Southern District of Georgia

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two new prosecutors have joined the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office with swearing-in ceremonies held Monday in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

The two assistant U.S. attorneys fill a vacancy in the office staff and a new position allotted by the Department of Justice in response to the Southern District’s high level of productivity.

“The staff in our office continue to adapt and overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including taking on a leadership role in fighting coronavirus fraud in Georgia, even as we maintain our aggressive fight against crime in the Southern District,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “These new prosecutors will immediately get to work helping to keep our communities safe.”

Joining the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office are:

• Channell Singh serves in the Criminal Division in the Savannah office.

Singh received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, Singh interned with the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office and with U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. After law school, she worked for three years as an Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County in their Complex Trial Division, and most recently served as an assistant in the capital litigation section of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office. She has appeared numerous times before the 11th Circuit.

• Jennifer Stanley serves in the Criminal Division in the Augusta office.

Stanley received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her Juris Doctor from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. While in law school, she interned in the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office in Augusta. After receiving her law degree, Stanley clerked for then-Chief Judge Karon O. Bowdre in the Northern District of Alabama, and most recently served as an associate in a large Alabama-based legal practice, primarily in the areas of financial services litigation and securities litigation.

The Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine, is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, prosecutes federal crimes and civil actions in the 43 counties of the Southern District, and provides legal services for federal agencies and facilities within the district. Learn more at justice.gov/usao-sdga.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia’s leading state and federal prosecutors are announcing a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fraud Task Force, aimed at better protecting the citizens of Georgia from criminal fraud arising as a result of the pandemic.

The task force will enhance communication between partner agencies and more rapidly share information about COVID-19 fraud, while ensuring each fraud complaint is reported to the appropriate prosecuting agency. Task force member agencies include the Office of the Governor of Georgia, the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. Georgia’s three U.S. Attorneys, the Attorney General of Georgia and the Executive Counsel for the Governor’s Office serve on the task force.

“My office is honored to work with this task force in our state’s fight against the spread of COVID-19. As a team, we are committed to putting Georgians first to ensure their safety and well-being as we address this public health state of emergency,” said Gov. Brian P. Kemp.

“Our office has received hundreds of complaints regarding scams, price gouging and other issues related to the COVID19 pandemic, and we won’t tolerate those who are taking advantage of consumers and interfering with our frontline workers’ response to the crisis,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “This partnership between the State of Georgia and our U.S. Attorneys will enable us to work together to investigate and, as appropriate, prosecute those who violate our laws. We will leave no stone unturned as we protect all Georgians.”

“Opportunistic criminals are targeting the most vulnerable among us with COVID-19 scams, but our office and law enforcement and prosecutorial partners remain vigilant,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.  “We strive to detect, investigate and prosecute criminal conduct, and reassure our law-abiding citizens that their safety and security is our primary focus.”

“Thieves never stop searching for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting people,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.  “Citizens can rest assured that we will bring every asset to bear against fraudsters and those who use this crisis as an opportunity to commit fraud. Also, we encourage anyone who believes they are the victim of a scam, or may have been contacted by someone stating they represent a government agency, to contact this task force immediately.”

“To all would-be scammers: Anyone who uses this pandemic to defraud Georgians will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “The creation of this unified task force better prepares us to investigate and prosecute criminal acts of fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The law enforcement community is strong in our state. I want to thank our partners at the local, state and federal level dedicated to protecting our citizens from fraudsters.” 

Within each task force member agency, an appointed fraud complaint coordinator will oversee the cases and remain in regular contact with partner law enforcement agencies. The appointed coordinators are: Jim Crane, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia; David Dove, Executive Counsel, Office of the Governor of Georgia; Anne Infinger, Deputy Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General of Georgia; Russell Phillips, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; and Patrick Schwedler, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

The public is urged to be on the lookout for any of these COVID-19 scams, which can be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov:  

• Treatment scams: Scammers are selling fake vaccines, medicines and cures for COVID-19.
• Supply scams: Scammers are claiming they have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, health and medical supplies, but when an order is placed, the scammer takes the money and never delivers the order. 
• Charity scams: Scammers are fraudulently soliciting donations for non-existent charities to help people affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Scammers often use names that are similar to the names of real charities. 
• Phishing scams: Scammers, posing as national and global health authorities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are sending fake emails or texts to trick the recipient into sharing their personal information like account numbers, Social Security numbers, or login IDs and passwords. 
• App scams: Scammers are creating COVID-19 related apps that contain malware designed to steal the user’s personal information after it is downloaded. 
• Provider scams: Scammers pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19, and demand payment for that treatment. 
• Investment scams: Scammers are promoting the stock of small companies, which have limited publicly available information, using false or misleading claims that the companies’ stock will increase dramatically due to the COVID-19 outbreak, such as claims that a company can prevent, detect or cure COVID-19.

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) of the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia has received more than 600 complaints of price gouging or scams related to COVID-19, the majority regarding food, toilet paper, water and hand sanitizer. The public can file complaints with the CPD by calling 800-869-1123 or https://consumer.georgia.gov/.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah-area pharmacy and its pharmacist have agreed to settle federal claims that they unlawfully dispensed controlled substances pursuant to prescriptions by a notorious pill-mill doctor.

Under the settlement, Greeson Rx, LLC and Joshua Z. Greeson, of Brooklet, Ga., will pay up to $2.22 million in civil penalties, said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. Greeson Rx, LLC operates Pooler Pharmacy in Pooler, Ga.

“Our office continues to relentlessly pursue those who illegally and inappropriately prescribe and dispense addictive drugs in the midst of an opioid addiction and overdose crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “These actions vividly illustrate that hefty penalties are the cost for these violations in the Southern District.”

This settlement is the latest in a series of actions taken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, including the prosecution of Dr. Frank Bynes, Jr., who was sentenced in February 2020 to serve 240 months in federal prison following his conviction at trial on 13 counts of Illegal Dispensation of Controlled Substances and three counts of Health Care Fraud. The United States also recently announced a judgment against Darien Pharmacy, of Darien, Ga., and settlements with Chip’s Discount Drugs, of Hazlehurst, Ga., and Gordon’s Pharmacy, of Bloomingdale, Ga., as well as with pharmacists at each of those three pharmacies.

The judgment and settlements against those pharmacies and pharmacists, together with the settlement with Greeson Rx, LLC and Joshua Z. Greeson, call for payments that could exceed a combined $7 million. The United States also previously announced the prosecutions of Ray Dixon, who was the pharmacist at Fulghum Drugs in Baxley, Ga., and Janice Colter, who was the pharmacist at Darien Pharmacy in Darien, Ga. Both Dixon and Colter have pled guilty to felony charges and await sentencing.

According to court filings involved with Darien Pharmacy and Chip’s Discount Drugs, those pharmacies were alleged to have dispensed hundreds of thousands of units of controlled substances prescribed by Bynes over the course of several years, despite obvious evidence Bynes was operating a pill mill.

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said “The mission of DEA’s Office of Diversion Control is to prevent, detect and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceutical and listed chemicals from legitimate sources. In this case, DEA Diversion investigators did an outstanding job of uncovering this pharmacist’s and this pharmacy’s complicit actions to improperly dispense opioids and other controlled substances, which ultimately led to this monetary settlement. DEA will continue to work hand in hand with its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to make sure healthcare providers are abiding by mandatory regulations.”

Any individuals who have information about illegal prescribing by physicians, dispensing by pharmacies, or other diversion, and any individuals who believe they were victims of Bynes, should call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422 and ask for the Opioid Coordinator.

Dispensing drugs in violation of the Controlled Substances Act carries a civil penalty of up to $64,820 per violation. Claims resolved by civil settlements are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. Investigations continue as to others arising out of these announced actions.

Joshua Z. Greeson and Greeson Rx, LLC were investigated by the DEA, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Bradford C. Patrick represented the United States.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Federal emergency funding is now available to state and local agencies to use in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

The $850 million Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program Solicitation, authorized in the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, was released this week by the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Affairs. The program provides funding to individual state, county and city agencies, according to the BJA announcement, and the DOJ is moving quickly to make the awards with the goal of having funds immediately available for drawdown.

“As the numbers of COVID-19 cases grow, local first responders are on the front lines meeting the needs of citizens infected by the virus and those sheltering from it,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “These funds will be a much-needed source of relief for our local partners as they continue this fight to keep our communities safe.”

“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”

Of the $850 million available nationwide, $24 million is allocated to Georgia. Of that amount, $16 million is allocated for the state to distribute. In addition, nearly $8 million is directly earmarked for individual cities and counties in Georgia, with $753,148 targeted to nine cities and counties in the Southern District, including:

• $322,805 for Savannah;
• $102,542 for Augusta/Richmond County;
• $58,008 for Chatham County;
• $58,008 for Liberty County;
• $53,088 for Glynn County;
• $48,242 for Brunswick;
• $38,651 for Wayne County;
• $36,321 for Garden City; and,
• $35,483 for Hinesville.

If any of the listed cities and counties eligible for the grants have not yet received information on the BJA’s solicitation, they can learn more by going to https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/bja-2020-18553.pdf

Any Georgia cities or counties not specifically listed can find updated information at the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council website: https://cjcc.georgia.gov/grants/covid-19-resources/federal-coronavirus-emergency-supplemental-funding-program

Citizens also are reminded to report any suspected attempts at coronavirus-related scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or at disaster@leo.gov.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Scammers are seeking to exploit the evolving COVID-19 public health crisis by targeting populations most at risk of severe illness, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia is urging the public to report suspected fraud schemes by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.

In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. The NCDF Hotline can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes.

“Be on the lookout and report potential scams related to COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Criminals are seeking to take advantage of the current health crisis and are targeting the most vulnerable amongst us. Our office is open for business and committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal conduct related to COVID-19. Don’t be swayed by fraudsters, and report anything suspicious.”   

Some examples of these schemes include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Creating fake shops, websites, social media accounts, and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies currently in high demand. When consumers attempt to purchase these supplies, the fraudsters pocket the money and never provide the promised supplies.

• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.

• Scammers are also contacting people by phone and email, pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19, and demanding payment for that treatment.
• Soliciting donations to fake charities or crowdfunding sites.

• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.    
•  Offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19, and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result.

In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities.   The Southern District of Georgia’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Schwedler.

The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.

Here are some tips to help avoid COVID-19 scams:

• Independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19. 
• Do not purchase test kits or items that purport to cure COVID-19 online.
• Do not click on links or reply to texts from unknown sources as these may download malware and viruses to computers or devices.
• Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products, or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often employ addresses that differ only slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating.
• Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies, or treatment for COVID-19 or requesting your personal information for medical purposes.
• Check online reviews of any company offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid companies whose customers have complained about not receiving items.
• Be wary of any business, charity, or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card, or through the mail. Don’t send money through any of these channels.
• Be cautious of “investment opportunities” tied to COVID-19, especially those based on claims that a small company’s products or services can help stop the virus. If you decide to invest, carefully research the investment beforehand. For information on how to avoid investment fraud, visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites. To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man has admitted taking part in the March 2019 robbery of a bar that left a U.S. Army serviceman wounded.

Anthony Curtis Raife, 24, pled guilty to Possessing a Short-Barreled Shotgun in Furtherance of a Violent Crime in U.S. District Court, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries penalty of a minimum of 10 years in prison and of up to life in prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Violent criminals have no place in our community except behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It’s fortunate that the good Samaritan who attempted to intervene in this robbery has recovered, and that his actions and those of our law enforcement partners helped take this violent criminal off the street.”

According to court documents and testimony, Raife and another man robbed the Brewer’s Sports Pub and Grill on Ogeechee Road on March 24, 2019. Both were armed. Raife carried a short-barreled shotgun that he pointed at patrons during the robbery. A bar customer, who was an active-duty U.S. Army serviceman, witnessed the robbery and helped other patrons escape. The serviceman then went unarmed to the rear of the store and punched Raife in the face, knocking the gun out of Raife’s hands. In response, the serviceman was shot by the other robber. Both robbers then fled; the soldier was treated and recovered.

