District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to sexually exploiting a child, using USPS computers to access child pornography, and to possessing child pornography.

Stephen Mantha, 62, of Spencer, pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography, one count of accessing child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2018.

In the summer of 2015, investigators from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) were alerted to suspicious internet searches being conducted on a computer at a Shrewsbury postal facility where Mantha worked as an electronic technician. In August of 2015, agents installed a computer activity recorder, which tracked all computer usage on that computer terminal. Agents were then able to track and record searches, which revealed that Mantha’s search results included images of child pornography. Later, a video camera was installed, and between January and May 2016, agents both recorded and personally observed numerous occasions when Mantha used the USPS computer to conduct searches for, and then view, nude children, partially nude children and child pornography.

On Sept. 21, 2016, a search warrant was executed at Mantha’s residence where numerous thumb drives containing child pornography were recovered. During the review of the materials seized from Mantha’s home, a video was discovered, which had been recorded in approximately 2000 or 2001, depicting Mantha sexually assaulting an approximately seven-year-old boy. That same month, federal agents were able to locate and interview the boy (now an adult), who confirmed the sexual abuse. 

In 2000 and 2001, the date of the offense, the charge of sexual exploitation of a child provided for a mandatory minimum of 10 years and no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Although existing penalties for producing child pornography are substantially higher, the Constitution prohibits the government from subjecting individuals to more stringent penalties adopted after their crimes had been committed.  The charges of accessing child pornography and possession of child pornography provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime 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; Eileen Neff, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Office; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Spencer Police Chief David Darrin; and Shrewsbury Police Chief James Hester Jr. made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – The leader of a heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated in Taunton was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston.

Fernando Hernandez, 43, who last resided in Providence, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 188 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Nov. 6, 2017, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In February 2017, Hernandez was arrested and charged along with 22 co-defendants.

From mid-2016 through February 2017, federal law enforcement investigated two drug trafficking organizations operating in Taunton and Boston, one allegedly led by Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, and the other led by Hernandez. Hernandez’s organization was based in Taunton and sold heroin and fentanyl to customers 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.

The court found that Hernandez was responsible for distributing more than a kilogram of heroin over a two-month period in the summer of 2016, and that he was the leader of the organization that involved more than five other participants.

Hernandez has a number of prior criminal convictions that include two drug possessions, four drug distributions, eight assaults, three threats, two abuse prevention act violations, and one kidnapping. 

Lugo-Guerrero has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2018. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Ferguson, 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 Albert F. Dupere; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte; and Bristol Country District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn made the announcement today. 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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

Amaury Olivo-Rodriguez, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for June 4, 2018.

On April 26, 2017, law enforcement officers in Lawrence encountered Olivo-Rodriguez and determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Olivo-Rodriguez has been deported twice before.

In March 2009, while Olivo-Rodriguez was serving a sentence in New Hampshire for drug distribution, federal agents determined him to be illegally present in the United States. Upon completion of his sentence, Olivo-Rodriguez was placed into removal proceedings, and on June 30, 2010, Olivo-Rodriguez was deported to the Dominican Republic.

In January 2012, Olivo-Rodriguez was encountered by federal agents while attempting to reenter the United States. He was convicted of illegally reentering the country and sentenced to 37 months in prison. Upon completion of this sentence, Olivo-Rodriguez was again deported to the Dominican Republic.

 Olivo-Rodriguez faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his 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 and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

Cecilio Castro-Zacarias, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to time served and one year of supervised release. Castro-Zacarias is also subject to deportation.  In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

In September 2017, law enforcement in New Bedford encountered Castro-Zacarias and determined him to be unlawfully present in the United States. Castro-Zacarias was previously deported on Jan. 13, 2005; April 6, 2005; and Aug. 12, 2005.

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 Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Pennsylvania wholesale tobacco distributor was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for aiding and abetting untaxed shipments of tobacco products into Massachusetts and evading financial reporting requirements.

Kamlesh Patel, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock  to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay fine of $500,000 and forfeiture of $153,846. In September 2017, Patel pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting a Norwood-based wholesaler to violate the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act) and one count of failing to report large cash transactions to the IRS.

Patel owned and operated RDK Distributors (RDK) and MV Distributors (MV) in Stroudsburg, Penn., through which he distributed wholesale quantities of cigars, smoking tobacco and smokeless tobacco (such as snuff and chewing tobacco), among other products.

Title 15 of the PACT Act requires people who sell, advertise for sale, transfer or ship for profit smokeless tobacco between states to file a statement with the Attorney General and the tobacco tax administrator in the states to which they ship their products. The PACT Act also requires them to file with the tax administrator a monthly record of each shipment of smokeless tobacco that they transport into the state.

Beginning in approximately January 2013, Patel sold large quantities of tobacco products to a Norwood wholesaler, often worth more than $100,000 at a time. The Norwood wholesaler typically paid Patel for the tobacco products in cash. To evade financial reporting requirements that would have notified the IRS of the size, nature and income of the Norwood wholesaler’s business, Patel falsely divided the bulk cash payments he received among multiple invoices. Patel created and instructed his employees to record the large cash payments he received as if there had been numerous sales over numerous days among numerous companies, each less than $10,000, rather than the single sale for which he had received one or two sizeable cash payments, often amounting to more than $100,000 at a time.   

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Heymann of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Brockton woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with stealing Social Security benefits.   

Catherine M. Anzalone, 55, was charged with one count of theft of public funds. According to the indictment that was unsealed today, from April 2000 through April 2017, Anzalone stole approximately $155,736 in Social Security benefits.

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 today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki 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 – A Beckley, W.Va., man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme where he purported to sell paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990, on Craigslist.  

Todd Andrew Desper, a/k/a “Mordokwan,” 48, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and attempted wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2018. In May 2017, Desper was arrested in West Virginia and charged in a criminal complaint. 

Desper, acting under the pseudonym “Mordokwan,” solicited foreign buyers for both the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and Vermeer’s The Concert on Craigslist in a number of foreign cities including Venice and London. Desper directed interested buyers to create an encrypted email account to communicate with him.  Authorities were notified of the foreign Craigslist notices by individuals seeking to assist in the recovery of the artwork, as well as those seeking the multi-million dollar reward offered by the Museum.  

At the direction of federal authorities, the security director for the Gardner Museum engaged in encrypted communications with Desper in an attempt to determine whether Desper had access to the stolen masterpieces. Desper instructed the security director to send a cashier’s check for $5 million to a location in West Virginia and that the Storm on the Sea of Galilee would then be sent in return, concealed behind another painting. The investigation ultimately revealed that Desper had no access to, nor information about, the stolen paintings, but was instead engaged in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme targeting foreign art buyers.  

On March 18, 1990, 13 pieces of artwork were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the early morning hours. According to security guards, two white males dressed in Boston Police uniforms gained entrance to the Gardner Museum by stating that they were responding to a report of a disturbance within the museum compound.  Upon entry, the thieves subdued and secured the guards and went on to commit the largest art theft in history, taking 13 works of art including Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee and Vermeer’s The Concert.  The combined value of the art stolen during the Gardner theft is estimated at $500 million, although several of the works are considered priceless within the art community.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistance was provided the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the FBI Pittsburgh Field Division, and the Beckley Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.

