fraud, on May 23, 2023.  German authorities provided further assistance in restraining Stevens’ German bank accounts into which he had deposited pandemic fraud proceeds. 

At the time of Stevens’ arrest, German law enforcement agencies seized his cell phone, laptop, and other electronic devices.  Within Stevens’ electronic materials, law enforcement found numerous diatribes written by Stevens, with titles like “I Did Not Build This Wall,” “I Hate Pretty Girls,” and “Stalker Notes.”  Those writings detailed Stevens’ worldview and justification for his crimes: he believed his life had been unfair, so he was justified in seeking retribution by any means.  Because he grew up without the financial resources he desired, he felt justified in stealing as much as he could through fraud.  And because the women he met didn’t love him, he vowed to make sure they feared him. Consistent with that worldview, Stevens’ writings also noted that he identified with “incels” or “involuntary celibates” – men whose primary grievance is a lack of sexual attention from women.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendant terrorized multiple women and committed over $1.5 million in pandemic relief fraud.  He perpetrated this months-long crime spree, harming individual women and the community at large, all from behind a computer in a foreign country.  Today’s sentence demonstrates Stevens is not above the law.  Our office is committed to rooting out criminals wherever they are, and we will continue to fight for victims.”

“Numerous innocent victims suffered greatly, enduring years of emotional distress and torture, because of Kyle Stevens’ violent harassment and stalking,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “In addition to his menacing and predatory behavior, Stevens targeted taxpayers by stealing more than a million dollars of pandemic relief aid. The FBI will always hold accountable those seeking to victimize others for their personal gain and gratification.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly A. Hudson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:22-CR-65 and 1:22-CR-66.

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that Dr. Vishal Patel, a Wilmington physician, has agreed to pay $1,080,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by ordering medically unnecessary durable medical equipment for patients covered by Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). 

Between February 2018 and April 2019, Dr. Patel referred patients for more than 1750 orthotic devices, including wrist, shoulder, knee, ankle, and back braces.  The United States alleges that Dr. Patel had no medical relationship with these patients and that the referrals were based on brief reviews of the patients’ medical charts, which failed to establish any legitimate medical justification for the devices.  Medicare and FEHBP paid, on average, more than $400 for each device.  Patient files were provided to Dr. Patel by RediDoc, LLC, a purported telemedicine company based in Phoenix, Arizona whose owners pleaded guilty to participation in a $64 million health care fraud conspiracy in May 2022.

“Fraudulent telemedicine companies such as RediDoc rely on licensed healthcare providers to make their operations appear legitimate and avoid detection,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss.  “By ordering services for patients they have never examined or treated, these providers permit fraud schemes to flourish and drain vital funds from Medicare and other government healthcare programs.  In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, this office will continue to use all available means to identify healthcare providers who increase costs through unnecessary orders and hold them accountable.”  

"For more than a year, Dr. Patel schemed to deceive and repeatedly lied to further his greed. His blatant and unscrupulous abuse of the healthcare system led to an exorbitant amount of fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. "Healthcare fraud takes money away from legitimate patients and needs, affecting the reliability of our programs, which is why the FBI is committed to bringing fraud to light and perpetrators like Dr. Patel to justice.”

“We expect that federal health care providers submit necessary orders for patients they are actually treating,” said Derek M. Holt, Special Agent in Charge, the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General.  “We applaud our law enforcement partners and colleagues at the Department of Justice for their hard work in protecting the FEHBP and other federal health care programs from fraudulent claims.”

“Health care providers are required to charge Medicare only for services and equipment that are medically necessary,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue allegations that illegitimate billings have been submitted to federal health care programs.”

This matter was investigated by agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General.  Within the U.S Attorney’s Office, this matter was handled by Civil Chief Dylan J. Steinberg and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Auditor David Cheung.

The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.

Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 5, four Delaware men were arrested and/or self-surrendered in Delaware on federal charges relating to an alleged international “sextortion” scheme that targeted thousands of victims throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

According to a superseding indictment unsealed today, Sidi Diakite, 30; Almamy Diaby, 22; Abdul Aziz Sangare, 26; and Abdoul Aziz Traore, 31; all residents of Wilmington, and other co-conspirators allegedly operated an international, financially motivated “sextortion” and money laundering scheme in which the conspirators engaged in cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, money laundering, and wire fraud. As part of the scheme, the conspirators, utilizing multiple payment methods, attempted to extort approximately $6.9 million from thousands of potential victims, and they successfully extorted approximately $1.9 million from these victims through CashApp and Apple Pay alone.

The superseding indictment also charges Hadja Kone, 28, of Wilmington, Delaware, who was previously arrested in April; and Siaka Ouattara, 22, of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, whom the Ivorian authorities separately arrested in February in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Ivorian charges stemming from the same scheme.

As alleged in the superseding indictment, the conspirators posed as young females online and initiated communications with thousands of potential victims, who were primarily young men and included minors from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The conspirators allegedly offered to provide and/or provided victims with sexual photographs, video recordings, and/or “web cam” or “live video chat” sessions depicting what they falsely portrayed to be a young female, when in fact the conspirators were the ones operating the accounts. Unbeknownst to the victims, during the web cam/live video chats, the conspirators surreptitiously recorded the victims as they exposed their genitals and/or engaged in sexual activity. The conspirators thereafter sent the victims copies of the victims’ fraudulently obtained sexual images and threatened to distribute the victims’ sexual images to the victims’ friends, family members, significant others, employers, and co-workers, and to publish the victims’ sexual images widely online, unless the victims transferred funds to designated recipients. Ouattara, Kone, Diakite, Diaby, Sangare, Traore, and others also operated infrastructure to transfer the funds illegally obtained from the victims to conspirators located in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere overseas.

Diakite, Diaby, Sangare, Traore, Kone, and Ouattara are each charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and to send interstate threats, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, money laundering, and wire fraud. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy count and money laundering count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count.  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 M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss for the District of Delaware, and Acting Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the government of Cote d’Ivoire.

Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox for the District of Delaware are prosecuting the case.

If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additional resources can found at Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI.  For more information about this particular financially motivated sextortion case and if you believe you are a victim in this particular case, please also visit justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-hadja-fanta-kone-siaka-ouattara-sidi-diakite-almamy-moustapha-diaby.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Jacqueline C. Romero and United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss announced that PA Green Wellness (“PA Green”), a business located within King of Prussia and Harrisburg, Pa., and Greenville and Lewes, Del., agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of an electro-acupuncture device.

From September 2020 through July 2021, PA Green billed Medicare for the application of a percutaneous electrical nerve pulse stimulation device (the “P-Stim Device”) in an office setting.

The P-Stim Device is a device for treatment of chronic pain that, pursuant to manufacturer’s instructions, is affixed behind a patient’s ear using an adhesive. Needles are inserted into the patient’s ear and affixed using another adhesive. Once activated, the device then provides intermittent stimulation by electrical pulses. It is a single-use, battery-powered device designed to be worn for several days until its battery runs out, at which time the device is thrown away. Other brand names for this device include Stivax, NeuroStim, ANSiStim, E-Pulse, and NSS-2 Bridge.

