Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Hantz Saint Marc today to four years and six months in federal prison for theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. Saint Marc pleaded guilty on February 19, 2014.

According to court documents, Saint Marc engaged in stolen identity refund fraud from April 2009 to May 2011, with two co-conspirators. In particular, in May 2011, Saint Marc stayed in one of two rented hotel rooms where lists of identifying information and pre-paid debit cards containing fraudulently-obtained tax refunds were found. Also found in both rooms were medical records stolen from the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. The records contained the identifying information of U.S. veterans. At sentencing, he was found responsible for fraudulent tax returns requesting nearly $300,000 of government funds and victimizing more than 45 veterans.

This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today found Marco Maurice Heath (36, Deleon Spring) guilty of being a convicted felon who unlawfully possessed multiple firearms and ammunition. Heath faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison due to his prior felony convictions for crimes of violence and serious drug offenses. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 3, 2014. He was indicted on May 7, 2014.

According to evidence presented at the trial, on November 8, 2013, an investigator with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) was driving to work when he saw Heath riding a bicycle toward him with a shotgun and another long gun lying across the handlebars of the bicycle. The investigator radioed the VCSO dispatcher for back-up assistance while he turned around to look for Heath. A short time later, Heath was stopped, but no longer had any guns with him. Deputies continued to search the neighborhood for the guns. Ultimately deputies arrived at a nearby residence occupied by Heath’s girlfriend. She gave consent for the officers to search her home, and in a bedroom officers found a shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle underneath one bed, and a backpack containing three handguns and ammunition underneath another bed. Following his arrest, Heath admitted that he had possessed the firearms and ammunition the officers found that morning. Heath has eight prior felony convictions, including a conviction for armed robbery and multiple convictions for selling cocaine.

This case was investigated by Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose.

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 Trevor Velinor, Acting 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 and improve the quality of life in communities where law enforcement efforts are focused.

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Darin Leon Givens (32, Orlando) to a total of 9 years in federal prison for the robbery of a retail store and the use and carrying of a firearm during that robbery. The Court also ordered Givens to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the crime and to serve a 5-year term of supervision following his incarceration. Givens pleaded guilty on May 20, 2014.

According to court documents, on March 7, 2014, at approximately 7:00 a.m., Givens and another individual, both wearing masks, entered the CVS store located at 9975 Lake Underhill Road in Orlando. Givens approached CVS employee/victim A.R., pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at A.R. Givens demanded money and told A.R. to take him and his accomplice to the safe in the store’s office. A.R. complied with Givens’ demands and led the robbers to the store’s office.

When they arrived at the office, A.R. knocked on the door and asked CVS employee/victim E.V. to let them in. E.V. opened the office door, and the robbers pushed A.R. into the office. Once inside, Givens told A.R. to open the safe or he would shoot. After A.R. opened the store’s safes, Givens and his accomplice took approximately $4,300. Givens and his accomplice told A.R. and E.V. to lie down on the ground. The robbers then zip-tied their victims’ hands behind their backs and fled with the cash. Law enforcement officers caught Givens and his accomplice as they ran to their getaway car that was parked on the side of the road near the store.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Michael Glenn Glascock (39, Merritt Island) pleaded guilty today to one count of using a minor to produce images depicting child pornography and one count of attempting to induce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity using an interstate facility. Glascock faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison on the child pornography count, and a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life in federal prison on the attempted enticement count, as well as a potential life term of supervised release on each count. Glascock was indicted on February 19, 2014.

According to court documents, from on or about October 11, 2012 through October 11, 2013, in Brevard County, and elsewhere, Glascock used a three-year-old minor victim to produce visual depictions of the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In the fall of 2013, an undercover agent with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to an online advertisement which Glascock posted on Craigslist. On October 11, 2013, the undercover agent communicated with Glascock over the Internet and by cell phone. In these communications, Glascock described his sexual abuse of the minor victim and expressed an interest in meeting the undercover agent and the undercover agent’s fictitious minor daughter. Glascock further expressed a desire to engage in illegal sexual activity with the fictitious minor daughter and offered to allow the undercover agent to engage in illegal sexual activity with the minor victim. After Glascock agreed to meet the undercover agent, agents went to Glascock’s home on Merritt Island, where they met Glascock and located the minor victim.

During an interview, Glascock admitted to producing child pornography images of the minor victim, to sexually abusing the minor victim as depicted in some of the images, and to distributing and receiving images of child pornography over the Internet. Agents also executed a search warrant at Glascock’s home and recovered his cell phones, SD cards, and the digital camera that he admitted to using to produce some of the child pornography involving the minor victim. A forensic examination of these devices revealed that there were 24 images depicting explicit sexual conduct involving the minor victim on one of the SD cards.

Agents also searched Glascock’s email accounts and discovered child pornography images of the minor victim in emails that Glascock had sent to another individual. In these and other emails, Glascock had many discussions with other individuals about his sexual abuse of the minor victim. In a series of emails discovered by agents, Glascock and an individual identified to be Jonathan Tyler Prive discussed an incident where Prive sexually abused the minor victim at Glascock’s home, as Glascock watched the abuse. After discovering these emails, the undercover agent conducted an investigation that led to Prive’s arrest. Prive was also indicted by a federal grand jury on February 19, 2014.

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 the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 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 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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Lucas Michael Chansler (age 30, St. Johns) has pleaded guilty to nine counts of producing child pornography. On each of these counts, Chansler faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison, $250,000 in fines, and a potential life term of supervised release. Chansler has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since September 2, 2010.

According to court documents, beginning in or about 2007, and continuing until on or about January 8, 2010, Chansler used computers and interactive computer services to transmit threatening communications to several minor female victims located all across the United States. Chansler transmitted these threatening communications with the intent to extort things of value from the minors, including digital photographs and webcam videos of the minor female victims in various states of undress, exposing themselves and engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Chansler engaged in a pattern of extortion in which he would at first pretend to be a friend, acquaintance, or admirer of the minor victims on social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook. Chansler used more than 60 different online screen names to conceal his identity and location.

After gaining some measure of trust from a particular minor victim, Chansler would request that the minor victim engage in a live video chat session with him via the internet. During this video chat session, Chansler would use a computer program to record the video session without the knowledge of the minor victim. Chansler would ask the minor victim to expose her breasts or genitalia during the session. Often Chansler would entice the minor victims to so expose themselves by showing them streaming video of a minor male exposing himself or engaging in masturbation. Unbeknownst to the minor victims, Chansler did not show himself during these webcam video sessions but rather would use sexually explicit videos of other males which he had collected. If a minor victim did expose herself to Chansler during a video chat session, this conduct would be recorded by Chansler. He then would send a copy or portion of the video recording to the minor victim. Chansler would then demand that the minor victim send him additional and more graphic sexually explicit digital still images or webcam video. Chansler would inform the minor victim that if she did not comply with his demand, he would injure the minor victim’s reputation by sending the sexually explicit images and/or videos to her friends or by posting the images and/or videos to a public website.

Some of the minor victims complied with Chansler’s demands, while others did not. With some of those who complied, Chansler carried on a continuing pattern of extortion by sending more threatening communications and demanding additional sexually explicit images and videos from the minors. On at least one occasion, Chansler was able to locate a minor victim who had established a new online persona in an effort to escape from Chansler. Chansler had previously coerced this minor to produce and transmit to him dozens of sexually explicit images of her over an extended period of time. Using communications routed through a proxy server in Brazil, Chansler reestablished contact with this minor victim and continued his attempts to extort sexually explicit images from her.

Using information received from the parents of one of Chansler’s minor victims and working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, FBI agents were able to identify Chansler and locate his residence in St. Johns County. On January 8, 2010, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Chansler’s residence.

