Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of indictments charging Anthony Maurice McSwain (28, Pinellas County) and Jarvis Antwan Dorsey (22, Pinellas County) with weapons and drugs offenses. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. McSwain is charged with four counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of distribution of cocaine. Dorsey is charged with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of distribution of cocaine. Both were arraigned on April 16, 2013, and were ordered detained pending trial.

According to the indictment against McSwain, he is charged with having possessed a Ruger pistol, a Rossi .38 caliber revolver, a Ruger rifle, a Colt .45 caliber pistol, and a Winchester rifle. The indictment against Dorsey alleges that he possessed a MAC-10 .45 caliber pistol. Both McSwain and Dorsey are previously convicted felons and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

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

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"), the Largo Police Department, and the Clearwater Police Department. The cases arose from a joint federal and state investigation resulted in 28 people being arrested on state and federal violations, and the seizure of 13 firearms, as well as quantities of cocaine, marijuana, hydrocodone and other narcotics. The federal cases arising from the investigation will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini.

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell yesterday sentenced Tina Moore a/k/a Tina Pollard (56, Daytona Beach) to 3 years, 4 months in federal prison for conspiracy and money laundering. Moore was also ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release, following her release from prison, and to pay $242,981.25 in restitution. Moore pleaded guilty on January 25, 2013.

According to her plea agreement, Moore was a Right of Way Agent with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) who was responsible for assisting people and businesses displaced by FDOT projects. One of Moore’s assigned projects involved the acquisition of properties for the purpose of widening Interstate 4. One of the businesses displaced by that project was MLA Furniture, which was located on Garland Avenue in Orlando. Moore used her position to solicit and obtain bribes and rewards from the owners of MLA Furniture, in return for assisting MLA Furniture in continuing to remain at Garland Avenue. She knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to the FDOT for the relocation expenses of MLA Furniture. In total, Moore received $30,000 in bribes, consisting of $20,000 in checks and $10,000 in cash.

One of Moore’s co-conspirators, Jonathan Aubrey Jenkins, has already been sentenced for his role in the crime. On February 20, 2013, Jenkins, who was one of the owners of MLA Furniture, was sentenced to 5 years of probation for conspiracy and also ordered to pay $242,981.25 in restitution.

These cases were investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, Inspector General’s Office, and the Florida Department of Transportation, Inspector General’s Office. They were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced today that John David Baker (29, resident of Celebration, Florida and citizen of the United Kingdom) has pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography using the Internet. He faces a minimum of 15 years, and up to 30 years in prison for each count, and a potential life term of supervised release. Baker has been held in the custody since his arrest in this case on September 7, 2012. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

According to court documents, beginning in or about November 2008 through August 2010, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Baker used computers and interactive computer services to engage in online conversations with several minor children over the Internet. During this period, Baker worked as an actor and helped train and audition adults and children who were attempting to pursue careers in the entertainment business. Baker also served as a talent judge for a talent competition in Florida. In this role, Baker met minor children who were auditioning to obtain work in the art and film industries.

Following a complaint by a concerned parent of a child whom Baker had contacted online, Baker was interviewed by law enforcement. Baker acknowledged that he had been confronted by the director of the talent competition about his inappropriate online contact with minors and admitted to chatting with other minors from the talent competition online. Baker also admitted that many of his chats were sexually oriented and to having sent or trading sexually oriented photos of himself or others during chats. He stated that through his work in the talent industry he received photos of individuals, some through his request and some not solicited by him. According to Baker, he had solicited photos from at least 10 children in the talent competition.

By establishing a fictitious online persona of himself, Baker persuaded minors to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct via the Internet. Baker then sent the pornographic images to others. During a forensic analysis of Baker’s computer, law enforcement located several images and a video of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the former Child Predator Cybercrime Unit of the Florida Attorney General’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return by a federal grand jury of an indictment charging Andrew Blane Fields (62, Lutz) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, namely Oxycodone, Dilaudid, and Morphine, three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted on all counts, Fields faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the indictment, at least as early as 2008 through the end of 2012, Fields engaged in the sex trafficking of three different victims for commercial gain. Fields coerced and controlled the victims by, among other methods, supplying them with a large number of highly addictive prescription drugs on a daily basis. During the execution of a federal search warrant, law enforcement recovered thousands of prescription pills from Fields' residence. Fields was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 20, 2013.

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

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Clearwater Police Department and members of the Clearwater Area Human Trafficking Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas and Trial Attorney William E. Nolan with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return by the grand jury of a superseding indictment charging Jacksonville chiropractor Richie Cabigting (35), along with Haidar Kazim (28), Kassem Kazim (31) and Todd Jackson (26), all of Jacksonville, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, in connection with a staged car accident scheme. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit $193,002.62, which was seized from a Compass Bank account and is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, Haidar Kazim recruited individuals to participate in staged and fraudulent car accidents. Haidar Kazim and Kassem Kazim instructed the participants on how to conduct the crashes and what to tell responding police officers. Cabigting, a chiropractor and owner of ChiroMed Plus, LLC, located in Jacksonville, provided money to Haidar Kazim to pay the “at fault” drivers, including Todd Jackson, in the staged car accidents. The staged accident participants were then allegedly "treated” at ChiroMed Plus, LLC, by Cabigting, who knew that the participants did not need treatment. Insurance companies were then fraudulently billed for services.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Financial Services. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hackenberry Savell.

Federal Agencies Host Conference Open to the Public

Jacksonville, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that his office, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will host a fraud conference for the general public on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). The conference will be held at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Jacksonville Regional Operation Center located at 921 North Davis Street (Building E ) in Jacksonville. Admission is free.

Investor fraud, identity theft, cyber intrusion, and financial exploitation of the elderly are serious national problems. Our country's recent financial crisis has resulted in an unprecedented rise in investment fraud schemes, tax fraud, and other financial crimes, involving thousands of victims and staggering losses. The United States Attorney's Office and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are hosting this conference to educate the public about the fraudulent schemes that are being perpetrated in our region and to provide information on resources and strategies to protect citizens from becoming a victim of these types of crime.

Members of the public are invited to attend this conference. Admission is free and educational materials will be provided, but space is limited. To RSVP for the conference, please call (904) 301-6341 or send an e-mail to Nefl.fraud.summit@usdoj.gov.

This conference is part of the ongoing efforts of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force which was created by President Obama in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

(Download Conference Flyer )

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II sentenced Dustin Michael Letourneau (29, Warren, Ohio) last week to four years in federal prison for mail fraud and wire fraud. Letourneau was also ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his prison term, and to pay $240,481 in restitution to his victims. Letourneau pleaded guilty on January 17, 2013.

