Middle District of Florida

TAMPA, FLORIDA - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that yesterday a federal jury found Antonius Russel Ford (28, Odessa) guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Ford faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Ford was indicted on May 13, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Ford bought hundreds of grams of cocaine and crack cocaine from a supplier in Town 'n' Country, a community in Tampa. Ford then resold the drugs in Spring Hill and elsewhere. During the investigation, numerous telephone conversations between Ford and the supplier were intercepted by law enforcement. On April 12, 2013, agents executed federal search warrants at two businesses in Town 'n' Country and recovered approximately 255 grams of cocaine, as well as several thousand dollars in cash.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Orlando, Florida - Senior District Judge John Antoon, II today sentenced Shawn Alan Marshall (50, Brevard County) to life in federal prison for sexually abusing a minor female victim by threatening her and placing her in fear. Marshall pleaded guilty on May 8, 2013.

According to his plea agreement, from March 16, 2011, through November 30, 2012, on Patrick Air Force Base, Marshall sexually abused and raped the victim on numerous occasions. During some of the abuse, Marshall physically restrained the victim by locking her in a bathroom with him, pinning her arms behind her back, and wrapping a cord around her throat. Marshall was physically and verbally abusive in the presence of the victim and used coercion to prevent the victim from disclosing the abuse. In February 2013, the victim disclosed the sexual abuse. Shortly thereafter, Marshall was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Air Force, Office of Special Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp sentenced Obnes Latigue (51, Orlando) yesterday to 13 months in federal prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. As part of his sentence, Latigue was also ordered to pay $1,129,418 to the Internal Revenue Service in restitution and to serve one year of supervised release. Latigue pleaded guilty on May 23, 2013.

According to his plea agreement, Latigue was the owner of a tax return business called Tax Winners Enterprises, Inc. For tax years 2006, 2007, and 2008, Latigue prepared returns for individuals in which he falsified the amounts of deductions and tax credits owed to taxpayers, which resulted in those taxpayers receiving undeserved tax refunds. In particular, Latigue fraudulently claimed education credits for clients who never attended college. He also inflated itemized deductions. In response to the false returns that Latigue prepared, the Internal Revenue Service issued more than $1.1 million in undeserved refunds, which is the amount that Latigue was ordered to pay in restitution.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Senior District Judge G. Kendall Sharp sentenced Richard Middleton (36, New York) today to five years and ten months in federal prison for possession of device -making equipment and possession of a false identification implement. Middleton pleaded guilty on May 29, 2013.

According to documents, on August 20, 2011, deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a room that Middleton occupied at a timeshare resort in Kissimmee. Inside the room deputies recovered equipment used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards and false identification documents, including a credit card embosser, a foil press “tipping” machine, card making devices, MasterCard hologram stickers, blank plastic cards and holograms typically used in genuine state issued identification cards and driver licenses, more than 1,000 blank American Express and Visa credit cards, and a laptop computer. A forensic review of the laptop revealed evidence indicating its use in the charged crimes.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Jacksonville, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced that Dwaine Charles Idleman (66, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty yesterday to receiving images and videos depicting child pornography over the Internet. He faces not less than 5 years, up to 20 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Idleman was named in a criminal information charging him with the offense on August 5, 2013.

According to court documents, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an undercover operation to identify persons using the Internet to receive and share child pornography. The agent identified a particular host computer using a particular internet protocol (IP) address that was sharing images of child pornography on a file sharing network. Further investigation revealed that the subscriber was Dwaine C. Idleman in Jacksonville.

On June 28, 2012, HSI special agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at the Idleman residence in Jacksonville. Idleman was present, and agreed to speak with the agents. Idleman stated, among other things, that he had come across pornography sites with people that were “too young” but that he “got out of it.” Idleman stated that he had a particular file sharing program, but does not keep it installed on his computer. When told that the agents knew that he was downloading child pornography files into his residence and that he was sharing it back out of the residence, Idleman stated, “I’m not sharing it; I didn’t think I was, and I didn’t know that I was keeping it, I know I got a problem and if this escalates into an arrest, my life is over.”

While at Idleman's residence, the agents seized his laptop computer. Subsequent forensic analysis revealed that it contained at least four images and one video depicting child pornography. The analysis also showed Idleman downloaded child pornography on the morning of June 28, 2012, just before the arrival of law enforcement.

The case was investigated by HSI, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Tyler Andrew Smith (23, Port Orange) pleaded guilty this week to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Smith faces a maximum penalty of not less than 5 years, up to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the possession count. A sentencing hearing has been set for November 4, 2013. Smith was indicted on June 5, 2013.

According to court documents, on July 31, 2012, Smith used his email account to send an email containing an image of child pornography to an individual in another state. In April 2013, law enforcement discovered Smith's email with the attached child pornography image during an investigation into the individual in the other state. On March 16, 2013, federal agents went to Smith's residence in Volusia County and interviewed him. Smith turned over to agents a cellular telephone with a memory card, a netbook computer, and an SD memory card, all three of which contained child pornography. Smith admitted, among other things, that he sent the email with the attached child pornography image, that he used email accounts and the Internet to collect and trade child pornography, and that the devices containing child pornography belonged to him. Smith was subsequently arrested.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

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

Fort Myers, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest of Burson J. Augustin (29, Fort Myers) for distribution of cocaine. If convicted, Augustin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1million. Augustin was charged by criminal complaint on August 15, 2013.

According to the complaint, on August 7, 2013, Augustin sold approximately 29 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant working with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for $1,200. The complaint also states that Augustin was previously arrested as a member of the Liberty City Seven, in 2006, for conspiracy and providing material support to terrorism related to a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago. For that offense, he was convicted and sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. At the time of this offense, Augustin was on supervised release. He was released from prison on September 21, 2012. A criminal 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 was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

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Fort Myers, Florida - United States District Judge John E. Steele sentenced Dr. Stephen M. Lovell (55, Windermere) to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $1.695 million, the proceeds of the offense. A jury found Lovell guilty on February 28, 2013, following a two-week trial.

According to testimony presented at trial, Xtreme Care Rehabilitation Center Inc. (“Xtreme Care”) was operating in Cape Coral, Florida as an unlicensed health care clinic since 2009. The State of Florida licensing requirements were circumvented by the conspirators as a result of the purported exclusive ownership of these clinics by licensed health care practitioners, including licensed chiropractor Dr. Stephen M. Lovell. As a result of the purported ownership of the clinics by a licensed health care practitioner, these clinics avoided greater regulatory scrutiny. In actuality, other conspirators including Francisco Huici Fernandez and Ernesto Diaz were the true owners of the clinics.

