District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scam in which he and co-conspirators defrauded victims by pretending to be employees of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Leonel Alexis Valerio Santana, 28, pleaded guilty to two conspiracies: a conspiracy to commit money laundering, and a separate conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to impersonate a federal employee, and to misuse a government seal. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Aug. 14, 2018. In January 2018, Valerio Santana was arrested and charged by criminal complaint along with co-conspirator Frank Gregory Cedeno, 27, of Ocoee, Fla.

From at least June 2015 through November 2017, Valerio Santana conspired with others to defraud victims by pretending to be employees of the SEC. In that guise, members of the conspiracy demanded money from victims, directing them to send it to members of the conspiracy, including members in Boston. The conspirators who received the money generally withdrew it from bank accounts quickly, then forwarded much of it to individuals in the Dominican Republic, including to Valerio Santana, who received it. In one common version of the scam, victims received e-mails that used official-seeming documentation with the SEC seal to support a false claim that the victim must pay a fee in order to receive a portion of a legal settlement. In another version of the scheme, victims received e-mails and official-seeming documents labeling the victim as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging that the victim owed tens of thousands of dollars in supposed disgorgement, penalties and fees. The documents gave the victim a choice of either appearing in court to contest the lawsuit or paying a smaller fee.

Between June 2015 and June 2017, there were at least 95 victims targeted by the scam, with fraudulent solicitations exceeding $1.3 million and actual losses of more than $235,000.

Cedeno was indicted in March 2018 and has pleaded not guilty.

The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss in the offense, and restitution. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the funds involved in the money laundering offense, whichever is greater. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Carl W. Hoecker, Inspector General of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez‑Daple of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court 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 West Yarmouth woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to stealing Social Security disability benefits.   

Crystal Lehtola, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2018. Lehtola was arrested and charged in August 2017.

From February 2011 through August 2016, Lehtola received approximately $64,953 in benefits from the Social Security Administration intended for her disabled daughter. In order to be appointed as her daughter’s representative payee, Lehtola told Social Security that her daughter lived with her and that she was her daughter’s guardian. However, in April 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families removed Lehtola’s daughter from her care, and although Lehtola never regained custody, she repeatedly advised Social Security that her daughter lived with her and that she spent all of the benefits on her daughter’s care. In reality, Lehtola spent the funds on her own expenses.

The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 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. 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 Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a settlement agreement today with Charlwell House, a skilled nursing facility in Norwood, to resolve allegations that the facility violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by refusing to accept a patient because they were being treated for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Charlwell House is a 124-bed health and rehabilitation center that provides skilled nursing services and rehabilitation programs. According to a complaint filed with the United States Attorney’s Office, an individual seeking admission for treatment at Charlwell House was denied because they were being treated with Suboxone, a medication used to treat OUD. Individuals receiving treatment for OUD are generally considered disabled under the ADA, which among other things prohibits private healthcare providers from discriminating on the basis of disability.

“Our office is committed to protecting the rights of people with disabilities, which includes those in treatment for an Opioid Use Disorder,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “The number one enforcement priority of my office is addressing Massachusetts’ opioid crisis. Overdoses killed more than 2,000 individuals in Massachusetts last year alone. As Massachusetts faces this overdose epidemic, now more than ever, individuals in recovery must not face discriminatory barriers to treatment. We appreciate the cooperation that Charlwell House has offered throughout our investigation.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Charlwell House will, among other things, adopt a non-discrimination policy, provide training on the ADA and OUD to admissions personnel, and pay a civil penalty of $5,000 to the United States.

This matter was handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of Lelling’s Civil Rights Unit.

The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement.  For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights. 

BOSTON – The operators of a family-owned business in Millbury were indicted today in federal court in Worcester on charges that they used their business to cover up a drug conspiracy. 

Thomas Laverty, 38, of Clinton; Charles Laverty, 61, of Millbury; and Andrea Laverty, 61, of Millbury, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants and one count of conspiracy to launder money. In addition, Thomas was charged with one count and Charles with two counts of manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Thomas was also charged with theft of government funds relating to his receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In October 2017, all three defendants were charged by criminal complaint and arrested.

According to court documents, Andrea, Charles, and their son, Thomas, used their business, Chuck Laverty & Son Inc., as a front for a large-scale, commercial marijuana cultivation and distribution operation. Laverty & Son vehicles, bank accounts, and locations were used to facilitate drug manufacturing, storage and distribution. 

On Oct. 17, 2017, two search warrants were executed, one at the business warehouse in Clinton, which is attached to Thomas Laverty’s residence, where agents found a commercial-style marijuana grow operation, including more than 1,000 plants; and another at the residence of Charles and Andrea Laverty in Millbury, where agents found a large quantity of marijuana being dried and processed, as well as another marijuana grow operation.

On the drug charges, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $10 million (except for one charge of manufacturing and possession with intent to distribute, for which Charles faces a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, two years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000). The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000. The SNAP fraud charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five 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; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Kristina O'Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office 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 – A Jamaican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft.

Basil Ledgister, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of misuse of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Aug. 8, 2018.

In January 2015, Ledgister falsely represented that a Social Security number belonging to another person was his in an application for a license at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Ledgister committed aggravated identity theft by using the Social Security number of another person in committing the crime of false representation of a Social Security number.

False representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $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; Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Boston Field Office; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Richardson of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON - A Ghanaian national was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal possession of identification documents and aggravated identity theft.

Stephen Okyere Budu, a/k/a Yaw Okyere, 38, a citizen of Ghana residing in Worcester, was charged in an indictment with possession of five or more false identification documents and aggravated identity theft. Budu was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2018.

According to court documents, on March 7, 2018, federal agents executed a search warrant at Budu’s apartment in Worcester, where they seized computers and a printer. An initial forensic review of one of the computers revealed files containing more than 180 Massachusetts driver’s licenses with various names and photographs.

During the execution of the search warrant, agents interviewed Budu, who stated that he was a citizen of Ghana, had arrived in the United States a few years earlier on a visa, that he had overstayed his visa, and was unsure of his immigration status.

The charge of illegally possessing five or more identification documents provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court. 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; Delany De Leon-Colon, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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 Canton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for selling cocaine.

Jerry Orozco, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to eight months in prison and six years of supervised release. In February 2018, Orozco pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

On Feb. 16, 2017, Orozco was caught on video in a sting operation selling 5.8 grams of cocaine to a witness working with government agents. The witness paid Orozco $200 in exchange for the cocaine. The transaction occurred in a parking lot at the intersection of Columbia Road and Harvard Street in Boston.

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

BOSTON – A man dubbed the “Incognito Bandit” was charged in federal court in Boston today with an additional count of armed bank robbery.

Albert Taderera, 36, of Brighton, was charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of bank robbery: the Oct. 16, 2015, armed bank robbery of a branch of the Winchester Savings Bank in Arlington and the Oct. 7, 2016, armed robbery of a branch of TD Bank in Wayland. In March 2017, Taderera was charged by criminal complaint and arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia as he attempted to board an outbound flight to South Africa.