PA Green applied the P-Stim Device simply using an adhesive and insertion of a limited number of needles. The procedure did not involve any surgery, anesthesia, or take place in an operating room (or even at a facility with such capabilities) but was billed to Medicare as a surgically implanted neurostimulator, contrary to repeated guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”).

On June 22, 2021, SafeGuard Services LLC, the Northeastern Unified Program Integrity Contractor of Medicare, provided notice to PA Green Wellness that CMS had suspended $50,845.99 of Medicare payments to PA Green Wellness pursuant to 42 C.F.R. § 405.371(a)(2) based on credible allegations of fraud. As part of the settlement, PA Green has agreed that the United States will retain the suspended payments.

“Along with other U.S. Attorneys around the country, CMS, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, we have held distributors and providers accountable for inappropriate acupuncture device billing. It may not be billed as surgically implanted neurostimulators,” said U.S. Attorney Romero.

“The decisions made by CMS about what procedures are reimbursable and how they may be billed are designed to ensure that all beneficiaries receive safe and effective treatment at an appropriate cost,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Providers who seek to enrich themselves by inaccurate billing increase the costs for everyone. My office will continue to work with our partners at the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to hold those providers accountable.”

“Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries is required of all health care providers,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “HHS-OIG, CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue inaccurate billings of P-Stim and similar devices.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. It was handled by District of Delaware Civil Chief Dylan J. Steinberg and Eastern District of Pennsylvania Civil Chief Gregory B. David and Auditors Dawn Wiggins and Andrew Schobert.

The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.

Wilmington, Del. – Paul Michael Wilcox, 42, formerly a Chief Master Sergeant stationed at Dover Air Force Base, pleaded guilty today to possessing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, accepted the plea.

According to statements made in open court, the investigation into Wilcox began after law enforcement received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reporting that a Google account holder uploaded CSAM to the Internet in May 2023.  Law enforcement identified Wilcox as the owner and user of the Google account.  Law enforcement also searched the account and confirmed that Wilcox had uploaded CSAM to his Google account. 

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Prosecuting individuals who choose to prey upon and exploit the most vulnerable members of our community remains a priority for my office.  We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to expose the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and bring them to justice.”

The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting this case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 23.63.

Wilmington, Del. – A Middletown, Delaware, resident was arrested on August 1, 2024, and charged with illegally possessing machineguns, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.

According to court documents, Eric Quinn, 36, ordered and received Glock auto sears, also known as “Glock switches,” from China. Glock auto sears are conversion devices designed and created for the sole purpose of converting semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic machineguns. When installed properly, Glock auto sears allow a firearm to expel more than one projectile by a single pull of the trigger, at a rate of approximately 1,200 rounds per minute.

A criminal complaint charges Quinn, who is a convicted felon, with possessing machineguns as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. If convicted of these charges, Quinn faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Homeland Security Investigations, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, conducted the investigation in this matter, along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on July 25, 2024, a federal jury convicted Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 24, on charges of Kidnapping, Carjacking, Hobbs Act Robbery and Conspiracy, and Brandishing and Use of a Firearm in Relation to Hobbs Act Robbery and Kidnapping.  Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the verdict.

According to court records and evidence presented at the four-day trial, McNair-Matthews together with David Hinson, 23, Michael Caldwell, 21, and Mahkiya Powell, 20, conspired to rob unsuspecting drivers by rear-ending them with a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee (“the Jeep”) with the intent to rob the drivers when they got out to inspect their cars for damage.  After three unsuccessful carjacking attempts, McNair-Matthews, while driving the Jeep, rear-ended the victim, then approached the victim’s car and abducted the victim at gunpoint.

McNair-Matthews then drove the victim, against her will, in the victim’s car from Delaware back into Pennsylvania where he had rear-ended her. During the ride, McNair-Matthews forced the victim to disrobe, demanded the victim’s PIN code, and digitally penetrated her against her will. After arriving in Pennsylvania, McNair-Matthews then forcibly raped the victim at gunpoint. McNair-Matthews then abandoned the victim and drove the victim’s car to Delaware convenience stores, withdrawing money from the victim’s bank accounts via ATM transactions using the stolen PIN code. 

McNair-Matthews then reunited with Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell in Wilmington, Delaware.  Once there, McNair-Matthews provided them the victim’s bank cards, PIN, and the firearm he used in the carjacking and rape.  Hinson, Powell, and Caldwell then cleaned the victim’s car and stole her purse. After McNair-Matthews changed clothes to try and evade detection, the four men met up at a Wilmington gas station, where law enforcement tracked them. On sight, McNair-Matthews and Powell led law enforcement on a high-speed chase in the Jeep and evaded capture.  McNair-Matthews was arrested three days later after fleeing to Maryland.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendants engaged in a heinous crime spree with devastating consequences.  Coordination between my office and our state and federal law enforcement partners to bring Mr. McNair-Matthews and his coconspirators to justice was swift and exceptional. We will continue to work together to remove violent offenders from our streets. I commend the victim’s bravery and hope that the jury’s guilty verdict brings some measure of closure.”

“The amount of harm and senseless violence McNair-Matthews and his coconspirators carried out in a single day is astonishing said,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “I am deeply grateful for the expert help of Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn and the rest of our team, as well as the Delaware and Pennsylvania State Police, and our partners with the FBI in bringing them to justice and holding them accountable for the harm they’ve so callously inflicted.”

“There is no place in our society for a violent rapist, kidnapper, and criminal like Tonnaire McNair-Matthews. This conviction ensures he will spend time behind bars for the horrible and cruel attack he viciously inflicted upon an innocent woman,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “I am proud of the work the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force does with our local, state and federal partners to identify and arrest dangerous criminals like McNair-Matthews and bring them to justice.”

McNair-Matthews faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.  Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss, Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, and the Delaware State Police (DSP) Troop 2 Commander commended the work of those who investigated the case, including DSP, the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, Wilmington Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Delaware Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Samuel S. Frey, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Dunn are assigned to prosecute the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 23-68.

Wilmington, Del. – Deborah Evans Mott, a 69-year-old Virginia woman, has been indicted for making material false statements under oath and under penalty of perjury during a bankruptcy proceeding, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.  

According to the indictment, in January 2022, Team Systems International, LLC (“TSI”) filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (No. 22-10066-CTG).  During the relevant time period, Mott was a member of TSI, had sole signatory authority over all of its bank accounts, and acted as its bookkeeper.  The indictment alleges that Mott declared under penalty of perjury that TSI’s bankruptcy filings were true and correct despite knowing that the filings failed to disclose, among other things, several million dollars in transfers to Mott and other TSI insiders.  The indictment also alleges that Mott was deposed under oath during the bankruptcy and falsely testified regarding various financial transfers from TSI.

