Middle District of Florida

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Edward Neil Feldman, M.D. (75, Tampa) and his wife, Kim Xuan Feldman (65, Tampa), with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. Dr. Feldman is also charged with three counts of dispensing controlled substances that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Kim Xuan Feldman faces a maximum of 70 years’ imprisonment. The indictment notifies the Feldmans that the government intends to forfeit real property located in Tampa and Pinellas Park, two investment accounts, and three bank accounts, all of which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses and/or property used to facilitate the offenses. The United States is also seeking a money judgment in the amount of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

According to the indictment, from at least October 2009 through the date of the indictment, Edward Neil Feldman, Kim Feldman, and others used Feldman Orthopedic and Wellness Center, located at 6100 Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park, to dispense controlled substances, including Oxycodone, Methadone, Alprazolam (Xanax), and Diazepam, outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. The indictment alleges that Dr. Feldman’s dispensing of those controlled substances resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The Feldmans also allegedly conspired to conduct financial transactions using funds derived from their drug conspiracy to promote the conspiracy, conceal the source of the funds, and avoid transaction reporting requirements. The indictment further alleges that the couple used criminal proceeds to purchase their personal residence and the office building where the pain clinic is located, as well as to fund an investment account.

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 results from an ongoing joint investigation conducted by (name the agencies involved) and the ongoing effort of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

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Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Gerald Eugene Mayham (41, Clearwater) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for sex trafficking a child. The Court also ordered him to serve a 10-year term of supervision upon his release and to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, in June and July 2013, Mayham conspired with Joel Raymond Nauta to cause a 16-year-old girl to engage in prostitution. Mayham, who knew that the victim was a minor, arranged the sex acts by soliciting men at various locations in Clearwater and Dunedin. To get the victim to comply with the scheme, Mayham threatened her and provided her with drugs. Mayham received the money from the sex acts, some of which he used to purchase drugs.

On April 29, 2014, Nauta pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2015.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Clearwater Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Largo Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph W. Swanson and Simon A. Gaugush.

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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Fort Myers, Florida - United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced John J. Hanlon, Jr. (22, Ft. Myers) to seven years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, for distributing and possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2014.

According to court documents, between June 12, 2013, and July 14, 2013, Hanlon distributed videos depicting child pornography to an undercover FBI task force agent using an Internet peer-to-peer network. A federal search warrant was obtained for Hanlon’s residence and all of his electronic media-related items were seized. Forensic analyses of the seized items revealed more than 800 images and videos depicting child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Resident Agency. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Basem Abualteen (48, Lakeland) pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to defraud the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, and has agreed to make restitution (along with co-conspirators) in the amount of $2,110,778 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food Nutrition Service.

According to the plea agreement, from January 2013 to August 27, 2014, Abualteen conspired with Hamzeh Abu-Aish and Shoeneikia Abu-Aish to defraud the USDA’s food stamp program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Hamzeh Abu-Aish was the owner of Finest Meat Market d/b/a Finest Super Market in Lakeland. Abualteen and Shoeneikia Abu-Aish worked as Finest store clerks beginning in about January 2013. Hamzeh Abu-Aish instructed the clerks to purchase SNAP benefits from SNAP recipients in exchange for cash and a commission, a practice called “cash back” or “discounting.” For example, a SNAP recipient would approach a store clerk and ask for $100 in cash. The store clerk would charge approximately $200 to the recipient’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, and then give the SNAP recipient $100 in cash. This practice is strictly prohibited by SNAP regulations. During the scheme, Finest SNAP EBT redemptions far exceeded the national and state averages of similarly sized stores. For example, during July 2013, the average SNAP benefit redemptions for a similarly sized store were $7,059 in Florida, and $6,490 nationally. Finest had $160,821 in SNAP benefit redemptions for the month of July alone. During Abualteen’s participation in the scheme, Finest submitted and received approximately $2,110,778 in fraudulent SNAP EBT redemptions.

On December 3, 2014, Shoenekia Abu-Aish pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the same fraudulent SNAP scheme. On the same date, a grand jury returned a two count indictment charging Hamzeh Abu-Aish with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Christopher Shawn Warnock (43, Jacksonville) with receiving child pornography over the Internet. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervision. Warnock was arrested on December 17, 2014, at his Jacksonville residence.  He was arraigned today and ordered detained pending further proceedings.

According to the indictment, on or about December 14, 2014, Warnock knowingly received a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct over the Internet.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation offices in Jacksonville and Newark, New Jersey, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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.

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.usdoj.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Forida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Harold B. Walbey, III (46 Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft.  He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Walbey was indicted on December 11, 2013.     

According to court documents, from at least in or about 2010 and continuing through about May 2012, Walbey, in his capacity as a correctional officer at the John E. Goode Pre-trial Detention Facility (PTDF), stole the personal identifying information of unknowing inmates that were housed at the facility. As a part of this scheme, Walbey maintained a notebook that contained 49 names, social security numbers, and dates of births of prisoners that were incarcerated at the PTDF. Once this information was stolen, fraudulent debit card accounts and W-2 forms were created in the inmates’ names. A fraudulent tax return was then electronically filed using various online tax software tools such as Turbo Tax. From 2010 through 2012, Walbey filed tax returns in 38 different prisoners’ names, claiming more than $250,000 in fraudulent refunds. 

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Malisa Chokshi.

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges today sentenced Antoine D. Clark (30, Orlando) to three years and one month in federal prison for receipt of a bribe by a public official. The Court also entered a money judgment against him in the amount of $28,450, which represents the proceeds of the offense. Clark pleaded guilty on September 23, 2014.