In furtherance of the health care fraud, the conspirators caused individuals to be recruited to be involved in staged accidents and received injuries. These individuals would then go to Xtreme Care in exchange for payment. Xtreme Care then billed insurance companies by submitting false claims through the mail for alleged medically necessary treatments that these patients received. Treatment was either never provided to these patients or was not medically necessary. Upon payment by the insurance company, the proceeds of the fraudulent activity were then transferred to corporations created by the conspirators to launder the proceeds of the criminal activity. Ultimately, Lovell and his co-conspirators received the benefits of the fraudulent activity through payments or expenditures for themselves from the corporate bank accounts.
Francisco Huici Fernandez and Ernesto Diaz previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the case. On March 13, 2013, Fernandez was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison. On July 15, 2013, Diaz was sentenced to eight years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Cape Coral Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, Hialeah Police Department, City of Miami Police, Florida Department of Financial Services, along with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Federal Reserve Board - Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James E. Whittemore sentenced James Earl Smiley (41, Tampa) yesterday to 5 years and one month in federal prison for committing stolen identity refund fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $98,719.65, representing the proceeds of the offense.

Smiley pleaded guilty on March 6, 2013, to one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the plea agreement and court documents, in October 2012, Smiley was stopped by the Tampa Police Department. He had several Turbo Tax Visa debit cards and receipts in his possession. The debit cards were not in Smiley's name, or in the name of his passenger. Further investigation revealed that the debit cards were funded with fraudulent tax return proceeds. On numerous occasions, Smiley was captured on video surveillance using the fraudulent debit cards. He admitted that the cards contained proceeds from fraudulently filed tax returns. None of the victims, including deceased individuals and others whose names appeared on the debit cards, had given Smiley or his passenger the authority to use their identities.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Collier County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen.

Orlando, FL - U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell today sentenced Gurudeo "Buddy" Persaud (47, Orlando) to three years in federal prison for mail fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Persaud to pay $948,340.00 in restitution to the victims of his scheme.

According to the plea agreement, Persaud, a licensed securities broker, formed White Elephant Trading Company LLC in 2007. White Elephant was a private equity fund that purportedly invested in securities on the national markets. Persaud solicited investors by telling them that he would generate profits using his trading skills and that he would make all trading decisions. Persaud guaranteed investors rates of return of between 6% and 18% that were payable in a short period of time. However, Persaud used a trading strategy that was based on lunar cycles and the gravitational pull between the moon and the Earth. Furthermore, Persaud did not invest all of the money that he received from investors, but instead used money from later investors to pay earlier investors and used significant portions of the money for his own personal use. Persaud defrauded investors out of more than $1million.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Do Nguyen (39, Bradenton) guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants. Nguyen faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Nguyen was indicted on November 6, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Nguyen managed five separate marijuana grow houses throughout Manatee County from mid-2010 through October 2011. The houses were located in Bradenton, Parrish, and Duette. Nguyen recruited and employed three workers at the houses. Between March and October 2011, law enforcement executed a series of searches at the homes and recovered approximately 3,387 marijuana plants, worth approximately $5 million, along with extensive growing equipment and paraphernalia. During the time period of the conspiracy, Nguyen also paid a relative (Minh Tran), who worked as a driver for UPS, to deliver packages to him containing multiple pounds of marijuana from California. Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana in May 2013. His sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Bradenton Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced John D. Stanton, III (64, Tampa) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to interfere with the Internal Revenue laws and failing to file income tax returns. The court also ordered Stanton to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $37,816,875.00. Stanton was found guilty on December 17, 2012 by a federal jury.

According to evidence presented at trial, Stanton was the former president of Florida Engineered Construction Products Corporation ("FECP"), more commonly known as Cast Crete Corporation. FECP/Cast Crete manufactured and sold concrete construction products. As president of the company, Stanton interfered with the administration of the tax laws by impeding an Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") audit of the company, creating and backdating two fraudulent demand promissory notes totaling $500,000,000, causing false Forms 1099 to be filed with the IRS, failing to file corporate tax returns on behalf of the company, and other acts of obstruction and concealment. During approximately 2004 through 2008, the company made well over $100 million and failed to file a single corporate income tax return.

Additional trial evidence showed that Stanton failed to file corporate tax returns on behalf of Denouement Strategies, Inc., for 2006 and 2007. Stanton controlled Denouement Strategies and transferred over $43 million worth of FECP/Cast Crete profits into the Denouement Strategies bank accounts in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Stanton also failed to file personal income tax returns for 2005 and 2007.

“Today the Internal Revenue Service continued its core mission to protect the integrity of the tax system as John D. Stanton III’s was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a trial and guilty verdict earlier this year,” stated James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. “Stanton used his education and skills as a MBA and CPA to purposefully impede the Internal Revenue Service, depriving the U.S. government and its citizens of in excess of $60 million in tax revenue and now he, and those close to him, are paying a high price for this breach of trust. Violations of Internal Revenue laws are not victimless crimes and this sentence should serve as a reminder to all Americans of the consequences of purposefully flouting their civic responsibilities and the Internal Revenue laws.”

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Monk and Matthew Mueller.

Tampa, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Alexis Antoine Davis, a/k/a "Big Mike," (32, Polk County) guilty of three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Davis faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Davis was indicted on January 8, 2013.

According to evidence presented at trial, on August 30, 2012, September 4, 2012, and September 5, 2012, Davis possessed and sold five firearms to undercover agents, as part of an ongoing undercover operation in Polk County. At the time the transactions took place, Davis was a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Davis is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph W. Swanson, Stacie B. Harris, and Adam M. Saltzman.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez-Covington yesterday sentenced Daniel Arroyo (39, Tampa) to 15 years, eight months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Arroyo to forfeit the stolen firearm, which was used to facilitate the offense. Arroyo pleaded guilty on February 21, 2013.

According to court documents, Arroyo, also known as "King Tweet," worked with a prostitute to steal from her "johns." On August 8, 2011, Arroyo stole a Springfield Model XD-9 semiautomatic handgun from a "john," but the gun owner unexpectedly called law enforcement to report the theft. Law enforcement eventually recovered the gun at an abandoned house, where Arroyo and the prostitute had hidden it, to be retrieved later.

Arroyo is a convicted felon. His prior felony convictions include attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated battery (deadly weapon), carrying a concealed firearm, robbery, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle (occupied), and battery on a law enforcement officer. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Jeffrey Alan Barnett (46, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Barnett faces a mandatory minimum of not less than 5 years, up to 20 years in federal prison for each distribution count, and a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison for the possession count. Sentencing has been set for December 19, 2013. Barnett was indicted on April 17, 2013.