Mott is charged with one count of making false statements under penalty of perjury during a bankruptcy proceeding and one count of making false statements under oath during a bankruptcy proceeding.  If convicted, she faces a maximum period of five years in prison for each count.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah J. McCollum are assigned to prosecute this case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced that a federal jury convicted Philip Epps, age 36 of Reading Pennsylvania, of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute on May 22, 2024. Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the verdict and, in a bifurcated bench trial held on June 26, 2024, found Epps guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Epps was arrested on February 28, 2023, after he arrived at a local motel in Wilmington, Delaware to supply a subordinate with drugs. At the time of his arrest, within a hidden compartment or “trap” inside Epps’ vehicle, New Castle County police officers recovered two loaded handguns with obliterated serial numbers, over 225 grams of cocaine, additional packaged drugs containing fentanyl and xylazine, as well as over $15,000. Law enforcement obtained additional evidence that Epps had been purchasing cutting agents, specifically xylazine, from China via WhatsApp.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Illegally possessing a firearm while trafficking in illegal drugs fuels the violence in our communities. Mr. Epps’ continued unwillingness to abide by the rule of law was disrupted thanks to law enforcement. I wish to commend New Castle County Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners for holding this repeat offender accountable.

Epps faces a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on November 22, 2024. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the New Castle County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill prosecuted the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 23-30.

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that the United States has filed a civil complaint against the Center for Interventional Pain and Spine, LLC (“CIPS”) and its principal, Dr. Chee H. Woo, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.  The United States alleges that CIPS and Dr. Woo violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to federal and state healthcare programs for thousands of diagnostic tests and services that were not ordered by healthcare providers, not medically necessary, and sometimes never performed.

CIPS is a pain management practice with multiple locations in Delaware and Pennsylvania.  The complaint alleges that, from at least July 2018 through at least 2021, CIPS and Dr. Woo devised a scheme to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (“FEHB”) for medically unnecessary urine drug tests.  The complaint further alleges that, between 2019 and 2021, CIPS and Dr. Woo caused Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHB to pay thousands of claims for psychological and neuropsychological testing that was not performed or was not medically necessary. 

As a condition of reimbursement, Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHB each require participating providers to certify that all services rendered are necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.  As alleged in the complaint, CIPS and Dr. Woo developed and implemented a urine drug testing protocol that required all CIPS’ patients to submit to urine drug tests every three months, regardless of whether the testing was supported by individual patient or clinical need.  The complaint alleges that CIPS’ health care providers did not order the urine drug tests and, in many cases, were not aware that the tests had been ordered, and that the results of the tests were not used to inform the diagnosis or treatment of CIPS’ patients.  As a result, these tests were medically unnecessary, and CIPS’ certifications that it complied with Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHB requirements were false.   

The complaint further alleges that CIPS submitted thousands of false claims for psychological and neuropsychological tests that were not performed.  Instead, as alleged, CIPS asked patients to self-complete health screening questionnaires that were ineligible for reimbursement as psychological and neuropsychological tests.  CIPS then allegedly failed to use the results of these questionnaires to treat patients, even when the results indicated that medical interventions were warranted. 

“Providers and entities that participate in federal health care programs must comply with the rules intended to protect the integrity of those public programs,” U.S. Attorney Weiss said.  “Billing federal health care programs for services that are not medically necessary and that are not actually provided undermines the quality of patient care and increases the costs of these taxpayer funded programs. We are committed to holding accountable those medical providers who seek to exploit these programs for their own benefit.  Today’s civil complaint demonstrates that this office will aggressively work to recover public money from those who fraudulently seek to overcharge the federal government.”

The allegations in the complaint were identified during a government investigation that arose from a proactive analysis of Medicare claims data. 

The investigation and litigation are being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Shamoor Anis and Jacob Laksin.

The complaint contains allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 24-cv-711-JLH.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Bear, Delaware man pled guilty in federal court today to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. The Honorable Jennifer L. Hall, U.S. District Judge for the District of Delaware, accepted the plea.

According to court documents, Darius Matylewich, 27, was arrested by the FBI after he removed an 11-year-old from her New Jersey home and travelled with her to his Bear, Delaware home to engage in sexual activity.  On September 10, 2023, the Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department (“WTPD”) received a report of a missing 11-year-old victim. Through investigative measures, WTPD determined that Matylewich took the 11-year-old victim from New Jersey to his home in Bear, Delaware.  In assisting WTPD, the New Castle County Police Department safely recovered the 11-year-old victim and arrested Matylewich.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Matylewich met the 11-year-old victim on the internet and communicated with the victim via the online video games and social media platforms. A forensic analysis of Matylewich’s cellphone and social media uncovered message threads in which Matylewich coerced the 11-year-old victim to perform sexual acts, and, in turn, produce child pornography, for him.  Investigators also recovered messages in which Matylewich described covertly watching and following the victim near her New Jersey home.

Matylewich also used an application on his iPhone to covertly record conversations, videos, and images of the 11-year-old performing sexual acts that Matylewich solicited from the victim.   Matylewich stored hundreds of videos and images of the victim within the “hidden” folder of his Apple Photos application, which could only be accessed via facial recognition.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “My office is dedicated to protecting children from those, like the defendant, who prey on the innocent and vulnerable on the internet. I urge families to be wary of sharing information with online strangers to avoid individuals like the defendant. I commend the diligent work of the FBI, New Castle County Police, and Wayne Township Police for their swift work in bring the defendant to justice.”

“Darius Matylewich is a child predator whose sick and abhorrent behavior took advantage of an innocent girl, who now has significant healing ahead of her,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “Unequivocally, our community is safer with Matylewich behind bars, locked away where he can no longer victimize anyone else’s child.” 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill and Kevin P. Pierce. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce with assistance from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-102.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Philadelphia man was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in federal prison for robbing an armored truck and stealing more than $100,000. The Honorable Richard G. Andrews, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, imposed the sentence. 

According to court documents, Tayion Spencer, 32, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after he robbed an armored truck used to collect and deliver U.S. currency in Wilmington, Delaware. Spencer previously worked for the armored truck company and wore his former employer’s uniform while committing the robbery.  When Spencer brandished and aimed a firearm at the armored truck driver, a scuffle ensued. Spencer tasered the driver, stole the driver’s firearm, and drove away in the armored truck.

After absconding to Florida, Spencer fled the scene of a traffic stop and, while being pursued by law enforcement, crashed into a marked police vehicle. Palm Beach Gardens Police recovered a loaded Glock semi-automatic handgun, a taser matching the one used during the Wilmington robbery, a ski mask, Spencer’s employment paperwork, and approximately $3,200.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The defendant’s brazen robbery and reckless flight from law enforcement endangered the lives of innocent civilians. Thankfully, law enforcement stopped him before anyone was hurt.  I want to commend the Delaware State Police and the FBI for their tireless effort to bring the defendant to justice.”

“Tayion Spencer’s aggressive crime spree and attempt to avoid justice put anyone who happened to be around him at risk. This sentence holds him accountable for his dangerous and violent actions,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “We want everyone to know the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to help make Delaware safer.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin P. Pierce. The case was investigated by the Delaware State Police and FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

Wilmington, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 28, 2024, charging Blaine Murphy, 56, of Naples, Florida with wire fraud and making false statements in connection with fraudulent loan applications submitted as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.

