Middle District of Florida

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams today sentenced Maurice Sanders (27, Jacksonville) to six years and one day in federal prison for possessing with the intent to sell crack cocaine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sanders had pleaded guilty on May 18, 2018.

According to court documents, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) conducted a citywide buy-bust operation on September 21, 2017. During the operation, a JSO detective observed Sanders pull a pill bottle from his pocket and give three different individuals crack cocaine in exchange for money. When Sanders was searched following his arrest, a JSO officer found a loaded .38 revolver in his pocket. 

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 Ashley Washington.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. 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 Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Akbar Fard (54, formerly of Tampa) to three years in federal prison for wire fraud. The court also ordered Fard to forfeit $ 1,472,082, proceeds which are traceable to of the offense.

A federal jury found him guilty on February 9, 2018.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Fard defrauded the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and the U.S. Navy. He diverted for his personal benefit $1,472,082 that should have been used to research critical national research priorities related to spacecraft, satellites, and the protection of naval assets from fires. With the money, Fard went on an international vacation, paid for a car, funded his retirement, and purchased retail items and groceries.

This case was investigated by NASA’s Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

Jacksonville, Florida – Christopher Michael Picher (26, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to receiving over the internet videos and images depicting child sexual abuse. 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. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Picher has been detained since his arrest on March 22, 2018.

According to court documents, in early 2018, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI conducted an undercover child exploitation investigation and determined that an account with an online data storage company and an account with a popular online mobile messaging app were both being used to receive, distribute, and store child pornography. These accounts were traced to email addresses used by Picher and residences where Picher had lived in 2017 and 2018. 

On March 22, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Picher’s last known residence in Jacksonville. Picher had moved out of this home the day before and had taken his smart phone with him. Further investigation revealed that Picher had relocated to a different residence in Jacksonville. Agents traveled to that residence, where they encountered Picher asleep on the couch. His smart phone was located and recovered. 

During an interview, Picher stated that he had been using his smart phone for at least one year, that he had viewed child pornography using the particular mobile messaging app, and that he knew that pictures of child pornography could be posted within the group or that users could send private messages. Subsequent forensic analyses of Picher’s phone revealed that it contained at least 15 videos and at least 1,486 images of child pornography. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County 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 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.

Tampa, FL – A federal jury has found Carlos Arturo Cuerro Borja (51), a Colombian national, 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, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on that vessel. Cuerro Borja faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2018.

According to evidence presented at trial, Cuerro Borja was part of an international maritime drug smuggling operation involving approximately 240 kilograms of cocaine bound for the United States. Cuerro Borja was the load guard for a Manta, Ecuador-based cocaine smuggling crew. While in international waters, hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico, Cuerro Borja and his crew offloaded eight bales of cocaine to a Sinaloa, Mexico-based smuggling go-fast vessel. They then joined the Mexican crew for the run to Sinaloa, after scuttling their vessel in the Pacific Ocean.

On October 10, 2017, a U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft spotted the go-fast vessel speeding towards Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ASPEN and its crew launched two over-the-horizon boats to catch the go-fast smuggling vessel crewed by Cuerro Borja and his five co-conspirators. The ASPEN crew seized cartel cocaine smuggling equipment and approximately 102 kilograms of jettisoned cocaine.

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 U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 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 Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Palermo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas DeRenzo.

Jacksonville, Florida – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Steven Timothy Jolly (40) and Eric Mark Hamilton (34), both of Jacksonville, with manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes and possessing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. If convicted, Jolly and Hamilton each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

Jolly made his initial appearance on August 15, 2018, and was detained on August 21, 2018. His trial is set for October 1, 2018. Hamilton will make his initial appearance in federal court on August 28, 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 U.S. Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced William Harvey Gulkis (30, Jacksonville) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for producing child pornography. The court also ordered Gulkis to pay $8,000 in restitution to the victims of his offenses, register as a sex offender, and serve a life term of supervised release.

Gulkis pleaded guilty on November 3, 2017.

According to court documents, in January 2017, law enforcement began an investigation after learning about the prolific sharing of child pornography files linked to Gulkis’s residence. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations also learned that an individual at Gulkis’s residence was sharing self-produced child erotica files on a photo-sharing website.

During the execution of a search warrant at Gulkis’s residence, agents discovered that Gulkis had produced and shared child erotica and child pornography files and had produced photographs of himself masturbating with young children in the background of the images. Gulkis also produced child pornography depicting sleeping children whose clothing he had removed to display their genitals.

In addition to the files he produced, Gulkis had collected more than 6,000 files of child pornography. 

“This predator took advantage of these young children at their most vulnerable moments,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Our greatest hope is that today’s sentencing will bring some small measure of closure to the innocent victims.”  

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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 – A federal jury has found Jean David Jules (33, citizen of Haiti) guilty of two counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud. Three co-defendants, Donte Sherrick Harris (30, Kissimmee), Jason Tyiwuan Green (22, Orlando), and Jonathan Wayne Thorne (27, Kissimmee), previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting wire fraud. In addition, six others have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to the same fraud scheme.

According to court documents, from at least August 2015 through June 2017, Jules and others participated in a criminal organization that gained money from victims by impersonating agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and/or the Cyber Crimes Center (C3). The scheme began with the defendants placing fraudulent posts on adult dating websites, claiming to be a “nerdy girl seeking nerdy guy.” When a victim responded to a fraudulent ad, a defendant continued to pretend he was a female seeking companionship. Days later, a defendant would contact the victim and pretend to be a federal agent assigned to the “C3 Child Exploitation Division” or other components of DHS. The defendant then would accuse the victim of soliciting a minor on the internet and falsely claim that there were outstanding warrants for the victim’s arrest. 

The defendants used fraudulent email addresses that appeared to be from law enforcement agencies, or phone applications disguised as law enforcement phone numbers. They told their victims that they could pay a “fine” or “fees” so that the purported warrants could be “purged” or “cleared.” Victims were directed to wire funds, in the names of the defendants or their aliases, to the purported “agents” using a money service business. Many sent multiple extortion payments, ranging from $200 to $1,900 each. Law enforcement estimates that the scheme resulted in at least $311,000 in profits. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Office of Professional Responsibility, and Homeland Security Investigations (San Diego), with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (San Diego), and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, ICE. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Chang assisted with the prosecution.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Michael Paige Palmer (41, Virginia) to eight years and one month in federal prison for transportation and possession of child pornography. Palmer was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

Palmer was charged by a criminal complaint on December 24, 2017. He pleaded guilty on April 17, 2018.    

According to court documents and evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, Palmer initially came to the attention of Canadian law enforcement officials when they identified him during an investigation as someone who had shared child pornography with others. As a result, Palmer was identified when he disembarked a cruise ship in Port Canaveral (Florida). During a routine border search of Palmer’s electronic devices, law enforcement located five videos containing child pornography. In total, Palmer possessed 84 images and 254 videos of child pornography, some of which included the sexual abuse of young children.