According to court documents, Clark was employed as a Corrections Officer at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (USP-2) in Sumter County. Based on information from inmates at the facility, agents discovered that Clark had been smuggling tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, cell phones, and pornography into the prison. In exchange for these items, inmates had arranged for Clark to be paid by cash or wire transfers from third parties.

Following his arrest on June 26, 2014, Clark admitted that he had smuggled contraband into the prison in exchange for bribes. He received $28,450.00 in illegal payments, all of which is being forfeited. 

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Duwane Edward Gilmore (27, Mount Dora) to 10 years in federal prison for two counts of bank robbery. The Court also ordered Gilmore to forfeit $4,273.75, the traceable proceeds of the offenses.

According to court documents, on June 4, 2014, Gilmore robbed a Chase Bank in Apopka and obtained $3,273.75. The following week, he robbed a Chase Bank in Sanford and obtained approximately $1,000. Gilmore pleaded guilty to both robberies on September 16, 2014. He received an enhanced penalty as a result of his previous felony convictions for drug offenses and other violent crimes.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Apopka Police Department, and the Mount Dora Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.

Orlando, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Matthew Jones, a/k/a “Caligirl,” “Dynamite2k,” “Dynamite,” “Tyler Zeddai,” and “Mateo Jones” (44, Dallas, Texas) to five years and ten months in federal prison for illegally distributing controlled substances. He pleaded guilty on August 26, 2014.

According to court documents, while Jones was working as the Chief Technology Officer for a software consulting company in Dallas, he operated as the vendor “Caligirl” on the Silk Road drug marketplace. Silk Road operated as an online criminal marketplace designed to enable its users to buy and sell drugs and other illegal goods and services anonymously, outside the reach of law enforcement. 

Between April 10, 2013, and September 9, 2013, Caligirl’s Silk Road account completed 685 finalized sales of controlled substances. Beginning on July 11, 2013, through March 20, 2014, Drug Enforcement Administration agents purchased and seized more than 400 Oxycodone tablets and more than 900 Hydrocodone tablets from Jones. Jones shipped the drugs from Texas to Central Florida. His sales placed him in the top 5% of all Silk Road vendors. 

Authorities arrested Jones while he was travelling back to the United States from Colombia. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of approximately 8,500 Oxycodone pills. Simultaneous with his arrest, agents executed a federal search warrant at his Texas residence, where they recovered approximately $75,000 in cash and seized a variety of controlled substances, including Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, MDMA, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Hashish. A drug lab was also located in the residence.

In addition to operating on Silk Road, Jones conducted his illicit drug trafficking business utilizing an encrypted and anonymized peer-to-peer program.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Orlando District Office, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service in Dallas, Texas.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp has sentenced Garry Wiggins (48, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking. The Court also ordered him to forfeit approximately $611,613, two automobiles, and his home on South Buena Vista Avenue in Orlando, all of which were either used to facilitate the crime, or determined to be traceable proceeds of the offense.

Wiggins pleaded guilty on September 16, 2014.

According to court documents, in about 2010, another Orlando co-conspirator began receiving shipments of kilograms of cocaine from the southwest border region of the United States, and then sold some of that cocaine to Wiggins. These shipments continued until May 31, 2014, when law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested the co-conspirator and seized 15 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $109,700. 

On May 31, 2014, agents conducted a controlled delivery and arrested Wiggins, who arrived to pick up the cocaine in a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche containing a toolbox with approximately $175,470 for the anticipated purchase. Following his arrest, agents searched Wiggins’s home, where they found approximately $237,710 in cash, a kilogram of cocaine, a handgun, crack cocaine, and heroin. The residence was fortified with rebar and cement posts. Upon further investigation, agents also seized a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro race car, along with two Chase Bank accounts containing approximately $99,900 and $98,533, respectively.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Irick.

Orlando, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced four individuals to federal prison for their participation in the sex trafficking of a minor. Xavier Francisco Villanueva, a/k/a “X,” (25, Orlando) was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison; Jose Carmona, a/k/a “Hood,” (21, Orlando) was sentenced to a term of 12 years and 6 months; Ashley Nicole Barnett, a/k/a “Snow,” (25, Orlando) was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment; and Keith E. Romby, II, a/k/a “PJ,” (23, Orlando) was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison.

On September 5, 2014, a federal jury found Villanueva, Carmona, and Barnett guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Carmona and Barnett were also found guilty of aiding and abetting each other in the commission of the offense. Romby pleaded guilty to both charges on August 29, 2014. 

According to evidence presented at trial, between January 17, 2013, and January 25, 2013, the individuals agreed to recruit and entice a 14-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts. Villanueva, Carmona, and Romby were part of the “Nine Trey Billy Bad Ass” gang, which is affiliated with the “Bloods” street gang.  Over a period of nine days, they used drugs, intimidation, and physical restraint to cause the minor to engage in prostitution with customers they solicited through the Internet. On January 25, 2013, the minor escaped from the house where she was being held captive.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys Rivera Miranda and Karen Gable.

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, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Anthony Lee Erity (33, Kenneth City) to nine years and two months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. A federal jury found him guilty on June 25, 2014.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on July 11, 2013, during an undercover operation at a local tattoo shop in Pinellas County, Erity sold a firearm and ammunition out of his car to a confidential informant. As a previously convicted felon, Erity was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. As the trial date approached in this case, Erity also took steps to flee the country and retaliate against a potential witness in the case.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam M. Saltzman and Simon A. Gaugush.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is another example of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime within our communities.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of a superseding indictment charging John Robert Haldemann (30, Naples) with three counts of armed bank robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison for each robbery. The indictment also notifies Haldemann that the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of $14,308.00, the total proceeds of the robberies.