BOSTON – A Billerica man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for sexually exploiting two young boys over a five-and-a-half year period.

Philip Toronto, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 40 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2017, Toronto pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

On Feb. 28, 2017, a search warrant was executed at Toronto’s home in response to multiple CyberTips that tracked the trade of child pornography over Skype to Toronto’s Billerica address. During the search, law enforcement recovered evidence of child pornography. Law enforcement confronted Toronto with evidence that some of the child pornography appeared to be homemade. Toronto admitted to filming his sexual abuse of two young boys: a five-year-old boy as recently as September 2016; and a now 15-year-old boy between 2011 and 2014.

More extensive forensic review of the devices seized from Toronto’s home revealed surreptitious recordings of the children in various stages of undress as well as videos and images of Toronto raping and indecently assaulting each of the boys.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. This case was investigated in conjunction with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, which indicted Toronto for the rape and assault of both boys. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of his Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A Palmer man was sentenced for conspiring to import prescription drugs from Pakistan.

Harry Aliengena, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In November 2017, Aliengena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, two counts of felony introduction of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, and one count of misdemeanor introduction of misbranded drugs.

Between July 2011 and June 2012, Aliengena conspired to import prescription drugs from Pakistan into the United States and distributed misbranded drugs to U.S. customers. Aliengena communicated regularly with a Pakistani company and ordered various drugs - including Ritalin, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Adderall, and Restoril - all DEA controlled substances. Aliengena then reshipped a portion of these drugs to customers in the United States on behalf of the Pakistani company in return for payments and discounts on drugs for his personal use.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – The owner of Pinky’s Famous Pizza in Medford pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with filing tax returns which failed to disclose the cash payroll payments he paid to employees. 

Nikita Yanakopulos, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in filing false Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, which is used to report income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2018. 

Yanakopulos owned and operated Pinky’s from approximately 2000 to 2016.  During that period, Yanakopulos paid several employees by check and cash and other employees entirely in cash. Yanakopulos caused his payroll service to file Forms 941 that only included the payroll paid by check. During those years, Yanakopulos made cash payroll payments to his employees totaling approximately $675,000, but failed to report those payments to his payroll service or pay the required withholding amounts to the IRS.  He thereby avoided paying FICA, Medicare, and withholding taxes totaling approximately $172,000.    

The charge of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles clerk was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for her role in a scheme to produce false identification documents. 

David Brimage, 46, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to eight months in prison and two years of supervised release. In October 2017, Brimage and co-conspirators Evelyn Medina, 56; Annette Gracia, 37, both of Boston; Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph; and Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston, agreed to plead guilty to one count of producing without lawful authority an identification document or a false identification document. All of the defendants have now been sentenced.    

“The conduct in this case was egregious.  We will always hold accountable those who violate the public trust,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “While these defendants tried to profit by thwarting legal safeguards they were entrusted with enforcing, the crime was more than that – the defendants engaged in a scheme that made U.S. identity documents – and accompanying benefits – available to illegal immigrants who were not entitled to them.”

“Today’s sentencing highlights the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force’s continued vigilance against corruption schemes that damage the trust the public places in our government intuitions” said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations Boston office. “This case is another excellent example of federal, state and local cooperation to combat this criminal enterprise.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message: Diplomatic Security is committed to making sure that those who commit identity theft face consequences for their criminal actions,” said William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service.  “Diplomatic Security’s strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies continues to be essential in the pursuit of justice.”

In December 2017, Angel Miguel Beltre Tejada, 32, a Dominican national illegally residing in Jamaica Plain, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. Tejada will also be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. In January 2018, Medina and Gracia were sentenced to 15 months in prison and one year and one day in prison, respectively. In February 2018, Jordan was also sentenced to eight months in prison and Brea was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release.

In October 2015, law enforcement received an anonymous letter alleging that a corrupt RMV employee was providing Massachusetts identifications and drivers’ licenses to individuals who were using false identifications.  An investigation revealed that several Haymarket RMV clerks – Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and Brimage – were working with Brea and Tejada to fraudulently provide Massachusetts licenses and identification cards to illegal aliens for cash.   

The scheme involved several steps. Tejada and Brea would obtain identification documents belonging to United States citizens in Puerto Rico and sell them to clients who were seeking legitimate identities in Massachusetts. These clients included illegal aliens, individuals who were previously deported, and an individual who admitted to previously facing drug charges. Tejada would receive several hundred dollars in cash each time he sold identification documents.  Brea received up to $2,700 per identity for her role in the scheme, which included helping clients obtain the documents and facilitating their acquisition of Massachusetts identity documents.  

Typically, Brea and the client brought the stolen identities to the Haymarket RMV, where Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and/or Brimage would accept hundreds of dollars in cash to illegally issue authentic RMV documents, including Massachusetts licenses and ID cards. The clerks also accepted bribes to use the RMV’s system to run queries, including Social Security number audits, to confirm that the identities the clients were stealing actually belonged to verifiable individuals.

U.S. Attorney Lelling, HSI Acting SAC Shea, DSS SAC Gannon, and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement.  HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the cases.

BOSTON – A Natick man was arrested and charged today in federal court in Boston with distribution and possession of child pornography.

Francis Castellino, 19, was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Castellino remains in custody, after agreeing to voluntary detention during an appearance before Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler. 

According to court records, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Castellino’s Natick home as part of an ongoing investigation into the online trade of child pornography through the use of Kik messenger. During the search, Castellino admitted to acting as a moderator of a Kik chat group dedicated to trading images and videos of child pornography with other Kik users. Preliminary on-scene forensic analysis of Castellino’s cell phone confirmed his admissions. 

The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison. Both charges also provide for a mandatory 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 and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Sandra S. Bower, of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the armed kidnapping of a Quincy man and two children.

Diego Pires, 23, pleaded guilty to kidnapping before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris, who scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2018. In January 2018, co-defendant Malik Bangura, 20, was sentenced to 17 years in prison and two years of supervised release. Sedrick Oliveira, 26, of Stoughton, and Yesenia Diaz, 23, of Brockton, were also charged. 

On Oct. 8, 2016, at approximately 10:25 p.m., a 30-year-old man was kidnapped from the driveway of his Quincy home after being struck in the head with a revolver as he got out of his truck, and dragged into a nearby sedan.  The victim had two children strapped into car seats in his truck.

Once the victim was in the sedan, two masked perpetrators, later identified as Pires and Bangura, drove the victim’s truck, with the children, to a secluded location where they unloaded approximately 30 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 from the victim’s truck, into the sedan.  The victim, who was face-down in the backseat of the sedan at gunpoint, begged for his life and the life of the two children who were still in their car seats in the back of his truck.   

Pires, Bangura, Diaz, and Oliveira then drove the sedan with the drugs, cash and the victim, from Quincy to Brockton and called the victim’s wife demanding $100,000.  Law enforcement officers spotted the sedan as it drove through Brockton, recognized the vehicle from a drive-by shooting that occurred in August 2016, and began to follow it. After the defendants recognized the police, they attempted to flee, but ultimately abandoned the sedan in a Brockton driveway. The victim escaped, flagged down law enforcement officers, and described to them the secluded location where the truck had been disserted.  Law enforcement located the truck with the children, who were unharmed. 

