Middle District of Florida

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces today that Dr. Thi Thien Nguyen Tran and Village Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, L.L.C. have agreed to pay the United States $1.744 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated claims to Medicare for wound repairs related to Mohs surgery. 

The settlement relates to Dr. Tran’s submission of claims for adjacent tissue transfers performed at Village Dermatology. Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology performed wound repairs that were allegedly billed to Medicare as more complex adjacent tissue transfers, which carry a higher level of reimbursement. According to the settlement agreement, from January 1, 2011, through July 31, 2016, Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology billed for 14,000-level tissue transfers, which should have been billed as lower-level wound repairs. These submissions resulted in inflated claims that were paid by Medicare.

“Protecting federal healthcare programs and the patients who receive their care is among our top priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who inflate claims to Medicare or abuse any of our nation’s healthcare programs.”

“Physicians who seek to profit by systematically overbilling Medicare will instead pay dearly for their illegal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of HHS-OIG. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate such schemes.”

The settlement concludes a lawsuit originally filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Dr. Robert Green and Emily Kennedy. Dr. Green and Ms. Kennedy sued under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act permitting a private citizen to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in the recovery. The Act also allows the United States to intervene and prosecute the action. Dr. Green and Ms. Kennedy will receive over $305,000 of the proceeds from the settlement with Dr. Tran and Village Dermatology.     

This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Bloor led the investigation.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Green and Moore v. Tran, Case No. 5:15-cv-60-OC-41PRL. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims in that case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

 

Tampa, FL – John Sibley (33, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, on June 16, 2019, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the Treasure Island Police Department’s Marine Unit found the victim’s body floating in the water in the area of 5000 92nd Street North, in St. Petersburg. Evidence of drug use was nearby. The immediate cause of death was determined to be drowning, but a medical examination revealed the presence of fentanyl and cocaine in the victim’s body and that, but for the victim ingesting fentanyl, he would not have drowned. Further investigation identified Sibley as the supplier of the fentanyl.

Four days later, an undercover detective from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and a confidential source were involved in obtaining a quantity of fentanyl from Sibley. The phone Sibley used to arrange the deal was the same one that had been used to set up the fatal deal for fentanyl on June 16, 2019.

This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Treasure Island Police Marine Unit, as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.

Tampa, Florida, Kieran Donnell Floyd (20, St. Petersburg) has pleaded guilty to robbery and brandishing a firearm during that robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on August 18, 2019, Floyd entered a Shell gas station in St. Petersburg and pulled a firearm out of his shorts as he approached the cashier. Floyd pointed the firearm at the cashier and demanded money. The employee complied and handed Floyd $250 from the cash register.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN) — a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety-one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

 

Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Kevin Gene Hart (31, Ocala) to 35 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The court also sentenced Hart to supervised release for the remainder of his life following his release from prison.

A federal jury had found Hart guilty after a four-day jury trial on November 7, 2019. Hart was indicted, along with five co-conspirators, on March 27, 2019.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between January 2012 and May 2019, Hart was the leader of a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin through a network of stash houses in Marion County. Large quantities of the heroin were laced with fentanyl.

The following co-defendants previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case and were sentenced to the following terms of imprisonment: Gary Eugene Hayes (15 years); Darren Michael Beatty (15 years); Jeremy Jermaine Willis (20 years); Kathy Suleydy (8 years, 1 month); and Deandre Amaad Williams (10 years).

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury today found Ahman Walton (40, Tampa) guilty of conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin, and distributing 100 grams or more of heroin. Walton faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Walton had been indicted on July 11, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Walton was responsible for bringing cocaine into Florida from the Bahamas. In addition, in September 2018, he helped his co-conspirator procure a quarter kilogram of heroin of for nearly $20,000.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Natalie Adams and Gregory T. Nolan.

This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (40, Jacksonville) guilty of knowingly soliciting a minor to produce and send pornographic videos and images depicting sexual abuse of the minor. In 2011, Lee was convicted of lascivious molestation and exhibition of a child under 12 years old and, therefore, is required to register as a sexual predator. Because of this prior conviction, Lee faces an enhanced mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years, and up to, 50 years in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release in this case. Lee was arrested at his residence in Jacksonville on May 2, 2018. His sentencing hearing is set for July 6, 2020. 

According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, a law enforcement officer in Illinois discovered that a 14-year-old child was having online contact with an adult male in Florida through a smart phone gaming application designed for use by children. The messages sent to the child by the adult male were increasingly graphic and sexual in nature. The FBI was able to identify this adult male as Paul Edward Lee, Jr., and discovered that Lee was a registered sexual predator living in Jacksonville.

On April 25, 2018, an FBI agent in Jacksonville posing as the minor child continued to engage with Lee through text messaging. During these communications, Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the child and sent several images and videos of his own genitalia to the child.  Two days later, Lee repeatedly texted and solicited the child to produce and send him graphic images and videos of the child’s genitalia. When FBI agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence on May 2, 2018, Lee attempted to destroy his cellular telephone in an effort to conceal evidence of his activity. 

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

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.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an eight-count superseding indictment charging Sherman Michael Puckett (32, Clearwater) with one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, three counts of possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, one count of distributing a controlled substance that caused death to its user, one count of distributing a controlled substance that caused serious bodily injury to its user, one count of using a property for the purpose of distributing controlled substances, and one count of obstructing justice. If convicted on all counts, Puckett faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The superseding indictment also notifies Puckett that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are traceable to proceeds of the offenses. 

According to the superseding indictment, from at least July 23, 2018, through September 17, 2019, Puckett conspired with others to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, heroin, and methamphetamine. On July 23, 2018, law enforcement officers found Puckett in possession of fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and hydromorphone under circumstances that indicated he had intended to distribute these controlled substances to others. On September 6, 2018, law enforcement officers found Puckett in possession of fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine under circumstances that indicated he intended to distribute these controlled substances to others. In September 2018, Puckett distributed a substance that contained heroin, as well as fentanyl or a fentanyl analogues to T.W., who suffered serious bodily injury when she used the substance. From December 5 to December 8, 2018, Puckett maintained a hotel room for the purpose of distributing controlled substances to others. On December 7, 2018, Puckett distributed methamphetamine to S.C., who died from using the drug. Puckett then obstructed justice by disposing of evidence related to S.C.’s death, including her body. On September 17, 2019, law enforcement officers arrested Puckett and found him to be in possession of fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine under circumstances that indicated he intended to distribute these controlled substances to others.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Gordon.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an eight-count superseding indictment charging Sherman Michael Puckett (32, Clearwater) with one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, three counts of possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, one count of distributing a controlled substance that caused death to its user, one count of distributing a controlled substance that caused serious bodily injury to its user, one count of using a property for the purpose of distributing controlled substances, and one count of obstructing justice. If convicted on all counts, Puckett faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The superseding indictment also notifies Puckett that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are traceable to proceeds of the offenses. 