“HSI’s border search authority allowed us to stop this child predator in his tracks,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “This significant sentencing underscores the severity of this crime and should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can harm children and get away with it.”

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

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 Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Kevin Michael Hutchinson (36, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. Hutchinson was also ordered to serve a 7-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.

Hutchinson was charged by criminal complaint on April 20, 2018. He pleaded guilty on May 29, 2018. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Hutchinson initially came to the attention of law enforcement when he distributed child pornography via a mobile application. Then, just hours before a federal search warrant was executed at his home, Hutchinson received multiple images and videos of child pornography via the internet. One of the items downloaded by Hutchinson was a “guide” on how to prepare young children for sex with adults. In total, Hutchinson possessed 5,872 images and 1,625 videos of child pornography. Of those, 630 of the images and 160 of the videos depicted infants or toddlers being sexually abused.

At the time of his arrest, Hutchinson was a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He was immediately placed on administrative leave and later terminated as a result of this case.

“The re-victimization of a child is always tragic,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “But it is particularly disturbing when the predator is someone in a position of trust and respect.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

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.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Elizabeth M. Jordan to 21 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting others with the filing of fraudulent tax returns. The court also sentenced Jordan’s daughter, Dolores A. Youmans, to 5 years’ probation for the same offense. In addition, each was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS – totaling $176,379 for Jordan and $96,769 for Youmans.  

According to court documents, Jordan was the owner and operator of a tax return preparation business in Jacksonville, which she started in 2011. At the business, Jordan, Youmans, and others prepared individual income tax returns on behalf of clients. In doing so, they reported false information, including false deductions, false claims for education and other credits, and false claims of business expenses. These false representations reduced the amount owed by, or increased the amount refunded to, the taxpayers.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Tommy N. Tracy (71, North Fort Myers) with fraud in connection with a major disaster. If convicted, Tracy faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on September 13, 2017, Tracy applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for a residence located at 18301 Slater Road in North Fort Myers. He claimed that this was his primary residence, that he was living there at the time of the disaster, and that he did not own a rental property affected by the disaster. In fact, the property on Slater Road was not his primary residence, he was not residing there at the time of the disaster, and it was a rental property owned by Tracy.

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 U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Chief Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas.

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Lateasha Monique Perry (34, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to three counts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud and two counts of theft of government funds. Perry faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each of the fraud charges and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the theft counts. She has agreed to make full restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency overseeing the benefit program. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a national program established to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among lower income families.    

According to the plea agreement and evidence presented in court, between June 2013 and February 2016, Perry received SNAP benefits via a debit card. Though these benefits only can be redeemed for certain basic food items, Perry repeatedly cashed out hundreds of dollars of her benefits at a local meat and poultry market in Marion County. This practice is strictly prohibited under both the program’s rules and federal law.

Federal agents analyzed SNAP redemption data and identified Perry as the person with the highest number of fraudulent transactions from the store. Subsequently obtained video surveillance images from the business showed Perry accessing her SNAP account at the counter, receiving large amounts of cash from store personnel, and then leaving with little or no merchandise. The estimated loss to the federal government exceeds $30,000 over 97 transactions. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II today sentenced Leone Alfano La Cava (59, Orlando) and Viktoriya Johnson (36, Orlando) to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison, and 3 years and 10 months’ imprisonment, respectively, for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Court also ordered La Cava and Johnson to forfeit four properties and two luxury vehicles, which are traceable to proceeds of the offenses. 

Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury on April 13, 2018. La Cava had pleaded guilty on March 30, 2018.

According to court documents, La Cava and Johnson orchestrated an international real estate investment scheme that defrauded at least 85 Italian investors out of over $5 million. La Cava solicited individuals, in Italy, to purchase real estate in Orange County that he claimed would generate guaranteed rental income. Johnson and La Cava then used falsified deeds and loan documents to convince investors that they were purchasing property owned by La Cava or Golden Investment, Inc., a real estate investment company incorporated by Johnson in 2010. In fact, those properties either did not exist, were never owned by La Cava, Johnson, or Golden Investment, or had already been sold to another investor.

La Cava and Johnson used portions of the funds sent by investors for their own personal use instead of purchasing the real estate promised to investors. Johnson received over $1.3 million in investor funds, that she used to purchase four properties and two luxury vehicles for herself.

This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan W. Hill, Chauncey A. Bratt, and Roger B. Handberg.

Tampa, FL -- The Department of Justice and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have proposed a reduction for controlled substances that may be manufactured in the U.S. next year. Consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan” that seeks to “cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years,” the proposal decreases manufacturing quotas for the most six frequently misused opioids for 2019 by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amount. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) marks the third straight year of proposed reductions, which help reduce the amount of drugs potentially diverted for trafficking and used to facilitate addiction.

On July 11, 2018, the Justice Department announced that DEA was issuing a final rule amending its regulations to improve the agency’s ability consider the likelihood of whether a drug can be diverted for abuse when it sets annual opioid production limits. The final rule also promotes greater involvement from state attorneys general, and today’s proposed reduction will be sent to those offices.

In setting the aggregate production quote (APQ), DEA considers data from many sources, including estimates of the legitimate medical need from the Food and Drug Administration; estimates of retail consumption based on prescriptions dispensed; manufacturers’ disposition history and forecasts; data from DEA’s own internal system for tracking controlled substance transactions; and past quota histories.

The DEA has proposed to reduce more commonly prescribed schedule II opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, morphine, and fentanyl.

Ultimately, revised limits will encourage vigilance on the part of opioid manufacturers, help DEA respond to the changing drug threat environment, and protect the American people from potential addictive drugs while ensuring that the country has enough opioids for legitimate medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs.

"The opioid epidemic that we are facing today is the worst drug crisis in American history," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "President Trump has set the ambitious goal of reducing opioid prescription rates by one-third in three years. We embrace that goal and are resolutely committed to reaching it. According to the National Prescription Audit, we have already made significant progress in reducing prescription rates over the past year. Cutting opioid production quotas by an average of ten percent next year will help us continue that progress and make it harder to divert these drugs for abuse. The American people can be confident that federal law enforcement and the Trump administration are taking action to protect them from dangerous drugs.  These smarter limits bring us one big step closer to President Trump's goal of finally ending this unprecedented crisis. I congratulate Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon and his team for taking action.”

“The misuse and abuse of opioids in our communities has reached epidemic proportions,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We intend to work with our partners to use every tool in our arsenal, including prevention, education, and prosecution where necessary, to stem the flow of this devastating scourge.”