According to court documents, between February 2015 and March 2017, 16 banks were robbed in the Metro-West and Greater Boston areas. In most of the robberies, the robber was disguised in a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark face mask/sunglasses covering his face, dark gloves and dark clothing. In each case, the robber entered the bank and made verbal demands for the banks’ money. In most of the robberies, the robber displayed what tellers described as a black semi-automatic handgun.

All of the robberies occurred in suburban settings where banks were freestanding and featured adjacent wooded areas or foliage. After many of these robberies, witnesses observed the robber leave the bank and enter the wooded areas. Witnesses also observed the robber flee the area in a black BMW sedan. Based on these similarities, investigators believed that the individual driving the black BMW was responsible for the robberies.

On March 16, 2017, the Concord Police observed a black BMW sedan sitting outside a local bank. They also noted that Taderera fit the general description of the individual responsible for numerous recent robberies. Police determined that the registration of the BMW was revoked and per Department policy, the vehicle was towed and inventoried.

On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, an individual identifying himself as Taderera, called the tow company and inquired about the status of his BMW. The tow company informed Taderera that the vehicle was in police custody.

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, at approximately 10:15 pm, law enforcement learned that Taderera had booked a flight, scheduled to leave on Friday, March 24, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., from Dulles International Airport to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the morning of March 24, 2017, Taderera was en route to Dulles having taken a flight out of Boston. It was later learned that Taderera had rebooked his flight and was now planning to leave on March 24, 2017, at 5:45 p.m. from Dulles to Johannesburg, South Africa. Taderera was arrested prior to boarding the flight.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; William Ferrara, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Concord Police Chief Joseph F. O’Connor made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit 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 the court of law. 

BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for a federal firearms charge.

Steven Rivera, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2018, Rivera pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Rivera was arrested on June 29, 2017, as part of a coordinated federal and state law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrests of nine individuals who have been charged with firearms-related offenses. 

On Feb. 14, 2017, Rivera – who has multiple prior felony convictions, including drug-related offenses – sold two handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition to a cooperating source in Worcester. On Feb. 28, 2017, Rivera sold the cooperating source two more handguns (one of which was inoperable) and numerous rounds of ammunition.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Wilmington man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to dealing fentanyl.

Bryan Moran, 35, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 3, 2018.

In June 2016, Moran was arrested and charged after investigators seized approximately 80 grams of fentanyl from a storage unit in North Reading. In October 2017, a superseding indictment added a five-year mandatory minimum sentence against Moran; however, due to a 2003 conviction in federal court for heroin conspiracy, Moran faces a 10-year mandatory minimum.

Moran faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least eight years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $8 million, 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; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis; and North Reading Police Chief Michael Murphy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON - A Newton man, who was charged with conducting an extensive cyberstalking campaign against his former housemate, her family members, co-workers, friends, and others, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to 25 offenses.

Ryan S. Lin, 25, pleaded guilty to seven counts of cyberstalking, five counts of distribution of child pornography, nine counts of making hoax bomb threats, three counts of computer fraud and abuse and one count of aggravated identity theft. As part of Lin’s plea agreement, Lin agreed to be sentenced to a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 17 ½ years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled the sentencing hearing for Sept. 14, 2018. Lin was arrested in October 2017 and has been in custody since.

From May 2016 through Oct. 5, 2017, Lin engaged in an extensive cyberstalking campaign against a 24-year-old female victim. Lin hacked into the victim’s online accounts and devices and stole the victim’s private photographs, personally identifiable information, and private diary entries, which contained highly sensitive details about her medical, psychological and sexual history, and distributed the material to hundreds of people associated with her.

Lin also created and posted fraudulent online profiles in the victim’s name and solicited rape fantasies, including “gang bang,” and other sexual activities, which in turn caused men to show up at the victim’s home. He also engaged in a number of other activities targeting the female victim, including relentless anonymous text messaging and hoaxes.

In addition to his former housemate, Lin engaged in cyberstalking activity aimed at six other individuals. Some were associated with the former housemate, and others were entirely unrelated. The additional victims include a female who was also Lin’s housemate in Newton at the time of Lin’s arrest. On multiple occasions, Lin also sent sexually explicit images of prepubescent children on an unsolicited basis to the victim’s mother, the victim’s co-worker and housemate, a friend of the victim who resided in New Jersey, and two of Lin’s former classmates in New York.

Furthermore, Lin falsely and repeatedly reported to law enforcement that there were bombs at the victim’s Waltham residence. Lin also created a false social media profile in the name of the victim’s housemate in Waltham and posted that he was going to “shoot up” a school in Waltham, stating that there would be “blood and corpses everywhere.” These threats expanded beyond Waltham and became part of an extensive and prolonged pattern of threats to local schools, private homes, businesses, and other institutions in the broader community. Ultimately, Lin pleaded guilty to having made over 100 bomb threats, including 24 in a single day. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and Watertown, Newton and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart, Chief of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit, and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case. 

A Newton, Massachusetts man, who was charged with conducting an extensive cyberstalking campaign against his former housemate, her family members, co-workers, friends, and others, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to all charges in a 25-count Information. 

Ryan S. Lin, 25, pleaded guilty to seven counts of cyberstalking, five counts of distribution of child pornography, nine counts of making hoax bomb threats, three counts of computer fraud and abuse and one count of aggravated identity theft.   As part of Lin’s plea agreement, Lin agreed to be sentenced to a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 17 ½ years in prison.   Judge William G. Young scheduled the sentencing hearing for Sep. 14. Lin was arrested in October 2017 and has been held in custody since. 

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts, Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw of the FBI Boston Field Office and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson made the announcement today.

According to the Information to which Lin pleaded guilty, from about May 2016 through Oct. 5, 2017, Lin engaged in an extensive cyberstalking campaign against a 24-year-old female victim. Lin, the victim’s former housemate, hacked into the victim’s online accounts and devices and stole the victim’s private photographs, personally identifiable information, and private diary entries, which contained highly sensitive details about her medical, psychological and sexual history, and distributed the victim’s material to hundreds of people associated with her.

Lin also created and posted fraudulent online profiles in the victim’s name and solicited rape fantasies, including “gang bang” and other sexual activities, which in turn caused men to show up at the victim’s home. Lin engaged in a number of other activities targeting the female victim, including relentless anonymous text messaging and additional hoaxes, from shortly after he met her until October 2017.    

In addition to his former housemate, Lin engaged in cyberstalking activity aimed at six additional individuals. Some were associated with the former housemate, and others were entirely unrelated. The additional victims include a female victim that was also Lin’s housemate in Newton at the time of his arrest. On multiple occasions, Lin sent sexually explicit images of prepubescent children on an unsolicited basis to the victim’s mother, the victim’s co-worker and housemate, a friend of the victim who resided in New Jersey, and two of Lin’s former classmates in New York.