According to the superseding indictment, from at least July 23, 2018, through September 17, 2019, Puckett conspired with others to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, heroin, and methamphetamine. On July 23, 2018, law enforcement officers found Puckett in possession of fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and hydromorphone under circumstances that indicated he had intended to distribute these controlled substances to others. On September 6, 2018, law enforcement officers found Puckett in possession of fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine under circumstances that indicated he intended to distribute these controlled substances to others. In September 2018, Puckett distributed a substance that contained heroin, as well as fentanyl or a fentanyl analogues to T.W., who suffered serious bodily injury when she used the substance. From December 5 to December 8, 2018, Puckett maintained a hotel room for the purpose of distributing controlled substances to others. On December 7, 2018, Puckett distributed methamphetamine to S.C., who died from using the drug. Puckett then obstructed justice by disposing of evidence related to S.C.’s death, including her body. On September 17, 2019, law enforcement officers arrested Puckett and found him to be in possession of fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine under circumstances that indicated he intended to distribute these controlled substances to others.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Gordon.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Jason Matthew Zeller (42, Orlando) to 30 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography and for failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Zeller had pleaded guilty on October 28, 2019.

According to court documents, on December 16, 2009, Zeller was convicted in the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana for possessing pornography involving juveniles. On January 5, 2010, Zeller was sentenced to a term of three years’ imprisonment. Zeller was also required to register as a sex offender following his release from prison.

On January 7, 2019, Zeller was located and arrested in Seminole County, Florida on a Louisiana fugitive warrant. At the time of his arrest, Zeller stated that he had been in the central Florida area for approximately a year and a half, and had been living in the woods in Longwood. Zeller also admitted to accessing the internet via a cellphone, in violation of his conditions of release. Zeller used the mobile device to access various internet applications, which law enforcement has identified as being used for the online exchange of child pornography. 

A search and forensics analysis of the cellphone revealed 17 videos and more than 600 images of child pornography, including an image received on December 24, 2018. That image showed a young girl being raped by an adult male.

Following his sex offense conviction in Louisiana, Zeller had an obligation to register in Louisiana and in any state where he later resided. Zeller was supposed to register again in Louisiana on January 1, 2017, but never did because he had absconded. Zeller was supposed to appear in court in Louisiana on January 7, 2017, for a solicitation of a minor charge, but failed to appear. 

On January 7, 2019, the United States Marshals Service located Zeller in Altamonte Springs, where he admitted to law enforcement that he had not registered as a sex offender in Florida. A search by law enforcement showed that Zeller neither updated his Louisiana registration with a Florida residence, nor registered as a sex offender in Florida, as required by SORNA.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Tony Wilson, Jr. (31, LeHigh Acres) to life in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine), heroin, and fentanyl; distribution of fentanyl; and possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon. The court also sentenced Wilson to a five-year mandatory, consecutive term of imprisonment for possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Wilson was also ordered to forfeit a gold chain and pendant valued at over $80,000 and tens of thousands of dollars in cash, which were traced to proceeds of the offense.          

According to court documents and evidence, Wilson (a/k/a “Big Homie” and “Caine”) was the head of a large drug distribution ring operating from 2013 until 2018 in the Suncoast Estates neighborhood of North Fort Myers, Florida. The organization occupied several houses and trailer homes in Suncoast Estates, inside which dealers worked side-by-side to distribute controlled substances to customers. The organization also used other homes (so-called “safe houses”) in Suncoast to store bulk drugs and proceeds, and to manufacture crack cocaine for distribution.

During its investigation of the ring, law enforcement conducted dozens of undercover drug purchases from Wilson’s dealers in Suncoast. They also executed multiple search warrants resulting in the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars, multiple firearms, and large quantities of cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl.  Evidence collected demonstrated that the organization often generated more than $10,000 per day in sales.

To date, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has secured the convictions of 18 members of the conspiracy. Wilson, its leader, is the 16th to be sentenced. The following is a list of defendants who have been charged in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division, including the status of their prosecution:

Defendant

Charge(s)

Case Status

Tony Wilson, Jr. (31, Lehigh Acres)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, and firearms offenses

Sentenced to life in prison, plus five years

Elizabeth Kuc (47, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances

Sentenced to 30 years in federal prison

William Thomas (26, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances

Sentenced to 24+ years in federal prison

Eileen Smith (22, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 13 years in federal prison

Tyrome Wright (46, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances

Sentenced to 12+ years in federal prison

Darniel Williams (24, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 11+ years in federal prison

Michael Perez (38, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 11+ years in federal prison

Patrick Graham (25, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 5+ years in federal prison

Danielle Hallmon (32, Bokeelia)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 10+ years in federal prison

Malik Timbers (26, St. Petersburg)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 10+ years in federal prison

Kenneth Tippins (48, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 9+ years in federal prison

James Estrella (50, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 8+ years in federal prison

Christopher Connor (30, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 7+ years in federal prison

Dorothy Rochford (27, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Sentenced to 6 years in federal prison

Michelle Gladys (49, North Fort Myers)

Distribution of a controlled substance

Sentenced to 33 months in federal prison

Samantha Badger (23, North Fort Myers)

Distribution of a controlled substance

Sentenced to 15 months in federal prison

Jeffrey Beard, II (29, Labelle)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances

Pleaded guilty, faces up to 40 years in federal prison

Monique Moore (47, North Fort Myers)

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

Pleaded guilty, faces up to life in federal prison

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Leeman and Trent Reichling.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Timothy CathCart (33, Pasco County) to 27 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute a substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl and norfentanyl, the use of which resulted in serious bodily injury to multiple individuals.

CathCart had pleaded guilty on November 1, 2019.

According to court documents, CathCart was part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Florida. In January 2019, CathCart was arrested for a traffic violation in Pasco County. Moments before his arrest, he concealed approximately seven grams of fentanyl, which he had mixed with seven grams of gabapentin and methamphetamines. CathCart then smuggled the controlled substances inside the Pasco Jail.