During the execution of the search warrant, Chansler was interviewed and stated that that he used social networking sites to meet girls who ranged in age from 13 to 18 years old. He targeted underage girls because adult women were “too smart” to fall for his scheme. These girls would agree to video chat with Chansler on a particular video chat website. Chansler stated that he saved all files that he obtained from his victims in separate folders labeled with each victim’s name. Subsequent forensic analysis of Chansler's computer revealed that the computer contained two different hard disk drives, one of which contained images and videos of child pornography. This hard drive contained numerous folders characterized and labeled by the name of the minor victims. Many of the folders contained information specific to the particular victim, such as screen captures of the victim’s social networking webpages, written logs of online chats between the victim and Chansler, and pornographic webcam videos and/or digital photos. In several of the videos, victims are seen crying and pleading with Chansler not to force them to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

The forensic analysis of Chansler’s hard disk drive revealed he had targeted approximately 350 different minor victims. Among these were 103 minor victims who have been positively identified. In total, Chansler’s computer media contained approximately 80,000 images and videos, many of which depicted what appeared to be post-pubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Over 3,000 videos were recovered, and at least 200 of these videos depicted child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Florida Attorney General's Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff=s Office, and numerous other state and local law enforcement agencies working in Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) task forces across the United States and Canada.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another 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, 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.

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Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest and criminal complaint charging James Otis Liptak (36, Merritt Island) with possession and distribution of images depicting child pornography. If convicted, Liptak faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, Liptak used his computer and peer-to-peer software programs to search the Internet for, download, share and distribute images of child pornography.

A complaint 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose.

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 (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 – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return by a grand jury of a three-count indictment charging Pedro Luis Infantes (47) and his son, Luis Rafael Infantes (21), both of Ocala, with the theft of government property, interstate transportation of stolen property and making a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted on all counts, Pedro Luis Infantes faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison. His son faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment was returned on August 13, 2014.

According to the indictment and other court documents, on July 11, 2014, Pedro Luis Infantes unwittingly met with a confidential source who was working in cooperation with law enforcement. Pedro Luis Infantes believed that the source had connections to potential buyers affiliated with Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Ultimately, Pedro Luis Infantes negotiated a sale price of $153,500 for 17 military-grade, thermal-imaging monoculars, rifle cleaning kits, and other assorted military equipment that had been stolen from the government. When arrested and interviewed by the FBI agents, Pedro Luis Infantes provided false statements to the agents about how he had acquired the military items and how the serial numbers on the items had been removed.

Luis Rafael Infantes is an active-duty supply sergeant for the United States Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He admitted to military investigators that he had illegally taken the thermal imaging equipment and other items from his base’s inventory and then given them to his father to sell. Luis Rafael Infantes said that he had stolen the items because he had fallen into financial trouble and needed the money.

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 is investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron yesterday sentenced Kim Rivers (47, Windermere) to six years in federal prison for three counts of aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered Rivers to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $1,160,284.

According to court documents, Michael and Kim Rivers created an international bank software company called Global Business Genesis, LLC (“GBG”). The company was headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Michael Rivers was the Chief Executive Officer and Kim Rivers was the Executive Assistant of GBG. During the course of the conspiracy, Michael and Kim Rivers created and provided forged and false documents to potential investors. They also made false statements to investors. For example, on December 11, 2012, Michael Rivers sent an e-mail to Kim Rivers, giving her instructions on how to portray herself as an employee of a law firm. The e-mail detailed how Kim Rivers would pretend to be an administrative assistant at the firm. The e-mail further detailed how another co-conspirator would pretend to be an associate at the law firm.

In January 2013, Michael Rivers was in London trying to solicit investors. After receiving some resistance from investors, Michael Rivers suggested calling the law firm to speak with an attorney who could vouch for the authenticity of GBG and its license agreements. Michael Rivers called Kim Rivers, who pretended to work at the law firm. A co-conspirator then pretended to be an associate at the firm and stated that due diligence had been conducted.

In addition to the forged attorney documents, Michael and Kim Rivers told state and federal courts, the government, creditors, and opposing litigants, that Michael Rivers had debilitating cancer and was receiving treatment in Argentina. Michael and Kim Rivers often claimed that Michael Rivers was medically incapacitated in Argentina. They stated that because of his illness, Michael and Kim Rivers were unable to appear in court, at depositions, and at meetings in the United States. Those false representations were made in letters, e-mails, filings in state and federal court, hearings in court, and in depositions. The statements were also made by agents representing the couple.

During the execution of the search warrants in this case, law enforcement officers found items including correspondence, templates, letterhead, altered documents, and computer images of signatures and seals, which were used during the course of the offenses. These items included the elements used to create the forged documents, including attorney letters, letters from doctors concerning cancer treatment in Argentina and in Florida, insurance documents concerning cancer treatment, and forged documents from financial institutions and government entities.

Michael Rivers (56, Windermere) pleaded guilty on March 20, 2014 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, eight counts of money laundering, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher LaForgia, Daniel Irick, and Nicole Andrejko.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Christopher Michael Nelson (43, Spring Hill) yesterday pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery. Nelson 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 agreements, in the five-day span between February 14 and February 18, 2014, Nelson robbed banks in Brandon, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida. On February 20, 2014, Nelson was arrested at the Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi.

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

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Selathiel Frazier (29, Pasco County) to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of her sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $4,039,238.00, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Frazier pleaded guilty on March 26, 2014.

According to court documents, Frazier engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States government by participating in the filing of fraudulent tax returns and spending fraudulently-obtained tax refunds. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers searched Frazier’s residence, where they recovered thousands of names and social security numbers in ledgers and on various other records. They also recovered more than $60,000 in cash, multiple cars, and other proceeds of the scheme.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda L. Riedel and Sara C. Sweeney.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jason Lynn Gay (40, Orlando) pleaded guilty today to making threats against the President of the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Gay was indicted on February 12, 2014.

According to court documents, on May 29, 2013, Gay mailed a letter to the United States Courthouse in Orlando. In this letter, he threatened to assault and murder an FBI agent. He also threatened to take the life of and inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States of America. Gay further threatened to “blow up” the federal courthouse. On May 31, 2013, a clerk at the courthouse in Orlando received, opened, and read the letter. On June 3, 2013, and again on January 16, 2014, federal agents interviewed Gay regarding the threats he made in the letter. In these interviews, Gay acknowledged writing the letter and reaffirmed his desire to kill the President.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, announces that Roberto Bisono (34, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty today to theft of government property in connection with cashing numerous federal income tax refund checks which were issued on false and fraudulent tax returns. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Bisono pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He also agreed to make restitution of approximately $711,000 to the Internal Revenue Service. Bisono was released on a $25,000 bond pending a sentencing hearing. A date has not been set. Bisono was indicted on March 13, 2014.

According to court records, between November 2011 and April 2012, Bisono obtained U.S. Treasury checks which were 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 7 checks into a business bank account of co-defendant Juan Miguel Ruiz, and later furnished the remaining 104 checks to Ruiz, who operated a check cashing business on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. Between November 2011 and April 2012, Ruiz deposited the additional 104 checks into his business bank account in Jacksonville, Florida. From his business bank account, Ruiz wrote checks totaling over $227,000 to Bisono, and to other persons associated with Bisono.

On July 11, 2014, Ruiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his role in the scheme. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. Ruiz is currently released on bond pending a sentencing hearing.

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

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Robert Jay Berman (64, St. Petersburg) has been arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with attempted persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life in federal prison. Berman made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun III and was ordered detained. A bond hearing is set for August 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

According to the attached criminal complaint, beginning in February 2014 and continuing until his arrest, Berman engaged in a series of sexually explicit online chats, via text message, and through email, with a person whom Berman believed was a 14-year-old girl. In fact, the person on the other end of Berman’s communications was an undercover agent. In the course of Berman’s communications, he sent the agent an email with a photograph depicting his exposed genitalia. On July 31, 2014, after making arrangements to meet the “14-year-old girl” at a public location, Berman was arrested.

A criminal complaint is merely an informal 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson.