In addition to the cyberstalking activity, Lin falsely and repeatedly reported to law enforcement that there were bombs at the victim’s Waltham, Massachusetts residence. Lin also created a false social media profile in the name of the victim’s housemate in Waltham and posted that he was going to “shoot up” a school in Waltham, stating that there would be “blood and corpses everywhere.”  These threats expanded beyond Waltham and became part of an extensive and prolonged pattern of threats to local schools, private homes, businesses, and other institutions in the broader community.  Ultimately, Lin pleaded guilty to having made over 100 bomb threats, including 24 in a single day. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Boston Field Office and the Waltham Police Department.  The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and Watertown, Newton and Wellesley Police Departments assisted in the investigation. Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart, Chief of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – An MS-13 member pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 16-year-old boy in East Boston.  

Edwin Diaz, a/k/a “Demente,” 20, a Salvadoran national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Aug. 20, 2018.

At today’s hearing, the Court accepted the defendant’s guilty plea but deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until the sentencing. Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, Diaz will be sentenced to 35 years in prison and be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 

After a multi-year investigation, Diaz was one of dozens of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 named in a superseding indictment unsealed in January 2016 that targeted MS-13’s criminal activities in Massachusetts. Diaz is the 45th defendant to be convicted as part of that ongoing prosecution.

Diaz was a “homeboy,” or full member, of MS-13’s “Westers” clique. On Jan. 10, 2016, Diaz and other MS-13 members murdered a 16-year-old boy whom they believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang. The victim was stabbed and shot multiple times. A few days after the murder, Diaz was caught on tape admitting to stabbing the victim multiple times, and he was arrested soon thereafter.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter Fitzhugh,  Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement.

The remaining defendants charged in this case are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Lynn man was arrested today and charged in connection with taking and attempting to sell two Warhol paintings on eBay.

Brian R. Walshe, 43, of Lynn, was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with one count of wire fraud. During an initial appearance today, Walshe was detained pending a probable cause and detention scheduled for Friday, May 11, 2017 before U.S District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal.

According to court documents, in early November 2016, a buyer found two Andy Warhol paintings for sale on eBay. The paintings were two of Warhol’s “Shadows,” a series of untitled, abstract canvas paintings from 1978. The original listing price for the paintings was $100,000. The eBay seller included in the advertisement photographs of the paintings, a picture of an invoice from Fleishman Fine Art for the two Warhol Shadow paintings with Warhol Foundation numbers and a purchase price of $240,000.  

It is alleged that the buyer believed the paintings were authentic and between Nov. 3 and 5, 2016, arranged with Walshe – the seller – to purchase the artwork outside of eBay for $80,000. Walshe and the buyer signed a contract which specified that the buyer had three days to terminate the contract and get a full refund if the buyer did not accept the artwork. On Nov. 7, 2016, the buyer’s assistant flew to Boston, and met Walshe to retrieve the paintings, providing him with a cashier’s check for $80,000. According to bank records, the cashier’s check was deposited that day into an account that Walshe controlled, and $33,400 was subsequently withdrawn in the following 14 days. On Nov. 8, 2016, the buyer removed the paintings’ frames and found no Warhol Foundation authentication stamps and also noticed that the canvasses and staples looked new. When he compared the paintings to the photographs from the eBay listing, they did not look identical. The buyer concluded that the paintings he purchased from Walshe were not authentic. The buyer then repeatedly attempted to contact Walshe, who initially did not respond, and then made excuses for the delay in refunding the buyer’s money.

In 2007, an employee of Fleishman Fine Art purchased the paintings from Jablonka Gallery in Germany for a client.  The true owner of the paintings was a South Korean national who has known Walshe personally since 1994. 

According to court documents, the South Korean national (the victim) purchased a number of pieces of art from the gallery employee. Walshe was present when the victim first purchased a Warhol painting. Sometime after this purchase, the victim purchased the two Shadow paintings from the gallery employee, who had since left the gallery but was still dealing in fine art. Thereafter, while visiting the victim in South Korea, Walshe told the victim that he could sell some of the art for a good price. The victim agreed, and let Walshe take the two Shadow paintings, and other fine art pieces.

It is alleged that after Walshe took the items, the victim did not hear from Walshe and was unable to contact him. Eventually, the victim contacted a mutual friend, who met with Walshe and retrieved some of the art. According to court documents, on May 3, 2011, Walshe attempted to consign the Warhol paintings to a gallery in New York City, at which time he also had other art belonging to the victim. The gallery declined to accept the paintings because Walshe did not have a bill of sale.

It is alleged that Walshe took the art from the victim, and falsely offered the authentic Warhol paintings for sale on eBay, but delivered fake paintings to the buyer. The investigation is ongoing.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 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 and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The Lynn Police Department provided assistance with the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit 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 the court of law. 

BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Eddy Espinal-Diaz, 33, a Dominican national formerly residing in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2018.

Law enforcement in Middleton encountered Espinal-Diaz on Nov. 9, 2017, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Espinal-Diaz was previously deported on Aug. 18, 2015.

Espinal-Diaz faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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 Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A corrections officer at a Massachusetts Correctional Institute facility in Norfolk (MCI-Norfolk) was arrested today and charged in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle Suboxone strips into the facility for an inmate.

William Holts, 51, of Pawtucket, R.I., was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Holts, an employee of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal. A detention and probable cause hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 11, 2018.

As alleged in court documents, beginning around April 30, 2018, Holts advised an inmate, for whom he had smuggled other contraband, that he was willing to smuggle drugs into MCI-Norfolk in exchange for cash. In a series of recorded calls, Holts arranged to meet with a source outside the correctional facility to get the cash and obtain drugs to be smuggled in. Holts agreed to bring in over 100 Suboxone strips in exchange for $2,000 in cash. 

According to the complaint, Suboxone is a Class III controlled substance intended to treat heroin addiction, but some abuse the drug to get high. It is coveted as contraband in prisons across the nation and particularly in New England. Suboxone strips, which dissolve under the tongue, may be tucked behind envelope seams and stamps.

The charge of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Thomas A. Turco III of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit 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 the court of law. 

BOSTON - Two Springfield men pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to federal drug and firearms offenses.

Alexis Ayala, 40, and Wilfredo Perez, 38, each pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin. Ayala also pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled their sentencings for Aug. 14, 2018.

On April 5, 2015, Perez and Ayala distributed 200 doses of heroin, worth $550, to a government witness in the area of 122 Central Street in Springfield. Ayala, a previously convicted felon, also sold two firearms to a government witness. Specifically, on Dec. 15, 2015, Ayala sold the witness a Walther P22 pistol equipped with a laser sight, which had been reported stolen to the Springfield Police on Sept. 4, 2014; and on Aug. 8, 2016, Ayala sold the witness a Smith and Wesson MP40c .40 caliber pistol.