According to the indictment, Murphy fraudulently applied for loans designed to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and June 2020, using the names of nine separate businesses, Murphy submitted, or participated in the submission of, PPP loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration and its authorized lenders.  These applications falsely inflated average monthly payroll and number of employees of those companies in an attempt to obtain funds from the PPP. Murphy also falsely stated that he did not own or commonly manage other businesses, and he provided false and fraudulent tax documents in connection with most of his loan applications. Murphy obtained over $350,000 as a result of this fraudulent scheme.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “During a generational public health crisis, this defendant took advantage of a federal government program intended to help keep small businesses and their employees afloat. The defendant’s fraudulent behavior came at the expense of his fellow citizens. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware brings these charges to hold him accountable for his actions.”

Murphy is charged with wire fraud and making false statements on loan applications. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

The FBI Baltimore Division’s Dover Resident Agency conducted the investigation in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan C. Williamson and Jesse S. Wenger are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

On May 17, 2021, the U.S. Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the U.S. Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across the federal government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to combat fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to combating COVID-19 fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of fraud or attempted fraud involving COVID-19 funding can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Wilmington man was sentenced today to 133 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin. The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Delaware, imposed the sentence. 

According to court documents, Martin Green, age 33, sold crystal methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the FBI on several occasions between March and May 2023.  After searches of Green’s car, home, and storage unit, law enforcement found over 3.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and over 4,400 baggies of heroin.  Green confessed to selling both drugs in the New Castle County area.  Green had three prior state convictions for drug dealing. 

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “This sentence reflects Mr. Green’s repeated disregard for the rule of law and the severity of his crimes. Drug trafficking is corrosive to our communities. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who choose to profit from illegal drug sales.”

“Martin Green is a repeat offender, who sold methamphetamine and heroin in Delaware again and again, even with children present,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “Putting Mr. Green out of business and behind bars for the next 11 years is a win for the people of Delaware. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not stand by while dangerous and destructive drugs are sold in our communities.”

The case was investigated by FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, which is a partnership of law enforcement officers from the FBI, Wilmington Police Department, Delaware State Police, Delaware Probation and Parole, and New Castle County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-45-CFC.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Jordan Harmon, 25, of Dover, was sentenced on April 15, 2024, to three years’ incarceration for straw purchasing firearms.  The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Delaware imposed sentence. 

According to court documents, in 2020, Harmon purchased a total of 19 semi-automatic pistols from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Delaware.  Federal firearm laws provide that, at the time of purchase, gun buyers must certify in writing that the firearm is being purchased for the buyer and not for someone else.  Harmon falsely certified on a federal firearm transaction form that he was purchasing the 19 firearms for himself.  In fact, Harmon was illegally purchasing the guns for others, a scheme known as “straw purchasing.”  To date, law enforcement officers have recovered seven of the semi-automatic pistols. The investigation to recover the remaining firearms is ongoing.

U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “Straw purchasing firearms for individuals who cannot legally purchase guns is a threat to public safety. I commend the Dover Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives for their hard work in investigating this case.  For anyone considering purchasing a firearm for someone who cannot legally purchase one on their own, consider the end result in Mr. Harmon’s case – federal prison.”

The case was investigated by the Dover Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond Falgowski.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-110.

A Delaware woman was arrested today in Delaware on criminal charges related to her role in an international sextortion scheme that targeted thousands of victims throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

According to an indictment unsealed today, from May 2020 through December 2022, Hadja Kone, 28, of Wilmington, and Siaka Ouattara, 22, of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and other co-conspirators allegedly operated an international, financially motivated sextortion and money laundering scheme in which the conspirators engaged in cyberstalking, interstate threats, money laundering, and wire fraud. Through the scheme, Kone, Outtara, and others attempted to extort approximately $6 million from thousands of potential victims and successfully extorted approximately $1.7 million from those victims, using CashApp and ApplePay accounts alone. 

As alleged in the indictment, Ouattara and others posed as young, attractive females online and initiated communications with thousands of potential victims, who were primarily young men and included minors from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  Ouattara and others allegedly offered to provide and/or provided victims with sexual photographs, video recordings, and/or “web cam” or “live video chat” sessions of what they falsely portrayed to be an attractive young female, when in fact they were the ones operating the accounts. Unbeknownst to the victims, during the web cam/live video chats, Ouattara and others surreptitiously recorded the victims as they exposed their genitals and/or engaged in sexual activity. Ouattara and others sent the victims copies of the victims’ fraudulently obtained sexual images and threatened to distribute the victims’ sexual images to the victims’ friends, family members, significant others, employers, and co-workers and to publish the victims’ sexual images widely online, unless the victims transferred funds to designated recipients. Ouattara, Kone, and others also operated infrastructure to transfer the funds illegally obtained from the victims to Ouattara and others located in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere overseas.

On Feb. 24, Ivoirian authorities separately arrested Ouattara in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Ivoirian charges stemming from the same scheme.

Kone and Ouattara are each charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and to send interstate threats, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, money laundering, and wire fraud. If convicted, Kone and Ouattara each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy count and money laundering count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss for the District of Delaware; and Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the government of Cote d’Ivoire.

Trial Attorney Austin Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox for the District of Delaware are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Wilmington, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced that an active-duty airman was arrested and charged today for the attempted enticement of a minor.

According to publicly filed documents, Armand Nicholas Lu, 36, a Technical Sergeant (E-06) assigned to the Dover Air Force Base, met online, and began communicating via text message with an individual whom Lu believed to be a 14-year-old girl. In reality, and unbeknownst to Lu, the individual was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Over the course of several weeks via text message, Lu expressed interest in meeting and having sex with the individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. On one occasion, Lu acknowledged that he could go to prison if he were caught.  Ultimately, Lu arranged to meet with the “girl” on April 2, 2024, while her “mother” was at work. In advance of the meeting, Lu told the “girl” he had purchased intimate items in anticipation of their meeting, including condoms, honey, and lubricant.  On April 2, 2024, Lu arrived at the pre-determined meeting location at which time he was placed in custody.  During a search of Lu’s bedroom, law enforcement found condoms, honey, and lubricant.

Lu has been charged via Complaint with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.  If convicted, he faces a maximum period of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case, with the assistance of the FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force and the Delaware State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is assigned to prosecute this case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Attachments

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Wilmington man was sentenced on March 25, 2024, to more than nine years in federal prison for his 2021 possession of a stolen gun in the area of 24th and Carter Streets in Wilmington. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Jethroe Tickles was arrested by the Wilmington Police Department after police found a stolen gun in his possession during a traffic stop.  While searching the car, officers also found approximately one ounce of marijuana, a pill bottle containing 113 Ecstasy pills, 57 Hydrocodone pills, Alprazolam, and other miscellaneous pills. Upon searching Mr. Tickles, officers recovered more than $3,000 in cash.  At the sentencing hearing, the government highlighted Mr. Tickles’ criminal convictions, which prohibit him from possessing firearms.  

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The combination of guns and drugs fuels the violence in our communities. This sentence reflects the severity of Mr. Tickles’ disregard for the rule of law. Our prosecutors will continue to partner with the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Explosives to protect our communities from gun violence and to hold individuals who choose to violate the law accountable.” 