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 (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, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Emell Meda Meda (45, Jacksonville) yesterday pleaded guilty to failure to file federal tax returns or pay federal taxes for two years. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Meda was indicted on June 26, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, Meda was a resident of Duval County, Florida since at least 2008. During 2008 and 2009 calendar years, Meda received gross income substantially in excess of the minimum amounts legally requiring him to pay federal income taxes. Due to his receipt of this income, Meda was required to file an income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service on or before April 15, 2009 (for taxable year 2008) and on or before April 15, 2010 (for taxable year 2009). Meda willfully failed to file these returns for both calendar years.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Devereaux.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez-Covington today sentenced Maximilano Reynoso (39, Winter Haven) to 14 years in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Reynoso pleaded guilty on March 4, 2014.

According to court documents, court-authorized wire and electronic intercepts of Reynoso’s cellular phones showed that he was in direct contact with methamphetamine sources of supply in Mexico. Reynoso ordered large quantities of high-purity methamphetamine from Mexico, and supervised couriers who distributed the drugs in Polk County. Reynoso also coordinated the transfer of drug proceeds from Polk County to Mexico. Reynoso’s co-defendant, Gerardo Millian (29, Auburndale), was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison on April 24, 2014. During the investigation, Homeland Security Investigations agents and Polk County deputies made numerous seizures, including one kilogram of methamphetamine shipped via Federal Express from Manzanillo, Mexico to a residence in Polk County, 200 grams of methamphetamine from a residence in Auburndale, 4 kilograms of methamphetamine from a vehicle on Interstate 4 in Polk County, and 40 kilograms of methamphetamine from a residence on Kristen Park Drive, in Orlando.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office as part of an ongoing 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Patricia Margaret Drake (24, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Drake was indicted on May 7, 2014.

According to court documents, on December 5, 2013, a Wells Fargo Bank customer in Jacksonville contacted the bank in order to discuss his concerns regarding unauthorized withdrawals from his bank account. After an internal review of the matter, Wells Fargo Bank identified a series of fraudulent withdrawals from the victim’s bank account. Drake, a Wells Fargo Bank employee, was identified as the teller who had handled every fraudulent withdrawal. The investigation revealed that the victim was not present in the bank branch on the days when the withdrawals took place, including days when withdrawals were made by counter withdrawal slips.

U.S. Secret Service agents later interviewed Drake about the fraudulent bank withdrawals. Drake stated that while using the victim’s bank account number, she made multiple unauthorized withdrawals from the victim’s bank account. Drake also stated that she was not sure how many transactions were completed or the total amount of money stolen from the victim’s account. She did not think the victim would notice the withdrawals quickly because he had a larger account balance.

This case was investigated by United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan yesterday sentenced Franklin Stuart King (40, Interlachen) to 7 years and 6 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography over the Internet. He was also ordered to serve a life term of supervision and register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. King has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on October 10, 2013.

According to court documents, an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Jacksonville began an investigation to identify individuals in that area that had access to and/or were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. Using specialized software, the agent determined that a host computer using an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Putnam County was hosting images of child pornography using a file-sharing program. The agent made a successful connection to this host computer over the Internet and downloaded several images that depicted child pornography.

Further investigation revealed that the subscriber information traced back to King’s residence in Interlachen. Subsequently, HSI agents and other officers executed a federal search warrant at King’s residence. Agents seized, among other things, King’s computer and other items of electronic media. A forensic analysis of King's computer media revealed that it contained a total of 808 images that featured the sexual abuse of minor children.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another 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, 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, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Patricia Margaret Drake (24, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Drake was indicted on May 7, 2014.

According to court documents, on December 5, 2013, a Wells Fargo Bank customer in Jacksonville contacted the bank in order to discuss his concerns regarding unauthorized withdrawals from his bank account. After an internal review of the matter, Wells Fargo Bank identified a series of fraudulent withdrawals from the victim’s bank account. Drake, a Wells Fargo Bank employee, was identified as the teller who had handled every fraudulent withdrawal.

The investigation revealed that the victim was not present in the bank branch on the days when the withdrawals took place, including days when withdrawals were made by counter withdrawal slips. U.S. Secret Service agents later interviewed Drake about the fraudulent bank withdrawals. Drake stated that while using the victim’s bank account number, she made multiple unauthorized withdrawals from the victim’s bank account. Drake also stated that she was not sure how many transactions were completed or the total amount of money stolen from the victim’s account. She did not think the victim would notice the withdrawals quickly because he had a larger account balance.

This case was investigated by United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. yesterday sentenced Timothy Beaver (49, Orlando) to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. The Court also ordered Beaver to pay a $25,000 fine, to forfeit the computer equipment that he used to commit the offense, and to serve a life term of supervised release, following his release from prison. Beaver pleaded guilty on March 5, 2014.

According to court documents, Beaver used a file-sharing program and the Internet to download about 14,500 images and 300 videos depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of mostly prepubescent boys for at least seven years. Beaver also purchased DVD recordings of child pornography from a Canadian website that was subsequently seized by law enforcement authorities.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

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 (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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Antonio Rodriguez Soto (51, Brooklyn, NY) to 10 months in federal prison for theft of government property. The Court also ordered Soto to pay restitution in the amount of $89,143.50 to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Soto pleaded guilty to the charge on April 29, 2014.

According to court documents, Soto began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance payments in 1993. In 2012, he signed a Social Security form stating that he had last worked in 2000. An investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General revealed that Soto was employed as a maintenance worker at a hotel in Kissimmee from 2005 through 2010, and that he did not have any apparent disability. Due to Soto’s fraudulent activities, the SSA lost $89,143.50. Specifically, Soto’s unreported work activity caused him to be overpaid $57,541.50. In addition, those earnings disqualified his children from receiving benefits. His son was overpaid $26,252.00 and his daughter was overpaid $5,350.00.

This case was investigated by Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II sentenced Alper Erdogan (35, a Turkish citizen residing in Baku, Azerbaijan) to nine years and four months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit computer hacking, conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, and aggravated identity theft. In February 2014, Erdogan was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, where he had travelled from Azerbaijan, to the United States to face the charges contained in the indictment in this case. Erdogan was initially indicted in September 2012. He pleaded guilty on April 18, 2014. He was sentenced on July 25, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, in September 2010, the United States Secret Service learned that the computer servers of a hotel in San Diego had been hacked and malicious software had stored credit card magnetic track data that was then remotely accessed and, eventually, used at retail stores throughout the United States. In a series of prosecutions related to the United States v. Chad Warner et al., the government prosecuted and secured convictions against 17 individuals who used the stolen credit card numbers in the United States.

As the investigation progressed, agents learned that the conspirators in the United States purchased the stolen credit card account numbers from Erdogan who was then located in Azerbaijan. Erdogan made in excess of $1.2 million in fraudulent credit card charges between June 2010 and the execution of federal search warrants in March 2011. During the course of the charged conspiracies, Erdogan provided criminals throughout the United States with thousands of stolen and hacked credit card numbers and the personal information of Americans. In doing so, Erdogan entered into a conspiracy with hackers located in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Erdogan perpetrated his offenses and communicated with his conspirators solely over the Internet; acting as a broker and providing the stolen and hacked information to criminals in the United States for the purpose of allowing them to commit fraud using that information.

“United States citizens are increasingly the victims of computer hacking, identity theft, and credit card fraud committed by individuals residing in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and elsewhere. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing these individuals wherever they might be and extraditing them to the United States for prosecution,” stated U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. Dennis Ramos Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service Orlando Field Office stated,

“The Secret Service is committed in pursuing cybercrime cases. There is no doubt that our economic vitality and national security depend on cybersecurity. We are committed to these interests and will pursue cyber criminals regardless of where on the globe they may be physically located. Our ongoing partnerships with state, local and international agencies and through a greater understanding of how the criminal world operates and thrives, and what we do together to secure our nation and communities from this threat will have a profound impact on future generations.”