Raife was located and arrested.

Anyone with information concerning the robbery is encouraged to call the FBI at 912-790-3100 or the Chatham County Police Department Tip Line at 912-650-6161.

“This case exemplifies the danger posed to innocent people when criminals use weapons to commit crimes in places of business,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are fortunate that a brave soldier did not lose his life because of this brazen act of violence. We are also grateful for his actions and the actions of our local law enforcement partners who were instrumental in bringing this suspect to justice.”

“From the moment our first responding officers arrived on the scene until Mr. Raife was captured, the members of the Chatham County Police Department worked tirelessly to bring him to justice,” said Chatham County Police Chief Jeffrey Hadley. “Like every case we investigate, this was a team effort between officers who responded and secured the scene, forensic officers who meticulously gathered physical evidence, and detectives who investigated numerous leads until Mr. Raife was apprehended. I’m very proud of our efforts, and proud that are streets are safer with Mr. Raife behind bars.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Chatham County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A South Georgia pharmacy and its pharmacist have agreed to settle a federal civil suit alleging they unlawfully dispensed thousands of illegitimate prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.

Under the settlement, announced only weeks after the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office filed the suit on behalf of the United States, Chip’s Discount Drugs and its pharmacist-in-charge, Rogers “Chip” Wood, Jr., of Hazlehurst, Ga., will pay up to $2,153,383 in civil penalties, said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants routinely ignored numerous red flags associated with prescriptions written by Dr. Frank Bynes Jr., who in February 2020 was sentenced to serve 240 months in federal prison on 13 counts of Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances and three counts of Health Care Fraud. The suit alleged the pharmacy dispensed more than 350,000 units of controlled substances prescribed by Bynes over the course of two years, despite obvious evidence Bynes was operating a “pill mill,” including:

• Most patients traveled between four and six hours to obtain prescriptions for commonly-abused controlled substances from an internal medicine doctor without any type of specialty;
• More than 90 percent of Bynes’ patients received a monthly supply of the highest strength of oxycodone, double the opioid potency the Centers for Disease Control advises clinicians to avoid;
• Most of Bynes’ patients received multiple types of immediate-release opioids at the same time;
• Most of Bynes’ patients received the so-called “holy trinity” drug cocktail of opioids, benzodiazepines, and Soma favored by opioid addicts;
• The medications were consistently and disproportionately the highest available strength; and,
• Multiple members of the same household were receiving similar dangerous prescriptions, including one family of three that received more than 17,500 dosage units of controlled substances from the pharmacy in less than two years.

The suit also alleges that the defendants could not account for more than 9,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills supplied to the pharmacy as required by the Controlled Substances Act.

“Pharmacists have a responsibility to fill only legitimate prescriptions for controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Pharmacies that turn a blind eye to this obligation contribute to the opioid epidemic and allow pill-mill doctors to wreak havoc on our community. This settlement makes clear that your U.S. Attorney’s Office will utilize every ethical tool to attack this crisis.”

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, ““This pharmacist scarred many lives through his actions.  Unfortunately, many of those patients will struggle with addiction for the rest of their lives. DEA will not hesitate to use all its resources to ensure that members of the healthcare community follow the law.”

The suit is part of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal law enforcement partners of the pharmacies who filled illegitimate prescriptions from Dr. Bynes. In addition to the settlement of the civil claims against Chip’s Discount Drugs, U.S. Attorney Christine also announced that Gordon’s Pharmacy of Bloomingdale, Ga., and its pharmacist-in-charge, Steven Keith Gordon, have agreed to pay up to $200,000 to settle claims that they unlawfully filled prescriptions for controlled substances written by Bynes. The U.S. Attorney’s office previously announced criminal and civil prosecutions of Darien Pharmacy of Darien, Ga., and Ray Dixon, the owner of Fulghum Drugs of Baxley, Ga.

Any individuals who have information about illegal prescribing by physicians, dispensing by pharmacies, or other diversion, and any individuals who believe they were victims of Bynes, should call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422 and ask for the Opioid Coordinator.

Dispensing drugs in violation of the Controlled Substances Act carries a civil penalty of up to $64,820 per violation, and failing to make, keep, or furnish accurate prescription records carries a civil penalty of up to $15,040 per violation. Claims resolved by civil settlements are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. Investigations continue as to others arising out of these announced actions.

The cases were investigated by the DEA, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradford C. Patrick and Jonathan A. Porter represented the United States.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A federal jury took less than 15 minutes to find a so-called ‘sovereign citizen’ guilty of illegally carrying a gun.

Michael Levant Williams, 36, of Savannah, was found guilty after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Savannah, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“For the second time this year, a so-called ‘sovereign citizen’ has tried, and failed, to excuse his illegal actions in the Southern District by claiming to be above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “No one is above the law – especially those claiming fictitious legal status in an attempt to circumvent their guilt for repeated criminal behavior.”

Williams, who had a previous federal felony conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, was arrested during a traffic stop by Savannah Police officers Nov. 22, 2018 on a traffic violation. A firearm was recovered during a subsequent search. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing weapons.

After his arrest, and during subsequent legal proceedings, Williams acted as his own attorney and claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” who was immune from the law. In an unrelated case in U.S. District Court in January, an Augusta man who similarly claimed “sovereign citizen” status was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraudulent legal filings that targeted federal officials.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Karl Knoche.

WAYCROSS, GA:  A Blackshear man who claims membership in a notorious white supremacist street gang has been indicted on federal drug charges, while a Bloomingdale, Ga., gang member faces a firearms charge.

Danny Lamar Chancey, a/k/a “Toby,” 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a prison term of up to 20 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Methamphetamine’s resurgence, driven by supplies pouring in from Mexican cartels, is raising alarm across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office, in concert with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, continue to take down those who would spread this poison in our communities.”

According to court documents, a Pierce County Sheriff’s Office investigator and an officer from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision visited Chancey’s residence as part of a routine check on Chancey, who was on probation from a state conviction for possession of methamphetamine.

Inside the residence, officers found multiple small and large bags containing methamphetamine, along with materials used for distribution. Chancey admitted membership in the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent white supremacist street gang.

A separate indictment in Southern District U.S. Court charges Bryan Howard Bignault, 29, of Bloomingdale, Ga., with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Bignault, an officer of the Ghost Face Gangsters, was charged after Pooler Police found a pistol in his vehicle during a traffic stop. As a convicted felon, Bignault is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.

The Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent, white-supremacist criminal street gang, started inside Georgia’s prison system and spread into communities primarily in Georgia and the Southeast. Operation Vanilla Gorilla, the largest-ever takedown of the Ghost Face Gangsters, resulted in indictments in November and December 2018 and subsequent convictions in the Southern District of Georgia of 46 defendants affiliated with the gang.

“DCS places great value on working with our law enforcement partners,” said Department of Community Supervision Deputy Director James Bergman. “We recognize that we are stronger when we work together to disrupt gangs and protect our communities.”

“I am thankful for the great work from Pierce County investigators and the Department of Community Supervision,” said Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett. “Their hard work in investigating and prosecuting those who commit crimes is great for our community.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Department of Supervision, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Blackshear Police Department, and are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man who admitted robbing an auto repair shop and shooting an employee has been sentenced to the maximum term in federal prison.

De’Von Le’Edward Walker, 25, was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Stan Baker after pleading guilty to a charge of Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Walker, who was on federal supervised release at the time of the robbery, also faces a revocation hearing that could result in an additional period of incarceration. After completion of his prison term, Walker will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“De’Von Walker is a menace who needs to be off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We will not tolerate criminals who endanger the lives of law-abiding citizens.”

According to court documents and testimony, Walker was wearing a mask when he robbed an employee of a Savannah auto repair shop Dec. 14, 2018. After receiving cash, Walker shot the employee in the shoulder. The employee, a former U.S. Army sergeant with three overseas deployments, struggled with Walker, removing Walker’s mask and taking Walker’s Glock pistol before Walker fled. The employee later recovered.

Following the robbery, the Savannah Police Department issued a news release that included the suspect’s photo, leading to Walker’s identification and arrest.

In sentencing Walker to the statutory maximum prison sentence, Judge Baker noted that Walker had multiple prior felony convictions and that, despite only being 25, had managed to amass the highest possible criminal history category attainable under federal sentencing guidelines. Judge Baker also contrasted Walker’s criminal actions with those of the law-abiding employee who was working to support his family.

“Walker had a chance to turn his life around while on federal supervised release but instead chose to commit a crime that put an innocent citizen’s life at risk,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the efforts of that citizen and our local law enforcement partners at the Savannah Police Department, Walker will go back to prison where he can no longer be a threat to society.”

“The sentence in this case shows the determination of the Savannah Police Department to work with our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to keep criminals who commit crimes involving guns off of our streets,” said Savannah Police Chief Roy W. Minter Jr. “We will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and assist with the prosecution of gun related crimes in our neighborhoods.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

AUGUSTA, GA:  An Evans man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for production and possession of child pornography.

Michael Peyton Gunn, 35, was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court on four counts of Production of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a penalty of up to 30 years in prison per count for production of child pornography, along with substantial fines, asset forfeiture and restitution, with a period of supervised release after completion of the prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“When a lead from an investigation in another state was received, our local FBI partners jumped into action to track down and apprehend those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “There will be no place for predators to hide: We will find them and bring them to justice – and halt the victimization of children.”

According to court documents and testimony, an FBI investigation in another state led agents to Gunn as a source of child pornography, resulting in the discovery of child pornography on electronic devices in his home.

“The FBI is committed to protecting every citizen, and no one more than innocent children who are preyed on by adults,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These charges are particularly troubling and a reason the FBI is committed to identifying and apprehending predators accused of these atrocious acts.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated under the Department of Justice Project Safe Childhood by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Grovetown man with a felony criminal record has admitted carrying a firearm found in his car during a Richmond County traffic stop.

Antonio Dondrell Bell, 29, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon during a hearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, substantial fines and up to three years of supervised release after completion of the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Despite a criminal history that makes it very clear he is prohibited from carrying firearms, Bell persisted in not only possessing a weapon but in brandishing firearms and glorifying a criminal lifestyle in videos posted online,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His audience will be substantially smaller inside a federal prison.”

According to court documents and testimony, Bell was arrested in Dec.7, 2018, after a traffic stop in Augusta by Richmond County sheriff’s deputies who found a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun with an extended magazine under the driver’s seat of Bell’s 2015 Chevrolet Corvette.

In online videos in which he performs under the name “Yayo,” Bell is seen holding a firearm while also flashing large stacks of cash. He claimed the videos were staged for his budding music career, while also admitting that he was a member of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the violent Bloods criminal street gang. Bell faces additional state charges, including indictments on multiple counts of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Bell has previous convictions for felonies, which make it illegal for him to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

AUGUSTA, GA:  The final federal defendant in a sweep targeting the worst criminals in Augusta’s highest-crime area has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison.

Marty Copeland, 45, of Augusta, was sentenced by Chief Judge J. Randal Hall to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Copeland will be required to serve three years of supervised release.

“Copeland’s substantial sentence punctuates our joint operation aimed at helping the law-abiding citizens of an Augusta neighborhood rid themselves of criminal behavior inflicted on them by a relative handful of offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Operation 30906 represents very real cooperation among local, state and federal agencies working together to make our communities safer.”

Operation 30906 coordinated law enforcement agencies and prosecutors through the U.S. Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods and the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force. The operation targeted offenders in Augusta’s 30906 Zip code, an area identified by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office as plagued by a disproportionate number of crimes committed by a core group of “alpha” criminals. Cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana were seized during the operation, along with at least 29 firearms and approximately $1,000 in counterfeit money.  

Since the indictments for drugs and firearms felonies were unsealed in December 2018, charges against all 20 defendants have been resolved, with 17 receiving sentences of up to 16½ years in federal prison. Four of the seven defendants charged in state court are awaiting trial. Most of the defendants charged in Operation 30906 had prior felony convictions.