Between January 24 and January 25, 2019, CathCart distributed the fentanyl he had smuggled to three inmates in the Pasco Jail. All three inmates lost consciousness, overdosed, and suffered serious bodily injury.

On February 1, 2019, two additional inmates overdosed from the substances that CathCart had smuggled into the jail. One inmate was successfully revived and eventually regained consciousness. The second inmate died. A postmortem toxicology report concluded that the individual suffered an accidental death caused by fentanyl toxicity.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Felix Antequera Rivera, Jr. (33, Lakeland) to 30 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

A jury had found Rivera guilty on December 10, 2019.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 15, 2018, officers from the Lakeland Police Department were patrolling an apartment complex when they observed Rivera who appeared to have a large object concealed in his waistband. When the officers approached Rivera, he turned, walked in the opposite direction, and attempted to enter a friend’s apartment. Rivera then tried to slip out of a backpack that he was wearing and attempted to flee. A prolonged struggle involving Rivera and four police officers ensued, during which Rivera reached for a firearm in his pants, struck a police officer in the head with handcuffs, and grabbed at the officers’ firearms and tasers. Officers eventually seized from Rivera a Sig Sauer pistol loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition.

 Rivera has a long and violent criminal history, including convictions for armed robbery with a firearm, felony battery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearm or ammunition.    

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lakeland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, Florida – Bernita Willette Carswell (36, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to disaster assistance fraud involving FEMA benefits. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the United States in the amount of $15,024.80. Carswell was arrested on January 15, 2020.   

According to court documents, on September 13, 2017, Carswell made an application online for disaster assistance to FEMA. In the application, she claimed that her primary residence in Jacksonville suffered storm damage, that she was displaced from her primary residence, and that she was forced to move to a rental property in Jacksonville. In support of her application for benefits, she submitted a lease agreement for the rental property in Jacksonville.

In reliance on the statements made by Carswell in her application and the lease agreement, FEMA paid Carswell rental assistance totaling $15,024.80.  

Investigation by the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General determined that Carswell’s statements to FEMA were false. Her residence in Jacksonville was not damaged, she lived there through and after Hurricane Irma, and the lease agreement she had submitted to FEMA was fraudulent.  

 This case is part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, which was announced in September 2017. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Members of the public who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to disaster@leo.gov. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.

 

Tampa, Florida – Richard De La Cruz (55, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making false statements relating to health care matters in connection with writing opioid prescriptions. De La Cruz faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, De La Cruz was a Florida-licensed physician who worked for MD2U, a now-shuttered, Kentucky-based company that provided a network of in-home primary care for patients. MD2U commonly used nurse practitioners, instead of physicians, to conduct in-person examinations and evaluations of patients in the Tampa Bay area, including those who were prescribed opioids.  

In mid-2014, the Florida Board of Medicine (“FBOM”) determined that De La Cruz and MD2U’s practice of prescribing controlled substances without an in-person evaluation by a physician violated Florida medical standards and regulations. Contrary to the FBOM ruling, De La Cruz continued to write opiate prescriptions to MD2U patients without personally meeting with and evaluating the patients. De La Cruz concealed this in claims later submitted to Medicare for payment of the opiate prescriptions.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Middle District of Florida Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to focus on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals who contribute to the prescription opioid epidemic. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelley Howard-Allen and Greg Pizzo.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a 25-count indictment charging Elvis Harold Reyes (56, Brandon) with 8 counts of mail fraud, 8 counts of making false statements in immigration documents, and 9 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Reyes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of mail fraud, up to 15 years’ imprisonment for each false statement count, and a mandatory, consecutive term of two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft counts.

According to the

indictment , Reyes, who owned and operated EHR Ministries Inc., portrayed himself as an immigration attorney, pastor, accountant, immigration expert, former immigration official, and former federal law enforcement officer. Reyes is not and has never been a licensed attorney. Reyes targeted undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries who were seeking Florida driver licenses and work authorization. He gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to victims in order to induce them to retain his services and those of EHR Ministries.

Victims retained and paid Reyes to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other agencies. Reyes allegedly filed fraudulent immigration applications in the victims’ names, seeking asylum relief and withholding-of-removal protections provided for under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. In doing so, Reyes falsified answers to questions in the asylum applications—fabricating stories about threats, persecution, and the applicants’ fear of returning to their native countries. Reyes did not inform the victims of the answers that he had provided on their behalf. He also did not inform the victims about the legal, administrative, and other immigration-related consequences that might follow from filing for asylum relief or for Convention Against Torture protection.  

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

Reyes is believed to have filed more than 215 fraudulent applications, with intended losses to victims exceeding $1 million. Any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible victim is urged to contact the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of a four-count indictment charging Wilmer Eduardo Mejia-Palacios (36, Orlando) with fraudulently making a false statement to a licensed firearm dealer. If convicted, Mejia-Palacios faces up to 5 years in federal prison for each count.

According to court documents, Mejia-Palacios attempted to purchase firearms on four separate occasions in Orlando. In connection with those attempted purchases, Mejia-Palacios completed a firearms transaction record claiming that he was a United States citizen and that he was not illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Those claims were false.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.        

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kelly Villalobos (49, Ponte Vedra) with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. If convicted, Villalobos faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on January 26, 2010, Villalobos was convicted of two counts of stealing mail matter by a postal employee, a felony. She was sentenced to 3 years’ probation. On November 26, 2019, Villalobos entered Shooters of Jacksonville, a federally licensed firearms dealer, and attempted to purchase a firearm. Villalobos falsely stated on the ATF paperwork that she had never been convicted of a felony offense.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Fort Myers, Florida – Lanorris Williams (31, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, on September 20, 2019, an officer from the Fort Myers Police Department and an ATF task force agent observed Williams driving a red BMW. When Williams noticed the officers, he fled at a high rate of speed through intersections and residential neighborhoods. Eventually, an innocent motorist t-boned Williams at the intersection of Canal and Ford Streets, spinning Williams into a nearby ditch, where he was arrested. On the driver’s side floorboard of the BMW, officers found Williams’s loaded Glock pistol. 

During the past 11 years, Williams has been convicted of 9 felonies, including multiple drug offenses, burglaries, and thefts and, is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by ATF and the Fort Myers Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Tampa, Florida – Alexander Giraldo Santa (48, Colombia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, although the terms of his extradition prohibit the imposition of a life sentence.