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

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Anthony Vikey Omar Price (29, Ocala) guilty of aiding and abetting an attempt to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Price faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2014. The jury verdict was returned on July 23, 2014. Price and his co-defendant Delvon Williams were arrested on a criminal complaint on March 19, 2014. Both were indicted on March 26, 2014. Williams pleaded guilty for his role in this case on May 22, 2014.

According to evidence presented at trial, Williams negotiated a 10 kilogram cocaine purchase with another individual on March 19, 2014. Williams exchanged text messages and met with Price prior to meeting with the other individual. The individual made arrangements to introduce Williams to a source of cocaine supply. The source was a DEA agent working in an undercover capacity.

Williams and Price agreed that Price would pay for 3 kilograms of cocaine at $34,000 per kilogram, and that Williams would provide another 2 kilograms of cocaine to Price on consignment. Williams, in turn, negotiated with the individual, that Williams would pay for 4 kilograms of cocaine and receive 6 kilograms of cocaine on consignment.

In the late afternoon hours on March 19, 2014, Price followed Williams and the individual to a warehouse in Ocala. At the warehouse, Price remained in his vehicle, while Williams met with the cooperating individual and the undercover DEA agent. Williams provided two bags of money to the undercover agent. One bag contained $33,000 of the buy money. Another contained $101,985 of the buy money. When agents arrested Price, Price made conflicting statements concerning his knowledge of the drug transaction. At first, Price denied knowledge of the drug deal. Later, Price stated that he knew Williams was a cocaine dealer, but that he merely provided Williams $2,000 as a loan.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced Vinston Boxton-Moises (49, San Andres Island, Colombia, South America) to 18 years in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Boxton was arrested on San Andres Island, Colombia in August 2013. He was subsequently extradited to the United States for prosecution. Boxton pleaded guilty on May 6, 2014.

According to court documents, between 2010 and 2013 Boxton was a knowing and willing participant in an ongoing plan to smuggle cocaine by sea. The cocaine was ultimately destined for unlawful importation into the United States. Boxton’s roles in the conspiracy included recruiting and paying mariners and mechanics, contracting for the use of smuggling and lookout/logistics vessels, and dispatching cocaine-laden go-fast vessels (GFVs).

Boxton is accountable for the GFV TAUPLY, interdicted by the United States in the Caribbean Sea on May 31, 2012, on the high seas and in international waters, approximately 85 nautical miles southeast of Nicaragua. The TAUPLY interdiction resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine. Boxton arranged for the recruitment and payment of the mariners who ultimately operated TAUPLY and attempted to smuggle the cocaine. The Government of Colombia consented to the enforcement of United States law by the United States over the TAUPLY, its illicit cargo (cocaine), and crew. The five mariners who smuggled the cocaine on board the TAUPLY were successfully prosecuted in the United States for violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act.

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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza sentenced Jermal Marquis Chambers (26, Apopka) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence included 10 years for possessing the firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and 5 years for the possession by a convicted felon offense, to be served consecutively. The Court also ordered Chambers to forfeit 10 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition that he possessed. Chambers pleaded guilty on March 31, 2014. He was sentenced on July 25, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, on May 7, 2013, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) responded to the scene of a shooting in Apopka in which multiple attackers used multiple firearms to shoot at several victims. Evidence retrieved at the scene included .40 caliber, 9 mm, and .45 caliber shell casings. One victim was severely injured with a gunshot wound to his pelvis.

During the afternoon of May 7, 2013, unknown assailants shot at Chambers and his uncle outside an apartment complex. No one was injured during the incident.

Late in the evening on May 9, 2013, OCSO responded to another scene of a shooting in Apopka. Multiple attackers had fired bullets into a house where Chambers lived. A subsequent examination of the residence revealed approximately 68 bullet holes in the structure, along with fired cartridges from at least three firearms of different calibers near the structure.

During the execution of a search warrant at the residence, agents found several canvas bags holding a stash of cocaine and related drug paraphernalia, seven firearms, including a .223 caliber assault rifle, a nine millimeter pistol, two .38 caliber pistols, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, and a .40 caliber pistol, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition for these firearms. A forensic examination of shell casings recovered from the first shooting incident on May 7, 2013, revealed that they were fired from the assault rifle found in Chambers’ home. DNA evidence also established that Chambers had held the .22 caliber rifle.

Chambers was previously convicted of felony burglary in 2006 and was, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S Ambrose. 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 Trevor Velinor, Acting 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 and improve the quality of life in communities where law enforcement efforts are focused.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced Tyrone Michael Brinkley (45, Spring Hill) today to 8 years in federal prison for multiple bank burglaries that he committed in the Tampa Bay area between December 3, 2012, and January 5, 2013. Brinkley pleaded guilty on May 2, 2013.

According to court documents, Brinkley was released from prison in North Carolina in November 2012, after serving a prison term for a series of bank burglaries that he committed in the Durham area. Upon his release, Brinkley moved to Hernando County, Florida, and within two weeks began another crime spree, burglarizing nine banks in the Tampa Bay area. Three of the burglaries occurred on Christmas eve. During each burglary, Brinkley broke into the bank in the middle of the night. He shattered the glass window with a rock, used a pry bar to open drawers at teller stations, and removed loose and wrapped coins or cash.

During the execution of a search warrant at Brinkley's Spring Hill residence, law enforcement officers located the tools Brinkley used during the burglaries, including, among other things, a blue duffle bag containing a pry bar, gloves, pieces of broken glass, a knit cap, and a Garmin GPS. Records showed that Brinkley has over 40 prior criminal convictions and has been a habitual bank burglar since at least 1999.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the Brooksville Police Department, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington yesterday sentenced Cassandra Hamilton (55, Tampa) to 15 months in federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Hamilton pleaded guilty on April 15, 2014.

According to court documents, Hamilton engaged in a marriage fraud conspiracy spanning several years, and in excess of ten marriages. Hamilton arranged marriages between U.S. and Jamaican citizens for the purpose of enabling the Jamaican citizens to obtain residency and citizenship. Hamilton was paid for her involvement in arranging the marriages.

"Hamilton conspired to circumvent and exploit our nation's immigration laws for personal financial gain. Her crimes have also resulted in Jamaican nationals who are now permanently barred from obtaining lawful permanent status in the United States." said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa. "HSI will continue to work closely with our partner agencies, including United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to protect the integrity of this country's immigration system."

"As an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, USCIS has zero tolerance for marriage fraud," said Ruth Dorochoff, USCIS Tampa District Director. "Justice has been served with this sentencing, and we remain vigilant in detecting and prosecuting any immigration fraud."

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

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest today of Fredrick Collins, Sr. (36, Orlando) on an indictment returned on April 9, 2014, charging him with distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methylone, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted on all charges, Collins faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Collins that the United States intends to forfeit a firearm and ammunition seized from his home during the investigation.

According to the indictment, on three dates in September 2013, Collins possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute it. The indictment also alleges that Collins possessed methylone, a Schedule I controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it and that he possessed a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Collins has five previous felony convictions, any one of which bars him from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

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 the Orlando Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose.

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 Trevor Velinor, Acting 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.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron yesterday sentenced Richard Anthony Davis (43, Jamaica) to three years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to obtain fraudulent Florida driver licenses, false claim to U.S. citizenship, and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered Davis to forfeit $2,926 in cash, which is traceable to proceeds of the offenses. Davis pleaded guilty to these offenses on April 30, 2014.

According to court documents, Davis conspired with a Customer Service Representative (CSR) at the Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office to issue Florida driver licenses (DL) and identification cards (ID) to over 280 persons based upon fraudulent and fraudulently-obtained U.S. Virgin Islands identity documents. Those documents included genuine birth certificates, social security cards, and fraudulent U.S. Virgin Islands identifications or driver licenses, with corresponding photographs. The CSR, Walter Brown, previously pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to 2 years and a day in prison.