Copeland’s substantial criminal history began 28 years ago with a conviction for drug possession, and included multiple felony convictions for drug possession and trafficking. Despite receiving state court sentences of up to 15 years in prison, he rarely served more than three years on any of the charges – and repeatedly violated parole when released. When arrested during Operation 30906, Copeland was on parole from a 2007 sentence for trafficking cocaine.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Because of the efforts of the FBI and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, neighborhoods in Augusta’s 30906 zip code are substantially safer today,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Copeland’s lengthy federal sentencing and the sentencings of 19 other defendants as part of Operation 30906 should serve as a warning to anyone thinking about taking up where they left off.”     

“These convictions illustrate that drug trafficking at any level will not be tolerated in our state,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). “The citizens of Augusta and the rest of the state of Georgia deserve to be safe in their neighborhoods. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is fully committed to working with our local and federal partners to bring to justice those that perpetuate fear and intimidation while conducting their crimes.” 

“It is a pleasure to continue joint prosecution efforts with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Natalie S. Paine, District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit. “When federal and state agencies pool their resources the community benefits in more effective and efficient prosecution of violent offenders. Specifically, this operation was targeted to identify individuals that illegally carry firearms and to prevent the proliferation of gun violence in our community. We are pleased to be a part of joint efforts to make this community safer.”

“This operation has resulted in a significant blow to those who fuel gun violence,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “Those charged in this operation as well as others will be relentlessly pursued by the Sheriff’s Office and its federal partners. This pursuit will not end until the senseless gun violence stops.”

Agencies participating in Operation 30906 included the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Secret Service, the GBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Lyons, Hank Syms, and Alejandro V. Pascual IV and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Marchman. 

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Blythe man has pled guilty to federal charges that he shot a helicopter being used in support of a law enforcement operation.

Terry Kielisch, 56, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of Assaulting a Person Assisting an Officer of the United States, and one count of Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The charges carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This defendant’s dangerous actions callously threatened the lives of two law-enforcement officers, damaged public property and threatened the safety of all residents near the scene of this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are fortunate that no one was injured in this senseless attack.”

According to court documents and testimony, Kielisch used a .308 caliber rifle to fire two shots at a Georgia State Patrol helicopter piloted by a GSP trooper, with a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigator as a passenger, on March 12, 2019. The aircraft was providing support for Operation Gunsmoke, a sweep of defendants accused of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in Georgia and South Carolina, coordinated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Kielisch was not a target in the operation, and told investigators he fired at the helicopter because he didn’t like it flying near his home. The helicopter, which was struck near fuel lines, received an estimated $60,000 in damage, but neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured and the craft landed safely.

“An individual who will thoughtlessly endanger our law enforcement community will not be tolerated,” said Henry Countryman, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to combating violent crime to protect our communities.”

“The Georgia State Patrol is grateful the crew and those on the ground weren’t injured as a result of Kielisch’s careless actions,” said Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings, Public Information Director for the Georgia State Patrol. “We are equally grateful to U.S. Attorney Christine for the swift resolution in this case.”

“Protecting our courageous and dedicated law enforcement officers is the sheriff’s greatest responsibility,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “We are appreciative to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their prompt attention to these dangerous unprovoked actions.”

The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia State Patrol and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms Jr.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former California resident known for carrying a machine gun while perpetrating crimes has admitted operating a major drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Anthony Wilson Jackson, a/k/a “All Profit,” a/k/a “AP,” 49, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Prostitution; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun; Possession of a Machine Gun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Money Laundering Conspiracy, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The charges carry a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, substantial fines and – if not a life sentence – a period of supervised release after completion of the prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Anthony Jackson is a gun-carrying pimp who sold human beings just as freely as he trafficked in narcotics,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His freedom, however, will now come to an end with substantial time in federal prison as his future.”

According to court documents and testimony, Jackson and two co-defendants – who also have admitted guilt in the case – operated a drug-trafficking operation that distributed thousands of pounds of marijuana throughout the Savannah area.

In addition, Jackson operated and advertised a prostitution business through an online classified advertising site that trafficked women in the Savannah area and in other cities including those in South Carolina, Virginia, California, Nevada, Maryland and Michigan. 

Jackson, previously convicted of a felony, was known to carry firearms including a fully-automatic pistol while overseeing the drug trafficking and prostitution conspiracies. 

“The plea today is another reminder that ATF and our local, state and federal partners will continue to work together and protect the safety of our citizens,” said Henry Countryman, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“Jackson and his organization preyed upon the community, distributing poison and destroying lives, thankfully their reign of terror is over,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI along with its partners will continue to work tirelessly to combat criminal organizations that threaten our communities.”

“This is just another step by law enforcement to stand up to the threat of human and drug trafficking organizations who deal dangerous substances on our streets, while also selling human beings,” said Andrew Thornton, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge IRS-Criminal Investigations, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in an effort to dismantle illegal narcotics and human trafficking organizations by following the money and leveraging our resources.”

“One of the main goals of the Savannah Police Department is to target those who are using firearms to commit crimes,” said Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter. “This case and conviction shows the hard stance we, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are taking in regard to these crimes and anyone who decides to jeopardize the safety of our city.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS-CI, the ATF, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania Groover and E. Greg Gilluly.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two women have received hefty federal prison sentences for producing and distributing child pornography.

Melanie Smith, a/k/a “Melanie Small,” 30, of Rincon, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stan Baker to 360 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3 million in restitution after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A co-defendant, Holly Clayton, 34, of Port Wentworth, Ga., was sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography.

The defendants’ federal incarceration will be consecutive to any sentence they receive for pending state charges of child molestation. In addition, Smith must serve 20 years of supervised release after completion of her 30-year federal prison sentence, and Clayton must serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of her sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The prison time meted out to these defendants will protect our community for decades, though it pales in comparison to the lifetime of pain these vulnerable victims likely will endure,” said U.S. Attorney Christine.

According to court documents and testimony, Smith produced sexually explicit photos of minor children, and Clayton distributed images and videos of child pornography to others. Related charges against a third defendant are pending.

“These predators have stolen the innocence of these children, forcing them to be re-victimized every time those horrific images are viewed,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta will continue to prioritize our investigations and work with our partners to protect our youth.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Savannah Police Department and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A North Carolina man who took part in a conspiracy to steal design information from aircraft companies to speed up approval of competing airplane technology has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison.

Craig German, 59, of Kernersville, N.C., was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr., said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. German, who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets in September 2019, also was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 and serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Theft is theft, pure and simple. Any company’s intellectual property has value – not only in dollars, but in the amount of time and effort put into its creation,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “By stealing the trade secrets of his employer, German attempted a shortcut to his own enrichment and instead will take a long ride to prison.”

According to court documents and testimony, German agreed with his co-conspirators to steal trade secrets from aircraft companies in order to assist a competitor company in developing their own anti-ice aircraft technology. Without authorization, German copied anti-ice trade secret documents from the aircraft company for which he worked, and then emailed those documents to his co-conspirators. 

“German chose to steal the secrets of a U.S. company rather than do the hard work necessary to succeed in the free market, and now he is paying the price,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are pleased by this sentence, and the FBI will continue to aggressively protect America’s economic security and intellectual property from foreign adversaries.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee. 

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah doctor who operated a “pill mill” dispensing massive amounts of controlled substances – sometimes in return for cash or sex – has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Dr. Frank H. Bynes Jr., 69, of Savannah, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Bynes, who was found guilty in October 2019 by a federal jury on 13 counts of Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances and three counts of Health Care Fraud, also was ordered to pay restitution of $615,145.06 to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, and after completion of his prison sentence must serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Frank Bynes poured gasoline on the raging fire of the opioid addiction crisis in our country,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “He destroyed the lives of countless individuals and deservedly will swap his white coat for a prison jumpsuit.”

According to court testimony and documents, Bynes worked at the MBA Community Clinic in Savannah, a/k/a MBA Diabetic Shoe and Supply Store, and at Georgia Laboratory Diagnostic in Garden City, where he wrote prescriptions for more than 1,800 patients. An estimated 51,329 pharmacy fills were attributed to Bynes during a three-year period in Georgia alone, totaling in excess of 4.6 million doses of pills, opioid patches and other controlled substances.

Many of the prescriptions were part of the so-called “holy trinity” drug cocktail of opioids, alprazolam and Soma, and were provided to patients who Bynes knew were drug-addicted. According to evidence introduced at trial, Bynes prescribed the deadly drug cocktail to Medicare patients at a higher rate than any other physician in the United States.

While operating his illegal pill mill, Bynes falsely claimed to work for the Department of Justice and displayed a fake police badge to intimidate patients. Bynes also frequently used his ability to write prescriptions to exploit female patients and coerce them into providing sexual favors. Among other evidence introduced at trial were documents establishing Bynes knew multiple patients suffered an overdose – yet he disregarded numerous warnings and continued to prescribe the drug cocktail on which his patients had overdosed. In addition, Bynes defrauded Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare, resulting in excess of $2 million in fraudulent pharmacy claims.  

“Dr. Bynes’ actions are despicable and contributed to the opioid crisis we are experiencing in our state and nation,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “He placed his selfishness over the needs of his patients, and with this sentence, I hope that the many people he harmed can find some closure and begin the healing process.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division commented, “Complicit doctors like Dr. Bynes, who ran a pain clinic, often prey on patients who are addicted to prescription drugs. This defendant dispensed addictive prescription drugs under the guise of a stethoscope and white coat, when in actuality, he was nothing more than a common drug trafficker. This successful investigation was a direct result of hard work put forth by all law enforcement agencies involved and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This doctor will now serve a lengthy prison term.”

“Dr. Bynes is going from operating a pill mill to living in a prison cell. Justice was well-served today,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “This substantial and warranted sentence ensures that Frank Bynes will no longer be the menace to society he once was.”

“The opioid addiction crisis in this country also touches the military and their families,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, DCIS, Southeast Field Office. “Dr. Bynes took advantage of his military patients who were struggling with addiction for his own personal pleasure and financial gain. DCIS, in partnership with this U.S. Attorney’s Office, will aggressively pursue individuals who seek to harm our military members and their dependents.”

“Like law enforcement, medical professionals take an oath. And like the vast majority many of the professionals take their oaths seriously,” said Everett Ragan, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team. “Unfortunately, there are those like Dr. Bynes who go against their oath for personal gain. Doing so simply made Dr. Bynes a drug dealer in a white coat. What’s worse is Dr. Bynes’ actions negatively impacted the opioid epidemic. I am proud to say that our agency played a huge role in bringing down this monster.” 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are actively investigating the pharmacies who filled illegitimate prescriptions from Dr. Bynes, including previously announced criminal and civil prosecutions of Chip’s Discount Drugs, Fulghum Drug’s Inc., Darien Pharmacy, and others. Pharmacists are required under federal law to ensure that a prescription is written for a legitimate medical purpose and must refuse to fill those that are not legitimate. Any individuals who have information about illegal prescribing by physicians, dispensing by pharmacies, or other diversion, and any individuals who believe they were victims of Bynes, should call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422 and ask for the Opioid Coordinator.

The case was investigated by the DEA, HHS-OIG, DCIS, the Georgia Medicaid Control Fraud Unit, and CNT, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Matthew Josephson, with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos and Jim Mooney, Deputy Director of the Georgia Medicaid Control Fraud Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Augusta charges two men with using fraudulent and stolen credit cards to steal from hotels and a limousine company.

Aaron Barnes-Burpo, 28, of Crestview, Fla., and Walker Washington, 51, who is listed as homeless, are charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Thanks to alert citizens in Augusta who acted on their suspicions, this crime spree across the country came to an abrupt halt in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Christine.

The complaint alleges that Barnes-Burpo and Washington organized a group of men and women who portrayed themselves as affiliated with the Roc Nation production company and the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, and used those fictitious representations along with fraudulent and stolen credit cards to rent luxury limousines, including a Rolls-Royce, and defraud hotels of thousands of dollars in goods and services in cities including Atlanta, Macon and Nashville.