According to his plea agreement, Letourneau was the chief executive officer of Letourneau Holdings Inc., which was also known as LH Metals. Letourneau Holdings claimed to invest in silver, gold, and palladium bullion on behalf of investors. Investors would give Letourneau Holdings money to invest in these items on the commodities market. Letourneau represented to investors that the physical bullion was held on their behalf with one of Letourneau Holdings' counter parties. Rather than invest the funds as had been represented, Letourneau used significant portions of the investors' funds for his personal benefit. During the investigation, a confidential law enforcement source recorded several conversations with Letourneau. In those recorded conversations, Letourneau admitted that he had not been purchasing precious metals. He stated, [I’m] “being stupid with my money.” He also said that would be prosecuted for mail fraud because “the proof is all there."

To deceive his investors into believing that he was using the money to purchase precious metals, Letourneau had trade confirmations and monthly account statements sent to investors. The confirmations and statements falsely represented precious metals purchases. Letourneau was successful in defrauding 19 victims out of more than $240,000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Financial Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return of an indictment charging Abdul Cunningham and Jana Harris-Cunningham with five counts of wire fraud, five counts of filing a false claim with the Internal Revenue Service, four counts of theft of government property, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, five years in federal prison for each false claim count, ten years in federal prison for each theft of government property count, and a consecutive sentence of two years for each aggravated identity theft count. The indictment also notifies Cunningham and Harris-Cunningham that the United States intends to seek a money judgment in the amount of $560,731.00, the traceable proceeds of the alleged offenses. Cunningham and Harris-Cunningham were arrested on a criminal complaint on March 11, 2013, and March 28, 2013, respectively.

According to the indictment, Cunningham and Harris-Cunningham engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Treasury Department by filing fraudulent income tax returns and negotiating fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities, commonly referred to as Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF). It is alleged that, as part of their scheme, they used the stolen identities, along with false and fraudulent wage and withholding information, to prepare, and to cause to be prepared, fraudulent federal income tax returns falsely claiming refunds. After filing the false returns, they accepted, negotiated, and “swiped” reloadable debit cards, knowing the cards contained fraudulently obtained income tax refunds. It is alleged that Cunningham and Harris-Cunningham filed 145 false claims with the IRS for tax years 2010 and 2011. These false claims totaled $816,790. Of that amount, the IRS paid out $560,731.

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 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Rockledge Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich sentenced Brian Leavitt (25, Bradenton) yesterday to 27 years in federal prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography. The court also ordered Leavitt to forfeit a laptop computer and hard drive, which were used in the offense. He pleaded guilty on November 15, 2012.

According to court documents, in July 2010 and December 2010, Leavitt distributed at least eighty-six files of child pornography from his computer to undercover FBI agents through the use of a peer-to-peer file sharing program. In February 2011, Leavitt's computer was seized. A forensic search revealed more than 3,800 images and 13 videos of child pornography. Leavitt admitted to law enforcement agents that he had been seeking and downloading images and videos of child pornography. Leavitt had two prior juvenile adjudications for sex offenses against children.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.

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

Tampa, FL- U.S. District Judge James S. Moody sentenced Rodney L. Carter (27, Tampa) yesterday to twenty years and eight months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2012.

According to court documents, Carter and his co-conspirators, Curtis A. Marsh, Jr. and Donta Haynes agreed and planned to commit a robbery of 20-50 kilograms of cocaine. All three were arrested prior to committing the robbery. At the time of the arrests, they were in possession of three loaded firearms.

On March 27, 2013, Marsh was sentenced to eleven years and three months in federal prison. Haynes pleaded guilty for his role in this case. His sentencing hearing is scheduled on May 14, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, 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 - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging numerous individuals with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The following individuals were charged in the federal criminal complaint:

Edwin Morales, a.k.a. "Mikey" (51, Palm Bay, FL)
Rafael Rivera, a.k.a. "Chapo" (39, Palm Bay, FL)
Juan Luis Collazo-Pinto, a.k.a. "Pacho" (28, Holyoke, MA)
Carlos Alberto Cotto-Lopez, a.k.a. "Papito" (24, Holyoke, MA)
Jose Manuel Garcia-Santiago, a.k.a. "Cenizo" (28, Puerto Rico, Holyoke, MA)
Edwin Miguel Negron (26, Holyoke, MA)
Heriberto Morales-Hernandez (44, Holyoke, MA)
Isaac Matta-Robles (54, Miami, FL)
Jose Antonio Ortiz-Gonzalez, a.k.a. "Chelo" (49, Puerto Rico)
Francisca Maria Paez (27, Kissimmee, FL)

According to the complaint, Edwin Morales and Rafael Rivera managed a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that operated in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Massachusetts. The conspirators fraudulently obtained prescriptions for various controlled substances, mostly oxycodone. Members of the DTO traveled to Florida from Puerto Rico and Massachusetts, and posed as patients at various pain management clinics. These “clinic patients” would obtain prescriptions for oxycodone and provide them to Edwin Morales or Rafael Rivera. Morales and Rivera then filled the prescriptions at pharmacies in the Middle District of Florida. On a number of occasions, Edwin Morales and Rafael Rivera mailed the oxycodone to co-conspirators in Holyoke, Massachusetts. After the oxycodone was sold in Massachusetts, the drug proceeds were deposited at local banks and later withdrawn from bank branches in the Palm Bay area.

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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Palm Bay Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of a seventeen-count indictment charging Tressa V. Guy and Brian E. Simmons with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison on the conspiracy count; twenty years in federal prison on each wire fraud count; and 10 years in federal prison on each charge of access device fraud, all to be followed by two consecutive years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count.

According to the indictment, Guy and Simmons participated in a scheme to defraud the United States Treasury that caused at least 322 fraudulent federal income tax returns to be filed with the IRS claiming at least $2,701,844 in fraudulent refunds. Guy, Simmons, and others would direct the fraudulent tax refunds into bank accounts linked to prepaid debit cards issued in the names of third parties without the third parties’ knowledge. Guy and Simmons also used the prepaid debit cards issued in this manner to make cash withdrawals in Florida and Georgia and to pay for personal expenditures.

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 Internal Revenue Service, the Tampa Police Department, and the Monroe County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Mueller and Trial Attorney Jason H. Poole of the Department of Justice, Tax Division.

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. sentenced Serrgei Kusyakov (39, Davenport) this week to four years in federal prison for conspiracy and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. He pleaded guilty on January 7, 2013.

According to court documents and evidence introduced during sentencing, Kusyakov was involved in the operation of two chiropractic clinics in Central Florida (Metro Chiropractic and Wellness Center, and City Lights Medical Center). He also served as a volunteer at Florida Hospital in Celebration. While volunteering at Florida Hospital, he met Dale Munroe, II. Munroe worked as a Registration Representative in the Emergency Department. Munroe's duties included registering patients as they came in the main emergency entrance. Kusyakov recruited Munroe to obtain the personal health information of hospital patients who had been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Munroe disclosed the information to Kusyakov who, along with others, used the stolen information to solicit Florida Hospital patients for chiropractic and legal services. Kusyakov paid Munroe for his role in providing the stolen information.

