District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in connection with unlawfully importing and exporting salamander and turtle species.   

Nathan Boss, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served and two years of supervised release with the first five months to be served in home confinement. Judge Hillman also imposed the special conditions that Boss not possess any wildlife and that he successfully participate in and complete a community service project. In June 2020, Boss pleaded guilty to two counts of smuggling wildlife into the United States, two counts of smuggling wildlife out of the United States and one count of making a false statement to a federal agent.

The investigation began in 2017 when Boss lied to federal investigators about the identity of a recipient of wildlife illegally imported into the United States. Subsequently, federal investigators intercepted an inbound U.S. Postal Service package from Hong Kong that was addressed to “Shelton Boss” at an address on Mildred Avenue in Worcester. The package was found to contain four black-breasted leaf turtles (Geoemyda spengleri), a species included in the Convention for Trade in Endangered Species and Wild Fauna, an international agreement joined by the U.S. that governs the importation of designated wildlife. Specifically, any black-breasted leaf turtle imported into the United States must be declared and approved by Fish and Wildlife Service before any shipment can be received. 

Boss was also found to have illegally imported an injurious species of salamander which can carry a fungal disease and is prohibited from importation into the United States. Further investigation revealed that, on multiple occasions, Boss illegally exported undeclared wildlife destined for locations in Hong Kong and Sweden.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Ryan Noel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Dorchester was sentenced today for drug crimes related to his role in a wide-ranging operation that distributed cocaine and fentanyl throughout Boston and Cape Cod.

Kelvin Chalas, a/k/a Jose Solivan, a/k/a “Keco,” 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 41 months  in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2020, Chalas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

Chalas and his co-conspirators, James Ramirez and Alex and Kevin Fraga, were arrested in August 2017 and charged in connection with their roles in a drug ring that shipped large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin from Boston to Cape Cod, where it was redistributed. Chalas helped run a drug stash house for Ramirez, who collected the narcotics and took them to Cape Cod for distribution.

In June 2019, Alex Fraga was sentenced to 131 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In January 2020, Kevin Fraga was sentenced to 45 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2020, Ramirez was sentenced to 66 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe made the announcement today. The Brewster, Harwich, Sandwich, Mashpee, Chatham, Yarmouth and Barnstable Police Departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Philip Cheng and Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today for using fraud and bribery to facilitate his child’s acceptance to Georgetown University.

Peter Dameris, 60, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one day in prison (deemed served), three years of supervised release with 12 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a fine of $95,000. In June 2020, Dameris pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Dameris agreed with William “Rick” Singer to pay an amount, ultimately totaling $300,000, to Singer’s purported charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), knowing that the money would be used to facilitate Dameris’s son’s purported recruitment to Georgetown University as a tennis player, even though he did not play tennis competitively.

Singer previously pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government’s investigation.

Dameris is the 23rd parent to be sentenced in this case.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Three individuals were charged today in connection with a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme, bringing the total number of defendants to six. 

Nathan LaParl, 34, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Talia Alexandre, 30, of Palm Springs, Fla., were each charged by Information with one count of receiving kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program. LaParl and Stefanie Hirsch, 51, of Los Angeles, Calif., were also charged by Information with violating the HIPAA statute. 

According to charging documents, LaParl and Alexandre sold Medicare patients’ personal and medical data to Juan Camilo Perez Buitrago. LaParl and Alexandre worked with foreign call centers to contact Medicare patients to ask if they were interested in durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces “at little to no cost.” The call centers collected demographic and insurance information from Medicare patients, which LaParl and Alexandre sold to Perez. Together, LaParl and Alexandre received more than $1.6 million from Perez for the patient data. Perez Buitrago used that patient data to submit more than $109 million in false and fraudulent claims, submitting claims for DME that was not prescribed, not necessary, and, in many instances, never requested or received. 

To perpetuate the scheme, LaParl checked Medicare patients’ insurance eligibility by improperly accessing a patient eligibility tool provided by Hirsch. Hirsch owned EI Medical, Inc., a Medicare-enrolled wheelchair and scooter repair company that qualified for access to a health care clearinghouse that contains Medicare patients’ personal, medical and insurance information. Hirsch improperly gave LaParl access to that clearinghouse and charged him about $0.25 per patient eligibility check. Using Hirsch’s credentials, LaParl accessed the personal and medical data of more than 350,000 patients. 

Perez was charged in July 2020 and is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct.5, 2020. Two other defendants, Jessica Jones and Elizabeth Putulin, were charged on Sept. 29, 2020 and have agreed to plead guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Dighton registered nurse pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug tampering.

Marietta Strickland, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product, specifically the Schedule II controlled substance oxycodone, which is used for pain relief. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2021. Strickland was charged by Information in June 2020.

While working as a registered nurse at Dighton Care and Rehabilitation Center, Strickland tampered with three blister card packages of oxycodone prescribed to an 89-year-old hospice patient who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, severe dementia and breast cancer. To avoid detection, Strickland replaced the stolen oxycodone pills with other prescription drugs disguised to look like oxycodone. As a result of Strickland’s tampering, the victim was deprived of her prescribed oxycodone for a month and ingested at least 77 unnecessary prescription tablets.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Acting Commissioner Margaret Cooke, of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Marlborough man was arrested on charges of child exploitation.

Philip Raymond, 63, was indicted on 13 counts of sexual exploitation of minors, and attempt. Raymond was arrested last night and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today.

The indictment alleges that between 2004 and 2012, Raymond produced or attempted to produce child pornography involving 13 different minors.

The charging statute provides for a  minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison per count, at least five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation, Boston Field Office; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Marlborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

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

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law. 

BOSTON – A former Milford second grade teacher was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for possession of child pornography.  

Vincent Kiejzo, 33, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Kiejzo was previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Sept. 9, 2020. 

According to the charging documents, Kiejzo possessed approximately 6,000 images of apparent child pornography stored within a thumb drive, including images that involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. The Milford Police Department assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Office is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A former client relationship manager at Bank of America pleaded guilty today in connection with embezzling $1.5 million from a client company and using a portion of those funds to purchase luxury items.

Waqas Ali, 31, of Abington, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions before U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, who scheduled sentencing for Feb.1 2021. Ali was charged in August 2020.

Ali was the client relationship manager for the victim company, which was a Bank of America client. Ali opened a checking account in the name of the victim company without its knowledge or authorization, and between September 2016 and July 2017, fraudulently transferred over $1.5 million from the victim company’s accounts to a fraudulent account.

Ali used over $600,000 of the funds he fraudulently obtained to fund his lifestyle and pay for luxury items, including a Porsche SUV and retail items at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Christian Louboutin and Tag Heuer.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester, Mass. man was indicted by a grand jury today with civil disorder and possession of a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration in the City of Worcester over the death of George Floyd.