“The combination of drugs and firearms is one that is destined to end in violence. It is not a matter of if, but when someone will end up hurt or worse,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue working every day to identify, investigate, and incarcerate the individuals who threaten violence in our communities.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Welsh prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-0023 (MN).

Wilmington, Del. – A Delaware resident was sentenced on March 25, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.  Following his time in prison, he will spend 10 years on federal supervised release.  Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, a task force consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated James Pickett, 26, of Bear, Delaware, after receiving a cyber tip indicating he uploaded a video of CSAM to the Internet in August 2021.  Law enforcement later found approximately 4,468 media files suspected to contain CSAM on Pickett’s electronic devices.  The files found on Pickett’s devices included images and videos of prepubescent minors and material portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence.  Pickett had previously been convicted in October 2019 in the State of Delaware for dealing in CSAM and served two years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Our office is dedicated to protecting children and prosecuting those engaging in the sexual exploitation of minors through the heinous shadow industry that produces, distributes, and collects child sexual abuse material.  I thank Homeland Security Investigations and our Delaware law enforcement partners who tirelessly pursued this case.”

“HSI is at the forefront in the fight to end child sexual exploitation. Our global reach, significant Agent experience and extensive knowledge of the cyber domain, allow us to rapidly develop cases such as the one against James Pickett,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “Our outstanding relationship with the Delaware State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware has garnered incredible success and we know that our cooperation will continue to do so as we work to protect our children.”

Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and the Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Knox and Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted this case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-1-CFC.

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 U.S. Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Philadelphia man was sentenced on March 21, 2024, to 160 months in federal prison for possessing more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence. 

According to court documents, in October 2022, Raymond Talley arrived at a Delaware hotel with more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine that he intended to sell to another drug dealer.  When Mr. Talley entered the hotel lobby, however, he found law enforcement waiting for him.  After a brief flight, Mr. Talley was arrested, and the crystal methamphetamine was recovered.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “As the Court recognized at sentencing, this amount of methamphetamine could have harmed or killed many Delawareans.  My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to prevent those harms from befalling our State.”     

“HSI Wilmington’s First State Border Enforcement Security Task Force, along with the Newport Police Department worked diligently to bring Mr. Talley to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “It is critically important that law enforcement continue to fight against the scourge of methamphetamine being trafficked in our communities.  Through seamless cooperation and quick action, investigators and prosecutors worked together to bring this case to a successful conclusion.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith C. Ruggles and Benjamin L. Wallace prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-00121.

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Carla Sparkler, former Chief Marketing Officer of BioTek reMEDys Inc. (BioTek), located in New Castle, Delaware, has agreed to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to patients and physicians and waiving co-pays to protect BioTek’s revenue stream. Sparkler agreed to a six-year federal healthcare exclusion, which will prohibit her from participating in any federally funded health care program, such as Medicare.

When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a copayment, coinsurance or a deductible (“copays”). Congress included copay requirements in the Medicare program in part to serve as a check on health care costs. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the offering, paying, soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, of any remuneration – which includes money or any other thing of value – to refer or arrange for the referral of items or services payable by any federal health care program. This prohibition extends to companies that routinely waive the copays of Medicare patients without determination of financial need. The Anti-Kickback Statute also extends to the payment of remuneration to physicians in exchange for patient referrals.

In its Complaint in Intervention, the United States alleged that, from at least August 2015 through May 2020, Sparkler served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Biotek. BioTek, a specialty pharmacy that offers drugs and infusion services, routinely waived the copayments of Medicare and TRICARE patients to induce those patients to purchase its drugs and services. Many of the specialty drugs offered by BioTek were expensive and required patients to pay large copays. The government alleged that BioTek sought to avoid deterring patients from purchasing its drugs and services by engaging in a scheme, orchestrated, and implemented by Sparkler, to routinely waive these large copays, without regard for whether the patients were experiencing financial hardship.

Today’s settlement also resolves allegations that under Sparkler’s leadership, BioTek provided remuneration in the form of gifts, dinners, and free administrative and clinical support services to physicians – in particular Dr. David Tabby, who operated a neurology practice in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania – to induce those physicians to refer patients to BioTek. The government also alleged that Dr. Tabby knowingly solicited and accepted this remuneration in exchange for referring numerous patients to BioTek. Dr. Tabby has separately paid $480,000 to settle these allegations, based on his ability to pay. Biotek and its chief executive officer, Chaitanya Gadde, previously agreed collectively to pay $20 million based on their ability to pay to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to patients and physicians to protect Biotek’s revenue stream.

“Ms. Sparkler allegedly orchestrated a scheme to provide improper physician inducements and to cover up kickbacks for patient referrals by waiving co-pays,” said Romero, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA). “The six-year exclusion from participation in federal health care programs reflects my office’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for improper and corrupt business practices. BioTek’s alleged scheme, orchestrated and implemented by Sparkler to routinely waive these copays – without regard for whether the patients were experiencing financial hardship – ensured a steady revenue stream for BioTek and undermined patient care to citizens of this District. EDPA will continue to invest itself in the pursuit of health care providers, including individuals, who violate the law for personal gain.”

“This settlement resolves allegations that Ms. Sparkler orchestrated Biotek’s scheme to provide kickbacks, including the improper waiver of co-pays, to encourage doctors to use its services,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss for the District of Delaware. “Those who, for personal gain, flout the rules established by federal healthcare programs raise the costs for everyone and do a disservice to their patients. They forfeit their right to participate in those programs.”

“Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system and compromise medical decision-making,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Alongside our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is committed to safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs by, in part, holding individuals who unlawfully bill the programs accountable for their actions.”

“The settlement agreement announced today demonstrates our ongoing commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate healthcare fraud and protect TRICARE, the healthcare system for military members and their dependents,” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. “When health care companies pay physicians and submit false claims for improper referrals, they undermine the integrity of TRICARE and place an unnecessary financial burden on the program.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by former BioTek employees Shantae M. Wyatt and Latoya Sparrow. Under those provisions, a private party, known as a relator, may file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Wyatt et al. v. BioTek reMEDys, Inc., No. 19-6069 (EDPA). The relators in this case were represented by David A. Bocian and Asher S. Alavi of Kessler, Topaz, Meltzer & Check in Radnor, PA.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, and Fraud Section, the HHS-OIG, the Office of Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

This case illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlene Keller Fullmer and Judith Amorosa, and Auditor George Niedzwicki for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dylan Steinberg for the District of Delaware.

The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Milton man pled guilty in federal court yesterday to a one count Information charging him with of Making False Statements on a Tax Return. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the plea. 

According to court documents, Amir Mohamed, 58, of Milton, Delaware, the former owner of Addiction Medical Facility, LLC, a Seaford drug rehab center, failed to declare on his federal tax returns all the income he received in calendar year 2021.  As a result, Mohamed underpaid taxes in 2021.