According to the plea agreement, Giraldo Santa participated in the manufacture of numerous self-propelled semi-submersible vessels used to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on the high seas. Two of the vessels were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Benjamin Tucker Patz (23, New York, New York), a/k/a “Parlay Patz,” with transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce. If convicted, Patz faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to the

complaint , in 2019, Patz made numerous threats to carry out violence against professional athletes and/or their family members via Instagram messages, using anonymous accounts. In many of the messages, Patz threatened to enter the athletes’ homes and behead them or their family members. Some of Patz’s threats also contained derogatory terms and racial slurs directed at those individuals.

On July 20, 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a home game to the Chicago White Sox. That same day, four baseball players for the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as a baseball player for the Chicago White Sox, received Instagram direct messages from Patz in which he threatened to carry out acts of violence against them. Patz made the following threats to the Tampa Bay Rays players:

• “I will enter your home while you sleep…And sever your neck open…I will kill your entire family…Everyone you love will soon cease…I will cut up your family…Dismember the[m] alive”;
• “Your family’s necks will be severed open with a dull knife!...Your family will die!”;
• “Unfortunately 0-5 against the Chicago White Sox isn’t going to cut it.  Because of your sins, I will have to behead you and your family”; and
• “Your family will be beheaded.”

Patz, who resides in both New York and California and goes by the moniker “Parlay Patz,” had recently won more than $1 million by wagering on sports events. 

A 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 unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is part of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative, which is designed to tackle illegal sports gambling and combat threats of influence from criminal enterprises. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Teresa Johnson (53, Lecanto) to five years’ probation, with four months of home detention, for conspiring with a local doctor to commit health care fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered Johnson to pay restitution to the defrauded federal health care programs and, entered a money judgment of more than $5,700, representing a portion of Johnson’s health care fraud proceeds.

Johnson had pleaded guilty on October 10, 2019.

According to court documents, Johnson owned and operated a medical billing company, Tri-County Billing, which submitted mostly false and fraudulent claims for three clinics owned and operated by Doctor 1 (recently deceased). The clinics were located in Crystal River, Spring Hill, and Celebration. Most of the false claims from Doctor 1’s clinics were submitted to government healthcare programs including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA. Johnson had previously worked for Doctor 1 in several different capacities before Doctor 1 financially assisted her in opening Tri-County Billing. Doctor 1 filed bankruptcy on behalf of his medical practice in April 2019.

As part of the scheme, Doctor 1 employed numerous health care providers, many who were not authorized to perform, and prohibited from, billing for medical services. Doctor 1 directed Johnson to bill claims performed by these prohibited health care providers as if they were rendered by Doctor 1, when they were not. One of these providers was a pain management doctor who had been denied enrollment in the Medicare and Medicaid program. Another doctor had been excluded from billing, directly or indirectly, any government healthcare programs. Doctor 1 also hired nurse practitioners to perform medical services, and directed Tri-County to submitted claims as if a doctor had performed those services. Both Johnson and Doctor 1 knew all of these claims were false and fraudulent.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen.

Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the arrests of Justin Latronica (30, Orange Park), James Allen Shook (48, Weeki Wachee), and Timothy Veres, III (Jacksonville, 24) for attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Veres was also charged with soliciting for images depicting the sexual abuse of a child. Each faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison.

According to court records, in January 2020, Latronica, Shook, and Veres each traveled to an undercover location for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with individuals they believed to be between 12 and 14 years old.

These arrests were part of a joint operation conducted between January 24 and January 27, 2020, in Orange Park Florida. The agencies involved include the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida ICAC task force. The proactive operation was conducted to identify and arrest those who perform predatory acts and exploit children online.

As part of the operation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office also arrested two individuals, Abhishek Shah (30, Jacksonville) and Che’ Jenkins Jr. (22, Jacksonville), who have each been charged in state court with violating state law by traveling to meet a minor to engage in an unlawful sex act, soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services or devices, and the unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Karase and Ashley Washington.

These cases are 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.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Kenyan Shondre Scott with 55 counts of aiding and assisting others with the filing of false tax returns and 4 counts of filing false tax returns on his own behalf. Each count carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment. The United States also seeks restitution for the tax losses arising out of the alleged criminal conduct.

According to the

indictment , Scott owned and operated a tax preparation business in Jacksonville and began preparing tax returns for others in 2009. Between February 2014 and April 2018, Scott defrauded the IRS by filing returns for clients in which he falsely claimed, among other things, that the clients were eligible for certain itemized deductions for which they were not eligible. In addition, he falsely claimed that some clients had incurred business losses when they did not in fact own a business. Scott also fraudulently claimed general business credits and education credits that reduce a taxpayer’s tax liability or increase a taxpayer’s tax refund on a dollar for dollar basis. The indictment specifically alleges the filing of 55 false returns on behalf of 13 taxpayers for the tax years 2013 through 2017.

The indictment further alleges that Scott filed personal returns for the years 2013 through 2016 in which he fraudulently and substantially reduced the amount of his net business income and the amount of taxes owed on that income by claiming false business expenses and other false deductions and credits. The indictment also alleges that Scott fraudulently reported fake wages and a disproportionate amount of taxes being withheld from those purported wages in an attempt to lower the amount of taxes owed.

“This time of year all Americans are thinking about taxes, and the last thing they want to worry about is if their return preparer might be a crook,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Unfortunately, every year, we see shady return preparers take advantage of taxpayers trying to do the right thing. Don’t fall into that trap! Education is key, and we urge taxpayers to use extra caution, starting by visiting www.irs.gov to learn of criteria to consider when selecting a return preparer.”

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.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Tampa, Florida – Joshua Eugene Burton (34, Missouri) has pleaded guilty to coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity and committing a child sex offense while registered as a sex offender. Burton faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, Burton engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a 14-year-old individual ("Victim 1") while portraying himself as a teenage girl from California named “Becky Smith.” In his conversations, Burton persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Victim 1 to create and send him sexually explicit images and videos of himself/herself. Burton also coerced Victim 1 into creating a video of Victim 1 performing oral sex on a 16-year-old individual ("Victim 2") by threatening to publicly post the photos and videos that he had previously received. In order to add more credibility to his threat, Burton specifically referenced the schools that both victims attended. As a result of his threats, Victim 1 sent Burton multiple sexually explicit images and videos.