Vincent Eovacious, 18, was indicted today on one count of civil disorder and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Eovacious was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 3, 2020.

According to charging documents, on June 1, 2020, crowds gathered at various locations in Worcester to protest the death of George Floyd, including South Main Street. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a large crowd blocked traffic and began throwing objects in the direction of the police. As officers on scene gathered into a line formation, one officer observed a man dressed in a trench coat standing on top of a building at 848 Main Street which is clearly marked, “No Trespassing.” The man, later identified as Eovacious, allegedly yelled for the crowd below to kill the police and paced back and forth on the rooftop. The officer then observed Eovacious remove a bottle from his satchel that appeared to contain liquid and attempt to insert a rag into the bottle while holding a silver object that the officer believed to be a lighter. Minutes later, officers observed Eovacious walking in the area of May and Main Streets, still carrying the satchel, and stopped him. According to court documents, officers searched the satchel and recovered three clear glass bottles with a slightly yellow liquid that smelled of gasoline, five white rags, one green lighter and one silver lighter. Eovacious stated that the liquid in the glass bottles was gasoline and that he was “with the anarchist group” and was “waiting for an opportunity.”

The civil disorder charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Friedholm and Danial Bennett, of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, are prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Two Wareham residents were arrested today and charged in connection with selling fentanyl, including to a 42-year-old man who died of an apparent overdose.

Troy Jones, 40, and Kayla Nightingale, 33, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distributing fentanyl resulting in death. The defendants were arrested today and will make an initial appearance today at 1:00 p.m. before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelly.

“Fentanyl, which is far more potent than heroin, is an extremely dangerous drug that is now driving overdose deaths during the opioid epidemic,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Federal law provides for particularly severe consequences when illegal drug trafficking results in death, and we intend to use every available tool to combat this problem.”

“The state of Massachusetts is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those responsible for distributing this lethal drug and contribute to the loss of life for those battling this addiction need to be held responsible for their actions. In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this poison.”

As alleged in the indictment, Jones and Nightingale worked together from January 2019 through at least April 3, 2019 to distribute fentanyl in Wareham, including to a 42-year-old Wareham resident. On April 2, 2019, that resident died of an apparent fentanyl overdose.

The charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling; DEA SAC Boyle; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police; and Wareham Police Chief John A. Walcek  made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON –The owner of a Revere towing company was charged yesterday with engaging in an under-the-table payroll fraud scheme that defrauded the government more than $3.3 million.   

Gennaro Angiulo, 49, of Nahant and Saugus, was charged by Information with one count of willful failure to collect and pay over taxes and one count of evading cash transaction reporting requirements.

For tax years 2014 through at least 2017, Angiulo allegedly paid a portion of the wages to employees of his company, GJ Towing, in cash “under the table.” In doing so, Anguilo did not collect, account for or pay over to the IRS required withholding and FICA taxes. The cash payments to employees were funded, at least in part, by cashing checks from clients of GJ Towing and other third parties in groups totaling not more than $10,000 in a single day.

The charge of willful failure to collect and pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of evading cash transaction reporting requirements provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000 and forfeiture. Angiulo is also required to pay restitution to the IRS. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The owner of a now-defunct Peabody construction company was arrested yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the IRS of approximately $1 million in payroll taxes and to defraud his workers’ compensation insurance carrier by failing to disclose how many workers he employed. 

Argyrios “Eric” Mavros, 56, was indicted on 10 counts of failure to collect or pay over taxes and one count of mail fraud. Mavros was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.  

According to the charging documents, Mavros, who owned Mavros Construction, Inc., cashed more than $3.3 million in customer checks at a Peabody check cashing business and used some of those funds to pay his employees in cash. Mavros failed to report these employees or their wages in quarterly corporate tax filings, in an effort to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes on employee wages and withholding federal income taxes. Overall, Mavros failed to pay and withhold federal taxes on more than $2.5 million in wages, resulting in a tax loss of just over $1 million. Additionally, Mavros failed to report these employees to his workers’ compensation insurance carrier, thereby defrauding his insurer of premiums. 

The charge of failure to collect and pay over taxes provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $10,000. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A naturalized U.S. citizen living in Lexington, his wife, and a company they established were charged today in a 24-count superseding indictment in connection with the theft of hundreds of files containing proprietary information from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a worldwide semiconductor company headquartered in Norwood.

Haoyang Yu, a/k/a “Jack Yu,” a/k/a “Harry Yu,” a/k/a “Jack Tricon,” 41, of Lexington, and his company, Tricon MMIC LLC (Tricon), were charged with three counts of possession and attempted possession of a trade secret; two counts of smuggling; two counts of transporting stolen goods; one count of visa fraud; and one count of procuring U.S. citizenship unlawfully. Yu and his wife, Yanzhi Chen, 22, also of Lexington, were also charged with three counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud. Yu was previously charged by indictment in June 2019 with stealing, copying, downloading, and possessing ADI’s trade secrets.

According to the superseding indictment, Yu was born in Harbin, China, and first came to the United States in 2002 through the student visa program. He became a lawful permanent resident in June 2009, and a naturalized U.S. citizen in March 2017. From July 2014 to July 2017, Yu was employed by ADI as a principal design engineer.

As alleged in the indictment, Yu worked for ADI designing and developing parts of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), which are used in radio, cellular and satellite communications, as well as in defense and aerospace applications. As a result of his work, Yu had access to data and information relating to ADI’s present and future product designs, schematics, manufacturing files and testing procedures. It is alleged that, while working for ADI, Yu downloaded hundreds of highly confidential schematic design and modeling files that belonged to ADI, and uploaded many of these files to his personal Google drive account. The files YU stole from ADI were worth millions of dollars.  

In March 2017, approximately five months before he resigned from ADI, Yu and his wife established Tricon, which, according to its website, “specializes in wide band MMIC amplifiers,” and serves customers in “defense and aerospace, test and instrumentation, [and] satellite communications.”

On July 31, 2017, Yu allegedly resigned from ADI and signed an agreement affirming that he had surrendered all proprietary information or data. Nevertheless, in December 2018 and again in June 2019, Yu allegedly had propriety ADI files in his possession both in his Google drive account and on his personal computers. Since creating Tricon in March 2017, Yu marketed and sold approximately 20 ADI designs as his own, and even used the same Taiwanese semiconductor fabrication plant as ADI to manufacture Tricon’s MMIC parts. The superseding indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently obtained MMIC and other semiconductor parts from the Taiwanese semiconductor fabrication plant by providing the plant with ADI’s stolen designs and other proprietary information, and furthermore concealed the fact that the designs were stolen from ADI.