According to the superseding indictment, Haldemann committed three armed bank robberies in Southwest Florida, including Capital Bank in Venice; Wells Fargo Bank in Naples; and a Bank of America in Punta Gorda.             
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crimes Task Force, the Punta Gorda Police Department, the Naples Police Department, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the Venice Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Rashmi Airan-Pace (42, Miami) today pleaded guilty, in Miami, to conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud. The Plea Agreement and Information were filed in Tampa and then transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where Airan-Pace pleaded guilty to other charges. As part of the agreement, Airan-Pace will also forfeit property, including $26,973.81, which represents title insurance premiums she earned. Airan-Pace faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in 2005, entities controlled by co-conspirators entered into a contract to purchase The Arbors, an apartment complex in Hillsborough County, Florida. The new owners of the property then engaged in a plan to convert the complex from rental apartments to condominium units. The developers financed their purchase of The Arbors with a loan from Corus Bank, a financial institution whose deposits were insured by the FDIC. The loan agreement imposed strict conditions upon the timing of the conversion process. It prohibited the developers from filing a Declaration of Condominium or closing on any condominium unit unless they had sales on 80 units, and closed on all of them within 45 days of the closing on the sale of the first unit. The loan agreement also specified that Corus Bank was to receive 100% of the net proceeds of the sale of the first 80 units, and that all of these events were to occur within one year of the loan agreement. Under the terms of the Corus loan, no money could go to the buyers and there could be no transactions outside of the HUD-1 settlement statement.

Airan-Pace's role in the conspiracy as the escrow agent included conducting closings on units being sold at The Arbors. She also facilitated the inclusion of material misrepresentations in the closing documents, including the HUD-1 settlement statements. In the process, she facilitated the transfer of funds through accounts under her direct control, knowing that the funds being paid to the buyers were not disclosed in the HUD-1 or to the mortgage lenders, even while verifying and attesting to the accuracy and truthfulness of the HUD-1’s in aid of the scheme.

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

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jermaine Lamar Harris (31, Ocala) pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in August 2014, Harris sold cocaine and three firearms to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. All of the transactions were video-recorded. Specifically, on August 13, 2014, Harris sold the informant cocaine and a revolver. Six days later, the informant returned to Harris’s residence and purchased additional cocaine from him. Finally, on August 26, 2014, Harris arranged for the informant to purchase a semi-automatic handgun from another person. As they waited for that person to arrive, Harris sold the informant an unloaded rifle that Harris kept in his residence. When the second person sold the informant a handgun, Harris kept the money from that transaction as well. Harris was subsequently arrested on September 23, 2014. 

Harris was a previously convicted felon at the time of the offenses and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. His numerous prior drug sale convictions qualify him for a sentencing enhancement as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to reduce violent crime in our communities.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich today sentenced Yasser Ahmad Obeid (20, St. Petersburg and Lebanon) to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiring to smuggle firearms and attempting to export firearms from the United States. Obeid pleaded guilty on October 8, 2014.

According to court documents, Obeid and his co-defendant, Jordanian National Mahmoud Abdel-Ghani Mohammad Assaf were part of a network of individuals involved in smuggling firearms from the United States to the Middle East by concealing them in vehicles purchased at used car auctions in the Central Florida area, and then exporting them overseas. Obeid worked for Assaf and others to acquire the firearms and also acted as Assaf’s translator and middle-man in arranging the purchases from various sources. The men were arrested after Obeid arranged for Assaf to purchase 30 Glock firearms from an individual who, unbeknownst to the men, was an undercover federal agent.

The case against Assaf is still pending trial.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations – Tampa National Security Group. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. yesterday sentenced Kesner Joly (53, Lakeland) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Joly pleaded guilty on September 3, 2014.

According to court documents, Joly was a kilogram-level cocaine distributor in the Central Florida area. On multiple occasions in 2013, he acquired kilograms of cocaine from South Florida and delivered the drugs to individuals located in the Middle District of Florida. During the conspiracy, Joly distributed at least five kilograms of cocaine in this fashion. Law enforcement seized a total of four kilograms delivered by Joly, as well as $68,000 from prior cocaine transactions. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Raul Cruz (37, Hialeah) to five years in federal prison for credit card fraud. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $159,219.94, the proceeds of the fraud. Cruz pleaded guilty on August 26, 2014.

According to court documents, Cruz purchased Walt Disney World Co. theme park tickets over the phone using stolen credit card numbers that he, in turn, had purchased from business owners in South Florida. To sell the tickets, Cruz created a shell company called “Disney Computer SE” and a website (www.disneycomputerservice.com), both of which utilized the name “Disney” to give the appearance of legitimacy. Using the website and shell company, Cruz resold the tickets to the public. During the course of the fraudulent schem, Cruz purchased over $159,000 worth of Walt Disney World Co. tickets.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Irick.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Jerry Ward (48, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was found guilty by a Fort Myers federal jury on June 12, 2014.

Ward was arrested following a confrontation with a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy, on June 14, 2012, during which Ward dumped the contents of a pillow case, including two rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, onto the deputy’s patrol car. Trial evidence showed that Ward had disposed of a gun upon seeing the deputy approaching in his patrol car. Ward was previously convicted felon at the time of the offense and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.     

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert P. Barclift.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to reduce violent crime in our communities.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Juan Yover Estrada-Mancilla (35, Colombia, South America) to 18 years and 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Estrada-Mancilla is the last of three defendants to be sentenced in this case. On October 22, 2014, Jorge Mario Cuero-Delgado (47, Colombia), was sentenced to serve 10 years and 1 month in federal prison, and Franklin Albeiro Angulo-Montano (39, Colombia) was sentenced to serve 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.