On January 14, 2013, Dale Munroe II (35, Winter Haven) was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. His wife, Katrina Munroe, also an employee of Florida Hospital in Celebration, was terminated by the hospital in August 2012 after becoming a suspect in a data breach incident. On December 27, 2012, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing has been set for July 8, 2013.

These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. sentenced Casey Dickerson (32, Casselberry) yesterday to 20 years in federal prison for committing aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a minor while on a cruise ship. Dickerson was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release and to pay $977 in restitution to the minor victim of his crimes.

Dickerson was convicted by a federal jury on December 14, 2012. According to evidence presented at trial, Dickerson engaged in the aggravated sexual assault of a 15-year-old on a cruise ship. Dickerson and two minor males forcibly assaulted the victim on August 19, 2012, in a cabin on the ship. Dickerson was arrested on a federal charge later that day.

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

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Robert Lee Lane (27, Bradenton) last week to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on November 27, 2012.

According to court documents, on January 3, 2012, law enforcement officers observed Lane engaging in a drug transaction on the side of the road in Manatee County. When Lane recognized law enforcement, he fled. Officers chased Lane and observed him throw a gun over a fence into the backyard of a local residence. Officers subsequently retrieved the firearm. At the time of his arrest, Lane had multiple previous felony convictions. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, 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 - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced David Dwinell yesterday to 27 years in federal prison for bank robbery and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The court also ordered Dwinell to forfeit $13,786.50, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a restitution order in the amount of $38,882.50, the amount stolen from the banks. Dwinell pleaded guilty on January 10, 2013.

According to court documents, Dwinell committed five armed bank robberies in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Hernando counties. He entered the banks wearing a dark colored hat, sunglasses, a mask over his face, and a dark colored jacket. He carried a blue zippered bank bag and a silver revolver. During the robberies, Dwinell brandished the firearm as he approached the teller counters and demanded money. Several of the victims observed him fleeing after the robberies in a gray truck.

During a search of Dwinell's residence, agents located a loaded silver .38 revolver, a black baseball hat, latex gloves, a beige mask (panty hose), black zip-up jacket, a blue bank bag (which contained the latex gloves and panty hose) and a second blue zippered bank bag. Dwinell told law enforcement these were the items he used in the bank robberies. Agents also located 100 single one dollar bills, and 50 ten dollar bills. Some of the money was still in bank bands and was found located with the revolver in Dwinell's desk. An additional $6,762.00 was located in Dwinell's office inside a blue bag.

During a search of the truck used by Dwinell in the bank robberies, officers located 62- five dollar bills under the steering column and one black glove. Dwinell admitted that he committed the five armed robberies. He stated that he robbed the banks because his house was in foreclosure and he had previously owed the Internal Revenue Service money.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris and Colleen Murphy Davis.

I would like to thank President Obama, U.S. Attorney General Holder, Senators Nelson and Rubio, and former Senators Martinez and LeMieux for providing me the opportunity to serve as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.  I appreciate the confidence which they exhibited in me and I hope and trust that I, and this office, have lived up to their expectations.  I am very thankful for having been given this wonderful opportunity.

It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as the United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida.  This is a great office.  Statistically, the Middle District of Florida is one of the busiest and most productive districts in the nation.  It ranks at or near the top of the 94 districts in virtually every category maintained by the United States Department of Justice.  Yet, while serving the second largest population in the nation, it is the 16th largest office in terms of personnel. The significant accomplishments of this district are the result of the collective efforts of the hard working men and women who comprise this United States Attorney’s Office.  They are dedicated public servants who believe in pursuing justice and the rule of law. In an era in which it has become fashionable to impugn the public employee, the individuals in this office work long hours, often without recompense, simply because they believe in the mission of the office.  

I was offered an extremely unique opportunity to join the Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC.  It was an offer that I could not pass upon.  The Freeh Group is an global risk management firm serving in the areas of business integrity and compliance, safety and security, and investigations and due diligence.  The firm was founded by Louis J. Freeh, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and former United States District Judge. 

In order to accept that position, I have to resign from a position that is extraordinarily rewarding.  My resignation is effective this summer.  I will continue in my present position for the next few months to ensure an orderly transition for this office and for my successor. 

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Remesa Buemer to 5 years and 5 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of the sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $159,265.60, a portion the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Buemer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $462,039.60.

Buemer pleaded guilty on January 17, 2013.

According to court documents, from at least as early as January 21, 2011, through at least September 15, 2011, Buemer engaged in a scheme to file false tax returns in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. She generated fraudulent tax refunds using the identities of other individuals on tax returns without their permission.

“IRS Criminal Investigation has made investigating refund fraud and identity theft a top priority," stated James Robnett SAC, Tampa Field Office. "Filing fraudulent tax returns in the names of other individuals results in significant harm to those individuals whose identities were stolen. Today’s sentence reflects the harm inflicted upon the victims.”

Special Agent in Charge Quentin G. Aucoin stated, “The VA Office of Inspector General is dedicated to aggressively investigating individuals who misuse patient information, especially when used for personal and financial gain .”

“Through the task force, we are sending a strong message to criminals. If you commit tax fraud, you will go to prison,” said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

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

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Gloria Arias (44, Weston) pleaded guilty today to making material misrepresentations to a financial institution. Arias faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for her involvement in this mortgage fraud offense.

According to the plea agreement, Arias worked as a mortgage broker for Synergy Lending Group. The owner of Synergy Lending also owned and operated a real estate business (“Realty Alliance, LLC”) and a title agency (“Title Executives of Broward, Inc.”). In the summer of 2006, Realty Alliance was hired to market condominium units at The Arbors at Carrollwood (“The Arbors”). The Arbors is a 390-unit condominium complex located at 3939 Ehrlich Road in Hillsborough County. Synergy Lending was responsible for assisting prospective borrowers in obtaining financing from various mortgage lenders to purchase condo units at The Arbors. Arias used her role as a mortgage broker to ensure that borrowers were qualified for mortgage loans by including false information in their Uniform Residential Loan Applications. She falsely inflated gross monthly incomes, included bogus employment information, padded bank account balances, and added false primary residence designations.

Through Arias’ fraudulent activities, the following mortgage loans were obtained in connection with the purchase and sale of condo units at The Arbors:

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Gaugush.

Orlando - Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway yesterday sentenced William Washington (58, Orlando) to 28 years and one month in federal prison for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely commercial robbery. Washington pleaded guilty to the offenses on July 25, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, on July 5, 2011, Washington used a firearm to rob the RBC Bank in Groveland, Florida. During the robbery, Washington pulled a silver gun from his waistband, placed it on the counter, and pointed it directly at a bank teller. He then demanded money from the teller.
Five days later, on July 10, 2011, Washington used a firearm to rob a Save Rite grocery store in Orlando. During the robbery of the store, Washington threatened to shoot a cashier.