The charge of distributing heroin provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to 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; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; and Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Portuguese national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for assaulting a federal officer during his arrest by immigration and customs enforcement officers.

Pedro Ramalho Peixoto, 23, a Portuguese national residing in New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 10 months in prison. Peixoto will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In February 2018, Peixoto pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer.

On Nov. 1, 2016, Peixoto was arrested for trespassing, but failed to appear in Court to face the charge. The New Bedford District Court subsequently issued a warrant for Peixoto’s arrest. On July 5, 2017, Peixoto was arrested in Barnstable on two drug charges. He again failed to appear in court to face charges, and the Barnstable District Court subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest.

On Sept. 17, 2017, law enforcement arrested Peixoto on the two warrants. It was determined that Peixoto entered the United States on June 15, 2014, on a 90 day visa from Portugal, and that Peixoto had overstayed his visa. Immigration officials thus filed a detainer for Peixoto. However, on Sept. 18, 2017, when Peixoto was transferred from New Bedford District Court to Barnstable District Court to face that Court’s warrant, the Barnstable District Court released Peixoto without honoring the immigration detainer.

On Oct. 12, 2017, immigration officers located Peixoto in New Bedford and confronted him about his immigration status in the United States. Peixoto attempted to walk away, at which point the officers restrained Peixoto, who began resisting and shouting. By the time Peixoto was restrained, one of the officers reported being bitten by Peixoto multiple times during the arrest.      

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A former Belmont resident was convicted today by a federal jury in connection with a decade long Ponzi-style investment scheme in which he defrauded 15 investors of over $6 million. 

John William Cranney, a/k/a Jack Cranney, 76, of El Paso, Texas, was convicted following a two-week trial of three counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of mail fraud, and three counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2018. Pending sentencing, Judge Talwani released Cranney on electronic monitoring and restricted his travel to El Paso County, Texas.  

From 2001 through 2012, Cranney solicited money from people with whom he had personal and business relationships and represented that he would invest their money in an investment fund or a retirement plan he said he managed. However, instead of investing the money, Cranney spent his victims’ savings and retirement on his own bills and debts to fund his declining health and nutrition products distributorship. To carry out his scheme, Cranney created shell companies that he named specifically to sound like investment funds. He also set up a sham Employee Stock Ownership Plan to convince victims to transfer their IRA and 401k retirement funds to him. Cranney’s scheme ultimately collapsed in early 2012 when he could not obtain new investment money and initial investors began demanding return of their funds.

The mail and wire fraud charges provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss, whichever is greater. The money laundering charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the criminally derived property in the transaction, 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Carol S. Hamilton, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also received assistance from the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. Trustee’s Office in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Balthazard and Kriss Basil of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Brazilian national pleaded guilty today and was sentenced in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Nivaldo Gomes, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel, who sentenced Gomes to time served, nine days. Gomes will be subject to deportation proceedings.

In March 2018, Gomes was encountered by law enforcement and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Gomes was previously deported on Nov. 14, 2012.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to robbing two banks in the greater Boston area.

Tamea Chambers, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2018. Chambers was arrested on Oct. 24, 2017, charged in federal court, and has been in custody since.

On Oct. 17, 2017, a branch of the East Boston Savings Bank in Roxbury was robbed.  The tellers stated that a black female entered the bank, demanded money and stated that she had a gun. The tellers gave the robber cash from their drawers and the robber exited the bank. Information, including pictures of the robber, was disseminated on various public websites and provided to local media. Two days later, on Oct. 19, 2017, a branch of Bank of America in Brookline was robbed. The tellers described the robber as a black female wearing a dark wig and reported that the robber entered the bank, stated that she had a gun and demanded cash. Based on the similar descriptions by the tellers at both banks, law enforcement suspected that the same individual was involved in both robberies.

Video footage from a business adjoining one of the banks captured images of the female robber, later determined to be Chambers, in the company of a man. The man, later determined to be Paul Landrum, and previously dubbed by law enforcement as the “Route 128 Bandit,” was the suspect in eight other bank robberies in the Greater Boston area.

On Oct. 24, 2017, Chambers and Landrum were arrested on unrelated charges and admitted their involvement in the various bank robberies 

On May 1, 2018, Landrum pleaded guilty to bank robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2018.

Chambers faces a sentence of no greater than 20 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 and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The Massachusetts State Police, and the Boston, Brookline, Medford, Somerville, and Wellesley Police Departments assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A member of the Orchard Park Trailblazers Gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling crack cocaine in and around Roxbury’s Orchard Gardens Housing Development.

Tyree Draughn, a/k/a “TY,” 25, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 18 months in prison and six years of supervised release, during which time Draughn will be precluded from entering the Orchard Gardens Housing Development and from being in contact or associating with approximately 20 individuals from the same area. In January 2018, Draughn pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school.

On May 10, 2017, Draughn sold cocaine base to a cooperating witness near a school in Roxbury. Draughn was on pretrial release on two state drug distribution cases at the time of May 10th sale. Since that time, he has been convicted on one of those cases and has also been charged in a third case alleging that was attempting to smuggle drugs into a prison.

The arrests followed a nearly two-year investigation into the high concentration of crime in and around the Orchard Gardens Development, the largest publically funded housing development in Roxbury, which is also adjacent to area schools and Dudley Square. According to court documents, the crime stems, in part, from the illegal activities of the members and associates of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, who allegedly have active feuds with rival gangs throughout the city, which has produced numerous crimes of violence.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans made the announcement today. 

BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement today with Hudson Public Schools regarding its obligations to ensure effective communication for students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   

The agreement addresses how the auxiliary aids and services provisions of the ADA can be used in a school to enable a student with a disability to use remote technology to effectively communicate with other students and teachers and to participate in classroom instruction and other school activities. Specifically, the student had requested to use a “robot” device capable of seeing, hearing and moving around the classroom under the student’s remote control, allowing the student to be able to communicate with teachers and students and participate in interactive classwork.

Per the terms of the agreement, Hudson Public Schools will implement a Disability Equal Opportunity Policy, provide training for staff, and ensure that the school will take appropriate steps to ensure that appropriate auxiliary aids and services are provided, as necessary, for students with disabilities.   

“In addition to facts and figures, students learn important social and collaborative skills in the classroom. As new technologies emerge that enable students with disabilities to be able to communicate effectively in classroom discussions and share more fully in those learning experiences, we must ensure that unnecessary and unlawful barriers do not inhibit their ability to fully participate in the classroom environment,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “We commend Hudson Public Schools for the proactive steps they have already taken to meet this goal, including allowing the student to use the auxiliary aid ‘robot,’ and for their cooperation throughout our investigation.”

Among other things, Title II of the ADA requires public entities, such as public schools, to take those steps necessary to ensure that communications with individuals with disabilities are as effective as communications with others, including through the use of auxiliary aids and services.  The goal is to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity of a public entity. 

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey Cummings of Lelling’s Civil Rights Unit.