All three Colombian nationals were arrested on May 18, 2014, when the self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel in which they were traveling was interdicted and searched by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). During the search of the vessel, members of the USCG team found and seized 2,838 kilograms of cocaine.  

Estrada-Mancilla, the captain of the vessel, and the two crewmembers all previously pleaded guilty to the offense.  

This case was investigated by OCDETF's Panama Express Strike Force, comprised of agents and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement=s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the 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.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Justin Brian Smith (28, Orlando) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute Methylone. He pleaded guilty on July 7, 2014. Six additional members of the drug trafficking ring previously pleaded guilty and were also sentenced today for the same offense.  Dylan Tash (21, Orlando) was sentenced to seven years and four months in federal prison. Janette Leonard (34, Orlando) was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison. Takayuki Sakairi (28, Orlando) and Nathalie Zuanetti (27, Orlando) each received a sentence of four years and nine months’ imprisonment.  Brian Marmorstone (26, Orlando) was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, and Paul Stebenne (42, Oviedo) was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison.

According to court documents, in 2011, Smith began purchasing Methylone, a club drug often referred to as “Molly,” in bulk from a source in China. Smith would arrange for the drug packages to be shipped to him and to other co-conspirators, including Sakairi, Marmorstone, Zuanetti, Tash, and Leonard. Zuanetti, Tash, Leonard, and Stebenne then assisted Smith in distributing the drugs to other individuals. 

The investigation culminated with a controlled delivery of approximately 72 kilograms of Methylone to Tash on January 10, 2014. In addition, agents seized and administratively forfeited approximately $42,000 in cash from Smith’s residence. During the course of the investigation, agents seized a total of approximately 280 kilograms of Methylone that had been ordered by Smith and sent to him and his accomplices.

DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge A.D. Wright stated, “Today’s actions should be a warning call to those who peddle these dangerous drugs to make a quick buck by preying on party-goers. The DEA remains focused on keeping our citizens safe and these dangerous drugs out of our communities.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Courtney Garner (31, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Garner pleaded guilty on September 11, 2014.

According to court documents, on November 22, 2013, probation officers conducted a “compliance search” of Garner’s residence. In the master bedroom, they found a loaded firearm and 126 grams of marijuana.  During a further search of the residence, law enforcement officers recovered a second firearm, 64 grams of marijuana, baggies, and a digital scale. At the time, Garner was a convicted felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime within our communities.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Steven Staltare pleaded guilty today to income tax evasion. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Staltare worked in the securities and financial investment business between 1999 and 2009. During that time, he earned income from his business and filed personal income tax returns for most of those years that reflected taxes due to the United States. He failed to pay any of the amounts owed and, instead, diverted income that he had made to maintain his lifestyle and pay for other expenses, including gambling debts. The Internal Revenue Service determined that the taxes owed by Staltare during those years amounted to $1,562,205.00.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces today that James Patrick Foreman (44, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of advertising child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervision. Foreman has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in October 2014.   

According to court documents, an FBI agent began an undercover investigation to identify individuals in northeast Florida who had access to and/or were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. The agent determined that a computer in that area was hosting and trading images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The subscriber information for this computer was traced to Foreman’s residence in Jacksonville. 

On October 1, 2014, a federal search warrant was executed at Foreman=s residence. When interviewed, Foreman admitted that he had downloaded child pornography involving children of all ages, and had seen "1, 2, and 3-year-old" child pornography. He also admitted to exchanging passwords with other users, advising others as to the type of material that he was looking for, and allowing other users to browse his collection of child pornography.

Forensic analyses of Foreman’s computer revealed that it contained at least 500 videos and 1,500 images depicting child pornography, including a video depicting a toddler being sexually assaulted. Logs of online conversations between Foreman and others discussing exchanges of child pornography were also found during the search.          

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Alexander Vugler (45, North Port) to 14 years in federal prison for transportation of child pornography. He also was ordered to serve a life term of supervision following his release from prison. In addition, the Court forfeited a laptop computer, hard drive, wireless air card, and a cell phone, that had been used to commit the offense. A restitution hearing to determine compensation for the victims will be set for a later date. Vugler pleaded guilty on September 19, 2014.

According to court documents, in May 2009, an undercover FBI agent in San Diego downloaded 188 files depicting child pornography that Vugler had made available on an Internet peer-to-peer file sharing program. At the time, Vugler was on probation for a contact sex offense that had occurred in Broward County. A federal search warrant was executed at Vugler’s North Port residence. Agents seized a laptop computer and a hard drive that contained more than 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography, as well as file-cleaning software that Vugler had used to destroy evidence of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Brian C. Weiler (56, Melbourne) guilty of conspiracy to distribute and dispense Oxycodone. Weiler, a pharmacist of 32 years, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and the forfeiture of his Florida Pharmacist License. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2015. Weiler was indicted in October 2011.

According to evidence presented at trial, from an unknown date through October 26, 2011, Weiler worked at two Tampa pharmacies, VIP Pharmacy on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; and New Tampa Pharmacy on Waters Avenue. During that time, he filled hundreds of prescriptions for very large doses of Oxycodone.  The recipients included drug addicts and members of doctor shopping organizations who traveled from Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. During the course of the conspiracy, Weiler dispensed more than 100,000 pills from the two pharmacies.  Owners and operators of the VIP Pharmacy and New Tampa Pharmacy have previously been convicted of federal conspiracy charges.  

This case was investigated by a joint task force, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, and the Temple Terrace Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich has sentenced Erasmo Aguinaga (36, Bradenton) to 15 years in federal prison for attempted child enticement. A federal jury found him guilty on September 19, 2014.