Burton is a former U.S. Marine who was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2008 during the time he served in the United States Marine Corps. As part of his conviction, Burton was required to register as a sex offender and was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Candace Garcia Rich.

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.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – Heidi Kalous (39, Dunedin) today pleaded guilty to conspiring and distributing a substance that contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing the death of an individual. She faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, beginning no later than June 5, 2019, and continuing through June 28, 2019, Kalous conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl throughout Pinellas County.

On June 5, 2019, Kalous distributed two bags —which contained a substance composed of a mixture of heroin, and fentanyl—to an individual. The individual injected himself with the substance from the bags and died. A medical autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an accidental overdose caused by fentanyl toxicity.

Between June 5 and June 27, 2019, after the individual’s death, Kalous continued to distribute narcotics, including crack cocaine, fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and heroin, out of a motel in Dunedin.

This case is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.

Tampa, FL – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida joined Attorney General William P. Barr today in announcing the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep.  In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors.  In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.

In the Middle District of Florida, 10 individuals were charged with criminal offenses. In addition, 4 civil cases were resolved. All were prosecuted as part of the Department’s Elder Fraud sweep.

“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.  “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”

“Florida is home to millions of our nation’s seniors, who are often targeted for fraud through unscrupulous means,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez, Middle District of Florida. “Along with our partners on the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, we will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to prosecute those who seek to prey upon our vulnerable population. We encourage all of our citizens to report fraud, wherever it is found or suspected.”

This interactive map [https://www.justice.gov/civil/elder-fraud-sweeps-2020] provides information on the elder fraud cases highlighted by today’s sweep announcement. 

Elder Fraud Hotline

Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud.  The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers.  Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed.  When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller.  The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force

The Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force prosecuted more than one quarter of the defendants charged as part of the announced sweep.  Established in June 2019, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (Central District of California, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of Texas), along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel.  Prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants.  FBI and the Postal Inspection Service served as lead agencies in the Strike Force and committed substantial investigative resources to pursuing elder fraud cases as part of Strike Force efforts. The Strike Force has held dozens of meetings with industry, victim groups, and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels to identify the most harmful schemes victimizing American seniors and to bolster preventive measures against further losses. 

For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule network that facilitates foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a “money mule” to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal district participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.

These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.

The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Anthony Davis Stagnitta (23, St. Petersburg) to eight years and four months in federal prison for distributing child sex abuse videos over the internet.  Stagnitta was also ordered to pay $132,415 in restitution to victims and to register as a sex offender. 

Stagnitta had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2019. 

According to court documents, in February 2018, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children that was occurring on a popular messaging application. The agents discovered that between November 24 and December 3, 2017, Stagnitta had engaged in online conversations with other users in a public group chat on the app and had discussed trading child pornography. On December 3, 2017, Stagnitta sent a video to the group that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of an infant.

On April 30, 2018, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at Stagnitta’s home in Jacksonville. During an interview, Stagnitta admitted that he had discussed child pornography using this app, had sent child sex abuse videos to others users via private messaging, and had posted videos in the group chats. Forensic analysis of Stagnitta’s cellphone revealed that it contained 2,904 images depicting children being sexually abused.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Sean Ferraresi (34, Clermont) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. The court also ordered Ferraresi to forfeit the computers he had used to download and store child pornography.

Ferraresi had pleaded guilty on December 13, 2019.

According to court documents, Ferraresi had downloaded thousands of files depicting the sexual abuse of children. In addition, after Ferraresi was arrested, law enforcement officers discovered sexually explicit text messages between Ferraresi and children, including conversations in which Ferraresi solicited nude images from or sent nude images to children.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Colin P. McDonell.

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.justice.gov/psc.

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced James Bailey (33, Plant City) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Bailey to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.

Bailey had pleaded guilty on October 24, 2019.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2019, law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call regarding an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, the officers encountered Bailey and located a loaded sawed-off shotgun, with an obliterated serial number, at the rear of his vehicle. Bailey then fled on foot, but was apprehended after a short foot chase. Following his arrest, Bailey admitted to possessing the firearm. Witnesses also confirmed that Bailey had pointed the shotgun out of his car’s window. Bailey, an 11-time convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Andron McKinney (29, Tampa) to seven years and eight months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered McKinney to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.

McKinney had pleaded guilty on November 29, 2019.

According to court documents, subsequent to a traffic stop, law enforcement officers searched the car that McKinney had been driving and found a loaded pistol underneath the driver’s seat. McKinney’s fingerprint was found on the magazine inside the pistol. At the time, McKinney had multiple prior convictions for narcotics-related felonies and domestic violence felonies and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.   

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

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Four racially motivated violent extremists from across the U.S. were arrested and charged today in U.S District Court in Seattle with a conspiracy to threaten and intimidate journalists and activists, the Department of Justice announced. Today’s arrests and searches by the FBI and local law enforcement are being coordinated by the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Seattle, Tampa, Houston, and Phoenix. 

“These defendants from across the country allegedly conspired on the internet to intimidate journalists and activists with whom they disagreed,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “This is not how America works. The Department of Justice will not tolerate this type of behavior.”

“These defendants sought to spread fear and terror with threats delivered to the doorstep of those who are critical of their activities,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran for the Western District of Washington.  “As Attorney General William Barr has made clear, rooting out anti-Semitic hate and threats of violence and vigorously prosecuting those responsible are top priorities for the Department of Justice.”

“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and FBI-Tampa have been focused on identifying and eradicating the threat posed by the Atomwaffen Division both locally and nationally,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida.  “Today’s arrests send a powerful message that the Department of Justice will not tolerate criminal conduct based on hateful ideology.  We will continue to work with our partners here in the Middle District of Florida, and elsewhere, to devote our resources to investigate and prosecute those who aim to threaten and terrorize our communities.”  

The defendants charged in the conspiracy include:

     Cameron Brandon Shea, 24, of Redmond, Washington;

     Kaleb Cole, 24, of Montgomery, Texas;

     Taylor Ashley Parker-Dipeppe, 20, of Spring Hill, Florida, and

     Johnny Roman Garza, 20, of Queen Creek, Arizona.