Diaz was subsequently found standing by the sedan and arrested. She previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Oliveira was arrested on Oct. 10, 2016, in Stoughton and charged in a federal criminal complaint. He pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charge. Bangura was arrested and charged in April 2017. Pires remained a fugitive until he was apprehended in October 2017.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; 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; Brockton Police Chief John Crowley; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily O. Cannon of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang 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 Medford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing oxycodone throughout the North Shore.

Paul Williams, 54, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2017, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone.  

In March 2014, investigators began tracking the activities of Joseph Romano and eight co-defendants. Through surveillance and a cooperating source, investigators were able to make controlled purchases of oxycodone from Romano and his associates. Paul Williams, along with co-defendants Anthony Panarese and Jarod Presterone supplied Romano with oxycodone. On roughly a weekly basis, Romano contacted each of the suppliers separately to arrange meetings to obtain pills for redistribution. Co-defendant Eric Vaughn assisted Panarese in distributing Oxycodone pills. Through the conspiracy, Romano distributed more than 5,000 30 mg. Oxycodone pills.

In May 2015, Romano advised co-defendant Ashley Turner that he was going on vacation and asked that she distribute Oxycodone pills for him while he was away. Romano explained that Ashley Turner would need to get the pills to distribute from Paul Williams.  Ashley Turner agreed to the arrangement and distributed pills on Romano’s behalf. Ashley’s father, David Turner Sr., served as a liaison and obtained pills from Paul Williams for Ashley Turner to distribute.

During an August 2017 search of William’s home, agents seized 400 30 mg. Oxycodone pills and approximately $23,350. In total, Williams was held accountable for the distribution of 1,678 Oxycodone 30 mg. pills.

Eight of the nine defendants have been sentenced. Romano was sentenced to four years in prison; Panarese was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Vaughn was sentenced to two years in prison; Marcelle Milbury was sentenced to one year in prison; David Turner Sr. was sentenced to five years of probation; Ashley Turner, who graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to four years of probation with a six-month curfew; and Sans Milbury, who also graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to three years of probation. Co-defendant Presterone has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Office; Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Danvers Police Chief Patrick M. Ambrose made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON - A Longmeadow man was sentenced today for concealing from the Internal Revenue Service an Irish bank account he held with a balance of over $2 million.

Michael Fitzgerald, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to six months in prison, three months of community confinement, six months of home confinement, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a penalty of $1,115,320. In October 2017, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to one count of willfully violating the foreign bank reporting requirements.

United States citizens and residents who have a financial interest in a foreign bank account with a value of more than $10,000 must file with the United States Department of the Treasury a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. From at least 2005 through 2012, Fitzgerald, the owner and operator of a local roofing company, held bank accounts with the Bank of Ireland in Isle of Man. In 2012, those bank accounts held a combined balance of over $2.3 million. Fitzgerald willfully failed to report his foreign bank holdings to the Treasury Department. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for multiple counts of tax fraud and obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

Greg Takesian, 54, of Miami, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison and one year of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $286,433 and a $10,000 fine. In November 2017, following a five-day jury trial, Takesian was convicted of four counts of filing false tax returns and one count of attempting to obstruct and impede the IRS. 

Takesian, a certified public accountant, worked for Takesian & Company, a tax consulting firm owned by his father. Between 2008 and 2011, Takesian & Company received more than $2 million for tax and consulting services from At Home VNA, a home healthcare agency based in Waltham, Mass.  In 2014, At Home VNA’s founder and owner, Michael Galatis, was convicted for fraudulently billing millions of dollars from Medicare.     

Takesian spent more than $991,000, taken from Takesian & Company’s bank account, on personal expenses, including cash and check payments to his wife and his girlfriend. In total, Takesian gave his wife more than $500,000 from the company bank account and his girlfriend over $200,000 of company funds. He also spent the money on Caribbean cruises, expensive clothing and nightclubs. Takesian did not report his personal spending from the Takesian & Company bank account on his personal tax returns. After learning of the federal investigation, Takesian also filed false corporate and personal amended returns in an effort to cover up the nearly $1 million of unreported income. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, made the announcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil J. Gallagher and Rachel Y. Hemani of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Saugus man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a conspiracy to traffic counterfeit steroids, including testosterone and trenbolone.

Brian Petzke, 49, of Saugus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2018. Petzke and five others, including Tyler Bauman, a/k/a “musclehead 320,” were arrested and charged in April 2017 with operating a counterfeit steroid operation on the North Shore.

From approximately May 2015 until April 12, 2017, the defendants manufactured steroid products - made from raw materials purchased overseas - and marketed them as “Onyx” steroids using “Onyx” labels that were also ordered from overseas suppliers. Onyx, now owned by Amgen Inc., was a legitimate pharmaceutical company that did not manufacture steroids. 

The defendants allegedly sold the steroids to customers across the United States using email and social media platforms, collected payment through money remitters, such as Western Union and MoneyGram, and used false identifications and multiple remitter locations to pick up the proceeds. Some of the defendants laundered proceeds from the steroid sales through Wicked Tan LLC, a tanning business located in Beverly, which they owned and operated specifically to launder the proceeds of the steroid operation.

Petzke is the final defendant to plead guilty in connection with the conspiracy. In August 2017, Bauman pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2018.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss of the conspiracy. 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; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and David J. D’Addio of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit are prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Holyoke man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to dealing cocaine.

Raul Ramos, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2018. 

On Nov. 8, 2016, Ramos distributed 27.712 grams of cocaine in exchange for $1,300. The charges are a result of a federal, state, and local law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking in Springfield and Holyoke.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years of supervised release, and a fine of $2 million dollars. 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; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; and Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.

Luis Jose Mejia Arias, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Mejia Arias will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In August 2017, Mejia Arias pleaded guilty to eight counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.

On eight occasions between September 2015 and May 2016, Mejia Arias distributed heroin, cocaine and/or fentanyl to an undercover officer in Waltham.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda Hooker and Susan Winkler of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

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

Felipe Rodolfo Baez-Romero, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to eight months in prison. Baez-Romero will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In December 2017, Baez-Romero pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.

On Sept, 29, 2017, law enforcement in Boston encountered Baez-Romero and determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States. Baez-Romero was previously deported on May 7, 2013, and in June 2011.

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 Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Brazilian national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conspiring to launder approximately $20 million in proceeds from the TelexFree pyramid scheme.

Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 33 months in prison and one year of supervised release. In October 2017, Rocha pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit money laundering and one count of money laundering.

In April 2014, a search warrant was executed at the headquarters of TelexFree Inc., a massive pyramid scheme based in Marlborough, Mass., that caused billions of dollars in losses to nearly two million victims worldwide. Later that same day, Carlos Wanzeler, one of the founders of the company, fled first to Canada and then to Brazil, his native country. In his haste to flee the United States, however, Wanzeler left millions of dollars hidden in the greater Boston area. 