Davis escorted his customers to the Osceola Tax Collector’s Office on days prearranged with Brown. Some of his customers were illegal aliens, previously deported aliens, convicted felons, and others with unknown status. The customers would go directly to Brown’s window with the supporting documentation that Davis gave them for their license application. Brown would then issue the customers Florida DL/IDs. Davis charged his customers $7,500 each and he paid Brown between $300 and $700 per Florida DL/ID.

The Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office reported Brown to law enforcement after internal controls revealed suspicious activity involving his issuance of Florida State Driver Licenses and identification cards. The Tax Collector’s Office cooperated fully in the investigation and Brown was terminated from his employment. Davis is a citizen and national of Jamaica. He last legally entered the United States in 1991, but overstayed his legal residence and never departed the United States.

Beginning in 2000, Davis falsely represented himself to be a United States citizen under five different names.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Myrna A. Mesa and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce S. Ambrose.

Tampa, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. sentenced Luis Alberto Urrego-Contreras to 15 years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that such substance would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

According to court documents, from 2003 until January 2005, Urrego-Contreras, AKA "Bacon," acquired private aircraft and pilots. The acquisitions were made on behalf of Colombian cocaine trafficker Fabio Enrique Ochoa Vasco for the purpose of transporting cocaine from Colombia to Mexico. The cocaine was later imported into the United States for distribution by Ochoa Vasco. In January 2005, Urrego-Contreras arranged the purchase of an airplane from a business in St. Petersburg, Florida. The plane was a Beechcraft King Air model. It was flown first to Brazil then to Venezuela. On June 22, 2005, the plane was supposed to fly from Venezuela to Colombia to retrieve approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine. However, the pilot noticed that the designated Colombian airstrip was being monitored by the Colombian Air Force. The pilot then headed back to Venezuela. Upon arrival in Venezuela, the pilot and co pilot were arrested.

On October 28, 2010, Urrego-Contreras was arrested at the American Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. After being read his Miranda rights and signing a Spanish consent form, he agreed to speak to agents. He identified photographs of Ochoa Vasco and others involved in the plane smuggling conspiracy. Urrego-Contreras stated that he was paid between $50,000 $100,000 for each load. Urrego-Contreras admitted that he was responsible for at least 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that was flown from Colombia to Mexico, and later distributed to the United States by Ochoa Vasco.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration as a part of Operation Panama Express. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Matthew H. Perry.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Travis Devall (47, Tampa) with a conspiracy to commit and the commission of wire fraud, theft of government property and funds, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison for the conspiracy count, and 20 years’ imprisonment for each wire fraud count. The theft of government property charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He faces a mandatory term of 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge. The indictment also notifies Devall that the United States intends to seek a money judgment of approximately $78,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

According to the indictment, Devall served for a number of years as a Recruitment Assistant (“RA”) under the Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (“GRAP”). The indictment alleges that, from in or about September 2006 and continuing to at least July 2010, Devall falsely reported that he had obtained the recruitment of numerous recruits into the United States Army National Guard when, in truth and in fact, he had not carried out the tasks which he reported to the Department of Defense in that recruitment process. As a result of the false statements made by Devall, he earned substantial bonus payments for the enlistment of those recruits into the United States Army National Guard.

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 the United States Army Criminal Identification Division. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Ronald John Heromin (58, Brandon) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and dispense Oxycodone and Alprazolam not for legitimate medical purposes and not in the usual course of professional practice. The Court also ordered Heromin to forfeit his Florida Medical License; his DEA Registration to prescribe controlled substances; $25,437.00 in U.S. currency; and monthly disability payments, totaling approximately $15,000.00 per month, during the period of his incarceration, as a substitute asset for his money judgment, which the Court entered in the amount of $1,952,563.00, representing the amount of proceeds the defendant obtained as a result of his participation in the conspiracy. Heromin was found guilty by a federal jury on April 17, 2014.

According to evidence presented at trial, from late 2009 through October of 2011, Heromin was the prescribing physician at several pain management clinics in the Tampa Bay and Miami areas, including Gulfshore Pain Management on Habana Avenue, the Tampa Bay Medical Center on Himes Avenue, and the Tampa Bay Wellness Centre on Martin Luther King Blvd., in Tampa; and the Hope for Life Wellness Center in Miami and the St. Mary’s Medical Institute in Hialeh, Florida. During that time, Heromin issued thousands of prescriptions for very large doses of Oxycontin, Oxydondone and Alprazolam to drug addicts and members of doctor shopping organizations who often traveled hundreds of miles from as far away as Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to get prescriptions for these highly addictive opiate pain medications. Over 500,000 Oxycodone pills and 230,000 Alprazolam pills prescribed by Heromin during that time were filled at a single pharmacy, the VIP Pharmacy on Martin Luther King Blvd., in Tampa.

Owners and operators of the Tampa Bay Wellness Centre and the VIP Pharmacy have previously been convicted of federal conspiracy and money laundering charges.

This case was investigated by a Joint Task Force including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department, and the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office in Columbus, Ohio. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy J.M. Peluso.

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II today sentenced Ahmed Jibrell (37, St. Paul, Minnesota) to 8 years in federal prison for credit card fraud and identity theft. Jibrell is the seventeenth individual sentenced for his involvement in a nationwide conspiracy in which credit card numbers stolen from U.S. companies by international computer hackers were sold and used fraudulently in the United States.

Since August 2011, Judge Antoon has sentenced the following sixteen others for their participation in this credit card fraud conspiracy:

• Ruel Brown (37, South Carolina) was sentenced to 14 years and 4 months in prison.
• Troy Henry (37, Florida) was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison.
• Chad Warner (31, Florida) was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison.
• Randall Rodgers (32, California) was sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in prison.
• Gary Washington (33, Florida) was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison.
• Derrick Dean (48, New York) was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
• Victor Lindsey (23, New Jersey) was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Erica Roberson (23, Florida) was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Nancy Major (21, Florida) was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Stacie Glapion (29, Florida) was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison.
• Jenna Larson (22, Florida) was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months in prison.
• Ceaundra Thomas (21, Orlando) was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months in prison.
• Olivia Embry (25, Tennessee) was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison.
• Cassandra Navarro (22, Florida) was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison.
• Paige Savant (20, Florida) was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
• Brandy Cannon (21, Florida) was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

According to court documents, the fraud and identity theft in this case was discovered when agents learned that the computer servers of a hotel in San Diego, California had been compromised, or "hacked," and thousands of credit card numbers and related identification information had been stolen. Agents later learned that the stolen credit card numbers were being used at retail stores throughout Central Florida and elsewhere in the United States. The conspirators in Central Florida, California, Minnesota, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere in the United States, purchased stolen credit card information over the Internet from a conspirator based in the country of Azerbaijan, where the conspirators sent international wire transfers to pay for the stolen credit card information. Once the conspirators purchased the stolen credit card information, they used device-making equipment, such as re-encoding machines and computer software, to re-encode blank gift cards with the stolen credit card information. The conspirators then used the re-encoded gift cards at retail stores to purchase actual gift cards and other merchandise.

Each individual sentenced had a particular role in the conspiracy, from leaders, such as Chad Warner and Randall Rodgers, to the persons who entered the retail stores and used the counterfeit credit cards, such as Nancy Major. Ahmed Jibrell both created the re-encoded cards and also served as a sort of travel service for many of the other conspirators, using stolen credit card and identification information to book airfare and hotels for the conspirators and allowing them to travel throughout the United States.

"The sentencing of Ahmed Jibrell is is yet another example of how the Secret Service continues to successfully combat credit card theft and identity crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Orlando Field Office Dennis Ramos Martinez. “The Secret Service utilized state-of-the-art investigative techniques to dismantle this criminal network. Our success in this case and other similar investigations is a result of the extraordinary work of our investigators and our close work with our network of law enforcement partners.”

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

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return of an indictment charging Leyvis Taveras (35, Jacksonville) with identity theft, false representation of a social security number, and impersonating a federal employee. If convicted on all counts, Taveras faces a maximum penalty of 13 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, Taveras aided and abetted in the false representation of two social security numbers in a tax filing with the Internal Revenue Service. She also pretended to be an employee of the Internal Revenue Service investigating the identity theft associated with the two social security numbers.