Mohamed faces a maximum of 3 years in prison when sentenced on June 27, 2024. Judge Connolly will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Amir Mohamed’s scheme to evade taxes for the purpose of lining his own pockets was a theft from the American public.  He stated that his taxable income was just over $12,000 when it was in fact over $1,000,000. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect the interests of law-abiding taxpayers by pursuing those who shirk their lawful tax obligations.”

“Anyone contemplating cheating on their taxes should know that IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agents work tirelessly, year-round, to investigate tax and financial crimes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty.  “Our largest enforcement program is directed at the portion of American taxpayers who willfully and intentionally violate their known legal duty of filing and paying their taxes.”

IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-CR-00007.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that a Bear, DE man pleaded guilty to bank fraud in connection with obtaining a Payroll Protection Plan (“PPP”) loan.

According to court documents, Michael Coleman, 43, a former Sergeant with the Wilmington Police Department, pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining a $150,000 PPP loan from the Small Business Administration in 2021 for a personal business he purportedly operated.  The Small Business Administration funded loans to small businesses as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Mr. Coleman was a public servant who took federal funds from a public program that was meant to provide financial support to struggling businesses during a global pandemic when he did not qualify for those funds. My office, in partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and prosecute individuals who illegally obtained CARES Act funding.”

“These assistance programs may have ended, but our commitment to seeking out those who defrauded them has not,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI and our partners remain focused on making sure stolen funds are returned to taxpayers, and individuals involved in this type of criminal behavior are held responsible for their actions.”

Coleman faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency with assistance from the Delaware Department of Justice and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim.

For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-cr-083.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced that a Delaware man was sentenced on Monday to 135 months in federal prison following a jury conviction in August 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly presided over the trial and pronounced the sentence.

The jury found that James Richard Smith III, age 46 of Wilmington, DE, sold cocaine, methamphetamine, and a firearm to a Delaware State Police undercover officer in November 2019. During trial, the government introduced audio and video evidence that Smith flaunted himself as a drug dealer, stating he could obtain whatever drugs the undercover wanted. Indeed, in November 2019, Smith sold the officer drugs on three occasions – the first of which involved not only illegal drugs but included selling the undercover officer a stolen semi-automatic rifle. During the final drug transaction, Smith sold the undercover officer over 50 grams of methamphetamine, resulting in a mandatory minimum ten-year sentence.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The combination of trafficking illegal drugs while possessing firearms is doubly dangerous.” My office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to combat illegal drug distribution and firearm possession within our communities. This case is a testament to the multiple law enforcement agencies who tirelessly investigated this case to ensure Mr. Smith was brought to justice.”

The case was investigated by Delaware State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Knox and Samuel Frey tried the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-cr-26.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a federal jury convicted a Cecil County, Maryland man on charges of possession of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited.  U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews accepted the verdict.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, George Griffin, 38, was arrested on September 9, 2022, after a long-term Maryland State Police investigation during which Griffin sold drugs to an informant.  On the day of his arrest, officers found about 125 grams of cocaine hidden in his engine compartment, and over a pound and a half of pure methamphetamine and four guns hidden in Griffin’s friend’s Delaware apartment.  Alongside the methamphetamine and guns, police found documents belonging to the defendant, and DNA comparison further tied Griffin to the guns.

U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “Mr. Griffin had three prior drug felony convictions. Fortunately, his willful disregard for the law came to an end with this guilty verdict.  While Mr. Griffin went to great lengths to distance himself from his drugs and guns, law enforcement doggedly investigated him until they found and seized those drugs and guns and brought the defendant to justice.  I commend the law enforcement agencies for their teamwork and determination in investigating this case.”

“Homeland Security Investigations’ Wilmington office, along with our partner agencies, stopped at nothing during the investigative and prosecutorial phases of this case, culminating in the significant conviction of this dangerous criminal, said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “Violence and addiction inextricably linked to drug trafficking organizations degrade our communities and endanger the health and safety of the American public.  As a result of the teamwork between investigators and prosecutors in this case, Mr. Griffin will now be held accountable for his crimes.”

Griffin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on May 15, 2024.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Maryland State Police, Delaware State Police, Newport Police, and New Castle County Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer K. Welsh and Benjamin L. Wallace are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-00033-RGA.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that a Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 118 months in federal prison for devising a plot to engage in interstate murder-for-hire. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Javier A. Rodriguez, age 47, hired a hitman to murder his ex-wife.  Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez held multiple meetings about the murder plot, which were audio and video recorded by the FBI.  During those meetings, Rodriguez explained exactly how he wanted his ex-wife murdered.   Rodriguez made a down payment of $5,000 to another individual to pay for the hitman and agreed to pay an additional $5,000 once the murder was completed.  The FBI arrested Rodriguez before anyone was injured.  As a result, the statutory maximum term of imprisonment for the offense was ten years in federal prison.

“Human life is sacred,” stated U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Law enforcement thwarted Mr. Rodriguez’ craven assassination attempt, and my office worked to bring him to justice. The Court’s sentence reflects the severity of Mr. Rodriguez’s criminal conduct.”   

"The FBI is committed to investigating violent crimes such as this," said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. "The thwarted murder-for-hire plot in this case affirms the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Had it not been for their combined efforts, the consequences could have been tragic. The FBI remains steadfast in our goal of making Delaware's streets safer for everyone."

The case was investigated by the FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force with significant assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-45-CFC.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that a Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 118 months in federal prison for devising a plot to engage in interstate murder-for-hire. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Javier A. Rodriguez, age 47, hired a hitman to murder his ex-wife.  Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez held multiple meetings about the murder plot, which were audio and video recorded by the FBI.  During those meetings, Rodriguez explained exactly how he wanted his ex-wife murdered.   Rodriguez made a down payment of $5,000 to another individual to pay for the hitman and agreed to pay an additional $5,000 once the murder was completed.  The FBI arrested Rodriguez before anyone was injured.  As a result, the statutory maximum term of imprisonment for the offense was ten years in federal prison.

“Human life is sacred,” stated U.S. Attorney Weiss. “Law enforcement thwarted Mr. Rodriguez’ craven assassination attempt, and my office worked to bring him to justice. The Court’s sentence reflects the severity of Mr. Rodriguez’s criminal conduct.”   

"The FBI is committed to investigating violent crimes such as this," said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. "The thwarted murder-for-hire plot in this case affirms the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Had it not been for their combined efforts, the consequences could have been tragic. The FBI remains steadfast in our goal of making Delaware's streets safer for everyone."

The case was investigated by the FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force with significant assistance from the Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Ibrahim prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-45-CFC.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, in partnership with City of Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen and the Dover Police Department, will host a United Against Hate forum on January 25, 2024, at the Dover Public Library located at 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901. The forum is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Light refreshments will be served.

Launched by the Department of Justice, United Against Hate is an initiative focused on improving efforts to combat hate crimes. Endeavoring to create and encourage cooperation and coordination, this forum aims to strengthen trust and build partnerships among community residents, community leaders and law enforcement.  

“This forum is an education and awareness opportunity for community residents and community leaders to learn how we can work together to stand up against unlawful hate by identifying, reporting, and preventing acts of hate,” stated U.S. Attorney Weiss. “It is an honor to partner with Mayor Christiansen on such an important initiative.”