According to the criminal complaint, the defendants conspired via an encrypted online chat group to identify journalists and others they wanted to intimidate.  The group focused primarily on those who are Jewish or journalists of color.  Defendants Cole and Shea created the posters, which included Nazi symbols, masked figures with guns and Molotov cocktails, and threatening language.  The posters were delivered to Atomwaffen members electronically and the coconspirators printed and delivered or mailed the posters to journalists or activists the group was targeting.  In the Seattle area, the posters were mailed to a TV journalist who had reported on Atomwaffen and to two individuals associated with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  In Tampa, the group targeted a journalist,but delivered the poster to the wrong address.  In Phoenix, the poster was delivered to a magazine journalist.

“Today’s announcement serves as a warning to anyone who intends to use violence as intimidation or coercion to further their ideology that the FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protect Americans from domestic terrorism,” said Assistant Director for Counterterrorism Jill Sanborn.  “These nationwide arrests are the result of the robust partnerships among the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Tampa, Seattle, Houston, and Phoenix and we appreciate their collective efforts.”

“The FBI recognizes all citizen's First Amendment-protected rights.  However the subjects arrested today crossed the line from protected ideas and speech to action in order to intimidate and coerce individuals who they perceived as a threat to their ideology of hate,” said Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Seattle.

“Today's takedown is proof the FBI in Tampa and our Joint Terrorism Task Force will work tirelessly to ensure communities are rid of hate inspired groups whose goal is to fuel intimidation and violence,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.

Shea will make his initial appearance on the complaint at the federal courthouse in Seattle at 2 p.m. today.  Those arrested in other districts will make their appearances in federal court in those districts and will appear in Seattle on a future date.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Seattle, Tampa, Houston and Phoenix.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Woods with assistance from U.S. Attorneys Offices in the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona, and Central District of California.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Emmett David Smart (29, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for arson of a residential apartment building. The court also ordered Smart to pay $148,920.09 in restitution.

Smart had pleaded guilty on October 31, 2019. 

According to court documents, on April 25, 2018, Smart set fire to a four-unit apartment building located at 7304 Sandhurst Road in Jacksonville. At the time of the fire, there were several occupants inside the building. Smart set the fire two days after the owner of the apartment building had initiated eviction proceedings against the tenant of the apartment Smart was residing in at the time of the fire.

This case was investigated by the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Wayne Dale Epps, Jr. (35, Jacksonville) has been arrested and charged with using the internet to attempt to entice a 12-year-old child to engage in sexual activity.  Epps faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Epps is currently in federal custody and has been ordered detained pending trial.  

According to court documents, on February 14, 2020, an undercover FBI agent who was posing online as the family member of a 12-year-old child, was contacted by the user “ksaber2040,” who was later identified as Epps. The same undercover agent had previously engaged in online conversation with Epps in October 2019. Over the next several days, Epps and the undercover agent engaged in online conversation in which Epps expressed his desire to meet the 12-year-old “child” to engage in sexual activity. Epps provided the undercover agent with details about the sexual acts that he wished to perform on the child. On the afternoon of February 18, 2020, Epps drove to a prearranged location in Jacksonville to meet the child for sex and was arrested by FBI agents.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. 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.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Richard Allan Griffin (59, Middleburg) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for possessing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. The court also ordered Griffin to forfeit a cellphone and pay a $10,000 fine.

Griffin had pleaded guilty on October 29, 2019.

According to court documents, Griffin’s employer contacted law enforcement after discovering child sexual abuse materials on Griffin’s computer. The employer also turned over Griffin’s company issued cellphone to law enforcement. A forensic review of the phone revealed at least 25 images depicting children being sexually exploited, including images of children in bathing suits, underwear, and various stages of undress. It also contained images showing small children posing in a sexually suggestive manner. At least 10 of the images were classified as child pornography.

Griffin is a registered sexual predator and has four prior sex offenses involving children. In 1996, in Lee County, he was convicted of two counts of attempted capital sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age (a first degree felony), and a lewd/lascivious act (a felony in the second degree). Griffin was also convicted of cruelty to a child in Chatham County, Georgia, for performing sexual acts upon a child under the age of 8. In 1990, Griffin was convicted of indecent exposure in Charleston County, South Carolina, after he exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and offered to pay the child for sex. In 1992, in Chatham County, Georgia, Griffin was convicted of child molestation and loitering for sex after exposing himself to a child under the age of 14 and asking the child for sex.

“This convicted sexual predator did not learn his lesson the first time,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Now, as a result of the hard work of HSI special agents and our partners with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit, this predator will no longer be a threat to our community.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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.justice.gov/psc.

Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Cody Robert Schoh (23, Palm Harbor) to 7 years and 11 months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. The court also ordered Schoh to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense.

Schoh had pleaded guilty on August 16, 2019.

According to court documents, the FBI began an investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone at Schoh's Palm Harbor residence had uploaded 94 files depicting child pornography to an online cloud storage system. The FBI executed a search warrant at Schoh's residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed that Schoh was in possession of child sex abuse images and videos. Forensic analysts also found that Schoh had used a web-based messaging application to engage in sexual conversations with numerous individuals who appeared to be minors. He also received, transmitted, and possessed child pornography via the internet.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.      

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

 

 

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Dameon Kerk Allen (43, St. Petersburg) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Allen to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense.

A federal jury had found Allen guilty on November 14, 2019.

According to evidence presented at trial, Allen communicated online and via text messages with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old child. In reality, he was talking to an undercover agent. In the conversations, Allen proposed and planned to meet up with the child to have sex, discussing in graphic detail the sex acts he would engage in when they met.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Colin McDonell.

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

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jarquel Jenkins (28, Fort Myers) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Jenkins had pleaded guilty on November 27, 2019.   

According to court documents, on three separate occasions in January and February 2019, Jenkins sold controlled substances (heroin and cocaine) to confidential informants. In February 2019, following a controlled purchase of narcotics from Jenkins, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Jenkins who fled from a parked vehicle. During the execution of a search warrant of the vehicle, officers seized various quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as a loaded firearm from the vehicle’s cup holder. As a previously convicted felon, Jenkins is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Albert Vincent Hicks (48, Jacksonville) to five years in federal prison for distributing heroin. 

Hicks had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2019. 

According to court documents, on October 26, 2017, Hicks sold more than 25 grams of heroin to a confidential informant. On November 16, 2017, he sold an additional 13 grams of heroin. During the second sale, Hicks discussed the possibility of a future, larger deal with the informant. As a repeat offender, with a prior conviction for sale of cocaine, Hicks was subject to enhanced penalties under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fernandina Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican. 