“ATF’s ‘Frontline’ strategy is to deploy investigative and technical resources to ensure the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Julie Torres. “We come together and work with our law enforcement partners to remove any individual that uses a firearm to commit robberies of commercial businesses or violent acts. This is our mission and commitment to the public and communities we serve to protect.”

"The Orlando Police Department is committed to keeping Orlando a safe city,” said Chief Paul Rooney. “William Washington not only committed armed robberies but tried to kill Orlando Police Officers by shooting at them during his arrest on July 11, 2011. This violent and dangerous criminal is now off the streets thanks to interagency cooperation and the commitment of OPD and ATF, as partners against those who threaten the safety of everyone. OPD will continue to work with ATF in the relentless pursuit of criminals who use guns."

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Groveland Police Department, the Orlando Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Jhi Michael Reynolds (27, St. Petersburg) to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 28 grams of cocaine base. Reynolds pleaded guilty on November 8, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented in court, on August 27, 2011, St. Petersburg Police officers stopped Reynolds for driving a vehicle with an unlawful window tint. As officers approached the car, Reynolds accelerated away from the officers and led them on a high speed car chase. Officers eventually lost sight of Reynolds' car. A short time later, officers located Reynolds’ car parked near a residence in St. Petersburg. Officers arrested Reynolds at the residence. They searched the car and found 43.8 grams of crack cocaine. They also recovered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition, near the arrest site. Reynolds later admitted that the gun and the narcotics belonged to him. Prior to his August 2011 arrest, Reynolds had previously been convicted of a number of felony offenses. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Sweeney and Jay Hoffer.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, 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 - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced today that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations has made another seizure of counterfeit DVDs in Lakeland. The seizure is part of a global counterfeit motion picture DVD investigation that began in Lakeland, and extended to the People’s Republic of China. Today’s seizures netted approximately 10,000 counterfeit DVDs, approximately $30,000 in cash, and about $144,000 from two bank accounts. The amounts from two additional seized bank accounts have yet to be determined. Thus far, seven people have been charged federally for their roles in the case. Each of the seven previously pleaded guilty. Six of them have already been sentenced.

On August 10, 2012, Jian Huang (People's Republic of China, 37) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit goods. He was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on November 2, 2012. The court also ordered Huang to pay restitution to the Motion Picture Association of America (“MPAA”) in the amount of $1,214,333.12. The MPAA is a trade association that represents certain motion picture, home video and television industry companies, including Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.; Paramount Pictures Corp.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; and Universal Studios.

According to court documents, in 2010 or earlier, Huang and his Chinese-based company ("TM Wholesale") began making bulk sales of counterfeit motion picture DVDs, along with counterfeit packaging, to buyers in the United States and throughout the world. Huang’s counterfeit conspiracy included multiple bulk purchasers in the Lakeland area. The bulk purchasers would buy the counterfeit DVDs from Huang at approximately $1.28 per unit. The purchasers would then resell them online, via Amazon and E-Bay, as genuine DVDs. Unsuspecting customers were then charged a retail price of approximately $12 per DVD.

On July 27, 2011, and April 24, 2012, law enforcement agents seized a total of approximately 113,618 counterfeit DVDs from three bulk purchasers in Polk County. The DVDs were all supplied by Huang. Agents also gathered evidence revealing that, between January 8, 2009, and May 2012, payments of more than $2.5 million were made to Huang’s PayPal account. The payments came from approximately 270 different bulk purchasers with addresses located primarily in the United States.

“Intellectual property theft is not a victimless crime. When individuals pirate trademarked movies, they cost American businesses billions of dollars in revenue, which in turn, leads to the loss of American jobs,” said Shane Folden, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa.

“The Lakeland Police Department’s Special Investigations Section committed a Cross Designee Detective, Task Force Officer, to the Department of Homeland Security for this investigation for the past 18 months,” said Assistant Chief Mike Link. “During this extensive investigation, Lakeland detectives partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to provide a myriad of covert investigative support and assistance to help eradicate this global criminal enterprise. As a result, a valued partnership has been established between the Department of Homeland Security and the Lakeland Police Department that will pay huge dividends to both agencies and the community in the future.”

“Today’s announcement is a victory for both American consumers and the millions of men and women who work in the creative industries,” said Mike Robinson, Executive Vice President for Content Protection at the Motion Picture Association of America. “We applaud U.S. law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office for successfully bringing to justice these foreign criminals who were illegally profiting off the ingenuity and creativity of Americans workers. This effort was a vital step toward protecting both the livelihoods of millions of hardworking Americans, and a thriving legitimate market for the movies and TV shows that audiences love.”

Six of Huang’s co-conspirators, including Alex Lee Lim (Lakeland, 37), Robert Edmond Mattie (Winter Haven, 27), James William Ray (Bartow, 35), Donald Kenneth Brown, Jr. (Lakeland, 38), Martin William Grenfell (Lakeland, 49), and Christopher Alexander T. Clark (Lakeland, 47), previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit labels. On November 15, 2012, Lim was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, and was ordered to pay restitution to the MPAA in the amount of $280,752.67. On November 30, 2012, Ray was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, and was ordered to pay $261,541.28 in restitution to the MPAA. Ray was also ordered to forfeit $100,005 in cash seized at the time of his arrest. On December 6, 2012, Mattie was sentenced to probation for a term of 5 years, with the first 12 months to be served on home detention. On February 22, 2013, Grenfell was sentenced to 3 years’ probation and Brown was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the MPAA. Clark pleaded guilty on February 8, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3, 2013. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. As part of his plea agreement, Clark has agreed to forfeit $260,470.55 in counterfeit proceeds.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini.

Jacksonville, Florida - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return of an indictment charging James Daniel Kasper (29, Jacksonville) with production of child pornography. If convicted, Kasper faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, and up to 30 years in federal prison. Kasper was arrested on March 20, 2013, on a criminal complaint, and ordered detained by United States Magistrate Judge Joel B. Toomey after a hearing on March 25, 2013.

According to the criminal complaint, in February 2013, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were investigating individuals engaged in trading child pornography. The investigation revealed the exchange of e-mails with attached images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Specifically, agents determined that on February 4, 2013, an individual using a particular e-mail account had sent images depicting child pornography to another person. Further investigation determined that this e-mail account and the Internet Protocol (IP) address used to send the e-mails resolved back to Kasper’s Jacksonville residence. On March 20, 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at Kasper’s apartment. During an interview, Kasper indicated, among other things, that while babysitting a minor several months prior, he used his smart phone to photograph the minor child’s genitalia. He then uploaded the images to a particular internet website and sent the pictures via e-mail.