In mid-2015, an intermediary working on Wanzeler’s behalf contacted an associate for help transferring the money from the United States to Brazil. The associate, who later cooperated with federal authorities, arranged with Wanzeler’s representative in Brazil to launder cash through Hong Kong, convert it to Brazilian Reals, and then transfer it to Brazilian accounts. In January 2017, Rocha, working as a courier for Wanzeler’s representative in Brazil, flew from Brazil to New York City.  Rocha later met the cooperating witness in Hudson, Mass., where Rocha gave him a suitcase containing $2.2 million of Wanzeler’s hidden TelexFree money, intending that the cooperating witness help launder the cash out of the United States.  After the meeting, agents followed Rocha to an apartment in Westborough, Mass., and he was later arrested. A search of the apartment resulted in the seizure of approximately $20 million in cash found hidden in a mattress box spring. 

Wanzeler and TelexFree co-founder James Merrill were indicted in July 2014 on charges that they operated TelexFree as a massive pyramid scheme. Merrill pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced in March 2017 to six years in prison. Wanzeler remains a fugitive.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today.  U.S. Attorney Lelling and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of the Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – Three Lawrence men and a Leominster man were arrested today and charged in federal court in Worcester in connection with a joint federal and state investigation targeting narcotics trafficking in central Massachusetts. Six additional defendants were charged by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office with state drug offenses.

Carlos Rodriguez, 42; Ernesto Rodriguez, 48; and Joshua Sanchez, 27, all of Lawrence, and Jorge Burgos, 39, of Leominster, were charged today with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin and fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and use of a telecommunications facility in furtherance of narcotics trafficking. Sanchez and Burgos appeared in federal court in Worcester today and were ordered detained pending a detention hearing on Feb. 16, 2018. Carlos and Ernesto Rodriguez will appear in federal court in Worcester tomorrow.

According to court documents, as a result of various wiretaps capturing the defendants’ discussions of sales and purchases of heroin/fentanyl, in November and December 2017, law enforcement agents conducted surveillance of Burgos purchasing heroin for resale from Carlos Rodriguez, Ernesto Rodriguez, and others. In addition, on Dec. 19, 2017, law enforcement stopped Sanchez after he left Carlos Rodriguez’s home and found Sanchez in possession of approximately 60 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl. The following day, after intercepted communications suggested that Carlos Rodriguez would be delivering 50 grams of heroin to Burgos at his residence in Leominster, agents conducted a vehicle stop of the vehicle Carlos Rodriguez was driving and recovered approximately 50 grams of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl. Further investigation led to the recovery of at least 100 additional grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl from Ernesto Rodriguez. It is further alleged that intercepted communications captured Carlos Rodriguez discussing with Burgos how agents had stopped him on the way to Burgos’ residence and captured him discussing with another individual where to hide a firearm from authorities.

Additional intercepts of Burgos’ phone on Dec. 27, 2017, included discussions that agents believed to relate to a number of firearms hidden on Burgos’ property. 

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office charged six additional individuals associated with the investigation with state crimes. Jose Ortiz, 57; Roberto Ortiz 58; and Gilberto Victoriano 51, all of Worcester, were each charged with two counts of distribution of heroin and two counts of conspiracy to violate the drug laws. Additionally, the Ortiz brothers were charged with one count each of possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Roberto Ortiz and Victoriano face up to two and a half years in the House of Correction. Jose Ortiz faces at least three and a half years and up to 15 years in state prison. Caroline Cartagena, 43, of Worcester, was charged with one count of trafficking in over 200 grams of cocaine. She faces a minimum of 12 years and up to 20 years in state prison. Tina Murphy, 40, of Shirley, was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to violate the drug laws. Murphy faces no greater than two and a half years in the House of Correction. The remaining defendant is still at-large.

The charge of conspiring to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession of heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of use of a telecommunications device in furtherance of a narcotics offense provides for a sentence of no greater than four years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; Leominster Interim Police Chief Michael Goldman; Milford Police Chief Thomas J. O’Loughlin; and Leicester Police Chief James J. Hurley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady 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 Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico. 

Jhonny Emilio Pimentel Aybar, 35, a Dominican national who previously resided in Everett, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 25 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pimentel Aybar will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In November 2017, Pimentel Aybar pleaded guilty to three counts of misuse of a Social Security number and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

From at least August 2012 to August 2014, Aybar used a stolen identity to register as a Level 3 sex offender with the Everett Police Department. Aybar has been required to register as a Level 3 offender since his 2008 conviction in Essex County Superior Court for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; 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 today. Assistant United States Attorney Anne Paruti of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for bank robbery. 

Perry C. Learning, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $1,480 to Citizens Bank. In July 2017, Learning pleaded guilty to one count of unarmed bank robbery.

On Dec. 15, 2015, an individual entered a branch of Citizens Bank in Quincy and demanded money from a teller. The teller gave the individual $1,480 from her drawer, and the individual exited the bank. The bank’s surveillance cameras captured images of the individual, and surveillance cameras on neighboring businesses captured images of the robber walking away. Photographs of the robber were disseminated to law enforcement who recognized the individual as Perry Learning. On Jan. 11, 2016, Learning was arrested. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Enri Nemias Vega, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2018.

Vega was previously deported in 2012. On May 20, 2017, Vega was encountered by law enforcement in Sutton and determined to be illegally present in the United States.

Vega faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $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 Greg A. Friedholm of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles clerk was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for her role in a scheme to produce false identification documents.

Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph, was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of supervised release. In October 2017, Jordan and co-conspirators Evelyn Medina, 56; Annette Gracia, 37; David Brimage, 46; and Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, all of Boston, agreed to plead guilty to one count of producing without lawful authority an identification document or a false identification document.  

In December 2017, Angel Miguel Beltre Tejada, 32, a Dominican national illegally residing in Jamaica Plain, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. Tejada will also be subject to deportation upon completion of the sentence.  In January 2018, Medina and Gracia were sentenced to 15 months in prison and one year and one day in prison, respectively.

In October 2015, law enforcement received an anonymous letter alleging that a corrupt RMV employee was providing Massachusetts identifications and driver’s licenses to individuals who were using false identifications.  An investigation revealed that several Haymarket RMV clerks – Jordan, Medina, Gracia, and Brimage – were working with Brea and Tejada to fraudulently provide Massachusetts licenses and identification cards to illegal aliens for cash.   

The scheme involved several steps. Tejada and Brea would obtain identification documents belonging to United States citizens in Puerto Rico and sell them to clients who were seeking legitimate identities in Massachusetts. These clients included illegal aliens, individuals who were previously deported, and an individual who admitted to previously facing drug charges. Tejada would receive several hundred dollars in cash each time he sold identification documents.  Brea received up to $2,700 per identity for her role in the scheme, which included helping clients obtain the documents and facilitating their acquisition of Massachusetts identity documents.  

Typically, Brea and the client brought the stolen identities to the Haymarket RMV, where Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and/or Brimage would accept hundreds of dollars in cash to illegally issue authentic RMV documents, including Massachusetts licenses and ID cards. The clerks also accepted bribes to use the RMV’s system to run queries, including Social Security number audits, to confirm that the identities the clients were stealing actually belonged to verifiable individuals.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement.  HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the cases.

BOSTON – Two Springfield men were arrested today and charged in separate indictments in federal court in Springfield with distribution of crack cocaine.