According to evidence presented during the trial, on March 23, 2014, Aguinaga communicated online with an individual he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover agent. The agent was conducting an undercover investigation to identify and apprehend individuals who were attempting to sexually exploit children over the Internet. After having chatted online with the “child” for less than an hour, Aguinaga inquired about the “child’s” sexual history and used graphic and explicit language to ask if the “child” would engage in sexual acts with him. Later that same day, Aguinaga asked for the “child’s” address and drove to her purported home, where he was immediately arrested.  

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.

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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Jacksonville, FL B The United States has settled a lawsuit against a central Florida-based sleep clinic for submitting false claims to the government. The qui tam or “whistleblower” complaint, filed by a former employee of the clinic, alleges that VMG Pulmonary and Sleep Institute and its physician/owner, Dr. Marivic Villa, violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by intentionally billing the government for hundreds of thousands of dollars of services that were not medically necessary, and that were performed by unlicensed, uncredentialed, and unsupervised employees.

The government announced today that it had reached a settlement with VMG and Dr. Villa. In reaching this settlement, the parties resolved allegations that, from January 1, 2009, until November 2012, Dr. Villa owned and operated sleep clinics in The Villages that were staffed by unlicensed and unsupervised employees. In many instances, these employees lacked the basic knowledge regarding the tests that they were performing. Despite Medicare payment rules that require that polysomnographic (PSG) tests be conducted by appropriately credentialed employees, the government contends that Dr. Villa only employed non‐credentialed employees. The government also contends that Dr. Villa continued to seek payment for claims to Medicare and TRICARE when she knew, or should have known, that she was violating the payment requirement by not having any appropriately credentialed employees administering PSG tests to beneficiaries.  VMG and Dr. Villa agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve the claims. 

"The United States Attorney's Office is committed to taking the steps necessary to protect Medicare, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs from fraud," said United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III.  "By bringing FCA cases such as this, we hope to recover funds obtained through the fraud and deter others from attempting similar schemes."

This lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Donald Nichols, a former employee at the clinic. Under those provisions, a private party, known as a relator, can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. Nichols will receive more than $50,000 as part of today’s settlement. 

This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Department of Justice has recovered a total of more than $19 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $13.4 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS/OIG), the Defense Health Agency (DHA), HHS Office of Counsel to Inspector General (HHS/OCIG), and handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Mehta. 

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The lawsuit against the defendants was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is captioned United States ex rel. Nichols v. VMG Pulmonary and Sleep Institute, Tri-County Pulmonary & Multi-Specialty Group, and Dr. Marivic Villa.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Joseph Edward Devlin (49), previously a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, who recently relocated to St. Petersburg, with attempted child enticement. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Devlin that the United States intends to forfeit a cell phone, computers, and various computer-related items that were used in the offense. Devlin was arrested on December 5, 2014.

According to court documents, an undercover federal agent was conducting an online investigation to identify adults who were attempting to use the Internet to meet children for sex. The agent posted an online profile as a single “mother” on a website known to promote related sex topics. Between October 15, 2014 and December 5, 2014, Devlin engaged in online conversations with the “mother,” during which he wrote that he always had a “mother/daughter fantasy.” He repeatedly expressed an interest in having sex with the “mother’s” notional “child.” Devlin explicitly wrote about the sexual acts that he wanted to engage in with the “12-year-old” notional “daughter.” At one point during the communications, Devlin sent a naked photograph of himself and subsequently made plans to meet the “mother” and “daughter” at a restaurant in South Tampa. When he arrived at the designated location, he was arrested.

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. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.

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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Derrick L. Hayes, a/k/a “D-Man” (27, St. Petersburg), to 30 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for engaging in the sex trafficking of children.  He must also register as a sex offender. Hayes pleaded guilty on September 25, 2014.

According to court documents, in December 2012 and January 2013, Hayes’s conspired with his girlfriend, Keosha Renee Jones, to arrange for two 14-year-old victims to engage in prostitution in St. Petersburg. After meeting the victims, Hayes took them to a residence and directed them to engage in sex acts with his associates. With Hayes’s knowledge, Jones also took the victims to a hotel, where the victims engaged in additional sex acts for money. Hayes visited the hotel regularly, collected the money, and directed the victims to engage in additional sex acts with his associates. In addition to beating and threatening Jones in the victims’ presence, he also threatened the victims. 

On September 19, 2013, Jones pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy. She will be sentenced on January 9, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Clearwater Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Largo Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph W. Swanson and Stacie B. Harris.

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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Sean C. Moran (Ormond Beach) is paying restitution to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for making a false distress signal using nautical flares in February 2014 in St. Petersburg.

On November 30, 2014, Moran made his first payment toward the $12,752.35 he must reimburse the USCG for the cost of responding to his false distress signal. As part of a pretrial diversion agreement between Moran and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and in cooperation with the USCG, Moran agreed to pay the restitution, write a letter of apology, complete 70 hours of community service, and attend a boating safety course. If he does not fulfill the terms of the agreement within a period of 18 months, he may be prosecuted for the offense.

Individuals who make false distress signals may be fined up to $250,000 and serve up to six years in prison.

“Shooting a flare in a non-distress situation is no different than dialing 911 and hanging up. Flares alert the Coast Guard, first responders, and other mariners of a distress situation on the water,” said Lt. Holly Deal, deputy chief of response at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “It’s a call for help. Every time a flare is fired and reported we respond, so we are asking the public to only use flares when there is an actual distress situation. This avoids unnecessary searches and ensures people in real distress get the help they need as quickly as possible.”

This case was investigated by the USCG. It is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.

Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Noel Perez Partagas (22, Tampa) to three years and three months in federal prison for access device fraud and identity theft. The Court also ordered him to pay more than $46,000 in restitution, and entered a forfeiture money judgment of nearly $24,000, representing the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.  