The scam unraveled when staff at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Augusta became suspicious and alerted authorities.

“The FBI would like to thank the staff of the Fairfield Inn in Augusta for their awareness that helped end the run of these alleged fraudsters,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The arrests should serve as a warning that no matter how elaborate fraud schemes are, the FBI is determined to protect American citizens who fall victim to them.”

A criminal complaint contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man will spend a decade in prison for attempting to traffic a child for sexual exploitation.

Steven Andrew Ross, 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Ross will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Child predators continue to pollute the online atmosphere, creating a dangerous environment in what otherwise should be safe access to the information superhighway,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office and our dedicated law enforcement partners continue to be relentless in pursuit of those who would target innocent children for exploitation.”

Ross was charged in Operation Broken Heart, a nationwide Department of Justice operation conducted in April and May of 2019 by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, in which nearly 1,700 suspected online child sex offenders were arrested. Also charged in the Southern District of Georgia was Benjamin Ray, 39, of Honea Path, S.C., who pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Evidence presented at sentencing showed that Ross was communicating online with an undercover agent that he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. While repeatedly confirming the girl’s age, Ross expressed interest in paying the child to have sex, requested photos of the child engaging in sex with others, and sought to produce child pornography with the child. 

“Sex trafficking, enabled by the Internet, continues to be a serious threat facing our nation’s youth and Savannah is not immune from that threat,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners in the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force to unmask these child predators who attempt to hide behind the anonymity of the Internet.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department, in conjunction with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D.  Groover.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A South Georgia pharmacy and its pharmacist are accused in a newly filed federal civil complaint with dispensing thousands of highly addictive controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

Chip’s Discount Drugs Inc., Chips Discount Drugs LLC, and pharmacist Rogers Wood, of Hazlehurst, Ga., are accused in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, of failing to recognize “red flags” of improper and illegitimate prescriptions, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The suit is part of the ongoing crackdown by the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal law enforcement partners to combat the opioid crisis through criminal prosecutions and civil actions.

“Pharmacists have responsibilities under the law which nearly all follow,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This lawsuit is part of our office’s continuing effort seeking to hold accountable every level of the distribution chain who fail to act consistent with the basic obligations of the law.”

As alleged in the suit, the defendants “knew or should have known” that many of the prescriptions it filled were not issued for legitimate reasons. Those “red flag” warnings of drug abuse and diversion included numerous patients traveling long distances to get prescriptions filled; simultaneous prescriptions to the same patients for similar drugs; prescriptions for the same drugs in multiple strengths; prescriptions for daily doses higher than medically necessary; prescriptions for drug combinations well-known in the medical and pharmacy community as carrying a high risk of drug abuse; and a disproportionate level of cash sales.

The suit also alleges that the defendants could not account for more than 9,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills supplied to the pharmacy as required by the Controlled Substances Act.

Dispensing drugs in violation of the Controlled Substances Act carries a civil penalty of up to $64,820 per violation, and failing to maintain and provide accurate prescription records carries a civil penalty of up to $15,040 per violation. The suit alleges “thousands” of violations by Wood and Chip’s Pharmacy.

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said, “DEA Diversion investigators did remarkable work in this case. DEA Diversion, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue healthcare providers who are not in compliance with mandatory regulations.”   

The claims asserted against the defendants are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

The DEA is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradford C. Patrick and Jonathan A. Porter are representing the United States.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for picking up a Savannah runaway and taking her across state lines for sex.

Darick McPherson, 20, of Ridgeland, S.C., pled guilty to Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore to 120 months in prison and to pay restitution of $29,775.50, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McPherson also will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This was no ‘Romeo and Juliet’ romantic fantasy,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This is an adult predator who groomed a 12-year-old from a troubled home and enticed her to sneak away in the dead of night for his own sick gratification. The young victim will now have an opportunity to mature without his malignant influence.”

According to court documents and testimony, police in Ridgeland, S.C., discovered McPherson with the victim on the night of Dec. 19, 2017, after complaints of a domestic disturbance. The investigation determined McPherson had picked up the 12-year-old from her Savannah home after her guardian left for work and drove her to South Carolina.  

“It is clear from this sentencing that McPherson’s actions will not be tolerated by our justice system,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our warning to predators is that the FBI is determined to go to great lengths to protect our most vulnerable citizens from those who seek to manipulate and do them harm.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s 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.

The case was investigated by the FBI, with the Allendale, S.C., and Ridgeland, S.C., Police Departments and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.  

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A New York man has admitted to robbing a Brunswick bank in October 2019.

Lionel Valenzuela, 54, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Brunswick to one count of Bank Robbery, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

In his plea, Valenzuela admitted robbing the Ameris Bank at 3440 Cypress Road in Brunswick on Oct. 30, 2019. Valenzuela threatened the clerk by saying he had a firearm and demanding money. He ran from the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, and was quickly captured by Brunswick Police officers after a private citizen identified him. The cash from the robbery was recovered, but no weapon was found.

“Lionel Valenzuela needlessly put working people in fear for their lives for the sole purpose of stealing money,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We’re grateful to the alert bystander and the Brunswick Police officers who stopped Valenzuela’s brief crime spree, and hope a substantial prison sentence will bring it to a permanent end.”

“The FBI would like to thank the citizen who helped the Brunswick police officers arrest Valenzuela,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It’s another example of how our partnerships with law enforcement agencies and our reliance on the public for assistance are vital in protecting our citizens.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Brunswick Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Joshua Bearden.

DUBLIN, GA:  Eight people have been charged in a 12-count federal indictment alleging a brazen drug-trafficking conspiracy in and around Laurens County.

The defendants, named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury and unsealed in U.S. District Court in Dublin, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 4, were taken into federal custody at the culmination of Operation “The Hole,” named for the shack the conspirators used for extensive narcotics distribution, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office’s association with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, and numerous local and state law agencies brought this organization down,” said Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean. “A criminal organization such as this one takes time, teamwork and perseverance to dismantle, and we are thankful to the citizens of Laurens County for their patience during this investigation. My deputies and I will not stop this fight against drugs as long as I am your sheriff.”   

The operation, coordinated by agents of the DEA, along with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, targeted a drug-trafficking ring moving large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana into the Laurens County starting as early as 2013. The investigation identified a shack called “The Hole” as the “trap house,” or central distribution site, complete with a retail-like service counter for drug transactions, along with other Dublin-area locations.

During the execution of multiple federal search warrants, agents seized significant quantities of narcotics, including pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, along with 24 firearms, nearly $37,000 in cash, gold and silver with an estimated value of $90,000, devices for pressing bricks of cocaine, pill presses, a stolen vehicle, and two stolen generators with lights. Additional drugs, firearms and cash also were discovered during arrests of the defendants.

“Our office is committed to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime in every part of the Southern District, and that includes Dublin and Laurens County,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With our law enforcement partners, we will weed out these peddlers of poison who fuel a significant part of every community’s misery.” 

Those named in the indictment are:

• Quaveris Leshaun Mims, a/k/a “Strong,” 48, of Dublin, Ga., charged with  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Rodney Jarrod Denson, a/k/a “RD,” 43, of Dublin, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Anthony Michael Denson, 48, of Dublin, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; and, Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Nicholas Turner, 24, of East Dublin, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; and Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Brandon Payne, a/k/a “Tre,” 25, of Dublin, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Desergio Kates, a/k/a “Serg,” 25, of Dublin, Ga., charged with charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Constance Victoria Moore, 32, of Helena, Ga., charged with charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; and,
• Zandera Finney, 33, of Warner Robins, Ga., charged with charged with charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances.

“RD” Denson and Anthony Michael Denson are brothers; Brandon Payne and Desergio Kates are stepsons of “RD” Denson.  

The charges for Mims, RD Denson, Anthony Michael Denson, Kates and Payne carry penalties of up to life in prison; the charges for Turner, Moore, and Finney carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison on each count. Each of the defendants, if convicted, also would be subject to substantial fines and would serve a period of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“These indictments are a direct result of the dedicated efforts between local, state and federal law enforcement and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The distribution of dangerous drugs continues to ravage many communities, but the Dublin community is safer because these defendants have been removed from the streets.”  

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF); the FBI; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office; Ocmulgee Drug Task Force; the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office; the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office; the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office; the Washington County Sheriff’s Office; the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; and the Warner Robins Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes and Henry W. Syms Jr.

 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

AUGUSTA, GA: A Georgia man who began by filing false tax returns claiming millions of dollars, then escalated to filing multi-million dollar liens against government officials and attempting to put them into involuntary bankruptcy, culminated today in one of the longest federal sentences ever handed out for a false retaliatory lien case. 

Timothy Jermaine Pate, a/k/a Akenaten Ali, 43, of Augusta, was sentenced today by Judge R. Stan Baker in U.S. District Court in Augusta to 300 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after completion of his sentence, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Timothy Pate tried to subvert the administration of government,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “He tried to extract millions of taxpayer dollars by bullying hard-working public servants and threatening federal judges. His paper terrorism has now earned him 25 years in federal prison.”

Pate was convicted in October 2019 on 15 counts of filing false retaliatory liens against federal officials and five counts of making a false bankruptcy declaration, which stem from his efforts to put federal officials into bankruptcy against their will.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Pate filed tax returns from 2016 through 2018 falsely claiming he was owed more than $7 million in tax refunds. Pate also attempted to have the IRS pay his past-due child support. After the IRS repeatedly rejected his false returns, Pate – a U.S. citizen and Georgia resident who claimed to be a Moorish national not subject to U.S. law – filed a federal civil case against the IRS commissioner seeking tax refunds. 

Pate attempted to have the court order the arrest of the IRS commissioner. When that failed, Pate threatened to file liens against the federal judge assigned to his case and other officials of the U.S. Treasury, unless he was paid millions of dollars from the IRS. Unbowed by his threats, the victim-public servants in this case continued to carry out their duties.

Pate carried out his threats. In May 2018, he filed liens ranging from $15 million to $33 million against a U.S. magistrate judge in Augusta, the former U.S. Treasury secretary, IRS commissioner, and the Treasury inspector general, among others. He then published notices of the liens in The Augusta Chronicle. The next month, Pate targeted additional federal officials with bogus liens; this time, he went after a federal bankruptcy judge in Augusta, the U.S. Bankruptcy clerk of court, and the U.S. magistrate judge for liens ranging from $15 million to $100 million. 

When his victims refused to order the payment of his claimed refunds, Pate filed involuntary bankruptcy petitions against five federal officials on May 21, 2018, that would have put them into bankruptcy. Pate was arrested by federal authorities in August 2018 and has remained jailed since. 

“At IRS Criminal Investigation, our top priority is protecting the integrity of our nation’s tax system,” said Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message that orchestrating a scheme to file bogus returns and liens while seeking to abuse the tax system will result in your prosecutions.”

“As we approach tax filing season, those who consider committing refund fraud and filing false liens should be aware of the extremely negative consequences of doing so, especially against federal officials,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence is an example of the FBI and our federal partners commitment to vigorously pursue anyone who tries to enrich themselves by circumventing the judicial process.”

The investigation was led by the FBI, IRS, and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the case was prosecuted by the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Tax Division.

STATESBORO, GA:  A major investigation targeting an expansive, gang-related drug trafficking ring operating in Georgia has resulted in a 61-count indictment naming 26 defendants on federal charges.

Indictments in Operation Ace in the Hole were returned under seal in U.S. District Court in Statesboro, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After the indictments were unsealed, the charges were announced in a news conference at the Toombs County Courthouse. Additional defendants face state charges in the investigation.

“With leaders that included a regional boss of the Gangster Disciples, this drug trafficking organization was a major source of illicit narcotics, gang violence and illegal guns throughout the Toombs County area and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our brave local, state and federal law enforcement partners pursued this conspiracy tirelessly for more than a year, and our office’s prosecution of these charges will be just as relentless.”

Investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, working with federal and local law enforcement agencies, started the investigation in August 2018 in response to increasing gang violence and drug-related activities in the Vidalia, Ga., area. The investigation identified Deltinaud Toussaint, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Tino,” a/k/a “Tino Black,” 44, of Vidalia, as the primary supplier of the organization’s narcotics – including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA or “Ecstasy,” and marijuana – through connections in Atlanta.

An alleged member of the conspiracy for whom the operation is named, Justin Adams, a/k/a “Ace,” 39, of Vidalia, was identified as a regional leader of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang.

In June 2019, investigators executed search warrants at eight houses in Atlanta and Vidalia used for stashing or distributing narcotics, seizing more than two kilos of cocaine, four kilos of marijuana, half a kilo of methamphetamine, more than two kilos of MDMA, pints of Codeine, 600 grams of Xanax, pill presses, and surveillance equipment. The drugs were hidden in such items as children’s backpacks and baby-formula bottles. Investigators also seized 20 firearms, including a fully automatic machine gun and several assault-style rifles, a trove of gang-related documents, and approximately $49,000 in cash.

A full list of the defendants charged in the case follows. If convicted, each of the defendants faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison.  

“The amazing work on ‘Operation Ace in the Hole’ demonstrates the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) model of prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency investigative and prosecution strategy that proves effective against command and control elements of regional, national and international gangs,” said Adam W. Cohen, Director of the OCDETF Program for the U.S. Department of Justice.

“The confiscation of drugs, guns and money, and the removal of 26 defendants from the streets, will immediately make the citizens of Toombs County safer,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “None of it would have been possible without the cooperative effort of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Our commitment to dismantling gangs that wreak havoc in our communities and endanger the people who live in them will never end.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “These notorious gang-related drug dealers distributed poison to the community and caused fear through means of violence and intimidation. Step by step, the government disrupted and dismantled this once-thriving criminal network. This effort would not have been successful without the spirited level of cooperation between DEA, its federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

“This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its federal, state and local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime, to include eradicating criminal gang activity,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case is a great example of how you leverage law enforcement resources to target the offenders driving crime in Toombs County area and beyond.” 

“We are committed to working with our partners to get dangerous guns and drugs off the streets,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We will not allow gangs to continue to terrorize neighborhoods with hardworking citizens who want to raise their families in a safe environment.” 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, the Lyons Police Department, the Oconee Drug Task Force, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Joseph McCool.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

 

 

Those charged in the indictment of Operation Ace in the Hole are:

• Deltinaud Toussaint, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Tino,” a/k/a “Tino Black,” 44, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Distribution of Methamphetamine and Marijuana; two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine; two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Alprazolam, Codeine and Marijuana;  two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and 17 counts of Use of a Communications Facility;
• Justin Adams, a/k/a “Ace,” 39, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; four counts of Distribution of Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Andre Jackson, a/k/a “Dre,” 30, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; two counts of Distribution of Marijuana; two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Marijuana; and Distribution of Cocaine;
• Monica Mitchell, 38, of East Point, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
• Daniel Asberry, 31, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and two counts of Use of a Communications Facility;
• Ozell Johnson, a/k/a “Bip,” 38, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Alprazolam, Codeine and Marijuana; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; 
• Laporshia Canty, 44, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Alprazolam, Codeine and Marijuana; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; 
• Stacy Tobler Sr., a/k/a “Turtle,” 46, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Alprazolam, Codeine and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Audrea Salem, 42, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Darryl Marcus Allen, a/k/a “Twin,” 37, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Distribution of Cocaine;
• Alonzo Roberts Jr., a/k/a “Toot,” a/k/a “Two,” 31, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Taneka Warren, 29, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms;
• Jermaine Bouie, a/k/a “Dollar,” 29, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine;
• India Mitchell, a/k/a “Shay,” 32, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine, Alprazolam, Codeine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime; and two counts of Use of a Communications Facility;
• Crystal Wheeler, 36, of Allenhurst, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Vincent Page, a/k/a “VP,” 31, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Terry Williams, a/k/a “Young Buck,” 31, of Mount Vernon, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine and Hydrocodone;
• Torey Johnny Lee Washington, a/k/a “Fool,” 39, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Tyson Ransom, 34, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Donnie Edmonds Jr., a/k/a “Hotboy,” 35, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and two counts of Use of a Communications Facility;
• Lee Syntell Kelley, a/k/a “Truth,” 39, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Nicole Mitchell, 30, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and two counts of Use of a Communications Facility;
• Lanard Wallace, a/k/a “Nardo,” 30, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Frederick Cooper, a/k/a “Coop,” 40, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Use of a Communications Facility;
• Ryan Antwain Harris, 34, of Lyons, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and two counts of Distribution of Crack Cocaine; and,
• Otis Peeples, a/k/a “Bull,” 26, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Conspiracy to Use, Carry or Possess Firearms; and two counts of Distribution of Marijuana.

 

STATESBORO, GA:  Four people have been indicted on federal charges for running a methamphetamine distribution ring throughout Bulloch County.

The indictment, returned by a grand jury in U.S. District Court, charges the four – Clifton Pittman, 50, of Reidsville, Ga.; Hope Mitchell, 44, of Reidsville; Clarence Johnson, 55, of Statesboro; and Joy Leigh Horton, 36, of Savannah – with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. If convicted, the defendants face possible sentences of up to life in prison.

“Of all our partners in law enforcement, a community’s citizens often are the most helpful,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Their assistance, as in this case, contributes to safer neighborhoods, and supports the work of law enforcement agencies in removing bad elements.”

After receiving multiple complaints from area residents, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Team visited a home where they observed suspected evidence of drug activity. After subsequently serving a search warrant at the residence, investigators seized kilos of methamphetamine and paraphernalia for drug distribution and consumption.

 “These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The collective law enforcement cooperation and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office made this investigation a success.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Frank M. Pennington II.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fires in a historic Savannah restaurant.

Chase Anthony Davis, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 60 months in prison in U.S. District Court, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Davis also will be required to serve a period of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

A federal jury convicted Davis in October 2019 on an arson charge after a three-day trial. According to evidence presented at trial, on the evening of May 8, 2019, Davis, then an employee of the Gryphon Tea Room, broke into the landmark restaurant located at 337 Bull Street in Savannah’s Historic District. Davis set six separate fires in the dining room area of the restaurant owned by the Savannah College of Art and Design. The fires self-extinguished, and the property damage caused to the restaurant has since been restored.

Gryphon shares space with The Arts Café and The Scottish Rite Temple and is closely connected with numerous historic residential structures and St. John’s Episcopal Church. It is housed in an adapted early 20th century apothecary constructed between 1913 and 1926.

“This bungled arson could have caused tremendous physical and cultural damage to historic structures in Savannah,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Fortunately the tablecloths were fire-retardant, and the Savannah Fire Department quickly took care of the rest and kept any damage to a minimum. And now the arsonist will have considerable time behind bars to ponder his felonious folly.”

“This is another example of how ATF partners with our state and local agencies to fight violent crime, including the crime of arson,” said Lenwood Reeves, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Arson not only does millions of dollars’ worth of damage each year but it endangers the lives of innocent bystanders, firefighters and first responders battling to extinguish these fires. This small fire could have very easily escalated into a major catastrophe, including the loss of life and property.”

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department, and was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Jenna Solari.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Grovetown man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that include possession of a pipe bomb.

James Richard Grates II, 36, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Personnel from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were called to Grates’ mobile home in April 2019 after being alerted about possible unsafe conditions in the residence. Investigators searched the property and seized homemade explosives made from pipe and black powder, along with a 12-gauge shotgun.

“This cases involves illegally possessed firearms and explosives in the hands of convicted felon,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “It demonstrates the cooperation that exists between ATF, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to keep the residents of these counties safe.” 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the ATF, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

AUGUSTA, GA:  Four people have been indicted in Richmond County on federal charges for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.

The eight-count indictment, returned by a U.S. District Court grand jury, alleges that the four defendants were involved in a conspiracy dating back at least to February 2018 to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine throughout the Augusta area, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Cooperative efforts by federal and local law enforcement partners, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, provide our office with powerful tools to dismantle illegal drug distribution networks,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Working together, we will use every weapon at our disposal to eliminate these merchants of misery.”

The investigation, which included controlled purchases and federal search warrants, seized quantities of methamphetamine, 15 firearms and more than $44,000 in cash.

Charged in the indictment are:

• Bridget Lydell Biggam, 35, of Appling, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. She faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
• Christopher Allen Marshall, 33, of Augusta, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon. He faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
• Bjorn Michael Wiley, 42, of Martinez, Ga.; is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. He faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison. And,
• John Tillman Durst, 29, of Waynesboro, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Possession of Methamphetamine. He faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

Each of the defendants, if convicted, also would be subject to substantial fines and would serve a period of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said of the indictments, “This criminal network posed a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the Augusta area. Their removal automatically makes this community safer. These indictments illustrate how success can be achieved through the combined efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

 “When you arrest four drug traffickers with 15 firearms, this is a victory for the citizens of Richmond County,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “This will contribute to reducing the senseless gun violence accompanied by drug distribution and firearms.  We continue to value our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the DEA and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Richmond Hill man who claimed to be a whistleblower has been charged with falsely accusing a former acquaintance of patient privacy violations.

Jeffrey Parker, 43, is charged in a federal information with one count of False Statements, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to five years in federal prison.

“Falsely accusing others of criminal activity is illegal, and it hinders justice system personnel with the pursuit of unnecessary investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This fake complaint caused a diversion of resources by federal investigators, as well as an unnecessary distraction for an important health care institution in our community.”

As outlined in court documents, Parker “engaged in an intricate scheme” in which he contacted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to claim that a former acquaintance had violated privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

As part of the scheme alleged, Parker created email addresses using the names of real individuals and pretended to be these individuals to make it appear as if the acquaintance committed a crime.  He sent these communications to the hospital where the acquaintance worked, to the DOJ, and to the FBI. Parker then claimed to have received threatening messages in retaliation for blowing the whistle, and FBI agents took steps to ensure his safety and quickly investigate the alleged crime.  After an FBI agent interviewing Parker found inconsistencies in his story, Parker admitted the statements he made and emails he sent were false. 

“The allegations against Parker are disturbing because they not only undermine whistleblower laws, they also waste investigative resources and damage the falsely accused,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully the quick uncovering of this alleged scheme by our investigators will send a message that these types of actions will be exposed and justice will be served.”

A criminal information represents a charge, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Thomas Clarkson.

SAVANNAH, GA: A pharmacy and pharmacist owe $3.1 million in civil judgments to resolve claims that they violated the Controlled Substances Act.

The settlement, a result of the first-ever Controlled Substances Act lawsuit filed by the United States against a pharmacy in the history of the Southern District of Georgia, is among substantive results in the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia to fight the prescription opioid crisis.

Darien Pharmacy, located in Darien, Ga., and its former pharmacist-in-charge, Janice Ann Colter, have agreed to judgments totaling $3.1 million to resolve a civil lawsuit alleging they filled thousands of prescriptions that they knew or should have known were not issued for legitimate medical reasons, including prescriptions for extremely high quantities of opioids, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Our office is serious about combatting the opioid crisis, and will fight for penalties to underline that message when medical professionals and businesses fail to follow the law,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Pharmacies have a critical role in preventing drug abuse and diversion.”

The suit alleges that many of the excessive prescriptions filled by Colter and Darien Pharmacy were written by Dr. Frank Bynes, Jr., who was recently convicted in U.S. District Court on multiple counts of Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances and Health Care Fraud. During a two-year period, Darien Pharmacy dispensed more units of controlled substances prescribed by Dr. Bynes than by any other doctor, according to the suit, despite a distance of nearly 100 miles between Dr. Bynes’ practice and the pharmacy, and the existence of numerous other red flags indicating the prescriptions were illegitimate. Inventory audits also showed the pharmacy was unable to account for all the controlled substances coming into the pharmacy, according to the suit.