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, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Florida Department of Children and Families. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Oneil Marlon Martin, a/k/a David Lawrence Motta (33, Sarasota) to 66 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Martin to forfeit two firearms and assorted ammunition which were used, or intended to be used, to facilitate the offenses. Martin pleaded guilty on January 3, 2013.

According to court documents, federal and state law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Martin's house on October 19, 2012. During the search, agents found marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia throughout the house. They also found two firearms and assorted ammunition. In addition, the agents recovered $17,846.00 in cash from Martin's house.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson.

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Oneil Marlon Martin, a/k/a David Lawrence Motta (33, Sarasota) to 66 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Martin to forfeit two firearms and assorted ammunition which were used, or intended to be used, to facilitate the offenses. Martin pleaded guilty on January 3, 2013.

According to court documents, federal and state law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Martin's house on October 19, 2012. During the search, agents found marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia throughout the house. They also found two firearms and assorted ammunition. In addition, the agents recovered $17,846.00 in cash from Martin's house.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Swanson.

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the arrests today of Windermere residents Michael Rivers (48) and Kim Rivers (45). The Riverses were arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the criminal complaint, from June 2010 to March 2013, the Riverses used the Internet to represent to investors that their company, Global Business Genesis, LLC (“GBG”), had created a partnership to establish banking relations in Kenya that would allow GBG to become the first, or second, largest provider of pre-paid currency credit cards in the world. Unbeknownst to investors, Michael Rivers was a defendant in a pending Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) civil action alleging fraudulent activity with a different company (“ARKR Trust, LLC”).

The complaint further alleges that the couple induced investors by claiming they had invested their own resources in the GBC project. They also provided booklets regarding the Eastern African Community ("EAC"), a budget and strategic plan, and a copy of the Letter of Intent ("LOI") from the Minister of the EAC, Republic of Kenya. Investors were told that the EAC had accepted GBG's proposal for a license approving certain and specific software utilized to issue pre-paid Visa/MasterCard currency cards and to provide all integration and end user support. The Riverses represented that the contract was worth an estimated $18 million over a three-year period.

The complaint also alleges that the investors' funds were initially deposited by the Riverses into GBC bank accounts in July and August 2010, and then funneled into a personal bank account they controlled. Investors’ money was used for numerous personal expenditures, including a limousine rental, a deposit on a luxury car, event tickets and expensive dinners.

Investors never received membership certificates affirming their ownership in GBG, any revenue from GBG, or any evidence that their money was ever invested by the Riverses. The Riverses were apprehended by U.S. Secret Service agents on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at JFK Airport and detained pending further proceedings in the Middle District of Florida. They were en route to London. 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 United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart and Christopher LaForgia.

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Ronald William Brown (57, Largo) today pleaded guilty to an eight count Superseding Indictment charging him with three counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of receipt of child pornography. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each possession count, and a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each receipt offense.

Brown was arrested at this home in July 2012 on federal charges stemming from a multi-jurisdiction child pornography investigation.

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

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

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Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Maria V. Constantinou (40, Orlando) with two counts of false use of a seal of a department of the United States of America. If convicted, Constantinou faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each count.

According to the indictment, Constantinou falsely used the seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on letters in 2009 and 2010 that purported to be from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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

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

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Weylin O. Rodriguez (29, Orlando) to life plus 5 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion; using a firearm in furtherance of a sex trafficking crime; transporting minors over state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution through coercion and enticement; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rodriguez was found guilty by a federal jury on November 2, 2012.

According to evidence presented at trial, in December 2010, Rodriguez met a 15- year-old minor in Ybor City. Rodriguez offered to give the minor a ride home, but instead of taking her home, he drove her to Orlando and forced her to engage in prostitution on Orange Blossom Trail. The investigation revealed that, on Thanksgiving Day 2010, Rodriguez held the female victims for several months and forced them into prostitution. In or about January 2011, Rodriguez transported the girls between Orlando and Charlotte, North Carolina for the purpose of prostitution. In addition to the minors, Rodriguez recruited at least two adult victims by promising them jobs as models. Once the girls met with Rodriguez, he held them against their will and forced them into prostitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Maureen Cain.

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."

Tampa, FL - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces today that a federal jury found Arnold Maurice Mathis (41, Lake Wales) guilty of one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of production and attempted production of child pornography, one count of attempted production of child pornography, and one count of commission of these offenses while required to register as a sex offender. Mathis faces a mandatory penalty of life plus ten years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 19, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between November 2004 and January 2005, Mathis used a cell phone to entice a 14-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity. He initially met the minor at a high school basketball game in Auburndale. Mathis sexually assaulted that minor victim at least three times. Between May and November 2011, Mathis persuaded and attempted to persuade two 16-year-old minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the activity. Mathis met one of the minors at Higher Praise Ministries Church in Lake Wales, where Mathis volunteered with the youth group. He met the other minor at a basketball game in Polk County. Mathis introduced himself to each of the three victims as a pastor, offered to be their godfather, and promised them food, money, and basketball shoes. Mathis was previously pastor of St. City Power & Praise Church in Winter Haven.

At the time of the offenses, Mathis was required by Florida law to register as a sex offender based on a 1994 conviction for lewd & lascivious assault on a child, in Leon County, Florida.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer L. Peresie and Stacie Harris.

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

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Corey A. Coley, Sr. and Albert E. Moore, Jr. with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims. Coley is a Probation Officer for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. If convicted on all counts, Coley and Moore each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Coley and Moore engaged in a scheme to defraud the government by submitting fraudulent tax returns and using the resulting tax refunds for their own benefit and the benefit of others. Coley allegedly obtained the identities used in the scheme from Florida Department of Juvenile Justice records.

“I am outraged by the allegations of this blatant betrayal of trust, and I want to send a clear message that this type of behavior absolutely will not be tolerated; by close of business today, the employee in question will be terminated,” said Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters. “There are a number of policies in place regarding access to sensitive youth information, and I hold DJJ employees to standards of excellence. Taking advantage of those who’ve entered the juvenile justice system is shameful. I want to assure the victims, their families and public that we are reevaluating current policies and procedures related to youth information and we are committed to promptly addressing any vulnerabilities discovered through that process. As always, we will work with federal, state and local authorities to ensure that anyone that betrays the public trust will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

A criminal complaint 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 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.

Ocala, Florida - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that a federal jury today found Michael A. Collier (48, Jacksonville) guilty of attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. Collier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, up to a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Collier was indicted on October 31, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Collier replied to an Internet posting that he thought was posted by a 13-year-old girl. After exchanging e-mails, text messages, and having cell phone conversations with the "13-year-old girl," Collier traveled more than an hour, from Orlando to Lake County, in order to have sex with her. Testimony revealed that Collier stopped at a convenience store and purchased condoms, beer, and cigarettes while on the way to meet the child. Unbeknownst to Collier, the individuals that he communicated with were undercover law enforcement officers. When Collier arrived at the home to have sex with the child he was arrested by deputies from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the FBI as part of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. In addition, this specific operation included members of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and Citrus County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

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

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Iris Locklear to nine years and seven months in federal prison for mail fraud. Locklear was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $249,686.02, and to serve three years of supervised release, following her release from prison. As part of her sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $8,373.29, the proceeds of the offense. Locklear pleaded guilty on December 13, 2012.