City of Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen stated, “I am deeply honored and appreciative of the partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice on their efforts to bring a forum for discussion and identification of hate crimes. It is imperative in the times we live in, that we are able to learn how we can assist authorities to help identify, prevent and respond to hate crimes. I would strongly urge all of our citizens to take the time to participate in this valuable and timely discussion of the ongoing issue that faces our country.”

“As a part of our community policing mission, it is essential that potential hate crimes are fully investigated so appropriate measures are taken against the offenders.  Just as important is our goal of hate crime prevention and supporting healthy communities through education and alternative solutions.  Bias, Hate or Discrimination has no place, or space, in Dover,” stated City of Dover Police Chief Thomas A. Johnson, Jr.

The January 25 event will include remarks from local leaders and presentations from prosecutors and law enforcement about hate crimes laws and reporting mechanisms.

For additional information, please email USADE.Outreach@usdoj.gov. Media inquiries can be emailed to USADE.Press@usa.doj.gov.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today the unsealing of a December 14, 2023, Indictment returned by a federal grand jury charging a Bear, Delaware man with traveling from Delaware to New Jersey to sexually abuse an 11-year-old victim after meeting and enticing the victim over the internet.

According to the indictment and publicly filed documents, on September 10, 2023, the Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department (“WTPD”) received a report of a missing 11-year-old victim. Through investigative measures, WTPD determined that Darius Matylewich, 27, of Bear, Delaware, took the 11-year-old victim from a New Jersey home to his home in Bear, Delaware.  In assisting WTPD, the New Castle County Police Department safely recovered the 11-year-old victim and arrested Matylewich.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Matylewich met the 11-year-old victim on the internet and communicated with the victim via the online video game Roblox and social media platforms Discord, TikTok, and Snapchat.  A forensic analysis of Matylewich’s cellphone and social media uncovered message threads in which Matylewich coerced the 11-year-old victim to perform sexual acts, and, in turn, produce child pornography, for him.  Investigators also recovered messages in which Matylewich described covertly watching and following the victim near a New Jersey home. 

Matylewich used an application on his iPhone to record conversations, videos, and images of the 11-year-old performing sexual acts that Matylewich solicited from the victim via Snapchat.  Further, Matylewich stored hundreds of videos and images of the victim within the “hidden” folder of his Apple Photos application, which is only accessed via Apple’s facial recognition, FaceID.

Matylewich is charged with Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Pornography.  If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years’ incarceration up to a maximum period of life imprisonment.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Weiss and Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, commended the work of those who investigated the case, including the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill and Kevin P. Pierce are assigned to prosecute the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-102.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Nigerian national was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for conspiring to launder money derived from internet fraud schemes.  Lawal’s sentence included an order that he pay $1,460,875 in restitution to victims of the fraud schemes.  U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence. 

Olugbenga Lawal, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to commit money laundering on August 10, 2023. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lawal worked directly with the Nigeria-based leader of an international criminal organization that defrauded individuals and businesses across the United States out of millions of dollars through sophisticated internet-based fraud schemes, including romance fraud and business email compromise schemes, and laundered the proceeds of those fraud schemes.  The criminal organization frequently targeted elderly victims who believed they had fallen in love with people they had met on the internet.

Between January 2019 and June 2020, bank accounts used by Lawal and his co-conspirators to launder money on behalf of the criminal organization received millions of dollars traced directly to individuals and businesses defrauded over the internet by members of the criminal organization. 

Lawal played a vital role in laundering money for the criminal organization by working to convert the fraud dollars entering his accounts into Nigerian currency accessible in Nigeria.  He engaged in sophisticated import/export transactions involving the shipment of cars to Nigeria and currency exchange business transactions to facilitate the repatriation of the organization’s fraud proceeds back to Nigeria.

Three co-conspirators, Michael Hermann, Rita Assane, and Dwight Baines previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and have yet to be sentenced.

U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Criminal organizations around the world continue to use the internet to defraud hardworking American citizens and businesses out of millions of dollars.  Too often, those victims are elderly individuals who unknowingly give up their life savings to a fraudster.  My office and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting the criminal actors who perpetrate those frauds and individuals, like Mr. Lawal, who launder their money.”

“Lawal went to great lengths to further this sophisticated scheme to defraud vulnerable Americans and legitimate businesses,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. “This sentence is more than just, given the unscrupulous tactics used. This case demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to hold fraudsters accountable.”

This case was investigated by FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Meredith C. Ruggles of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware and Trial Attorneys Mary K. Daly and Michael Grady of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), with assistance from MLARS Trial Attorneys Madeleine Case and Jasmin Salehi Fashami.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-11.

A Nigerian national was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison and ordered to pay over $1.46 million in restitution for conspiring to launder money derived from internet fraud schemes.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Olugbenga Lawal, 33, of Indianapolis, Indiana, worked directly with the Nigeria-based leader of an international criminal organization that defrauded individuals and businesses across the United States out of millions of dollars through sophisticated internet-based fraud schemes, including romance fraud and business email compromise schemes. The criminal organization frequently targeted elderly victims who believed they had fallen in love with people they had met on the internet. Lawal then laundered millions of dollars of proceeds from the fraud schemes. 

Between January 2019 and June 2020, bank accounts used by Lawal and his co-conspirators to launder money on behalf of the criminal organization received millions of dollars traced directly to individuals and businesses defrauded over the internet by members of the criminal organization. Accounts Lawal controlled received over $3.6 million in deposits between January 2019 and May 2020. Those deposits were spread across seven different bank accounts Lawal opened in his own name or the name of his business entity, Luxe Logistics LLC. Ultimately, Lawal controlled bank accounts at no less than five different financial institutions in furtherance of his money laundering.

Additionally, Lawal played a role in laundering money for the criminal organization by converting the fraud dollars deposited in his accounts into Nigerian currency accessible in Nigeria. He engaged in import/export transactions involving the shipment of cars to Nigeria and currency exchange business transactions to facilitate the repatriation of the organization’s fraud proceeds back to Nigeria. 

On Aug. 10, 2023, Lawal was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to commit money laundering. Three co-conspirators, Michael Hermann, Rita Assane, and Dwight Baines, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss for the District of Delaware, and Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Mary K. Daly and Michael Grady of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Meredith Ruggles for District of Delaware prosecuted the case, with assistance from MLARS Trial Attorneys Madeleine Case and Jasmin Salehi Fashami.

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that ChristianaCare has paid $42.5 million to resolve allegations of health care fraud arising under the federal False Claims Act and the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act.  ChristianaCare operates three hospitals and numerous other healthcare facilities in northern Delaware and the surrounding area.  The settlement amount has been allocated between the United States and the State of Delaware based on the value of the underlying healthcare claims.