Yu and Tricon also allegedly smuggled export-controlled technology from the United States to Taiwan without obtaining the necessary export license from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that Yu committed visa fraud and procured U.S. citizenship unlawfully by failing to disclose material facts and information concerning the theft of ADI’s trade secrets in his Application for Naturalization (Form N-400), which he submitted to the U.S Department of Homeland Security in or about February 2017.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. All other charges each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; William Higgins, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation, Boston Field Office; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Michael Wiest, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Massachusetts State Police, the Lexington Police Department and the Hingham Police Department also provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Beck and Jason A. Casey of Lelling’s National Security Unit and B. Stephanie Siegmann, Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit, are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

UPDATE: In April 2022, Haoyang Yu, was acquitted by a federal jury of 18 counts of the charges alleged in the indictment. Criminal charges against the remaining defendant, Yanzhi Chen, were dismissed in June 2022. 

BOSTON – A former employee of William “Rick” Singer’s “The Key” for-profit business pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to colleges nationwide.

Mikaela Sanford, 34, of Folsom, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2021. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the sentencing guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, forfeiture in the amount of $67,062 and restitution.

Sanford, who was employed by “The Key,” took online classes for students so that the students could submit the grades Sanford earned in their names as part of their application packages to colleges and universities. In other instances, Sanford helped fabricate athletic “profiles” and other documents to bolster students’ college applications by making the students appear to be highly successful high school athletes when, in fact, they were not.

Sanford is the 42nd defendant to plead guilty in this case.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Boston was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, oxycodone and cocaine.

Yonatan Lara, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Lara will be deported upon completion of his sentence. In June 2020, Lara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana. Lara has been in custody since he was arrested on May 30, 2019.

In 2018, a federal and state investigation into the members of a drug trafficking organization in and around the Boston area revealed that Jose Perez Felix, a/k/a “Eugenio Piedraita-Rivera,” a/k/a “Roberto Patricio Ramirez,” a/k/a “Grande,” allegedly distributed large quantities of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a base of operations in Boston. Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix used a 2008 black Subaru Outback, registered to Lara, to distribute narcotics. Federal agents observed Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix take “meaningless” rides in the Subaru – essentially driving the car around the block or a short distance as a means of shielding their transactions from law enforcement – and saw Lara use the Subaru to distribute narcotics to street-level dealers and users. Agents intercepted Lara and, allegedly, Perez Felix discussing the acquisition and distribution of oxycodone pills. Over the course of the investigation, agents seized oxycodone and fentanyl pills from Lara after two street-level sales.

Perez Felix has pleaded not guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Wareham man was arrested and charged yesterday with possession of child pornography.

David St. Jacques, 56, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. Following an initial appearance yesterday, St. Jacques was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Oct. 5, 2020.

As alleged in the charging document, federal agents executed a search of St. Jacques’s residence yesterday morning and seized a computer, three phones, and one thumb drive. Agents discovered that St Jacques had allegedly destroyed at least two other drives and attempted to destroy one of his phones when agents arrived to execute the warrant. St. Jacques admitted to exchanging child pornography with other individuals on various chatting applications, and agents located child pornography during the on scene review of the devices that were still intact.

In March 2009, St. Jacques was convicted in Plymouth County Superior Court of several counts of dissemination and possession of child pornography.

Due to the prior felony conviction, St. Jacques faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced today in connection with his role in a large-scale drug conspiracy that trafficked dozens of kilos of heroin and fentanyl into Springfield from Bronx, N.Y. and the Dominican Republic.

Marcos Pena, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to four years in prison and five years of supervised release. In June 2019, Pena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.

Pena admitted to his part in the conspiracy, which included, amongst other roles, transporting tens of thousands of dollars at a time to sources of heroin in the Bronx and transporting multiple kilograms of heroin back to Springfield, where the heroin would then be packaged at Springfield-based heroin mills.

Pena also admitted to distributing heroin to a government witness on two separate occasions in February 2016. On Feb. 10, 2016, Pena and co-defendant Alberto Marte sold approximately 125 grams of heroin to the witness. Pena again sold 125 grams of heroin to the same witness on Feb. 24, 2016.

Marte pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 months in prison.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb; Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to firearm charges.

William Scott, 31, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with receipt and possession of unregistered firearms, making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee, and making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required. U.S. District Court Judge Mark D. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2021.

Scott, who worked for Dark Horse Gunsmithing in South Hadley, Mass. at the time of these offenses, received and possessed a machinegun which was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by the National Firearm Act. In addition, on April 12, 2016 and July 20, 2016, Scott made a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee. Scott also made false entries in, failed to make appropriate entries in, and failed to properly maintain records as required of a federal firearms licensee.

The charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making a false statement or representation with respect to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensee provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who previously resided in Malden, pleaded guilty today to immigration and firearms crimes.

Vanderlei Rodrigues DeAraujo, a/k/a Neneco, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, two counts of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021. De Araujo was arrested in May 2019 and has been in custody since.

De Araujo, a citizen and national of Brazil, was deported to Brazil on Aug. 18, 2011.  Sometime after his 2011 removal, De Araujo illegally reentered the United States and took up residence in Malden using the name “Neneco.” Between Sept. 6, 2018 and Jan. 28, 2019, De Araujo illegally negotiated with and sold firearms and ammunition to a third party. In May 2019, De Araujo was arrested, and his fingerprints were found to match prints in his Alien file as a previously deported alien.

The charge of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being an alien in possession of firearm and ammunition carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful reentry of a previously deported alien carries a sentence of up to two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division and the Malden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine, Evan Gotlob and Lindsey Weinstein of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – An Acton man pleaded guilty today in connection with a long-running scheme to steal money from clients of his investment advisor business, in which he fraudulently obtained more than $3.7 million from more than 20 clients.   

Gerald Allan Eaton, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26, 2021.  

Eaton was a certified financial planner, doing business under the name Heritage Financial Group, with an office in Acton. In that capacity, Eaton invested his clients’ funds in securities and various insurance products, including life insurance policies and annuities. From at least 1999 through October 2019, Eaton stole millions of dollars from clients’ accounts. He did so primarily by selling securities, insurance policies and annuities in clients’ accounts, and causing the proceeds to be sent to accounts he owned or controlled. 

As part of his scheme, Eaton forged clients’ signatures on checks and documents, or caused clients to sign documents by falsely representing that the proceeds of transactions would be used for the clients’ benefit. Eaton also falsely represented to the brokerage firm with which he was affiliated, and to insurance companies, that the transactions he requested on his clients’ behalf were for the benefit of those clients. In fact, Eaton caused proceeds to be sent to his own credit card accounts to pay his personal and family expenses, and to his home equity line of credit. In order to avoid detection, Eaton defrauded clients he knew were unlikely to notice what he had done, either because they were elderly or in poor mental or physical condition. 

The charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain/loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) entered an order barring Eaton from the securities industry based on the same conduct.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and ­­­­­­­­­­­­Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U. S. Attorney Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Colorado woman and a Florida woman have agreed to plead guilty in connection with a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme. 

Jessica Jones, 30, of Louisville Colo., and Elizabeth Putulin, 30, of Coconut Creek, Fla., were each charged by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Plea hearings have not yet been scheduled by the Court.

According to charging documents, Jones and Putulin conspired with Juan Camilo Perez Buitrag to submit more than $109 million in false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces. Perez was charged in July 2020 and has agreed to plead guilty. A plea hearing for Perez is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2020.

It is alleged that the Jones and Putulin helped Perez manufacture and submit false and fraudulent Medicare claims by establishing shell companies in more than a dozen different states, including Massachusetts. Perez directed employees, including Jones and Putulin, to list his mother, wife and yacht captain as corporate directors and to use fictitious names when registering the shell companies as DME providers. At Perez’s request, Jones and Putulin allegedly purchased Medicare patient data from foreign and domestic call centers that targeted elderly patients, and instructed call centers to contact the Medicare beneficiaries with an offer of ankle, arm, back, knee and/or shoulder braces “at little to no cost.”  Perez then submitted Medicare claims for those patients without obtaining a prescriber’s order to ensure that the braces were medically necessary. It is further alleged that he submitted blatantly fraudulent claims, including claims for deceased patients and repeat claims for the same patient and the same DME. Perez failed to provide any DME for more than $7.5 million in claims. When Perez did provide DME to patients, he typically billed insurance policies more than 12 times the average price of the DME that he provided to the patient. 

Jones and Putulin further facilitated the fraud by answering frequent phone calls from Medicare patients who received DME that they did not request, want or need. Jones and Putulin also responded to insurance companies’ requests for prescriber’s orders and medical records, which they were unable to provide. 

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A real estate developer and attorney pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with a $2.3 million fraud scheme relating to the redevelopment of a multi-family property in Worcester.

James E. Levin, 61, of Natick, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and false claims. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2021. Levin was charged in August 2016.

From July 2010 to September 2011, Levin, as the manager of 5 May Street Apartments, LLC, applied for and obtained federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the City of Worcester, to rehabilitate a multi-unit apartment building at 5 May Street in Worcester. Since the City of Worcester distributes grant funds on behalf of HUD and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Levin submitted seven payment requests to the City for work he fraudulently claimed he completed on the building and associated costs. In the course of her job with the City of Worcester’s Housing Development Office, Levin’s co-defendant, Jacklyn Sutcivni, allegedly approved the payment requests submitted by Levin, although she knew the requests were fraudulent. It is alleged that this caused the City of Worcester to pay approximately $2,365,050 to Levin. After the City issued the payment, Sutcivni or other City officials submitted reimbursement requests to HUD or DHCD for HUD funds.

Sutcivni has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on May 3, 2021.

The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of submission of false claims provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The indictment also seeks monetary forfeiture in the amount of $2,365,050. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – An Everett man was re-sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for conspiring to murder U.S. citizens, including police officers, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

David Daoud Wright, a/k/a Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, a/k/a Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, 31, of Everett, Mass., was re-sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. In December 2017, Wright was sentenced to 28 years in prison after a federal jury convicted him of conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. In August 2019, the First Circuit Court of Appeals vacated count one (conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS) and affirmed the other counts. The case was remanded to the district court for re-sentencing, which took place yesterday.

“Mr. Wright is a homegrown terrorist who plotted to kill innocent Americans on behalf of ISIS, including specifically targeting police officers,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “He radicalized himself and others, pledged allegiance to a terrorist organization, and conspired with his now-deceased uncle to kill police officers with a combat knife. This case is a reminder of the persistent terrorism threat to our citizens and law enforcement officers.”

“ISIS soldier David Wright betrayed his country and forfeited his freedom when he conspired with others to attack and murder innocent civilians and police officers in support of a sworn, barbaric enemy of the United States. This sentence ensures they remain worlds apart,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Identifying and disrupting terrorist plots, both foreign and domestic, is the FBI’s top priority, and the round-the-clock teamwork of our partners within our Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force saved innocent lives, and kept Wright’s endgame of martyrdom out of reach.”

Beginning in at least February 2015, Wright began discussing ISIS’ call to kill non-believers in the United States with his uncle, Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, and co-defendant Nicholas Alexander Rovinski. Specifically, Wright created a “martyrdom” operation cell in Massachusetts. In April 2015, Wright created a Twitter page for the “Lions of America” and published a document entitled, Internal Conquest, on the internet in which Wright called on Muslims living in the United States to kill their fellow citizens. 

Wright also plotted with Rahim and Rovinski to behead U.S. citizens at the direction of ISIS, and identified a New York woman as the first beheading target. Rahim purchased three knives for this plot. In addition, Wright’s ISIS cell was in direct communication with ISIS recruiter and attack facilitator, Junaid Hussain, who provided Rahim with an encrypted document containing details about the intended victim. In August 2015, Hussain was killed in an airstrike in Raqqah, Syria. 

In preparation for their attack, Wright conducted extensive research on weapons, knives, machetes, bombing making components and methods to subdue their victims. Wright also conducted research on “what tranquilizer put humans to sleep instantly” and “how to start a secret militia in the United States.”   

On June 2, 2015, Wright caused a terrorist attack in Massachusetts and caused his uncle, Rahim, to be killed. Rahim was shot and killed after he attacked law enforcement officers with a large fighting knife in a Roslindale, Mass., parking lot. Two hours before Rahim attacked the police, Wright directed and encouraged Rahim to pursue martyrdom by attacking the “boys in blue.” Within minutes of learning of his uncle’s death from a family member, Wright deleted data from his laptop computer by restoring it to factory settings and deleted call logs on his cellphone that showed that he had spoken to Rahim that morning. Wright also instructed Rahim to destroy his electronic devices before attacking the police officers.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement. This investigation was conducted by the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Everett Police Department; and Customs and Border Protection. The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office and police in the United Kingdom also provided valuable assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Stephanie Siegmann, Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Holyoke man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for distributing heroin.

Jayson Quinones, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2020, Quinones pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin.

Quinones sold heroin on Oct. 7, 2019 in Holyoke. The arrest was the result of a multi-agency investigation into heroin trafficking in Holyoke dubbed “Operation Open Air.”

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A man identified as a member of the Heath Street Gang was sentenced yesterday for distributing crack cocaine in a public housing development.