The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office was established in 2015 with the mission of enhancing federal civil rights enforcement.  For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-ma/civil-rights. 

BOSTON – A Randolph woman was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Friday, May 4, 2018, for her role in a conspiracy that distributed thousands of pounds of marijuana and laundered millions of dollars in proceeds.

Daphne Jean, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to one day of time served and three years of supervised release. During the first year of her supervised release, Jean must serve six months of intermittent incarceration – she must report to the jail facility on Friday mornings and may leave the facility on Monday mornings. In December 2017, Jean and her co-conspirator, Michael Gordon, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiring to launder drug money through real estate transactions.

From at least July 2011 to November 2014, Gordon shipped large amounts of marijuana from sources in California to Boston through the U.S. Postal Service and Federal Express, and then distributed the marijuana in the Boston area. Jean assisted Gordon by renting apartments that were used to receive the shipments of marijuana, and helping to launder drug proceeds. The operation produced millions of dollars in profits, and Gordon and Jean laundered the drug proceeds by participating in various financial transactions in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

In March 2018, Gordon was sentenced to 15 years in prison, ordered to pay forfeiture of $5,030,812, to forfeit his interests in a house in Randolph, two houses in Florida, $371,239 seized during the investigation, and an Acura SUV.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Delany De Leon-Colon, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Substantial assistance was also provided by Homeland Security Investigations in San Francisco; the Boston, Norwood, Randolph and Needham Police Departments; the Sonoma County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department; and the Irwindale (Calif.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Lazarus, Chief of Lelling’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Maine woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Melissa Rock, 39, of Pemaquid, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine, specifically cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2018. In 2017, Rock and four others, Vito Nuzzolilo, of Worcester; Kristin Little, of Worcester; Thomas Walker, of Pemaquid, Maine; and Ricardo Ortega-Vasquez, a Dominican national residing in New York City, were indicted for their roles in the conspiracy.  

According to court documents, a court-authorized wiretap intercepted Rock and Walker speaking with Nuzzolilo about purchasing cocaine for re-distribution in Maine. On April 10, 2017, Rock contacted Nuzzolilo to ask if he would “front” a quantity of cocaine; she then traveled to Nuzzolilo’s apartment in Worcester. On April 27, 2017, Walker spoke with Nuzzolilo about obtaining additional cocaine, promising that his “workers” had cash to cover it. Rock and Walker then traveled to Nuzzolilo’s Worcester apartment, and, after leaving the apartment, were stopped by law enforcement and found in possession of more than 50 grams of cocaine.

Rock faces a sentence of 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Little and Ortega-Vasquez have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Randolph man, who was involved in drug trafficking with his father and others, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston.  

Larry Lovell Bailey, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Judge Stearns also ordered Bailey to forfeit $300,000, a vehicle and other property. In March 2016, Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine base (crack cocaine) with intent to distribute. Bailey, along with 53 members and associates of the Columbia Point Dogs street gang, was arrested in June 2015 on various racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms charges.

Bailey was involved with his father, Larry Bailey, in the distribution of cocaine base and cocaine. The two used two Boston businesses – Finest Cuts barbershop on Blue Hill Avenue and Bailey’s Laundromat on Harrison Avenue – to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Bailey was cooking cocaine base at his residence in Randolph. A search warrant executed at Bailey’s residence resulted in the seizure of cocaine base, powder cocaine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a loaded .40 caliber handgun and over $300,000 in cash.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; and Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, made the announcement. 

BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to making false statements on her naturalization application.

Francisca De La Cruz, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements in an immigration document. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for July 26, 2018.  

On Nov. 25, 2013, De La Cruz submitted an Application for Naturalization in which she omitted the fact that she had been arrested and criminally charged in 2006, and that when she was arrested, she identified herself to police as “Mercedes Abrue,” which was a false name.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised released, 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 and Peter Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Florida couple pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to their roles in a scheme that imported raw steroids from China and sold them over the internet to customers across the United States.

Michael Fulton, 46, and Rhonda Fulton, 52, both of Palm Bay, Fla., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids. U.S District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled their sentencings for Aug. 27, 2018.

From January 2016 to September 2016, an undercover agent purchased steroids listed for sale on ustraininggear.com, a website that advertised various types of steroids for sale. The website provided instructions on how to place orders and pay for steroids, and further provided an email address operated by co-conspirator Mark Lopilato, of Sanger, Texas, to place orders.

Customers ordered steroids from Mark Lopilato who forwarded the orders by email to Rhonda and Michael Fulton. Michael Fulton processed and prepared raw steroids according to the customers’ orders, and Rhonda Fulton packaged and mailed them. Mark Lopilato and the Fultons ordered the raw steroids through the internet from China, then paid for and received the raw steroids by mail. Mark Lopilato paid the Fultons for the preparation, packaging and mailing of the steroids to customers; he also paid Michael Lopilato, his brother in N.H., to maintain and operate the website.

In January 2017, the Fultons and Michael and Mark Lopilato were arrested and charged for their roles in the steroid scheme. The related searches revealed more than 60,000 dosage units of raw steroids, a tableting machine, steroid packaging and shipping materials, and approximately $20,000 in cash. As a result of a federal warrant, agents also seized the website ustraininggear.com.

Mark and Michael Lopilato pleaded guilty in February 2018. Michael is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, 2018. Mark’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute steroids provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; North Reading Police Chief Michael Murphy; North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray; and Burlington Police Chief Mike Kent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Jonathan Julian Garcia, 38, a Dominican national residing in Roxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. Garcia will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In January 2018, Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.  

Garcia was previously deported on Feb. 3, 2015. In October 2017, law enforcement encountered Garcia in Westwood and determined him to be illegally present in the United States.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Burlington man with at least four prior felony convictions was charged today in federal court in Boston with unlawfully possessing ammunition.   

Brendan Sheils, 32, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. In March 2018, Sheils was charged in federal court by complaint after he was arrested by state authorities.

According to the charging documents, in February 2018, a cooperating witness alerted law enforcement that while at Sheils’ residence in November 2017, the cooperating witness observed Sheils with ammunition and cleaning a large black gun.

On Feb. 23, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a state search warrant at Sheils’ home, where they seized a firearm (which turned out to be a “ghost gun,” an unregistered firearm created by purchasing the component parts and assembling the firearm by hand), 28 rounds of 5.56 caliber Lake City Army ammunition, one round of .223 caliber Federal ammunition, and one found of .22LR caliber Federal ammunition.

Sheils is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions, which include: a 2009 conviction for resisting arrest; a 2013 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a Class A controlled substance; a 2013 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon, specifically, a handgun; and two separate 2013 convictions for possession of a firearm without an identification card.

Sheils faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to 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 and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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 – The owner of two Cambridge-based investment advisory firms was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud hedge fund investors.