According to court documents, Barnett used a peer-to-peer filing sharing program to distribute child pornography to an undercover federal task force agent on three separate occasions. On March 21, 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at Barnett’s residence. During the execution of that search warrant, investigators found a computer located in Barnett’s bedroom that contained child pornography. Barnett was interviewed and admitted, among other things, that the computer belonged to him and that he had been using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and trade child pornography. He was arrested on the same date.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

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

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Robert Gordon Shaw (37, Deleon Springs) pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of armed bank robbery. Shaw faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, on April 19, 2013, Shaw and a separately charged individual named Matthew Anthony Cosimini robbed a Regions Bank in Sanford. They displayed a fake explosive detonation device and passed a note to a bank teller demanding money and indicated that an explosive had been placed inside the bank. During the robbery, Shaw and Cosimini also possessed a semiautomatic pistol with ammunition. After Shaw passed the demand note and displayed the detonation device, the bank teller handed Shaw approximately $14,098 in bank money. After the robbery, Shaw and Cosimini fled in a stolen vehicle and responding officers from the Sanford Police Department pursued them. During the pursuit, Shaw caused damage to both a police vehicle and a civilian's vehicle. Police officers eventually stopped and arrested Shaw and Cosimini one mile from the bank. The officers also recovered the firearm and detonation device from the stolen vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the detonation device was a fake and that there were no explosives inside the bank.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Sanford Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Tampa, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Marcus Dontell Lloyd (35, Port Charlotte) pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and one count of bank robbery. Lloyd faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for the bank robbery offense.

According to the plea agreement, Lloyd, aided and abetted by a separately charged woman named Kaylee Sanchez, committed a series of bank robberies in the Middle District of Florida between July 26, 2012, and August 21 of 2012. While robbing the banks, Lloyd used helmets, hats, sunglasses, and on at least one occasion, a wig, to disguise his appearance. Lloyd did not display or indicate that he had a weapon while committing the robberies, but would jump or climb over the teller counter and literally grab cash from the teller drawers. Sanchez acted as his getaway driver.

Lloyd's bank robberies included a TD Bank in Apollo Beach on July 27; a Bank of America (BOA) in Lakeland on July 27; a BB&T Bank in New Port Richey on July 31; a BOA in Ormond Beach on August 2; and a BOA in Belleview on August 13, 2012. On August 21, 2012, Lloyd and Sanchez were arrested following a car and foot chase, after Lloyd had robbed a Bank of America bank in Boynton Beach. Lloyd dropped a bag with most of the bank money while running away from police officers. In total, Lloyd’s robberies totaled more than $91,000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Steven Scott Schriebman (24, Palm Harbor) to 6 years in federal prison for the unlawful possession and transfer of machineguns and destructive devices. Schriebman pleaded guilty on January 4, 2013.

According to court documents, from May through November 2012, Schriebman unlawfully sold a number of high-powered assault rifles, including AK-47s, AR-15s, and an Uzi, to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Schriebman was selling the firearms from his residence in Palm Harbor. In addition to the machineguns, Schriebman sold the undercover agent several explosive devices that Schriebman believed the agent needed to blow up a vehicle. Schriebman also offered to obtain silencers, military weapons, and bullet proof vests for the undercover agent.

During the execution of a federal search warrant at Schriebman's residence, agents recovered a number of additional assault rifles, machineguns, shotguns, handguns, pen guns, magazines, ammunition, assorted firearm parts, flares, firearm conversion kits, and other firearm paraphernalia.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II sentenced Christopher Castillo (28, Melbourne) today to 15 months in federal prison for threatening to kill the President of the United States. Castillo was convicted by a federal jury on February 5, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Castillo posted the following threat on Facebook, "that's the last straw, if he gets re-elected I'm going to hunt him down and kill him watch the life disappear from his eyes." Later, after someone informed him that threatening the President was a federal offense, Castillo "doubled-down" as the witness described, by posting, "I wouldn't call it a threat but more of a promise, let them come after me...Be more than happy to take a few of them with me."

A witness reported the threat to the United States Secret Service and law enforcement officers subsequently interviewed Castillo at his home. During the interview, Castillo admitted making the statements. He also stated that he meant it because of his "severe anger" toward the President because of the President's views on healthcare. When asked what he would do if the President were standing in front of him, Castillo made an explicit statement about slapping and beating the President. Castillo also told agents that he would call the President a terrorist. During the trial, Castillo testified that he was just angry and did not really mean that he would kill the President.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

Tampa, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Robert Benefield (44, Sarasota) pleaded guilty today to a one count information charging him with conspiring with others to distribute Oxycodone. Benefield faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in federal prison because of his prior felony drug convictions.

According to the plea agreement, in 2012, Benefield recruited drug users to unlawfully obtain Oxycodone and other prescription pain medications. Benefield coordinated with doctors in the Miami area, and drove his co-conspirators from Sarasota to these doctors' offices in Miami. The doctors sometimes met with persons recruited by Benefield, and gave them prescriptions for Oxycodone and other pain medications. Upon their return to Sarasota, the co-conspirators filled the prescriptions and turned the drugs over to Benefield for further illegal distribution, in exchange for money and drugs. Benefield also obtained prescriptions from doctors without having the prescribed patients actually present at the doctors' offices.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Sarasota Police Department as part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation SRQ Cartel II, an ongoing investigation into the most serious drug traffickers in and around Sarasota. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation's illegal drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Orlando, FL - U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II sentenced Kameron E. McCall (30, Orlando) today to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A federal jury found McCall guilty on May 7, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Orlando Police Department officers detained and searched McCall's vehicle while investigating an alleged carjacking in North Orlando. During that search, officers located a loaded firearm in the glove compartment. McCall admitted to the officers that he was a convicted felon and that he possessed the firearm because "he was a rapper and people hated him." Further investigation revealed that McCall has at least five previous felony convictions, including possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, carjacking, and various drug offenses. As such, he was not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Orlando Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Tampa, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Paul Thorpe (43, Brooksville) today pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography. Thorpe faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has been set for October 24, 2013.

According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent downloaded 33 images and a video from an IP address connected to Thorpe. On January 31, 2013, law enforcement seized Thorpe's computer pursuant to a federal search warrant. An examination of the computer revealed that it contained 155 images of child pornography. Thorpe confessed to possessing, receiving, and transporting child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury today found Lander Carlton McLoyd (39, Melbourne) guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. McLoyd faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 2013. McLoyd was indicted on January 30, 2013.

According to evidence presented at trial, a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement purchased cocaine base from McLoyd's residence in Melbourne, on two separate occasions. A search warrant was executed at the residence on October 12, 2012. During the execution of that search warrant, investigators found, among other things, cocaine base, marijuana, and three loaded firearms. McLoyd has a prior federal felony conviction for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, as well as prior state felony convictions for vehicular homicide, cocaine possession, and uttering a forged instrument. Due to his prior federal conviction, he is facing enhanced penalties at sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Melbourne Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier sentenced Juergen H. Kreuzer (52, Cape Coral) yesterday to a fine of $4,000 for operating a vessel at 55 miles per hour in a posted and marked 25 mile per hour manatee protection zone. Kreuzer was operating his vessel on the Caloosahatchee River, near Shell Point. He pleaded guilty on July 16, 2013.

According to court documents, Kreuzer had seven prior convictions for manatee zone speeding violations. Kreuzer operates All Around Boats - a business in Cape Coral that is engaged in boat rentals, and fishing and boat tours.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge William J. Castagna sentenced Kwamane Coleman (23, Largo) yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Coleman pleaded guilty on February 27, 2013.

