Middle District of Florida

Jacksonville, Florida – Jordan Frederic Schemmel (37, Ormond Beach) has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography over the internet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Additionally, Schemmel will be required to register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on September 5, 2018, Schemmel, using the user name “Profsunrise15,” responded to a message on an internet bulletin board frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children. This message had been posted by an undercover FBI agent. Schemmel then began an online conversation with the agent using a popular social messaging application. After some conversation about sexual interest in children, Schemmel sent the agent a video that depicted a young child being sexually assaulted by an adult male, and later sent a photo depicting similar criminal conduct with a child. FBI agents were able to identify the IP address used by Schemmel and tracked it to his residence. At that time, Schemmel was a teacher at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville. 

On October 19, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Schemmel’s home. During an interview, Schemmel stated that he had sent the child-pornographic video using the app, and that he had previously tried unsuccessfully to stop viewing child pornography on a number of occasions. A forensic examination of his smartphone and a thumb drive seized from his home revealed that Schemmel had collected 106 images and 28 videos depicting young children being sexually abused.   

This case was investigated by the FBI, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Keith Kirchoff (41, Key West) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime. A jury had found Kirchoff guilty on February 26, 2019.

According to testimony presented at trial, in March 2018, Kirchoff conspired with members of the Pagans motorcycle club to deliver ounce quantities of methamphetamine to Pagans members located in Daytona Beach and Key West, Florida. On March 21, 2018, members of the Florida Highway Patrol pulled over a vehicle driven by Kirchoff and found nearly 10 ounces of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.

“The FBI is committed to dismantling criminal organizations who threaten the safety of Central Florida,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, “and we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, the DEA, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Jacksonville, Florida – Lepoleon Spikes (47, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving fraudulently obtained FEMA benefits. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and has agreed to pay $57,789.19 in restitution to the United States. 

According to the plea agreement, in February 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) received an allegation that Spikes had provided false information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to receive disaster assistance. Further investigation determined that Spikes had submitted applications to receive disaster assistance from FEMA involving Tropical Storm Debby, Hurricane Matthew, and Hurricane Irma. In the applications, Spikes falsely claimed that his primary residence in Jacksonville had been damaged due to a storm, causing him to relocate. Based on these false claims, Spikes fraudulently obtained $57,789.19 in disaster assistance from FEMA.

This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to disaster@leo.gov. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.

Ft. Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Kay F. Gow (68, Naples) to 10 years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to defraud Lee County out of $5 million in grant funds, an individual investor out of $500,000, and the laundering of the proceeds. As part of Gow’s sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $1.93 million, the proceeds of the criminal conduct. Judge Steele also sentenced co-conspirator John G. Williams, Jr. (67, Suffolk, VA) to 30 months in federal prison. 

Kay Gow, her husband, Robert Gow, and Williams were found guilty by a federal jury on February 22, 2019. Robert Gow is now deceased.

According to evidence presented at trial, the Gows owned and controlled multiple entities, including HerbalScience Group, LLC and HerbalScience Singapore Pte, Ltd. In 2010, the Gows formed VR Laboratories, LLC, in order to apply for a $5 million grant through the Lee County Financial Incentives for Recruiting Strategic Targets (“FIRST”) program. The FIRST program consisted of taxpayer funds that had been set aside by the county to bring economic development projects to the Ft. Myers area. In seeking the FIRST grant, the Gows made numerous false and fraudulent representations to various individuals and government entities about the financial success and that of HerbalScience, VR Labs, including that VR Labs was poised to become a leading global formulator and manufacturer of botanical pharmaceuticals. Ultimately, Lee County awarded VR Labs $5 million in FIRST grant funds to build a manufacturing facility that the Gows had claimed would bring hundreds of high-paying jobs and economic growth to Lee County. 

Once VR Labs executed an agreement with Lee County, Williams, a long-time friend of the Gows, registered a fictitious name, “Williams Specialty Bottling Equipment,” with the Florida Secretary of State. The Gows then represented that Williams would provide the bottling line for the manufacturing facility, when he had no such experience or expertise. Williams used false and fraudulent invoices for work and services allegedly performed on the bottling line to make demands for payment and, once paid, kicked back a substantial portion of the funds to VR Labs and the Gows. The Gows then used Williams’s false and fraudulent invoices to justify requests to Lee County for the payment of grant money. Once VR Labs received the grant funds, the Gows fraudulently transferred those funds to entities they owned and controlled, and ultimately to themselves, by disguising the transfers as fees, salaries, expenses, and other items. They also tried to conceal the source of the kickbacks through the creation of fictitious entities and documents.

Ultimately, Lee County disbursed approximately $4.7 million in FIRST grant funds to VR Labs, but the manufacturing facility was never completed or operational.

Having exhausted the stolen grant funds, the Gows defrauded additional private investors. One such investor lost his retirement savings of $500,000.  

“The FBI works diligently to ensure that those who profit from deception and greed are brought to justice,”said Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Division Eric W. Sporre. “Honest, hardworking individuals deserve our protection and we encourage anyone with information regarding fraudulent activity to contact law enforcement immediately.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke, Michael Leeman, and Josephine W. Thomas.

Orlando, FL – Kenneth Bernard Smith (54, Winter Garden) pleaded guilty today to two counts of possessing ammunition and a firearm as a convicted felon and two counts of distributing cocaine and heroin. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2019.

According to court documents, on February 8, 2019, deputies from the Orange County Sherriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a fatal drug overdose that had occurred in an apartment in Winter Garden, where Smith was the sole resident. The deputies found materials used for drug distribution as well as over 550 rounds of ammunition in the apartment. At the time, Smith had numerous prior felony convictions, including three felony convictions for drug distribution.

On February 20, 2019, law enforcement officers conducted an undercover purchase of cocaine from Smith. On March 6, 2019, officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s home and seized cocaine and heroin, packaged for distribution, along with a loaded 10 mm firearm.    

This case was investigated by the Orange County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the formation of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, which held its first meeting on May 16, 2019. The task force consists of federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors, along with several victims’ services organizations. Members of the task force will work collectively to improve upon the detection, investigation, prosecution, and victim assistance efforts in human trafficking matters throughout the Tampa Bay area.

“Combating human trafficking is a priority for the Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “The Tampa Division of the United States Attorney’s Office covers eight counties and serves a population of over 4.4 million people. We intend to combine the resources, efforts and expertise of our task force partners to fight human trafficking at every level, from prevention, investigation and enforcement, to supporting the victims of these heinous crimes.”