“The sharp increase in the distribution and consumption of opiates for non-medical reasons continues to be a major concern to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Consequently, DEA Diversion Investigators will continue to pursue pharmacists and other medical practitioners who engage in unlawful and egregious prescribing practices. This hefty civil fine in the Southern District of Georgia shows that DEA, the entire law enforcement community and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to making sure medical practitioners are abiding by proper prescribing guidelines.”

In addition to the Darien Pharmacy settlement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also recently reached civil settlements with two other pharmacists and pharmacies in the Southern District for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act:

• Liberty Square Pharmacy and its former pharmacist-in-charge, Wilton Clinton “Clint” Meeks, III, of Waynesboro, Ga., agreed to pay $150,000 to settle claims related to their inability to account for tens of thousands of pills including Oxycodone and Soma; and,
• Ludowici Drugs and its pharmacist-in-charge, John S. Townsend, of Ludowici, Ga., agreed to pay $55,000 to settle claims that they failed to keep required records to account for several categories of controlled substances, and unlawfully dispensed controlled substances pursuant to invalid oral and written prescriptions on numerous occasions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia is committed to using all available remedies under the Controlled Substances Act against doctors, pharmacists, and others who break the law. The claims asserted against defendants in a civil suit are allegations only and are not determinations of liability.

These civil cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The United States was represented in these cases by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradford C. Patrick and Jonathan A. Porter.

WAYCROSS, GA:  Two drug traffickers connected with a Mexican cartel that supplied a south Georgia methamphetamine conspiracy have been sentenced to federal prison.

Enio Camacho-Pineda, a/k/a “Tony,” a/k/a “Tony Montana,” 31, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 268 months in prison, and Donna Bazemore, a/k/a “Dirty D,” 45, of McRae, Ga., was sentenced to 216 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Camacho-Pineda and Bazemore had each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Each must serve a period of supervised release after their prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“These traffickers built a virtual pipeline for poison from illegal Mexican meth labs to drug users in Georgia, but good police work from the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office and many other agencies shut it down,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office is committed to taking the ball from our law enforcement partners and carrying it across the goal line, and in this case that effort secured guilty pleas from every one of these meth merchants.”  

Camacho-Pineda and Bazemore were the final two defendants of 11 sentenced from an October 2018 indictment alleging they were involved in a drug trafficking organization that smuggled in kilograms of methamphetamine from the La Familia cartel in Mexico and delivered it by courier to south Georgia for distribution in Telfair County and beyond. According to testimony in court, Camacho-Pineda was a member of the cartel, while Bazemore admitted trafficking meth on behalf of the organization.

All 11 defendants in the operation have now pled guilty and been sentenced.

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said of the sentencings, “Mexican drug cartels (in this case La Familia) are the source of so many dangerous drugs destined for the U.S. and are responsible for much of the violence in Mexico today. These sentencings illustrates how DEA, its law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not allow Mexico-based drug traffickers to wreak havoc on our society.”

“This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its law enforcement partners to target, investigate, and eliminate violent drug trafficking organizations,” said Beau Kolodka, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “These sentences will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations, and was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the U.S. Marshals Service, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit, and other local law enforcement agencies. The case also falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Harper and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr.

WAYCROSS, GA:  A former correctional officer at a privately-operated federal prison could spend up to 15 years behind bars after admitting accepting bribes from an inmate.

Micheal Eaddy, 23, of Blackshear, Ga., a former correctional officer at D. Ray James Correctional Facility, a privately prison operated under federal contract in Folkston, Ga., entered the plea in U.S. District Court to one count of bribery, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a substantial fine, and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of the prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Correctional officers have a demanding job,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It makes the job more difficult, and dangerous, when dirty guards join the inmates in violating the law. When that happens, our office will work to put them on the same side of the bars.”

Eaddy admitted accepting $246.25 from an inmate in return for smuggling cigarettes into the prison. Investigators discovered the activity after seizing a contraband phone from the inmate and examining its contents, which included electronic conversations between Eaddy and the inmate.

“When correctional officers smuggle contraband into prisons in exchange for bribes, they undermine the safety and security of the institution they vowed to protect,” said James F. Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Miami Field Office. 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Brunswick Medicaid provider and its owner have been ordered to pay more than $10 million to settle a civil fraud complaint filed by the federal government and the state of Georgia.

The judgments, approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, awards the government $9.7 million against Brunswick-based Miracle Home Care, Inc. and $400,000 against its owner, Shashicka Tyre-Hill of Brunswick, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The judgments are from a civil complaint filed in July 2018 alleging that Miracle Home Care violated the False Claims Act and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act with claims for reimbursement for thousands of false or fraudulent non-emergency transportation and adult day health services. The government’s complaint alleged that Miracle also falsified thousands of records to cover up their false Medicaid claims. Miracle and Tyre-Hill consented to judgments against them and to the amounts of the judgments.

“This result sends a message to would-be unscrupulous providers of healthcare,” said United States Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Anyone who defrauds federally funded health care programs will be met with meaningful consequence. Our office is committed to continuing to partner with the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to protect the integrity of the Georgia Medicaid Program.”

“We are proud to have worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia on this case to hold those who steal taxpayer dollars accountable,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “This result is the culmination of years of collaboration between our office, the United States Attorney’s Office and HHS-OIG, and the results should send a strong signal that we will aggressively pursue those at fault for unnecessarily driving up the costs of our healthcare programs.”

“The act of falsifying records in order to steal millions of dollars from Medicaid, as alleged in this matter, will not be tolerated,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “The OIG will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office and the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to safeguard vital healthcare funds.”

United States Attorney Christine and Attorney General Carr lauded the diligent work of the investigatory team, led by Special Agent David J. Graupner of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Investigator Sadarius A. Miley of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patrick J. Schwedler. The state of Georgia was represented by Assistant Attorney General James Mooney.

AUGUSTA, GA:  Air travelers planning to fly from Augusta, Savannah or Brunswick could receive an unwelcome reminder if they attempt to illegally carry a firearm on board.

As announced Thursday, Dec. 12, at Augusta Regional Airport, a new citation system from the FBI eliminates the free pass some travelers received when attempting to bring a firearm into the secured area of an airport, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The program applies to each commercial airport in the Southern District, including the Augusta Regional Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.

Previously, airport patrons with concealed carry permits who brought a firearm into an airport’s secured area have been allowed to exit the airport and return without the weapon. Now, after police serving the airport file a report of the incident, those patrons also will receive a citation from the FBI charging them with a federal misdemeanor and compelling them to appear in court, Christine said. The citation carries a penalty of $300 plus court fees.

The policy doesn’t change for patrons without permits who bring a firearm into the airport’s secured area; those individuals will be arrested and charged by local police with carrying a concealed weapon. In all of those cases, the Transportation Security Administration also assesses substantial civil penalties.

 “Legal possession of firearms in accordance with the law will be defended by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Christine said. “We hope the announcement of this tougher policy will remind honest travelers during the busy holiday season, and beyond, that federal law prohibits travelers from bringing a firearm into any airport’s secured area.”

“The FBI investigates crimes that occur aboard aircraft and that is why we take this matter very seriously,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The task is simple: Before traveling, check your bags before leaving home so you can arrive safely and on time for your holiday plans.”

Marshal Ramone Lamkin, whose office is responsible for policing the Augusta airport, stated, “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. I encourage all gun owners who intend to travel through our airport to vigorously inspect their bags prior to arrival, as many gun owners forget they are carrying firearms in their personal bags. This can lead to serious, but avoidable, legal consequences.” 

Glynn County Police Chief John Powell, whose agency provides law enforcement at the Brunswick/Golden Isles Airport, said, “We appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s proactive approach to working with federal, state and local agencies to protect the rights of legal gun owners while ensuring the safety of air travelers.”

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former Richmond Hill police officer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for luring teen girls to meet him for sex.

Jeffrey Allen Allmond Jr., 25, of Richmond Hill, who was convicted in June by a federal jury on one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Allmond also must serve 10 years on supervised release after completion of his prison term, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that Allmond, then a police officer, met two girls, ages 15 and 16, via the Tinder dating app. Allmond then communicated with the girls through Snapchat and arranged to pick them up in the middle of the night outside the gate of Fort Stewart, where the two lived. Allmond then drove the teens back to his apartment and performed sexual acts on both of them. Later that night, Allmond returned the girls near the Fort Stewart gate. Allmond continued communicating with the girls through Snapchat and met up with them twice more at his apartment where he performed sexual acts on them. 

The Richmond Hill Police Department asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate the case and terminated Allmond after initial charges were filed. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) provided assistance during the investigation. 

“This predator disgraced his badge while victimizing the children of our military personnel,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His vile behavior earned hard time in the federal prison system, and should send a warning to others who would exploit our innocent citizens.”

“Nobody is above the law, and we salute the GBI, the Richmond Hill Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Groover for doing the right thing by holding this individual accountable for his unconscionable acts,” said Christopher Grey, spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. “Our CID special agents, along with the Military Police, go to great lengths to protect and serve the Army community on our installations worldwide, and we sincerely appreciate the backup from our law enforcement partners outside of our gates.” 

 “This former officer took an oath to serve and protect the public. When someone with whom we have placed our trust violates that trust in this manner, children and the community are damaged,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI). “The GBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure all people who seek to harm our children are held accountable.”

“The men and women of the Richmond Hill Police Department are proud to serve their community with distinction every day, and we are satisfied that the outcome of this case demonstrates our agency’s steadfast intent to hold accountable those who violate the law – no matter who they are,” said Richmond Hill Police Chief Mitch Shores.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Groover prosecuted the case for the United States.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Georgia man who operated an industrial-scale illegal pill-manufacturing operation has admitted to the main charge in a drug trafficking conspiracy, representing the final guilty plea among the defendants.

Walker Christian Forrester, 25, of Loganville, Ga., entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Augusta to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana), said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“This drug trafficking conspiracy distributed massive amounts of dangerous illegal drugs, including deadly synthetic opioids, throughout the streets of Georgia and through the Dark Web,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies did outstanding work in investigating and shutting down these merchants of misery and bringing them to justice, where substantial federal prison terms await.”

Other defendants who have pled guilty in the conspiracy are:

• Kolbie Hadden Watters, 23, of Augusta, Ga., who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;  
• Jonathan Britt Lester, 23, of Loganville, Ga.; who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana);
• Armand Sananda Saedi, 28, of Atlanta, Ga., who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam); and,
• Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 23, of Hoschton, Ga., who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Alprazolam).

According to court documents and testimony, the co-defendants participated in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia. At its peak, the operation produced as many as 200,000 pills per month, yielding profits of up to $18,000 per month.

Forrester first came to the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration around Sept. 2017 after he purchased an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., in November 2017 after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.

In addition to charges in the drug conspiracy, Watters and Lester also face state charges in Walton County of felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of Chase David Loffler, 25, whose body was found buried in the backyard of Lester’s Loganville home in April 2018. The two are accused of beating and suffocating Loffler, a suspected co-conspirator, and burying his body in a shallow grave.

All six defendants face sentencing at a later date.

 “Addressing the country’s opioid epidemic continues to be one of DEA’s top priorities,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. This defendant ran an industrial illegal pill-manufacturing operation that delivered deadly doses of poison (namely synthetic opioids) to the community. DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to deploy every available resource to stop such criminals like this defendant from distributing these dangerous and potentially deadly substances.”

“This case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies at every level to end an epidemic in our society that is killing our citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The fact that this defendant faces a potential life sentence is an example how serious this crime is and a warning to anyone else who might contemplate doing the same.”

“Dark Web purchases provide a false sense of anonymity to criminals who believe their actions will be invisible to law enforcement. These illegally imported pill presses, producing thousands of counterfeit pills an hour, can wreak havoc on a community,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “These guilty pleas are a testament to the resolve of the entire law enforcement community to combat the opioid crisis and get these dangerous pills off the streets.”