According to court documents, Partagas used stolen credit and debit account numbers that had been transformed into counterfeit or cloned credit cards. He purchased large quantities of fuel and tires, among other things, that could later be sold for cash. The true owners of these accounts remained in possession of the cards and did not know that their information had been stolen.

Partagas was arrested in July 2013, after he used a fraudulent credit card to purchase $100 of diesel fuel at a gas station in Polk County. At the time of his arrest, he was driving a pickup truck with a large custom “bladder tank” in the bed, used to hold large quantities of fuel.  Partagas had in his possession 69 credit cards and 20 gift cards, most of which had been re-encoded. Further investigation revealed that he had used the fraudulent cards to purchase nearly $42,000 worth of tires from two tire retailers in the Lakeland area in May 2013.

The credit card companies suffered losses of more than $46,000 in this case, with potential losses totaling nearly $350,000.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Nicodemus Darnell Jefferson (40, Jacksonville) with failing to register as sex offender.  If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Jefferson has been in custody since his arrest on September 30, 2014.       

According to the indictment, on December 17, 1998, Jefferson was convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Charleston County, South Carolina.  Between March 17, 2014, and September 30, 2014, Jefferson moved from Maryland to Florida. He failed to register in Florida as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.  The Adam Walsh Act also provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the United States Marshals Service, to assist state and local authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders.  

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

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.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Henry Blain Howard (47, Bradenton) with arson, possessing an unregistered destructive device, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.  If convicted on all counts, Howard faces a mandatory minimum term of 50 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on June 20, 2014, Howard knowingly possessed a destructive device that had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  Further, he used the device in furtherance of the arson of two vehicles.

Additionally, on October 7, 2014, during a search of Howard’s home, investigators recovered two rifles and several rounds of ammunition.  At the time of the search, Howard was a convicted felon and, therefore, was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

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.

Fort Myers, Florida - United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced William A. Vasden, Jr. (38, Tampa) to 4 years’ imprisonment for wire fraud and making false statements. The Court also ordered restitution for the victims in this case. Vasden pleaded guilty in March 2014. 

According to court documents, Vasden was the president of a Tampa-based company known as USCJO, Inc. that claimed to grow fuel and energy producing crops in Florida for a profit. The investigation revealed that from August 2010 through November 2011, Vasden defrauded at least three investors and/or buyers out of more than $3.2 million.

Vasden coordinated multiple seminars and meetings around Florida in which he solicited farmers and investors to contract with his company to plant renewable energy crops that he claimed could be refined into usable biofuel and biomass. During the meetings and seminars, Vasden falsely claimed that he was a farmer whose family owned thousands of acres of land. He also claimed that he was growing and selling the harvested crops to end-user consumers and to the United States military for a substantial profit. He lured investors into paying him to plant the crops based on promises of substantial investment returns. He also fraudulently induced a buyer to enter into purchase order agreements for a substantial amount of money to sell citrus chips. In fact, Vasden never purchased the proper equipment to produce the promised results. He used the money from his victims to fund his extravagant lifestyle.

From October 2010 through April of 2011, Vasden provided false statements in an application for a federal clean energy grant. Those government funds were ultimately withheld when Vasden’s fraudulent activities were discovered. 

This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Sebring Field Office) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Fort Myers Office), with assistance from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tama Koss Caldarone.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Richard Wayne Johnson (68, St. Petersburg) to nine years in federal prison for transporting and possessing child pornography, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In addition, the Court ordered Johnson to pay $7,000 in restitution to the victims of the offenses, and imposed a fine of $17,500. Johnson was also ordered to forfeit a desktop computer that had been used to facilitate the offenses.

Johnson pleaded guilty on August 25, 2014.

According to court documents, in April 2014, an undercover agent used a file sharing program to download Internet files containing child pornography. Further investigation traced the host computer back to Johnson. On May 1, 2014, agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence. During that search, and in a later forensic examination, agents found more than 3,600 videos and 476 images depicting child pornography on Johnson’s computer. Some of the child pornography on Johnson’s computer involved toddlers. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Largo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson. 

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Michel Lermos-Hernandez, the alleged ring leader of a massive credit card fraud and identity theft conspiracy, has been arrested after more than a year as a fugitive.  He was first charged by complaint on May 23, 2013, and was subsequently indicted on July 29, 2013, for conspiracy, credit card fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties ranging from 5 to 30 years in federal prison on each conspiracy, fraud, and identity theft count, and a mandatory 2-year consecutive term in prison for each of the three aggravated identity theft counts.  Lermos was released on a bond and fled on or about November 10, 2013. 

According to court documents, Lermos allegedly led a credit card fraud ring in which conspirators obtained credit card numbers by placing key loggers on credit card terminals that intercepted and stored swiped credit and debit card account information at the International Mall in Tampa, including the Häagen-Dazs ice cream store. Lermos and others then created counterfeit credit cards using the stolen credit and debit card account numbers.  Lermos obtained blank credit card stock, embossing machines, and magnetic stripe re-encoders and also sold stolen account numbers to his co-defendant, Viviana Reyes, and others. 

After making the counterfeit credit cards, Lermos provided them to his co-conspirators, including his sister, Norma Cabezas-Hernandez, his girlfriend, Danay-Crespo Rodriguez, and at least two other individuals, including Lazaro Rodriguez and Abel Osorio-Cuok, who used the cards to purchase electronics and gift cards at Tampa area retailers. The conspirators then took these items to Reyes, who paid them in cash for the fraudulently obtained merchandise.  Reyes then sold the items at a discounted price.