For more information about the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force, please contact AUSA Mandy Riedel or Victim Coordinator Chris Griffiths at 813-274-6000.

Ocala, Florida – Winyontis Quavari Gordon (28, Ocala) pleaded guilty yesterday to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Gordon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life, imprisonment for the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on July 5, 2018, detectives from the Ocala Police Department attempted to arrest Gordon on an outstanding state warrant.  Upon seeing the approaching detectives, Gordon exited the driver’s side of a parked car and fled on foot. Following a brief chase, the detectives took Gordon into custody and discovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun on the driver’s seat of the car, where Gordon had been sitting. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Gordon admitted that he had possessed the loaded firearm.      

A records check confirmed that Gordon has prior state felony convictions for aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, domestic battery by strangulation, and felony battery. These felony convictions prohibit Gordon from lawfully possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. They will also qualify Gordon for an enhanced sentence as an Armed Career Criminal.   

The Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives jointly investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Jacksonville, Florida – Anthony Davis Stagnitta (22, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to distributing child sex abuse videos using the internet. Stagnitta faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison, as well as a potential life term of supervised release. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, in February 2018, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children that was occurring on a popular messaging application. The agents discovered that between November 24 and December 3, 2017, Stagnitta had engaged in online conversations with other users in a public group chat on the app and had discussed trading child pornography. On December 3, 2017, Stagnitta sent a video to the group that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of an infant.

On April 30, 2018, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Stagnitta’s home in Jacksonville. During an interview, Stagnitta admitted that he had discussed child pornography using this app, had sent videos of child pornography to other users via private messaging, and had posted videos in the group chats. Forensic analysis of Stagnitta’s cellphone revealed that it contained 2,904 images depicting young children being sexually abused.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Travis B. Hall (38, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison, and Antonio Mobley (43, Orlando) to 14 years and 11 months in federal prison, for committing armed robberies at convenience stores in the Orlando area and for brandishing firearms during these crimes of violence. In addition, Derrick M. Davis (38, Orlando) was sentenced to 14 years and 7 months’ imprisonment for participating in the robberies.  

According to court records, on March 1, 2018, at 8:50 p.m., Hall and Davis robbed a convenience store at a Sunoco gas station in Kissimmee. Davis planned the robbery and drove Hall to the store, where Hall began filling a large trash bag with cartons of cigarettes. The attendant on-duty engaged in a shoving match with Hall, after which Hall lifted up his shirt to display a firearm in his waistband and then completed the robbery. Davis and Hall sold the stolen cartons of cigarettes to a cigarette vendor in exchange for cash.

On March 2, 2018, at 7:10 p.m., Davis, Hall, and Mobley robbed a convenience store at a Mobil gas station in Ocoee. Davis planned the robbery, drove Mobley and Hall to the store, and provided Mobley with a firearm. After entering the store, Mobley placed an on-duty attendant in a headlock and held the firearm to the attendant’s head, while Hall filled a trash bag with cartons of cigarettes. Davis, Hall, and Mobley then sold the stolen cartons of cigarettes to a cigarette vendor in exchange for cash.

On March 2, 2018, at 10:08 p.m., Davis, Hall, and Mobley robbed another convenience store at a Marathon gas station in Kissimmee. Davis drove Mobley and Hall to the store and then again provided Mobley with a firearm. After entering the store, Mobley held the on-duty attendant at gunpoint while Hall filled two trash bags with cartons of cigarettes. Hall and Mobley then fled with the firearm and cigarettes.

Hall and Mobley pleaded guilty on October 10, 2018. Davis pleaded guilty on February 27, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocoee Police Department, the Kissimmee Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Daniel Butler (29, Miami) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Butler faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 2 years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft count and up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Butler and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained access to at least 477 credit card accounts and linked those accounts to the Apple Pay application on their iPhones. Then, using their iPhones, Butler and the others made purchases using the victims’ credit card accounts, all without having to present actual credit cards to retailers. The group made more than $1.5 million in fraudulent purchases.

Three co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this scheme. Johnny Max Wesley (23, Miami) was sentenced in December 2018 to four years in federal prison. Laurent Pierre Louis (30, Miami) is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 2019, and Rachel Bishop (26, Miami), is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18, 2019.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.

Jacksonville, Florida – Jaceta Anya Streeter (38, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud charge and a consecutive minimum mandatory term of 2 years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft charge. Streeter was also ordered to pay restitution to her victims.

According to court documents, in 2006, after being found guilty at trial for participating in a scheme involving the passing of counterfeit checks, Streeter was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. After she was released from prison and while on federal supervised release, the court issued a warrant for Streeter, as her whereabouts were unknown and she was considered a fugitive. When the U.S. Marshals Service eventually located and arrested her in Orlando, she had multiple counterfeit forms of identification in her possession. A follow-up investigation by law enforcement determined that Streeter had engaged in a scheme involving credit card fraud and identity theft. She obtained credit card account numbers for various victims, along with the victims’ personal identifiable information. Using this information, Streeter went to various merchants, including home improvement and clothing stores, and fraudulently purchased large quantities of merchandise.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Treasury – Office of Inspector General Jacksonville Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the United States Secret Service Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Orlando, Florida – Jeffrey McKinney (61, Minneola) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for his scheme to steal over $750,000 from his employer and one of its executives. McKinney is facing up to 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and will be ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing has not yet been set.

According to court documents, McKinney is a Certified Public Accountant and was the Controller of a local business. In addition to serving as the Controller, McKinney was responsible for moving funds between various accounts held by the business and one of its executives. For a period of over a year and a half, McKinney used his position to embezzle over $750,000 from those accounts. To cover up his thefts, McKinney falsified check stubs, moved money between accounts to hide what he had stolen, and provided the executive with reports that inflated the amount of money that remained in the executive’s accounts.                            

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Vorarut Vorasiangsuk (36, Orlando) guilty of two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. For each count of receipt of child pornography, Vorasiangsuk faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, and up to 20 years in federal prison. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for the possession count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2019.

Vorasiangsuk was indicted on February 13, 2019.