Donovan Coombs-Thompson, 24, of Springfield, and Kayvon Lovejoy, 26, were each charged in separate indictments with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine. Both men were detained following an appearance in federal court in Springfield this afternoon.

The indictment charging Coombs-Thompson alleges that in October 2017, he distributed cocaine base on two occasions. The indictment charging Lovejoy alleges that in August 2017, he distributed crack cocaine on two occasions.

Coombs-Thompson faces no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Lovejoy faces no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; 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 

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 – Three alleged members of the Latin Gangsta’ Disciples were charged yesterday with federal firearm offenses.

Jose Ilarraza, a/k/a “Kae-Kae,” 26, of Newburyport; Bryan Torres-Almanzar, a/k/a “Flex,” 19, of Lawrence; and Eric Valentin, a/k/a “Jefe,” 22, also of Lawrence, were charged with dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to deal firearms without a license. Torres-Almanzar and Valentin were arrested yesterday in Nashua, N.H., and detained following an appearance in federal court in Boston. Ilarraza is in state custody for an unrelated offense.  

As alleged in court documents, in September 2017, an individual who was working as a cooperating witness for federal investigators was approached by Ilarraza after hearing that the cooperating witness was interested in obtaining firearms that could be sent to the Dominican Republic. Ilarraza, who was incarcerated at the time at the Essex County Jail following a conviction for breaking and entering and resisting arrest, instructed the cooperating witness to contact Torres-Almanzar, who was allegedly heavily involved in firearms trafficking.

This information and another cooperating witness were used to purchase firearms from Torres-Almanzar and his “partner,” Valentin, on six occasions between Sept. 12, 2017, and Oct. 19, 2017. For example, on Sept. 14, 2017, the cooperating witness arranged to purchase a 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser sight and an extended magazine for $1,000 from Torres-Almanzar and Valentin. During the sale, Torres-Almanzar and Valentin talked about future gun purchases and told the cooperating witness that “we do business and will take care of you.” They also said that they were in the business of “growing our organization” and that it was a “good thing that he [Ilarraza] introduced us.” During the course of the investigation, the cooperating witness purchased eight firearms from Torres-Almanzar and Valentin.

The charges of dealing in firearms without a license and conspiracy each provide 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; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Lowell Chief of Police William Taylor; and Nashua (N.H.) Police Chief Andrew J. Lavoie made the announcement today. 

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 – An Israeli national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiring to transfer $2.5 million worth of cocaine from Colombia to Israel via Boston and to money laundering charges. 

Jalal Altarabeen, a/k/a Glal El Tarbin, a/k/a Jalal Salamah, a/k/a Abu Rasheed, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and six counts of international money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani deferred acceptance of the plea until sentencing, which she scheduled for April 13, 2018.  In February 2017, Altarabeen was extradited from Poland after being indicted with a co-conspirator. Altarabeen and the co-conspirator were previously charged in a federal criminal complaint in March 2016.

From October 2015 to April 20, 2016, Altarabeen and his co-conspirator conspired in Boston, Colombia, Poland, and elsewhere to distribute 50 kilograms of cocaine and to launder money internationally. They also negotiated to buy 50 kilograms of cocaine from an undercover officer posing as a drug trafficker. The undercover officer’s relationship with the co-conspirator began in 2008 and included a meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Altarabeen and the co-conspirator agreed to pay the undercover officer $50,000 per kilogram to have the cocaine delivered in Israel. The undercover officer told the conspirators that the cocaine would be transported from Colombia to Boston and from Boston to Beersheba, Israel. Altarabeen agreed to make an advance payment of nearly $1 million to cover transportation costs, and he sent six wire transfers from Turkey totaling $999,972 to an undercover bank account in Boston. The undercover officer and Altarabeen agreed that Altarabeen would pay the $1.5 million balance after the receipt and sale of the 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Over several months, the undercover officer spoke with Altarabeen and the co-conspirator by telephone, WhatsApp, video Skype and in person.  They contacted the undercover officer using telephone numbers from Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Colombia, and discussed the drug transaction while in Bogota, Colombia, on Oct. 14, 2015, and Feb. 9, 2016. 

The drug trafficking statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. The money laundering statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Joel Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda M. Ricci of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Wareham man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking cocaine.

Aaron Mott-Frye, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2017, Mott-Frye pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Mott-Frye was a cocaine supplier to Christopher Wilkins and Christian Chapman, members of the Nauti-Block gang that operated on Cape Cod. On June 14-15, 2016, Mott-Frye distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness.

Christian Chapman and Christopher Wilkins pleaded guilty to heroin trafficking charges, among other crimes, and were sentenced to eight years and nine years in prison, respectively. Denzel Chisholm, the alleged leader of the Nauti-Block gang, was convicted by a federal jury and sentenced in September 2017 to 28.5 years in prison.     

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe; and Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen and Miranda Hooker of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – An Orleans woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to stealing her deceased husband’s Social Security benefits.   

Susan Condon, 65, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds and one count of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2018.

Condon served as the representative payee for her husband in his receipt of Social Security benefits. Her husband passed away in April 2004, but she continued to receive his Social Security benefits each month. In January 2015, Condon falsely reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that she used all of the funds she received as her husband’s representative payee for her husband’s benefit. She did not inform the SSA that her husband had died more than 10 years earlier. From the time of her husband’s death in April 2004 through February 2017, Condon received approximately $186,804 in Social Security benefits.

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. The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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 today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Rockland couple pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to engaging in a scheme to embezzle more than $2.7 million from Bank of America using fraudulent donations to non-profit organizations. 

Palestine Ace, a/k/a Pam Ace, 45, a former Senior Vice President of Bank of America’s Global Wealth & Investment Management Division pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and 12 counts of bank fraud. Her husband, Jonathan R. Ace, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Palestine Ace for May 16, 2018, and May 17, 2018, for Jonathan Ace. 

From approximately October 2010 to April 2015, the couple engaged in an embezzlement and kickback scheme to defraud Bank of America of approximately $2.7 million using fraudulent donations to non-profit organizations. As part of the scheme, Palestine Ace used her position as a Senior Vice President at Bank of America to misappropriate funds from a marketing budget and transfer the money to non-profit organizations. Specifically, Palestine Ace authorized 75 transactions, each under $50,000, to non-profit organizations in Boston and Atlanta. Then, the couple, either directly or indirectly, informed the non-profit organizations that a substantial portion of the donated funds had to be returned in order to ensure that Bank of America would continue to fund the organization. The non-profit organizations either wrote a check to Jonathan Ace or a co-conspirator, or they returned funds to a Bank of America account, to which the couple had access. On various occasions, Jonathan Ace pressured the recipients of the donated funds to return a higher percentage of the funds to him, by using intimidation and threats of public humiliation.

Palestine and Jonathan Ace used a portion of the funds they embezzled from Bank of America to support their lifestyle and pay for personal expenses, including lavish birthday parties and the purchase of a $17,000 Kawasaki motorcycle. 

The charges of wire fraud and bank fraud each provide 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 unlawful monetary transaction provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, two 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to fraud and identity theft charges arising from unlawfully using the identity of a disabled Medicare beneficiary for 17 years.