Michael Pridgen, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 54 months in prison and six years of supervised release, during which time Pridgen will be prohibited from the geographic area of Boston in which he was convicted of selling drugs. In May 2020, Pridgen pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in a public housing development.

Pridgen distributed crack cocaine in and around the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development, in Boston on multiple occasions in the spring and summer of 2019. In a June 5, 2019, incident Pridgen stored crack cocaine and a digital scale in an electrical box affixed to the wall in the stairwell of the public housing complex. At the time of his arrest on Sept. 10, 2019, Pridgen was found on a bench in a courtyard at the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, in possession of distribution-quantity of crack cocaine and fentanyl. Although Pridgen has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Heath Street Gang, he was living in Westborough at the time of these incidents. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

BOSTON – The former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Boston Grand Prix was arrested today on charges that he failed to report income that he received from serving as executive with the Boston Grand Prix organization on his federal tax returns and for a scheme to defraud equipment and small business financing companies.

John F. Casey, 56, of Ipswich, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, three counts of money laundering and three counts of filing false tax returns. Casey was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance at 3:30 today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald J. Cabell.

As alleged in the indictment, Casey became the CFO of the Boston Grand Prix in January 2015. The Boston Grand Prix organization made payments to or on behalf of Casey totaling approximately $308,292 in 2015 and $601,073 in 2016 which Casey failed to include in the gross income he claimed on his personal tax returns for those years.

The indictment also alleges that Casey owned an ice rink in Peabody between October 2013 and June 1, 2016. Between October 2014 and October 2016, Casey obtained over $743,000 in funds from equipment financing companies, purportedly for the purchase of equipment for the ice rink. In addition, in August 2016, more than two months after he sold the Peabody rink, Casey obtained over $145,000 in small business loans for the rink business. In order to secure the financing, Casey allegedly submitted materially false documents and information, including fake invoices for the equipment, bank records purporting to show deposits into Casey’s accounts related to the Peabody rink, falsely inflated personal and corporate tax returns, and personal financial statements falsely claiming ownership and value of various assets. Casey also allegedly submitted a fake Deed of Sale containing a forged signature in support of one of his loan applications. Relying on Casey’s false statements, the financing companies provided funding to Casey in amounts and on terms they otherwise would not have made. Most of the funds provided by the victim companies were never repaid. 

Casey is also charged with laundering the proceeds of his fraud scheme, and with failing to include the income from his fraud scheme on his 2014, 2015 and 2016 personal federal tax returns. 

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a consecutive sentence of two years in prison, one year supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of the greater of either $250,000 or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for cocaine trafficking.

Robert Santos, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2019, Santos pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Santos was arrested on Sept. 7, 2018 after police officers observed a silver Hyundai Tucson making an illegal turn. Officers attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop, but Santos, who was driving the car, fled—first in his vehicle, leading police on a car pursuit through South Boston and subsequently on foot into Moakley Park. Santos was apprehended and found in possession of several plastic baggies containing cocaine and crack cocaine weighing a total of 27 grams. 

Santos was sentenced after completing the RISE program.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Looney of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to being a felon in possession of a semi-automatic pistol.

Kyvon Ross, a/k/a Ky-von Ross, 20, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2021. Ross was indicted in September 2019.

Ross possessed a Beretta .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition on May 31, 2019, in Boston. Ross was subsequently arrested and has been in custody since. Ross is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A West Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to child pornography charges. 

Luke Gagnon, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 22, 2021. Gagnon was arrested and charged in January 2020.

From September 2019 to January 2020, Gagnon distributed child pornography. In addition, a hard-drive from a desktop computer belonging to Gagnon contained several videos and images of child pornography.

The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison and the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison because the offense involved prepubescent minors. Both offenses provide for at least five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; West Springfield Police Chief Paul Connor; and South Hadley Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett from Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

BOSTON – An former attorney was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield in connection with attempting to defraud and defrauding clients, investment firms and commercial lenders.

Phillip R. Williams, of Easthampton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 66 months of in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2019, Williams pleaded guilty to wire fraud, engaging in financial transactions greater than $10,000 of proceeds derived from criminal activity, money laundering and tax fraud.

In his capacity as an attorney, Williams maintained various bank accounts, including Lawyers’ Trust Accounts, at several banks. Williams was required to hold clients’ funds in the Lawyers’ Trust Accounts with the care required of a professional fiduciary, for the exclusive benefit of his clients. 

In 2014, Williams engaged in numerous personal transactions with $453,695 belonging to two individuals who had transferred these funds into one of Williams’s Lawyer’s Trust Accounts for purposes of obtaining a bank loan. In April 2015, Williams failed to report the stolen money on his 2014 individual federal income tax return and in September 2015 Williams again failed to report the stolen money on his amended 2014 individual federal income tax return.

In addition, between April 14, 2015 and Nov. 1, 2017, Williams received $230,500 from a client in three checks to purchase land. Williams deposited these funds into his bank accounts, but instead of using those funds to purchase land for the client he engaged in various personal transactions with the money. In order to conceal those personal transactions, Williams sent e-mails to the client that falsely indicated he had used the money to purchase land from at least Nov. 28, 2018 to Dec. 3, 2018,

Between June 2, 2017 and Oct. 17, 2018, Williams fraudulently obtained loans in the name of the client and his company from two commercial lenders: ProBuilder Financial, LLC and Velocity Commercial Capital. For these loans, Williams falsely witnessed or notarized the forged signature of the client, who did not authorize or even know about the fraudulent loan applications. ProBuilder lent a total of $340,000 and Velocity lent a total of $334,000. Williams received four wire transfers of loan proceeds to his bank accounts totaling $379,888, which he spent for his own personal use. In February 2019, after ProBuilder sought repayment of its loans, Williams sent fraudulent e-mails attaching a mortgage on his home that bore the falsely notarized and forged signature of his ex-wife, a false pre-approval letter for a loan to his mother that bore the forged signature of a bank officer, and a false power of attorney that bore the forged signature of the client. 

From Feb. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019, Williams defrauded a private investment firm, Lore Investment Group, LLC, of approximately $1.1 million and attempted to defraud another private investment firm, Battles Capital Investments, of approximately $1.2 million, both concerning his purchase of a property in Saint Petersburg, Fla.

Between Jan. 16, 2019 and March 2, 2019, Williams attempted to defraud three other commercial lenders by obtaining loans (in the amounts of $1.365 million, $1.35 million, and $1.7 million), either on behalf of his client or himself, to purchase another property in Boston. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent In Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A former employee of the Houston Independent School District pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate cheating on the ACT and SAT exams.

Niki D. Williams, 46, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and honest services wire fraud and mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2020. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence at the low end of the sentencing guidelines, one year of supervised release, a fine, forfeiture in the amount of $20,000 and restitution.