According to court documents, between January 2006 and August 2011, Locklear used the mails to execute a scheme to defraud the U.S. Treasury and a number of individual victims. The superseding indictment alleged that Locklear misappropriated others' identifying information and conducted fraudulent financial transactions to enrich herself.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert T. Monk.

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Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced Russell B. Simmons, Jr. yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service and for aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Simmons to forfeit a 2005 Bentley, more than $100,000 in jewelry, $25,000 cash, and more than $118,000 worth of fraudulently obtained tax refunds, which are traceable proceeds of the offense.

Simmons pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on December 11, 2012.

According to court documents, starting in the summer of 2011, investigators learned that Simmons was engaging in tax fraud at his business, Simmons Auto Sales. Simmons was selling vehicles in exchange for United States Treasury checks obtained from the filing of fraudulent federal income tax returns. The fraudulently obtained Treasury checks that Simmons received were for a much higher value than the sales price of the vehicles sold. Simmons negotiated the checks and laundered the proceeds through his business accounts. The investigation also revealed that Simmons filed fraudulent tax returns from his computer located at his business, and maintained a ledger that contained numerous personal identifiers associated with the fraudulent filings. On or about July 28, 2011, surveillance video captured Simmons using a pre-paid debit card at a Wal-Mart. Simmons used the card to conduct a transaction totaling $2,050.04, including the purchase of four $500.00 money orders. Investigators learned that on or about July 22, 2011, a tax refund in the amount of $9,997.00 was loaded onto the card. Simmons was also captured on video on or about July 27, 2011, using the same card to withdraw cash at an ATM in Gibsonton.

On or about August 7, 2011, Simmons was captured on video at a Wal-Mart store in Brandon. He made a total purchase of $11,500, including twenty-one $500.00 money orders and two $400.00 money orders. He also withdrew $200.00 in cash. Simmons utilized seven different debit cards. Each of the seven pre-paid debit cards were loaded with funds derived from the filing of fraudulent tax returns in names other than Simmons'. The fraudulently obtained tax refunds loaded onto cards totaled $76,088.20. The money orders from Wal-Mart were paid for with debit cards that were loaded with fraudulent tax refunds. When Simmons negotiated the money orders at the bank, he made them payable to Simmons Auto Sales and endorsed them with his name.

Law enforcement officials interviewed several individuals whose names appeared on the prepaid cards used by Simmons. Each of the victims stated that they did not know Russell Simmons and did not give him permission to use their identity.

In total, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Simmons filed approximately 120 false returns, with refunds totaling $1,176,787 for the 2010 tax year. These fraudulent filings were accepted by the IRS and resulted in the payment of refunds. Investigators further determined that Simmons made or attempted to make additional false claims with the IRS that were rejected, with refunds totaling more than $3 million. Records obtained from TurboTax show that returns filed from the IP addresses assigned to Simmons' residence and business transmitted or attempted to transmit federal income tax returns that claimed and attempted to claim approximately $8.9 million in fraudulent refunds.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.

This case was brought as part of Operation Rainmaker, an initiative dedicated to combating the growing problem of identity theft and the fraudulent filing of electronic tax claims. This initiative is coordinated and implemented with the cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Tampa Police Department.

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced that Stephen Joseph Woods (34, Savannah, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to sending a notice over the Internet offering to produce and receive child pornography. Woods faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. Woods has been in custody since his arrest on November 2, 2012. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

According to court documents, during October and November 2012, multiple law enforcement agencies including the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (“VCSO”) and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (“SJCSO”), conducted operations in which officers worked undercover on the Internet to target individuals seeking to have sex with minor children. On October 12, 2012, an undercover SJCSO detective, posing as the relative of a 14-year-old female, posted a notice on a bulletin board on a website. Woods responded to the notice by email. During the ensuing email conversation, Woods confirmed that the “child” was 14 years-old and suggested in substance that he (Woods) could teach the “child” about sex.
During the next two weeks, Woods and the undercover detective, who used the persona of the child, engaged in online conversations in which 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. They discussed meeting in St. Augustine on November 2, 2012. During the conversations, Woods offered several times to produce videos of the “child” engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On the evening of November 2, 2012, Woods arrived at the agreed upon motel in St. Augustine. Woods approached the undercover detective, whom he believed was the “child’s” relative, and asked the detective to have the “child” come outside. Woods was subsequently 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces today that Denny Junior Jenkins (41, Live Oak) has pleaded guilty to failing to register as sex offender in Florida after traveling from South Carolina. Jenkins faces up to 10 years in federal prison, and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Jenkins has been in custody since February 15, 2013. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on September 4, 1992, Jenkins was convicted in Suwannee County, Florida of two counts of attempted sexual battery upon a child under 12 years of age. Because of these convictions, Jenkins is required to register as a sex offender under Florida law for the remainder of his life. After being released from prison, Jenkins received and executed documents that advised him of this requirement.

According to court documents, in 2010, Jenkins moved to South Carolina and executed documents that advised, among other things, that if he moved to another state he must register as a sex offender in that state. In April 2012, Jenkins moved back to Florida and established residence in Suwannee County. He failed to register with the State of Florida under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). On February 15, 2013, he was arrested by deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service.

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 United States Marshals Service, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

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

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington sentenced Danny Crane (32, Riverview) yesterday to 12 months and one day in federal prison for theft of government funds. He is also ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervision, following his release from prison . Crane pleaded guilty on November 20, 2012, to fraudulently stealing government services and making false statements in connection with his application for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits.

According to court documents, Crane, an Army veteran, falsified his discharge paperwork in order to perpetrate a fraud on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, he fraudulently altered his DD Form 214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty”) to reflect that he was an Army Sergeant and had been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, and various other war-related awards. In fact, Crane had not received any of those awards and had not been an Army Sergeant, but rather only served a little over three months. Crane submitted his altered discharge paperwork and made false representations to obtain VA medical treatment and attempted to obtain disability benefits to which he was not entitled for service connected injuries that he claimed to have suffered, but had not actually incurred. On June 12, 2012, in Pinellas County, Crane filed an application for VA disability benefits and submitted his altered DD Form 214 along with it. He alleged that he had service connected blindness in his right eye, twenty four plates in his face, six bullets in his back and broken ribs, when in reality, Crane had not suffered any injuries in service and had not served in any wars. He made these representations knowing that they were completely false. Crane had actually been discharged from the Army for "Failure to Adapt to Military Environment and Lack of Self Discipline” and he received an "Uncharacterized Discharge" that made him ineligible for veterans benefits.