Agents estimate that the actions of the conspirators in this case have impacted more than 1,000 identity theft victims and the loss to date to the affected financial institutions exceeds $650,000.

Lermos’s co-defendants have all been adjudicated guilty and sentenced as follows:

• Viviana Reyes was sentenced to 12 years’ incarceration on May 14, 2014, after a four-day trial during which she was found guilty on all counts of conspiracy, credit card fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft charges.
• Danay Crespo-Rodriguez was sentenced to seven years in prison on July 1, 2014, after pleading guilty to credit card fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges.
• Norma Cabezas-Hernandez was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on April 23, 2014, after pleading guilty to credit card fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges.
• Lazaro Rodriguez was sentenced to three years and one month in prison on January 24, 2014, after pleading guilty to credit card fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges.
• Abel Osorio-Cuok was sentenced to five years’ probation on February 25, 2014, after pleading guilty to one count of credit card fraud conspiracy.

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

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Secret Service (USSS), all of which are members of the USSS’s credit card fraud and identity theft task force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mandy Riedel and Suzanne Nebesky. 

Lermos’s apprehension was made possible by the tireless efforts of the U.S. Secret Service, FDLE, TPD, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Reginald Lynn Gaines (24, Plant City) to 11 years and 9 months in federal prison for robbing a convenience store, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during that robbery. The court also ordered Gaines to pay $1,000 in restitution, which was the amount taken during the robbery. Gaines pleaded guilty on September 2, 2014.

According to testimony and court documents, on November 4, 2013, Gaines and others entered the Food Mart on Lock Street in Dade City carrying firearms. Gaines was armed with a shotgun, while the others had handguns. When they demanded money, the store clerk did not immediately open the register. Gaines then struck the clerk with the butt of his shotgun. He was apprehended the next day.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dade City Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam M. Saltzman.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Martin Howard Winters (55, Valrico), the leader of the River Otter Preppers organization, to 30 months’ imprisonment for manufacturing and possessing destructive devices.  He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014. 

On November 20, 2014, Winters’s co-defendant, Michael Keith Bonta (50, Valrico), was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for making the destructive devices for Winters.  He pleaded guilty on September 2, 2014. 

According to testimony and court documents, Winters designed the destructive devices and directed Bonta to manufacture them according to Winters’s specifications.  The devices have been described as booby traps operated with a tripwire that project pellets from a 12-gauge shotgun shell.  Bonta admitted to having made approximately 20 of the devices for Winters.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald L. Hansen.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Anthony Vincent Burkitt, a/k/a “Vincent Thomas Wolfe,” (44, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of failing to register as a sex offender after traveling to Florida from Maryland. He faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison, and a lifetime of supervision. Burkitt has been in custody since his arrest on April 13, 2014.    

According to court documents, on or about June 24, 2002, Burkitt was convicted of attempted second degree rape in Baltimore County, Maryland. Subsequent to his conviction, and after being released from prison, he traveled from Maryland to Jacksonville, Florida, where he established residency in February 2013, but failed to register as a sex offender as required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. On April 13, 2014, a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to a Jacksonville residence, in reference to a domestic disturbance. At the time, Burkitt was living at the residence under the alias “Vincent Thomas Wolfe” and was arrested. Further investigation revealed that he was a sex offender, and that he had been living in Jacksonville since February 2013 without registering as required by law.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The Adam Walsh Act also provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the United States Marshals Service, to assist state and local authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 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.usdoj.gov/psc.

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Brian Robert Harling (57, Fort Myers) guilty of possessing child pornography. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 2, 2015.

According to testimony presented at trial, on July 4, 2013, a tenant living in a residence owned and previously occupied by Harling found three thumb drives that had fallen from the top of the molding inside a closet.  Harling had moved out three days earlier.  The tenant and her mother contacted the police after they discovered that the thumb drives contained child pornography.  An officer from the Fort Myers Police Department then met with the tenant to retrieve the thumb drives.  The officer also located two additional thumb drives that had been concealed on the ledge of the molding inside the closet.  Approximately 3,000 images and 35 videos depicting child pornography were found on the thumb drives.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Fort Myers Police Department, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Cape Coral Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Stephen J. Cormier (42, Nokomis) to three years and five months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $4.7 million, the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme. He pleaded guilty on March 5, 2013.

According to court documents, Cormier was the sole owner of a title insurance company, A Clear Title and Escrow Exchange (ACTEE), located in Venice, Florida. Part of the business of ACTEE was to write title insurance policies and hold escrow monies in connection with real estate and business transactions. In his capacity as a licensed escrow agent, Cormier received funds from various individuals that were the proceeds of fraudulent activity, including investments that had been made by numerous investor-victims related to “synthetic” financial transactions. These transactions generally involved promises of high rates of return within a short time period, and have been publicly labelled as fraudulent by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other financial authorities. Cormier also disbursed those funds at the request and direction of other co-conspirators. As an escrow agent, he made false representations to the victims as to the status and amount of their deposited funds. The total amount of investor funds Cormier handled was approximately $4.7 million.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Sarasota County Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay L. Hoffer and Cherie Krigsman.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Roberto Bisono and Juan Miguel Ruiz for their roles in a conspiracy involving theft of government property and cashing numerous false and fraudulently filed federal income tax refund checks. Bisono and Ruiz were sentenced to 18 months and 15 months in federal prison, respectively. Both were also ordered to pay $711,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

According to court records, between November 2011 and April 2012, Bisono obtained U.S. Treasury checks that had been mailed to bogus taxpayers in the Bronx, New York. These checks were the results of false and fraudulently filed tax returns. In November 2011, Bisono deposited the first seven checks into a business bank account that belonged to Ruiz.  He later furnished the remaining 104 checks to Ruiz, who operated a check cashing business in Jacksonville. Ruiz deposited the additional checks into his business bank account and wrote checks totaling over $227,000 to Bisono and others associated with Bisono. 