Williams administered the SAT and ACT exams at the public high school in Houston where she worked. In exchange for bribe payments directed to her by co-conspirators William “Rick” Singer and Martin Fox, and in violation of her duty of honest services to the ACT and the College Board, Williams allowed another co-conspirator, Mark Riddell, to secretly take ACT and SAT tests in place of the children of Singer’s clients or to replace their exam answers with his own corrected answers. Williams then returned the falsified exams to the ACT and College Board for scoring.

Singer, Riddell and Fox previously pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the government’s investigation. Williams is the 41st defendant to plead guilty in this case.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and cocaine. 

Jose Guerrero, 28, was indicted on two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, three counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Guerrero was previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Aug. 26, 2020. He has been in federal custody since his arrest. 

According to charging documents, Guerrero made five separate sales of fentanyl and oxycodone powder and pills to an undercover law enforcement officer between June and August 2020 in the Saratoga Street area of Lawrence. Shortly after making his fifth sale to the undercover officer, Guerrero was arrested.

The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A North Brookfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.

Seth Decoteau, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 16 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution. In September 2019, Decoteau pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

On June 8, 2018, police initially responded to a 911 call as a result of Decoteau making threats with a gun. Officers subsequently executed a search warrant at Decoteau’s North Brookfield residence and discovered a stockpile of weapons of nine guns, including two assault rifles, a ballistic vest, silencer, nine high-capacity magazines and more than 1,200 rounds of ammunition in his bedroom. Decoteau is prohibited from possessing three of the firearms found and the ammunition because of a prior felony conviction. Decoteau is also prohibited from possessing the short-barreled assault rifle and silencer because he did not follow national registration requirements. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and North Brookfield Police Chief of Police Mark Smith made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and cocaine. 

Jovani Santiago, 29, was indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Santiago was previously charged by complaint and arrested on Aug. 27, 2020. He has been in federal custody since his arrest. 

According to charging documents, Santiago sold approximately 500 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in a Roxbury apartment on Aug. 12, 2020. Additionally, it is alleged that Santiago conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Massachusetts and New York.

The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A former federal firearm licensee pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to firearms charges.

Max T. Gaj, 29, of Belchertown, pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of unregistered firearms, receipt and possession of National Firearm Act (NFA) firearms not identified by serial number, making a firearm in violation of the NFA, selling firearms in violation of state and local laws, and making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required. U.S. District Court Judge Mark D. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021.

Gaj, who was a federal firearms licensee and part owner of Dark Horse Gunsmithing in South Hadley, received and possessed three firearms: a machinegun, a machinegun bearing no serial number and a shotgun. The firearms were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by the NFA. Gaj also made a machinegun in violation of the NFA.

In addition, Gaj sold two firearms, a Glock Model 17 pistol and a Glock Model 43 pistol in violation of state law. Gaj also made false entries, failed to make appropriate entries and failed to properly maintained records as required of a federal firearms licensee.

The charges of receipt and possession of unregistered firearms, receipt and possession of NFA firearms not identified by serial number, and making a firearm in violation of the NFA provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of selling firearms in violation of state and local laws provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false entries in, failing to make appropriate entries in, and failing to properly maintain records as required provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Roxbury landlord has agreed to pay an $8,500 settlement to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to the federal government after receiving impermissible water utility payments and excess rent from a low income tenant while participating in a federal housing subsidy program.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal funding through the Federal Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly referred to as “Section 8,” to assist low income individuals in securing safe housing. HUD provides funding through vouchers that are administered by local public housing agencies. HUD pays the housing subsidy, which may cover all or a portion of a tenant’s monthly rent, including certain utilities, directly to the landlord. As a condition for receiving the housing subsidy, the landlord contractually agrees not to charge the Section 8 tenant rent in excess of the amount set by the public housing agency. 

Despite this restriction, Flemin Ortiz allegedly demanded and received monthly water utility payments from a Section 8 tenant for over four and a half years between November 2014 and June 2019, and excess rent for four months between March and June 2019. The Section 8 tenant first raised this allegation in a lawsuit filed against the defendant under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.                                                    

“The Section 8 program provides precious funding allowing low-income families to afford safe housing,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.  “We will hold accountable landlords who benefit from the program and then take advantage of their tenants.”

“This settlement is the latest example of our continued commitment to hold landlords accountable for actions that seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our poorest neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.

The False Claims Act allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud to bring civil actions on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The settlement agreement requires the defendant to pay $8,500 to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and HUD OIG SAC Scaringi made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of Lelling’s Office handled the matter.

BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fentanyl conspiracy.

Jonathan Bermudez, 23, of Lowell, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2021.

During the course of several months, using an undercover police officer, a federal investigation uncovered Bermudez’s fentanyl distribution operation. Although Bermudez was arrested on April 2, 2019, he connected the undercover police officer with his co-defendant so they could continue the fentanyl distribution operation.

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. During the course of this investigation, valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Andover, North Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fentanyl distribution.

Santiago Rubel Guerrero Tejeda, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 18 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In May 2020, Guerrero Tejeda pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Guerrero Tejeda sold 157.9 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl to an undercover officer in September 2019.

He was arrested and charged by complaint in September 2019 as part of a coordinated law enforcement operation in and around the Merrimack Valley known as “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the North Andover Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of Lelling’s office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead), based in Foster City, Calif., has agreed to pay $97 million to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by illegally using a foundation, Caring Voice Coalition (CVC), as a conduit to pay the Medicare co-pays for its own drug, Letairis.

When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively, co-pays). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration – which includes money or any other thing of value – to induce Medicare patients to purchase the companies’ drugs.

As part of today’s settlement, the government alleged that Gilead used CVC, which claimed 501(c)(3) status for tax purposes, as a conduit to pay the co-pay obligations of thousands of Medicare patients taking Letairis, which is approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).  According to the government’s allegations, Gilead used CVC to cover the patients’ co-pays in order to induce those patients’ purchases of Letairis. Gilead knew that the prices it set for Letairis otherwise could have posed a barrier to those purchases.

The government specifically alleged that, from June 15, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2010, Gilead routinely obtained data from CVC detailing how many Letairis patients CVC had assisted, how much CVC had spent on those patients, and how much CVC expected to spend on those patients in the future. Gilead allegedly received this information through funding requests, telephone calls, and written reports. Gilead then used this information to budget for future payments to CVC to cover the co-pays of patients taking Letairis, but not of patients taking other manufacturers’ PAH drugs. The government alleged that Gilead engaged in this practice even though it knew it should not receive or use data concerning CVC’s expenditures on co-pays for Letairis. The government also alleged that, to generate revenue from Medicare, Gilead referred Medicare patients to CVC, which resulted in claims to Medicare to cover the cost of Letairis.