“The illegal manufacture and distribution of opioids can result in overdoses and deaths, fueling the national opioid crisis,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin D. Green, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The FDA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle illegal prescription drug manufacturing and distribution networks, including those that import illicit raw materials from overseas to make counterfeit drugs, and misuse the internet to distribute those drugs with reckless disregard of the risk to public health and safety.”

“Criminals need to clearly understand that law enforcement agencies across the globe work together daily to root out crime,” said Christopher Grey, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID). “We share information and continually support each other's investigations. There is no better example of that interagency cooperation than this case and how one piece of information led to more and more evidence to unravel this dangerous drug trafficking conspiracy.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes. 

AUGUSTA, GA:  The second member of a couple who admitted producing and sharing child pornography has been sentenced to a substantial prison sentence.

Carrie Marie Minton, 25, of Cordova, S.C., was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Production of Child Pornography in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Her co-defendant, Charles Brandon Powell, 33, of Hephzibah, previously was sentenced to 30 years in prison on the same charge. Both will be subject to supervised release after completion of their prison terms, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“The resolution of this horrifying case is a credit to the outstanding investigative and prosecutorial work of agencies dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office will be unrelenting in hunting down and holding accountable those who would exploit children for their own sick gratification.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Minton and Powell held online discussions to plan a sexual encounter with an 8-year-old girl whom Minton planned to bring to Powell’s Hephzibah home from Neeses, S.C. After Minton sent an explicit photo of another juvenile, a 5-month-old girl, to Powell in June 2018, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities, who intervened as the plot was in motion. Powell and Minton were taken into custody without either of the children subjected to further harm.  

“This case is an outstanding example of how partnerships between the FBI and our state and local law enforcement agencies are essential in protecting our citizens and in particular, children, our most vulnerable citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully, the severity of this sentence sends a strong message to anyone who would even think about hurting a child in this way.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons prosecuted the case for the United States.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A U.S. Army Major assigned to the U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, Ga., has been charged with distribution of child pornography.

Jason Michael Musgrove, 39, of Grovetown, was charged in U.S. District Court Monday morning in a federal criminal complaint, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Musgrove, who is an Integrated Threat Operations Officer with Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmentalized Information clearance, is assigned to the Army Cyber Joint Headquarters at Fort Gordon.

According to court testimony and documents, the case in which Musgrove is charged occurred on or about Dec. 5. Following a hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Brian Epps, Musgrove was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

A criminal complaint contains only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A California man is facing a substantial prison sentence after pleading guilty to illegally possessing explosive materials.

Robert Christopher Bailey, 50, of Los Angeles, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession of Explosive Materials as a Prohibited Person, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to evidence presented at the plea hearing, on or about July 9, 2018, Bailey was working on the movie set The Poison Rose starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman as a special effects and pyrotechnics coordinator. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted an investigation and determined Bailey was a person prohibited from possessing explosive materials.

“The state of Georgia, particularly Savannah, has a tremendous history and relationship with the motion picture industry,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Accordingly, we take very seriously our obligations to uphold the law and to preserve the safety of our citizens and those working in our state.”  

This case was investigated by Special Agent Lee Hoover of the ATF, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Frank Pennington.

SAVANNAH, GA: A series of grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice will fund a broad variety of crime-fighting initiatives in communities across the Southern District of Georgia.

Part of more than $376 million in nationwide grants from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the grants range from $11,013 for the city of Hinesville, Ga., to a $399,998 grant to Chatham County, Ga., Altogether, eight grants to six agencies or government entities in the Southern District total more than $634,176, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Crime and violence hold families, friends and neighborhoods hostage, and they rip communities apart,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These programs help restore the health and safety of crime-ravaged communities by supporting prevention activities, aiding in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and adjudication, and providing communities and their residents the means for recovery and healing.”

“These grants represent a significant boost to our law enforcement partners throughout the Southern District,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Whether large or small, this additional funding will provide a wide range of assistance for continuing efforts to improve safety and security in our communities.”

Those receiving awards include:

• Chatham County, receiving a $399,998 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to improve responses and outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses or substance abuse who come in contact with the justice system; 
• The city of Savannah, receiving a $111,462 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions;
• Augusta-Richmond County, receiving a $31,826 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions; and, a $19,400 grant from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to assist in transitioning crime statistic reporting to the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS);
• The city of Hinesville, receiving an $18,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support the implementation of body-worn cameras for police officers, and an $11,013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions;
• The city of Hazlehurst, receiving a $26,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support the implementation of body-worn cameras for police officers; and,
• Glynn County, receiving a $16,477 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions.

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A newly unsealed superseding indictment has charged Russian and Italian nationals, a U.S. Citizen and various companies in a conspiracy to evade international trade sanctions.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia unsealed the superseding indictment on Monday, charging two Russian nationals, two Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen, and various companies with violating and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. 

The indictment, which was returned in October 2019 by a federal grand jury in Savannah, Ga., charges Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin; Nikitin’s Russian-based company KS Engineering (KSE); KSE employee Anton Cheremukhin; Gabriele Villone; Villone’s Italian-based company GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA); and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, with violating and conspiring to violate IEEPA/ECRA. Additionally, the aforementioned defendants, Dali Bagrou, and Bagrou’s U.S.-based company World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou were all arrested in Savannah, Ga., while attempting to complete the illegal transaction and are awaiting trial.

“This prosecution demonstrates the high priority the Department of Justice places on the enforcement of U.S. restrictions on exports to Russia’s oil and gas industry,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The U.S. government imposed these restrictions following the Russian annexation of Crimea and its use of force in Ukraine. Russia continues to undermine democratic processes and institutions in that region and adversely affects our national security.”

“The defendants tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions put in place to keep U.S. goods out of the hands of some of the world’s most dangerous actors,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who threaten our national security.”

“Detecting, preventing, and prosecuting those who conspire to illegally export U.S. origin commodities to Sanctioned and Entity Listed companies such as those involved in this case in Russia, remains a top priority for the Bureau of Industry and Security,” said Douglas R. Hassebrock, Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement.  “We are committed to bringing lawbreakers who have willfully chosen to threaten our Nation’s security to justice.  And, as always, we are very grateful to work jointly with our enforcement partners.”

“The defendants in this case went to great lengths to circumvent export control laws enacted to protect our nation’s security,” said Cynthia A. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “The DCIS will aggressively support our law enforcement partners working to ensure protected items don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

“This brazen scheme to undermine United States sanctions was a direct threat to national security,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “But because of the tireless efforts of federal law enforcement partners, the deception ends and the first steps in bringing these defendants to justice begins.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s collaboration with our fellow federal law enforcement agencies is critical to the successful enforcement of US import and export laws,” said Donald F. Yando, Director, Field Operations, Atlanta Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “These partnerships provide for the successful identification and destruction of these types of criminal enterprises.”

According to the indictment, an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Nikitin and KSE to purchase a Vectra 40G power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Vectra 40G was designed and manufactured for integration with gas generators to enable direct drive of high-power gas compressors. Evidence in the case established the intent of the Russian company to use the Vectra on a Russian Arctic deepwater (greater than 500 feet) drilling platform. For reasons of national security, the U.S. Department of Commerce expressly prohibited any unlicensed shipment or transfer of the Vectra to the Russian company for that purpose.

In an attempt to evade U.S. export laws, the indictment alleges that Nikitin, Cheremukhin and KSE hired Villone, Caparini and GVA to obtain the Vectra on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Bagrou and WMO to procure the Vectra from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the Vectra shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the Vectra from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated the Vectra would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.

Nikitin, Cheremukhin, Villone and Caparini face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charge of violating IEEPA/ECRA and a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to violate IEEPA/ECRA and to defraud the United States. Bagrou and the aforementioned defendants also face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

A newly unsealed superseding indictment has charged Russian and Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen and various companies in a conspiracy to evade international trade sanctions.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia unsealed the superseding indictment on Dec. 2, 2019, charging two Russian nationals, two Italian nationals, a U.S. citizen, and various companies with violating and conspiring the violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The indictment, which was returned in October 2019 by a federal grand jury in Savannah, Georgia, charges Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin; Nikitin’s Russian-based company KS Engineering (KSE); KSE employee Anton Cheremukhin; Gabriele Villone; Villone’s Italian-based company GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA); and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, with violating and conspiring to violate IEEPA/ECRA. Additionally, the aforementioned defendants, Dali Bagrou, and Bagrou’s U.S.-based company World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou were all arrested in Savannah, Georgia, while attempting to complete the illegal transaction and are awaiting trial.

“This prosecution demonstrates the high priority the Department of Justice places on the enforcement of U.S. restrictions on exports to Russia’s oil and gas industry,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “The U.S. government imposed these restrictions following the Russian annexation of Crimea and its use of force in Ukraine. Russia continues to undermine democratic processes and institutions in that region and adversely affects our national security.”

“The defendants tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions put in place to keep U.S. goods out of the hands of some of the world’s most dangerous actors,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who threaten our national security.”

“Detecting, preventing, and prosecuting those who conspire to illegally export U.S. origin commodities to Sanctioned and Entity Listed companies, such as those involved in this case in Russia, remains a top priority for the Bureau of Industry and Security,” said Douglas R. Hassebrock, Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement.  “We are committed to bringing lawbreakers, who have willfully chosen to threaten our nation’s security, to justice.  And, as always, we are very grateful to work jointly with our enforcement partners.”

“The defendants in this case went to great lengths to circumvent export control laws enacted to protect our nation’s security,” said Cynthia A. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “The DCIS will aggressively support our law enforcement partners working to ensure protected items don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

“This brazen scheme to undermine United States sanctions was a direct threat to national security,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “But because of the tireless efforts of federal law enforcement partners, the deception ends and the first steps in bringing these defendants to justice begins.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s collaboration with our fellow federal law enforcement agencies is critical to the successful enforcement of U.S. import and export laws,” said Donald F. Yando, Director, Field Operations, Atlanta Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “These partnerships provide for the successful identification and destruction of these types of criminal enterprises.”

According to the indictment, an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Nikitin and KSE to purchase a Vectra 40G power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Vectra 40G was designed and manufactured for integration with gas generators to enable direct drive of high-power gas compressors. Evidence in the case established the intent of the Russian company to use the Vectra on a Russian Arctic deepwater (greater than 500 feet) drilling platform. For reasons of national security, the U.S. Department of Commerce expressly prohibited any unlicensed shipment or transfer of the Vectra to the Russian company for that purpose.

In an attempt to evade U.S. export laws, the indictment alleges that Nikitin, Cheremukhin and KSE hired Villone, Caparini and GVA to obtain the Vectra on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Bagrou and WMO to procure the Vectra from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the Vectra shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the Vectra from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated the Vectra would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.

Nikitin, Cheremukhin, Villone and Caparini face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charge of violating IEEPA/ECRA and a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to violate IEEPA/ECRA and to defraud the United States. Bagrou and the aforementioned defendants also face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

AUGUSTA, Ga: Two people who stole nearly a quarter-million dollars from an Augusta attorney have been sentenced to federal prison.

Gloria Ifem Okolie, 39, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Her co-defendant, Paul Wilson Aisosa, 52, of Dallas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Each will also be required to serve three years on supervised release after completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.

In addition, Okolie and Aisosa must pay $265,218.83 restitution. Both were ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on Jan. 6.

Okolie, who was found guilty by a federal jury in March, and Aisosa, who pled guilty to the charges, participated in a scheme to steal $246,218.83 from an Augusta real estate attorney who was deceived into rerouting the proceeds from the sale of a West Lake home.

The money was sent to an account Okolie opened at a Dallas bank, where she, Aisosa and a co-conspirator who is currently in Nigeria withdrew large portions of the money that they sent to other conspirators who also are believed to be in Nigeria. 

“These thieves schemed with other crooks to steal money from an honest citizen whose trust they cynically violated,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Our office will not hesitate to slam shut the prison doors on criminals who exploit law-abiding people to line their own pockets.”