Tampa, Florida – Charles R. Resnick (69, Charlotte, NC, formerly from Florida) has pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false income tax return. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. Resnick also agreed to make restitution to the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (“CASIS”). A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the

plea agreement , on October 15, 2013, Resnick filed a 2012 Individual Income Tax Return (IRS Form 1040), which he signed under penalty of perjury. On the return, Resnick attested that his total income for tax year 2012 was $225,947, when he knew that his income was substantially greater. Resnick understated his total income by approximately $209,916 and failed to report approximately $158,000 in gross receipts that he had earned from consulting clients. In addition, he improperly deducted business expenses in the approximate amount of $51,500, despite the facts that (1) he had been reimbursed for the expenses and (2) some of the deducted expenses were not ordinary and necessary business expenses.

For sentencing purposes, Resnick is responsible for the total tax loss for tax years 2010 through and including 2013. That amount will be determined at sentencing.

This case was investigated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.

Orlando, FL – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Marek Harrison (56, Plant City) to 20 months in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud scheme. The court also ordered Harrison to pay $2,753,495.79 in restitution to the victim financial institutions.

Harrison had pleaded guilty on November 27, 2019.

According to court documents, between September 2007 and December 2008,

Harrison created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme involving Saratoga Resort Villas, a condominium conversion of a former hotel located in Kissimmee. Harrison’s scheme to defraud financial institutions involved kickbacks of mortgage proceeds to buyers and co-conspirators, as well as misrepresentations regarding the source of down payment funds for the transactions. None of the incentives and kickbacks were disclosed to the mortgage lenders. Harrison also recruited otherwise unqualified buyers, and he provided down payment money for the buyers. 

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

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced Jonathan Bohn (35, Orlando), a/k/a “Jonah,” to 20 years in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance that resulted in death.

A federal jury had found Bohn guilty on December 4, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on December 15, 2017, Bohn sold a 45-year-old Orlando resident a controlled substance that contained cocaine laced with fentanyl and heroin. After the victim ingested the narcotic, the victim’s daughter found her dead in their residence the next day. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s office subsequently determined that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.

“As law enforcement we see firsthand the deadly devastation these drugs bring to our community. This case demonstrates how law enforcement, medical professionals, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida are working together to find and prosecute those who knowingly distribute these lethal drugs,” said Sheriff John Mina. “It is our hope that this case sends a clear message to drug dealers throughout Orange County that we are investigating and we will do everything in our power to hold them accountable for their actions.”

“In Orange County and across the state, FDLE and our criminal justice partners continue to fight against proliferators of illegal drugs and the lives they ruin,” said FDLE Orlando Special Agent in Charge Lee Massie. “While no sentence can reclaim a victim’s family’s loss, this case should put drug dealers on notice that they cannot escape the destructive consequences of their crimes.”    

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the District Nine Office of the Medical Examiner located in Orlando, Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Brandi Nicole Fletcher (24, Jacksonville) with perjury, fraudulently obtaining a passport, and aggravated identity theft in connection with passport fraud. If convicted, Fletcher faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the false statement in an application for a passport count, up to 5 years for the perjury count, and a consecutive mandatory term of two years for the aggravated identity theft count. 

According to court documents, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Jacksonville began investigating Fletcher after she appeared in federal court in July 2019 as a potential third-party custodian for a federal defendant seeking to be released on bond. During that hearing, Fletcher claimed, under oath, to be another person with the initials K.N.P. Fletcher also claimed to have the date of birth of K.N.P. and claimed to have no prior criminal record. All of these claims were false. Further investigation by the USMS revealed that Fletcher had obtained a Florida identification card in the name of K.N.P. approximately one hour prior to appearing in federal court. A facial recognition search of the Florida driver license database also showed that Fletcher had been issued Florida driver licenses or identification cards in her own name, as well as in the names of four other individuals.

In August 2019, Fletcher was arrested in South Carolina on unrelated charges for possession of stolen property. At the time of her arrest, she was in possession of a United States passport in the name of a person with the initials A.I.N.D., as well as at least 12 identification documents for other individuals, including birth certificates, social security cards, Florida identification cards, and a Georgia driver license.  Further investigation by the United States Diplomatic Security Service revealed that, in February 2019, Fletcher had submitted an application for the passport using identification documents belonging to another person. In submitting the passport application, Fletcher swore that she was A.I.N.D.

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

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Diplomatic Security Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Samuel Arthur Thompson (49, St. Augustine) with receiving and possessing child sex abuse images, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), and transmitting damaging commands to a protected computer. If convicted on all counts, Thompson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to 100 years, in federal prison. Thompson has been a convicted felon and required to register as a sex offender since 1998, when he was convicted in Alabama of second degree sodomy on a child.

According to court documents, from April 2017 through February 2018, Thompson was a contractor for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His contract was not renewed, and, as of February 23, 2018, he was no longer employed by the organization. During the 2018 - 2019 NFL season, the Jaguars experienced multiple incidents involving malfunctions of the video board (commonly referred to as a “Jumbotron”) located within the Jaguars’ stadium. Thompson was identified as the architect of the video board system. A subsequent investigation revealed that an account associated with Thompson had been used to remotely log into the computer system and send commands to a rogue server that had been placed in the Jaguars’ server room, resulting in the outages.

On July 17, 2019, the FBI executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence for evidence related to the computer intrusion. During the search, agents recovered a firearm from Thompson’s nightstand. As a previously convicted felon, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms. The FBI also seized multiple pieces of computer equipment and Thompson’s iPhone. A review of the electronic items revealed that Thompson had received child sex abuse images on his iPhone in 2018 and that Thompson had additional child sex abuse images on two of the computers.

Nine days after the execution of the search warrant, Thompson traveled from the United States to the Philippines without reporting his international travel prior to his departure, in violation of SORNA. Further investigation revealed that Thompson had also traveled to the Bahamas in July 2019 and failed to report that trip. On January 31, 2020, Thompson was arrested in Los Angeles following his deportation from the Philippines. 

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

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.

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.justice.gov/psc.   

Tampa, Florida – Emmanuel de la Cruz (40, Riverview) today pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, a confidential informant (CI) negotiated with de la Cruz to obtain cocaine. The CI traveled to meet de la Cruz at a house where de la Cruz gave the CI just over a kilogram of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.

 

Tampa – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez and Acting Miami Field Office Director Jim Martin, of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced today their ongoing commitment to combat illegal immigration and reduce violent crime.