“Like its competitors, Actelion and United Therapeutics, Gilead used data from CVC that it knew it should not have, and effectively set up a proprietary fund within CVC to cover the co-pays of just its own drug,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Such conduct not only violates the anti-kickback statute, it also undermines the Medicare program’s co-pay structure, which Congress created as a safeguard against inflated drug prices. During the period covered by today’s settlement, Gilead raised the price of Letairis by over seven times the rate of overall inflation in the United States.”

“This settlement, like prior settlements concerning similar misconduct, demonstrates the government’s commitment to hold accountable companies that pay illegal kickbacks, whether directly or through a third party,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will not permit pharmaceutical manufacturers to set unaffordable drug prices while circumventing important cost-control mechanisms within the Medicare program.”

“When pharmaceutical companies deceitfully employ the charitable donation process as an instrument to subsidize copays for their own drugs, it subverts a critical safeguard against the excessive inflation of drug costs,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge, Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office.  “Manipulation of this process threatens the integrity of our federal healthcare system, disregarding the American taxpayer who ultimately bears the cost.  As such, we remain vigilantly focused on confronting this type of conduct and will continue our aggressive enforcement in this area.”

“Health care fraud costs our country tens of billions of dollars each year because of unscrupulous schemes like the one Gilead orchestrated that dangled kickbacks disguised as copay assistance in front of Medicare patients,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division. “Today’s $97 million settlement ensures Gilead pays for defrauding a government insurance program and reaffirms the FBI’s resolve to pursue investigations and exhaust all efforts to uncover these schemes.”

To date, the Department of Justice has collected over $1 billion from eleven pharmaceutical companies (United Therapeutics, Pfizer, Actelion, Jazz, Lundbeck, Alexion, Astellas, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, and Gilead) that allegedly used third-party foundations as kickback vehicles. The Department also has reached settlements with four foundations (Patient Access Network Foundation, Chronic Disease Fund, The Assistance Fund, and Patient Services, Inc.) and a pharmacy (Advanced Care Scripts, Inc.) that allegedly conspired or coordinated with pharmaceutical companies on these kickback schemes.

U.S. Attorney Lelling, Acting Assistant Attorney General Clark, HHS-OIG SAC Coyne and Boston FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg Shapiro and Abraham George of Lelling’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, and Trial Attorneys Sarah Arni and Augustine Ripa of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.

BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty today to her role in a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018.

Tatiana Fridkes, a/k/a Sonya, 34, of Dorchester, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2021. 

Fridkes and Deana Martin, 52, of Milton, were indicted in May 2019 in connection with their management of Northern Herb, a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018. Martin was also charged with one count of possessing more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and three counts of money laundering, and has pleaded not guilty.

According to court documents, Fridkes served as the office manager for Northern Herb.  Fridkes coordinated with Martin on finances, marijuana suppliers, marijuana inventory, deliveries, workers and warehouse operations. Fridkes managed Northern Herb employees when Martin was not present, collected and organized cash from marijuana sales and paid cash wages to Northern Herb employees.

From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb had total revenue exceeding $14 million. Northern Herb did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in marijuana sales, did not remit or pay employment taxes in connection with its workforce and did not pay taxes on its profits. Northern Herb was not licensed by Massachusetts or any other governmental entity to sell or distribute marijuana. While Northern Herb purported to provide medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card and would deliver marijuana to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties might have access to it.

Fridkes faces a sentence of five to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The United States Postal Inspection Service also provided valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment and complaint are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Whitman man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for child pornography offenses.

Matthew Kulikowski, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 151 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In January 2020, Kulikowski pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Kulikowski was arrested and charged in September 2018, and has been in custody since that time.

Law enforcement learned that an internet user at Kulikowski’s Whitman home distributed child pornography using the Kik messenger application. A search of the home resulted in the seizure of a tablet located in Kulikowski’s bedroom that contained at least 300 images and videos depicting child pornography, including the sexual assault of girls who appeared to be between four-and-eight-years-old.

At the time of his arrest, Kulikowski was on pretrial release from Plymouth County Superior Court, where he had a case pending for multiple child exploitation offenses, including possession of child pornography, disseminating obscene material to a minor, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and enticement of a child under 16.  He has since been convicted of those offenses.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, Whitman Police Department and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for the May 1, 2019 armed bank robbery in Somerville that resulted in shots fired.

Daniel Rosado, 32, of Providence, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 17 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2020, Rosado pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery, one count of brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rosado was arrested and charged on May 23, 2019, and has been in custody since.

“As Rosado was robbing a Somerville bank at gunpoint, a passing police officer entered the bank, exchanged gunfire with Rosado, and chased him out the door. Good police work later led to his arrest and conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “This is today’s reminder of what police officers actually do each day: they risk their lives to keep us safe.”

“For his own greed and selfishness, Daniel Rosado robbed a bank, shot at a police officer, and terrorized innocent bystanders at gunpoint. Had he not been identified and arrested by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, this convicted felon would still pose a significant threat to public safety. Our communities are now safer with him behind bars,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

On May 1, 2019, a man, later identified as Rosado, entered the Middlesex Federal Savings Bank in Somerville, brandished a handgun, fired a shot into the ceiling, and pointed the firearm at customers and bank employees. Rosado yelled: “Get down!,” “Everybody on the ground!,” “Second Drawer,” “Hurry Up!” and “Give me money or I’ll shoot!” Customers and bank employees laid on the floor, while the robber approached a teller window, threw a backpack at the teller and demanded money.

While the teller filled the backpack with money, a customer exited the bank and flagged down a marked police cruiser. The police officer entered the bank, pointed his gun at the robber and ordered him to freeze. In response, Rosado faced the officer, pointed his gun in the officer’s direction and fired one shot. The officer shot back. During the exchange of gunfire, Rosado exited the bank and the officer chased after him on foot.  

As Rosado fled down College Avenue in Somerville, a bystander, noticing that Rosado was being pursued by a police officer, attempted to tackle Rosado, which caused Rosado to drop his backpack. Rosado kept running, and witnesses eventually lost sight of him. A Webley revolver loaded with four unfired rounds of ammunition, two cartridge casings and more than $500 was recovered from the backpack.

Further investigation, including forensic analysis of the backpack, linked the DNA profile found on the backpack to Rosado. A subsequent review of Rosado’s driver’s license photo matched the images of the robber captured on video surveillance at the bank.

According to court records, Rosado has prior felony convictions, including negligent operation of a motor vehicle, larceny from a person and witness intimidation and assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Due to these prior convictions, Rosado is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

U.S Attorney Lelling; Boston FBI SAC Bonavolonta; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and the Providence (R.I.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty today to his role in a cocaine conspiracy.