To further his fraudulent disability claim, Crane went to the VA and obtained medical treatment and medication on multiple occasions, fraudulently claiming that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The loss to the United States based upon Crane’s various false statements was approximately $7,042.86.

This case was investigated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda C. Kaiser.

Orlando, FL - Chief United States District Judge Anne C. Conway sentenced Geoffrey Jones (61, Orlando) today to 78 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. Jones pleaded guilty on November 1, 2012.

According to court documents, Jones used a file sharing program to download child pornography from the internet. On May 30, 2012, a search warrant was executed at his residence. A forensic examination showed that Jones’s computer, external hard drive, and compact disks contained more than 600 images and videos depicting child pornography.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher LaForgia.

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

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Jerrell L. Epps (27, Ocala) pleaded guilty today to making counterfeit United States Federal Reserve Notes. Epps faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to court documents, beginning on at least December 3, 2009, and continuing through September 15, 2011, Epps manufactured counterfeit United States currency at his residence. Epps provided some of the counterfeit currency to others with the knowledge that it would be passed into circulation. He also sold some of the counterfeit currency to another individual in exchange for genuine currency. On February 26, 2010, United States Secret Service agents recovered counterfeit currency and equipment used to manufacture the notes from Epps's Ocala home.

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

Fort Myers, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Gregory Wayne Eagle (62, Cape Coral) pleaded guilty today to four counts of bank fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of wire fraud. Eagle faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each of the six counts, and a fine of up to $1 million. He will also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

According to the plea agreement, Eagle was president and director of Eagle Realty of Southwest Florida, Inc. In June 1990, Eagle created a Trust Agreement for approximately 101 acres of unimproved land in Cape Coral. A portion of this land bordered on Pine Island Road. Eagle was the trustee of this Pine Island 101 Land Trust and was also one of the beneficiaries. There was a total of 52 named combined interest holders or beneficiaries of the land trust. Eagle mortgaged the trust property without the knowledge of the other beneficiaries. He did so by submitting fraudulently altered trust agreements to multiple banks naming him, or an entity which he controlled, as the sole beneficiary.

Eagle also executed a number of loan documents in which he falsely claimed he was the sole beneficiary and that he had authorization to mortgage the property. In the first mortgage loan in 2002, Eagle received $2 million from Florida Community Bank. He paid off that loan in 2006 with a mortgage loan from First National Bank of Pennsylvania. The 2006 loan was for an amount exceeding $17 million. Eagle used most of the proceeds of the second loan for his own personal use, mainly to fund other projects.

Eagle defaulted on the First National Bank of Pennsylvania mortgage loan, causing the bank to initiate foreclosure proceedings in October 2009. The unpaid principal balance is $17.03 million. The beneficiaries to the Pine Island 101 Land Trust have not received compensation for their initial payments as interest holders, yearly mortgage, taxes, insurance, and administrative payments, nor for the increase in the value of the Trust property from the time the Trust was created in June 1990.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.

Jacksonville, FL - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit today affirmed the convictions of former Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPort) Chairman Tony Devaughan Nelson on thirty-six corruption-related charges, including bribery, money laundering, honest services mail fraud, and making a false statement to the FBI. The evidence at trial established that, as Chairman, Nelson had demanded and accepted $143,500 in bribes from a dredging contractor at JAXPort. Nelson is serving a 40-month prison sentence.

Nelson argued on appeal that his convictions should be vacated because the federal fraud and bribery statutes under which he was convicted are unconstitutionally vague, the district court improperly instructed the jury on the applicable law, and the court improperly admitted the testimony of JAXPort's director of procurement. The ACLU Foundation of Florida, Inc., and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers also filed a brief on Nelson's behalf as amicus curiae.

After hearing oral argument, the Court of Appeals issued a split decision, with the majority holding that the challenged statutes "gave Nelson adequate notice of the conduct they prohibit," that the district court's instructions correctly "propelled [the jury] to look to Nelson's state of mind" in taking payments in exchange for his influence, and that the challenged evidence was relevant and not unfairly prejudicial.

The appeal was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Rhodes and Susan H. Rothstein-Youakim. The underlying case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mac D. Heavener, III, and Mark B. Devereaux, and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore sentenced Emmanuel I. Mekowulu (56, Tampa) yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring with other persons to knowingly and intentionally distribute and dispense, and cause the distribution and dispensing of Oxycodone outside of a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice. The court also ordered Mekowulu to forfeit his Florida pharmacist license, and the pharmacy license he held for the Felky Pharmacy, both of which he used to facilitate the offense. As part of his sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $97,290, representing the proceeds of the crime. Mekowulu was found guilty by a federal jury on December 11, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from June 2008 through March 2009, Mekowulu was a pharmacist and the owner of Felky Pharmacy located on North Florida Avenue, in Tampa. During that same time period, Troy Wubbena was a physician's assistant and owner and operator of the Neurology & Pain Center clinics located in Tampa, Lakeland, Sarasota, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Brett Ridenour was an employee of the clinics. Together, and with others, the conspirators used hundreds of blank prescriptions that were pre-signed and filled by Dr. Jeffrey Friedlander (co-owner of the clinic) for large quantities of Oxycodone.

The prescriptions included the names of more than 60 persons, many of them patients and employees of the clinics who did not need or receive the Oxycodone and were unaware that the prescriptions were written in their names. The illegal prescriptions were filled at Felky Pharmacy. Over the nearly 10 month period, Wubbena and Ridenour presented more than 340 fraudulent prescriptions to Mekowulu. Mekowulu filled the prescriptions without verification or questioning their validity. Through this scheme, nearly 50,000 pills of Oxycodone were later sold in the Tampa Bay area.

Wubbena, Ridenour, and Friedlander previously pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in the conspiracy. Wubbena was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison. Ridenour was sentenced to serve 5 years in federal prison, and Friedlander was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by and the United States Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathy J. M. Peluso.

Fort Myers, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that his office, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Reserve Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the United States Postal Service, and the United States Secret Service will host a fraud conference for the general public on Thursday, March 14, 2013, (10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers, Bell Tower Shops, located at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33907.  Admission and parking are free.          

            Investor fraud, tax fraud, and healthcare fraud are serious national problems.  Our country's recent financial crisis has resulted in an unprecedented rise in investment fraud schemes, tax fraud, and other financial crimes, involving thousands of victims and staggering losses.  Southwest Florida has been at the epicenter of the economic crisis and the number of financial crimes committed against the members of our community is rising at an alarming rate.  The United States Attorney's Office and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are hosting this conference to educate the public about the fraudulent schemes that are being perpetrated in our region and to provide information on resources and strategies to protect citizens from becoming a victim of these types of crime.