According to court documents, Coleman was arrested for trespassing in Largo, and was found to be in possession of a firearm and crack cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, Coleman is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. It was be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced three Lakeland residents to federal prison terms for various firearm and drug violations. Phillip Thomas (28) was sentenced today to three years in federal prison for transferring an unregistered short barreled shotgun and aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm. On July 24, 2013, Michael Joseph Harper (25) was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for transferring an unregistered short barreled shotgun and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On July 17, 2013, Merryday sentenced Joshua Paul Blevins (20) to 5 years’ probation for aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm. Thomas, Harper and Blevins pleaded guilty to the offenses in May 2013.

According to court documents, Harper, along with Thomas and Blevins, sold multiple firearms and drugs to undercover law enforcement agents. Harper, a convicted felon, either sold or was involved in selling forty-five firearms, Hydrocodone, Xanax, and Oxycodone pills, marijuana, and cocaine. Thomas sold six firearms, including a short barreled shotgun, cocaine, Xanax, and Hydrocodone pills. Blevins assisted Harper in selling two high-powered rifles.

Thomas, Harper and Blevins were arrested during Operation “Smoke-N-Guns.” “Smoke-N-Guns” was a joint law enforcement effort that targeted convicted felons, drug dealers and gang members who were illegally possessing or selling firearms in the Lakeland area.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lakeland Police Department. It was 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. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Ronald William Brown (58, Largo) to 20 years in federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography. In addition, he was sentenced to a lifetime of supervision, following his release from prison. The court also ordered Brown to forfeit his computer equipment and phone which were used to commit the offenses. On March 25, 2013, Brown pleaded guilty to five counts of receiving child pornography and three counts of possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, approximately on May 23, 2012, Michael Arnett was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations special agents in Roeland Park, Kansas for the production of child pornography. This investigation revealed that Arnett, had images including bondage-type photographs, involving four child victims. Previously, on May 15, 2012, a search warrant had been executed at Arnett's residence and computers were seized. A forensic examination of Arnett's computers revealed that he had been communicating and exchanging child pornography materials with other individuals using online chat programs, as well as engaging in extremely graphic discussions regarding the kidnaping, sexually abuse, murder, and eating of children. One of the individuals with whom Arnett discussed these acts was Ronald William Brown.

On July 19, 2012, law enforcement agents conducted a search of Brown's residence in Largo, Florida. During the search, agents seized multiple pieces of electronic media, including, but not limited to, a computer, various CD/DVDS, micro disks, cameras and a thumb drive. A forensic review of Brown's electronic media showed that he possessed hundreds of images of child pornography and child erotica, including various images showing children being bound and tortured. Additionally, Brown had hundreds of images of deceased children. In chats with various individuals, Brown discussed abducting, torturing, and murdering children.

“Brown, a church puppeteer, lived a double life,” said Shane Folden, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa. “Behind closed doors, he had a sick obsession that focused on children. Let this case be an example to other child predators. We will find you, arrest you and make sure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Homeland Security Investigations does not tolerate adults that prey on innocent children.”

Brown’s sentencing is part of Operation Holitna, an ongoing investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations that originated in Boston. In 2010, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts and HSI Boston arrested Robert Diduca on charges of producing child pornography. Diduca was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in federal prison in June 2012. Forensic analysis of Diduca's computer led investigators to the Netherlands where a Dutch national was arrested and charged with producing, distributing and possessing child pornography, as well as sexually assaulting 87 minors. Since that time, a worldwide network of offenders continues to be unraveled, which also included Brown. Defendants and victims continue to be identified around the world. To date, more than 160 children have been rescued and more than 50 perpetrators arrested worldwide as a result of Operation Holitna.

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

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.

Jacksonville, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today that John George Sessine (53, Lake City) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Jacksonville on child pornography charges. Sessine is charged with three counts of receiving child pornography. On each of the receipt counts, he faces a mandatory minimum of not less than 5 years, up to 20 years in prison. Sessine was taken into federal custody on July 29, 2013 and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. His arraignment and detention hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel B. Toomey at the U.S. Courthouse in Jacksonville.

According to the indictment, Sessine did knowingly receive visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct over the Internet, on three separate occasions. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

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

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.

JACKSONVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced today that Bao Pham, D.O., and AccMed Healthcare Systems, LLC, d/b/a Florida Spine Care and Pain Center, have paid $448,794 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for medical services to the Medicare and federal Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP) programs.  Pham is an osteopathic physician who focuses his practice on pain management and who, through Florida Spine Care and Pain Center,  provides treatment to Medicare recipients for various conditions and to federal employees who are suffering various types of on-the-job injuries. Florida Spine Care and Pain Center is a Florida corporation located in Clay and Duval Counties in Florida. 

Medicare benefits are available to eligible patients who are disabled or are aged 65 and older and who are enrolled in Part B of the Medicare Program to obtain benefits from participating healthcare providers.  The federal OWCP benefits are available to federal civilian workers who are injured at work or who have acquired an occupational disease.

Today’s settlement resolves allegations that, between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008, Pham and Florida Spine Care and Pain Center submitted false Medicare and OWCP claims for non-reimbursable procedures and services by upcoding and unbundling medical services provided to beneficiaries of these two federal programs. The government alleged that Pham and Florida Spine Care and Pain Center upcoded a non-reimbursable procedure, performed in-office, as a surgical procedure and further routinely unbundled claims for certain pain management services in order to obtain reimbursement that would be higher than if properly submitted.   

“This settlement represents another notable achievement in our battle against health care fraud in this district,” stated A. Lee Bentley, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. “Civil health care fraud enforcement is, and will continue to be, one of our top priorities.”     

“Billing Medicare for one procedure but actually providing another, much cheaper procedure – as Pham allegedly did – is plain and simple fraud,” said Christopher B. Dennis, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Health and Human Services, Miami region. “When providers pad their pockets at Medicare’s expense, they can expect the OIG to investigate and hold them responsible.”

“This settlement demonstrates the OIG’s commitment to investigate those who defraud the U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Employees’ Compensation Program by billing for services that were not rendered. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of schemes,” said Richard Walker, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

These allegations arose as a result of information received from a fraud investigator at a major health insurance carrier, which was simultaneously conducting an investigation into Dr. Pham’s billing practices.

This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Labor and the Office of Inspector General for the United States Postal Service.  

This matter was settled prior to filing suit by the United States of America. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

Tampa, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest of Donald E. Gallagher, Jr. (51, St. Petersburg), on charges of  distribution and possession of child pornography.  If convicted, Gallagher faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the distribution charge, and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison on the possession charge. 

According to the complaint, Gallagher used an online peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and share numerous images and videos of minors, some pre-pubescent, engaging in explicit sexual activity.  Based upon the investigation into the origin of these images, the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained and executed a federal search warrant at a residence in St. Petersburg.  During the search on July 24, 2013, agents located and seized a laptop computer belonging to Gallagher. A preliminary examination of the computer revealed hundreds of images of child pornography.