Yasuna J. Murakami, 45, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Murakami to pay $10,520,634 in restitution and forfeit a luxury sports car that was purchased with proceeds of the fraud. In January 2018, Murakami pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Murakami was a managing member of MC2 Capital Management LLC and MC2 Canada Capital Management LLC – investment advisory firms through which he established and managed three hedge funds: the MC2 Capital Partners Fund, MC2 Capital Value Fund, and MC2 Capital Canadian Opportunities Fund. Between 2011 and 2016, Murakami fraudulently diverted millions of dollars of investor funds to business and personal accounts that he controlled. He used the money to pay for lavish personal expenses such as a luxury sports car, international travel, and payments to personal credit cards and high-end department stores. Murakami used new investor contributions to make Ponzi scheme-like payments to earlier investors who had made redemption requests and to place investments in his own name. 

As part of the fraud, Murakami withheld material information regarding the management of the MC2 Canadian Opportunities Fund and provided investors with falsified account statements and tax documentation in an effort to lull them into believing that their investments were safe.  

In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Murakami and his hedge fund advisory firms in May 2017. The SEC also filed charges against Murakami’s former business partner, Avi Chiat, in connection with the scheme. In January 2017, the Massachusetts Securities Division filed civil fraud charges against Murakami for the same conduct.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A member of the Vine/Forest Street gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for selling crack cocaine in and around Roxbury’s Orchard Gardens Housing Development.

Daiquan Lucas, a/k/a “Sav Montana,” 25, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison and six years of supervised release. While on supervised release, Scott will be precluded from entering the Orchard Gardens Housing Development and from being in contact or associating with approximately 20 individuals from the same area. In December 2017, Lucas pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school.

On Dec. 11, 2015, Lucas sold cocaine base, a/k/a crack cocaine, to a cooperating witness near a school in Roxbury. Lucas is one of 12 defendants arrested and charged in June 2017 following a nearly two-year investigation into the high concentration of crime in and around the Orchard Gardens Development, the largest publically funded housing development in Roxbury, which is also adjacent to area schools and Dudley Square. According to court documents, the crime stems, in part, from the illegal activities of the members and associates of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, who allegedly have active feuds with rival gangs throughout the city that have produced numerous crimes of violence.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans made the announcement today. 

BOSTON – A Vietnamese national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in an international scheme to use stolen payment card data and personally identifiable information to purchase and re-sell hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of consumer goods. 

Tuan Dinh Nguyen, 30, a Vietnamese national, previously living in Melbourne, Australia, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, 13 counts of money laundering and aiding and abetting, and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2018.

In August 2015, Nguyen was indicted in federal court in Boston. Nguyen was then arrested in Australia in June 2017, and on Oct. 5, 2017, he was extradited to the United States.

Between December 2007 and December 2013, Nguyen and at least three others conspired to use stolen payment card data and personally identifiable information to purchase consumer goods online and to re-sell those items on auction websites, including Amazon, eBay, and Buy.com; they then wired the proceeds overseas. 

Nguyen and his co-conspirators created fraudulent accounts on multiple auction websites, or used stolen usernames and passwords to take over subscribers’ legitimate accounts. They then posted popular goods for sale at a discounted price, including Apple merchandise, electronics, personal care items and books. However, Nguyen and his co-conspirators did not own or otherwise have these goods to sell. Instead, when customers of the auction websites purchased and paid for these items, Nguyen and his co-conspirators used stolen payment card and personally identifiable information to buy the items from Walmart.com or other e-commerce websites, and then shipped the items to the auction website customers, who never knew that the items they received had been purchased with stolen credit cards and re-sold to them at discounted prices. 

To obtain the proceeds of the scheme, Nguyen and his co-conspirators recruited U.S. residents to withdraw and wire overseas the money that the unwitting customers had paid through the auction websites. In total, Nguyen and his co-conspirators stole and re-sold approximately $500,000 in consumer goods.

The charges of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture and restitution. The wire fraud charge carries a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the conspiracy’s gain or loss to any victim; and the money laundering conspiracy charge carries a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount of the money laundered. The aggravated identity theft charge provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed for the wire fraud conspiracy charge. Sentences are imposed by a U.S. 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 Investigations in Boston; and U.S. Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department, the Australian Federal Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in securing Nguyen’s extradition to the United States.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Adolfo Martinez-Molina, 43, was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

Law enforcement in Waltham encountered Martinez-Molina on Sept. 17, 2017, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Martinez-Molina was previously deported on Aug. 3, 2016.

Martinez-Molina faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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 Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine and of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the cases.

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 Dominican national was indicted today with fentanyl distribution, Social Security fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Domingo Garcia Suero, 53, a Dominican national residing in Haverhill, was indicted on five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl, two counts of Social Security account number fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Garcia Suero appeared today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell.  

The indictment alleges that on five occasions during in the fall of 2017, Garcia Suero sold and possessed fentanyl for sale. Garcia Suero also allegedly filed applications with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to renew his driver’s license and with MassHealth, in which he provided a name and a social security account number belonging to a United States citizen from Puerto Rico.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl in excess of 40 grams provides for a minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of Social Security fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years to run consecutive to any other sentence. 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; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Office; and Haverhill Police Chief Alan DeNaro made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; the Boston Field Office of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service; and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxim Grinberg of Lelling’s Criminal Division 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 man serving a sentence for bank robbery pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for escaping from custody.

Joseph Matz, 48, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of escape from federal custody before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns. Judge Stearns immediately sentenced Matz to 27 months in prison, to be served concurrently with a sentence Matz is already serving in state prison in Virginia, and three years of supervised release.

In 2004, Matz was convicted of bank robbery. In August 2011, Matz was again convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to seven years in prison. Because his second conviction occurred while he was on supervised release from his 2004 conviction, Matz was sentenced to an additional year in prison to be served consecutive with his 2011 bank robbery conviction.

In July 2016, Matz was transferred from federal prison to a Residential Reentry Center in Boston, where he was to serve the remainder of his sentence until his release on Dec. 18, 2016. On Nov. 4, 2016, Matz was allowed to sign out of the Center on a “medical pass,” and was required to return later that day; however Matz never returned to the Reentry Center and was placed on escape status.

On Dec. 1, 2016, Matz was arrested in Richmond, Va., for armed bank robbery. He subsequently pleaded guilty to that charge, and on May 23, 2017, was sentenced to 25 years in state prison with 15 years suspended. Matz is currently in state custody in Burkeville, Va.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and U.S. Marshal John Gibbons of the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 

TAUNTON – 10 individuals were charged in federal court in Boston on federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses in connection with distributing cocaine in and around the Taunton and Worcester areas. Seven of the defendants were arrested today; three are fugitives.