“We’ve lost too many lives to the opioid epidemic and families and communities suffer tragic consequences every day,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “This significant drop in prescriptions by doctors and DEA’s production quota adjustment will continue to reduce the amount of drugs available for illicit diversion and abuse while ensuring that patients will continue to have access to proper medicine.”

Once the aggregate quota is set, DEA allocates individual manufacturing and procurement quotas to those manufacturers that apply for them. DEA may revise a company’s quota at any time during the year if change is warranted due to increased or decreased sales or exports, new manufacturers entering the market, new product development, or product recalls.

When Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act, the quota system was intended to reduce or eliminate diversion from “legitimate channels of trade” by controlling the quantities of the basic ingredients needed for the manufacture of controlled substances.

The Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas for schedule I and II controlled substances published in the Federal Register reflects the total amount of controlled substances necessary to meet the country’s medical, scientific, research, industrial, and export needs for the year and for the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks. DEA establishes an APQ for more than 250 schedule I and II controlled substances annually.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines to practitioners recommending a reduction in the prescribing of opioid medications for chronic pain. DEA and its federal partners have increased efforts in the last several years to educate practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, distributors, and the public about the dangers associated with the misuse of opioid medications and the importance of proper prescribing.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of three indictments charging the following individuals with the listed federal criminal violations:

Indictment One

Name

Age/City

Charge

Barbara Caylor-Hernandez,  a/k/a Barb, a/k/a Barbie

47, Ormond Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Ramiro Fraire-Chavarria

44, Dalton, GA

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Michael Babin

47, Daytona Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Melanie Kerr

28, Daytona Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Keith Simmons

41, Oak Hill, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;

and distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine

Carla Ray

51, Oak Hill, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Spencer Burkard

49, New Smyrna Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine

Robert Foster

37, St. Augustine, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and distribution of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine

Daniel Barbarino

54, Daytona Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Andrew Shettler,   a/k/a “Yeti”

33, Palm Coast, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Brian Burt, a/k/a “Sledge”

47, Port Orange, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Lawrence Sann

55, Bunnell, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine

Indictment Two

Name

Age/City

Charge

Keith Kirchoff

40, Key West, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; use and carry of a firearm in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime

Andrew Shettler, a/k/a “Yeti”

33, Palm Coast, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Michael Andrews, a/k/a “Clutch”

33, Palm Coast, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

Indictment Three

Name

Age/City

Charge

Cindy Bledsoe  

30, Daytona Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine

Jason Stringer

38, Daytona Beach, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine; and distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine

Michael Andrews, a/k/a “Clutch”

33, Palm Coast, FL

Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine

If convicted on all counts, Kirchoff, Andrews, Shettler, Bledsoe, Caylor-Hernandez, Fraire-Chavarria, Babin, Kerr, Simmons, Ray, Burkard, Foster, Barbarino, and Burt each face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Sann and Stringer each face a maximum penalty of 40 years’ imprisonment.

According to the indictments, the defendants conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine to individuals and groups in the Middle District of Florida, including to members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, an outlaw motorcycle gang.

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 FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Volusia Bureau of Investigation, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Tampa, Florida – A federal grand jury has returned a

superseding indictment  charging William Matthew Napolitano (35, New Port Richey) with enticement of a minor and with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. If convicted on all counts, Napolitano faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the indictment, between 2015 and January 2017, Napolitano enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexual activity. In June 2015, Napolitano also persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.

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 a victim, or has knowledge of someone who may have been a victim, is urged to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (347-2423) or at http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

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 Mary Scriven today sentenced Alejo Tronco-Diaz (52, Lakeland) to 12 months and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to commit federal program theft. As part of his sentence, Tronco-Diaz was also ordered to pay $295,891.65 in restitution. The court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $373,602.42, representing the total proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

Tronco-Diaz pleaded guilty on May 14, 2018.

According to court documents, Tronco-Diaz’s wife, Tracy Dean Tronco, worked as a Transit Coordinator and Passenger Operations Specialist at the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) District 7 office in Tampa from May 2010 through August 2015. Tronco was responsible for administering transportation projects and funds that were intended to benefit Florida residents and taxpayers. As part of her work, she had a role in awarding federal grant funds that the U.S. Department of Transportation provided to the FDOT. 

Tronco-Diaz, who married Tronco in 2012, was an FDOT grant applicant who operated an alleged church, Ministerio A Gran Voz De Trompeta Campus, Inc., in Hillsborough and Polk Counties. Ministerio purported to provide transportation services for underserved populations, such as elderly, disabled, and unemployed individuals.

Tronco used her position at FDOT to award more than $370,000 in federal funds to Ministerio and another religious ministry that claimed to be partnering with Ministerio to provide transportation services. The grant money was supposed to be used to purchase and renovate a commercial property in Hillsborough County, to provide job and transportation-related services, to purchase three new vehicles, and to reimburse the operation’s vehicle maintenance costs. Instead, the funds and vehicles were kept and used by Tronco, her husband, and other co-conspirators. Tronco also failed to disclose to FDOT her personal relationship with Tronco-Diaz, which constituted a conflict of interest that would have prevented her from handling the grant awards.

Tronco resigned from FDOT in lieu of termination on April 27, 2016. She was charged in the same indictment and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft on October 18, 2017.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Trinity Medical Pharmacy, LLC, (TMP) and several of its principals have agreed to pay the United States $2,244,270.14 to resolve allegations that TMP violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing TRICARE and other government programs for claims generated by illegal kickbacks and by knowingly omitting material information from TMP’s application to become a certified Express Scripts provider.

The settlement relates to TMP’s marketing and sale of compounded medicine that should be uniquely tailored to an individual patient’s need and is often extremely expensive. Between 2013 and 2015, TMP, formerly located in New Port Richey, billed TRICARE seeking millions of dollars in reimbursement for compounded medicine. At the time, Krutika Patel was TMP’s president and chief executive officer, Devan Patel was the company’s chief operating officer, Jay Martinez was TMP’s national sales director, and Nicholas Petrillo was the national account director and top sales representative.

The United States alleges that TMP and these individuals knowingly sought reimbursement for compounded medicine claims generated through illegal kickbacks to patients and providers. The United States also alleges that TMP knowingly failed to disclose a material fact—COO Devan Patel’s previous felony conviction—when seeking to become an authorized provider with Express Scripts. Express Scripts is the pharmacy benefit manager for TRICARE and several carriers associated with the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

“Protecting TRICARE and other federal health care programs from fraud is a priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “Those who defraud TRICARE misappropriate money intended to provide quality health care to members of our military and their families. We will continue to protect those who serve our country.”

“This settlement demonstrates the effectiveness of investigations by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to ensure that precious taxpayer dollars are not used for unjust enrichment by fraudulent providers. DCIS protects the integrity of DoD programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse which negatively impacts critical programs such as TRICARE,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office.