According to testimony presented at trial, in January 2019, the FBI conducted a search warrant at Vorasiangsuk’s residence. At that time, Vorasiangsuk confessed to having used peer-to-peer file-sharing programs to download child pornography from the internet, and he admitted that he had been downloading and viewing child pornography for approximately 15 years. Vorasiangsuk, a respiratory therapist, also told the agents that he had been working primarily with babies at a local healthcare facility for at least 10 years. The FBI recovered nine computer devices from Vorasiangsuk, containing thousands of images of child pornography, including images depicting young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Ocala, Florida – Michael Guell (37, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on November 28, 2018, Guell was admitted to an Ocala-area hospital for gunshot wounds. When police arrived at the hospital, Guell told them that he had been robbed at gunpoint and shot by an unknown assailant. Investigating further, police located Guell’s car and saw shell casings and handgun ammunition through the car’s window. When interviewed a second time, Guell admitted that he had been drinking in his car and had accidentally shot himself. A search of Guell’s vehicle revealed a semi-automatic handgun, 26 rounds of ammunition, and multiple shell casings. 

As a convicted felon, Guell is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, FL – Maria Chapa Lopez recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019, and remembers those law enforcement officers killed and assaulted in 2018. During this month, communities throughout the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) will hold public memorial services honoring fallen officers and showing support for their families. In addition, multiple agencies will embark upon various media campaigns to strengthen connections between officers and citizens and to show appreciation for the officers’ continued service. The MDFL is home to more than 160 law enforcement agencies.

In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice. 

“The Middle District of Florida joins the entire nation in saluting police officers throughout the country for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice in keeping our communities safe,” stated U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We appreciate the tenacity and commitment of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners who often place themselves in harm’s way to protect us, daily.  They have our unwavering support.”

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including 1officer, Adam Edward Jobbers-Miller, here in the Middle District of Florida.

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.

The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.

Five Middle District of Florida officers were added to the Memorial this year: Deputy Sheriff Kevin James Stanton from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Officer Lance Christian Whitaker from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Officer Thomas Coulter from the Daytona Beach Police Department, Officer Adam Edward Jobbers-Miller from the Fort Myers Police Department, and Deputy Sheriff Benjamin LeMont Zirbel from the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.      

For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.

 

Orlando, Florida – Lavitress Williams (39, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and five counts of passing counterfeit checks. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of passing a counterfeit check. Williams will also be ordered to pay restitution to her victims.

According to court documents, in 2013, Williams was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a scheme involving counterfeit travelers’ checks that were passed at Target stores located throughout the southeastern United States. After she was released from prison, and while serving on federal supervised release, Williams engaged in another fraud scheme in which she passed counterfeit checks at Walgreens and CVS stores in central Florida.

Over the course of more than five months, Williams passed, or attempted to pass, counterfeit checks at more than 30 drugstores. The total amount of actual and attempted losses associated with the scheme is estimated at over $60,000.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the Eatonville Police Department, the Maitland Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Robert Richard Jodoin (50, Flagler Beach) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for importing GHB into the United States, distributing benzoyl fentanyl, possessing with the intent to distribute N-Ethylhexedrone, maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing controlled substances, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Jodoin to forfeit the web domain PRIMALVISIONS.NET, which Jodoin had used to sell drugs. Jodoin had pleaded guilty on February 6, 2019.

According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating Jodoin. The investigating agencies discovered that multiple drug overdose victims around the country had purchased their drugs from Jodoin via his website. The investigation revealed that Jodoin was selling a wide array of controlled substances on his website, including fentanyl analogues. He routinely imported controlled substances from outside the United States, including, on one occasion, more than a kilogram of GHB. Information received from local law enforcement agencies revealed multiple overdose victims around the country had identified PRIMALVISIONS.NET as their drug source.  One of the overdose victims told law enforcement that he had purchased fentanyl, methamphetamine, and ketamine from the website.

In May 2018, an undercover special agent with HSI purchased drugs from Jodoin.

Also in May 2018, during the time the undercover buy was being conducted, Jodoin posted an advertisement on PRIMALVISIONS.NET offering $1,300 to anyone who would beat up his girlfriend, and stated that she was “wanted dead or alive.” Jodoin also solicited the undercover agent via text message to “take out” his girlfriend.

Federal agents also learned that Jodoin was using the Flagler Beach Post Office to receive international drug shipments and to mail drug packages to his customers across the country. On May 26, 2018, a postal inspector was alerted that a package addressed to PRIMAL VISIONS had arrived from China. A border search of the parcel revealed that it contained more than 100 grams of N-Ethylhexedrone, a controlled substance analogue. On June 6, 2018, the package was scanned as available for pickup, and law enforcement observed as Jodoin traveled from his residence to the Flagler Beach Post Office. Upon arriving, Jodoin took possession of the package and was arrested as he exited the building. 

Also on June 6, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jodoin’s residence and located a drug packaging table with a mortar and pestle for grinding drugs, a drug scale, large quantities of USPS packaging materials, and drug dosing spoons and pipes. Next to the drug packaging table was a .380 caliber pistol, which was loaded.

“This case highlights the wide range of criminal statutes our HSI special agents enforce,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Our communities are safer with this criminal and his drugs off our streets.”

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Florida National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Flagler Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

Tampa, FL – A federal jury has found Rudolph Randolph Meighan (28, Belize), Jorge Ramon Newball-May (48, Colombia), and Calbot Reid-Dilbert (59, Colombia) each guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as well as one count of possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on that vessel. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for August 7, 2019. A fourth defendant, Emiro Hinestroza-Newbbooll, is awaiting trial.

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants were part of an international maritime drug smuggling operation involving at least 600 kilograms of cocaine, worth approximately $18 million, that was bound for the United States. Randolph Meighan was the Belizean load guard for a Cartagena, Colombia-based cocaine smuggling crew, which included Newball-May and Reid-Dilbert as crewmembers. Prior to their interdiction by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the individuals were transporting approximately 30-to-40 bales of cocaine onboard a go-fast vessel from Colombia to Belize, following a known cocaine smuggling route known as the “Honduras Rise.”

On December 1, 2018, a USCG HC-130 aircraft deployed from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina spotted and recorded the defendants onboard a go-fast vessel traveling north at a high rate of speed, approximately 110 nautical miles southwest of Jamaica. In an attempt to destroy evidence and evade capture, the defendants jettisoned all of the cocaine bales onboard the vessel and sank them to the ocean bottom, by tying the bales to their outboard engines and throwing the engines (their only means of propulsion) overboard. The USCG aircrew thwarted that attempt and was able to observe and record most of the jettison.

Later that day, the men and their now engine-less vessel were interdicted and boarded by USCG law enforcement officers from Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific. That boarding yielded crucial evidence consistent with cocaine trafficking, including trace amounts of cocaine present on the smuggling vessel and the defendants.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas DeRenzo and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that 11 individuals have entered guilty pleas stemming from a conspiracy to distribute, to possess with the intent to distribute, to manufacture, and to possess with the intent to manufacture at least one kilogram of heroin, at least 40 grams of fentanyl, carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, cyclopropylfentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, the distribution of which resulted in one death from carfentanil intoxication.