“One of the FBI’s priorities is to bring to justice anyone who would choose to defraud our honest working citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “Okolie and Aisosa must now pay the price for thinking they could get away with this elaborate scheme, thanks to the concerted effort of the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”  

“Today’s sentencing of two co-conspirators highlights how seriously IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners take the issue of defrauding honest working citizens,” said Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “We will continue to pursue criminals who prey on innocent victims and we will continue to enforce our nation’s laws. Today’s sentencings should send a clear message to would-be criminals: You will be caught and you will be punished.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes and Hank Syms.

SAVANNAH, GA:  The investigation and prosecution dubbed Operation Vanilla Gorilla reached its ultimate milestone this week with the federal prison sentence of the final defendant, representing the wrap-up one year after indictments.

Shawn Hadden, a/k/a “Shorty,” 43, of Bloomingdale, Ga., was sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 in U.S. District Court by Judge R. Stan Baker to 148 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Hadden pled guilty to the charges in March.

Hadden’s sentence follows a 280-month sentence for a key defendant, Trevor Aines, a/k/a “Sticks,” 30, of Garden City, Ga. His sentence, the longest of any of the defendants, followed a guilty plea to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, and to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime.

After completion of their prison terms, Hadden and Aines will serve a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“It’s significant that the final sentence in Vanilla Gorilla was delivered one year after our office announced the indictments in this operation,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “While the law enforcement agencies and prosecutors mark the speedy and satisfying resolution of these cases, the citizens of the Southern District can celebrate that their neighborhoods are safer because 43 dangerous felons have been relocated to federal prison.”

Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. It targeted a major drug trafficking conspiracy linked to the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent, white supremacist street gang that started and spread from Georgia’s prison system. The 43 men and women were named in November 2018 in a 93-paged, 83-count federal indictment for a multitude of federal offenses, including trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, illegal firearms possession and counterfeiting.

The drug-trafficking conspiracy began as early as 2015 until the date of the indictments, having distributed illegal drugs through a large part of the Southern District including Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans and Tattnall counties. In addition to illegal drug seizures as part of the investigation, investigators also seized 36 firearms, including stolen weapons, a rifle with a silencer and a sawed-off shotgun.

All of the defendants pled guilty to the charges. Most of these defendants were on probation or parole when they committed the offenses, so their federal sentences will run consecutive to the sentences for violating state probation or parole.

“This criminal organization poisoned Georgia communities with their activities” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta.  “This sentence brings a fitting close to this investigation and should serve as an example to anyone contemplating this kind of criminal activity. ATF is proud to be a part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and we will continue to work together every day to rid our streets of illicit narcotics and take guns out of the hands of criminals.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division commented, “It’s uplifting to see the final chapter of this investigation come to a victorious end, not only for the entire law enforcement community, but also for the citizens of the Southern District who were directly impacted by this white supremacist gang. This gang wreaked havoc by distributing methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, while leaving a destructive path of violence along the way. Today, we are proud to have shut down this once-thriving criminal network. I want to thank our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who aided in making this investigation a success.” 

“At the end of the day, citizens want to feel safe in their communities,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Director Vic Reynolds. “With the conclusion of this case, law enforcement demonstrates that this is important to us too. Getting violent offenders, drugs, and guns off the streets is a continuous effort between police and prosecutors. Gang-related activity will not be tolerated in south Georgia or any other part of the state.”

“The Ghost Face Gangsters regularly attacked our community by distributing drugs and performing various violent acts,” said Everett Ragan, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT). “These attacks on our communities is an attack on all of us. I am proud that the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team helped played an instrumental role in the collaborated law enforcement response to stop these dangerous individuals.”

“The conclusion of this phase of the investigation verifies that cooperation between the multiple agencies involved has been a huge success in making all of our communities safer,” said Mitch Shores, chief of the Richmond Hill Police Department.

Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the DEA, the U.S. Secret Service, GBI, CNT, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Evans County Sheriff’s Office, the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Police Department, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Port Wentworth Police Department, the Rincon Police Department, the Pembroke Police Department, the Claxton Police Department, and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington.

OPERATION VANILLA GORILLA BY THE NUMBERS:

43 defendants

21 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies

561 previous arrests of defendants: 184 felony convictions, 184 misdemeanors

4 defendants had more than 10 felony convictions each

4,500 months: total sentences for all defendants

104 months in prison: Average sentence per defendant

36 firearms seized

Drugs seized:

• Kilograms of methamphetamine
• Pounds of marijuana
• Quantities of heroin
• MDMA
• Crack cocaine
• Powder cocaine

DUBLIN, GA:  Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine on Wednesday credited local, state and federal cooperation with significantly improved safety in the city of Dublin.

During a morning news conference at the Dublin Police Department headquarters, U.S. Attorney Christine said according to the FBI’s recently released Uniform Crime Reports data, violent crime has decreased by more than 24 percent in Dublin during the past three years, compared to a national reduction during that period of just 3.5 percent.

“From the federal perspective, we know our role in fighting crime in Dublin is only a small part of the battle,” said Christine, who oversees federal prosecutions in the 43 counties of Georgia’s Southern District. “The boots on the ground are local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners who live, work, play and worship in this community and have a very direct stake in removing criminals and their influence from their neighborhoods.”

In making the announcement Christine credited the decrease in crime to cooperation of all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies’ efforts through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program that focuses on gun violence, and the Southern District’s Prosecutor to Prosecutor (P3) program that coordinates local and federal prosecutions to find the most effective venue for handling criminal cases.

Both programs represent key elements of the newly announced Project Guardian from the Department of Justice, which seeks to combat gun crime through improved coordination of law enforcement and prosecutors at all levels.

Christine’s comments were echoed by Brian Ozden, Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI, who also attended the news conference. “In the past year, our joint effort has resulted in the indictment of 13 people on federal charges,” Ozden said. “So far, nine of those indicted resulted in guilty pleas, and one was convicted at trial. It has also resulted in the seizure of 11 firearms.”

Both Christine and Ozden praised the efforts of Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman and Dublin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Craig Fraser in their continued work to reduce crime and make the Dublin community safer.

SAVANNAH, Ga: A man who admitted providing phony patients to a disgraced physician in a scheme to obtain opioids for illicit street sales has been sentenced to federal prison.

Zachary Lusk, 40, of Plainville, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. to 40 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Schedule IV), said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

After completion of his sentence, Lusk will spend three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, Lusk admitted providing lists of individuals to Dr. Johnny Di Blasi, a physician who operated clinics in Pooler, Ga., and Braselton, Ga. Di Blasi wrote prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, including Oxycodone and Alprazolam, which Lusk would have filled at pharmacies. Lusk sold the pills for cash and shared the proceeds with Di Blasi.

Some of these prescriptions were written to several individuals Lusk brought to meet with Di Blasi at a restaurant where, during an “oxycodone breakfast,” Di Blasi provided illegitimate prescriptions to the group.

Di Blasi is serving a 33-month federal sentence after pleading guilty to pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Unlawfully Dispense Controlled Substances (Oxycodone).

“With ‘Dr. Johnny’ providing access to addictive opioids, Zachary Lusk operated a lucrative business as a street-level drug dealer,” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “They’ve both exchanged that ‘easy money’ for their freedom as they are held accountable for fueling the deadly opioid crisis.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “This case was made possible because of spirited cooperation between DEA, its law enforcement partners and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Zachary Lusk lined his pockets off the backs of addicts strung out on prescription medication. Consequently, he can no longer fuel the opioid crisis by feeding prescription pill seekers, but instead, will join his disgraced co-conspirator Dr. Johnny Di Blasi by spending well-deserved time in prison.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson, J. Thomas Clarkson and Jonathan Porter prosecuted the case for the United States.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Bryan County man and his wife are charged in separate federal indictments with coercing minors for sex and tampering with a witness.

Michael Wilson, 37, is charged with one count each of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry possible sentences of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Lori Wilson, a/k/a “Loretta Lightningbolt,” 34, is charged in a separate federal indictment with Tampering with a Victim or Witness, a charge that carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with up to five years of supervised release.

“Exploitation of children is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office and law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and bring to justice anyone who would victimize the most vulnerable among us.”  

According to court documents and testimony, Michael Wilson is accused of attempting to coerce multiple minor victims to engage in sexual activity from 2017 through early 2019. After the minors reported the information to authorities, Lori Wilson “did knowingly intimidate, corruptly persuade, and engage in misleading conduct,” the indictment states, in an effort to persuade one of the victims to “withhold information regarding… reports of sexual assault.”

Lori Wilson, the indictment states, attempted to persuade the victim that the minor’s experiences were “psychic visions” or “dreams” in an effort “to prevent truthful communication of information relating to the possible commission of a federal offense to agents of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.” 

“The allegations in this indictment are disturbing in many different ways,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “The FBI will make every effort to protect our most vulnerable members of society from adults who choose to prey on them.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases were investigated by the FBI and by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A man and his “marketing company” have been named in a five-count federal indictment for a scheme that paid workers to solicit elderly residents for information used to fraudulently bill government medical programs.

Patrick Siado, of Texas, and his company, Optimus Prime Marketing, LLC, are charged with one count of Conspiracy and four counts of Health Care Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The Conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, while each count of Health Care Fraud carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. In addition to substantial fines and penalties, the charges also call for up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Fraudulent testing and billing schemes make health care more expensive for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It’s even worse when it targets programs designed to assist the elderly and poor, while potentially threatening their future health care needs. We’re grateful for the work to protect these vulnerable citizens by our federal, state and local partners, particularly the Augusta District Attorney’s Office and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.”

According to the indictment, Siado and his company, along with other companies referenced as unindicted co-conspirators, hired individuals to solicit information and DNA swabs from low-income and elderly residents. The individuals were paid $150 for each “patient,” with the information transmitted to another unindicted co-conspirator company that in turn would submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Siado and his company would then receive a kickback of from $100 to $575 per test accepted for billing.

The indictment states, “Siado knew that his orders were procured through an unlawful kickback relationship, not ordered as medically necessary by the beneficiary’s treating physician, and not payable.” Each of those claims were billed to Medicaid for more than $30,000.

“When individuals bilk government subsidized programs like Medicare and Medicaid, there are many losers, to include every single taxpayer in this country and the low-income and elderly who are entitled to those funds,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Chris Hacker. “The FBI makes it a priority to root out such abuse by partnering with our federal, state and local partners.”

“The fraudulent billing of Medicare and Medicaid by unscrupulous individuals in order to line their own pockets, as alleged in this case, is unacceptable,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our office will continue to work with our partners to ensure that those responsible for such schemes are held accountable.”   

“Schemes which intentionally target our Medicaid population for profit without any intention of helping those individuals must be stopped,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “This prosecution reflects our office’s ongoing commitment to working with our federal and local partners to put a stop to such predatory behavior.”

 “I am incredibly proud of the hard work that my C.A.V.E. (Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly) Unit put in to this investigation,” said Natalie Paine, District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit. “The men and women who serve on C.A.V.E. continue to prove that preying on our vulnerable citizens will not be tolerated. I am thankful for U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine’s unwavering commitment to aiding in the prosecution of those whom C.A.V.E. has worked so hard to bring to justice.”

“Community policing; partnerships with the community along with local, state, and federal agencies; and proactive officers and deputies help to prevent or end situations such as this,” said Burke County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Lewis Blanchard. “We are proud that our C.A.V.E. team member deputy, along with the Waynesboro Police Department officers, ensured that this situation was taken to the next level. Protecting our most vulnerable and elderly citizens is a high priority for our office.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Including the defendants charged today, the Southern District of Georgia has now charged 21 individuals and companies as part of the nationwide crackdown on fraudulent genetic testing, and prescribing of orthotic braces and pain creams. For the 21 Southern District of Georgia defendants alone, this scheme has led to more than $400 million in losses to Medicare and Medicaid. Those who believe they might have been a victim of such a scheme should contact Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Thomas Clarkson at 912-652-4422.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Hank Syms, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Mooney.