“I would like to commend the work of our criminal investigators, their law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts on this case,” said U.S. Office of Personnel Management Acting Inspector General Norbert E. Vint. “Their excellent work safeguards the integrity of the FEHBP and serves to protect the millions of Federal employees, retirees, and dependents who benefit from the program.”

“The improper CHAMPVA billings made by Trinity Medical Pharmacy diverted funds intended for the care of Veterans who honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States,” stated David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of Inspector General. “The continued oversight of the companies that do business with VA, as shown in this investigation, safeguard the integrity of VA programs and funding.”

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

This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General; and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsay Saxe Griffin led the investigation.

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

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury has found Tyrone Walker (36, St. Petersburg) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Walker faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2018. Walker was indicted on March 22, 2018.

According to evidence presented at trial, Walker possessed a firearm that he used to shoot and kill another man during a dispute. At the time of the incident, Walker had a prior felony conviction and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Callan Albritton and James Preston.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. 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.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Anthony Joseph Culotta, Jr. (59, Brevard County) with possession of child pornography. Culotta faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.    

According to the criminal complaint, Culotta has been a NASA contractor since at least 2004, and worked has with the Kennedy Space Center Launch Services Program. Between May 31 and August 7, 2018, Culotta used his NASA-issued laptop computer to search for, view, and possess sexually explicit images of children.

On August 7, 2018, special agents working with the NASA Office of Inspector General interviewed Culotta, who admitted that he used his NASA computer to search for and view images that piqued his curiosity. A search of the computer revealed over 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of known victims previously identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.         

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has violated federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by NASA Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Kennedy Space Center. It will be 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.     

 

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Rodolfo Quiles (33, Tampa), Melissa Vasquez (28, Tampa), Alejandro Ortiz-Mendez, a/k/a “Andrew,” (43, Tampa), Gil William Garcia-Libran, a/k/a “Giwi,” (48, San Diego, CA), Stephen Johnson (25, San Diego, CA), Mauricio Ojeda, a/k/a “Pariente,” (39, San Diego, CA), Eduardo Trujillo, a/k/a/ “B.E.T.,” (38, Chula Vista, CA), and Melissa Day Swycaffer (22, National City, CA) with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including heroin. If convicted, they face penalties from 40 years to life in federal prison. 

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug-trafficking organization that shipped kilogram-quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and other controlled substances from California to Florida and other east coast destinations for distribution. During the investigation, agents seized multiple kilograms of drugs that were destined for central Florida. 

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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, the El Cajon Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Daniel Cardenas (37, Tampa) to 18 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.    

Cardenas pleaded guilty on April 24, 2018.

According to court documents, from as early as October 2007 through May 2008, Cardenas and others conspired to execute a wire fraud scheme affecting financial institutions. The goal of the scheme was to sell condominium units at The Preserve at Temple Terrace, a 392-unit condominium complex in Tampa. To entice buyers to purchase the units, the conspirators offered cash payments to buyers, either before or after closing. Payment of the funds to the individual buyers was neither known to nor approved by the mortgage lenders.

The conspirators made material false statements on loan documents, such as purchase and sale agreements, loan applications, and HUD-1 settlement statements, to induce mortgage lenders to approve loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers. The conspirators used several entities to conceal the payments to buyers from the mortgage lenders.

Cardenas’s role in the conspiracy, as a loan officer at Transcontinental Lending Group’s branch in Tampa, included but was not limited to preparing, signing, and certifying false and fraudulent loan applications submitted to lenders in order to induce the institutions to provide funding for buyers. The false representations submitted to and relied upon by the mortgage lenders included representations concerning occupancy, income, source of funds, and assets.  Cardenas’s participation in the mortgage fraud conspiracy caused approximately $710,000 in losses to the victim mortgage lenders.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor and Assistant United States Attorney Jay Hoffer.

Tampa, FL –U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced David Owen (40, Largo) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit extortion, money laundering, and mail fraud, in connection with several consumer fraud schemes. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered restitution to the victims in the amount of $697,500, and entered a money judgment in the amount of $1,185,652, representing the proceeds of the fraud.

According to court documents, Owen, who was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on January 30, 2018, and a co-conspirator, Andrew Corrigan, used straw account owners to open bank accounts into which they deposited money from victims of their tax impersonation scheme. The conspirators extorted money from victims by falsely representing that the victims had financial obligations to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Canadian tax authorities, or other entities. They then threatened the victims with arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences for their purported debts and demanded that they pay the conspirators the “owed” money. 

The conspirators monitored the victims’ deposits online in order to ensure that the straw owners of the accounts (who were controlled by the conspirators) made timely withdrawals. The conspirators provided the straw account owners with the victims’ names, locations, and amounts of deposits. The conspirators then directed the straw account owners to withdraw the funds in cash, and turn it over to them (often less a payment to the straw account owner for opening the account or conducting the transaction) victims were also directed to pay via money transfers and prepaid debit cards, which were also collected and deposited by the defendants. Owen and Corrigan collected more than $850,000 from their victims.

For his role in this scheme, Corrigan was sentenced to 10 years in prison on January 30, 2018. 

Owen also devised another telemarketing fraud scheme, which primarily targeted elderly victims. Callers located outside of the United States contacted at least three elderly victims and falsely represented to those victims that they had won millions of dollars in the Publisher’s Clearing House lottery. The callers then induced the victims to provide financial information and mail large cashier’s checks to a straw business (Edgewater Elite) in Florida, set up by Owen, to pay “advance” taxes on the alleged winnings, or for some other related purpose. Once the victims’ funds were deposited into the Edgewater Elite bank accounts, they were quickly disbursed by the straw business owner, at the direction of Owen. Over $315,000 was collected from the three elderly victims.

"This sentence today represents a victory not just for the IRS, but for the many hard-working Americans who have received an intimidating phone call from the perpetrators of this despicable scam," stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui of IRS Criminal Investigation. ‎"We remind taxpayers that the IRS does not initiate contact by phone and we will never call with threats to arrest you. Education is your best defense, so we invite everyone to spread the word to be on the watch for phone calls from IRS impersonators."

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Largo Police Department, the Gulfport Police Department, the Toronto Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelley Howard-Allen and Rachel Jones.

Orlando, FL –U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced William Joseph McClenathan (30, Sanford) to 20 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. McClenathan pleaded guilty on May 16, 2018.

According to court documents, in December 2017, McClenathan distributed an image depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic review of McClenathan’s electronic devices revealed that he possessed 171 images of child pornography and 338 videos of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alejandro J. Salicrup.

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, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the guilty pleas of the individuals listed below with charges stemming from conspiracy to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin, 400 hundred grams of fentanyl, and 100 grams of a fentanyl analogue, the distribution of which resulted in four deaths and in serious bodily injury to a victim. The defendants face penalties from 10 years to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The plea agreements also require certain individuals to make restitution to the families of the victims. 