An complaint is merely a charge that probable cause exists that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Largo Police Department.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

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

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Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Michael M. Rucker (34, St. Petersburg) to twenty years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The court also ordered Rucker to forfeit firearms and ammunition involved in the commission of the offenses. Rucker was found guilty by a jury on February 14, 2013.

According to court documents, on May 15, 2012, the St. Petersburg Police Department Vice and Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at Rucker's residence located on 9th Avenue South, in St. Petersburg. During the execution of the search warrant, officers located two fully loaded handguns in Rucker's bedroom, distribution amounts of crack cocaine under a couch, marijuana, and tools of the drug trade commonly used to make and sell crack cocaine. The residence was located within 1,000 feet of both a middle school and daycare center.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Leon, 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.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Arlin Troncoso-Pena (33, Sarasota) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin. The court also ordered Troncoso-Pena to forfeit $3,005, proceeds of the offense. Troncoso-Pena pleaded guilty on March 29, 2013.

According to his plea agreement, in October 2010, Troncoso-Pena arranged for two females to travel from Boston to Florida with heroin. After Troncoso-Pena picked up the two females at the train station in Osceola County, his vehicle was stopped by law enforcement. One of the women in Troncoso-Pena's vehicle possessed heroin weighing approximately 150 grams.

In 2012, law enforcement authorities in Sarasota County learned that Troncoso-Pena was selling heroin as part of a conspiracy. In May 2012, law enforcement purchased a total of approximately 40 grams of heroin, after arranging the sales through Troncoso-Pena. In June 2012, during the execution of search warrant at a residence used by members of the conspiracy, approximately 35 grams of heroin and more than $5,000 were recovered. On that same date, Troncoso-Pena was arrested and found to be in possession of $3,005.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, the Sarasota Police Department, the Osceola County Investigative Bureau, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson.

Ocala, Florida - Senior United States District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges today sentenced Roberto Jesus Acosta (54, Cuba) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition affecting interstate commerce by a convicted felon. Acosta pleaded guilty on April 24, 2013.

According to court documents, members of the Ocala Police Department executed a search warrant at Acosta's apartment on February 2, 2013, after learning that Acosta had just purchased a 50-round box of ammunition at a local retailer. Video footage from the business showed Acosta buying the box of .25 caliber ammunition earlier that day. During the search of the apartment, officers recovered the box of ammunition, a .25 caliber handgun and three other rounds of ammunition. The box of ammunition had been hidden inside of an air conditioning unit. When interviewed by the officers, Acosta admitted that he had purchased the box of ammunition "for a neighbor."

Acosta has prior state convictions for manslaughter, burglary, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Furthermore, because Acosta's prior criminal record included several crimes of violence, he qualified for enhanced sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law.

This case jointly was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Torres, 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.

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell yesterday sentenced Christopher Holladay (37, Deland) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Holladay pleaded guilty on April 30, 2013.

According to his plea agreement, Holladay, a previously convicted felon, sold a stolen Remington rifle to an undercover officer and a confidential informant for $350 on August 2, 2012. The rifle had been stolen the day before in a residential burglary. Later that month, a deputy with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle being driven by Holladay. A drug detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, investigators found marijuana and methamphetamine.

Holladay has ten prior state felony convictions, including drug possession, conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine, grand theft, robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting an officer with violence, accessory after the fact, and failure of a career offender to properly register. As a previously convicted felon, Holladay is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. As a result of his prior criminal record, Holladay qualified for enhanced sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Torres, 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.

Tampa, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Marterrance Q. Holloway (33, Tampa) pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud charges, in addition to charges that he conspired with others to defraud the United States Treasury. Holloway faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge, ten years on the fraud charge, and a consecutive two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge. As part of the plea, Holloway also agreed to forfeit two 2010 Chevrolet Camaros, a 2011 Dodge Charger, a 2005 Dodge Magnum, a motor scooter, an Apple iPad, cash and assorted jewelry -- all of which were purchased with the proceeds of his fraud. The net proceeds of the forfeited items will be credited towards any future forfeiture money judgment. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

On April 17, 2013, Holloway's co-defendant, Maurice Larry, pleaded guilty to similar charges. Larry is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2013, at 10:30 A.M. before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich.

According to Holloway's plea agreement, he and Larry filed fraudulent tax returns from the Howard Johnson Hotel on 50th Street in Tampa. A room at the hotel was purchased in Larry's name. In the hotel room were four computers that were used to electronically file fraudulent tax returns in the names of deceased individuals. Also located in the room were pages from an internet website, along with ledgers and lists of stolen names, dates of birth and social security numbers. Some of the names included specific codes to be used for electronic filing purposes or notes about whether a tax return had been either accepted or rejected. Multiple "Turbo Tax" reloadable debit cards were found in the hotel room, along with ATM receipts for cash withdrawals, and approximately $3,700 in cash. Both Holloway and Larry admitted to filing fraudulent tax returns while staying at the hotel.

Approximately one year later, Holloway used a fraudulent debit card at a local bank ATM machine. The debit card was loaded with the proceeds of a fraudulently filed tax return in the amount of over $9,800.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Paul Robert Gunter (64, Odessa, Florida; originally of London) to 25 years in federal prison, Simon Andrew Odoni (56, originally of Hertfordshire, UK) to 13 years, 4 months in federal prison, and Richard Sinclair Pope (55, originally of Hertfordshire, UK) to 4 years, 9 months in federal prison for their respective roles in an international investment fraud and money laundering scheme. The court also ordered all three individuals to forfeit their interests in real property and bank accounts in the U.S. and abroad, an airplane, vessels, and vehicles purchased with proceeds of the fraud scheme.

As part of the investigation, federal agents seized nearly $5 million in U.S. currency. At the sentencing hearing, the court granted the government's request to use these assets to help compensate victims for their losses. In addition, the court entered money judgments in excess of $137 million against Paul Gunter and Simon Odoni.

On April 19, 2013, Paul Gunter and Simon Odoni were found guilty by a federal jury, following a 19-day trial. Specifically, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on three counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, as well as nineteen counts of mail and wire fraud, and fourteen counts of money laundering.

Prior to trial, on March 10, 2011, Richard Pope pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Pope cooperated with the government and testified at trial.

According to the evidence and testimony presented at trial, from at least as early as July 2004 through at least March 13, 2008, Gunter, Odoni, Pope and others engaged in a sophisticated investment fraud and money laundering scheme, in which worthless stock in hijacked dormant, publicly-traded companies in the United States was sold to victim-investors, primarily in the United Kingdom. The scheme used boiler room telemarketers, mostly in Spain, who employed high pressure and misleading sales techniques. The victim-investors wired more than $127 million to Gunter's bank accounts in the Middle District of Florida. The conspirators bilked victim-investors out of another $10 million via a FOREX currency trading scheme, which also utilized the boiler rooms in Spain.

Gunter, Odoni, Pope and their co-conspirators used the victim-investors' funds to perpetuate the fraud scheme and for their own personal enrichment. Victim-investors' funds were used to buy, among other things, an airplane, two vessels, vehicles, including a Ferrari, and real property in the Caribbean islands, England, and Florida.