In a federal indictment unsealed today, the following 10 individuals were charged in connection with their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that operated between May 2016 and April 2018:

1. Samuel Rodriguez, 59, of Taunton, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
2. Pedro Oyola, 33, of Cayay, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
3. Jose Santos, 47, of Fall River, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
4. Tina Rodriguez, 45, of Worcester, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
5. Edgar Rios-Lopez, 38, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
6. Luis Elias, 43, of Worcester, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
7. George Torres, 41, of Taunton, was charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;
8. Debra Demoranville, 49, of Taunton, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;
9. Angel Oyola, 35, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; and
10. Ricardo Zayas Ramos, 21, of Pawtucket, R.I., was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Seven of the defendants were arrested this morning; Pedro Oyola, Angel Oyola, and Luis Elias are presently fugitives.

The charges are the culmination of a nine-month investigation aimed at attacking the increased volume of cocaine flooding southern and central Massachusetts. The defendants allegedly controlled and managed a lucrative and sophisticated drug trafficking and distribution ring in the region. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of no greater than 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000. 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; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael Myers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda Hooker 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 – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to robbing 10 banks in the greater Boston area.

Paul B. Landrum, dubbed the “Route 128 Bandit,” 38, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of bank robbery. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Aug. 13, 2018. In November 2017, Landrum was arrested and charged in federal court and has been in custody since.

Between July 31, 2017, and Oct. 6, 2017, eight banks were robbed in the Greater Boston area. After each robbery, the tellers described the perpetrator as a light-skinned black man, 30-to-45-years-old, wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved collarless shirt. Based on the descriptive similarities, law enforcement suspected that the same individual was involved in each robbery. 

Between Oct. 17, 2017, and Oct. 19, 2017, two more banks were robbed in the Greater Boston area. Following these robberies, the tellers described the robber, later determined to be Tamea Chambers, as a black woman, 30-to-35-years-old, wearing a wig. Based on the similar descriptions by the tellers, law enforcement suspected that the same individual was involved in these two robberies.

During their investigation of the latter robberies, law enforcement obtained video footage from a business connected to one of the banks that captured images of the female robber in the company of a light-skinned black male. Upon comparison of this video footage with the video footage of the first eight robberies, law enforcement determined the man to be the Route 128 Bandit.

An investigation into the robber’s get-away vehicle led law enforcement to identify Landrum as the suspect, and on Oct. 24, 2017, Landrum and Chambers were arrested in Boston. Landrum admitted to robbing eight banks individually, and assisting Chambers with the final two robberies.

Chambers was indicted in March 2018 and has a hearing in federal court in Boston on May 8.

Landrum faces a sentence of no greater than 20 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 and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The Massachusetts State Police and the Boston, Brookline, Medford, Somerville, and Wellesley police departments assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit 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 – A Springfield gynecologist was convicted today in connection with allowing a pharmaceutical sales representative to access patient records and lying to federal investigators.

Rita Luthra, M.D., 67, of Longmeadow, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of violation of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act and one count of obstruction of a criminal health care investigation. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has not yet scheduled sentencing.

From January 2011 through November 2011, Luthra allowed a pharmaceutical company sales representative from Warner Chilcott to access protected health information in her patients’ medical files. She later provided false information to federal agents when interviewed about her relationship with Warner Chilcott.

The charge of violation of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act provides for a sentence of no greater than one year in prison and/or a fine of $50,000 and one year of supervised release. The charge of obstructing a criminal health care investigation provides for a sentence of no greater than five 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 and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys Miranda Hooker and Young Paik of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Six individuals have been arrested and charged in federal court in Boston with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

According to six separate indictments unsealed today, the following individuals were each charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien:

Marco Lopez-Chavez, 24, a Guatemalan national, was encountered by law enforcement in Lynn on Sept. 2, 2017, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Lopez-Chavez was previously deported on April 28, 2016.

Bulmaro Enriquez, 32, a Mexican national, was encountered by law enforcement in Framingham on Nov. 23, 2017, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Enriquez was previously deported in March 2006.

Milton Mejia-Padilla, 36, a Honduran national, was encountered by law enforcement in Chelsea on Jan. 7, 2018, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Mejia-Padilla was previously deported on Aug. 16, 2010.

Leandro Guimaraes, 38, a Brazilian national, was encountered by law enforcement in Framingham in July 2015, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Guimaraes was previously deported on Dec. 28, 2003.

Virgilio Pedro Vicente-Lopez, 39, a Guatemalan national, was encountered by law enforcement in Salem on Aug. 13, 2017, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Vicente-Lopez was previously deported on Feb. 12, 2009.

Nivaldo Gomes, 57, a Brazilian national, was encountered by law enforcement in March 2018, and determined to be illegally present in the United States. Gomes was previously deported on Nov. 14, 2012.

The charges of illegal reentry provide for sentences of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and each of the defendants will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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 Investigations in Boston; and Thomas P. Brophy, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine and David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the cases.

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

BOSTON – A Providence, R.I., man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing a kilogram of heroin to an undercover agent.

Dennys Villalona, a/k/a Xavier Martinez-Gonzalez, 30, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 66 months in prison and eight years of supervised release. In September 2017, Villalona pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin.

In November 2016, a cooperating source introduced an undercover officer to Villalona for the purpose of supplying heroin to the undercover officer. On Nov. 17, 2016, Villalona and the undercover officer met in a restaurant parking lot in Foxboro where Villalona agreed to sell the undercover officer one kilogram of heroin for $55,000. Villalona stated that if the undercover officer kept coming back and business was good, the price would drop to $50,000 or even less per kilogram. Two days later, Villalona and the undercover officer met again, and Villalona supplied the undercover officer with a nearly 10-gram sample of heroin. On Nov. 22, 2016, Villalona and the undercover officer met at a restaurant in Wrentham, where Villalona delivered a package containing 992 grams of heroin to the undercover officer. All three meetings were recorded.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Ricci, Chief of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Saugus loan broker was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for operating a scheme that defrauded small businesses from across the country in connection with their efforts to obtain business loans.

Joseph L. Angelo Jr., 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 40 months in prison, three months of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $1.1 million. In September 2017, Angelo Jr. pleaded guilty to 11 counts of wire fraud.

From November 2011 to March 2015, Angelo defrauded 10 small business owners of more than $1 million by representing that his companies – Lease One Corp. and Palmtree Finance & Funding LLC – were brokers for obtaining loans for small businesses. Angelo required the customers to deliver to him what he said were fully refundable deposits, aggregating over $1.1 million for loans that he said had been approved and would be funded within a few days. In fact, none of the loans had been approved, and there were no funds available. When the small business owners complained about delays in receiving funds, Angelo promised that their deposits would be refunded, but he did not refund any of the deposits or secure funding for any of the requested loans.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – Two men were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for their roles in a heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking organization that operated in Taunton and Boston.

Malvin Berrios, 35, of Fall River, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 46 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2017, Berrios pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Roger Longmire, 34, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to three years in prison and four years of supervised release. In September 2017, Longmire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

In February 2017, the defendants were arrested and charged in two indictments with 21 co-defendants.  