Salik Stevens Drug Trafficking Organization

Name

Age, Residence

Status

Salik Stevens, a/k/a “Carlito,” ‘Dough”

35, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Hasan Pearson, a/k/a “Julio,” “Hoov”

36, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Naboris Lampkin , a/k/a “Beezy”

32, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Ladarius Oglesby, a/k/a “Hitta”

23, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

William Jones, a/k/a “Book”

39, Mulberry

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Dominic Matthews, a/k/a “Gargamel”

30, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Prince Grant

37, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Justin Martin

33, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Jeminine Poe

37, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

John Brown

54, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of attempted possession of heroin.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Dalyshia Dexter

28, Lakeland

Pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

On January 5, 2018, in a related case, Antonorio Nelson, a/k/a “Nep,” (29, Lakeland) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute furanyl fentanyl resulting in death. He faces a minimum mandatory of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to the plea agreements, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, and operated in and around Lakeland. As part of the conspiracy, Stevens and Pearson received controlled substances via packages shipped from New Jersey. They then distributed the drugs, packaged in individual user amounts referred to as “bindles,” to Lakeland dealers. The organization utilized three primary premises for the storage and distribution of controlled substances, including a car wash, a residence, and an apartment complex.     

Law enforcement identified several overdoses in Polk County between February and April 2017, that were linked to the organization. Specifically, investigators identified four victims who had died from ingesting furanyl fentanyl and carfentanil sold by members of the DTO, and one victim who was medically resuscitated after a carfentanil overdose.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized thousands of individual bindles of heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, three firearms, and over $10,000 in cash.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department, the Pasco 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Ramon Lopez-Alvarado (58), a citizen of Mexico, guilty of one count of illegal re-entry into the United States. Prior to trial, Lopez-Alvarado also pleaded guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), for failing to register as a sex offender when he returned to the United States. Lopez-Alvarado has previous felony convictions for committing a lewd act on a child and failing to register as a sex offender. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2018.

According to evidence presented at trial, Lopez-Alvarado, an alien of the United States who had previously been removed in 2000, 2009, and 2013, was found to be back in the Orlando area on March 17, 2018. Lopez-Alvarado claimed he was a naturalized United States citizen, despite his naturalization application having been denied.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations and the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.

Ocala, Florida – A federal indictment has been unsealed charging Charlie Wayne Harrison, Jr. (32, Leesburg), Trini Thomas, Jr. (34, Wildwood), Allison Nicole Valdez (32, St. Petersburg), James Edward Moss (34, LaGrange, Georgia), Dwayne Edward Moss (32, LaGrange, Georgia), Jasmine Janay Patterson (24, Wildwood), Georgiana Armenakis (40, Paisley), Derick Latrelle Woods (28, Belleview), Brian Adolph McLaren, Jr. (30, Ocala), Christopher Valsechi (28, Weirsdale), and Chantal Monique Harrison (28, Leesburg) with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The indictment also notifies Charlie Wayne Harrison, Jr. that the United States intends to forfeit his 2016 Porsche Panamera, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, and 2008 Hummer H3, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses.

According to court records, Charlie Wayne Harrison, Jr. was the leader of a large-scale drug operation spanning Marion, Sumter, Lake, and Pinellas Counties. He and his co-conspirators are charged with distributing multi-kilogram quantities of pure crystal methamphetamine and heroin. During the investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 14.5 kilograms of pure crystal methamphetamine (96-100% pure), 5.5 kilograms of heroin, 19 firearms, and approximately 6 pounds of gold jewelry valued at approximately $95,000. In addition, law enforcement seized $1,171,353 in cash, alleged to be profits of Harrison’s drug organization.

“This investigation is evident of the law enforcement community’s ability to work together throughout various counties to fully investigate and bring to justice those involved in drug trafficking” said Adolphus P. Wright, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Miami Field Division.

“As subject-matter experts in violent crime, firearms and explosives,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal firearms out of our communities.”

“FDLE is pleased to participate with our partners in the successful effort to stop a massive, multi-county drug operation,” said John Burke, Special Agent in Charge – FDLE, Jacksonville Regional Operations Center. “Florida families in this region are now safer and more secure thanks to the combined work of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

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 Drug Enforcement Administration (Gainesville Resident Office) in partnership with the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team in Marion County, as well as the Marion, Lake, and Sumter County Sheriffs’ Offices, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tysen Duva.

Tampa, Florida – Josue Antonio Ortega (36, Dade City) today pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute heroin and to violating the animal fighting provisions of the federal Animal Welfare Act. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the heroin charge, and up to 5 years in federal prison on the Animal Welfare Act charge.

According to the plea agreement, Ortega participated with others in a dogfighting conspiracy. In 2016, he and his co-conspirators, operating as Boricuba Kennels, sponsored pit bull dogfighting in Pasco County. On October 19, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ortega’s property and seized 14 pit bulls—12 of which had wounds and scarring consistent with having recently fought—along with equipment used to condition the dogs for fighting. They also seized over 70 grams of heroin. 

The federal Animal Welfare Act makes it a felony to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any animal, including dogs, for purposes of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture. Under federal law, an animal fighting venture means “any event, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least two animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.  

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that the United States has settled allegations that Pentad Corporation failed to reimburse the Department of the Navy for meals consumed by its employees at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The allegations resolved included liability under the False Claims Act (FCA).

Pentad Corporation is a defense contractor that provides dining-related services at various locations, including at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Pentad’s contract with the Navy allowed Pentad employees to eat at Navy dining facilities, but required that Pentad reimburse the Navy for meals its employees consumed. From December 2013 to December 2016, Pentad failed to reimburse the Navy for these meals, causing the Navy approximately $150,000 in damages. The settlement compensates the Navy for Pentad’s reimbursement failures.

“Protecting the integrity of services provided to our armed forces is a high priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We will work vigorously to ensure that defense contractors fulfill their contractual obligations so that our military can accomplish its mission.”

“This settlement is the result of tireless efforts by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and its law enforcement partners to ensure integrity and compliance in all Department of Defense programs,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office. “DCIS investigations focus on fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars in all DoD procurements for goods and services.”

Special Agent in Charge Michael Wiest stated “Fraud is not a victimless crime. In all its forms fraud siphons time, money, and resources from America’s warfighters. NCIS is committed to working with our partner agencies to help hold accountable those who put personal greed above their responsibilities to the Navy and nation.”

This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and Assistant United States Attorney Shea Gibbons.