In a related trial that took place in May 2012, Houston lawyers Roger Lee Shoss and Nicolette Loisel were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with their participation in the corporate identity theft aspect of the scheme.

The case remains pending as to one individual, Lawrence S. Hartman, a/k/a Larry Hartman, a/k/a Larry Hart, a/k/a Lawrence Scott Hartman-Grosser (48, Costa Rica; a U.S. lawyer formerly of New York and Florida), who allegedly conspired with Gunter, Odoni, Pope and others in this case. In May 2013, Hartman was arrested on an immigration violation by Nicaraguan authorities. He was expelled and deported from Nicaragua and turned over to U.S. authorities to face the charges in this case. Hartman's apprehension and expulsion was achieved with the special assistance of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Embassy Managua, INTERPOL Washington, and the Nicaraguan National Police.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Tampa, Florida, as well as the U.S. Secret Service, Tampa, Florida and Newark, New Jersey Field Offices. The government received assistance from several other authorities, including the City of London Police, the UK's Serious Fraud Office and Norfolk Constabulary, the Spanish National Police, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, and the British Columbia Securities Commission.

“This investment fraud and money laundering scheme stretched across continents. The three defendants sentenced today had no qualms with preying on innocent victims – many of them elderly U.K. citizens – to further their own assets,” said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa. “Let today’s sentences serve as notice to other fraudsters. HSI and our law enforcement partners will investigate and ensure that you are prosecuted for your crimes.” "This case is a great example of how law enforcement partnerships work on an international scale," said John Joyce, Special Agent in Charge Tampa. "The United States Attorney’s Office, HSI and the US Secret Service worked this case with their law enforcement partners from London to investigate, prosecute and convict Mr. Gunter, Mr. Odoni and Mr. Pope. Their sentences should send a clear message to other fraudsters."

"Unfortunately, this sentencing will not repair the huge damage they caused to the lives of thousands of people who were simply looking for a safe place to invest their money, but hopefully it will bring a measure of comfort and a sense of closure to those caught up in what was fraud committed on a truly significant scale. That Pope, Gunter and Odoni have now been successfully prosecuted is thanks to trans-Atlantic law enforcement cooperation, painstakingly piecing together this crime, insuring that those involved would one day face their day of reckoning," stated City of London Police Detective Inspector Kerrie Gower.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and Kelley Howard-Allen.

TAMPA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced today that Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Inc., d/b/a HPH Hospice, has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for hospice services to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. HPH Hospice is a Florida not-for-profit corporation that provides hospice services in various locations throughout Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus counties in Florida.

The Medicare hospice benefit is available for patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less if their disease runs its normal course. Patients admitted to a hospice stop receiving care to cure their illnesses and instead receive medical care focussed on providing them with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a terminal illness. Medicare reimburses for different levels of hospice care.

Today’s settlement resolves allegations that between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010, HPH Hospice submitted false Medicare and Medicaid claims for patients who did not need end of life care. The government alleged that HPH Hospice caused staff to admit ineligible patients in order to meet targets imposed by management, adopted procedures to delay and discourage staff from discharging patients who were not appropriate for hospice services, instructed staff to make false or misleading statements in patients’ medical records to make them appear eligible when they were not, and failed to implement an adequate compliance program that might have corrected these problems.

The settlement also resolves allegations that HPH Hospice billed the government at higher reimbursement rates than it was entitled to receive, and provided illegal kickbacks when it provided free services to skilled nursing facilities in exchange for patient referrals.

“The hospice industry provides medical care to our most vulnerable citizens. This settlement should send a message to providers that misconduct of this kind will not be tolerated,” stated A. Lee Bentley, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

As part of the settlement, HPH Hospice has agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services that provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to the settlement.

The allegations settled today arose from a lawsuit filed by two former HPH Hospice employees, Heather Numbers and Greg Davis, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. The whistleblowers in this case will collectively receive $250,000.

This matter was handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

The lawsuit is captioned United States and State of Florida ex rel. Numbers and Davis v. Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Inc., et al., No. 10-cv-912 (M.D. Fla.). The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

Tampa, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Tammy Roaderick (39, Largo) pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Roaderick faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2013.

Dean Counce pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on September 14, 2012. On February 20, 2013, he was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, Roaderick and her co-conspirator, Dean Counce, owned a company called American Mortgage Field Services, LLC (AMFS). AMFS performed preservation and inspection work for homes in various phases of foreclosure, including homes that were owned by government entities such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The government entities paid servicing lenders, such as Bank of America, to protect and maintain their properties. Beginning in or around 2007, some of these servicing lenders retained AMFS to conduct periodic inspections of government-owned or insured properties to prevent unnecessary deterioration that may have resulted from neglect or vandalism.

The servicing lenders would send Counce, Roaderick, and AMFS a list of properties each month that required inspection. These inspections required AMFS employees to visit a property, fill out an inspection report, and take photographs. Counce, Roaderick, and others then compiled these inspection reports and transmitted them electronically to the requesting party, such as Bank of America. The servicing lenders then paid AMFS a fee per inspection.

As the real estate market declined in Florida and throughout the country, AMFS began to receive more and more requests for inspections on properties in foreclosure. Most or all of the mortgages on the properties were owned or insured by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or FHA. The requests for inspections far exceeded AMFS’s capacity to complete them. As a result, Counce, Roaderick, and other AMFS employees began fabricating inspection reports.

For example, Counce and Roaderick would direct that each new property be inspected the first time and that inspectors take numerous photographs, far more than were required for a single month’s inspection report. AMFS employed individuals, many of whom were high school students or recent high school graduates, to use previous months’ photographs to fabricate subsequent inspection reports on properties. Counce and Roaderick also instructed AMFS employees to fabricate inspection reports by using publicly available websites, such as property appraiser sites, to obtain data about properties that were not inspected. AMFS employees acting under Counce and Roaderick's direction submitted the falsified inspection reports to AMFS’s clients along with false claims for payments. Employees who produced large numbers of false inspection reports were often rewarded with cash bonuses.

In total, between 2007 and 2009, Bank of America remitted $4,490,398.87 to Mid-Florida Home Securing (later known as AMFS) and, between 2009 and 2012, Bank of America paid AMFS $19,044,973.06 for inspections, a large percentage of which were never actually performed. Based on employee reports of fabrication rates, the government estimates the loss in this case to be approximately $12,774,102.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury found Daniel M. Metz (54, Oviedo) guilty yesterday of filing false claims and obstructing the IRS. Metz faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the false claims charge and a maximum penalty of three years for the obstruction charge. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2013, before Senior District Judge Gregory A. Presnell. Metz was indicted on August 19, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Metz's business account was the subject of an IRS civil audit in 2009. During the course of the audit, the auditor realized that Metz had not filed personal tax returns for years 2005, 2006, and 2007. After being told about the missing returns, Metz prepared the returns and attached false 1099s that he also had prepared. Metz then mailed the returns to the auditor. Suspecting that the 1099s were false, the auditor requested records from Metz's personal bank accounts. The banks confirmed that the 1099s were false. The personal returns were never processed. Had the returns been processed, Metz would have received approximately $330,344 in refunds from the IRS. Through various means, Metz tried to hinder the IRS's investigation, including filing a lawsuit against the IRS Commissioner and the special agent who was conducting a criminal investigation. That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.