In a complaint filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act in 2017, ChristianaCare’s former chief compliance officer alleged that ChristianaCare had provided illegal remuneration to non-employee neonatologists and surgeons in the form of services from ancillary support providers (including nurse practitioners, hospitalists, and physician assistants) to inpatients at ChristianaCare hospitals.  The lawsuit alleged that the services of the ancillary support providers impermissibly sought to induce those neonatologists and surgeons to refer their patients to ChristianaCare hospitals and created financial relationships between the non-employee providers and ChristianaCare.  As a result, the complaint alleged, ChristianaCare’s claims to government-funded healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for the care it provided to the referred patients during their hospitalization violated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the physician self-referral law, also known as the Stark Law.  In 2020, after the conduct at issue in this case, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued additional guidance, clarifying the billing and patient-referral rules surrounding services provided by hospitals during inpatient stays. 

“The prohibitions on kickbacks and self-referrals in federal healthcare programs are designed to ensure that the medical decisions of healthcare providers are driven by what is in the best interest of patient care, not provider profit,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss.  “That is true regardless of who provides the care, whether it is a solo practitioner or the largest healthcare system.  My office will continue to vigorously enforce these prohibitions so that Delawareans can receive the care that is appropriate to their medical needs.” 

A whistleblower suit, or qui tam action, under the False Claims Act, is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and other evidence to the local U.S. Attorney.  The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims.  The False Claims Act provides the whistleblower with a share of the government’s recovery.        

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dylan J. Steinberg represented the United States in this matter.

Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit are on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cv-419-RGA.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Melanie Mitchell, age 35 and an Ocean View resident, was sentenced last week to 42 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine.   The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, pronounced the sentence, permitting the defendant to self-report to the designated prison on January 8, 2024. 

On September 9, 2023, Chief Judge Connolly sentenced Melanie Mitchell’s husband, Vincent Mitchell, age 35, to 48 months incarceration for the same offense.   

According to court documents, in July 2022 investigators executed a search warrant at the Mitchells’ Ocean View home and seized one pound of methamphetamine and $6,000 in cash.  The investigation demonstrated that, on a monthly basis, the Mitchells drove from Ocean View to Philadelphia where they bought a pound of methamphetamine which were they then sold in the Ocean View area.           

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Far too many people and their families suffer from substance abuse. This sentence puts an end to the Mitchells’ drug distribution business. I commend the Ocean View Police Department and DEA for working together to keep our communities safe.”

“Methamphetamine is a dangerous and powerful stimulant drug that has destroyed countless lives,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division.  “I would like to thank U.S. Attorney David Weiss and the Ocean View Police Department for their participation in and support of this case.”

The case was investigated by the Ocean View Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmund Falgowski prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-cr-02 and Case No. 23-cr-03.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Donald Gladden, 57, of New Castle, Delaware, was sentenced last week to 53 months in prison for a string of tobacco store robberies committed during a 10-day crime spree.  At the time he committed these robberies, Mr. Gladden was on supervised release – a form of post-incarceration probation in the federal system – for an earlier series of robberies he committed in Maryland.  The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, pronounced the sentence, which included 12 months for the violation of Mr. Gladden’s supervised release and 41 months for the Hobbs Act robberies.

According to Court documents, Mr. Gladden committed robberies on May 27, May 31, and June 5, 2022, using a fake gun—that appeared to be real—to obtain cash and Newport cigarettes during each incident.  The total amount of cash and cigarettes taken exceeded $10,000.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Mr. Gladden’s use of a fake gun to commit these violent acts does not minimize the terror his victims suffered.  His sentence serves as a warning to others that my office will continue to seek stiff prison sentences for those, like Mr. Gladden, who prey upon Delaware citizens.”

“The FBI remains steadfast in routing out threats to the community in any form. The heinous acts of Mr. Gladden are not reduced by an inoperable firearm, as it inflicted the same level of fear to those in the community who expect to remain safe from harm,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryeshia Holley of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “The citizens of Delaware can rely on the continued collaborative efforts of law enforcement partners to maintain their public safety.”

This case was investigated by the Delaware State Police Robbery Unit out of Troop 2 in Bear, Delaware, and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-096.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Newark, Delaware man was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for his leadership in a fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and for tampering with a witness set to testify in a federal court proceeding. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Malik Moss was arrested in December 2021, after a three-month federal wiretap investigation demonstrated that Moss and his co-conspirators purchased bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine for distribution throughout Delaware. Search warrants executed on drug stash houses associated with the conspirators yielded four firearms and various drugs -- methamphetamine, fentanyl, xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that is often sold in combination with fentanyl and heroin. 

Co-conspirator Gerardo Rodriguez was sentenced to 63 months in prison and co-conspirator Tyrell Pankins was sentenced to 110 months in prison for their respective roles in the drug distribution conspiracy.  Co-conspirators Jacob Santiago, Jesus Alfaro, and Christina Chamberlain have yet to be sentenced. 

U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious federal offense, especially when the drug dealers possess firearms.  Combining illicit drugs with xylazine increases the harmful effects stemming from drug use.  Together with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to combating drug trafficking and violent crime endangering the safety of our communities.” 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Castle County Police Department.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Delaware State Police, and Delaware Department of Correction Probation and Parole. 

The United States Attorney’s Office also seeks to connect those who suffer from substance abuse to the resources they need. If you need help, drug treatment information is available any time through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Referral Routing Service, found online at dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/ or by dialing 1.888.545.2600.  

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-24.

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Newark, Delaware man was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for his leadership in a fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and for tampering with a witness set to testify in a federal court proceeding. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.

According to court documents, Malik Moss was arrested in December 2021, after a three-month federal wiretap investigation demonstrated that Moss and his co-conspirators purchased bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine for distribution throughout Delaware. Search warrants executed on drug stash houses associated with the conspirators yielded four firearms and various drugs -- methamphetamine, fentanyl, xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that is often sold in combination with fentanyl and heroin. 

Co-conspirator Gerardo Rodriguez was sentenced to 63 months in prison and co-conspirator Tyrell Pankins was sentenced to 110 months in prison for their respective roles in the drug distribution conspiracy.  Co-conspirators Jacob Santiago, Jesus Alfaro, and Christina Chamberlain have yet to be sentenced. 

U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious federal offense, especially when the drug dealers possess firearms.  Combining illicit drugs with xylazine increases the harmful effects stemming from drug use.  Together with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to combating drug trafficking and violent crime endangering the safety of our communities.” 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Castle County Police Department.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Delaware State Police, and Delaware Department of Correction Probation and Parole. 

The United States Attorney’s Office also seeks to connect those who suffer from substance abuse to the resources they need. If you need help, drug treatment information is available any time through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Referral Routing Service, found online at dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/ or by dialing 1.888.545.2600.  

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-24.

WILMINGTON, Del. – A detective with the Smyrna Police Department was arrested and charged yesterday with violations of federal child sexual exploitation laws.

According to court documents, Michael Anthony Kealty, 33, distributed child pornography via his Snapchat account in August 2023. Federal agents executed a search warrant at his residence on September 22, 2023. Subsequently, they discovered additional child pornography in his Snapchat account.

Kealty has been charged via Complaint with Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography. If convicted of distributing child pornography, Kealty faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, with a maximum penalty of 20 years.  If convicted of possession, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case. With the cooperation of the Smyrna Police Department, the case is being investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.