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

Tampa, FL – Steven Paul Burch (43, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. In his plea agreement, Burch has agreed to forfeit his license to practice law, which was used to facilitate the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in August 2015, Burch was arrested in Sarasota County for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing property damage. In an effort to reduce his charges and avoid punishment from the Florida Bar, Burch recruited co-defendant and client Herbert Battle to send packages of drugs through the mail that Burch could then report to law enforcement as a form of cooperation. Unbeknownst to Burch and Battle, Battle’s wife (Qualonda Battle) recorded one of the conversations at Burch’s law office. In the recording, Burch discusses how the packages were going to be sent, where they were going to go, and how the conspirators would get away with it.

In March 2016, Battle shipped an ounce of heroin from California to Sarasota County. Battle sent the tracking number to his wife who, using a disposable phone, texted the tracking number to Burch, who then forwarded the tracking number to law enforcement. The package was intercepted at the FedEx warehouse in Bradenton, where a search of the package revealed an ounce of heroin that had been concealed in a bag of beef jerky.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit and, the Florida Bar Association. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza and Diego Novaes.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jamaar Danglo Hayes (34, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered him to forfeit the firearm. Hayes pleaded guilty on April 25, 2018.

According to court documents, in October 2017, Hayes drove to an apartment complex located on Sligh Avenue in Tampa while in possession of a .38 caliber revolver. Multiple individuals at the apartment complex saw Hayes with the firearm and called 911. The responding officers located Hayes and the revolver. Hayes, a previously convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. 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 – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Jorge Eliecer Cifuentes-Cuero (54, Colombia, South America) to 21 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

According to court documents, Cifuentes-Cuero was a principal member of his Colombian and Ecuadorean-based drug trafficking organization. He initially worked as a mechanic and mariner onboard vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and later, as he accumulated wealth, became an organizer of multi-ton cocaine loads transported by vessel from Colombia and Ecuador to locations in Central and Latin America. Cifuentes-Cuero is responsible for several maritime smuggling ventures in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. In January 2013 and July 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted loads of cocaine, totaling over 1,000 kilograms that were being smuggled aboard vessels (commonly referred to as “go-fast boats”).

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, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 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 Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Palermo. 

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Kyle Lopez (46, Morgantown, West Virginia) to 36 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for failure to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Lopez had pleaded guilty on June 11, 2018.

According to court documents, Lopez, who had previous felony convictions for indecency with a child, sexual assault against a child, and failure to register, failed to register as a sex offender in Florida after moving from West Virginia to Florida in September 2017, in an attempt to abscond from his registration requirements. After receiving notification from West Virginia, the U.S. Marshals Service located Lopez on October 31, 2017, in Volusia County, Florida. He was then charged with failure to register as a sex offender in violation of SORNA.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.

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

West Palm Beach, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Lorenzo Gatti (52, Delray Beach) yesterday pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements in official FBI reports. Gatti faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on July 27, 2013, Gatti, who at the time was a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy, assigned to the FBI as a task force officer, was involved in an automobile accident at an intersection in Boynton Beach, Florida. A few days later, in two separate FBI reports, Gatti stated that he was on official business at the time of the accident. Specifically, he claimed that the accident occurred after he had conducted a 24-mile surveillance on a target of a federal investigation.   

At the time Gatti made these statements, he knew that his claims about conducting surveillance were false. In particular, records indicate that the target of the federal investigation did not, on the date of the accident, drive anywhere near the surveillance route that Gatti said he had followed.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sean P. Shecter and Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

Jacksonville, Florida – Senior United States Judge Richard W. Goldberg has sentenced Jason James Neiheisel (28, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for sharing child sex abuse videos and making them available online for distribution. Neiheisel was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found him guilty in April 2018. 

According to evidence and testimony at trial, an FBI task force officer (TFO) conducted an online investigation of individuals using the internet to trade child pornography and identified a host computer in Jacksonville that was offering child sex abuse videos for distribution. The TFO downloaded approximately 48 videos, several of which depicted young children being sexually abused, from a computer using the internet protocol address at Neiheisel’s apartment in Jacksonville. On April 11, 2017, FBI agents interviewed Neiheisel at his home. He told the agents that he had used a file-sharing network, had downloaded child pornography for “a while,” and that he enjoyed the “thrill of the hunt” to see what kind of child pornography he could find.

Neiheisel’s computer was seized and a forensic examination confirmed that he had used it to access the file-sharing network. Neiheisel also admitted that he knew that he had made the child pornography videos available to anyone on the file-sharing network who wished to participate.

This case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

Ocala, Florida – A federal jury has found Mark Charles Barnett (50, Ocala) guilty of attempted arson, possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) destructive device, and making an unregistered NFA destructive device.  Barnett faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the attempted arson count and up to 10 years in federal prison on each of the destructive device convictions. His sentencing hearing has been set for October 17, 2018.

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Barnett with these crimes on June 20, 2018. 

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Barnett offered a Confidential Source (CS) $10,000 to place improvised explosive bombs inside Target stores along the east coast of the United States. Barnett purchased the bomb components and assembled at least 10 of the destructive devices, which he disguised inside the packaging of common grocery items. He then delivered the devices to the CS with instructions to put them on the shelves of Target stores from New York to Florida. The CS, however, promptly surrendered the destructive devices to authorities and Barnett was arrested on February 14, 2017.  

Barnett theorized that the company’s stock value would plunge after the explosions, allowing him to cheaply acquire shares of Target stock before an eventual rebound in prices. Barnett told the source, “If someone has to die so that I can make some money, so be it.”  

Federal explosives experts subsequently determined that the resulting fire and explosion from each of the devices would have been capable of causing property damage, serious injury, and death. Searches of Barnett’s house, cellphone, and computer revealed pictures of the grocery items that he had turned into bombs, as well as leftover bomb components and articles describing stock options. 

Barnett, a registered sex offender, had been conditionally released from state prison in 2013, following multiple felony convictions for sexual assault, kidnapping, and grand theft. He was also previously convicted of kidnapping in Mississippi. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Corrections - Probation and Parole, and the Ocala Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Nelson Armando (52, Ecuador), Jimmy Espinal (50, Ecuador), and Christian Rodriguez-Sanchez (25, Guatemala) with possession with the intent to distribute and conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted, each faces up to life in federal prison and a $10 million fine for each count.

This indictment arose out of a June 15, 2018, interdiction of a drug smuggling vessel in international waters by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter VENTUROUS. As part of the interdiction, the USCG seized approximately 741 kilograms of cocaine.

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 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, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 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. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas G. DeRenzo.

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Gilberto Astudillo Carbajal (34, Ocala) to 17 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, illegal re-entry into the United States after a prior deportation or removal, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Astudillo Carbajal had pleaded guilty on February 1, 2018. 