“Our Office is committed to using every tool available to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “The ongoing cooperation demonstrated by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Middle District of Florida in supporting our nation’s immigration enforcement policies have assisted us in working toward our mission – public safety for all.”

“Citizens and guests of Florida are safer today because of strong law enforcement partnerships at the local, state, and federal level,” said acting Miami Field Office Director Jim Martin. “Partnerships like the 287g program, the Warrant Service Officer program, and the Basic Ordering Agreement partnerships work to keep criminals out of our local communities, while our United States Attorney Office works diligently to make sure those individuals are held accountable for their crimes.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO-MDFL), along with our federal, state, and local partners, is engaged in ongoing cooperation and coordination to prioritize and enforce the Department’s policies. In addition, since 2009, ICE has designated Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to assist the USAO-MDFL in reviewing and prosecuting cases related to threats against our homeland, including immigration offenses, illegal reentry, and violent crime. See below for MDFL significant case highlights.

SIGNIFICANT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CASE SUMMARIES

United States v. Missael Gonzalez Terrazas Case No. 5:19-cr-19 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-seven-years-federal-prison-trafficking-methamphetamine

United States v. Faisal Buarki Case No. 8:19-cr-148 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/former-university-student-sentenced-unlawful-possession-firearms

United States v. Jorge Humberto Delgado-Macias Case No. 8:18-cr-558 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-aggravated-identity-theft-and-firearms-possession

United States v. Juan Alberto Flores-Jimenez Case No. 6:18-cr-225 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/mexican-national-and-leader-georgia-based-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-17

United States v. Juan Carlos Ramirez-Arcos Case No. 8:17-cr-585 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-living-bradenton-pleads-guilty-federal-firearms-offense-shooting-death

United States v. Perez-Ramos et al Case No. 5:18-cr-51 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/two-illegal-aliens-sentenced-conspiracy-distribute-methamphetamine

United States v. Rodriguez-Flores et al Case No. 5:17-cr-31 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/ocala-illegal-alien-sentenced-17-years-prison-federal-drug-gun-and-immigration-crimes

United States v. Lopez-Lopez Case No. 3:19-cr-114 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-two-years-federal-prison-illegally-re-entering-united-states-0

United States v. Moreno-Hernandez Case No. 6:19-cr-140 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/illegal-alien-sentenced-41-months-federal-prison-unlawfully-re-entering-united-states

 United States v. Rodriguez Case No. 6:19-cr-232 (M.D. Fla.)

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/mexican-national-involved-fatal-hit-and-run-pleads-guilty-illegal-reentry

Tampa, Florida – Matthew Enhoffer (34, St. Petersburg) today pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison.

According to court documents, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual had distributed child pornography on a web-based social media application. The investigation led agents to Enhoffer’s residence.

On September 11, 2019, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Enhoffer’s home and seized several electronic devices. An examination of Enhoffer’s devices revealed that he possessed approximately 391 images and 7 videos depicting child pornography, and 293 images of child erotica. The images and videos depicted young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic analysis of Enhoffer’s laptop also revealed that he had distributed child sex abuse material to another individual via the internet in June and July 2018.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

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.justice.gov/psc.  

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Jhon Alejandro Marin-Moreno (39, Medellin, Colombia) with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, smuggling goods from the United States, and shipment of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted on all counts, Marin-Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, Marin-Moreno is a dual citizen of the United States and Colombia who recruited individuals in Florida to acquire firearms for him, including numerous types of assault rifles. Marin-Moreno then arranged to illegally export the firearms to Colombia by concealing the weapons in packages containing household items. Marin-Moreno and his coconspirators attempted to obliterate the serial numbers on the firearms so that they could not be traced. Some of the firearms were acquired to satisfy debts owed for drug purchases. Neither Marin-Moreno nor his coconspirators applied for or obtained the necessary licenses for exporting defense articles as required by federal law.

On February 10, 2020, Marin-Moreno was detained while traveling through Panama and was immediately removed to the United States to face the charges in the indictment.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Colombia’s Policía Fiscal y Aduanera (POLFA), a unit of the National Police of Colombia. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Edward W. Prickett (53, Auburndale) to eight years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. 

Prickett had pleaded guilty on November 26, 2019.

According to court documents, on August 22, 2019, Prickett was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by an officer with the Lake Wales Police Department. As the officer approached the vehicle, he saw Prickett attempting to conceal a green bag under the dashboard. The officer called for a narcotics detection dog, which alerted positively to the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered the green bag, which contained approximately 182 grams of methamphetamine that had been packaged for distribution.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lake Wales Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan L. Albritton.

This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Rose Beth Litzky (33, Palm Bay) to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to sexually exploit children, sexually exploiting children, and possessing child pornography. 

A federal jury had found Litzky guilty on July 29, 2019.

According to evidence presented at trial, between 2014 and 2016, Litzky conspired with her boyfriend, Roberto Oquendo, to sexually exploit two young children in her custody and care. Litzky, who lived in Florida, caused the children to engage in sexually explicit conduct while Oquendo watched using a video and messaging app from his residence in Virginia. Oquendo created hundreds of screenshots of the explicit visual depictions and transported them to Brevard County, where law enforcement found them on his cell phone.  

During an interview with law enforcement officers, Litzky also admitted to producing hundreds of sexually explicit pictures of the children and texting them to Oquendo for his sexual gratification. Law enforcement searched Litzky’s phone and found a sexually explicit image of one of the children, who was two years old at the time the picture was taken.

On August 26, 2019, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. sentenced Oquendo to 50 years in federal prison for his role in the offenses.

“Child pornography is a despicable crime so I commend the efforts of the agents and federal prosecutors who are relentless in their work to ensure children are protected from these sexual predators,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson.

“I am so very proud of these agents who are devoted to protecting children by making sure the evil men and women who hurt them are brought to justice,” stated Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. “These cases are an example of how cooperation between agencies keeps our children safe. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting these cases and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for all of their support in fighting the exploitation of children.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys River Miranda and Karen L. Gable.

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Reece Christopher Depew (22, Jacksonville) with distributing images depicting the sexual abuse of young children. Depew faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison.   

According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from a company that hosts and administers an online social messaging application. The company reported that a user named “Android 18” had uploaded and distributed child sex abuse images to an online chat platform.  Further investigation revealed that the internet protocol address used to upload this material traced back to a residence where Depew lived. On January 17, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the home. Depew was subsequently arrested and has been detained pending trial.       

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

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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.justice.gov/psc.