Manatee/Pasco Drug Trafficking Organization 

Name

Age, Residence

Status

Rafael Sanchez, a/k/a “Chico Jay”

30, Palmetto

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute, possess with the intent to distribute, manufacture, and possess with the intent to manufacture at least one kilogram of heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Jerome Miller, a/k/a “Madball”

30, Bradenton (Deceased)

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute, possess with the intent to distribute, manufacture, and possess with the intent to manufacture at least one kilogram of heroin.

Faced a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

James McClinton

40, Dade City

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute, possess with the intent to distribute, manufacture, and possess with the intent to manufacture at least one kilogram of heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Jose Venegas, a/k/a “Tiny”

24, Dade City

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute, possess with the intent to distribute, manufacture, and possess with the intent to manufacture at least one kilogram of heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Bryan Reshaun Wright

36, Dade City

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Robert Lee Nealey

38, Dade City

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Eduardo Sanchez-Lara, a/k/a “Lalo”

42, Atlanta, GA

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Demetrius Cherilus Morancy, a/k/a “Pearl”

26, Bradenton

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin, at least 40 grams of fentanyl, and other controlled substances.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Homar Guerrero-Hernandez

25, Bradenton

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin, at least 40 grams of fentanyl, and carfentanil resulting in death. Pleaded guilty to 1 count of distribution of carfentanil resulting in death.

Faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life in federal prison.

Wilson Peter Revange, a/k/a “Jackboi”

26, Bradenton

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and other controlled substances.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Aljan Blanchard

27, Bradenton

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

 

According to the plea agreements and other filings in this case, these 11 individuals were part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other substances. The DTO operated in and around Manatee and Pasco Counties, with ties to other criminal organizations in Georgia and elsewhere. In July 2018, the DTO conspired to receive heroin from a Mexican transnational criminal organization and then convert it into at least a kilogram of heroin for street distribution. Law enforcement seized the heroin from the DTO while it was being prepared for distribution and also seized fentanyl, carfentanil, and other fentanyl analogues, after recording purchases of opioids from various members of the DTO. In all, the investigation resulted in the seizure of more than a kilogram of heroin; various amounts of fentanyl, carfentanil and other fentanyl analogues; firearms; and cash proceeds from the drug trafficking.

In addition, law enforcement officers identified an overdose that occurred in spring 2017 that was linked to the DTO. Homar Guerrero-Hernandez had distributed carfentanil to a person in Manatee County, who later died from ingesting the drug.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Ruben Longoria, Jr. (31, Dallas, Texas), a/k/a “Scooter,” to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Texas into the Middle District of Florida.

Longoria had pleaded guilty on January 29, 2019.

According to court documents, Longoria was a supplier of methamphetamine in Dallas, Texas, who had planned to distribute at least three kilograms of methamphetamine to the Pasco County area. After several recorded conversations between Longoria and a cooperating defendant, the Drug Enforcement Administration obtained a search warrant for Longoria’s Dallas residence. During the execution of the warrant on September 19, 2018, law enforcement officers seized almost 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as a trafficking amount of cocaine and a loaded firearm.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from a task force in DEA’s Dallas Field Division, as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, Florida– Chief U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday today sentenced Luilly Rafael Almonte Hiciano (48, St. Pete Beach) to four years and three months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and lying to the United States government. The court also ordered Hiciano to pay restitution to the victim of the offense.

Hiciano had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2019, to one count of aggravated identity theft and two counts of lying to the United States government. As part of the plea agreement, Hiciano agreed that he may be removed from the United States and denied immigration benefits in the future.

According to court documents, Hiciano attempted to move to the United States in 1999, but was denied a visa to enter. Nevertheless, he moved to the United States and assumed the identity of an unsuspecting U.S. citizen, which Hiciano used for approximately 18 years until his arrest in 2018. Hiciano used the victim’s identity to obtain two U.S. Passports, driver licenses, and three Social Security cards. In addition, between 2004 and 2010, Hiciano served approximately 3 ½ years in jail for crimes he had committed using the victim’s identity.

“The Diplomatic Security Service is firmly committed to making sure that those who commit passport fraud face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Frederick R. Stolper, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Miami Field Office. “The strong relationship we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies around the world is vital towards ensuring the integrity of U.S. travel documents and protecting greater U.S. interests.”

“Illegal aliens who commit identity theft and fraudulently acquire U.S. passports are a threat to our nation’s security,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “The U.S. passport is one of the most valuable travel documents in the world and HSI places a high priority on investigating document and benefit fraud.”

This case was investigated by the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel George.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Jonathan Cody (53, Jacksonville) to 37 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm while an unlawful user of controlled substances. The court also ordered Cody to pay a $5000 fine. Cody’s girlfriend, Kyle Ann Louise Mollgren (30, Jacksonville), was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Cody and Mollgren had pleaded guilty on October 10, 2018.

According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, in late 2017, Cody and Mollgren sold three firearms that belonged to Cody to two Jacksonville drug dealers. One of those firearms was a Colt .556 caliber law enforcement carbine with an extended magazine, which Cody and Mollgren sold to Nathaniel Harrison on September 21, 2017. Later that day, Harrison sold the firearm to an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. After Harrison was arrested, he identified Cody and Mollgren as the individuals who had sold the firearm to him. Harrison pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearms charges on February 23, 2018, and was later sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

On February 9, 2018, Cody and Mollgren were interviewed by ATF agents and admitted that they had sold the Colt .556 caliber law enforcement carbine to Harrison in exchange for money and drugs. Cody and Mollgren estimated that they had purchased $10,000 worth of drugs from Harrison. During this time, Cody was an unlawful user of crack cocaine, and Mollgren was a convicted felon. Both Cody and Mollgren were prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Michael Glenn Chope, (55, Orange Park) with four counts of production of child pornography. If convicted, Chope faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count. Chope has been ordered detained pending trial. 

According to court documents, on March 13, 2019, detectives from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office met with Chope regarding the investigation into a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to child pornography. Chope confirmed his email address and telephone number were the same ones identified during the investigation and stated he was the only one to use his electronics and computers. Chope also admitted to viewing and possessing child pornography, including on several devices in his home. Detectives seized multiple electronic devices from Chope’s home and analyzed their contents. The detectives located numerous images produced by Chope depicting him sexually abusing and exploiting a child to whom he had access. Following Clay County Sheriff’s Office’s contact with Chope, he fled the state. Chope was arrested on April 3, 2019, in Rowlett, Texas. 