Jose Agosto, 51, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of misusing a Social Security number, three counts of making false statements relating to health care services, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2018. Agosto was charged on Aug. 9, 2017, and has been in custody since.

Agosto admitted that he began living under the name of another individual in order to avoid the consequences of an arrest warrant, and that he used the victim’s name and other personal identifying information to obtain replacement Social Security cards, driver’s licenses and bank accounts. Agosto also admitted to seeking medical treatment under the victim’s name and that doing so caused medical providers to submit more than $148,000 in claims to Medicare, despite the fact that Agosto was not a Medicare beneficiary. In addition, Agosto executed promissory notes under the victim’s name and then defaulted on those notes. Agosto acknowledged that by using the victim’s identity, Agosto threatened the victim’s continued receipt of Social Security and Medicare benefits as well as the victim’s credit rating.

Furthermore, Agosto admitted to leaving threatening voice mails in an effort to intimidate the victim and his family. In these voice mails, Agosto threatened to kill various members of the victim’s family and warned of a “massacre.” One such statement made by Agosto was: “I’m going to start killing all of your family one-by-one. I’ll start killing your mother, I’ll kill your sister, and then the last one’s going to be you.”  

Each wire fraud count provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charges of Social Security fraud and making false statements provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, up to 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 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; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Philip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office, made the announcement today. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Investigations provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – The former supervisory pharmacist of New England Compounding Center (NECC) was sentenced today in connection with the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 and caused infections in 793 patients.

Glenn Chin, 49, of Canton, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to eight years in prison, two years of supervised release, and forfeiture and restitution in an amount to be determined later. In October 2017, Chin was convicted by a federal jury in Boston of 77 counts, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead.

“Mr. Chin was a pharmacist, but again and again he acted with complete disregard for the health and safety of patients,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Mr. Chin will now be held responsible for producing contaminated drugs that killed dozens and grievously harmed over 750 people across the country. No patient should suffer harm at the hands of a medical professional, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat fraud and abuse in the health care system.”

“A key aspect of the FDA’s mission is to ensure that drugs are made under high quality conditions so that no patient is at risk of harm due to poorly compounded products,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “In response to episodes where patients were harmed by poorly compounded drugs, Congress passed a new set of laws to improve the FDA’s oversight of these products. We’re committed to the efficient, timely and robust implementation of that framework to help make sure patients can trust the reliability and safety of compounded drugs, recognize the benefits of pharmacy compounding, and that we protect consumers from harm.”

“As a licensed pharmacist, Glenn Chin took an oath to protect his patients,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “In contrast, he failed miserably by cutting corners, ignoring warning signs, and harming hundreds of people with his reckless disregard for their safety.  Dozens of unsuspecting patients died because of the tainted drugs that were distributed on his watch.  Now, Mr. Chin is finally being held accountable for his role in one of the worst pharmaceutical disasters in this country. The FBI hopes today’s sentence will bring some comfort to the hundreds of victims and their families who have suffered so much.”

In 2012, 753 patients in 20 states were diagnosed with a fungal infection after receiving injections of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) manufactured by NECC.  Of those 753 patients, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 64 patients in nine states died.  The government has since identified a total of 793 patients throughout the country harmed by NECC’s contaminated steroids.

Chin manufactured three lots of contaminated MPA, which comprised more than 17,000 vials of medication. In doing so, Chin ignored NECC’s own drug formulation worksheets and standard operating procedures. Specifically, he improperly sterilized the MPA, failed to verify the sterilization process, and improperly tested it to ensure sterility. Despite knowing these deficiencies, Chin directed the MPA to be filled into thousands of vials and shipped to NECC customers nationwide.  During the fungal meningitis outbreak, the CDC identified 18 different types of fungi from MPA vials and patient samples.  In the words of one public health official, NECC was a “fungal zoo.”

Chin directed the shipping of drugs prior to receiving test results confirming their sterility, and he directed NECC staff to mislabel drugs to conceal this practice. He also directed the compounding of drugs with expired ingredients, including chemotherapy drugs that had expired several years prior. Chin prioritized drug production over cleaning, directed the forging of cleaning logs, and routinely ignored mold and bacteria found inside the clean rooms. Lastly, for more than three years, Chin, along with co-conspirators, utilized a pharmacy technician whose license had been revoked by the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy to compound highly sensitive cardiac drug solutions, and took steps to conceal the technician’s presence inside the clean room from state regulators. 

“One of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) priorities is to protect the integrity of TRICARE, the U.S. Defense Department's health care program,” stated Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates DCIS’ commitment to work with the USAO-MA, the FBI, the FDA-OCI and its other law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals who disregard pharmaceutical regulations and endanger the health and safety of U.S. military members, retirees and their families.‎”

“The VA provides healthcare to those who have sacrificed so much for our country and fortunately no veterans receiving VA care were harmed by the fungal meningitis outbreak. However, it is appalling that NECC staff acted with such reckless disregard for patients by putting profits over safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean J. Smith for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.  “The VA Office of Inspector General is honored to work with our partners in law enforcement on such an important investigation and assist in bringing those individuals who were responsible to justice.”

“The sentence imposed today on Glenn Chin demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners, to the safety and health of the American public,” said Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.  “Chin’s actions as a supervising pharmacist jeopardized the health of many patients and we will continue to investigate and take action against those who take part in this type of egregious behavior.”

U.S. Attorney Lelling, FDA Commissioner Gottlieb, M.D., FBI SAC Shaw, DCIS SAC Barzey, VA OIG SAC Smith, and Acting Inspector in Charge of USPIS Moss made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys George P. Varghese and Amanda P.M. Strachan of Lelling’s Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Leominster woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston for theft of Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits.   

Joyce Progin, 70, was indicted on two counts of theft of public funds. Progin was released after appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy today at 3:00 p.m. 

According to the indictment unsealed today, from November 2009 through March 2017, Progin stole approximately $55,267 in Social Security benefits, and from November 2009 through November 2017, she stole approximately $269,978 in benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Sean Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki 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 – A Holyoke man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to receiving child pornography.

Edward F. Dupont, 75, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and is scheduled for sentencing on April 26, 2018.  Dupont was arrested in August 2015 and has been detained since.

On June 23, 2015, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Dupont’s residence where they seized a computer containing over 16,000 images and 35 videos of child pornography. Four of the videos depicted the rapes of girls as young as five-years-old.

Dupont also possessed a 170-page manual entitled, “How to Practice Child Love.” The manual is a professionally designed document that presents itself as “an education and a step-by-step guide for adults to engage and practice sexual relationships with children.” The manual states: “You do not even need to leave your own house or lot to meet new children and child love candidates. If you are bound to stay at your house, and preferably living alone, you can actually get the kids all the way to your front door – and even inside. This might even be a very safe option too – since as soon as you get the kids inside, no one can watch your activities from outside.”

During the search, Dupont waived his Miranda rights and stated that he has a sexual interest in young children; he has used his computer to access child pornography sites and to download child pornography images and videos; and he possessed child pornography on his home computer. 