Evidence at trial also showed that Metz, in 2009, had filed personal returns using false 1099s, which canceled out almost $500,000 in tax debt he owed to the IRS.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tanya Davis Wilson.

Jacksonville, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Acting Assistant Attorney General John Carlin, U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, and Michelle Klimt, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Jacksonville Division, today announced the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Shelton Thomas Bell (19, Jacksonville) with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to terrorists. If convicted, Bell faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each of the two charges. Bell is currently detained in the Duval County Jail on unrelated charges. According to the indictment, Bell devised a plan to travel to the Arabian Peninsula and join Ansar Al-Sharia ("AAS"), an alias for Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula ("AQAP"), and participate in violent armed conflict which he termed, "jihad." AAS has taken responsibility for multiple attacks on Yemeni forces, including a suicide bombing during a parade in May 2012, that killed more than 100 Yemeni soldiers and a series of armed assaults in March 2012, killing more than 100 people, including Yemeni soldiers.

The indictment alleges that between May 2012 and September 2012, Bell and others engaged in physical, firearms, and other training in preparation for armed conflict in the Middle East, which Bell described as "the actions of jihad." Bell allegedly solicited other individuals, including juveniles, to travel overseas with him in furtherance of this conspiracy. Bell made video and audio recordings intended to be distributed to others once he arrived in the Middle East, for the purpose of soliciting and recruiting others there to participate in violent jihad. In September 2012, Bell and a juvenile traveled to Amman, Jordan and made contact with an individual who could facilitate their travel to Yemen to participate in violent jihad.

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 FBI's Jacksonville Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The JTTF is a multi-agency task force comprised of full-time personnel from the FBI, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener, III and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Mara M. Kohn from the Department's Counter terrorism Section, National Security Division.

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Tampa, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Denetria Barnes (24) and Jakiel Bazart (28), both of Tampa, today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and wrongfully disclosing HIPAA information. Both face a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.

According to court documents, in August of 2012, the Tampa Police Department recovered stolen means of identification when they executed a narcotics-related search warrant. Those documents were being used to file fraudulent tax returns. The documents ultimately led law enforcement to Barnes and Bazart, who had been selling patients' names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers.

Working in an undercover capacity, law enforcement purchased a number of HIPAA-protected records from both Bazart and Barnes. With respect to Bazart, this included an incident, on April 3, 2013, where Bazart offered to sell fifteen pages of means of identification for $1,500. Bazart also said that he had a “trash barrel” filled with patients’ means of identification. On May 22, 2013, Barnes attempted to sell a spreadsheet containing approximately 400 stolen means of identification for $15,000. One of the columns on the spreadsheet contained each patient’s home address.

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo.

Jacksonville, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced today the return of an indictment charging Ray Charles Gasaway (47, Glen St. Mary) with failing to register as sex offender in the state of Florida, after traveling from the state of Tennessee. Gasaway faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. An arraignment and detention hearing are scheduled for July 17, 2013, at 11:15 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Morris in Jacksonville.

According to the indictment, on March 12, 1996, Gasaway was convicted of committing sexual battery and rape in Davidson County, Tennessee. Subsequent to his conviction, between June 14, 2012, and May 1, 2013, Gasaway traveled from Tennessee to Florida, where he has since resided. Gasaway allegedly failed to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The Adam Walsh Act also provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the U.S. Marshals Service, to assist the states in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders. This case was investigated by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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 visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced Rashia Wilson (27, formerly of Wimauma) to 19 ½ years in federal prison on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from her scheme to defraud the IRS, and to a consecutive 18 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Wilson to forfeit $2,240,096.39, which constitute the proceeds traceable to the offense. Wilson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm(s) on December 6, 2012. She pleaded guilty to the wire fraud and aggravated identity theft counts on April 3, 2013.

"Today's sentencing was a result of criminal actions by Rashia Wilson and sends a strong message to others who file false tax returns with stolen identities, that they will face severe consequences," says James Robnett, Special Agent in Charge for the IRS-Criminal Investigation. "These crimes victimize the most venerable of our fellow citizens; the elderly, our youth and family members of the deceased. IRS-CI and its Tampa Bay Alliance partners, along with the US Attorney's Office, will continue to vigorously investigate these crimes."

“Ms. Wilson’s sentence today is an indication of how the courts look upon identity theft," stated John Joyce, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Secret Service - Tampa. "To those who venture down the same road, know that you will be caught, and you will be severely punished. The judge’s message is crystal clear.”

"The Inspection Service is committed to preventing the use of the U.S. Mail in criminal schemes and collaborating with sister law enforcement agencies to successfully prosecute responsible parties," said Assistant Inspector in Charge Barney Morris. "The culmination of the Rashia Wilson investigation reflects what can happen when local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work collaboratively to combat these types of crimes."

“There are some in the community who think they can commit tax fraud and get away with it. Those days are over! This case is just an example of the consequences violators will face when they try to steal from hard working taxpayers,” said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

"The success of this investigation was a result of the various agencies working together. This case represents one of the worst tax fraud cases in the Tampa Bay area and the outcome should send a clear message to others that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in our community," said Colonel Donna Lusczynski of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

According to court documents, from at least April 2009, through their arrests in September 2012, Rashia Wilson and her co-conspirator, Maurice J. Larry, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by negotiating fraudulently obtained tax refunds. They did so by receiving U.S. Treasury checks and pre-paid debit cards that were loaded with proceeds derived from filing false and fraudulent federal income tax returns in other persons' names, without those persons’ permission or knowledge. Wilson and Larry filed these false and fraudulent federal income tax returns from multiple locations, including Wilson's residence and hotels in the Tampa area. Wilson, Larry, and others then used these fraudulently obtained tax refunds to make hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of retail purchases, to purchase money orders, and to withdraw cash.

During the course of the investigation, agents searched Wilson's residence and Larry's storage unit and recovered thousands of names and social security numbers in ledgers and on various other records, including medical billing records. Agents also found high end accessories, jewelry, and a hand gun in Wilson's home. Additional reloadable debit cards loaded with fraudulent tax refunds were also found in both locations.

Law enforcement officials also discovered that Wilson, who referred to herself as the "First Lady" and "Queen of Tax Fraud," spent $30,000 on her daughter's first birthday party and purchased a 2013 Audi valued at approximately $90,000, using the proceeds of the tax fraud scheme. The government seized the Audi and other items during the course of the investigation. The IRS estimates that the actual loss from Wilson and Larry's scheme is at least $3,147,477, and the intended loss is in excess of $11 million.

Maurice Larry is set for sentencing in this matter on August 6, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara C. Sweeney and Mandy Riedel.