William Torres, a/k/a Poro, 34, of Tao Baja, P.R., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2020. In April 2019, Torres was charged and arrested in San Juan, P.R.

A federal investigation revealed that, around October 2018, Torres made arrangements for his associate, Melvin Burgos, to obtain a kilogram of cocaine from Julio Rivera. Torres provided Burgos with Rivera’s number, and on Nov. 1, 2018, Burgos and Rivera met at a storage facility in Worcester. Police subsequently stopped the men and inside the vehicle driven by Burgos they found approximately 900 grams of cocaine. Inside Rivera’s vehicle, law enforcement found a phone that had been used to contact Torres. 

Burgos and Rivera were arrested on state charges that day and have since been charged in federal court in Worcester. Burgos pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8, 2021. Rivera has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.  

Torres faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Abely and John Mulcahy of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Fitchburg man pleaded guilty today to enticement of a minor and child pornography charges in federal court in Worcester.   

Ryan Decarolis, 27, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2021. Decarolis has been in custody since his arrest on Aug. 2, 2019.

Decarolis admitted that he used a social media account to communicate with an individual who was subsequently charged with production and distribution of child pornography. With the consent of that individual, an undercover federal agent assumed control of that individual’s account and began communicating in an undercover capacity with Decarolis. In January 2019, Decarolis distributed child pornography to the undercover officer, and in April 2019, Decarolis provided the undercover officer with access to his Dropbox account, which contained hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography. Included in that material was at least one video that depicted Decarolis sexually assaulting a young boy.  

In August 2019, during a search of Decarolis’s Fitchburg residence, agents seized a tablet belonging to Decarolis that contained additional videos depicting child pornography. In addition, agents identified a second Dropbox account used by Decarolis that contained videos depicting the sexual exploitation of several children. Included within that material were numerous images and videos that Decarolis produced himself, some of which depicted Decarolis separately sexually assaulting at least four boys under the age of 12. 

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a minimum mandatory of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum mandatory of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison because the material involved a child who had not attained the age of 12, a minimum mandatory of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett from Lelling’s Worcester Office is prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

BOSTON – A Duxbury man was sentenced in federal court today for a child pornography offense.

Louis Ackerman Jr., 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In May 2020, Ackerman pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Ackerman was arrested and charged in November 2019.

On Nov. 15, 2019, federal agents executed a search warrant at Ackerman Jr.’s home and located an iMac computer and two hard drives belonging to him. An onsite forensic review revealed images and videos of child pornography on that computer. From under Ackerman Jr.’s bed, agents recovered printed material which depicted child pornography. Elsewhere in the residence, agents recovered DVDs which depicted child pornography. Further review of the computer and other materials seized from the residence revealed approximately 295 videos and approximately 322 images of child pornography, including prepubescent minors under the age of 12. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Field Division; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend; and Duxbury Police Chief Stephen McDonald made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

BOSTON – Two Connecticut men were charged in federal court in Springfield on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 in connection with the theft of 17 firearms from a firearms store in West Springfield.

Fernando Rivera, 24, and Christian Castro, 29, were charged in a criminal complaint with one count each of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee.

As alleged in charging documents, on Aug. 29, 2020, Rivera, Castro and others drove in two cars, one of which was stolen and driven by Castro, from Connecticut through Massachusetts to Vermont and New Hampshire, and then back through those three states to Connecticut. At various locations in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, members of this group either stole, or attempted to steal, ATMs. Finally, in West Springfield, both cars stopped near a firearms store, and three men exited the car driven by Castro, broke the doors of the store and stole 17 firearms of various calibers. The cars then returned to Connecticut, where the stolen car was abandoned.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.     

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement. The West Springfield Police Department, New Britain (Conn.) Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

BOSTON – A California insurance and private equity executive pleaded guilty today in connection with using fraud and bribery to cheat on the ACT exam on behalf of his daughter.

Mark Hauser, 59, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2021.

According to the terms of Hauser’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of six months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $40,000 and restitution.

Hauser agreed with William “Rick” Singer to pay an amount, ultimately totaling $40,000, to facilitate cheating on his daughter’s ACT exam. As part of the scheme, co-conspirator Mark Riddell traveled to Houston, Texas, where Hauser’s daughter took the exam and purported to proctor the test. Instead, Riddell corrected the answers on the exam after she completed it. Two days later, Singer paid an intermediary, Martin Fox, $25,000, with the understanding that Fox would pass part of the payment on to Niki Williams, the test site administrator who allowed the cheating to occur. Singer also paid Riddell $10,000 for his role in the scheme.

Singer, Riddell and Fox have previously pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the government’s investigation. Williams has agreed to plead guilty. The details contained in the court documents are allegations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Stephen E. Frank and Karin M. Bell of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The owner of Everett and Worcester auto body shops pleaded guilty today to a payroll tax scheme resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of more than $290,000.   

Adam Haddad, 43, of Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding the preparation of false tax returns before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2021. Haddad was charged in August 2020.

For tax quarters ending in March 2015 through June 2017, Haddad paid a significant portion of the wages to employees of his company, Accurate Collision, Inc. “under the table.” In doing so, Haddad caused Accurate Collision, Inc. to file false returns with the IRS which underreported the actual wages he had paid his employees as well as the employment taxes due to the IRS. In total, Haddad caused a loss to the IRS of at least $292,231.

The charging statue provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Securities, Financial and Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Southbridge man was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for cocaine possession.

Revel Pedro Rivera, 42, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Rivera was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2020. 

According to charging documents, in early July 2020, federal agents intercepted a package containing a kilogram of cocaine that was shipped to Rivera’s residence. Agents removed the cocaine and replaced it with a counterfeit substance. On July 6, 2020, Rivera accepted delivery of the package and was arrested as he left the property with the package that he believed contained cocaine.  

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joseph W. Cronin, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A former Holyoke kindergarten teacher was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possession of child pornography.

Gregory Lisby, 40, of Worcester, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2020, Lisby pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Lisby was arrested and charged on Sept. 13, 2019, and resigned the day before from his position as a kindergarten teacher for the Holyoke Public Schools.

Law enforcement discovered an image depicting child pornography that had been uploaded to a Microsoft OneDrive account that belonged to Lisby. Approximately 180 images and 15 videos of child pornography were identified on the OneDrive. On Sept. 11, 2019, a search was executed at Lisby’s home where Lisby’s iPad and cellphone were recovered. On those devices, investigators found login credentials for the OneDrive account used to store the child pornography.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Worcester, Holyoke, Northboro and Southboro Police Departments and the Massachusetts State Police provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.