Chope was originally charged by federal complaint for a single count of production of child pornography. He was later indicted for four counts of production of child pornography that had been created between approximately May 2015 and February 2018. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.        

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Kelly Karase.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced James Kamisky (54, Augusta, GA) to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy involving the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine in Orlando. In addition, Jada Thomas (28, Orlando) was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison for her participation in the drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and Dejah Gooding (23, Snellville, GA) was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months’ imprisonment for her participation in the drug conspiracy.

Kamisky had pleaded guilty on January 15, 2019. Thomas and Gooding had pleaded guilty on January 22, 2019, and December 18, 2018, respectively.

According to court documents, in November 2018, Kamisky possessed with the intent to distribute more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine. Kamisky provided Thomas and Gooding with approximately 1.4 kilograms of this methamphetamine, which they attempted to sell to a Drug Enforcement Administration informant on November 13, 2018, at an Orlando resort. At the time of the attempted sale, Thomas was in possession of a loaded firearm. Later in the day on November 13, 2018, Kamisky attempted to deliver more methamphetamine to Thomas and Gooding, at which time law enforcement agents arrested him after a brief vehicle pursuit. 

“The Drug Enforcement Administration is committed to investigating those individuals or organizations that are distributing dangerous drugs, committing acts of violence, and fueling the addiction that destroys communities and families,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Marcus R. Anderson.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Longwood Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Allen Griffin (23, Coral Springs) to four years and nine months in federal prison for his role in a check counterfeiting scheme. The court also ordered Griffin to pay nearly $80,000 in restitution to financial institutions. Griffin had pleaded guilty on February 21, 2019, to seven counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. 

According to court documents, during the summer of 2018, Griffin and his co-conspirators created counterfeit checks and obtained access to individual bank accounts into which they deposited the counterfeit checks. Griffin and his co-conspirators then withdrew the funds from those accounts before the fraud was detected. Griffin and his co-conspirators deposited counterfeit checks totaling more than $370,000 into Orlando-area banks.  

On August 3, 2018, Griffin was arrested at a hotel in Orlando. He had blank check stock paper in his car and hotel room, a printer and laptop that he had used to create counterfeit checks, computerized images of signatures used on the counterfeit checks, ATM cards that had been used in the check fraud scheme, and an ATM receipt from one of the fraudulent transactions. Griffin was also captured on bank surveillance video depositing counterfeit checks and making withdrawals from accounts where the counterfeit checks had recently been deposited.       

Griffin’s co-defendants, Wesley Anderson and Christopher Stewart, have both pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2019. 

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Orange County Sherriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Trumaine “Lucky” Muller (34, Orange Park) to life in federal prison for distributing a lethal dose of fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of an 18-year old woman.

A federal jury had found Muller guilty on January 16, 2019. The jury also convicted Muller of other felony drug offenses and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

According to court documents, on November 9, 2016, at approximately 10:30 pm, Muller sold heroin (which was actually fentanyl) to Christopher Williams and Tyler Hamilton. Williams and Hamilton provided a portion of the substance to “A.B.,” an 18-year old female. A.B., a first time opiate user, snorted what she believed was a small dose of heroin. However, the substance that Muller had sold was fentanyl, which caused the death of A.B. at approximately 4:45 am on November 10, 2016.

On January 31, 2017, during the ensuing investigation into A.B.’s death, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office made a controlled purchase of heroin and furanylfentanyl from Muller. On February 8, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant, officers seized furanylfentanyl and a loaded revolver from an apartment in Clay County where Muller had been living.

Christopher Williams and Tyler Hamilton previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court.

“Families and communities have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic. I commend law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their skillful investigation and prosecution of Trumaine Muller for the overdose death of AB,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson.

“We appreciate the hard work of everyone involved in this. This is truly teamwork at its finest,” stated Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tysen Duva.

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury yesterday found Robert Francis Pratersch (57, Kissimmee) guilty of threatening a federal official and interstate transmission of a threat to injure. Pratersch faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2019. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Pratersch left three threatening voicemail messages at the Office of Senator Bernie Sanders in Burlington, Vermont. These profanity-laced messages included a threat to “behead” Senator Sanders, “ISIS-style,” and videotape the execution. The messages also included numerous anti-Semitic remarks directed at Senator Sanders. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Jerome Stancil (52, Jacksonville) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

Stancil had been found guilty on January 31, 2019, following a bench trial.

According to court documents, Stancil was stopped by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for speeding. The officers discovered that Stancil was in violation of his state probation curfew and also noticed an odor of marijuana coming from Stancil’s vehicle. Officers searched Stancil’s car and found a loaded .40 caliber pistol near the driver’s seat. Stancil admitted that the firearm was his and said it was for protection.

At the time, Stancil had prior convictions in Virginia for multiple drug trafficking felonies. As a result of his prior convictions, Stancil was prohibited from possessing a firearm and qualified as an armed career criminal under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Kirk David Blank (50, Largo) to nine years in federal prison for transporting child pornography. The court also ordered Blank to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victims of his offense and to forfeit the electronic devices that he had used in the commission of the offense.

Blank had pleaded guilty on December 13, 2018.

According to court documents, Blank was a member of an online chat group where members discussed the sexual abuse of children and shared child pornographic images and videos. Between September 3 and September 13, 2017, Blank distributed multiple links to online cloud storage accounts containing images and videos that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In total, the links that Blank shared contained approximately 2,630 child-pornographic images and videos. Blank admitted to law enforcement officers that he had shared the links with the group because he desired to be elevated to the position of an administrator in the chat group.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced two illegal aliens, Mario Perez-Ramos (33) and Ansonitc Torres-Ibarra (34), both of Mt. Dora, to 87 months and 78 months in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a drug conspiracy involving the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine in Lake County. Both individuals have been detained since their arrest and are expected to be deported to Mexico following their prison sentences. 

Perez-Ramos and Torres-Ibarra had entered guilty pleas on January 24, 2019.

According to court documents, agents from Homeland Security Investigations arrested Perez-Ramos and Torres-Ibarra on December 3, 2018, in the parking lot of a Mt. Dora motel. The men had two kilograms of methamphetamine in their possession that they had planned to sell to an undercover law enforcement officer. 

“These individuals were members of an international money laundering drug trafficking organization who sold dangerous drugs in our community,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “After they are held accountable for these crimes in U.S. prison, they will be deported to Mexico.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced James Adelbert Walker, II (43, Leesburg) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Walker had pleaded guilty on February 5, 2019.