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 the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Office of Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Tanya Fox (38, Clermont) guilty of 1 count of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, 5 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of theft of government property, and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. Fox faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the wire fraud counts, and 10 years with regard to each of the theft of government property counts. She faces an additional 2 years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charges, with the sentence to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the previous charges. The United States will also seek a money judgment in the amount of $4,055,735 for the wire fraud and theft of government property charges. The judgment relates to the amount of fraudulent tax refunds that Fox and her co-conspirators received. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2014. Fox was originally indicted on March 14, 2014.

According to evidence introduced during the trial, Fox orchestrated a scheme to file fraudulent tax returns using identities that were stolen from a variety of sources. Fox directed other individuals to open business bank accounts in the name of a fraudulent tax preparation business and have the tax refunds deposited into those accounts. Fox worked with those individuals to withdraw the funds and spend the money. As part of the scheme, Fox attempted to receive approximately $5.8 million in fraudulent tax returns and was successful in receiving more than $4 million from the United States Treasury.

According to the testimony at trial, Fox spent the money received from the fraudulent tax returns to purchase a BMW 7 Series, Infinity M35, Chrysler Crossfire, and Volkswagen Beetle. The government has seized each of these vehicles. Fox also purchased a Maserati with the fraudulently-obtained proceeds. However, the Maserati was repossessed before it could be seized. Fox also used the proceeds from these offenses to have cosmetic surgery on two occasions and open a restaurant in the Orlando area.

Previously, Shanterica Smith, Gerald Williams, and Delray Duncan were convicted and sentenced for providing approximately 2,400 names from the Orange County Health Department to Fox, so that she and her co-conspirators could file the fraudulent tax returns. Smith was previously sentenced to 60 months in prison for her role in the conspiracy. Williams was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment, and Duncan was sentenced to 42 months in prison. In addition, April Cuyler pleaded guilty to conspiracy in this scheme and is scheduled for sentencing on September 8, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury today found Ronald Deandrea Solomon (29) guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life in federal prison. Solomon was indicted on April 17, 2014.

According to testimony presented at trial, law enforcement officers made consensual contact with Solomon and a group of other men hanging out in the parking lot of a Lakeland apartment building. When law enforcement drove into the complex, they observed Solomon walk away from the group, remove a firearm from his waistband and toss it under a nearby vehicle. At the time of the incident, Solomon was a previously convicted felon and 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.

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 Trevor Velinor, Acting 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.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury has found Nerene Erica Harrison (32, St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica) guilty of marriage fraud. Harrison faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2014. Harrison was indicted on November 13, 2013, along with Robert Kenneth Scott Cruz.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Harrison, a Jamaican national, came to the United States in 2007 on a temporary work visa. After her visa expired, Harrison offered Cruz, a United States citizen, $6,000 to marry her. They were married on August 15, 2011 and subsequently petitioned for Harrison to receive lawful permanent resident status based on the marriage.

Cruz pleaded guilty on March 27, 2014. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has been set for November 11, 2014.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons and Josephine W. Thomas.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Ulrich Johnson (27, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Court also ordered Johnson to forfeit the firearm and ammunition. Johnson pleaded guilty on April 24, 2014.

According to court documents, on June 2, 2013, officers from the Tampa Police Department attempted to pull over a car in which Johnson was the passenger. The driver of the car, Johnson’s co-defendant, Michael Caro, refused to pull over and fled from the officers. As the driver fled, Johnson threw a loaded firearm and a pill bottle containing crack cocaine, which had been intended for distribution, from the car’s window. The officers eventually apprehended Johnson and Caro. Prior to possessing the firearm and ammunition, Johnson had been convicted of multiple felony offenses. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

Michael Caro, also a previously convicted felon, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in December 2013. On June 26, 2014, he was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson.

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 Trevor Velinor, Acting 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.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard sentenced Christopher Scott O’Brien, II (23, St. Johns County) to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography over the Internet. O’Brien was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender following his release.

According to court documents, an agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began an undercover investigation to identify individuals, in the Jacksonville area, that had access to and/or were trading images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. The agent determined that a host computer in that area was hosting images of child pornography, using a file sharing program. The agent made successful connections to the host computer and downloaded several video files directly from the computer. Further investigation traced the subscriber information to a residence in St. Johns, Florida, where O’Brien resided.

On February 26, 2013, FDLE agents and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence and seized several computers and other electronic media. Subsequent analysis of O’Brien’s computer revealed that it contained approximately 838 videos in the “Saved” folder, at least 50 of which depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another 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, 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 James D. Whittemore today sentenced North Port residents James Dee Jaeger (62) and Lora Anne Jaeger (50) to 18 months each in federal prison. The Jaegers both pleaded guilty on April 21, 2014 to one count of filing a false tax refund claim.

According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on March 31, 2009, James Dee Jaeger and Lora Anne Jaeger electronically filed a joint federal income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from the Middle District of Florida, falsely claiming a refund in the amount of $344,672. The fraudulent tax refund claim filed by the Jaegers was consistent with a bogus theory that the federal government maintains secret accounts for U.S. citizens and that taxpayers can gain access to the accounts by issuing 1099-OID Forms to the IRS. Under this theory, the taxpayer first files a false information return, such as a Form 1099 Original Issue Discount (OID), to justify a false refund claim on a corresponding tax return. In this case, the IRS did not issue the fraudulent tax refunds claimed by the Jaegers. In addition to their own fraudulent tax refund claim, the Jaegers advised and encouraged other individuals to file similar fraudulent tax returns claiming greater than $2,500,000 in fraudulent refunds.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Mueller and Trial Attorney Kevin C. Lombardi of the Department of Justice, Tax Division.

Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell yesterday sentenced Martha Otano (43, Cape Coral) to 3 years and 1 month in prison and $7,500 in fines for making structured cash deposits of proceeds of illegal activity in order to evade bank currency transaction reporting requirements. As part of her sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $1,307,000, the amount of drug proceeds structured into various banks. Otano was also ordered to forfeit her interest in a 2013 Mercedes Benz, a 2012 Chevrolet truck, and approximately $860,376.79 in seized funds, in partial satisfaction of the money judgment. Law enforcement seized these assets and executed search warrants at St. Jude’s Pharmacy and at Otano’s home in Cape Coral, on November 15, 2012. Martha Otano was a registered pharmacy technician and co-owner of St. Jude’s Pharmacy in Cape Coral. She was indicted on June 26, 2013.

According to court documents, from at least April 2011 to at least November 15, 2012, in Lee County, Martha Otano and her husband (Jorge Otano) participated in a conspiracy involving repeated structured cash deposits into bank accounts for the purpose of evading bank transaction reporting requirements. Martha Otano admitted to conspiring to structure approximately $1,307,000.00 in cash deposits into three bank accounts that she controlled with her husband. Martha Otano also admitted that she and her husband made structured deposits from the proceeds of the distribution of Oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice at St. Jude’s Pharmacy, which they owned and operated. Martha Otano and her husband did not deposit all of the cash that they had at the time of receipt. Rather, they acquired one sum of cash at one time, and divided it into amounts less than $10,000.00 so that it would not trigger the filing of a Currency Transaction Report (CTR). St. Jude’s Pharmacy made a significant profit through the illegal distribution and sale of Oxycodone as fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone were routinely filled at St. Jude's Pharmacy in exchange for cash. Martha Otano and her husband used the proceeds from the pharmacy to purchase two homes in Cape Coral and the two seized vehicles.

Jorge Otano has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him in this case. He is scheduled for trial during the November 2014 trial term.