According to court documents, on May 24, 2017, in a parking lot in Ocala, Carbajal’s co-defendant, Simon Rodriguez-Flores (48, Ocala), sold a cooperating witness approximately 4 ounces of crystal methamphetamine. On June 2, 2017, at the same location, Rodriguez-Flores delivered 2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to the same cooperating witness and was arrested by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agents also detained Tirso Hernandez-Astudillo (35, Ocala), who was a passenger in Rodriguez’s car.

Immediately after the arrest, a search warrant was executed at a residence on in Ocala that Hernandez-Astudillo shared with Carbajal. Upon entering the home, law enforcement officers observed Carbajal backing away from the front door and reaching backwards toward a kitchen counter. On the counter, officers discovered a loaded 9 mm pistol, which was later determined to belong to Carbajal. Also recovered from the home were items used in the manufacture and packaging of crystal methamphetamine.

From another residence across the street, where Hernandez-Astudillo had been observed earlier in the day, agents recovered a suspicious package containing approximately one kilogram of an undetermined powdery substance, later analyzed and determined to contain fentanyl.

According to court records, Carbajal also previously had been convicted for illegally reentering the United States at the time of his arrest on June 2, 2017. Carbajal was a citizen of Mexico and was in the United States illegally. He had been deported and removed from the United States to Mexico on three prior occasions.

On May 24, 2018, Sr. Judge Whittemore sentenced Tirso Hernandez-Astudillo (35, Ocala) to 20 years in federal prison following guilty verdicts by a federal jury on felony drug charges. On the same date, Simon Rodriguez-Flores (48, Ocala) was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for his role in the drug conspiracy. Rodriguez-Flores and Hernandez-Astudillo were also in the United States illegally.

This case was investigated by the Gainesville Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by task force officers from the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team assisted in the execution of the search warrant and the arrests. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dale R. Campion.

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Valeriy Tsoy (35, a citizen of Kazakhstan) guilty of marriage fraud. On July 23, 2018, Zafar Bakhramovic Yadigarov (27, citizen of Uzbekistan) pleaded guilty to marriage fraud and conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Tsoy’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 24, 2018. Yadigarov’s sentencing is scheduled for October 10, 2018.

Tsoy and Yadigarov were indicted on August 30, 2017.

According to court documents, in October 2015, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations worked with the Brevard County Clerk of the Court to investigate a significant surge in the number of aliens from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other former Soviet countries fraudulently marrying U.S. citizens in Brevard County. The leader of the marriage fraud ring, Dennis Yakovlev, admitted to facilitating at least 50 sham marriages over an 18-month span. The foreign nationals, who were from Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, India, Belarus, and Turkey, traveled to Brevard County from around the United States. Yakovlev claimed that he was typically paid $1,000 to $2,000 per sham marriage and that the American citizens were paid between $10,000 and $20,000 each. Many of the aliens who engaged in these marriages initially entered the country on student visas, but later fell out of legal status. Nine individuals, including Tsoy and Yadigarov, have been convicted of marriage fraud charges during the course of this investigation.

The testimony and evidence in Tsoy’s trial indicated that, in 2015, Tsoy was living in Brooklyn, New York on an expired visa. In an effort to gain permanent residence in the United States, he sought out the services of a fraudulent wedding facilitator (Yakovlev). Tsoy then traveled to Brevard County to marry a U.S. citizen (April Moore). In exchange for the marriage and the filing of immigration documents, Tsoy paid Yakovlev, Moore, and a recruiter approximately $10,000. Tsoy spent a few hours with Moore before marrying her on July 6, 2015, at the courthouse in Titusville. 

According to court documents,while living on a temporary student visa in Brooklyn in 2015, Yadigarov traveled to Brevard County to meet with Yakovlev and a U.S. citizen wife-to-be (Meghan Toole). Shortly thereafter, Yadigarov married Toole and returned to Brooklyn. Yadigarov and Toole filed immigration paperwork in an effort to secure his legal permanent residence.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Fraud Detection and National Security, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Brevard County Clerk of the Court. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Bayliss, on assignment from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, ICE, prosecuted the case with Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Jorge Lucas Murillo (28, Ecuador), Carlos Patron Marchan (20, Ecuador), Weimar Valencia Campaz (28, Colombia), and Abraham Lopez Mendoza (47, Mexico) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a $10 million fine for each count.

This indictment arose out of a July 9, 2018, interdiction of a drug smuggling vessel in international waters by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter ALERT. As part of the interdiction, the USCG seized approximately 1,200 kilograms of cocaine.      

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 until, and unless, proven guilty.

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, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 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. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas G. DeRenzo.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Andrew Haley Morcombe (51, United Arab Emirates) to the maximum term of three years in federal prison for international parental kidnapping. The court also ordered Morcombe to pay a $95,000 fine and $90,000 in restitution. 

Morcombe was found guilty by a federal jury on April 23, 2018. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Morcombe kidnapped his daughter on May 2, 2014, during a weekend of scheduled time-sharing. To do so, he falsified court records and submitted an emergency passport application to British Consulate officials containing false information on behalf of his daughter. Morcombe and his daughter then flew out of the United States, and ultimately, onto the United Arab Emirates, a country with which the United States has no extradition treaty. Morcombe’s actions violated a then-pending state court order, which prohibited him from departing the United States with his daughter without court authorization and from applying for a new or replacement passport on behalf of his daughter.

Morcombe asserted a statutory affirmative defense at trial under Section 1204(c)(2), claiming that he kidnapped his daughter so as to flee domestic violence. Evidence and testimony introduced at trial, however, showed that Morcombe had no evidence that his daughter had ever been abused.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Courtney Rashon Johnson (43, Orlando) guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2018.

Johnson was indicted on March 28, 2018.

According to testimony presented at trial, Johnson was carrying a firearm and fleeing from a scene where gunshots had been fired, when he encountered multiple detectives from the Orlando Police Department. When the detectives ordered him to drop to the ground, Johnson complied, throwing the .38-caliber revolver that he had been carrying. Johnson has had multiple prior felony convictions and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. 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 –Victor Thomas Clavizzao (56, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Clavizzao, going by the name of “Victor Thomas,” opened a series of companies, and represented to others, including a local church, that he had the ability to help them conduct real estate transactions. Clavizzao convinced the church, which was seeking to construct a new building, to give him money. The church members believed that the money they gave to Clavizzao would be used to secure financing and to handle issues related to their construction project. Instead of aiding the church, Clavizzao used $16,350 of the church’s funds for his personal benefit.

When Clavizzao began his scheme, he was on federal supervised release for another real-estate-related fraud conviction.

This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew today sentenced Edger Edmund Francis (29, Tampa) to 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States. Francis pleaded guilty on April 23, 2018.

According to court documents, on September 22, 2016, Francis rented a U-Haul truck and drove it from Tampa to a shipping company in Riviera Beach, Florida. In Riviera Beach, Francis arranged to ship a barrel containing three handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, concealed among various household goods. The barrel was destined for Roseau, Dominica, and records showed that Francis had bought the household items from a store in Tampa, just before making the trip. Francis never applied for, or received, an export license or other written prior approval to ship the guns or ammunition outside of the United States.