According to court documents, in November 2018, agents with Homeland Security Investigations identified Walker as a distributor of large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Lake County, Florida. Working with a confidential source, agents intercepted an inbound parcel containing four kilograms of methamphetamine intended for Walker. The source then placed a series of recorded telephone calls to Walker in which Walker described his role in distributing “5-10 kilograms [of methamphetamine] per week” over the previous year. Subsequently, Walker was arrested when he attempted to purchase four kilograms of methamphetamine directly from undercover agents. Afterwards, a search of Walker’s residence revealed a firearm, ammunition, numerous packages of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine that was intended for distribution.  

“This investigation disrupted a money laundering and drug trafficking organization,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “Thanks to HSI and our law enforcement partners, including the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Lake County and Sumter County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Winter Park and Orlando Police Departments we have stopped dangerous drugs from hitting the streets of our communities.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Winter Park Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Jacksonville, FL – Timothy Tijwan Doctor (42, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Due to his extensive criminal history, Doctor qualifies as an Armed Career Criminal and faces an enhanced minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on August 11, 2018, multiple officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at a residence in Jacksonville. As the officers arrived, they observed a crowd of individuals in front of the residence, some yelling, who were engaging in a confrontation. As officers separated individuals in the crowd, Doctor was identified as having a firearm. Officers made contact with Doctor and removed a Ruger 9mm pistol from his waistband. The pistol was loaded with a round in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine. At the time, Doctor had numerous prior felony convictions and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced German De Jesus Ventura (40, Sumter County) to an additional 48 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The sentence will be served consecutive to an existing 35-year prison sentence that Ventura was already serving at the time he committed the assault. 

Ventura had pleaded guilty on February 7, 2019.

According to court documents, Ventura was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida. In August 2017, he repeatedly struck another inmate in the back of the head with a homemade contraband weapon consisting of a solid metal plate attached to a lanyard. The other inmate suffered a large head wound, two depressed skull fractures, and significant blood loss. A correctional officer who had witnessed the assault quickly apprehended Ventura as Ventura attempted to discard the weapon and flee from the area where the attack had occurred.        

This case was investigated by the FBI—Ocala Resident Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Albert Chris Partee (25, Cocoa Beach) with disaster-assistance fraud involving Hurricane Irma. If convicted, Partee faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.

Partee is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges in Indiana. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Jacksonville on May 20, 2019.

According to the indictment, in September 2017, Partee falsified records concerning his primary residence when submitting an application for assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to disaster@leo.gov. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Erika Paola Intriago (44, Tampa) with four counts of wire fraud and three counts of wrongfully using government seals. If convicted, Intriago faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to five years in federal prison for each count of wrongfully using government seals.

According to the

indictment , Intriago portrayed herself as an immigration attorney and personal representative offering immigration-related services. She advertised her services on social media, targeting immigrants and immigrant families from Spanish-speaking countries. In fact, Intriago was not a licensed attorney.

Victims retained and paid Intriago to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other agencies. To show that she was acting on the victims’ behalf, Intriago sent fraudulent letters, emails, receipts, documents, and communications to her victims fraudulently representing that the records were legitimate communications sent from agencies of the United States, including the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS. In actuality, Intriago had either never filed the necessary immigration paperwork, or had abandoned the immigration process, or the applications had already been denied without Intriago informing the victims. Intriago also threatened and intimidated victims who complained about her conduct by telling them that she would report their immigration status to U.S. immigration authorities, which Intriago claimed would result in the victims being deported.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

Any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible victim is urged to contact the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody has sentenced Marion Dwight, Jr., a/k/a “Woe,” (31, Lakeland) to 23 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Dwight had pleaded guilty on February 23, 2018.

According to court documents, from at least May 2015 and continuing through July 20, 2017, Dwight conspired with others to commit multiple armed robberies and burglaries of several local drug dealers within the Middle District of Florida. Dwight was the leader of the organization and had orchestrated the robberies. To date, the FBI has identified at least 14 armed robberies and 4 armed burglaries that were committed by Dwight and his co-conspirators. The conspirators discharged and otherwise brandished firearms during the commission of all of the robberies and burglaries. In many instances, small children were present at the time of the robberies.

Dwight’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and each faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, as noted below:

 

Name

Age, Residence

Status

Bradney Henry McGary

32, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 1 count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 19 years and 2 months in prison on October 17, 2018.

Sherrod Raeshad Gordon,

a/k/a “Hott”

32, Tampa

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 29 years and 8 months in prison on February 1, 2019.

Michael James Baker,

a/k/a “Bake,”

a/k/a “Maserati”

35, Clearwater

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 21 years and 4 months in prison on April 12, 2019.

Fredrick James Burney, Jr.,

a/k/a “Frido”

a/k/a “Free”

28, Clearwater

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 12, 2019.

Antonio Marquis Roddy,

a/k/a “Lil Head”

31, Orlando

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of discharging and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 17 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

Sentencing scheduled for May 10, 2019.

Jevin Michael Stone

30, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery, 2 counts of, and 2 counts of discharging and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

Sentenced to 23 years and 5 months in prison on April 12, 2019.

 

Shamar Thomas

 

26, Clearwater

Found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and using or carrying a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, after a jury trial on October 11, 2018.

Sentenced to 35 years in prison on February 1, 2019.

 

"This case exemplifies the determination and dedication of the Tampa Bay Safe Streets Task Force to rid our communities of violent crime", said Eric W. Sporre, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. "This gang brought fear and violence to neighborhoods from Clearwater to Orlando. I want to commend the work of our special agents, task force officers and prosecutors who worked diligently throughout this investigation to protect our community and stop the violence."

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell. Co-conspirator Shamar Lajuan Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and James Muench.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kimberly Dues (37, Jacksonville) with disaster assistance fraud involving Hurricane Irma. If convicted, Dues faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, plus restitution to the United States. Dues made her initial appearance in federal court yesterday. Her arraignment is set for April 24, 2019.

According to the indictment, in September 2017, Dues falsified records concerning her primary residence when submitting an application for assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to disaster@leo.gov . You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Richard Huntington (45, Lakeland) to 120 days in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Huntington was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. He had pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019.        

According to court documents, Huntington, a former U.S. Postal carrier, provided addresses along his delivery route to coconspirators who arranged to have packages containing marijuana shipped from Oregon to those addresses. When the packages arrived and were placed in Huntington’s control, Huntington would scan the packages as delivered to the addresses, and then turn them over to his coconspirators for further distribution of the marijuana.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Mirza Afzal Hussain (56, Brandon) to 37 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor, document fraud, and aggravated identity theft. 