An indictment is merely a formal charged 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 the United States Secret Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David G. Lazarus and Yolande G. Viacava.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that James F. Pruchniewski, (66, Lakeland) today pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud. Dr. Purchniewski faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Dr. James F. Pruchniewski was a podiatrist licensed to practice in the State of Florida and owned and operated the North Lakeland Foot Clinic, in the Middle District of Florida. In his practice, Dr. Pruchniewski did not employ a physical therapist, licensed nurse or any physician other than himself.  His clinic treated patients with something called “micro-vas therapy.” Micro-vas, also known as MVT, involved rendering electrical impulses to patients’ muscles, primarily in their legs, to supposedly stimulate circulation and healing. When Medicare beneficiaries received this treatment at Pruchniewski’s clinic, patients were escorted by a clinic employee to a room with four reclining chairs, televisions, magazine and newspapers.

A clinic employee, who was not a licensed physical therapist, positioned the patient in a recliner, applied pads and attached wire leads to each, turned on the electric current, and adjusted the dial for pain tolerance. Dr. Pruchniewski generally had no contact with the patients during the treatments. He did not hook up the patients to the micro-vas machine, did not discuss the therapy with patients, did not monitor the patients during therapy, and did not disconnect the patients from the machine. At the conclusion of each therapy session, the unlicensed clinic employee filled out a micro-vas therapy form, which Pruchniewski reviewed and signed at the end of the day.

Pruchniewski directed that Medicare be billed for false claims for the use of micro-vas therapy. All of the micro-vas therapy claims to Medicare were fraudulent because: (a) micro-vas is not a covered service by Medicare; (b) micro-vas therapy was inaccurately coded as physical therapy; and/or, (c) as coded, the services required the doctor to perform the procedures, which Dr. Pruchniewski did not. The total intended loss to Medicare exceeds $400,000 and the actual loss from claims made and paid under the CPT code used by Dr. Pruchniewski to bill for micro-vas therapy is $58,025.74.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.

Tampa, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Bernadette Demps (41, Gibsonton) to 2 years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. In addition, the Court ordered her to serve a 1 year term of supervision, following her release from prison, and to pay restitution of over $34,000 to the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Demps pleaded guilty to the offense on April 25, 2014.

According to her plea agreement, in 2011, Demps received more than $43,000 in income tax refund checks into a business bank account which she controlled. All of these deposits were in the names of other individuals. Those direct deposits were all the result of fraudulent tax returns that had been filed a short time earlier with the IRS, using the names and personal identifying information relating to those persons. Demps withdrew the funds from her account almost immediately, either via ATM cash withdrawals or by other means.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

Orlando, FL - U.S. Chief District Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Michael Brian Grzybowicz (30, Cocoa) yesterday to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child by producing child pornography, and a term of 10 years’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently, for possession of child pornography. The Court also sentenced Grzybowicz to a lifetime term of supervision, following his release. A federal jury found Grzybowicz guilty of the charges, as well as distribution of child pornography on January 23, 2012.

On June 28, 2012, U.S. Chief District Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Grzybowicz to 30 years in federal prison. Grzybowicz appealed the judgment on July 13, 2012. On May 6, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the conviction on distribution of child pornography and vacated the sentences on all counts. The case was remanded back to the District Court for resentencing.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Grzybowicz went to Sea World with a family, including a 2 year-old girl and a 5 year-old boy, to celebrate the children’s mother’s birthday. While at the park, Grzybowicz was asked by the parents of the children to watch the minor girl and her brother while the parents rode a roller coaster. While the parents were on the roller coaster, Grzybowicz molested the 2 year-old and took explicit photographs of the child, using his cell phone. He emailed those pictures to his personal e-mail address after leaving the park. Two days later, at their Cocoa residence, Grzybowicz's wife found one of the photographs on Grzybowicz's cell phone. She reported the photographs to the Cocoa Police Department. Law enforcement authorities located Grzybowicz's computer, which contained other images of child pornography, including the images he had taken of the child at the theme park. Grzybowicz was arrested after he provided a statement to a police detective.

This case was investigated by the Child Exploitation Task Force for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Cocoa Police Department, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff's Office's Sex Crimes Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Davis Wilson (former) and Christopher LaForgia.

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, 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. For more information about internet safety education, please visitwww.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Randy Dale Barber (42, Tampa, Florida) to 5 years’ probation for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The Court also ordered Barber to forfeit $413,106, and to pay restitution to Hitachi Data Systems (“HDS”) in the amount of $37,921.20.  Barber pleaded guilty on February 28, 2014. Previously, on July 10, 2014, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell sentenced separately charged mail fraud co-conspirator Michael J. Dragoni (48, Riverview, Florida) to 5 years of probation, with 8 months of home detention. In addition, the Court sentenced two companies used by Dragoni, as part of the conspiracy, namely Fortis Data Systems, LLC (“FDS”) and Greencloud LLC (“Greencloud”) to 5 years of probation. Dragoni, FDS and Greencloud were ordered to forfeit $498,706 and to pay restitution to HDS in the amount of $37,921.20.  Dragoni, FDS and Greencloud pleaded guilty on April 24, 2014.

According to plea agreements filed in the cases, from about August 2009 through at least August 2011, Dragoni and Barber, using Dragoni’s companies FDS and Greencloud, conspired to defraud HDS by making materially false statements to HDS in order to purchase computer equipment for resale to Hajian, who in turn resold the equipment to his client, Mahmood Akbari, and UAE company Patco Group, Ltd. By late 2009, Dragoni, Barber and Hajian knew that HDS refused to sell computer equipment to Hajian, and his customers Akbari and Patco, because HDS believed that the equipment was being diverted to unauthorized end users. In order to deceive HDS and purchase the computer equipment, Dragoni and Barber made false statements regarding the purchaser, end user, and location of installation of the equipment that they were purchasing. To facilitate the conspiracy, they used front companies to make equipment purchases on their behalf. The conspirators then caused the equipment to be shipped to Dubai.

In another case arising from the same investigation, on April 30, 2014, Judge Bucklew sentenced John Alexander Talley (42, Seattle, Washington) to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transaction Regulations. The Court also sentenced Talley’s company, Tallyho Peripherals, Inc. d/b/a Enterprise Solutions Systems, to 1 year of probation. Talley and Tallyho pleaded guilty on September 18, 2013. 

According to court documents, from about 2009 to about September 2012, Talley and his company conspired with others, including Mohammed Reza “Ray” Hajian, to unlawfully export sophisticated enterprise level computer equipment from the United States to Iran, and to provide computer information technology (IT) support services for the equipment, all in violation of the United States embargo. Talley’s role was to provide training and computer IT support to ensure that the computer equipment operated in Iran.  In an effort to conceal their activities, the conspirators in the United States caused shipments of the computers and related equipment, as well as the payments for same, to travel to and from the United States and Iran through the United Arab Emirates.  Similarly, payments for Talley’s support services were wired through the UAE.

On July 11, 2012, Hajian and three of his companies, RH International LLC, Nexiant LLC, and P & P Computers LLC, pleaded guilty to charges involving the same conspiracy to violate the Iranian Embargo and to a conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transaction Regulations. On October 18, 2012, Hajian was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison.

On September 12, 2013, two Iranian nationals, Mahmood Akbari, a/k/a John Wasserman and Reza Hajigholamali, and three UAE front companies, Patco Group Ltd., Managed Systems and Services (FZC), and TGO General Trading LLC, were indicted in connection with the same conspiracy. Charges against those parties included a conspiracy to violate the International Economic Powers Act, and a conspiracy to commit international money laundering. According to the superseding indictment in that case, Hajian was selling the sophisticated computer equipment and services at issue to Akbari. If convicted, Akbari and Hajigholamali face a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in federal prison.

“This investigation demonstrates HSI’s commitment to protecting our citizens by ensuring critical U.S. technologies don’t fall into the hands of our foreign enemies,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa.