Though Dupont denied ever having sexual contact with children, he admitted that neighborhood children came over to play in his backyard and in his basement. He had also given copies of his house keys to the neighbors so that their children could come over any time they wanted, and he maintained a cupboard with games for the children to play.

If the Court accepts the terms of the binding plea agreement, Dupont faces a sentence of at least seven years and up to 15 years in prison, seven years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to failing to register as a sex offender and to illegally reentering the United States after being deported.

Jary Vincente Valenzuela, 27, a Guatemalan national formerly residing on Nantucket, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2018.

On July 16, 2012, Valenzuela was found guilty in state court of rape of a child – a 14-year-old - and sentenced to 18 months in prison. As a result of his conviction, Valenzuela was classified as a Level 1 sex offender and is required to register as such. Upon release from his state sentence, Valenzuela was taken into immigration custody and processed for deportation to Guatemala. On Aug. 8, 2013, Valenzuela was deported.

In June 2017, law enforcement learned that Valenzuela had re-entered the United States and was living on Nantucket.  Law enforcement confirmed with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board that Valenzuela had a legal obligation to register as a sex offender and had not done so since illegally returning to the United States. On July 25, 2017, law enforcement arrested Valenzuela.

The charge of illegal reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of failure to register as a sex offender provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Valenzuela will be subject to deportation upon completion of his 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; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – An Enfield, Conn., man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for unlawfully possessing firearms. 

Kenneth Finch Jr., 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2017, Finch Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Finch has a prior felony conviction in North Carolina for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

In June 2015, law enforcement received information that Finch was a source for illegal firearms in the Springfield area. On June 3, 2015, Finch sold a Ruger Model P-90 .45 caliber pistol and six rounds of .45 caliber ammunition to two undercover officers in exchange for $1,200. Finch was later arrested on May 12, 2016, and charged. The following day, Finch called his girlfriend from jail and directed her to a firearm that he had concealed in her apartment. Law enforcement later recovered a Duetsche Werke 7.65 mm caliber pistol from Finch’s girlfriend at her apartment in Springfield. On Nov. 10, 2016, Finch was charged in a superseding indictment with an additional count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine A. Wagner of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – Two Boston-area investment advisors were charged today in federal court in Boston with using their clients’ funds to make their own investments and to pay personal expenses.

James Polese, 51, of Wenham, and Cornelius Peterson, 28, of Newton, were each charged with one count of conspiracy and investment adviser fraud and thee counts of bank fraud. Polese was also charged with an additional five counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  Both men have agree to plead guilty.  

As alleged in court documents, from approximately 2014 to June 2017, Polese and Peterson misappropriated approximately half a million dollars from their clients by transferring funds out of their clients’ accounts without their knowledge or consent. Specifically, On Aug. 20, 2014, Polese and Peterson used $100,000 from a client’s account to invest in a wind farm project although it was not an investment opportunity authorized by their company. On May 15, 2015, Polese and Peterson used $400,000 from another client’s account to back a letter of credit in support of the wind farm project. On multiple occasions in 2017, Polese caused funds to be transfered from a client’s account to pay personal expenses, including college tuition payments and credit card bills. Polese and Peterson were both terminated from the company in June 2017.

The charges of conspiracy and investment adviser fraud each provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,00 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,00 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. 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. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission also provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Worcester man was arrested yesterday in connection with entering into six fraudulent marriages in order to evade immigration laws. 

Peter Hicks, 57, was charged in federal court with one count of marriage fraud. Hicks was released following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester yesterday. 

According to the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, in 2014 federal law enforcement agents uncovered evidence that Hicks married six foreign national women from Sub-Saharan Africa between 2003 and 2013. Hicks allegedly filed for immigration benefits for four of his six wives. 

During a routine interview as part of his application for benefits for a non-citizen spouse, Hicks admitted to marrying three of the women solely to obtain immigration benefits for them. During a second interview with immigration officials, Hicks admitted that he was paid to recruit people for fraudulent marriages. During an interview with federal agents on Jan. 8, 2015, Hicks admitted that he was involved in marriage fraud for approximately 13 years, and that he received payments to marry undocumented African women and to find willing United States citizens to marry illegal aliens for the purpose of allowing the women to establish legal status in the United States. 

It is further alleged that on at least one occasion, Hicks was still married to one spouse at the time of his marriage to another spouse. Hicks also fraudulently claimed on an immigration form submitted on behalf of one of his spouses, that he had only one former spouse and that he had only petitioned for immigration benefits for the one former spouse, when, in fact, Hicks had actually been married five times and submitted requests for immigration benefits for a number of his former spouses. 

The charge of marriage fraud provides for sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Denis C. Riordan, District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, District 1, 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 Jamaican national was arrested last night for misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft.

Basil Ledgister, 41, was indicted on one count of misuse of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. He will appear in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal today at 2:45 p.m.

According to the indictment unsealed today, 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. The indictment further alleges that 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; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service; 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.

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 – An MS-13 member was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for RICO conspiracy involving attempted murder. 

Daniel Menjivar, a/k/a “Roca,” a/k/a “Sitiko,” 22, a Salvadoran national who resided in Chelsea, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 13 years in prison and three years of supervised release.  Menjivar will also be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence.  In September 2017, Menjivar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.  

After a multi-year investigation, Menjivar was one of 61 defendants named in an indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts.  Menjivar was identified as a member of MS-13’s Enfermos Criminales Salvatrucha (ECS) clique, which operated in Chelsea. As described in court documents, MS-13 is organized into cliques, which are smaller groups acting under the larger mantle of MS-13 and operating in a specific region, city, or part of a city.

On May 29, 2014, Menjivar and another member of the ECS clique repeatedly stabbed and shot an alleged rival gang member in Chelsea. A cooperating witness recorded Menjivar admitting to the attempted murder on video, proudly telling his fellow gang members how he stabbed the victim 21 times. The victim survived the attack following life-saving efforts by first responders as well as emergency surgery.   

In April 2015, federal agents used a cooperating witness to make other recordings in which Menjivar and two other MS-13 members plotted to murder another MS-13 member who they incorrectly believed was cooperating with law enforcement. Menjivar also participated in at least one robbery in furtherance of MS-13 activities.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Michael Shea, Acting 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.

BOSTON – John H. Nardozzi, a certified public accountant, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with assisting former State Senator Brian Joyce with preparing and filing false income tax returns.

Nardozzi, 66, of Waltham, was indicted on one count of conspiring to defraud the IRS and eight counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns.  Nardozzi will appear this afternoon in federal court in Worcester.

The indictment alleges that Nardozzi, Joyce’s accountant, secretly conspired with Joyce and others to defraud the IRS for tax years 2011 to 2014 by:

• Fraudulently deducting millions of dollars of personal expenses for Joyce as legitimate business expenses of Joyce’s corporation, Brian A. Joyce, Attorney at Law, P.C., (“BAJPC”);
• Fraudulently inflating self-employment income for Joyce and his spouse, by more than $2 million in order to maximize retirement plan contributions and falsely reduce taxable personal income;
• Fraudulently reporting a rollover of more than $400,000 in retirement savings when, in fact, it was a taxable event subject to early withdrawal penalties;
• Fraudulently deducting a corporate dividend of approximately $56,000 as a “legal expense” attributable to Joyce in order to falsely reduce the taxable income of BAJPC; and
• Fraudulently omitting a dividend of approximately $100,000 from Joyce’s personal tax return in order to reduce Joyce’s taxable income.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, the indictment also alleges that Nardozzi aided and assisted Joyce in preparing and filing false corporate and personal income tax returns between 2011 and 2014. 