A federal jury found Hussain guilty on January 11, 2019, after a one-week trial.      

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Hussain agreed to house his sister and her family, including two minor daughters, when the relatives legally immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh in 2010. Hussain’s relatives were culturally and socially isolated, did not have employment, lacked transportation, and spoke very little English. During their stay at his house, Hussain developed a romantic and sexual interest in his 12-year old niece. He bought the child tight fitting clothing, romantic jewelry, and cellphones. He also sexually battered his niece and started living with her openly as if she were his spouse—in front of her family and his wife.

Hussain’s wife left him, and, in early 2012, the relatives (including his 12-year-old niece), also moved out of his home. Hussain sent numerous sexually explicit text messages to his niece—professing his love for her and his intention to marry her, discussing sex with her, soliciting naked photographs from her, and asking her to masturbate for him. He also manipulated her into falsifying reports claiming that her parents were abusing her.

In November 2012, Hussain traveled to Bangladesh and obtained a false birth certificate that changed his niece’s birthdate, making her appear to be three years older. He returned to the United States and used that birth certificate fraudulently to obtain a new Legal Permanent Resident Card reflecting her new birth year. Hussain then showed up at his niece’s home and tried to take her away from her parents—presenting the Legal Permanent Resident Card as proof that she was an adult.

 “This criminal put his own agenda first, hurting his own family. He thought he could get away with his despicable behavior by lying and blaming others for his actions,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to our HSI special agents and law enforcement partners, a jury of his peers found him guilty and he will now be unable to harm anymore. His family can feel safe knowing justice has been served.”  

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Murray and Mandy Riedel. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Peresie and Rachel Jones assisted in the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Myron William Ernst (61, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Ernst faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Ernst committed a spree of nine bank robberies and attempted bank robberies in both Florida and Alabama. During each incident, Ernst presented bank employees with a threatening note demanding money. 

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Hemalkumar Shah (27, citizen of India, residing in Tampa) to eight years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to his participation in an Indian call center scam. As part of Shah’s sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $80,000.

Shah had pleaded guilty on January 28, 2019.

According to court documents, from 2014 through at least 2016, Shah conspired with U.S.-based co-conspirators and India-based call centers to extort money from U.S. residents by impersonating IRS officers and misleading victims to believe that they owed money to the IRS and would be arrested and fined if they did not pay their alleged back taxes immediately. The conspirators collected the fraud proceeds by (1) withdrawing cash from prepaid cards purchased and funded by victims; (2) hiring other conspirators (runners) to retrieve money wired by the victims to those runners; and/or (3) hiring runners to open bank accounts into which victims deposited fraud proceeds. The defendants collected the proceeds by providing the runners with the victims’ names, locations, and amounts paid. The runners were directed to retrieve the fraud proceeds in cash and turn the funds over to the defendants, often less a payment to the runner for opening the account or conducting the transaction.

Four others previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. On March 25, 2019, Alejandro Juarez was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, and on March 29, 2019, Nishitkumar Patel was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months’ imprisonment. Sharvil Patel and Brenda Dozier are currently awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Alain Nezius (36, Orlando) to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Nezius had pleaded guilty on January 29, 2019.

According to court documents, in 2007, Nezius was deported to Haiti following multiple convictions for possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver it. He illegally returned to the United States after being deported and has a current outstanding order of removal with the Department of Homeland Security.

After illegally reentering the United States, Nezius assumed his deceased brother’s identity and obtained a Florida driver license in his brother’s name. On April 17, 2018, Nezius attached and submitted his own photo with an application to renew his brother’s U.S. passport. The U.S. Department of State recognized that the alleged passport applicant was deceased and that the submitted photograph did not match the previous photographs associated with the passport. On the passport application, Nezius represented himself to be his deceased brother, who was a naturalized U.S. citizen.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations as part of Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE.

 

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Christopher Ray Faella (34, Palm Bay) to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving and possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Faella to forfeit a cellphone and micro SD cards, which were used to download and store images of child pornography.

Faella had pleaded guilty on August 15, 2018.

According to court documents, on April 13, 2017, the Palm Bay Police Department initiated an investigation, based on a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that a Google account under Faella’s name had uploaded files containing child pornography. The tip involved 946 images and 22 videos of child pornography. Google identified Faella’s email address and several internet protocol addresses that were associated with Faella and his residence.

On July 22, 2017, the Palm Bay Police Department executed a search warrant at Faella’s residence. Faella, a known felon with a lengthy criminal history, was in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and several rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A forensic analysis of Faella’s cellphone revealed 617 images and 3 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that had been downloaded through Google Chrome. Faella also had several micro SD cards that contained 1,147 images of child pornography. The images depicted bondage, bestiality, and other acts of sadistic conduct perpetrated against young children, including toddlers. As a result, the Palm Bay Police Department referred the investigation to the FBI for the filing of criminal charges. 

This case was investigated by the Palm Bay Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Santiago Silva-Ortiz (28, Colombia) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Silva-Ortiz had pleaded guilty on January 14, 2019.

According to testimony and court documents, Silva-Ortiz served as a member of the Colombian National Police for two years and became involved with narco-traffickers. On October 10, 2018, Silva-Ortiz served as the load guard on a go-fast vessel that was interdicted south of the Dominican Republic by the United States Coast Guard. Silva-Ortiz and his conspirators were attempting to smuggle more than 1,190 kilograms of cocaine.

In March 2019, the captain of the go-fast vessel, Eulices De Jesus Barliza-Lopez, was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for his role in the offense.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force (PANEX) - a federally approved Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Operation Panama Express currently targets South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for smuggling drugs to the United States and elsewhere for distribution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Thomas A. Calderon (49, Deltona) to a year in federal prison for making a materially false statement to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (“RRB”) concerning his eligibility for disability benefits. As part of his sentence, Calderon was also ordered to pay $168,950.70 in restitution.         

Calderon had pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019.

According to court documents, in 2012, Calderon applied for and obtained disability retirement benefits. In his application, Calderon indicated that he was unemployed and acknowledged that he must notify the RRB immediately should he work for any employer or perform any self-employment work. On July 14, 2017, Calderon signed and submitted to the RRB a Continuing Disability Update Report in which he indicated that since January 1, 2015, he had not worked anywhere and had not been self-employed. In fact, from 2012 through 2017, Calderon owned and operated the Sports Den Bar in Orange City, Florida.