"The cooperative efforts between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security have proven once again that anyone who conspires to violate U.S. embargo sanctions and illegally export sensitive U.S. technology to state sponsors of terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Protecting the National Security of the United States remains our top priority and we will continue to dismantle and disrupt andy networks attempting the same illegal activities," said Robert Luzzi, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Export Enforcement's, Miami Field Office.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini and Trial Attorney Mariclaire Rourke of the Counterespionage Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that Ronald Charles Waters (65, Lake City) pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.  Waters faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a potential life term of supervision.  Waters was arrested on November 20, 2013 in Lake City.  He has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since that time. 

According to court documents, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) determined that several individuals had received an email containing images of child pornography. Further investigation revealed that the email address subscriber was listed as “R. Waters,” and the account was traced to a residence in Lake City where Waters resided.  HSI agents interviewed Waters at his residence, at which time Waters consented to a search of his computer.  Three images depicting child pornography were found on the computer.  The images were located in deleted space.      

On November 20, 2013, HSI agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Waters’ residence.  Waters was present and agreed to speak with the agents.  During the interview, Waters stated that he was the only one who had access to his computer media.  A forensic analysis of the computer revealed that it contained at least two videos and at least 16 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff=s Office, and the Lake City Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another 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, 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. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Charles Franklin Hudson, Jr. (38, Jacksonville) yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of using a minor to produce videos depicting child pornography. Hudson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release on each count. Hudson was arrested in Jacksonville on January 8, 2014, and has been in custody since that time. 

According to court documents, on January 6, 2014, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) was dispatched to a residence in Jacksonville in response to a call regarding allegations of sexual battery on a minor child. Subsequently, JSO Sex Crimes detectives interviewed the minor child, who indicated that she has been sexually abused by Hudson.

On January 8, 2014, JSO detectives obtained a search warrant for Hudson’s residence in Jacksonville. Hudson was arrested later that day. During the execution of the search warrant at his residence, officers discovered, among other things, numerous items of digital media including multiple computers, cameras, SD cards, CDs and DVDs. Located in the attic of the residence was a backpack containing cameras, sex devices and restraints, along with several pill bottles bearing Hudson’s name.  One of the pill bottles contained five SD media cards. Subsequent forensic analysis of the media cards revealed that they contained approximately 90 video and image files that depicted sexually explicit conduct involving Hudson. At least two of the videos, which had been produced by Hudson, depicted Hudson and a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

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

It is another 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, 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, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Christopher Richard Cloonan (44, Jacksonville) yesterday pleaded guilty to using a minor child to produce images depicting child pornography. Cloonan is a registered child sex offender.  He was convicted of two counts of attempted sexual battery on a child less than 12 years old on November 18, 1991, in Charlotte County. Because of his prior child sex convictions, Cloonan faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Cloonan was arrested on March 12, 2014 at his residence in Jacksonville, and he has been in custody since that time.

According to court documents, in early March 2014, an undercover officer (“UC”) with the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department posted an advertisement on a website known to be frequented by individuals who have a sexual interest in children and incest. On March 8, 2014, Cloonan, using a particular screen name, responded to the ad and expressed interest and experience in sexual activity with a minor child.

On March 11, 2014, Cloonan sent the UC an email with two images attached. Both images were produced by Cloonan and depicted an infant engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A few minutes later, Cloonan sent the UC another email with two more explicit images of the same infant.

On March 12, 2014, the FBI’s investigation revealed that the Internet Protocol (IP) address used to send the pornographic images belonged to Cloonen.  He was also identified as the subscriber of the Internet account. Also, on the same date, Cloonan and the UC continued their online communications. In several different emails, Cloonan discussed his fantasies about sexual activities with children. At 5:33 p.m., Cloonan typed “Society is coming down so hard on ‘child molesters’ etc now, we are in danger everyday as lovers of children are not seen as different from those who hurt and kill them.” 

A search warrant was issued for Cloonan’s residence on March 12, 2014. That evening, FBI agents and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) personnel executed the warrant, at which time Cloonan came out of the residence holding a smartphone. He was placed under arrest. A preliminary analysis of Cloonan’s smartphone revealed that it contained at least 85 images of child pornography, mostly depicting infants and toddlers. Two of the pornographic images were of the infant child that Cloonan had previously taken and sent to the UC by email. Additional images depicting adults performing sexual acts on infants were also found on the phone. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Washington, D.C., the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another 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, 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.

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Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Luis Pomales guilty of filing fraudulent claims with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Pomales faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2014.

Pomales was indicted on March 12, 2014.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Pomales filed a false claim for a tax refund for the 2008 tax year. On April 15, 2009, Pomales submitted a 2008 IRS Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, with two Forms 1099-OID claiming interest income that was never earned. The fraudulent tax return and the Forms 1099-OID reflected $271,650 of taxable interest and $271,640 of federal withholding, which caused the IRS to issue a refund check for $196,872, an amount to which Pomales was not entitled.

Pomales deposited the United States Treasury check for $196,872 into an account at a local bank on June 22, 2009 and spent approximately $170,000 of the proceeds in the following six months.     
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs Jr.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AT 813-274-6000.

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp yesterday sentenced five individuals for their roles in stealing from an employee benefit plan of a local union. James McCall (32, Orange City) was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $93,405.89 in restitution. Ian Chase Dove (26, Orange City) was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $18,662.70 in restitution. Jason Wesson (37, Orange City) was also sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $19,975.32 in restitution. Michael Giesinger (36, Deltona) was sentenced to 1 year of probation, 6 months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay $20,009.62 in restitution. Shane Riley (32, Deland) was sentenced to 3 years of probation and was ordered to pay $18,374.64 in restitution. On April 23, 2014, all five pleaded guilty for their respective roles in this case. 

According to court documents, Angela Deleon worked at Advance Administration, Inc. (AAI), which was the third-party administrator of an employee benefit plan for the Ironworkers Local 808.  As the third-party administrator for the Ironworkers Local 808 Annuity Fund, AAI was responsible for processing members’ payment applications, paying the Fund’s bills, and speaking with union members. Deleon’s duties at AAI included data entry and the processing of payments. 

Over a period of about 14 months, Deleon wrote 46 checks from the Fund, totaling over $427,000, to individuals who were not members of the Local 808 or participants in the Fund, including McCall, Dove, Wesson, Giesinger, and Riley. McCall, Dove, Wesson, Giesinger, and Riley cashed some of those checks and split some of the proceeds with Deleon.

In total, ten individuals have been charged in connection with this case.  Deleon was previously sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for her participation in these crimes.  Deleon was also ordered to pay $594,000 in restitution to the Ironworkers Local 808 Annuity Fund and to serve one year of supervised release. The $594,000 in restitution consists of more than $427,000 that she stole from the Fund, plus the amounts spent by the Fund to audit and reconstruct the records that were impacted by Deleon’s scheme.   

Three others are scheduled for sentencing hearings on August 20, 2014.  Brandon Alfonso (28, Orange City) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Marta Blackmer (71, Orange City) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and ten counts of theft from an employee benefit plan. Phillip Simmons (50, Orange City) went to trial and was convicted of one count of conspiracy and two counts of theft from an employee benefit plan. Each of these individuals faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for each count.

Lastly, Jason Ferrari (33, Orange City), is pending trial for one count of conspiracy and one count of theft from an employee benefit plan.  If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for each count.

“These sentencings demonstrate the OIG’s commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who seek to illegally enrich themselves by defrauding union benefit plans,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Richard Walker, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

“Theft of employee benefit assets jeopardizes the benefits of workers. This case reaffirms the Labor Department’s commitment to protect workers’ benefits by identifying criminal activity wherever and whenever it occurs,” said Isabel Colon, Regional Director of Employee Benefits Security Administration’s Atlanta Regional Office and Miami District Office.

These cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.  They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Renee Gregg (35, Bradenton) with production and transportation of child pornography. If convicted, Gregg faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison for the production charge. For the transportation charge, she faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

According to the indictment and criminal complaint, in August 2011, Gregg produced an image in which she sexually abused a female toddler. She then sent this image via text messaging to an individual in Queens, New York. Gregg and this individual also discussed having sexual contact with children.

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 (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

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 (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.