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States 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 aiding and assisting in filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based 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; and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William F. Bloomer and Dustin Chao of Lelling’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Stoughton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine distribution operation in the South Shore.

Angel Morales, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2017, Morales pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

From late February 2016 until July 19, 2016, Morales conspired with co-defendant Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 46, of Roslindale, and others to distribute cocaine in Canton, Stoughton, Randolph, Quincy, and Weymouth. Morales asked Fonseca-Rivera to receive packages containing cocaine that were being shipped from Puerto Rico to locations in Randolph and Canton, where Fonseca-Rivera had rented private mailboxes. Fonseca-Rivera received at least eight packages from Puerto Rico and delivered them to Morales, who paid Fonseca-Rivera for receiving the cocaine. Morales had a similar arrangement with another individual who also received packages of cocaine on behalf of Morales. Morales and Fonseca-Rivera then distributed the cocaine to other individuals. 

On July 19, 2016, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Morales’ apartment in Stoughton. During the search, agents seized approximately $11,000 in cash, more than 100 grams of cocaine, a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and two magazines containing 15 rounds of ammunition each, a box containing an additional 10 rounds of ammunition, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Fonseca-Rivera pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2017, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2018.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent, Massachusetts State Police; and Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Arnold and Craig E. Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A former Hadley Police Officer was arrested today and charged in federal court in Springfield in connection with using unreasonable force during an arrest.

Christopher M. Roeder, 48, of Agawam, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of a document.

According to court documents, on April 3, 2017, Roeder struck a male arrestee in the face - breaking the arrestee’s nose, which the arrestee would need plastic surgery to repair - without legal justification, while the arrestee was seated on a bench in the Hadley Police Department booking area.

The indictment alleges that Roeder subsequently attempted to obstruct the investigation into the assault on the arrestee by falsifying his police report describing the events that led to the assault. Roeder wrote that the arrestee made an obscene comment toward Roeder and that when the arrestee was instructed to sit down, he sat down slowly, and then when Roeder attempted to handcuff the arrestee, the arrestee began to stand again. According to Roeder, he allegedly had no option but to deliver an elbow strike directly to the bridge of the arrestee’s nose in order to gain the arrestee’s compliance. Conversely, the indictment alleges that Roeder’s statements were false.

The charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in injury provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of falsifying a police report provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; 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 Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Timothy Visser of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are 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 - Akeem Castro, 25, of Holyoke, was charged in federal court in Springfield yesterday with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The indictment alleges that on March 7, 2017, Castro possessed an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 rifle and 34 rounds of ammunition. Castro is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction. 

The charge provides for sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of between $20,000 and $200,000. 

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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for the armed kidnapping of a Quincy man and two children.

Malik Bangura, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to 17 years in prison and two years of supervised release.  In September 2017, Bangura pleaded guilty to kidnapping after being arrested and charged in April 2017.  Diego Pires, 23, of Brockton; Sedrick Oliveira, 26, of Stoughton; and Yesenia Diaz, 23, of Brockton were also charged. 

On Oct. 8, 2016, at approximately 10:25 p.m., a 30-year-old man was kidnapped from the driveway of his Quincy home after being struck in the head with a revolver as he got out of his truck, and dragged into a nearby sedan.  The victim had two children strapped into their car seats in his truck.

Once the victim was in the sedan, two masked perpetrators, later identified as Pires and Bangura, drove the victim’s truck, with the children, to a secluded location where they unloaded approximately 30 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 from the victim’s truck, into the sedan.  The victim, who was face-down in the backseat of the sedan at gunpoint, begged for his life and the life of the two children who were still in their car seats in the back of the truck.   

Diaz, Bangura, Pires and Oliveira then drove the sedan with the drugs, cash and the victim, from Quincy to Brockton and called the victim’s wife demanding $100,000.  Law enforcement officers spotted the sedan as it drove through Brockton, recognized the vehicle from a drive-by shooting that occurred in August 2016, and began to follow it. After the defendants recognized the police, they attempted to flee, but ultimately abandoned the sedan in a Brockton driveway. The victim escaped, flagged down law enforcement officers, and described to them the secluded location where the truck had been disserted.  Law enforcement located the truck with the children, who were unharmed. 

Diaz was subsequently found standing by the sedan and arrested. She previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Oliveira was arrested on Oct. 10, 2016, in Stoughton and charged in a federal criminal complaint. He pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charge. Pires remained a fugitive until he was apprehended in October 2017. He also pleaded not guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; 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; Brockton Police Chief John Crowley; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily O. Cannon of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

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

A Dover, Massachusetts, insurance broker was sentenced today to eight months in prison for filing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Anthony J. May, 62, owned and operated Clients First Financial Insurance Agency LLC, through which May sold life insurance products as an insurance broker, and Advantage Life Settlements LLC, through which he served as a broker for insured individuals seeking to sell their personal life insurance policies to third party investors.  May operated his businesses out of an office suite in Hingham, where he also leased office space to other independent insurance agents.  May filed false 2006 through 2009 individual income tax returns that did not report more than $738,000 in income that he received from insurance commissions, brokerage fees, and office rental payments.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young ordered May to serve one year of supervised release.  May was previously convicted following a jury trial in May 2017 of filing false 2008 and 2009 tax returns.   

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Lelling praised special agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Eric Powers of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild, who prosecuted the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

BOSTON – A Lynnfield woman was arrested today and charged with filing false tax returns, in which she claimed more than a $370,000 mortgage interest deduction, even though she had defaulted on the loan and the property had gone into foreclosure.

Karyn M. Ingram, 50, was charged in an indictment with three counts of filing false tax returns for tax years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Ingram had an initial appearance today in federal court in Boston.

According to the indictment, Ingram filed tax returns in which she reported false and inflated Schedule A deductions and in one year, a Schedule C business loss, in order to reduce her overall tax liability.  For example, for tax years 2010 and 2011, Ingram filed returns claiming mortgage interest deductions of $45,072 and $371,427, but she had not made any mortgage payments since 2008, the loan had defaulted, and the property had gone into foreclosure.  She also claimed real estate tax deductions in those same tax years, when, in reality, the real estate taxes had been paid by the mortgage lender and not by Ingram.  The indictment alleges that by falsifying the deductions and losses, Ingram fraudulently reduced her tax liability by more than $126,000.

The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra S. Bower of Lelling’s Economic 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 Guatemalan national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston to a federal immigration charge.

Selvin Danilo Herrera-Arana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In October 2017, Herrera-Arana pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

In July 2017, Herrera-Arana was arrested in Lynn and determined to be illegally present in the United States, having previously been deported on three different occasions: April 7, 2009, following a conviction for resisting arrest; Sept. 4, 2012, following a conviction for resisting arrest; and Sept. 9, 2014, following a conviction for illegal reentry.

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 Kenneth G. Shine of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.