“The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General is committed to fighting fraud, waste and abuse,” said Inspector General Martin J. Dickman. “The case sends a loud and clear message that combating disability fraud is a top priority and abuse of RRB programs will not be tolerated.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Terrell Eady (33, Tampa) to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Eady had pleaded guilty on December 21, 2018.

According to court documents, between February and March 2010, Eady persuaded two female minors, whom he had met online, to produce and send him child pornography.

Eady met one of his victims on Facebook, where he had claimed to be a 15-year-old boy. He told the victim that he had obtained a naked video of her and threatened to send the video to her Facebook friends unless, she took naked photographs of herself for him, or filmed herself on a webcam. Unbeknownst to Eady, law enforcement took over the girl’s Facebook account and Eady attempted to persuade an undercover agent, whom Eady believed was the minor, to produce child pornography and send it to him.

The investigation revealed that Eady had previously communicated with a 16- year-old girl online. Eady had pressured that minor to produce and send him child pornography and threatened to send naked photographs of the girl to her friends on the internet unless, she produced more naked photographs for him. Pressured by Eady, the minor produced and sent him at least three pornographic images of herself.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the New York Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced John Craig Myrick (67, Groveland) to seven years and three months in federal prison for forcible assaulting a federal officer causing bodily injury. Myrick was convicted following a two-day jury trial on January 8, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on August 11, 2018, Myrick arrived at the Orlando International Airport from Bogota, Colombia. While passing through the screening area, a Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) directed Myrick to the baggage control seating area. While in the seating area, Myrick had an altercation with another CBPO who attempted to control Myrick by grabbing Myrick’s arm. Myrick resisted, fell on top of the CBPO, and began punching the officer in the back of the head several times. The CBPO suffered a fractured ankle in the process.

“This case emphasizes zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, this man will be held accountable for his actions.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, ICE, and Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Kenneth R. Jackson, Jr. (42, Lehigh Acres) to six years and three months in federal prison for identity theft, conversion of government property, aggravated identity theft, passing a forged treasury check, and access device (credit card) fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment of $71,931.87, the proceeds obtained from the charged criminal conduct. Jackson was also ordered to pay $99,230.90 in restitution to three banks.

Jackson had been found guilty by a jury on December 21, 2018.

According to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Jackson operated a business that allowed him full access to credit reports. He used his business to unlawfully obtain credit reports on his victims and opened fraudulent online bank accounts in their names. Jackson then deposited approximately $115,000 in stolen U.S. Treasury tax refund checks into the fraudulent accounts. He used associates to launder the money or directly withdrew cash from ATMs at the banks.

“We have come a long way in combatting the scourge of identity theft in Florida,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today’s sentencing should pose as yet another warning to would-be crooks that stealing someone’s identity is a serious crime that IRS Criminal Investigation will not tolerate. We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to track down identity thieves. We will continue to fight for the victims. We will continue to put offenders behind bars.”   

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Deepak Deshpande (41, Dublin, California) to life in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual conduct, and 30 years’ imprisonment for production of child pornography. Deshpande had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2018.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, in July 2017, Deshpande contacted a minor in Orlando through an online chat application. At that time, Deshpande posed as a modeling agent and persuaded the minor to send him nude images of herself. In the months that followed, Deshpande contacted the same minor, posing as two other individuals, and threatened to disseminate her nude images if she did not continue producing additional child pornography for him.

In September 2017, Deshpande traveled to Orlando from California to meet the minor in person for the first time. He brought her to a local hotel, and filmed himself sexually assaulting the victim multiple times. Between September 2017 and April 2018, he repeated this same conduct during four additional visits to Orlando.

In early May 2018, following an anonymous tip, the FBI began investigating Deshpande. An undercover FBI agent then began posing as the minor in communications with Deshpande. On May 12, 2018, as a result of the undercover investigation, Deshpande returned to Orlando and was arrested upon his arrival at the Orlando International Airport.

Following his arrest, Deshpande plotted to kidnap and murder the minor victim in advance of his trial. Deshpande recruited a fellow inmate, whom he believed would soon be released, to serve as a middleman. Deshpande gave the inmate names and contact information for individuals who might be willing to carry out the abduction and murder, and furnished personal details concerning the victim and her family, including her residence and schedule. Upon learning of the plot, the FBI conducted an undercover investigation and Deshpande’s efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

“Those who work the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children program bring compassion, commitment, and steadfast determination to their investigations to ensure predators like this are brought to justice,” said Eric Sporre, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division. “This case is particularly noteworthy in the level of planning conducted and depravity displayed by the perpetrator. I would like to recognize the courage of the victim who helped make sure this predator cannot hurt others and also encourage our community to remain vigilant online and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.” 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James Moody today sentenced Okechuwku Desmond Amadi (39, Garland, TX), a/k/a Desmond Amadi, to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. As part of Amadi’s sentence, the court also entered a forfeiture order of $833,625 against him, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct, and ordered Amadi to pay $1,358,500 in restitution to the victims.

A jury had found Amadi guilty on November 7, 2018.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Amadi worked with an international criminal organization based in Nigeria that defrauded dozens of victims across the United States with multiple schemes and then laundered the funds through a complex network of bank accounts. The organization, known as the Neo Black Movement of Africa or the Black Axe Group, coordinated the fraud and money laundering activity around the globe via cells or “zones” in Nigeria, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. 

The Black Axe fraud schemes took several forms. Many of the organization’s victims were widowed or divorced elderly women. Conspirators posed as fake suitors on dating websites to develop relationships with the victims. They then convinced the women to wire money, often consisting of their retirement savings and cash taken out from home equities, to bank accounts in the United States as part of a supposed investment opportunity. The conspirators also defrauded title companies with fake cashier’s checks in phony real estate transactions.

The organization’s victims were instructed to wire their money into funnel accounts held by conspirators in the United States, known as “money mules,” and the funds were then quickly moved to other accounts in the United States and around the world before the victims could discover the fraud. Bank records presented at trial demonstrated that, from 2012 to 2015, several millions of dollars in wire transfers were funneled into Black Axe accounts to be laundered. Amadi, a real estate investor and insurance broker in Texas, used his own bank accounts to launder more than $833,000 in fraud proceeds that victims had sent to accounts controlled by his associate in the Dallas area. Amadi wired much of that money overseas, including to Canada and Nigeria, to promote the conspiracy and conceal the source of the funds.

This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from various federal and local law enforcement partners, including the Toronto Police Service (Ontario, Canada) and the Toronto Strategic Partnership. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Scruggs and Diego Novaes.