            Members of the public and media are invited to attend all sessions of the conference.  Participants are also welcome to attend individual sessions.  Admission to the conference is free and educational materials will be provided.  For more information, contact Brenda Halberg at (239) 461-2200.

            This conference is part of the ongoing efforts of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force which was created by President Obama in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

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Fort Myers, FL - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Peter Hesser (51, Port Charlotte) was sentenced today to 3 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for three counts of filing false tax returns and one count of tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $296,000. Hesser was found guilty in December 2012.

According to testimony presented at trial, Hesser filed fraudulent documents with the Internal Revenue Service in which he claimed to be owed a refund for tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007, in the amount of $500,000. These documents were not legitimate and were prepared with the sole purpose of defrauding the government. Hesser also changed his assets into gold and silver, as well as hid his mortgage payments in a bogus land transfer to avoid paying his taxes. This pattern of deceit stretched out over a decade, thereby evading the payment of taxes that had been assessed for tax years 2001, 2002 and 2003.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Molloy.

Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Tina Mangiardi (50, Orlando) has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conducting a prohibited monetary transaction. Mangiardi was charged by information on March 7, 2013, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The information also notifies her that the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of $100,000.00, the proceeds of the prohibited monetary transaction.

Mangiardi’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for March 20, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Baker.

According to the information and plea agreement, between 2009 and 2012, Mangiardi, under the corporate name of TLM Design and Construction, Inc. (TLM), engaged in a scheme wherein she fraudulently obtained more than $2.5 million from investors. During the scheme, Mangiardi convinced victims to invest large sums of money in a construction“bid bond” investment. In return, and as inducements to invest, Mangiardi promised the return of the investors’ initial investment, as well as bonus money and additional monetary payments at rates as high as 100%. However, Mangiardi was not awarded bid bond contracts with the investment funds because the construction projects that she allegedly bid on, never existed. Instead, Mangiardi diverted the money for her own use.

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

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service with the assistance of the Orlando Police Department Economic Crimes Unit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Freddie L. Mitchell II (34, Lakeland) pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to file a false tax claim with the government. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been. Two co-defendants, Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls, already have been sentenced in the case.

According to the plea agreement, on November 30, 2009, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) determined that a fraudulent 2008 Form 1040 claiming a $1,968,288 tax refund had been filed in the name of a professional athlete (A.G). Agents soon learned that A.G. had been introduced by Mitchell to a former IRS employee, Jamie Russ-Walls. A.G. had been told by Mitchell that Jamie Russ-Walls could help A.G. get extra money back from the IRS.

At the end of July 2009, Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls flew to Orlando and met with A.G. and Mitchell. Jamie Russ-Walls indicated that she and her husband worked in the tax preparation business. After providing copies of his tax records to the couple, A.G. was told that he could get additional money back from the IRS because of "grey areas" in his tax returns. A.G. eventually made a $100,000 down payment to Mitchell towards the tax preparation fee. Mitchell then split the fee with Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls.

Without A.G.'s knowledge, Mitchell, Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls then electronically submitted a fraudulent 2008 Form 1040 in A.G.'s name to the IRS. The form included false business losses totaling $5,367,775, resulting in a fraudulent refund of $1,968,288. A.G. never had any involvement in these businesses and never had provided the information on the tax schedule to Mitchell, Jamie Russ-Walls, or Richard Walls. The false return also had included other paperwork asking the IRS to direct deposit the refund into the bank accounts of Mitchell and Jamie Russ-Walls. A.G. subsequently learned of the fraudulent activity when the IRS rejected his regular tax return that was filed in October 2009. The IRS was then able to cancel payment on the fraudulent return.

Agents also discovered five additional false 2009 returns totaling $2,264,005 that had been submitted by Mitchell, Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls. Each of these claims had been accompanied by false W-2 forms showing wages in the millions of dollars from Chameleon Enterprises, LLC. Mitchell had incorporated this business in 2003, listed himself as the manager, and opened a mailbox in Kathleen, Florida, to receive correspondence. When contacted by the IRS about the wages allegedly paid to these five individuals, Mitchell falsely verified their employment and income. Records checks later revealed that Chameleon actually had been dissolved as a corporation by the State of Florida in 2007. It did not, therefore, pay any wages in 2009.

Jamie Russ-Walls and Richard Walls previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case. On February 14, 2013, Richard Walls was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison. Jamie Russ-Walls was sentenced on February 1, 2013, to a term of 5 years of probation.

This case was investigated by IRS-CI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

Fort Myers, FL - U.S. District Judge John Steele sentenced Keith Stewart today to 4 years and 6 months in federal prison for presenting false claims to the government and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Stewart to serve a five-year term of supervised release, following his prison sentence. Stewart pleaded guilty on July 11, 2012.

According to court documents, Stewart knowingly prepared and filed false income tax returns with the IRS for fraudulent tax refunds. At least one of the false filings resulted in a payment to him in the amount of $8,000, to which he was not entitled. Stewart also used various means of identification belonging to other people in order to obtain debit cards in their names. At the time of his arrest, he possessed the names and personal information of at least 100 individuals.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Lee County Sheriff's Office, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Molloy.

Fort Myers, Florida- United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return of an indictment charging Daniel Glen Ball (36, Lee County) with three counts of bank robbery. If convicted, Ball faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. The indictment also notifies Ball that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds of the offenses.

According to the indictment, Ball robbed three banks between February 25, 2013, and March 1, 2013. Ball allegedly robbed a Fifth Third Bank on February 25, 2013, an Edison National Bank on February 28, 2013, and another Fifth Third Bank on March 1, 2013.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.

Fort Myers, Florida- United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return of an indictment charging Jose Miguel Figueroa (41, Fort Myers) with three separate bank robberies in Lee County, Florida. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each bank robbery. The indictment also notifies Figueroa that the United States intends to forfeit the proceeds of each of the three offenses.

According to the indictment, on three different occasions between January 17, 2013, and March 1, 2013, Figueroa used intimidation to take money from Wells Fargo Bank .

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that following a ten day trial, in Orlando, a jury has found Stephen B. Deluca (53, Deland) guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and thirty-two counts of wire fraud. The conspiracy conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Each wire fraud conviction carries a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The United States also intends to seek a monetary judgment of $18 million representing the amount of loss to the victim. The sentencing hearing has been set for May 24, 2013.

According to evidence presented at trial, Deluca, the president and sole shareholder of Delco Oil, Inc., engaged in a scheme to defraud several banks insured by the FDIC and a private finance company (CapitalSource Financial Services) by falsely inflating the amount and value of Delco’s inventory and accounts receivable. The inflated amounts were used to secure revolving lines of credit. The scheme resulted in an $18 million loss to CapitalSource.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Russell C. Stoddard.