From mid-2016 through February 2017, federal law enforcement investigated two drug trafficking organizations, one operating in Taunton, led by Fernando Hernandez, and another operating in Fall River and Boston, led by Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero. Hernandez’s organization sold heroin and fentanyl to customers, including Longmire, who re-distributed a portion of the drugs they obtained. It is alleged that Hernandez obtained drugs from a network of suppliers that included Lugo-Guerrero.

Lugo-Guerrero allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization in Fall River and Boston and sold to numerous customers, including Berrios. It is further alleged that Lugo-Guerrero and his associates obtained a significant quantity of illegal drugs by robbing other drug traffickers.

Hernandez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in February 2018 to 188 months in prison. Lugo-Guerrero has pleaded not guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted 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 Salvadoran national was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Jose Antonio Reyes-Ramos, 33, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2017, law enforcement officers in Framingham encountered Reyes-Ramos and determined him to be unlawfully present in the United States. Reyes-Ramos was previously deported on Jan. 6, 2012.  

Reyes-Ramos faces a sentence of no greater than two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence.  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. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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 Peabody man was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with 15 armed robberies throughout greater Boston.

Luis Cintron, 39, was indicted on 15 counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In March 2018, Cintron was arrested and charged by criminal complaint and has been in custody since.

According to the charging documents, Cintron was involved in the robbery of 15 convenience stores in the greater Boston area between Dec. 28, 2017, and Feb. 15, 2018. During each of the robberies, which occurred in East Boston, Chelsea, Lynn, Winthrop, Peabody, and Everett, two robbers entered the store wearing masks and wielding a firearm. During a Jan. 8, 2018, robbery in Lynn, one of the robbers fired a gun at a clerk who had followed the robbers out of the store. 

Each charge of interfering with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of discharging a firearm during a violent crime provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, to be served consecutive with any other sentence imposed, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner William Evans; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty; Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin; and Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Richardson of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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 Northborough man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possession of child pornography.

Joshua Lundberg, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2018.

In May 2016, law enforcement began an investigation of peer-to-peer file sharing networks used to share and obtain child pornography. On May 15, 2016, a member of law enforcement reviewing available public files on one such peer-to-peer network located several files he suspected to contain child pornography and was able to partially download one of the files. Law enforcement then traced the IP address used to share the partially downloaded video to Lundberg’s residence.

On June 6, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Lundberg’s home in Northborough where a laptop that was hidden on top of the kitchen cabinets in a tight space against the ceiling was seized. Forensic analysis of that computer revealed the presence of the peer-to-peer file sharing program that had been used to share the partially downloaded video along with dozens of digital files containing child pornography, one of which depicted a child between the ages of six and eight-years-old being raped by an adult male.

At the time of Lundberg’s arrest, he was on probation for a 2012 conviction in Worcester Superior Court for charges relating to the possession and dissemination of child pornography.

Lundberg is pleading guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in which both parties will recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.

Because of the prior conviction, the charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON - A Mexican national was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Carlos Altunar-Rueda, 25, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Boston encountered Altunar-Rueda on Feb. 8, 2017, and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Altunar-Rueda was previously deported on Feb. 23, 2013.

Altunar-Rueda faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. 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 today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes 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 Haverhill man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in an opioid trafficking conspiracy involving the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone across Massachusetts and Florida.

Jesus Gonzalez, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and/or 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2018.

Gonzalez was arrested along with several co-defendants in March 2017 for their roles in a widespread conspiracy involving opioid trafficking and money laundering offenses in Massachusetts and Florida. According to the charging documents, from at least 2014, Gonzalez obtained heroin and fentanyl from sources in Massachusetts and conspired with others to distribute the narcotics, including approximately 230 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in November 2015. Gonzalez also participated in a conspiracy to obtain oxycodone pills from Florida, have them shipped to Massachusetts, and then distributed in Massachusetts. Finally, Gonzalez participated in a conspiracy to launder and conceal the proceeds of the sale of narcotics by using funnel bank accounts to send money to Florida.     

Gonzalez is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case. Darren Infante is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23; Juan Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20; George Noukas and Moses Rodriguez are scheduled to be sentenced on June 25; Craig Drummond and Gorky Gonzalez are scheduled to be sentenced on July 17; Johnny Urena is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24; and Jenssi Astacio is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2018.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and/or 40 grams of fentanyl provides for a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of $5 million, and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property laundered, 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; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Biddeford (Maine), Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Manchester (N.H.), Methuen, Millis, Natick, Stoughton, and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini and Craig Estes of Lelling’s Office are prosecuting the cases.

BOSTON – The founder and former president of National Fish and Seafood (National Fish), a major seafood processing company in Gloucester, was sentenced today for failing to pay taxes on approximately $2.9 million in income he earned from 2006 to 2013—money which the defendant agreed he fraudulently diverted from National Fish.

Jack A. Ventola, 71, of Ipswich, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to two years in prison and one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine and restitution of $1,073,470 to the Internal Revenue Service. In December 2017, Ventola pleaded guilty to seven counts of making and subscribing a false tax return. 

Ventola was a 40 percent owner of National Fish, a major seafood processor he founded in Gloucester that employed the services of a temporary labor company, Continental Labor Team Inc. (Continental), which Ventola also controlled. Together with his co-conspirators—two National Fish executives and the company’s accountant—Ventola channeled more than $5 million from National Fish, through Continental, and into Ventola’s personal bank accounts, tax free. To do so, one of the co-conspirators prepared fraudulent invoices for work supposedly done for Continental by IFS, a shell company. Ventola and his co-conspirators used the fake IFS invoices to obtain payments from Continental, which they deposited into Ventola’s personal bank accounts.  During the later years of the scheme, the money was directed from Continental into an account Ventola controlled in the name of yet another shell company, Nordic Investments. From the various accounts, Ventola paid personal expenses and also wrote checks to his co-conspirators, or to shell companies they controlled. 

In addition to this income, Ventola received regular kickback payments from a shrimp repackaging company in Texas that performed services for National Fish. Between 2008 and 2014, Ventola caused those payments, which exceeded $400,000, to be deposited into bank accounts he controlled, but he did not report that income on his tax returns.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Chief of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit, and Brian A. Pérez-Daple, of Lelling’s Criminal Division, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – The former business manager of a local museum pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to embezzling funds from the museum that employed her.

Jennifer Delorey McNamara, 36, of Clinton, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2018. 

McNamara began working for the Museum of Russian Icons on a part-time basis in mid-2010. In 2012, the Museum promoted McNamara to full-time Business Manager. From approximately 2012 through October 2015, McNamara embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Museum by, amongst other means, failing to deposit cash received by the Museum into the Museum bank account and by repeatedly issuing unauthorized payments to herself from the Museum and depositing those payments into her personal account. 

The Museum referred the matter to federal authorities when it became aware of the scope of McNamara’s theft and cooperated with federal investigators throughout the resulting investigation.

McNamara faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to twice the loss involved, 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 and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm, Chief of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.