Tampa, FL - United States District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced Blanca Ceballos (49, Orlando) yesterday to three years in federal prison for conspiring with others to promote a prostitution ring in Polk County. Ceballos pleaded guilty on November 7, 2007.

According to the indictment and testimony in court, Ceballos, who was a citizen of the Dominican Republic, conspired with others to operate numerous houses of prostitution in the Middle District of Florida. She aided that conspiracy by arranging for the transport of women to the houses to work as prostitutes, and by collecting and depositing the proceeds from their prostitution activity. In 2007, Ceballos pleaded guilty and then failed to appear for sentencing before the court in 2008. Ceballos apparently fled the United States at that time and law enforcement was unable to apprehend her. She was arrested in April 2013 when she flew back into the United States from the Dominican Republic.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer of the Tampa Division.

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.

Ocala, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Ellis Michael Cook (37, Gainesville) pleaded guilty today to two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person (convicted felon - armed career criminal) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cook faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, up to a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for the offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the facts presented in the change of plea hearing, on January 30, 2013, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Office observed Cook driving a stolen motorcycle in the parking lot of an Ocala convenience store. When confronted about the stolen motorcycle, Cook ran from the deputy and discarded a backpack that had been in his possession. After being apprehended by the deputy, Cook warned the deputy that there was a firearm in the backpack. A subsequent search of Cook's backpack revealed a loaded .45 caliber pistol, assorted ammunition, 42.9 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy pills, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Cook has an extensive criminal record that includes prior convictions for burglary, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and trafficking in cocaine. As such, Cook qualifies for enhanced federal penalties as both an Armed Career Criminal and Career Offender.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Ocala, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the arrest today of Charles Robert Lester (48, Ocala) on charges of possession of firearms and ammunition by an unlawful user of a controlled substance; unlawful possession and transfer of machine guns; and unlawful possession and transfer of unlicensed machine guns and firearm silencers. Each of these offenses carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, on June 24, 2013, Lester’s family contacted local authorities because of threats he had made to kill them. When detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lester’s Ocala residence, they found Lester with a concealed .22 caliber handgun in his pocket and a .40 caliber handgun in a holster on his hip. The holstered gun had been illegally modified to fire as a fully-automatic weapon. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, agents subsequently recovered five additional firearms that had been illegally converted into machine guns; two firearm silencers; numerous rounds of ammunition; and assorted drug paraphernalia. None of the fully automatic weapons or firearm silencers had ever been registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF) as required by federal law. Lester’s family members told authorities that Lester had been building and selling the illegal firearms over the Internet.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation 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 Marion County Sheriff’s Office and ATF. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Julie Torres, 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.

Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Jimmy Anthony Montgomery, Jr. (25, Deland) to 15 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The court also sentenced Brandon Terrance Blanks (25, Deland) to 11 years’ imprisonment for the same charges. Montgomery pleaded guilty on March 25, 2013. Blanks pleaded guilty on March 26, 2013.

According to court documents, Blanks, Montgomery, Dexter Eugene Mims, and Genesis Mark Chappelle all conspired to commit an armed drug robbery. During the course of the planning, they met several times with an undercover agent to make arrangements to carry out the robbery. During a subsequent search of a house where the individuals gathered, on the morning prior to executing the robbery, agents found two assault-style rifles and two handguns, which the individuals had planned to use in the crime.

On May 20, 2013, Chappelle was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Mims was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, for their respective roles in the crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.

Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan yesterday sentenced Stephen Joseph Woods (34, Savannah, Georgia) to 15 years in prison for sending notices over the Internet offering to produce and receive child pornography. Woods was also ordered to serve a life term of supervision and to register as a sex offender, following his release from prison. Woods has been in custody since his arrest on November 2, 2012, in St. Augustine, Florida. Woods pleaded guilty to this charge on March 14, 2013.

According to court documents, during October and November 2012, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (“VCSO”), the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (“SJCSO”) and other law enforcement officers conducted undercover Internet operations targeting individuals seeking to have sex with minor children. On October 12, 2012, Woods responded to an Internet bulletin board posting, indicating that Woods could teach a 14-year old “child” about sex. During the ensuing email conversation, Woods confirmed that the “child” was 14 years old.

During the next two weeks, Woods and the undercover detective, who used the personae of a 14-year old female “child,” engaged in online conversations by instant messaging and email. During these conversations, Woods indicated his desire to have sex with the “child.” On October 29, 2012, Woods and the “child” engaged in an online conversation and discussed a location for their meeting, during which Woods offered to produce videos of the “child” engaged in sexually explicit conduct. That same day, Woods asked if he could “come see [‘the child’]” that weekend.

On October 31, 2012, Woods and the undercover detective arranged to meet in St. Augustine at a motel, at a later date. On the evening of November 2, 2012, Woods arrived at the motel in his vehicle. Woods approached the undercover detective, whom he believed was the “child’s” relative, and subsequently asked the detective to have the “child” come outside. At that point, Woods was arrested.

This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriffs’ Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Tampa, FL - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury today found Freddie Wilson (40, Temple Terrace) guilty of six counts of theft of government funds, five counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of money laundering, and one count of obstruction of justice. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison on each count of theft of government funds, two years' consecutive imprisonment on each count of aggravated identity theft, ten years' imprisonment for money laundering, and five years' imprisonment for obstruction of justice. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 8, 2013. Wilson was indicted on April 23, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Wilson was a licensed bail bondsman who operated "Against All Odds Bail Bonds, Inc." (AAO) in Tampa. In June 2012, he opened an account in the name of AAO at a local bank, under the guise that he was a check casher. Within a three month period, Wilson deposited over $318,000 in U.S. Treasury income tax refund checks into that account. The checks had been issued as a result of fraudulently filed federal income tax returns, which were derived from the identities of deceased, elderly, and disabled victims.

In January 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at AAO and agents seized a 2011 Camaro and approximately $8,600 in cash. Wilson subsequently obstructed the criminal investigation by taking records that were seized during the search warrant and failing to return them to the government. Wilson spent all of the money that he received from the fraudulent tax returns on personal expenses, including the purchase of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, mortgage payments, expensive restaurants, hotels, and large dollar transactions at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

Tampa, Florida - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Fernando Torres (41, Sarasota) pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent tax returns. Torres faces a maximum penalty of six years in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, Torres operated a tax preparation business in Sarasota. Torres’ tax preparation business catered mostly to an illegal immigrant population in and around Sarasota County. During 2011 and 2012, Torres prepared and filed 239 fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, on behalf of his illegal immigrant clients. Torres ensured that his clients obtained refunds by falsely claiming that they had one or more qualified dependents, when in fact, they did not. In order to increase the amount of refunds received by his clients, Torres also fraudulently claimed the Additional Child Tax Credit for them.

As a result of Torres’ conduct, the IRS paid out $697,573.00 in tax refunds. Had Torres completed the returns accurately and legitimately, most of his clients would have owed money to the IRS.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Sarasota Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Gaugush.