On or about October 26, 2016, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force searched the barrel and found the guns and ammunition hidden inside.

 “This case is an example of HSI’s dedication to stopping smuggled weapons before they fall into the hands of criminals who pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, including its Attaché Caribbean, with assistance from the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Jacksonville, Florida – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Fanny Melina Zelaya-Mendez (39, Jacksonville) with making false statements to a federal agent, aggravated identity theft, and three counts of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of federal payroll taxes, specifically, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and income tax. Roger Omar Zelaya-Mendez (34, Jacksonville) has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. These charges are in addition to previously filed charges. Specifically, on May 2, 2018, Fanny Melina Zelaya-Mendez was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Roger Omar Zelaya-Mendez was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of illegally re-entering the United States after a prior deportation. The newly-filed false statements and tax fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, and the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of two years that must be served consecutively to any other sentence. Fanny Melina and Roger Omar Zelaya-Mendez are Honduran citizens who are illegally present in the United States.

The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to seek forfeiture of $1,033,485, the approximate amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the wire fraud offenses, and an additional $399,575 of seized funds, and two seized vehicles – a 2014 Dodge Ram pick-up and a 2012 GMC Yukon Denali.

The indictment alleges a fraudulent scheme in which construction contractors entered into agreements with shell companies, established by Fanny Melina and Roger Omar Zelaya-Mendez, that arranged for work crews, mostly made up of undocumented aliens, to work on the contractors’ projects. The contractors wrote payroll checks to the shell companies for the work performed by the workers. Fanny Melina and Roger Omar Zelaya-Mendez then cashed the checks, kept 4% as a fee, and distributed the remaining cash to work crew leaders, who then paid the workers.  By obtaining and paying the workers through the shell companies, the contractors could disclaim responsibility for ensuring that the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States, that adequate workers’ compensation insurance was provided, and that required payroll taxes were paid.

During the period of the scheme, a total of approximately $25,837,141 of payroll funds passed through the shell companies. Neither the defendants nor the contractors remitted payroll taxes to the IRS. According to the IRS, the estimated amount of payroll taxes due on the total wages is approximately $6.5 million.

When Fanny Melina Zelaya-Mendez was arrested on May 4, 2018, she gave a false name to an immigration officer and claimed to be a U.S. citizen who had been born in Puerto Rico. She also presented a valid Florida Identification Card which  she had obtained in the false name. Subsequent investigation revealed that the identity that she had adopted was for a real U.S. citizen who was born in Puerto Rico and that Fanny Melina Zelaya-Mendez had obtained the Florida ID card using a genuine Puerto Rico birth certificate and a genuine Social Security card.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Reginald Hollie a/k/a Reginald Bedford (35, Tampa) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Hollie to forfeit the firearm that was used in the offense.

A federal jury found Hollie guilty on April 25, 2018.

According to testimony presented at trial, on the evening of September 23 and into the early morning hours of September 24, 2017, a friend of Hollie’s was ejected from a bar in Ybor City by the establishment’s security team. Hollie, a convicted felon, became angry, obtained a firearm, returned to the bar, and threatened to shoot one of the security officers. Officers from the Tampa Police Department then attempted to make contact with Hollie, and ultimately found him in possession of a loaded firearm.

As a previously convicted felon, Hollie is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. 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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Jones and Simon Gaugush.

Tampa, Florida – Jeffrey John Abraham (52, formerly of Tampa) has pleaded guilty to distributing controlled substances not specified in his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. He faces a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Abraham, a Florida-licensed physician, was employed at two local Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals where he had applied for and obtained an official federal duty DEA registration number that was "limited to official federal duties," and specifically "restricted to government personnel for official duties only." This DEA registration was "not transferable on change of ownership, control, location or business activity." Abraham resigned from the VA in June 2017 and began working at a pain management clinic in Tampa, without first obtaining a new DEA registration.

From August 2017 through March 7, 2018, while working at the pain management clinic, Abraham wrote more than 2,000 prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, including over 600 prescriptions for hydromorphone (commonly known as Dilaudid) and over 1,000 prescriptions for oxycodone. In March 2018, Abraham resigned from working as a physician at the clinic. During the investigation of this case, Abraham admitted that his DEA registration did not authorize him to prescribe or distribute controlled substances in a private clinic setting after the date of his resignation from the VA, and agreed to surrender his DEA registration.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelley Howard-Allen and Greg Pizzo.

This case was investigated by the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit located in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. On August 2, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the formation of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit in 12 federal districts to help combat the devastating opioid crisis ravaging families and communities. The unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud and abuse by using data to identify and prosecute health care professionals and others who are contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. 

 

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Lisa McLaren Janick (47, Port Charlotte) today pleaded guilty to two counts of health care fraud. McLaren Janick faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, McLaren Janick, while employed as a marketer for a home health agency, falsified documents relating to her husband’s (Dr. Janick’s) Port Charlotte medical office and created bogus referrals for the patients to receive medically unnecessary home health services. Dr. Janick previously pleaded guilty in a related case to obstruction of a federal audit. His sentencing hearing is scheduled on September 11, 2018.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.

Jacksonville, Florida – A federal judge has found Neil Andre Butler (46, Jacksonville) guilty of four counts of possessing and passing fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks. Butler faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2018.

Butler was indicted on October 4, 2017, and elected to be tried by the court, without a jury.

According to evidence presented at trial, Butler was a real estate investor who borrowed funds to buy distressed properties, intending to refurbish and “flip” them for a profit. When his business began to fail, in an effort to stave off his creditors, Butler manufactured and mailed his creditors four fraudulent checks. The checks totaled over $250,000 and were purportedly payable by the United States Treasury. 

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

Jacksonville, FL– A federal jury today found Brian James Holland (23, Jacksonville) guilty of aggravated sexual abuse by force. Holland faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a potential lifetime of supervision. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2018.

According to evidence presented at trial, a passenger with an intellectual disability, aboard the Carnival Cruise Line vessel, Elation, reported an incident of sexual abuse by force on February 27, 2018. The victim stated that she was in the cruise ship’s hot tub when Holland repeatedly attempted to put his arm around her and she attempted to move further away from him. Holland then tried to put his hand on her shoulder and pull her back towards him. Two passengers that were in the hot tub at the time of the incident corroborated the victim’s claim.

The victim stated that Holland touched her genitals over, and under her bathing suit, digitally penetrating her by force. The victim then left the hot tub and reported the incident to her family, who reported it to ship security. An examination of the victim by the ship’s medical personnel revealed abrasions on the victim’s genitals consistent with digital penetration by force. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Jay Taylor.