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville office of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dale R. Campion.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that James Lee Cobb, III has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm as an Armed Career Criminal. Cobb faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud charges, 2 years for each aggravated identity theft charge, and a minimum mandatory of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison on the firearm charge. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2015.

According to court testimony, Cobb conspired with others to use more than 7,000 stolen names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers to file false tax returns and open pre-paid debit cards. He also obtained “burner” phones using stolen identities. From an unknown date in 2011, and continuing through November 2013, Cobb and his co-conspirators filed false tax returns claiming approximately $3 million in refunds. 

During the execution of a search warrant at Cobb’s residence, law enforcement officers recovered lists and medical records containing the personal identifying information of more than 7,000 victims. Many of the victims had their identities stolen from healthcare facilities, including from the James A. Haley VA hospital; the Florida Hospital (formerly known as University Community Hospital); ambulance services in Virginia, Georgia, and Texas; a local medical billing company; and court records. In addition, a number of deceased victims’ names were obtained from a genealogy website.

Officers also found two guns in the residence – a loaded handgun and an AR-15-style rifle with a fully-loaded 30-round magazine. At the time of this offense, Cobb was on supervised release from a prior federal firearm conviction.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and  members of the Tampa Bay Identity Theft Alliance, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo and U.S Department of Justice Trial Attorney Timothy P. Loper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Benjamin Renteria-Arboleda (54, Colombia, South America) has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, since July 2001, at least seven maritime cocaine shipments planned by Renteria-Arboleda and others were interdicted by the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy, in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the seizure of approximately nine tons of cocaine. Renteria-Arboleda’s roles in the conspiracy included contracting for the construction, and dispatching, go-fast vessels  and self-propelled semi-submersible vessels. Many of the vessels dispatched by Renteria-Arboleda successfully delivered cocaine and were not interdicted by the United States.

Renteria-Arboleda was arrested in Colombia and subsequently extradited to the United States for prosecution. 

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, comprised of agents and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Isherman Tafari (32, New York) has pleaded guilty to importing 5 kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, on June 20, 2014, Tafari departed Port Canaveral on an eight-day cruise to the southern Caribbean.  When the ship returned to Port Canaveral on June 28, 2014, federal agents and local law enforcement officers searched Tafari’s luggage and discovered packages containing a white, powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. The gross weight of the cocaine was determined to be approximately 5,450 grams.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Tony Frith (36, Orlando) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for access device fraud.  He was also ordered to pay more than $469,000 in restitution to the victims of his offense. Frith pleaded guilty on June 26, 2014. 

According to court documents, officers from the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Frith’s vehicle on September 15, 2013. Pursuant to the stop, officers conducted a search the vehicle and found a backpack containing a computer, an attached encoding device, and more than 200 counterfeit credit cards. Further investigation revealed that the credit cards were counterfeit and that they had been re-encoded with stolen credit card numbers. During a subsequent examination of Frith’s computer authorities found more than 3,000 credit card numbers, as well as text files with names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. The total amount of actual loss associated with the counterfeit credit cards and stolen credit card numbers found in Frith’s possession is over $470,000.

This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department and the United States Secret Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging David Jacob William Guite (30, DeLand) with producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a potential life term of supervision. Guite was arrested on October 29, 2014, at his residence in DeLand, Florida, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint. During his initial court appearance, he was ordered detained pending trial.  

According to the criminal complaint, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, acting in an undercover capacity, posted an advertisement on an online website for individuals who have a sexual interest in children and incest. Guite responded to the agent’s advertisement and, during the ensuing conversation, sent the agent sexually explicit images of a male child.

On October 29, 2014, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Guite’s residence. During an interview, he admitted to manufacturing, possessing, and distributing multiple sexually explicit images of minor children. A search and subsequent analysis of Guite’s smart phone revealed sexually explicit images of a male child taken during the time of the conversation with the undercover FBI agent.  

An indictment and a criminal complaint are merely formal charges 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the DeLand Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.

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.usdoj.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Eugene Edward Hudome (60, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to using a minor to produce images of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. Hudome’s sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, in 2003, Hudome used a camcorder to produce pornographic images of a female minor. In 2014, he uploaded at least two pornographic images of female minors onto his Microsoft SkyDrive account, after which Microsoft notified law enforcement. Agents subsequently executed a search warrant at Hudome’s residence and recovered a video, 170 CD/DVDs, and a computer, all of which contained pornographic images of minor victims. Agents also located additional child pornography on other electronic devices and storage media. During an interview with the agents, Hudome admitted that he had produced the pornography of the original female minor victim sometime in 2003, as she slept in his residence. He further admitted to subsequently converting the images from videotape to digital media.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge W. Terrell Hodges sentenced Dominick Nardone (35, Belleview) yesterday to seven years in federal prison for receiving images of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, he will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervision following his release and must register as a sex offender. Nardone pleaded guilty on August 26, 2014.

According to court documents, on January 13, 2014, federal agents executed a search warrant at Nardone’s Belleview residence, after discovering Internet Protocol (IP) addresses linked to known images of child pornography at that location. During an interview with agents, Nardone admitted that he had been downloading child pornography since “sometime in the 1990s.” He expressed a preference for images of young boys between the ages of three and eleven. Nardone also told the agents that they would find thousands of images and movie files of child pornography on his personal computer and on multiple CDs and DVDs throughout the home. A forensic examination of these items subsequently confirmed that Nardone had received approximately 85,000 images of child pornography over the Internet.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.